Chime
Nwagbara, Chief Executive Officer of Struts Enterprises
Chime
Nwagbara is Chief Executive Officer of Struts Enterprises, an event management
firm, and AIGTC Ltd., an agro-commodities exporting company. He is the Project
Coordinator of Eko Business Dinner, EBD, an executive business event for
organisations, companies and business-minded individuals across the world. He
spoke to Vanguard’s Oboh Agbonkhese on, among other issues, the EBD scheduled
for October 22 with the theme Nigeria’s Economy Today: A Need for Collaboration?
Is
there a noticeable vacuum in Nigeria’s business circuit that led to the
conception of Eko Business Dinner, EBD?
Yes. With Nigeria’s economic situation today,
one would advise collaboration and partnerships. There is also need for
expediency; a diversified but unified approach to business will aid in
achieving whichever targets the industry or the entrepreneur has. Chime
Nwagbara, Chief Executive Officer of Struts Enterprises Chime Nwagbara, Chief
Executive Officer of Struts Enterprises
This is
why the Eko Business Dinner has been set up. After this maiden October 22 EBD,
it is going to be held quarterly. It is a forum where people or heads of
organisations with the same target can meet one-on-one and discuss issues,
trends and solutions.
This definitely
enhances industrial collaboration and partnerships, which, hopefully, will lead
to a synergy. In my opinion, Nigeria really needs such forum today to redress
the current economic recession.
Who are your target audience and what is on offer at this business
forum?
Our
target audience, basically, is the business community, the professional
community, governmental organisations, especially the financial institutions,
as well as major players in oil and gas, agriculture and maritime sectors.
Nigerians need to be heard on all levels.
The Eko
Business Dinner is a cross-pollination of public servants, private individuals
and foreign interests, all put together in one place for a period of time. It
is a forum to discuss any and everything directly with the right persons. I
reiterate the right persons: local and foreign investors, and multinational
organisations seeking trade and investment opportunities.
A choice
number of foreign and indigenous banks will be in attendance, particularly to
inform the people on how and where to procure single-digit interest rates for
entrepreneurial development (SME) loans, infrastructural development loans
(public and private sectors), government economic development schemes (such as
agricultural) and large scale industrial finance.
It is a great forum for Nigerian states,
organisations and businesses to inform the world of their economic strengths or
needs, structures, natural resources and export potentials to a select and
capable group of foreign and indigenous investors.
Participants
should expect first-hand interaction with dignitaries and executives. They
should also expect a bouquet of novel ideas, referrals, exchange of contacts
and opportunities to acquire comfortable soft and long-term loans.
Is
there a futuristic plan of Eko Business Dinner becoming a Business Club, with a
charter and membership opportunities and privilege?
That is
the intention. That is why this event is going to run on a quarterly basis. In
less than five years, we hope that the Eko Business Dinner would have evolved
into a movement and a point of reference on economic situational discussions
and practical solutions. It will morph into a forum that can be used to
influence government’s policy direction as it affects local and international
businesses.
What are your thoughts on the economic recession?
Any concrete ideas on how the Federal
Government can successfully navigate through these harsh times? As a strong
patriot, I believe that President Muhammadu Buhari and his technocrats,
including the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, are doing their best to
alleviate the situation. We need to focus on local manufacturing and
production, provide the necessary tools for increased export in food and meat
and diversification of the economy.
And we
are not in this for the long haul, because the administration is working pretty
hard to make sure we get out of the recession. I believe in Nigeria and I am
optimistic about poverty alleviation and trade/industrial growth of the nation.
With businesses closing and the massive job losses, do your
international partners and associates still think Nigeria is investment-worthy?
Although
it has become very bad at this point in our history, Nigeria, however, remains
a haven for investment because of our vast human and natural resources. We can
only continue to tell investors of the positive parts of our country,
especially our export potentials amongst others and make efforts to reduce or
share in their risk when they invest in Nigeria.
This is
what the EBD is doing: bringing Nigerians to share in the risk of investors who
bring their investments to the table in Nigeria. I would advise everyone that
makes business decisions to pick tickets to the Eko Business Dinner. They will
definitely be glad they did.
Any
word for Nigerian start-ups, who may be losing confidence amid the recession?
The word
recession comes from the word recess; which practically means a break or
holiday. Our economy is only on a break— a short break. We will bounce back
very shortly as President Buhari’s government is doing everything humanly
possible to make sure of this.
Source: Vanguard Business
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