Lagos – Mrs Olajobi Makinwa, Chief, Africa United Nation Global Compact, an NGO, urged all levels of government and NGOs to establish internship and apprenticeship programmes to give young people practical skills for self reliance.
She said this on Tuesday at the Grand Health Bazaar 2016 organised by the Live Well Initiative in Lagos.
The theme of the programme: Social Entrepreneurship as a Catalyst for enhanced Corporate Sustainability.
Makinwa said that it would make the young people to establish their own social enterprises by supporting them with interest or collateral free loans.
She said that it could be transformed through social enterprises which fulfilled a need that would benefit society and also make money.
“Social enterprises have the potential to change the way business is conducted and transform markets.
“Even without external private and public sector support, no godfather, home-grown social enterprises are seizing the opportunity to innovate for Africa’s needs.
“Build in macroeconomics stability to reduce inflationary risks for social enterprises through business mentorship programmes,’’ Makinwa said.
She also said that corporate sustainability was often a driver of innovation and presents several opportunities to generate economic growth and social equity.
“By existing within the nexus of societal and business goals, corporate sustainability offers business opportunities to have positive social and environmental outcomes.
“Facilitating a university business nexus that connects social enterprises to technology and exchange on innovation can boost social enterprises,’’ she said.
Also speaking, Mr Adeniyi Aromolaran, Executive Director, Africa’s Premier Enterprise, said that corporate sustainability was a way of creating and ensuring long term consumer, employee and shareholder relationship.
Aromolaran said that corporate sustainability would provide a platform for innovative and a more broad based solution to society’s pressing social challenges.
“It also ensures sustainable development, emboldens a more comprehensive corporate social responsibility, increases stakeholder value and drives corporate accountability.
“Empowering social entrepreneurs through business mentorship programmes partner will create more employment for the young people,’’ Aromolaran said.
Mrs Bisi Bright, President, Live Well Initiative, also said that social enterprises could be sustainable through constantly learning, unlearning and relearning, innovation driven with open reward system.
She added that high motivation of officers through training and development and high retention of officers and volunteers could make any organisation to be sustainable. (NAN)
