The U.S. Mission in Nigeria has trained 100 budding entrepreneurs in Ibadan, Oyo State, under a three-day business incubator programme aimed at strengthening enterprise development and innovation.
The programme, themed “From Ideas to Enterprises – Building Businesses that Work,” was held at the American Spaces Nigeria facility in Ibadan.
The training formed part of efforts by the U.S. Mission to promote entrepreneurship and economic empowerment among young Nigerians.
The entrepreneurs were exposed to key areas including business fundamentals, digital economy and revenue models, value proposition, branding, operations and finance, marketing strategies, customer pitching, business communication, and grant positioning.
Also speaking, a grant consultant, Impact Funding Strategist and business writer, Mr. Israel Alabi, said access to finance remained a major challenge for entrepreneurs, stressing that understanding business structure and customer engagement was critical before seeking funding.
Alabi, who spoke on the theme: ‘’Pitching and Business Communication /Grant Positioning’’, said: “Before you get finance for your business, you must understand the business. You need to know how to structure it, engage customers and meet their expectations. The trainees must internalise what they have learned and put it into practice’’.
In her remarks, Director of the American Corner, Ibadan, Karamat Ajala, said the initiative was designed to equip aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals with clarity and direction in starting and managing businesses.
“We are targeting individuals at the crossroads of starting a business, to help them gain clarity and understand positioning, value proposition, branding and business structuring,” she said.
Also speaking, Chief Trade Officer at Impact Hub Ibadan, Mrs. Omowumi Helen Oduyemi, who facilitated a session on marketing and customer acquisition, highlighted the importance of practical knowledge in entrepreneurship.
Oduyemi noted that the programme, sponsored by the U.S. government, was part of efforts to build business capacity among young Nigerians, adding that participants were introduced to grant opportunities and trained on how to pitch effectively.
According to her, 16 participants were selected for a pitching session, where they presented business ideas before a panel of judges.
Founder and Executive Director of KEA Group, Kemi Irinoye, who handled sessions on branding, business identity, operations and finance, said many entrepreneurs lacked clarity about their business identity.
“There is a huge knowledge gap. Entrepreneurs need to clearly define what their businesses stand for and build scalable models,” she said, urging the government to sustain support for small businesses.
At the end of the programme, certificates were presented to participants, while Mrs. Idorenjin James, founder of a food export service company, emerged winner of the pitching competition.
“I feel excited coming out on top. It has boosted my confidence and reaffirmed my capacity,” she said.
