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Nigerian entrepreneurs were hosted at the 10th edition of the LEAP Africa CEOs Forum. The grand event took place on June 9th at the Oriental Hotel in Victoria Island with hundreds of business executives in attendance. LEAP Africa  – Leadership Effectiveness Accountability Professionalism – is one of Nigeria’s leading development and non-profit organisations and strives to empower and equip youths and entrepreneurs. Its end goal is to transform Nigerians into dynamic and ethical leaders who will in turn improve economic development in Africa. It was founded by Mrs. Ndidi Nwuneli in 2002 and has impacted over 40,000 individuals since conception. This year’s forum was centered on the theme, Staying Ahead – Maximizing Profit and Mitigating Risks with a focus on small and medium scale entrepreneurs. Speakers included MD/CEO of Nestle Nigeria, Mr. Dharnesh Gordhon, who primarily emphasized the inevitability of risks in entrepreneurship. “Every business person has to embrace risk,” he mentioned. “Embracing risks is in the DNA of every entrepreneur.” He was also quick to point out that entrepreneurs are natural risk takers regardless, considering their willingness to leave a 9 to 5 job for the uncertainty of entrepreneurial success. The second half of the event comprised an interactive panel featuring the Executive Director of Finance and Strategy, Sterling Bank, Abubakar Suleiman who shared thoughts on financial risks in business operations.”Financial risks start the day you start your business,” he noted. Mr. Suleiman identified the role of banks in providing counsel to reduce undesired financial risks, and the failure of many SME owners to document past successes. This ultimately affects their chances of getting funding from banks who prefer the documentation to forecasts of future cashflow. Another panelist, Adepeju Adebajo, MD/CEO of Lafarge Cement Nigeria identified the ease in risk manageability with the implementation of certain strategies – the identification of risks ahead of time, treatment of risks through insurance and their outsourcing if the need arises. In addition,  the audience was encouraged to remain optimistic at all times. “Don’t be so risk averse that you refuse to leave your house and miss your opportunities,” she stated. Oluwole Oshin represented the insurance industry on the panel, highlighting the sector’s low penetration rate in Nigeria due to mistrust by citizens. According to Oshin, this is disadvantageous to entrepreneurs who need the support given by the sector to manage risk. “The only way to grow your business and take it to the next level without having to look back is to transfer that risk to another existing party like an insurance company,” he stated. The last executive on the panel, Claire Omatseye, focused on the concept of building a corporate culture of risk management. “Leadership and employees must understand what risk is,” she said. She also explained that employees must be informed by their employers of the risks being faced by their companies and be encouraged to operate as intrapreneurs. “If something goes wrong, we shouldn’t blame the administration but ourselves.” The conference ended with an engaging question and answer session and the launch of LEAP’s latest book, The Art Of Managing Risks, which is available for sale.  
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This article was first published on 10th June 2015

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Ify Halim is a Writer and media enthusiast based in Lagos. She enjoys writing self-help/inspirational articles with published work in UYD Magazine, Edufrica, Our Stories Inc. and The Keele Concourse. She currently works at ConnectNigeria.com, Nigeria’s Information Portal. Follow her on Twitter @MissHalim or visit her online space at ifyhalim.wordpress.com

Comments (25)

25 thoughts on “LEAP Africa Empowers Guests at 10th Annual CEOs Forum”

  • Ndubuisi Ebuka Ivan

    Staying Ahead- Maximizing Profit
    & Mitigating Risk #CNGiveaway

    Reply
  • Ndubuisi Ifeanyi Oscar

    Staying Ahead- Maximizing Profit & Mitigating Risk
    #CNGiveaway

    Reply
  • Maxwell Omada

    Staying Ahead – Maximizing Profit and Mitigating Risks ‪#‎CNGiRisks.. GLO‬

    Reply
  • Fela Moo’Gentle Adesola

    Staying Ahead- Maximizing Profit & Mitigating Risk ‪#‎ CNGiveaway‬

    Reply
  • Peace Ndu

    Staying Ahead – Maximizing Profit and
    Mitigating Risks #CNGiRisks.. MTN

    Reply
  • Osigwe Paschal

    Staying Ahead- Maximizing Profit & Mitigating Risk #CNGiveaway

    Reply
  • Adegbenle sherif

    Staying Ahead- Maximizing Profit & Mitigating Risk with a focus on small and medium scale entrepreneurs #CNGiveaway

    Reply
  • Simeon Udoh

    Staying Ahead – Maximizing
    Profit and Mitigating Risks #CNGiveaway

    Network : MTN

    Reply
  • Osigwe Paschal

    Staying Ahead- Maximizing Profit & Mitigating Risk #CNGiveaway

    Etisalat

    Reply
  • OBODO KINGSLEY

    Staying Ahead- Maximizing Profit & Mitigating Risk
    #CNGiveaway

    Reply
  • Nnamdi Stephen Ezeh

    Staying Ahead – Maximizing Profit and Mitigating Risks #CNGiRisks….MTN

    Reply
  • OBODO KINGSLEY

    Staying Ahead- Maximizing Profit & Mitigating Risk
    #CNGiveaway GLO

    Reply
  • Olawumi Enoch Opeyemi

    Staying Ahead- Maximizing Profit & Mitigating Risk
    #CNGiveaway

    Reply
  • idris tolulope john

    staying ahead- Maximizing profit and mitigating Risk #CNGiveaway…etisalat

    Reply
  • Olawumi Enoch Opeyemi

    Staying Ahead- Maximizing Profit & Mitigating Risk
    #CNGiveaway MTN

    Reply
  • Chiamaka Emmanuella Onuoha

    Staying Ahead- Maximizing profit & Mitigating Risk. #CNGiveaway MTN

    Reply
  • shola araoye

    The Theme is: Staying Ahead – Maximizing Profit and
    Mitigating Risks with a focus on small and medium scale entrepreneurs. Speakers included MD/CEO of Nestle Nigeria, Mr. Dharnesh Gordhon. #CNGiveaway

    Reply
  • Idagu shalom

    Staying Ahead – Maximizing Profit and Mitigating Risks ‪#‎CNGiRisks.. Mtn

    Reply
  • Ademola Adelugba

    Staying Ahead: Maximising Profit and Mitigating Risks #CNGiveaway #AIRTEL

    Reply
  • Funmi Ademosu

    Staying ahead- Maximising profit and mitigating risks #CNGiveaway
    Airtel

    Reply
  • Ikenna Attama

    Staying ahead- Maximising profit and mitigating risks….. Network MTN

    Reply
  • Segun ufayo agboju

    Staying Ahead – Maximizing
    Profit and Mitigating Risks #CNGiveaway
    Network : AIRTEL

    Reply
  • Connectnigeria

    We want to thank everybody that participated!

    Answer : Staying Ahead – Maximizing Profit and Mitigating Risks #CNGiveaway

    We did not ask you to include your network in the writeup, just the theme and #CNGiveaway not #CNGiRisks followed by MTN etc.

    Congratulations to “Simeon Udoh” for his/her accuracy in response, you will be contacted via email tomorrow.

    Connectnigeria has another giveaway on Saturday, stay glued and stay blessed.

    Reply
  • Ndubuisi Ebuka Ivan

    I was the first to get this right… Is unfair and very bad

    Reply
  • Connectnigeria

    Mr Ndubuisi Ebuka Ivan there is no “s” after the Risk, that was what disqualified you. More competitions coming up though,hopefully you would win the next time

    Reply

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