ENTREPRENEURSHIP SKILLS DEVELOPMENT: BEYOND PUBLIC SPEAKING

By Nnabugwu Chizoba

Dear All, Nigerian entrepreneurs and start-ups in particular,

The efforts to grow your business, talking of those in business already; or to go into one venture or the other as start-ups are without mincing words very noble, comparable to the effort of anybody in the land, the status or nomenclature ascribed to him/her notwithstanding.

The challenges that confront you in your bid to contribute to the overall process of building the national economy from which you benefit a little out of the much that you give, are not only enormous but often neglected by those who ordinarily should know better.

My intention in this piece is not to address your challenges but to take a swipe on something that I have observed, which you too are culprits by virtue of the fact that you are key promoter of it, albeit ignorantly. This makes you an assailant in one hand, and in the other a victim. What a dilemma?

Recently, the said incident occurred, unfortunately in a programme organized by an Agency of the federal government, to encourage, promote, develop, extend, refocus and reposition the activities, performance and reach of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), in Nigeria. 

I qualified the incident as unfortunate, not because it is new or strange within the government cycle, but because attempts have been made to stamp such, out from government quarters, and in particular those whose roles are considered very important and crucial for MSMEs operations in Nigeria. Their utterances (Government and her agencies), which convey readiness to improve the MSMEs run contrary to this.

The issue at stake is the persistent use of motivational speakers as entrepreneurship development Consultants and trainers, by the three tiers of government, their Agencies, boards and parastatals, various groups, organizations and individuals to develop entrepreneurship skills of Nigerian entrepreneurs. This is preposterous and inimical, it is a huge waste of scarce resources, a big flaw and fundamentally speaking, a very bad approach at laying the foundation of entrepreneurship and MSMEs development in Nigeria. 

Don’t get me wrong. Without any qualms I agree whole heartedly that motivational speaking is noble and equally necessary in Nigeria’s development. But frankly speaking, the job of motivation is totally different from developing the entrepreneurship skills of entrepreneurs, including the start-ups.  Motivational and inspirational speaking can move people to: rise up and acquire skills, develop further the skills they already have or look at the direction they are going, a second time, but definitely it does not give them the skills.

Motivational and inspirational talks or speeches can arouse the down trodden, the weak, the emotionally laden and the timid. It can challenge believe systems, question assumptions, increase confidence level, as well as shake the table and course people with skills that were hitherto not recognized to awake.

Motivational or inspirational speakers come under the umbrella name “Public Speakers”. If you cared and followed keenly, the trend in public speaking, they come handy, most especially, in times of reorientation, sensitization, awareness creation and public engagement. Sensitization and numerous other programmes are from time to time put in place to make people embrace entrepreneurship. Don’t be confused.

The danger of using motivational speakers in entrepreneurship skills development programmes, is easily manifest when you consider the impact on the psychology of Entrepreneurs and the unintended effect on their businesses who were told that quality packaging of their products puts them at advantage. And one of such advantages the speaker said, is the fact that a product that ordinarily sales as low as N150.00 (one hundred and fifty Naira) now sales at N850.00 (eight hundred and fifty Naira) and another that sales for N5.00 now sales for N35.00, in the local markets. This is of course after improved packaging.

Instead of continuing with this piece, I will live you to ponder over the statement above, its implications to the entrepreneurs, their businesses and MSMEs development in Nigeria. At the same time, I urge you to share your thought, opinion, views and conclusions through the commentary box. 

Remain blessed till I come again, to continue with the discourse…