Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, and a host of other business leaders gathered in Owerri, Imo State capital, at the weekend for the Owerri Business Week Conference.

The conference, organised by Bedrock Initiative, a youth-driven initiative aimed at inspiring young and indigenous entrepreneurs to do better in terms of business development, was an opportunity for over 3,000 young people to interact with and learn from these high-flying business leaders.

Leading the conversation, Obi, a successful businessman, while advising business owners to seek ways to improve their business, emphasised the need for businesses to constantly create value.

“Do your business in what you know, not because people are making money from it,” he said.

Speaking on the theme “Build to last”, the former Anambra Governor highlighted the place of leadership in building a successful business.

According to him, character, attitude, behaviour, tolerance, patience, understanding, and constant learning are some of the qualities a leader must possess.

“The greatest job of a leader is to learn. The job of a leader is to listen. People fail because they don’t listen,” Obi said.

He said Nigeria has all it takes to be a great nation but bad leadership, corruption and poor policy implementation had been the greatest impediments to the nation’s progress. He lamented that corruption kills entrepreneurship, professionalism and hard work, insisting that any society where people in government are richer than those in business is finished.

“Our leaders have continued to talk about our problems yet they have not found solution to the problems,” he said, adding that he was able to record great success within a short period of time as a Governor because of his willingness to learn from others.

Obi commended the Founder/Convener of Bedrock Initiative, Mr Ikenna Okechukwu, and assured the group of his continued support.

He urged the youths to remain steadfast and be ready to contribute meaningfully to the growth of the nation.

The Managing Director/CEO of Pamtech, Engr. Chidomere Ndubuisi, said a thriving business operates on three fundamental elements – Departments (Body), Customer Service (Soul) and Organizational Culture (Spirit).

According to Ndubuisi, customer service provides emotional connections to customers and team members, ensuring loyalty and satisfaction.

He also emphasized the need for every entrepreneur to have a mentor, who would guide him on best ways to get things right and achieve desired growth in business.

The Divisional Head of Business Growth and Transaction Banking at Sterling Bank, Mr Obinna Ukachukwu, shared valuable insights on how to build credibility that helps one build a business that could last.

“For one to build a lasting business, you must have a story to learn from,” Ukachukwu said.

Also speaking at the event, Labour Party governorship candidate in the November 2023 election in Imo State, Senator Athan Achonu, shared from his wealth of experience as a businessman with diverse experience.

Achonu said the Owerri Business Conference was in sync with the vision of ‘Aku Ruo Ulo’ as it was all about business development and investments in the state.

“I am for anything investment, development, and youth inclusivity, especially in small business development which is a key aspect of our agenda for Imo State towards curbing the current unemployment levels,” Achonu said.

“This is achievable with smart business sense, excellence in leadership and unrelenting purpose to ensure enhanced ease of doing business in addition to projects that will help excite the youthful business hubs around the state.

“Such projects in our plan for Imo State include – a Creativity Portal that aggregates all the creative businesses (Creative Arts, entertainment, music, etc); Youth Creativity Hubs and Technology Parks in the three Senatorial Zones,” he said.

Other prominent guests at the conference included Mr Ugochukwu Omeogu, Amb Dr George Smart Obinna, Ken Onyeali Ikpe, Dr. Sam Amadi, etc. (The Nation)

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