…Three-day boot camp promotes practical business knowledge, mentorship and problem-solving mindset among aspiring entrepreneurs.
The Oselobua Family Foundation has organised the 2026 Youth Entrepreneurship Boot Camp 2.0, a three-day capacity-building programme aimed at equipping 200 young Nigerians with practical entrepreneurial knowledge, digital skills and the mindset required to build sustainable businesses.
The programme, held from November 4 to 6, 2026, was themed From Ideas to Impact: Launching Tomorrow’s Enterprises Today. Designed for students, aspiring entrepreneurs, innovators, creative writers and other young people, the initiative sought to bridge the gap between entrepreneurial ideas and the practical competencies required to translate them into viable business opportunities.
The training covered artificial intelligence and emerging digital tools, online money-making and digital income generation, e-commerce, freelancing, financial literacy, business planning and product development.
Speaking at the opening session, Godwin Ihansekhien, Chairman of OSEFAFO, emphasised that having an idea was only the beginning of the entrepreneurial journey.
He noted that creativity and preparation were essential to turning ideas into successful ventures, encouraging participants to observe their environment, identify challenges and explore opportunities to develop practical solutions.
Taiwo Shekoni, Guest Speaker, delivered a presentation titled The Power of Starting Small and Progressing in the Fear of God. He urged participants to be intentional about their ambitions, seek divine direction and develop ideas that align with their purpose.
Shekoni also emphasised the importance of shutting out distractions, building the capacity to execute ideas and maintaining relationships that support personal and professional growth. He encouraged young people to avoid negative influences and identify clear pathways to success.
Odio Esugo, Special Guest of Honour, spoke on The Making of Great Achievers and the Journey to the Pinnacle of Success. He identified vision, the right mindset and core competencies as important foundations for achievement.
Esugo also highlighted curiosity, resilience, networking and consistency as essential habits for personal and professional development, stressing the importance of mentorship and the God factor in the pursuit of success.
In another presentation, Michael Olorunfemi shared entrepreneurial insights and good practices drawn from Rotary, highlighting the role of entrepreneurship in economic growth.
He explained that entrepreneurship was not a get-rich-quick scheme and that the journey was rarely linear, requiring individuals to develop the ability to recognise and respond to change.
Olorunfemi also introduced the concept of intrapreneurship, explaining that people in conventional nine-to-five employment could apply entrepreneurial principles within their organisations by identifying problems, improving processes and creating value.
On the growing influence of technology, he observed that artificial intelligence had democratised access to knowledge and created opportunities for entrepreneurs to accomplish tasks that previously required significant resources.
He encouraged participants to leverage AI for market research, developing solutions, improving products and strengthening marketing efforts.
The boot camp’s digital skills component also explored opportunities in e-commerce, freelancing and other online ventures, while its business foundation sessions addressed financial literacy, business planning and product development.
The Foundation’s initiative reflects the growing importance of equipping young Nigerians with the competencies to participate in an increasingly digital economy, create economic opportunities and contribute to national development.
By combining practical entrepreneurship training, technology, mentorship and personal development, the programme encouraged participants to move beyond ideas and take concrete steps towards building enterprises.
The central message of the 2026 edition was that successful entrepreneurship requires more than inspiration. It demands purpose, preparation, problem-solving, resilience and the discipline to execute.
Through the Youth Entrepreneurship Boot Camp, the Oselobua Family Foundation seeks to encourage a generation of young people who will not only recognise opportunities but also develop the capacity to create them.
