LEAP Africa is constantly looking at ways of boosting the economy through support for Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs). This was showcased recently by eminent speakers at the 12th edition of LEAP Africa CEO forum. Discussed topics included: Corporate Governance and Leadership in Business Sustainability; People Management for Operational Success; Gearing up for Success –Financial Planning and Management; as well as Innovation and Marketing.
Fabian Ajogwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Lagos Business School Professor of Corporate Governance and Tara Fela-Durotoye, Chief Executive Officer and Creative Director, House of Tara International took the participants through Corporate Governance and Leadership in Business Sustainability.
Edith Azinge, chairperson of the Asaba ELCA Foundation spoke on People Management for Operational Success; Omolara Akinfolarin, who leads the MSME team in Sterling Bank Plc spoke on Gearing up for Success –Financial Planning and Management; while Nnamdi Ezeigbo, a seasoned social entrepreneur who is the Founder & CEO of SLOT Systems Limited spoke on Innovation and Marketing.
While issues such as challenges the SMEs encounter when facing rapid growth were addressed, the forum also addressed certain considerations taken during the growth lifecycle and guided entrepreneurs in identifying and understanding people management, strategies.
The 12th LEAP Africa CEOs forum aimed to support SMEs development in Nigeria and equip business owners with the skills necessary to build sustainable organisations.
Established in 2002, Leadership, Effectiveness, Accountability and Professionalism (LEAP) Africa is a leadership development non-profit organisation working with funders and partners across the world to provide opportunities for disadvantaged or underserved communities through visionary youth, business owners and social entrepreneurs.
LEAP Africa has impacted over 40,000 individuals through its core programmes across Nigerian States including FCT; and supported its youth beneficiaries to initiate over 1,000 change projects in communities.
Ndidi Nwuneli, Founder, LEAP Africa believes that Nigerian companies had survived the downturn, adding that they were expected to continue to explore ways to stay afloat.
She noted that the more successful businesses become, the higher the stakes that can impede an entrepreneur’s success with respect to balancing growth with profitability.