Ali Baba, Others Reveal Shocking Secrets for Building Lasting Businesses in Africa at UBA Business Series in Lagos

By: Abdulwasiu Akintunde, Israel Adeleke, Olufemi Orunsola 

Entrepreneurs, business owners and members of the business community in Nigeria and Africa, were on Thursday thrilled to a session of shocking revelations of secrets for building lasting business as United Bank for Africa (UBA) hosted the 2024 Built-to-last Business Series in Lagos.

Speaking at the meeting, Nigerian multiple award winning creative entrepreneur and veteran comedian, Atunyota Alleluia Akpobome, professionally known as Ali Baba, shocked participants when he revealed that abstinence from dependence on substances to optimize performance is one of the top secrets for building a lasting business.

Ali Baba issued a stern warning to entrepreneurs across the world to avoid a lifestyle of substance abuse or dependence on drugs, noting that "if you depend on substances, you cannot substantiate your business or career." 

The veteran creative entrepreneur also rolled out a catalogue of time tested guidelines for building businesses that can survive harsh socio-economic realities of the business environment in Africa, business competitions and ultimately thrive against all the odds. 

Earlier at the event, the keynote speaker at the UBA business meeting, Flora  Mutahi who delivered her presentation via zoom all the way from Kenya, equally made startling revelations about the myriads of hurdles she faced as a female entrepreneur, noting that being apologetic, persistent and unafraid of debt are the primary secrets that can help female entrepreneurs in Africa to build lasting businesses.

Flora, who is a female entrepreneur with over 28 years experience in manufacturing, real estate and board governance in Kenya, encouraged female entrepreneurs in Africa to stand tall against all challenges in the business environment and command lasting success by being dynamic and open to learning.

Other Panelists at the business series, Tijani Tayo-Osikoya, popularly known as Chief T, as well as a Nigerian lawyer-turned celebrity photographer, Kelechi Amadi-Obi took turns to share invaluable strategies they have deployed to start, scale up, and sustain their entrepreneurship endeavors for decades with participants.

In his concluding remarks,the Group Head, UBA Retail and Digital Banking, Shamsideen Fashola, Reminisced on the huge investment of Nigerian billionaire entrepreneur, Tony Elumelu in human capacity development of young Nigerians since the era when he was former Managing Director/CEO of Standard Bank,noting that the keynote speakers at the Business Series have done justice to the essence of the initiative.

Fashola therefore thanked the key note speaker and all panelists for answering the clarion call of the bank to impact the business community in Africa with their unique strategic knowledge and shared experience required for building lasting businesses in Nigeria and Africa at large.

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News team members who participated in the UBA Business Series via Zoom report that the 2024 Business Series hosted by the United Bank for Africa (UBA) is an invaluable investment by the pan-African bank in the growth of vibrant and dynamic entrepreneurs in Nigeria, at a time when harsh socio-economic realities in Nigeria are taking negative tolls on the business community.