In order to start and build a successful business, aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners have been advised to be courageous and resilient, two necessary conditions for overcoming obstacles critical to business growth and success. The Chairman of NOVA Merchant Bank Limited, Mr. Phillips Oduoza gave the advice on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 while delivering the Convocation Lecture to the 2017/2018 Leo Graduating Class at Babcock University in Ilisan Remo, Ogun State.

Mr. Oduoza, who was the former Group Managing Director/CEO of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, said: “Courage and Resilience are character traits common amongst all entrepreneurs who have been successful as it enabled them to take risks and overcome various obstacles on the road to success.”

Explaining further, Mr. Oduoza stated courage is not the absence of fear but the ability to persist in spite of it while resilience is the ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change.

Mr. Oduoza challenged Nigerian youths to take advantage of opportunities currently available in the country, especially in agriculture, FinTech, arts and entertainment. “The government’s focus on the diversification of the Nigerian economy has created opportunities across the agriculture value chain for aspiring entrepreneurs covering inputs (e.g. fertilizer), farming, storage, processing, manufacturing and transportation. The tech startup ecosystem in Nigeria is awash with opportunities for young entrepreneurs to create innovative solutions to address many of the structural issues facing the country. Emerging areas such as FinTech, the sharing economy, artificial intelligence amongst others present opportunities to start innovative businesses,” he said.

On what graduands and aspiring entrepreneurs could learn from his personal life, Mr. Oduoza said young business leaders should seek knowledge, build a strong network, be true to themselves but most importantly “must work very hard, no matter how intelligent you are. It is very rare to find a successful person who is not a hard-working person. There is no substitute for hard work.”

Also speaking at the event Professor Adeola S. Tayo, the President/Vice Chancellor, Babcock University, Ilisan Remo eulogised Oduoza, whom he described as a loyal friend of the institution, acknowledging his efforts in forging a good relationship between Babcock University and his former institution.

“There is no better person to speak at this event than Mr. Oduoza who having had a successful tenure as CEO of one of Africa’s largest financial institutions, midwifed the birth of a new Merchant Bank which has achieved many feats in its first year of operation.”

•Photo shows Chairman, NOVA Merchant Bank Limited and Convocation Lecturer, Mr. Phillips Oduoza (R) being received by the President/Vice Chancellor, Babcock University, Ilisan Remo, Professor Adeola S. Tayo on his arrival in Babcock University for its University Convocation Lecture held at Ilisan Remoon Wednesday.