Renowned businessman, socialite, and philanthropist, Obi Cubana, has appealed to the federal and state governments to create an enabling environment that fosters entrepreneurship and makes life easier for Nigerian youths.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the Gavice Logistics conference on igniting innovation, Obi Cubana emphasized the need for infrastructure development and improved security to boost entrepreneurship.
According to Obi Cubana, a conducive business environment is crucial for the success of Nigerian youths. He highlighted the importance of good roads, for instance, in the logistics business, saying:
“Youths They need good roads to transport their goods from one point to the other”.
He urged governments to construct good roads and address insecurity, which hinders business growth.
Obi Cubana stressed that youths are not asking for handouts but rather an environment that allows them to thrive.
“The youths are not asking governments to buy vehicles for them but to create that enabling environment and remove all those blockages on the road.”
He lamented the multiple taxes and regulatory hurdles that discourage young entrepreneurs, saying:
“People buy and sell, but the multiple taxes to worry about is demoralising.
He warned that if these challenges persist, youths may be driven to harmful activities, and the consequences would be dire.
“If these young people start to get involved in harmful things, who do we hold responsible?”
“Also, people should be able to move from one point to the other without fear of being robbed or kidnapped” he said.
The Chairman of Cubana Group also advised youths to embrace innovation and hard work to achieve success.
He emphasized that business operators must adapt to different seasons and challenges, saying:
“There are different seasons in businesses. It is left to the operators of businesses to know how to approach each season.
“There are times when things are difficult and times when the business is doing very well.
“Life is a hurdle, and with each challenge faced, you must know how to jump it and continue your journey to the next stage until you succeed.
“Nobody should stop a journey because times are hard.
“Therefore, business owners especially the young ones, must be innovative” he said.