APLUS
Trainers, a training and business consulting firm with a mission to support
entrepreneurship development and small businesses in Nigeria is organising its annual Social Entrepreneurship workshop. The theme
this year is ‘The Social Enterprise – Impact, Innovation and Sustainability’.
This is scheduled for March 15-17, 2016.
According to Mrs Titi Ojo, Executive Director, APLUS Trainers, “Social entrepreneurship
is the solution to solving social and economic problems, a critical need for
Nigeria at this time.” She further added “Social Entrepreneurs use innovative
ways to fill the gaps in existing services that cannot be delivered by the
public and private sectors. The need to develop the capacity of potential and
existing social entrepreneurs cannot be overemphasized, hence the need for this
conference.”
According
to Mr Mene Blessing, an international award winning social entrepreneur and
speaker at the conference, “Social entrepreneurs are solving problems globally
and innovation is what makes the difference. The need to encourage young people
especially to think outside the box and create enterprises that solve society’s
most pressing needs is absolutely important. We need social innovators in all
sectors; agriculture, technology, finance, health, education among others”
The efforts being put into entrepreneurship development in Nigeria is
commendable but a lot is still desired. The social enterprise impacts society
on a scale far above that of a business that is all out for profit alone.
Therefore the need to support ideas and innovation that come from social
entrepreneurs, creating an enabling environment for them to thrive and
fostering collaboration and continuous dialogue is essential.
Mr Doyin Adewola, the CEO of Box Office Incubator in Abuja and a speaker
at the event commended the efforts of the organisers. “The social entrepreneur
is a creative visionary and what matters to him is solving a pressing problem
that he believes will impact community”, he added “the Box Office was born out
of the need to solve the pending problem of access to decent workspace for
businesses in Abuja and today the vision is a reality and a point of reference”
The target audience are young people with ideas for
social innovation, business startups, already existing businesses, executives
running social businesses or NGOs who are seeking to reshape or grow their
organisations, corporate organisations/public institutions that have interest
in CSR projects and need ideas, individuals who wish to explore a new career in
social entrepreneurship, policy makers in every sector of the economy, government
or philanthropic organisations that might be looking to invest in or buy from
Social Enterprise.
“I am excited at this opportunity to speak at the APLUS social
entrepreneurship conference”, stated Mrs Josephine Nzerem, the Regional
Director, Ashoka West Africa Anglophone. “I commend APLUS Trainers for putting
together a programme like this at a time when Social Entrepreneurship is being globally
promoted and gaining buy-in for socioeconomic development”. She encouraged the
education sector to take advantage of this event. “The need to include social
entrepreneurship in the curriculum is critical to national development. The
Ministry of education, the Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC) and
Entrepreneurship development arms of all universities should participate in
these three days conference”, she said.
Dr Victor Fodeke, an Ashoka fellow in the area of environment and
sustainable community development reiterated the need to start aligning our
thoughts with the Sustainable Development Goals. “Using the 17 goals as a
guide, we will be raising social entrepreneurs that are contributing greatly to
the needs of society”, he said. “This conference presents the platform to plug
into green and sustainable business ideas emanating from these goals”
Cynthia Anaele, a leading digital media consultant and speaker at the
event in her comments stated the need for the social enterprise to leverage on
digital media platforms. In her words “When you are doing so much and no one
knows about it, it is like winking in the dark”. “The opportunity to learn from
digital experts on story-telling and social media marketing is an opportunity one
should not miss at this conference”
A highlight of the event is the Social Innovators
pitch, a session where social innovation ideas are presented before a panel of
judges and the audience. The top 3 entries will receive 3 months to 1 year of
incubation and mentorship support. Interested participants, especially young
people are encouraged to apply online.
The conference will take place at the Abuja
Enterprise Agency conference hall, AEA Entrepreneurial Complex, Plot 74, Zone
B15, Jahi, Abuja. Online registration can be done at www.aplustrainers.com.ng/social-entrepreneurship-conference.
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