More entrepreneurs on Thursday lauded Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group of Companies, for siting a refinery at Olokola in Ondo State.
They said in Lagos that the penetration of the business mogul into the project that is expected to mitigate the importation of petroleum products was commendable.
Mr Boniface Okazie, President, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, urged other indigenous entrepreneurs to emulate Dangote, who invests at home.
Okazie hailed Dangote as a good risk taker in business, adding that the venture would generate employment for many in the state and beyond.
“ Every entrepreneur needs to see risk taking in business as one of the processes that they will encounter before they break even.
“ Risk taking shows clearly that against all odds, one can achieve a feat and this demonstrates clearly the difference in the class of entrepreneurs in the country,” he said.
Mr Nnaemeka Obiaraeri, Managing Director, Tarux Capital and Advisory Ltd., Lagos, described Dangote as a shrewd entrepreneur.
According to Obiaraeri, Dangote is a focused businessman, who has nurtured his businesses over the years.
“ Time is required in nurturing a business, as it is often not possible to get to the zenith in one day.
“With patience and commitment in a given time, one’s dreams will be achieved,” obiaraeri added.
Mr Gbenro Adetunji, an entrepreneur, said that all organisations managed by Dangote were successful because he had adopted the entity concept.
“By this, I mean that Dangote, as the chief executive of an organisation, is a different personality from the business,” he said.
Another entrepreneur, Mrs Precious Aremu, said the business mogul was able to diversify into the petroleum sector because of his access to large funds.
Aremu, Chief Executive Officer of Precious Cakes and Confectionery, Lagos, said that access to funds was a challenge to many indigenous businessmen and women.
“Most of the banks do not grant loans to entrepreneurs, except the entrepreneur is in the class of Dangote,” she noted.
