Nigeria’s next generation of billionaires would be innovators, says Osinbajo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday in Kano, predicted that Nigeria’s next generation of billionaires would be innovators.

Osinbajo, who made the assertion during the Northern Regional Students Innovation Challenge final, held at Dangote Business School, Bayero University Kano (BUK), said that hitherto, Nigeria’s billionaires, were traders, as well as Oil and Gas moguls,

but projected that in a few years time, ”the billionaires from Nigeria would be techies, that is people like you seated here. We have no doubt that a good number of tomorrow’s billionaires are seated right here.”

According to him, the students’ Innovation Challenge is an initiative of the Federal Government, in collaboration with the private sector, which offers a platform for us to identify and support innovative-technology-driven business ideas and ventures across Nigerian universities.

”It allows young entrepreneurs to interface, with the government and with the business Sector as mentors, so as to receive support to grow and to groom their ideas.

“I understand that over 600 applications were received in the Northern part of the country and only 52 made the long list, and here we are today, the judges have done their job, and the best three have been selected.

“A journey to your dreams have started and you should strive to enjoy every moment of it, coupled with, all of its up and down.”

Also, the Vice President encouraged those, who could not make it to the Regional final long list, to accept their set back and disappointment as part of entrepreneurship life, which also is part of human life to never give up but try again.

”Those who emerged winners today in Lagos, would join their counterparts from Anambra, South-Eastern regional final next, weekend and the grand finale will take place in Abuja later this month.

“I am sure that all of you, who made it to this round today, will be joining that incredibly innovative team that we are looking forward to see in Abuja later this month.

“It is clear to all of us that the University is one of the most fertile grounds for the development of talents. We are optimistic that the Universities in Nigeria will play a vital role at incubators and accelerators for small and emerging business ventures, like the Stanford University whose story is known all over the world for its contributions.”

Furthermore, he said BUK, which is a citadel of radical social political ideas is already taking a huge step in this direction in collaboration with the Dangote Business School, which is yet another example of impactful public private collaboration.