“You must be disciplined to a fault”: Outtakes from the FATE Foundation Awards 2012

by Isi Esene

FATE Foundation, a private sector led not-for-profit organization recently rewarded the enterprising spirits of entrepreneurs. The event, which was the 11th Annual Celebration & Entrepreneurial Awards, held at the Shell Hall, MUSON Centre Onikan, Lagos was themed, ‘Rising through the Storm of Entrepreneurship.’ And speaking on the theme was the special Guest Speaker, Prince Kofi Amoabeng, CEO of UT Bank in Accra Ghana.

Amoabeng, who began his career by taking the unpopular path of financing small businesses, comprising of the unbanked and micro businesses argues that the section of people are the crux of Ghanaian economy and deserved to be served. One of the ways he has shown support for small businesses is by making loans available to Ghanaians in the shortest possible time to enable their businesses flourish. His entrepreneurial storm began from his experience trying to raise funds from conventional financial institutions in Ghana.

In his speech, Amoabeng emphatically noted that one must be “disciplined to a fault”.  He said one of the priorities for doing business should include “Love for people and love for a service or a product.”

Mr. Amoabeng concluded by saying that anyone going through FATE Foundation was going through excellent tutorship.

Prior to the awards ceremony, FATE Foundation graduated 2,701 entrepreneurs from the FATE Aspiring Entrepreneurs Programme and the FATE Emerging Entrepreneurs Programme, trained 26, 889persons at the half-day workshops and special workshops at the end of 2011. Yesterday’s event saw over 350 entrepreneurs graduating from the programmes of FATE Foundation that were run in the course of the year.

The Chairman of the Foundation, Mr. Fola Adeola, in his opening remarks reminded the graduands that there would be many reasons to back out from some of their desired ventures, but that it would only turn out well if they continued without losing focus.

The height of the event was the presentation of awards to the 2012 FATE Model Entrepreneur of the year award which went to Mr. Udeme Ufot, an advertising maverick, renowned for his creation of the famous Guinness advert, ‘My friend Udeme is a Great Man.’

Past FATE Model Entrepreneur winners include Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Group President, Dangote Group, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, CEO Superflux International, Mr. John Momoh, CEO, Channels TV, among others.

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

cool good eh love2 cute confused notgood numb disgusting fail