An entrepreneur and proprietor of SADCO Group Nigeria Limited, Sadiq Idris-Dabo, has identified entrepreneurship as a pathway to societal growth and development.

He stated this while presenting a paper on a topic: ‘How a Person can Stand on His/Her Feet,’’ held on Sunday at Kofar Gayan Low Cost, Zaria, Kaduna State.

The lecture with the theme “Kofar Gayan Low-Cost 1st Youth Dialogue 2025 Sallah Occasion,’’ was organised by the youth wing of the Kofar-Gayan Low-Cost Community Development Association.

Mr Idris-Dabo identified patience, truthfulness, loyalty, prayer and consistency as key to successful business.

 According to him, for a business to thrive, one must first develop a business plan and follow it religiously with the sole target of attaining pinnacle.

 He said, “Always believe that it’s God Almighty that protects and provides. Therefore, as youth, strive hard to learn trades, instead of relying on the government for white collar jobs. At the same time, study hard to obtain certificates but bear in mind that you are studying not only to get a government job because obtaining a degree certificate is not an automatic employment. No trade/business is too small, but it all depends on how you handle it; therefore, you should stand firm and concentrate on your businesses to the best of your ability.’’

 The proprietor suggested that as a businessperson, one must watch his spendings, adding “a successful businessman doesn’t spend money on luxury, but he is always mindful of what he gets and what he spends.”

Speaking on mentorship, Mr Idris-Dabo challenged successful individuals in society to look inwards and reflect, saying, “as a person, what did you do to change the life of even one person for the better in your community?”

 Presenting his paper titled, “Education and Opportunities,’’ Dr AbdulWasiu AbdurRahman, from the University of Abuja, said “any student who scores 270 points in UTME examination with five distinctions in his SSCE, WAEC or NECO will be entitled to automatic scholarship from Nile University.”

Mr AbdurRahman stressed the need for the association to create a forum for guiding students, especially secondary school leavers, adding, “this is to give them orientation on the choice of courses, scholarship opportunities both within and outside Nigeria and many other opportunities.”

 He listed some forms of scholarship to include Federal Government scholarships, foreign scholarships, companies’ scholarships, within and outside the country and NGOs’ scholarships, among others.

He also admonished the association to organise an orientation programme for graduates on how to prepare Curriculum Vitae (CVs), saying the requirements in public jobs differed from private and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

The Chairman of the association, Shamsuddeen Aliyu, said it was an amalgamation of many associations in the area that collapsed to be under one umbrella.

He said, “We have tried as much as we can to pinpoint some lapses of other associations and effect corrections for the common good of all. This association has many young doctors and professors as bonafide members.’’

Stressing the need for unity among the members, the chairman advocated patience, tolerance and understanding to facilitate good leadership.

 He identified the low-cost security committee operating under the association as one of the laudable committees that played a vital role in maintaining peace in the area.

Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, who was also the Chairman of the Security Committee, Idris Mai-mai, said the essence of the event was to guard youths against social vices towards evolving a decent and productive society.

 He encouraged the youth to make effective management of their middle-age years, urging them to make good use of their youthful agility and exuberance for the good of the area.

 The chairman advised them to endeavour to contribute their quotas to the protection and development of the area.

One of the youth leaders, Abdu-Aziz Zakariyya, recalled that the meeting started during Eid-el-Fitr, but they decided to extend it to gather more people during the Eid-el-Kabir with the aim of sustaining it as an annual event.

 He observed that the event sought to address issues related to mentorship to pave the way for young ones to thrive and be productive to themselves and society at large. 

(NAN)