The Terra Academy for the Arts (TAFTA) has called on the Federal and state governments to improve security and introduce tax rebates and other incentives to help young entrepreneurs establish and grow sustainable businesses.

The Academy Lead, TAFTA, Joseph Umoibom, made the call on Saturday at the second edition of the Ogun Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme organised by TAFTA in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta.

Umoibom identified insecurity as a major obstacle to entrepreneurship, particularly in the creative industry, where businesses may require people to move around and work beyond conventional hours.

He said the government must provide an environment where entrepreneurs can operate safely and freely.

Speaking on measures that could boost entrepreneurship, Umoibom said, “The first and foremost thing is creating the enabling environment, and this starts with safety and security. Especially for creative businesses that a lot of times may need people to come out. If the environment is not safe, will I go out?

“Sometimes people are skeptical about going out after a certain hour because of safety. Safety is the most important, and in fact, it should be the priority of any government. People should be able to move freely at any hour of the day or night within a country.

“Nigerians are talented and hardworking; they want to work, but sometimes the environment does not allow you because you are not safe out there.

“And then, you see the government coming with crazy taxes, businesses that have not even started, that are trying to find their footing, and you come with taxes that they will be struggling with. Why don’t you have tax rebates and incentives for young people starting businesses? The government should look into all these areas.”

He also advised young entrepreneurs to build their careers around integrity and problem-solving.

“Young entrepreneurs must prioritise integrity because people should be able to trust you to want to do business with you. People lose it when they start cutting corners, and people are now doubting; nobody wants to patronise you, nobody wants to partner with you.

“Look for how to solve a problem, because people will pay to have their problems solved. If you’re doing a business that is not solving anybody’s problem, you will struggle.

“But if I have a problem, and I turn around and I see a business that can solve that problem, I’ll patronise that person. And I bet that I’m not the only person that has that problem. I’ll tell other people, ‘Ah, I’ve found a solution.’ That’s the spirit of business.”

The Programme Manager for Ogun State, TAFTA, Oluwafemi Oluwasuyi, said the academy, working with the Mastercard Foundation, had trained more than 67,000 young Nigerians across Lagos, Ogun and Kano states over the past four years.

He added that more than 25,000 young people had been trained in Ogun State alone.

According to Oluwasuyi, the three-day programme held its first two days virtually, while the final session took place physically in Abeokuta. About 400 young women participated in the second cohort, which was designed to provide entrepreneurial knowledge, mentorship and business support.

TAFTA has also trained young people across Lagos, Ogun and Kano states in creative skills including sound design, lighting design, scriptwriting, animation and arts business.

Oluwasuyi said the intervention goes beyond training, with beneficiaries receiving support to secure employment, access freelance opportunities or establish their own businesses.

“As part of the training, the Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme is to develop and groom those of them that want to go into entrepreneurship.

“We bring in experts, people that have been in business, started from scratch and have been successful. We bring in facilitators that can guide them and show them how to thrive and be successful in this difficult business economy that Nigeria is in.”

He said participants also received networking opportunities, business mentorship and support to move from developing business ideas to establishing and scaling viable enterprises.

Some beneficiaries had already registered their businesses and were making progress, while others were still at the early stages of establishing their enterprises, he said.

Oluwasuyi added that TAFTA was supporting beneficiaries through free business registration, mentorship and information on grant opportunities.

The Ogun State Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Adebola Sofela, represented by the Director of Investment, Ms Oluwayemisi Folarin, said the state government recognised the role of women entrepreneurs in economic growth, job creation and community development.

Sofela commended TAFTA for the initiative, saying programmes such as WEDP could help entrepreneurs bridge the gap between having a business idea and building enterprises capable of surviving and creating jobs.

He urged participants to embrace technology, keep proper business records, understand their customers, build strong brands and maintain quality and integrity.

The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Oluwasesan Fagbayi, also praised TAFTA for organising the programme, noting that culture, creativity, tourism and entrepreneurship were interconnected drivers of development.

Fagbayi, represented by the Deputy Director, Tourism Development and Promotion, Mr Abdurasak Abdusalam, said women played significant roles in the state’s creative industries, tourism value chain, cultural preservation and entrepreneurship.

He urged the participants to maximise the knowledge, networks and opportunities provided through the programme.

Source: Punch