There is increasing social and political awareness of the importance of entrepreneurship and its contributions to national and global economy. The realization in the recent time of the contribution of entrepreneurship to social welfare as well as to sustainable economy places great demand on the need for an inclusive entrepreneurial activity within the business objectives. In this sense, entrepreneurship seems to gain prominence among scholars and practitioners. Entrepreneurship is known to be a driving force behind economic growth. Some of the world’s most popular products and everyday items were created by entrepreneurs. They seemingly started off as simple ideas that needed a well organized plan and funding. It is further known that the small businesses are the ones creating jobs, innovating and making life better for everybody. One of the most balancing acts that entrepreneurship plays is to address the needs of today’s core business while simultaneously investing in tomorrow’s opportunities. Entrepreneurs are viewed as undertakers in a unique business venture that is innovative. In most cases, such business venture works to present something new to the prospective market. This however requires significant amount of planning and understanding of the needs of the potential market.
However, entrepreneurs today are confronted with a world of disruptive change by new digital technologies, economic volatility, crypto-currencies, new modes of knowledge creation and storage; which have created national and global challenges; Nigerian nation and her states being not an exception. Being embedded into these dynamic environments, it is paramount that entrepreneurs must reactively adapt to these changes and further actively explore and exploit new opportunities. Managing opportunity as a part of entrepreneurial portfolio can help to address the need of the present without hindering the future. Furthermore, opportunity managing extends to healthy, vibrant economies and societies through entrepreneurial activities. Any nation short of entrepreneurial culture and activities loses its resiliency and is more subject to sudden shocks and changes which it can never recover. Recognizing the critical importance and role of entrepreneurship in advancing the national economy towards sustainability and resiliency in the 21st century, calls the need for National Entrepreneurship Conference and Exhibition, in our learning institutions, and market place with the apt theme of “Exploring Entrepreneurial Opportunities in 21st Century”.
As a step towards promoting and advancing entrepreneurial culture and activities, in our nation, the conference and exhibition shall unleash opportunities inherent in entrepreneurship through presentations and various exhibitions. The event shall convene a range of experts and practitioners from government, business community, and academia to highlight and further discuss approaches on local and national levels on entrepreneurial opportunities and how to effectively harness them to profitability. It is expected to address and provide platform for the need of the youths to identify entrepreneurship job creation, self reliant, opportunities towards economic development and empowerment.
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION
The 1st National Entrepreneurship Conference and Exhibition is an event organized by Society for Economic Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Development (SEEED) in collaboration with Kano State Polytechnic and support from other institutions and agencies. The event is an opportunity exploring lab and design framework which seeks to make entrepreneurship bear fruit for the people especially among the youths, business community, academia, etc. It will ensure that economic issues and ground realities which impacts entrepreneurship growth and harnessing will be reflected and crafted in the new way of thinking and doing business. It will serve as a forum and platform for discussion and exchange information on entrepreneurship research, development, advancement, and application of entrepreneurial realities. It spans all disciplines and levels of education and speaks of partnership that ensures the delivery of results.
Importantly, the event shall be a unique forum, to converge participants together from cross cultural background, and disciplines to hone and discuss issues relating to entrepreneurship and new business that shall proffer solutions. It shall focus on such national studies that illuminate policy issues and subsequently stimulate strategies for innovation, creativity, economic empowerment and development, which defines entrepreneurship opportunities for the 21st century and beyond.