Encomium
Prince Rotimi Paseda had an outstanding business career in the United Kingdom with bias for fabrication of heavy duty machinery. He was in Nigeria recently and spoke to journalists on how entrepreneurship and the creation of jobs will save millions of the nation’s youths.
ENCOMIUM Weekly’s Dayo Rufai was there.
Tell us about your businesses?
To the glory of God, I own two engineering firms that are into the fabrication and building of heavy machinery; we manufacture water tankers, fire engines, garbage/compacting trucks and the likes and they are doing very well. And you should know that it wasn’t easy setting up companies as such abroad.
But the determination to succeed against so many odds encouraged me to forge ahead. And if I succeeded out there, I also feel I should also be responsible to my people at home by contributing my quota to the development of my home state and country. That is why I am an advocate of job creation for millions of Nigerians, who need a means of survival. We have the manpower, so it’s quite disheartening to realize that we are yet to unleash the potentials of our zealous youthful generation.
What do you think needs to be done? Is it for the government to create jobs or what?
It is the responsibility of all. For instance, I am back to contribute my quota by contesting the governorship position of my state, Ogun. That way, I can use my available resources and then government influence to bring succour to the people. Nigerians need to realize that entrepreneurship is the future.
If start-up capital is a problem for some, government can assist, via provision of start-up capital even if it is on a small scale. Also, the organization of workshops, vocational trainings, among others would fast track development in every sector of the economy.
Nigerians have learnt to become independent and provide most of their basic needs themselves. Those who have succeeded in business need to look back and help others grow.
So, you are saying our government has failed?
Yes and the people are frustrated. This hampers economic growth. Take education for instance, why should people pay so much? Why would a government reduce school fees and increase salaries when it is election time? Why can’t basic healthcare be free? Why is our power sector killing businesses as most depend on alternative sources of power? Our politicians and the rich can travel abroad at any time with their families to get good healthcare and that is why they can neglect the millions who can’t. Our people must begin to demand their rights from the political office holders.
For instance, if our political office holders have children in Nigerian universities, there wouldn’t be so many strikes or if they were stuck in traffic in an ambulance on their way to the hospital, they would know what to do. When people pay through their noses for something that should be ordinarily subsidized by their government, forging successful entrepreneurs would become more tasking. So, the solutions are not so vague if our people would choose to do the right thing. More businesses will thrive under right conditions and more people will contribute economically to the GDP. We have the people, we have the resources. We only require the right mindset.
