The guest for the second
edition of the Role Model Africa Corporate Dialogue addressed the theme
“Financing the African Business”. Caleb Ayiku, who is a corporate trainer,
business coach and entrepreneur drew insight from his rich experience in
business in addressing the concerns of participants. He has strong business
development skill; he is a strong leader with exceptional strategic,
communication and networking skills capable of building teams for flawless
execution of business strategies. He is the founder of the renowned management
consultancy, Breakthrough Consult and a co-founder of the Camarie Group and Rex
Oil, an Oil Marketing Company in Ghana. Caleb has worked in a number of
corporations across the continent, where he has gained key experiences and
knowledge in business. He is a former Managing Director of Engen Ghana, Engen
Kenya, Engen Tanzania, Herbalife and Oando Ghana. He is a Chemical Engineer by profession
and offers career and life coaching to young and aspiring leaders and
entrepreneurs. Caleb is also a Management Consultant, and has trained and
consulted with several corporations including Barclays Bank, Citi FM,
Enterprise Insurance and FEDEX. He is also an author books covering the areas
of business, motivation and health.
Caleb, during the dialogue,
educated the audience on the nuances of entrepreneurship and business. He
emphatically stated that, the path to financial success requires a multiple
stream of income. Hence, the need for entrepreneurship, exploring new ideas and
transforming the ideas into profitable ventures. He postulated that, every
business must have a business plan. He described a business plan as a document
that spells out how you want to implement your business ideas. “As one who
wants to start a business it is imperative to have a business plan.” He added
that a business a business plan is the surest and best way to secure way to
secure credit.
He further took the participants
through some ways of securing funding to start a business and expanding it.
According to him, raising capital as an entrepreneur is one of the many
challenges faced and not the only one. The sources of funding, he mentioned
include: one’s own money, through partnerships, free money from family and
friends, loans form family and friends, loans from financial institutions,
venture capitalists and private equity funds, angel investors, listing on the
Ghana Stock Exchange and benefitting from government programs and from donors.
Caleb, in the course of the
dialogue spoke against the Ghanaian mentality of wanting to own a business
solely. He thus encourages partnerships among businesses. He urged the youth to
learn to collaborate in partnerships in doing business. He stated that, “There
is magic in partnership” he said as the discussion came to a close, stressing
that, “credibility is the currency of business”. In a more compelling tone, he
instructed all who have business ideas to start their businesses. He encouraged
them not to be afraid of failure, but rather embrace it in order to learn new
ways of doing things.
The Role Model Africa project
comprises a variety of packages including an Exclusive One-on-One mentoring
session, the Business Mentoring Class, the Mentoring Hubs on the various
tertiary institution campuses and the Corporate Dialogue. The maiden edition of
the Role Model Corporate Dialogue was held on Sunday 27th September
2015 under the theme, “Doing business with Integrity”. Dr. Samuel Onwona, an
Ex-World Bank official was the role model for the first edition.
Role Model Africa, is a
mentoring platform that seeks to engage African personalities whose influence
span beyond Africa. The initiative, a project organized by INVENTS on a
quarterly basis is designed to identify African personalities whose
contributions to the continent and beyond are worth emulating. In a story
telling format, a guest (role model) is engaged in a discussion by a host to a
live audience. The dialogue engages the personality of the individual together
with their corporate experiences.
The dialogue was moderated by
Dr. William Okyere-Frempong a medical doctor by training and the country Chief
Executive Officer of the HuD. The Co-founder and C.E.O. of Galaxy Capital, Mr.
Samuel Bright-Kaitoo delivered the keynote address to start off the dialogue. He
emphasized in his address, the role of mentorship in national development. He cited
examples of some noteworthy individuals who attained notable feats by reason of
their association with mentors. He mentioned Facebook owner Mark Zuckerberg was
mentored by Apple founder Steve Jobs. In a similar fashion Bill Gates was mentored
by Warren Buffet. He further encouraged the participants to submit to role
models in humility.
There were other high profile
individuals present at the Corporate Dialogue, they included Mr. Martin Luther
King (C.E.O., Journalist for Regional Integration), Henry Afrifa (Migrations
Officer, British High Commission), Johannes Akuffo (C.E.O., ASN Financial
Services), John Ntim Fordjour (2016 Parliamentary candidate), Edem Adzaho (C.E.O.,
Spec Consults) among others.
INVENTS Co-founder, Samuel
Agyeman-Prempeh expressed excitement at the many young people who were present
at the dialogue. He also announced that plans are underway to connect young
people with mentors of different backgrounds. Mr. Agyeman Prempeh used the
opportunity to award some executives who have been dedicated in their service
to raising magnates and dynamic leaders across the continent. In concluding, he
excitedly announced the date for the next edition to be on Sunday, 22nd
May, 2016. Further details will be made available in the press, he assured. The date for the next edition was announced
to be on Sunday, 22nd May, 2016 at 3pm under the theme “Employing the media to
sustain the African Business”.
Role Model Africa is an
initiative by INVENTS, a mentoring organization that focuses on raising young
people as Leaders and Entrepreneurs before they turn 25. Since October 2007,
Invents has been consistent in using personal Leadership models and projects to
reach out to millions of young people. Our flagship programs include: She
Magnate Project and Ideas Pulpit. Our events have attracted remarkable
personalities such as Bishop N.A. Tackie-Yarboi; Founder and Presiding Bishop
of VBCI, Dr. Yaw Perbi; Global C.E.O. of the HuD Group, Dr. Mrs. Ellen Hagan;
Founder and C.E.O. of L’aine Services, Mrs. Comfort Ocran; Co-Founder of Legacy
& Legacy, Dr. Samuel Onwona; Former World Bank Official, and Mr. Caleb Ayiku:
Co-founder of Rex Oil..
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