By Chibuzor Alli
The Terra Academy for the Arts (TAFTA) has called for tax rebates, incentives and stronger security measures to help young entrepreneurs establish and grow sustainable businesses in Nigeria.
TAFTA Academy Lead, Joseph Umoibom, said insecurity and the tax burden were making it harder for emerging businesses, particularly those in the creative sector, to operate and expand.
He made the call on Saturday at the second edition of the Ogun Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme organised by TAFTA in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta.
Umoibom said security should be a priority for governments because creative businesses often require entrepreneurs and their workers to move around and operate beyond conventional working hours.
Speaking on measures needed to strengthen entrepreneurship, he said, “The first and foremost thing is creating the enabling environment, and this starts with safety and security. Especially for creative businesses that a lot of times may need people to come out. If the environment is not safe, will I go out?
“Sometimes people are skeptical about going out after a certain hour because of safety. Safety is the most important, and in fact, it should be the priority of any government. People should be able to move freely at any hour of the day or night within a country.
“Nigerians are talented and hardworking; they want to work, but sometimes the environment does not allow you because you are not safe out there.
“And then, you see the government coming with crazy taxes, businesses that have not even started, that are trying to find their footing, and you come with taxes that they will be struggling with. Why don’t you have tax rebates and incentives for young people starting businesses? The government should look into all these areas.”
The TAFTA Academy Lead also urged young entrepreneurs to build their businesses around integrity and the ability to solve real problems.
“Young entrepreneurs must prioritise integrity because people should be able to trust you to want to do business with you. People lose it when they start cutting corners, and people are now doubting; nobody wants to patronise you, nobody wants to partner with you.
“Look for how to solve a problem, because people will pay to have their problems solved. If you’re doing a business that is not solving anybody’s problem, you will struggle.
“But if I have a problem, and I turn around and I see a business that can solve that problem, I’ll patronise that person. And I bet that I’m not the only person that has that problem. I’ll tell other people, ‘Ah, I’ve found a solution.’ That’s the spirit of business.”
TAFTA Trains 67,000 Young Nigerians
Programme Manager for Ogun State, TAFTA, Oluwafemi Oluwasuyi, said the academy, working with the Mastercard Foundation, had trained more than 67,000 young Nigerians across Lagos, Ogun and Kano states over the past four years.
He said more than 25,000 of those trained were from Ogun State.
According to him, the three-day Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme was delivered virtually for its first two days before concluding with a physical session in Abeokuta.
About 400 young women participated in the second cohort, which was designed to provide entrepreneurial knowledge, mentorship and business support.
Oluwasuyi said TAFTA’s wider training programme covers creative fields including sound design, lighting design, scriptwriting, animation and arts business.
He added that beneficiaries received support beyond skills training, including assistance towards employment, freelance opportunities and starting their own businesses.
“As part of the training, the Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme is to develop and groom those of them that want to go into entrepreneurship.
“We bring in experts, people that have been in business, started from scratch and have been successful. We bring in facilitators that can guide them and show them how to thrive and be successful in this difficult business economy that Nigeria is in.”
Oluwasuyi said participants were also given opportunities for networking, business mentorship and other support aimed at helping them turn business ideas into viable and scalable enterprises.
He said some beneficiaries had already registered their businesses and were making progress, while others were still at the early stages of setting up.
TAFTA, he added, had supported beneficiaries with free business registration, mentorship and information on available grant opportunities.
Ogun Government Backs Women Entrepreneurs
The Ogun State Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Adebola Sofela, represented by the Director of Investment, Oluwayemisi Folarin, said the state recognised the role of women entrepreneurs in economic growth, job creation and community development.
Sofela commended TAFTA for the programme and said initiatives such as the Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme could help entrepreneurs move from business ideas to sustainable enterprises capable of surviving and creating jobs.
She urged participants to adopt technology, maintain proper business records, understand their customers, develop strong brands and uphold quality and integrity.
The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Oluwasesan Fagbayi, also praised TAFTA for organising the programme, describing culture, creativity, tourism and entrepreneurship as interconnected drivers of development.
Fagbayi, represented by the Deputy Director, Tourism Development and Promotion, Abdurasak Abdusalam, said women played important roles in Ogun State’s creative industries, tourism value chain, cultural preservation and entrepreneurship.
He urged participants to make full use of the knowledge, networks and opportunities provided through the programme.
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