COVID-19: NITDA DG Admonishes Startup to Possess Entrepreneurial Mindset
BY GLORIA USMAN, ABUJA – The National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA), has advised Startups businesses to possess entrepreneurial mindset and environment capabilities in other to survive during and after post COVID-19 pandemic world.
Director General of the Agency, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, who gave the advice at the maiden online edition of Start UP Clinic in Abuja, said things are not going to be the same after the pandemic.
Abdullahi specifically told 20 startups, who have been in virtual booth camp in the last five days that there would be a new world economic order that would change a lot of things and possibly lead to closing down of some businesses.
He therefore advised the Startups to possess both the entrepreneurial mindset and environment capabilities in other to survive during and at the post pandemic world.
He also said that to build the needed capabilities, the startups need to adjust their tactics, change course, and ignore the conventional wisdom that says; “go to school, read hard, pass with flying colors and get a good job.
According to him; “There is not going to be jobs for you. I think what we need now is; you need to go to school, be streetwise, hack the problem and be an entrepreneur”.
Abdullahi noted that by creating an entrepreneurial mindset, they would become successful startups adding that there is a significant difference between people who start their own companies and truly successful entrepreneurs.
In his words; “Many people start their own businesses but few people actually achieve the kind of success they dreamed of at the start. What is the difference between people who start up their own business and successful entrepreneurs? The answer is the entrepreneur’s mindset.”
Abdullahi therefore enjoined the startups to have a mindset of creating businesses for themselves, rather than creating jobs to ensure continuity in case of their absence while the companies are still active.
He further said; “This means that you have to be able to create a functional entity, not just a job position where you do all of the work. This is the type of mindset you must have if you want to become a truly successful entrepreneur.
“Creating an entrepreneurial mindset starts at the beginning. Before you do anything to start up your company. It means having a grand vision and passion. It means carefully considering all that you want your company to be before it even exists. It means imparting your vision, your dreams and your principles into the company right from outset.
“You need to ask yourself meaningful questions so that you are able to focus on more than just the day to day functions of running your business. Your business must be built upon your dreams, your passions and your principles. This is the difference between a job and a business.”
Abdullahi therefore challenged the startups to leverage on the two capabilities to grow their start up to becoming unicorn businesses and privately-owned company that is worth at least one billion USD.
In his own remarks, one of the participating Startups, Mr. Nnamidi Nwachuku, noted that the Online Start up Clinic as organised by the Office for ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIIE) has greatly impacted positively on their knowledge.
Nwachukwu said that the experienced shared by many facilitators at the five days event would provide them the impetus to survive in their respective market segment.
Also speaking, the OIIE National Coordinator, Dr Amina Magaji Sambo urged the participants to adhere to all the guidance availed them during the period and ensure that they keep updating the office of their progresses and challenges.
