Three-day boot camp combines entrepreneurship training, mentorship and practical digital knowledge to help young people turn ideas into viable businesses.
The Oselobua Family Foundation, in partnership with the Amazing Brain Foundation for Advocacy Education and Development (ABFAED), has trained 200 young Nigerians in artificial intelligence, digital skills and entrepreneurship as part of efforts to prepare them for opportunities in the digital economy.
The three-day 2026 Youth Entrepreneurship Boot Camp 2.0, held from November 4 to 6, was themed “From Ideas to Impact: Launching Tomorrow’s Enterprises Today.”
The programme brought together students, aspiring entrepreneurs, innovators, creative writers and other young people for practical sessions designed to bridge the gap between having business ideas and developing the skills to turn them into viable ventures.
Training areas included artificial intelligence and emerging digital tools, online income generation, e-commerce, freelancing, financial literacy, business planning and product development.
Speaking at the opening session, Godwin Ihansekhien, Chairman of OSEFAFO, said having an idea was only the beginning of the entrepreneurial journey.
He urged participants to develop the creativity, preparation and discipline required to turn ideas into successful ventures. He encouraged them to observe their environment, identify everyday challenges and explore opportunities to create practical solutions.
Taiwo Shekoni, guest speaker, delivered a presentation titled “The Power of Starting Small and Progressing in the Fear of God.” He urged participants to be intentional about their ambitions, seek divine direction and pursue ideas aligned with their purpose.
Shekoni also highlighted the importance of avoiding distractions, building execution capacity and maintaining relationships that support personal and professional growth.
Odio Esugo, Special Guest of Honour, spoke on “The Making of Great Achievers and the Journey to the Pinnacle of Success.” He identified vision, the right mindset and core competencies as essential foundations for achievement.
He also stressed the importance of curiosity, resilience, networking and consistency, while underscoring the value of mentorship and faith in the pursuit of success.
In another session, Michael Olorunfemi shared entrepreneurial insights and good practices drawn from Rotary, highlighting the contribution of entrepreneurship to economic growth.
He cautioned participants against viewing entrepreneurship as a get-rich-quick venture, noting that the journey was rarely linear and required the ability to recognise and respond to changing circumstances.
Olorunfemi also introduced the concept of intrapreneurship, explaining that people in conventional employment could apply entrepreneurial thinking within their organisations by identifying problems, improving processes and creating value.
On the growing influence of technology, he noted that artificial intelligence had widened access to knowledge and given entrepreneurs tools to perform tasks that previously required significant resources.
He encouraged participants to use AI for market research, product development, problem-solving and marketing, while exploring opportunities in e-commerce, freelancing and other online ventures.
The boot camp’s business-focused sessions also addressed financial literacy, business planning and product development, equipping participants with knowledge to approach enterprise creation more strategically.
The initiative reflects the growing need to prepare young Nigerians for an economy increasingly shaped by digital technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.
By bringing together practical business training, digital knowledge, mentorship and personal development, the organisers sought to encourage participants to move beyond inspiration and take concrete steps towards building sustainable enterprises.
The central message of the 2026 edition was that successful entrepreneurship requires more than a promising idea. It demands purpose, preparation, problem-solving, resilience and the discipline to execute.
Through the boot camp, the Oselobua Family Foundation and ABFAED aim to inspire a generation of young Nigerians capable not only of recognising opportunities but also of creating them.