Northern Hibiscus, an online social platform in Nigeria, in collaboration with Wakanow.com and other partners has honored top business personalities who made great contributions to society in Kano on Saturday.
The award, tagged; Mercado Business Icon (MBI) Award, was organized by Hajiya Aisha Falke, founder of the Northern Hibiscus.
Speaking at the event, Mrs Falke said she decided to organize the award programme in order to create synergy and unity among business community in the state.
Another reason, according to Mrs Falke, is to create awareness on business mentorship by mentoring young people in northern Nigeria, on entrepreneurship in order to be self reliant.
She said part of the programme is part of the idea of establishing school of practical entrepreneurship study on Kano State, where youths would undergo an eight- month programme in order to be self reliant.
“The idea is, this practical entrepreneurship study school will serve as an evenue where youth would learn practical entrepreneurship in order to become self reliant, even during university strike or before they get admission into university. We want these business personalities to support the project. My dream is to see this school come to fruition for poverty to reduce in the North.
“This would reduce poverty in northern Nigeria and encourage wider participation in business. This award is for networking. One network can change your life. That is the essence of this,” she said.
In his remarks, te Director of Dangote Business School, Bayero University Kano (BUK), Professor Murtala Sagagi, has said that lack of unity, synergy and collaboration among business community is the reason why successive governments shun businessmen in Kano state.
Prof. Sagagi noted that successive administration in Kano make policies without carrying business community along due to lack of synergy among the business people.
According to him, the standard practice worldwide is that business community has great role to play in government policies for meaningful development in the society.
He however stated that the economic development being witnessed in Lagos, Ogun and other states is as a result of unity and collaboration among the business community.
“I therefore call on the government to reconsider business community and involve them in policy making. We have educated businessmen here. Some have Masters, some PhD, some have BSc, some are Quranic memorisers, among others.
“I also urg the business community to be united and collaborate with one another to achieve business development and prosperity, especially to save our society from decaying.
“We want a situation where a businessman would become a governor in this state,” he said.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, Chairman of the Occasion, Prof. B. Y Abubakar said Mrs Falke has become a lesson to people who think women could not excel in life.
“She has demonstrated that woman can become whatever she wants to become. She has become a lesson to people who think women can not excel in life. She has also become a role model to women with entrepreneurship mind,” he said.
He added that the choice of Kano for the event was befitting because it is the centre of commerce.
