IYD 2021: 9mobile reaffirms support for youth entrepreneurship, advocates more tech adoption
[By VICTOR NZE]
Telecommunications firm in the country, 9mobile has urged Nigerian youths to take advantage of the incredible opportunities that technology offers to optimize their businesses and professional endeavors.
This is also as the telco restated its support for youth entrepreneurship and innovation in the country.
9mobile stated this during a virtual session, titled; “Driving Youth Innovation in Business through Technology,” it organized to mark this year’s International Youth Day (IYD), Thursday.
The session which was facilitated on Instagramlive by popular business coach, Tricia Olufemi-Olumide (TriciaBiz) and social entrepreneur, Olusola Amusan, attracted several young participants who joined in to learn more on how they can leverage technology and innovation to drive business efficiency.
Defining innovation, Olufemi-Olumide noted that innovation doesn’t necessarily mean inventing something new or that has never been done before, but simply about improvement.
‘It is improving your current business to achieve your goals & objectives, grow your income, reach more people and impact more people,’ she said.
While speaking further on business model and process innovation, Olufemi-Olumide encouraged businesses to consider and explore the subscription-based market model which has tripled in recent times.
“There is no better way to grow your business than to take advantage of the subscription market to get your product on repeat order. The subscription market has grown tremendously especially with Covid 19. Just finding an innovative way to make your existing customers to become paying subscribers can make that difference in your numbers,” she added.
On his part, Olusola Amusan noted that with digitalization and globalization, the economic impact of technology and innovation is compelling and huge for the youths and entrepreneurs.
“As a business owner you must constantly familiarize yourself with emerging technologies to stay relevant with time. In addition, you must then educate your team to achieve better workplace collaboration,” he said.
Speaking on the purpose of the session, Executive Director, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, 9mobile, Mr. Abdulrahman Ado noted that the discussions tied into the global theme for this year’s international youth day celebration, “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health” which highlights the very strategic and important roles youths play in the general context of the global economy for growth and sustainability.
“There is a remarkable increase in the number of young entrepreneurs springing up on a daily basis in the business space, this for us is a welcome development and must be encouraged with all the necessary infrastructure needed technologically speaking. Youths must therefore not hesitate to embrace innovative technology for their respective businesses to succeed,” Ado stated.
The international Youth Day is celebrated annually on August 12 to highlight youth-impacting issues to the global community and to celebrate the potential of young people as active partners in the society.