Francis Dufugha
The Chairman of Century Group Nigeria, Dr. Ken Etete, has urged aspiring entrepreneurs and emerging business leaders to embrace innovation, calculated risk-taking, resilience and strategic leadership as essential ingredients for building sustainable enterprises.
Etete made the call while delivering a presentation at the University of Birmingham Business School in the United Kingdom, where he engaged Master of Business Administration (MBA) students, alumni and postgraduate students on the theme, “Entrepreneurship as a Lifestyle.”
Disclosing the engagement in a post on his official Facebook page, Etete said the interactive session provided an opportunity to share practical experiences and lessons acquired over the years in building and leading Century Group Nigeria.
According to him, entrepreneurship should not be viewed merely as the establishment or ownership of a business but as a mindset that encourages individuals to identify opportunities, confront challenges and develop innovative solutions to societal and economic problems.
He explained that successful entrepreneurship requires more than generating brilliant business ideas, stressing that effective execution, strategic relationships, perseverance and the ability to navigate uncertainty are critical to achieving long-term success.
“One of the key messages I shared was that entrepreneurship goes beyond starting or owning a business. It is a way of thinking, approaching problems and taking responsibility for creating solutions,” Etete stated.
The business leader observed that while many aspiring entrepreneurs possess promising ideas, the ability to translate such ideas into viable enterprises often determines their success in an increasingly competitive business environment.
Drawing from his experience at Century Group Nigeria, Etete highlighted the importance of identifying emerging opportunities, taking calculated risks and building organisations capable of surviving economic uncertainties and changing market conditions.
He further emphasised the critical roles of leadership, mentorship and knowledge-sharing in developing the next generation of entrepreneurs and corporate leaders.
Etete identified The Playbook Mentorship Series as one of the initiatives through which he seeks to expose young people to practical business knowledge and firsthand experiences of established entrepreneurs and industry leaders.
He explained that such mentorship platforms are designed to bridge the gap between theoretical business education and the practical realities of establishing and managing successful enterprises.
The Century Group chairman also expressed satisfaction with the level of intellectual engagement demonstrated by the students, describing their questions and perspectives as insightful and encouraging.
According to him, the discussions provided an opportunity to examine the challenges confronting entrepreneurs and the emerging opportunities available to young business leaders in a rapidly evolving global economy.
Etete commended Professor Stephanie Decker and the University of Birmingham Business School for extending the invitation and providing a platform for meaningful engagement with students and future business executives.
“My sincere appreciation to Prof. Stephanie Decker and the University of Birmingham Business School for the invitation and the opportunity to share my experiences with such a thoughtful audience,” he stated.
Reaffirming his commitment to entrepreneurial development, Etete pledged to continue engaging young entrepreneurs and emerging business leaders through mentorship, experience-sharing and initiatives aimed at transforming innovative ideas into sustainable businesses.
He maintained that sustained engagement between experienced industry leaders and younger generations remains important in nurturing entrepreneurial talent, strengthening leadership capacity and encouraging enterprise development.
The engagement underscores Etete’s continued interest in entrepreneurship education, leadership development and mentoring the next generation of business leaders.
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