Okonkwo: Update Igbo business model, no abandon am
- Obiora Okonkwo, chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, talk say Igbo business model need update, no be to replace am.
- E want apprentices make dem learn fintech, data and export skills, and firms make dem share facilities instead of to dey compete.
- E cite im airline partnership with Air Peace as proof say collaboration dey pay.
Igbo businesses suppose keep the self-reliance and personal drive wey build dem, but add new skills and work together more, na wetin chairman of United Nigeria Airlines talk.
Prof. Obiora Okonkwo yarn for Lagos at di annual general meeting of De Imperial Philanthropic Family, where e lead talk on how to adapt di Igbo entrepreneurial model to di global economy. The Sun report im remarks.
Im message be say di tradition no need to throway, just adjust. Individual initiative and long record of commercial success still be strengths, e talk, but dem no dey enough on dia own again.
New skills for apprentices
Okonkwo first suggestion na to widen di Igbo apprenticeship system. Apprentices, e talk, suppose learn digital commerce, financial technology, data analytics, artificial intelligence, international marketing, business management, intellectual property and export procedures, while still keeping di hands-on, mentor-led style wey make di scheme work.
E also blame universities wey dey do research without asking how e go sell, and call for closer ties between campuses and industry. For same vein, e want stronger links between universities and markets, so academic knowledge go meet di practical skills of di informal sector.
Young people, e add, suppose get room to contribute ideas, and firms suppose dey learn and test new things.
Collaboration over rivalry
Okonkwo argue say modern production too complex for businesses to do am alone. Shared production facilities, e talk, go cut costs wey small and medium enterprises dey carry by demselves now.
E hold up im own relationship with Air Peace founder Allen Onyema as example. Many people expect di two airlines to fight, e talk, but dem choose partnership instead.
Very soon, you go fit buy Air Peace tickets and fly United Nigeria Airlines with am.
On exports, Okonkwo talk say while e dey study for Russia e fit buy goods from many countries but no be from Nigeria, because Nigerian products no meet di required standards. Selling abroad, e talk, mean to meet rules on certification, packaging, quality assurance, export paperwork and intellectual property.
E point to di Aba Export Group lab, wey dem set up under Abia State Governor Alex Otti and commission in 2025, as example of support wey dey help firms standardise, package and brand products for export. Di lab first focus areas include agricultural products and fashion apparel.
For ordinary Nigerians, di stakes na jobs and income. Small businesses wey fit sell abroad go earn more and hire more, while apprentices wey train for digital and export skills get better chance for crowded labour market.
Wetin go happen next
Okonkwo proposals na advice, no be policy. Whether di apprenticeship system go take dem up, and whether more firms go follow di airlines example, go depend on business owners and state support programmes like di Aba lab.
