EMEM NWOGWUGWU IS AN ENTREPRENEUR, AUTHOR, EXECUTIVE COACH, AND CERTIFIED PROJECT MANAGER OF LA PAX LIFE PROJECT. IN THIS INTERVIEW WITH JOSEPHINE OKOJIE, SHE SPEAKS ABOUT THE NIGERIAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP ECOSYSTEM AND HOW THE LA PAX LIFE INITIATIVE IS SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEUR.
Can you tell us a bit about the La Pax Life Project?
LAPAX Life Project is a 360-degree human development company that sells t ransformation through tailored training, life coaching, consulting, and project management services. We have created and designed templates, courses, training, and consultations for organisations, individuals, and families to effectively boost productivity.
What inspired you to establish the La Pax Life Project?
I have been a freelance project manager for years. I had people coming to me for consultations all round. They applied the strategies I gave them and it worked and continues to work for their families, organisations and individuals. I went further to become a life coach when I saw the demand for coaching and consulting.
Read also: #EndSARS: Access Bank to issue guidelines for N50bn interest-free loan, grant for MSMEs, youth
As a start-up coach, what is your assessment of the Nigerian business environment?
My assessment of the Nigerian business environment is that there is a huge knowledge gap here. The business environment needs a constant source of relevant information. Most businesses were set up without proper information and guidance. This has caused most of them to be exploited, and the lack of a constant consultant and coach makes the businesses fail. We cannot continue to ignore the importance of mentorship, consultation and coaching.
What are the factors that hinder the growth of the Nigerian SMES?
Some of the hindrances to the growth of SMES are lack of a detailed and clear-cut business plan, dealing with challenges alone without consulting professionals and coaches, lack of realtime business data, not having the right mentor – most times people don’t clarify their expectations from their mentor-, not being the right mentee, poor reading culture and not having a proper sales strategy and marketing plan, among others.
How do you think these challenges can be addressed?
Our government can intentionally create business educational centres all over the country, funding and supporting existing organisations that are already handling these peculiarities like the Tony Elemelu Foundation, which provide mentoring and funds to all sectors of businesses. Also, they should support and build entrepreneurial skills every year. An example is Womenprenuer Grant by Access Bank- a scheme that targets businesses owned or headed by women- to encourage gender equality and give women-owned businesses a platform to thrive and enlarge. Another example is Wimbi, whichz has been a great platform for encouraging people. Similarly, practical financial, marketing, and business education should be included in the curricula from primary to university level.
A critical point for a lot of entrepreneurs is lack of finance, how does your Lapax Project aim to support start-ups with finance?
We offer consultations that critically examine the business strategies and then offer a well- rounded plan on how they can position themselves for international and local grant opportunities. We make sure that they have a routine that is effectively increasing profits in all areas.
With COVID-19 raging and businesses struggling, what extra value will you add to a start-up apart from training and consultancy?
With our certified team of project managers, we have the unique ability to give certified project management training, consult, and handle all project types. These include IT projects, construction projects including building, renovation, and remodeling, and strategic projects. Others are social media revamp, sales, targeted resource management, operational media -video and photo-shoots, and non-technical soft skills training (leadership, teamwork, decision-making, and situation awareness.
How affordable are your training and consultancy services for the Nigerian entrepreneur?
They are very affordable depending on the need of our clients and the number of sessions they want. Our charges are hourly with provision for deliberations. All you need to do is send us an email through [email protected] or send a DM to @ emem.ng on Instagram.
