Rotary International District 9112 has held its Community Economic Development Seminar in Lagos, bringing together experts, entrepreneurs, and members of the club to explore practical pathways for translating skills into sustainable enterprises that can drive local and national prosperity.
The event, held at the Rotary Centre, GRA Ikeja which focused on Rotary’s core area of community economic development, provided participants with tools and knowledge to enhance entrepreneurship, strengthen local economies, and foster inclusive growth across Nigeria.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Femi Egbesola, National President of the Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON), emphasized the need to bridge the gap between skill acquisition and enterprise creation.
According to him, “We discovered that Nigerians have a lot of skills, but the gap is how to translate those skills into enterprises. “Skills alone cannot feed us — it is enterprise that can. We must embrace entrepreneurship and business literacy to take advantage of government policies and opportunities that support small businesses.”
Egbesola called on government and the private sector to increase support for entrepreneurs, highlighting the importance of scalable and sustainable businesses in job creation and poverty reduction.
“We must encourage people to start wherever they are with whatever they have. Nigeria has a vibrant youth population and a large market; we must take advantage of this to build our economy.”
He also stressed the collective role of all sectors — government, corporate bodies, NGOs, and individuals — in promoting entrepreneurship while urging Nigerians to patronize locally made products and include small businesses in corporate value chains.
“The only way we can encourage entrepreneurship is by buying Made-in-Nigeria products. We must see Nigeria as our home and build wealth here together,” he said.
He thereby advised participants to move from being skill holders to entrepreneurs.
“Everyone here must be intentional about starting a business or growing the one they have. That’s how we can create jobs, reduce poverty, and drive real economic development in Nigeria,” he added.
Rotarian Lanre Adedoyin, District Governor of Rotary International District 9112, while speaking in an interview explained that the seminar was designed to equip Rotarians and non-Rotarians with practical knowledge on how to drive community-based economic development.
“Economic prosperity is very important to us. In Rotary, community economic development is one of our seven areas of focus. We brought experts and professionals together to educate us on growing local economies, increasing entrepreneurial skills, enhancing microcredit schemes, and supporting small businesses, especially for those with low income levels.”
Similarly, Rotarian Faith Ikems, Past President of the Rotary Club of Arepo Long Bridge and current District Chair for Community Economic Development, said that the October seminar was part of Rotary’s monthly themed activities to deepen community impact.
“Community Economic Development is not just a Rotary Area of Focus; it is the heartbeat of sustainable progress. When we empower individuals with knowledge, skills, and opportunities, we preserve dignity, we help families rise out of poverty, we strengthen communities, we build a foundation for peace and prosperity, and finally we give hope for a brighter tomorrow.
“Rotary is about imparting lives positively, and this gathering helps us learn how to do that better. Rotarians should go back and do bolder projects that will benefit their communities, while business owners and young participants should apply the ideas they’ve learned today.
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