ENTREPRENEURS, EXPERTS EMPHASISE MENTORSHIP AND COURAGE AS KEYS TO BUSINESS SUCCESS
Mentorship and courage are essential requirements for entrepreneurs seeking to thrive and build sustainable businesses in Nigeria, business leaders and experts have declared.
The assertion was made at the University of Lagos during the official launch of Courage to Succeed, a new book authored by Yinka Padonu, Creative Director of Smartbrands Innovative Media Services.
The book profiles 14 Nigerian entrepreneurs who have built thriving businesses despite significant economic, policy and operational challenges. The publication offers practical lessons and inspiring accounts of resilience for aspiring entrepreneurs and the next generation of Nigerian business leaders.
Held at UNILAG, the launch attracted entrepreneurs, media professionals, students and youth leaders who gathered to celebrate stories of resilience, determination and enterprise.
Speaking at the event, Bisi Sotunde, CEO of Busybee Group, described mentorship as a critical bridge between ambition and achievement.
“Mentorship is critical. It requires building a quality relationship with the right mentors and learning from their wins and mistakes,” she said.
Also speaking, Mayokun Oreofe, CEO of Rebound Experts Limited, urged entrepreneurs to make service and value creation central to their businesses.
“Thriving businesses are built on value, not just profit,” he noted.
A BOOK BORN FROM A CONVICTION
Explaining the motivation behind the publication, Yinka Padonu said the book was inspired by the need to provide young Nigerians with relatable examples of people who have succeeded despite difficult circumstances.
“This book was born from one simple conviction: Our youth need living proof that success is possible here,” he said.
Padonu explained that he documented the journeys of 14 respected Nigerian entrepreneurs who faced rejection, scarcity, doubt and other challenges but remained committed to their dreams.
He described Courage to Succeed as more than a book, but a legacy intended to inspire people who may lack the courage to pursue their dreams.
According to him, the book “paints a picture of possibility even in a difficult environment.”
COURAGE AS A DRIVER OF ENTREPRENEURIAL SUCCESS
Delivering the keynote address, Ted Iwere, Founder of The Business Builders, stressed the importance of courage in entrepreneurial success.
“Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is action taken in the presence of fear,” he said.
Iwere identified three areas where courage can determine entrepreneurial outcomes: the courage to start before feeling ready, the courage to charge what one is worth, and the courage to stop what is not working.
He, however, emphasised that courage must be complemented by the right mindset.
“Courage without the right mindset is simply recklessness. You need both. Courage gets you to jump. Your mindset determines whether you learn to fly or keep falling,” Iwere added.
A NIGERIAN PERSPECTIVE ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Reviewing the book, Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin, former Online Editor of The Nation Newspaper, said the profiles capture both the told and untold stories of entrepreneurs who dared to succeed.
He noted that the publication offers valuable insights for new and aspiring entrepreneurs seeking to learn from those who have already walked the path.
According to Otufodunrin, one of the major strengths of the compilation is its Nigerian context.
“The beauty of this compilation is that these are stories of entrepreneurship from an environment that is not the most conducive to succeed.”
He added that Nigerians looking beyond developed countries for entrepreneurial examples can find inspiration in the stories of local entrepreneurs who have weathered significant challenges.
GOODWILL MESSAGES AND BOOK SIGNING
Goodwill messages were delivered by Dr. Mumini Alao, Group Managing Editor of Complete Sports, and Hon. Setonji Koshoedo, Acting General Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Both speakers described the launch as timely and impactful, noting that the documented journeys of the 14 business leaders provide practical inspiration and accessible mentorship for young people.
The event concluded with a panel discussion and book signing, as speakers reiterated the importance of mentorship, courage, resilience and value creation in building sustainable businesses.
Courage to Succeed ultimately presents the journeys of Nigerian entrepreneurs as practical stories of possibility, demonstrating the lessons that can be drawn from those who have continued to pursue their dreams despite challenging circumstances.
