A Nigerian social enterprise, Kidpreneur Africa, through its annual Kidpreneur Conference, has impacted some young people in Maryland and Georgia in the United States with entrepreneurial skills.
The events were held at the Creative Suitland Art Centre in Maryland on April 13th, and at the Art Station, Atlanta, Georgia on April 20th.
It was attended by young people between the ages of 5 to 18 years, their parents, resource persons, speakers, and partners across the United States.
The theme of the conference was ‘Unleashing the potentials of the next generation of entrepreneurs and leaders’ and was organised in collaboration with The Village Centre for Character and Culture Inc.
According to the organisers, the conference was aimed at celebrating the creativity and vision of young chief executive officers (CEOs) and providing a platform for them to showcase their innovation and creativity.
Mrs Juliet Vincent-Obi, founder of Kidpreneur Africa, in her address, stated that it was great to see young people taking the future into your hands with fresh perspectives and fearlessness the world needs now.
Vincent-Obi asked that if today’s youth are equipped with a ‘DNA’ for success, what must educators, policymakers, government, and investors do to support this movement towards youth entrepreneurship?
She stressed that school and college curriculums should include opportunities to develop business, technical, and life skills for young people to fare well in their studies and future endeavours.
“There needs to be greater collaboration between educators and the business sector. Leadership positions for young people should be encouraged for their voice is needed to build a sustainable future,” she said.
The keynote speaker, Walter Thurmond III, while appreciating Mrs Vincent-Obi for hosting the conference, urged the young entrepreneurs to follow their passion and have plans for their future.
“Everyone has an idea of what success is. Whatever success means to you, you have to be prepared for it. Then, with that will come opportunities. There is always an opportunity if you are willing to see it,” he said.
Malaja Bailey, founder of The Village Centre for Culture and Character Inc., said that Mrs Vincent-Obi’s vision for the youth has transcended continents, inspiring kidpreneurs globally. Bailey added that young people are dreamers and that the youth who participated in the conference were beyond extraordinary.
“We all came together to inspire and uplift, and in return, were inspired. TV3C was honoured to help support this mission and cannot wait for more to come,” Bailey said.
The Maryland event featured panel discussions. The first panel was led by Jason Boursiquot, founder, Grind Hard Dream Big); Aniya Coffey, founder, Blisx DC; Sarah Acors, founder, 4dmvkids; Oluwatosin Olaleye, financial educator and teen coach; among others.
The second panel included Jason Anderson, founder, The Dream Commission; Juliet Vincent-Obi, founder, Kidpreneur Africa; Justin Crosby, co-founder of The Dream Commission; Grace Amarachi Akubuike, founder, ABCPenthouse; and Genise Thomas, thought leader and advocate for community-driven initiatives.
The Atlanta, Georgia, event also featured panel discussions. The first panel ‘Harnessing the potential of next-generation entrepreneurs and leaders for Africa/America,’ was led by Nancy Davordzi, founder, African Union Atlanta; Elena Elle Brown, certified health coach; Juliet Vincent-Obi, founder, Kidpreneur Africa; and James Wilson Jr., CEO, Mama Ruby’s Bookshelf. The panel was moderated by Malaja Bailey, founder/CEO, The Village Culture and Character Inc.
The second panel, ‘The role of communities in impacting and investing in the next generation of entrepreneurs and leaders in Africa and America’, brought together entrepreneurs including Malaja Bailey; Juliet Vincent-Obi; Walter Thirmond III, founder, United for Change; Alfred Okoro, founder, iSabi TV; and Nancy Taiye Aragbaye of Global Impact Strategist). The pane was moderated by Nimi Bello, founder, Link Empower.
At the conference, young business owners received the Kidpreneur Ambassadors Award. They included Reyna and Vera Madrigal, founders, Tatiana Madrigal from Texas; Gabriella Loftin, CEO, Gabby World Design from the District of Columbia; and Neijae Graham-Henries, the World’s Youngest Female Barber from Philadelphia.
Special awards were presented to exceptional young CEOs. They included Lena D Ford, CEO, Positively Lena (Atlanta); Mishael Fontenelle, founder, Little Legacy Heroes (Atlanta); Nicholas Buamah, founder, Books Without Borders (Atlanta); and Gabrielle O Starkes, CEO, Go Bubbles (Florida).
Throughout the conference, there was a resounding call to action for educators, policymakers, governments, and investors to support youth entrepreneurship through tailored curriculums, collaborative initiatives with the business sector, and opportuniti
