Business
Channels CEO Tasks FG On Entrepreneurs
The Chief Executive Officer of Channels Television, Mr John Momoh says Nigerian entrepreneurs can do better if the Federal Government provides a conducive environment for them.
Momoh made this known in Abuja on Saturday at a dinner party tagged, “Gathering of Entrepreneurs’’.
He stated that a lot of Nigerian entrepreneurs were facing serious challenges while some businesses had folded up.
“Entrepreneurs are facing serious challenges such as shortage of funds and infrastructural decay. Some business plans have been frustrated by corruption within the democratic process,’’ Momoh said.
According to him, the multiplicity of tax in different parts of the country has also affected businesses in Nigeria.
The chief executive urged the government to take urgent steps to address the challenges in order to give entrepreneurs a new lease of life in the country.
He expressed satisfaction with the ongoing reforms in the banking sector as well as the recovering of stolen depositors’ funds by the chief executives of some banks.
“The judiciary also needs transformation to guarantee contract binding between business partners,’’ Momoh noted.
Also speaking, Mrs Lara Fatunbi, the Chief Executive Officer of Ashers and organiser of the event, said the aim was to raise one million entrepreneurs in the next 10 years.
This, Fatunbi said, would be done through a television reality show known as “The Nigerian Dream’’.
In his remark, a motivational speaker, Mr Fela Durotoye, said Nigeria had great potentials, adding that most economies of the world had survived on them.
The highlight of the occasion was the presentation of N1 million loan to three entrepreneurs by Fatunbi to start or enhance their businesses.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Gloria Ponlinus, commended the organiser of the event for the gesture, noting that the money would assist her in expanding her business.
There were also a book presentation and performances by different artistes.
Reports say that the occasion was attended by various entrepreneurs.
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.