The Founder of Builders' Hub Impact Investment Project, Barr. Natasha Akpoti has launched her Enterprise Hunt in Kabba, Kogi State as part of the one thousand communities targeted by the project across Nigeria.
The launch took place Friday (yesterday) at the palace of Obaro of Kabba in Okunland, Kogi West senatorial district.
Local manufacturers including artisans, masons and Adire makers showcased their crafts in apparent competition for adoption by the Builders Hub for enhanced productivity.
Most spectacular among the exhibited product was an exercise bicycle built from scratch by a local blacksmith and proudly displayed to the bewilderment of the audience. According to Natasha, such effort required little support to advance its production.
The team is expected to at the Palace of Atta Igala, Ameh Ogboni's palace on Monday, December 21st for the Kogi east launch of the project.
THE LAUNCH OF BUILDERS HUB IMPACT INVESTMENT PROGRAM AT OKUN AT THE PALACE OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS, THE OBARO OF KABBA as captured by Dr. Okeme Arome
The event, which was initially slated for November 21st and
28th was postponed on the grounds of the Governorship elections, but
was finally held today, 18/12/15 at about 11am.
Undaunted by the previous disappointments stemming from the
previous postponements, the palace of his royal highness, the Obaro of
Kabba, was thronged with an unprecedented crowd that was surprisingly
well behaved and ruly. They included, women leaders, heads of artisans,
youths and students alike.
The distinguished table shone with the habilaments of
royalty and authority as his majesty the obaro of kabba led the various
Obas of Okun land, dignitaries and other prominent sons and daughters of
okunland from far and wide to the epochal event.
After the opening prayer, delivered quite fervently by a
son of the soil, the welcome address by the spokesperson of the obaro
led to an opening remark by the guest speaker and convener of the event
in person of the CEO of Builders HUB impact investment program, Bar.
Natasha Akpoti. She spoke glowingly about the aims and objectives of the
group which, amongst other things, included grooming entrepreneurs,
empowering them and opening up the local as well as the international
markets for their wares as a way of stimulating national growth and
development. She described herself as a barrister who has been through
thick and thin but through sheer determination, zeal and will power has
dared all odds to succeed and believes everyone has the same potential
to succeed as well.
The compere of the August event then invited his royal
majesty, the obaro of kabba to also give an opening remark and welcome
the guests. His was majestic and modest. He described the C.E.O as 'a
messiah to okun land and Nigeria as a whole' harping on the need for
entrepreneurs to align themselves with the ideas of the CEO in order to
benefit maximally.
The lecture proper commenced with the barrister and
resource person giving practical examples of how raw materials could be
used and improved upon into finished goods thereby adding value and
maximizing profit as much as possible. She emphasized the need for
self-actualization and determination.
In her words, " the first step
to success is knowing thyself, because in so doing you would be
productive to yourself, then your immediate family, community, state and
country as a whole. Nigeria can only metamorphose from a consumer of
imported goods to a self-sufficient and exporting nation only when
entrepreneurs are made. The biggest economies in the world are run by
entrepreneurs. J F Kennedy's revolutionary quote should be our driving
force. He said, ' Ask not what your country can do for you but what you
can do for your country'". She spoke passionately, adeptly and
succinctly in words as simple as possible while driving home her points.
The beauty of her words were only surpassed by her elegance and
resplendence. Artisans present at the event included mechanics,
carpenters, masons, adire makers, weavers ecetera. She challenged them
all to come up with marketable inventions as contacts have been
concluded on opening up the market for them both locally and
internationally. She frowned at the incessant reliance on foreign goods
which are not as authentic as our home made goods, especially those
imported from China. She reiterated the fact that the western world
would not survive without our raw materials and urged entrepreneurs to
take up the challenge of using our heritage to increase our relevance
and more importantly grow our economy. In closing she quoted Theodore
Roosevelt, America's 26th president as saying, " Do what you can, with
what you have, where you are".
She was greeted by a resounding standing ovation as she made her way back to her seat.
Vote of thanks was given by His royal highness, Alh. Rabiu
Oladimeji Sule, the Oba of Ogidi and Dr. okeme Arome while the closing
prayer was said by Hajia Sabihat Ohize-Babamba.
Gallery of the Kabba Launch:
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