FLASHBACK: Beady’s Word Business Summit, lending support to physically challenged, navigating rough Nigerian terrains

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The 2023 Business Summit and fair has gone to the annals of history no doubt, but indeed the messages and signals sent were with strong vibration and reminders of the saying that the ‘farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see’.

The realities dawned on the fact that Small and Medium Enterprises(SMEs) in Nigeria are being suffocated through taxation, extortions and very many harsh government policies.

Beady in a warm embrace with one of the physically challenged persons at the summit in 2023

In Nigeria, so many physically challenged persons in their determination to prove that there is ability in disability, and avowed efforts to exceed expectations are caught in the crossroads of wicked policies and faceless extortionist who are but agents of those in government who are supposed to support and protect fellow Nigerians.

According to Beatrice Nnanna, convener of the summit, Nigerian economy is going down by the day because nothing on ground to attract foreign exchange, the dollar. Foreign trips by those in government in the guise of attracting foreign investments are but jamborees.

Nigerians and their government patronize foreign products. Major software development projects are unfortunately carried out outside the country.

So long as the country continues to import vehicles from Japan and China, similar of which were being assembled here in Nigerian in the 1980; and continue to import virtually all other items and vehicle components that were manufactured here then in the 80s when exchange rate was $1 to 0.80k.

At one of the exhibition stands in 2023

Unrelenting in importing such products as toilet WCs, shoes, textiles, tyres, vehicle batteries, windshields, vono products producing vehicle seats to mention but a few, we cannot get our economy rebound.

The summit further called on Nigerians to embrace Knowledge Economy just like other prosperous, strong and viable economies rather than Religion Economy held to by Nigerian and other third world countries which on its own runs contrary to God’s injunction to man to rule over the earth, and to apply the brains given.

Here, everything depends on religion. The rich and prosperous nations of the world belong to the Knowledge Economy while the poorest and poverty stricken nations of the world belong to the Religion Economy.

The knowledge Economy is one that engages the brain, asks relevant questions, and proffers solutions to problems. The Religion Economy is one that blackmails God and dumps every responsibility on him not hard work in ingenuity.

The Knowledge Economy tasks the brain, the Religion Economy blunts the brain. Japan for example is a knowledge Economy. It has no natural resource but it is a prosperous nation, one of the richest on the planet earth.

At least six of every ten cars on Nigerian roads today are Japan made. Japan is not a religious country, but it is one of the most corrupt-free nations. China is also not a religious country.

Beady however stated then, “lets listen to experts, we will be better off by the time we are leaving. This is the best time for action, we have prayed enough.”

A former senator, philanthropist and entrepreneur per excellence Senator Anthoney Adefuye, who was a speaker at the event said Nigerians are brainy and ingenious all they need is encouragement.

A physically challenged receiving award at the summit

Senator Adefuye urged government, organization and wealthy individuals to make money accessible to the youths especially the physically challenged persons so that they can excel.

On business support and regulation, he enjoined the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control(NAFDAC) to sustain their support and regulation efforts, encourage Nigerians to build confidence in the agency to be able to control and sanitize the system.

He regretted that most SMEs rather than engaging NAFDAC or other regulatory agencies for their needs and certification resort to patronizing third parties.

On registration fees physically challenged SME owners pay to NAFDAC, he urged NAFDAC to further bring down the fees to support such persons who have refused to give up.

Other speakers were drawn from SMEs, NAFDAC, NGO’s and others. There was exhibitions of wares by several companies and organizations especially physically challenged persons, award to deserving Nigerians including physically challenged persons.

The 2023 summit no doubt put smile on the faces of some of the physically challenged persons with senator Adefuye donating some android phones to them to aid their businesses.

As the 2024 summit holds today 17th October, 2024 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja themed: “Tech-forward Entrepreneurship: navigating digital transformation for SME Success,” taking a leap and support base to the 2023 theme of SMEs in Uncertain Economic Terrain-Analysing Issues, Options and a way out”, it promises to offer opportunities and way out to Nigerians at a time like this.