Become a main street ceramics entrepreneur, expert advises youths
By Abolaji Adebayo
Following the trend of massive youth unemployment, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Epina Technologies Limited, Prof. Patrick Oaikhinan has charge the youths especially in Oshodi-Isolo to leverage on the potentials the ceramic sector to create jobs for themselves instead of waiting for unavailable government jobs.
Speaking to Echonews in his office at the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), the Professor of ceramics highlighted various aspects of ceramics that could create entrepreneurship with little training on how to process, manufacture and market ceramics products.
According to him, ceramic manufacturing is a purpose-driven business that can help meet important community needs, develop a supporting cast, use a host of resources other than money, work with a zealous tenacity, diversify revenue streams, give back to the broader community, and live life joyfully.
He said, “Presently, job opportunities are limited in Nigeria. The important question today is not “How do I find a job?” but rather “How do I create my own job?” To answer this question successfully, we need to view ourselves as our own unique enterprise and develop the attitude and skills to succeed.
“Ceramic manufacturing business is an important need in our nation where importation is over $800 million (about N287.7billion) this year, up from $600 million (N215billion) in 2014. Today, Nigeria occupies the eighth position among the top eighteen emerging economies in terms of ceramics trade. It is also the only country in this group that does not have a ceramics export programme despite her abundant solid mineral resources.”
The Technologies Guru therefore beckoned to the youths to take advantage of impactful training organized at FIIRO to help a main street entrepreneur to develop ceramic products and services, cultivate multiple streams of revenue, and operate effectively in tight-knit communities across Nigeria.
