How conferences build powerhouse for Niger Delta women entrepreneurs

…The inner benefits of ‘business balance & beyond summit’ in PH

Several conferences have continued to take place in the Niger Delta zone specially in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, since the advent of civil rule in 1999.

Now, some women entrepreneurs in the region have stepped out to claim this has helped build the powerhouse of women entrepreneurs in the oil region.

One of such regular conferences is held by Ella Chioma Ezeadilieje, known as ‘Veronica’s Daughter’, who focuses on helping women entrepreneurs and some youths to build knowledge base for self-actualization. She held one in April called ‘Business Balance & Beyond Summit’.

A resource person, Inia Bimbola, who sees herself as friend of the Garden City, said: “Sometimes women’s growth is diminished quite a lot in our communities. So the ability to have events like this that also showcase what women are doing, and also encourage women, mentor women in businesses, mentor women as humans is also an opportunity and something I’m very passionate about.”

One of the resource persons, Daniel Etim Effiong, told newsmen in an interview that persons got tips on personal financing and growing wealth. Some have learnt that it’s not too late to adjust one’s patterns and behaviors and habits.

They have learnt that if you start today, its not too late, but you won’t realise your goals same day.

The resource person said it’s the power of knowledge, actually. “Information or knowledge transforms, and everyone knows that. And that’s why we seek education and information, that knowledge transforms. But it’s not knowledge, as it were, it’s what you do with the knowledge that transforms. So it’s imperative that, you know, conferences like these are done and are funded and are encouraged. But it’s even more important that young people are encouraged to take that knowledge and use it and transform their lives.”

The resource expert said the entertainment industry has benefitted much and has created many businesses. “You have bloggers, you have skit makers, you have content creators, you have makeup artists, you have cameramen, you have sound men. It’s everywhere.

“People are doing business because of the entertainment industry. It is one of the largest employers of labor in Nigeria. You know people are doing things and they have the opportunity to make money. But it’s not enough to make money. It’s not enough just to do and earn money. It’s what you do with that money that you’ve earned that takes you to the next level. It’s saving it, banking it and investing it that makes you create wealth. And I think all of that is what we’re learning here today.”

The expert went on: “Don’t say Dangote built a refinery and Dangote is my role model, so I have to build a refinery or Daniel made a film, and he is successful, I have to go make a film. No, start with where you are, baby steps, you know, start building forms, start investing, start sewing those seeds, your capacity, then grow that capacity to where you want to be.”

On his experience at ‘Beyond the Bank’, Effiong said: “I’m an actor, I’m a filmmaker, and I’m a storyteller. When I was in oil and gas, I used to work. I think I did my IT here, in Port Harcourt. The conference is wonderful. It’s a really fantastic conference.”

Speaking too, Idara Umoette, said: “Build your networking base, you build your hard work base, you build your ability, the confidence to know that you can do a lot of things.”

The expert went on: “So youth, that critical phase is the time where you can make mistakes, you can go out, you can explore. So even if you have a paid job, a full time or a part time paid job, a portion of it should be set aside to volunteering because that’s how you meet people, that’s how you build your muscle and that’s how you prepare yourself for who you want to be in future.

“Dr. Ella Ezeadilieje has done a fantastic job by putting this together, bringing amazing speakers, amazing panelists, an amazing crop of women from all sectors of society to come and learn, network and be better. And what she has done is priceless for improving the lot of women in society.”
Bimbola said most adults of today did not have business mentorship growing up. “Now, we see a lot of the young people, many of them are very entrepreneurial, very focused on business, very growth minded.”

She said it is the duty of the successful adults to help make the journey easier for the young people. She advised people to differentiate between visibility and success. “Visibility is good, but success is a growth pattern. Anything that is sustainable, anything that will last does not blow overnight. A lot of our young people feel that, you know, I don’t need to struggle like my parents did for me to blow. But growth is a journey.”

She commended Veronica’s daughter for doing the B-Cube exclusive event every year. Sponsors don’t think that it’s an opportunity for them to put back into communities that are not Lagos and Abuja.

Alaye Goldfish Dokubo said knowledge that would transform Niger Delta women is what is being taught at the ‘Beyond the Bank’ conference in Port Harcourt. “When you hear them speak, you know that you need that knowledge to grow in whatever you’re doing. We know there are lots of young entrepreneurs in this building that want to be successful.

“My message to them is: keep seeking knowledge. When you see programmes like this, especially free ones such as this, take advantage of it. Even if they are paid programmes, invest in them. That is what helps you grow. You invest in them, you gain knowledge, and that knowledge is what will bring the profit you need in whatever you are doing, both in business and in life.”

Convener speaks:

The name of the conference is ‘Business Balance & Beyond Summit’ by Ezeadilieje, known as Veronica’s daughter. The Convener listed expectations at the conference; “Number one, we are here because we are interested in growing beyond just making money.

“Most people here are people who are interested in balancing or integrating the different aspects of their lives. And that’s exactly what the BQ is. Business, that’s your money, your wealth, your career.

“Balance, that’s your family, the other side. Then of course, we talk about your health. So the duty of the event or the summit is to teach you what’s important and help you create systems.”

She advised women to understand that they have all the factors: entrepreneurship, a working wife, a nine-to-five person, and a mother.

“Then as a man, making money is not all you’re called in this life to do. There are other aspects of life. You should enjoy the life you’re building.

Enjoy your family, make time. When it’s time for business, do business. When it’s time for play, play, enjoy. When it’s time to do the family man thing, do it. And that’s how you become a whole, wholesome human. That’s exactly what the BQ is.”

The woman of passion said a lot of people are working around aimlessly. “So I am willing to share knowledge. I am also willing to hold other people by the hand and then have my hand held by other people ahead of me who did exactly the same thing I am trying to do. So I am someone who loves community.”

There is a ‘C’ factor. She said beyond the money you make and put in the bank, what next? “For me, wealth is not just about money, it’s about happiness, it’s about impact, it’s about being a huge and central part of someone’s life. It’s about contributing your quota so that at the end of the day, when you are not here, we would see the legacy.”

Putting the conference to perspective, Ezeadilieje said events like this create a conducive environment for people to grow. “When you come here, you’re meeting like-minded people, people who are on the same life trajectory. You can be at different stages, that’s fine, but at least you are headed in the same or similar direction. So events like this will open your mind. Sometimes the help you need is just with someone sitting beside you at events.”

She said most of the wealth people have, most of the employment they have comes from entrepreneurship. “And we will do everything to encourage it. Don’t forget, our population is still blowing. There are no jobs for these people. So events like this will teach you to think for yourself. It will teach you to create products and services.”

On what state governments can do to support, the Convener said money is not everything, though she has not had any support from the Rivers State government, probably due to political crisis. “First of all, it’s the support and the encouragement. At least to oh, we see what you are doing. It’s helping young people in our state.

“And we’re selling the Rivers brand. Whether you like it or not, the BQ Summit has sold Port Harcourt in a way no other event has. And all without government presence.

“Imagine if government presence and participation comes in. We will do better. We will even have to go into the interior because we’ve only done this in Port Harcourt.”

The conference is free. “This is because we don’t want to exempt anybody. Even if I say this event will cost N1,000, you will find there are people who cannot afford it to pay for this event. So that’s why we’re doing it free. It is not profit-driven. So we want the governments to come on board, support us, push us to do more. Because if we’re doing this as just a collection of individuals, imagine what we will do with support.”