The Lagos State Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has called on business owners in Nigeria to provide a mentorship for the upcoming entrepreneurs so as to create a room for replacement in case of old age or any other reason that might render them inactive in the business world.

This call was made on Tuesday at the LCCI 10th entrepreneurship and mentoring graduation ceremony where over 100 small and medium enterprise owners were given membership certificate after the completion of training and mentorship programme organized for them by the Chamber.

Speaking on the need for business owners to provide mentorship for the younger ones, LCCI President, Asiwaju Michael Olawale Cole stated that it is not enough to make wealth or create wealth, business leaders must also develop people who will create future wealth.

He said, “this is a good chance for the younger ones in this nation. When we mentor them like this and they start their businesses, that will deter them from going out of the country. We’ve done close to a thousand and this is the 10th anniversary. And with that, we are going to do a lot more from next year because there is so much gap outside.”

The LCCI boss further disclosed that there are people who had education but have no job in their hands. He is of the belief that if the veterans in the industry can develop people to be entrepreneurs, they will in turn, build the economy, create employment, pay taxes to government and make more people stay here rather than leaving the country to where they have no hope.

“I have told them this is a nation with great potentials. There is no other country they can go that they will enjoy like their own nation. The younger ones must be encouraged that this is a country of their future. They can aspire to be anything in this country,” he said.

Also corroborating his views, Mrs Mojisola Bakare, Vice president, LCCI expressed confidence that the mentees will go a long way considering the trainings and mentorship they have received in the chamber.

She urged them to leverage on the gains of their trainings to enhance their businesses and their personal lives, noting that they have now become a huge benefits to the society. She advised enterprenurs across the country to take a cue from LCCI mentorship programme to create future wealth and undying legacies.

One of the graduates, Olawale Korede Akanni said the training was an awesome experience, noting they were not only trained but were also shown how to do it. He revealed that LCCI has provided a platform for his business to expand and grow.