A critical challenge facing African businesses is their often brief existence, closely linked to the lifespan of their founders. When a business leader or founder passes away, not only does the business itself face jeopardy, but so do the innovative ideas that drove its creation and growth. This issue is exacerbated by a lack of documentation and shared experiences, leaving the younger generation of Nigerian entrepreneurs with few lessons to draw upon from their predecessors.
This gap in knowledge transfer has become a significant problem in Nigeria’s entrepreneurial landscape, particularly because many business leaders from the Baby Boomer and Generation X eras rarely share their experiences publicly.
To address this challenge, GlobalMentorBridge, an international mentorship platform aimed at bridging generational, sectoral, and geographical divides through mentoring and networking, is hosting a special summit on Saturday, August 3, 2024, in Lagos.
The summit, themed “Beyond Ideas,” seeks to bring together business leaders, particularly entrepreneurs and startups, from various sectors of the Nigerian economy for an enriching session of idea exchange, knowledge sharing, networking, and mentoring.
This event will feature prominent figures sharing their journeys from idea conception to successful business establishment in Nigeria. These leaders will discuss strategies for scaling businesses despite socio-economic challenges.
Jane Oma, the event convener, stated, “Our goal is to create a global platform where experienced business leaders and startup founders can forge meaningful connections, exchange knowledge and skills, and utilize mentoring to build bridges.”
She further added, “This year’s Gala aims to inspire leaders to surpass mere ideas and actively foster sustainability and knowledge transfer across generations, sectors, and geographies through mentoring and purposeful networking.”
The summit expects to gather at least 200 business leaders, management executives, and startup founders who will have the opportunity to connect, share insights, and establish mentoring relationships. This exchange will enable both seasoned business elites and emerging entrepreneurs to benefit from each other’s strengths and experiences.
Featured speakers include:
Ms. Ifeoma Malo, CEO and Co-founder of Clean Technology Hub, discussing “Building Clean Technology Hub – Attracting and Nurturing Top Talents into Global Leaders.”
Mr. Don Ebubeogu, CEO/MD of Tiger Foods, on “The Case of Tiger Foods – The Power of Mentorship to Drive Collaboration, Innovation, and Strong Business Leadership.”
Abimbola Adebakin, Founder and CEO of Advantage Health Africa, presenting on “Leading Advantage Health Africa.”
Babatunde Akin-Moses, Co-founder and CEO of Sycamore NG, addressing the role of mentoring across various sectors.
Dr. Clement Obadimu, CEO and Principal Partner at Mentor Tower, discussing “The Place of Mentoring and Reverse Mentoring in Organizational, Professional, and Personal Growth.”
Mrs. Modupe Ehirim, CEO and Principal Partner at MOE Advisory Ltd, on “The Importance of Mentoring for Healthy Family Life and Its Overall Impact.”
Shehu Zubairu, Senior Partner at Human Capital Partners, guiding on “Being a Pace Setter – Organizational and Personal Growth.”
Mayowa Adeosun, Co-founder and COO of Sycamore NG, speaking on “Decision Making, Managing Change – Moving from England to Nigeria and Co-founding Sycamore.”
Dr. Tochukwu MacFoy, Founder of Energize Africa, on “Staying Ahead of Industry-Specific Knowledge, Emerging Technologies, and Global Best Practices.”
Mr. Regis Ohia, CEO of Varosi Real Estate Group, discussing “Gaining Competitive Advantage in the Real Estate Industry.”
The summit has garnered support from various Nigerian businesses, startups, and international groups, including Al-Hussein Technical University in Amman, Jordan. In June, GlobalMentorBridge held a summit in Jordan in collaboration with the university, which saw participation from notable business leaders across the Middle East and the United States, reaching approximately 1.1 million people through both in-person and online views.
For those eager to bridge the knowledge gap and advance their businesses, the “Beyond Ideas” summit promises a valuable opportunity to learn from and connect with Nigeria’s leading business minds.
