{"id":848853,"date":"2025-05-16T22:12:29","date_gmt":"2025-05-17T03:12:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/16\/inspiration-and-acts-of-generosity-define-southwest-youth-entrepreneurship-summit-2025\/"},"modified":"2025-05-16T22:12:29","modified_gmt":"2025-05-17T03:12:29","slug":"inspiration-and-acts-of-generosity-define-southwest-youth-entrepreneurship-summit-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/16\/inspiration-and-acts-of-generosity-define-southwest-youth-entrepreneurship-summit-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Inspiration and Acts of Generosity Define Southwest Youth Entrepreneurship Summit 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The 2025 Southwest Youth Entrepreneurship Summit and Training Programme proved to be more than just a gathering of Business leaders and aspiring entrepreneurs, it became a stage for life-changing moments, unexpected generosity, and powerful lessons in resilience.<\/h3>\n

\"Inspiration<\/p>\n

One of the standout moments at the event held at The Oriental Hotel, Lagos<\/a>, was the personal journey shared by Dr. Bidr Abdulhakeem Odegade<\/strong>, Founder of AKMODEL Homes<\/strong>. He detailed his humble beginnings, growing up as the son of a bricklayer, and how he initially aspired to study \u201dPharmacy\u201d; not out of passion, but because he overheard his classmates mentioning it. When he excitedly told his father, the man asked, \u201cCan you mix drugs for me?\u201d before advising him to focus on what he truly understood and had a passion for.<\/p>\n

With no clear direction, Dr. Odegade wasn\u2019t initially serious about his university application. But despite this, he got admitted to study Building Technology<\/strong> at Federal Polytechnic Ede and eventually graduated as one of the top students.<\/p>\n

His father played a pivotal role in shaping his career, teaching him the intricacies of bricklaying, lessons that became the foundation of his success. Dr. Odegade credited his achievements to the principle of CMS<\/strong> \u2013 Coach, Mentor, and Sponsor<\/strong>, emphasizing that every entrepreneur must have these three pillars to navigate their journey.<\/p>\n

He also shared a humorous but insightful story about naming his business; he copied and mirrored his Head of Department\u2019s business name, tweaking it slightly for his own venture.<\/p>\n

As a student, Dr. Odegade took a bold step and submitted a bid for a construction project at his school, despite not having a registered company. To his surprise, he won the contract. However, reality hit when he tried to cash the cheque and was told it was issued to a company, not an individual. This forced him to navigate the legal process of business registration; an early but valuable lesson in entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n

Fast forward to today, he has built a multi-million naira real estate empire, with his company expanding into multiple sectors.<\/p>\n

The Business of Selling Repossessed Assets<\/strong>
\nA speaker also shed light on an intriguing business, selling off high-value assets recovered by banks due to unpaid loans<\/strong>. When asked about the emotional toll of dealing with assets forcefully or voluntarily relinquished by high-net-worth individuals, his response offered insights into the business side of asset recovery.<\/p>\n

Another key moment came when Omowunmi Odumusi, Head of Public Sector Payments and Partnerships at WEMA Bank, addressed the audience. She spoke about the challenges of entrepreneurship and startups, reassuring young business owners that WEMA Bank is ready to support promising startups with innovative ideas and strong growth potential.<\/p>\n

Financial Insights: Cryptocurrency vs. Forex Trading<\/strong>
\nThe summit also featured a financial expert who was asked about the similarities and differences between cryptocurrency and forex trading. His response was blunt: \u201cI don\u2019t trade cryptocurrency; I only focus on what I know<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adeniyi Ifetayo<\/strong>, CEO of Megastar Magazine, also weighed in on cryptocurrency investments. He advised that before investing, individuals must:<\/p>\n