Nigerian youth have been urged to develop a creative mindset and emulate successful entrepreneurs as a pathway to national development.
Dr Hamza Haruna, a politician and entrepreneur, made the call at the 2025 first edition of The Runway Africa Achievers Awards (TRAFA), organised by The Runway Africa (TRAF), a non-governmental organisation.
Haruna, who chaired the event, said Nigeria was currently in an era of business globalisation where anyone with creativity and innovation could generate income, irrespective of location.
He commended the Chief Executive Officer of TRAF, Mr Christopher Okere, for his creativity and industrious spirit, calling him a ‘young Nigerian with innovative ideas’.
“I am excited to see a young Nigerian of our peer group come up with this kind of idea. It is a very good initiative.
“We are in a stage of business globalisation where anyone with a creative mindset can make money from the comfort of their home,” he said.
Haruna urged idle youths to emulate successful entrepreneurs and engage in productive ventures rather than waiting for government-provided white-collar jobs.
“In this century, there are numerous business ideas. You do not need to be forced into doing something. When you engage in creative business, you gain wider knowledge which you can also use to mentor others.
“By doing so, you contribute to lifting people out of poverty. Poverty thrives when people are idle, and this can lead to insecurity,” he said.
He also commended the administration of President Bola Tinubu for promoting youth engagement through the Ministry of Youth Development, noting that the government remained youth-friendly.
In his remarks, Okere said the idea for TRAF was conceived in 2019 while he was an undergraduate at the University of Abuja, to encourage young entrepreneurs who lacked adequate recognition and support.
“We started this concept in 2019 when I was an undergraduate at the University of Abuja. I observed that many young entrepreneurs were not being encouraged.
“Despite the harsh economic environment, these entrepreneurs found ways to create niches and thrive. This inspired me to create a platform to reward them for their creativity,” he said.
Okere explained that the initiative began as a trade fair brand before evolving into TRAFA, an award platform designed to recognise and celebrate entrepreneurial excellence.
“This is the first official edition of the TRAFA Awards, and we give God all the glory,” he added.
Also speaking, Mrs Natasha Daniel, Human Resources Director of TRAF, described the 2025 TRAFA Awards as a prestigious celebration of excellence, innovation and outstanding achievements shaping the African narrative.
“Today, we are not just recognising success; we are celebrating resilience, creativity and leadership that define the African dream,” she said.
Ms Dorcas Manzo, Public Relations Officer of TRAF, said the organisation was established to showcase Africa’s creativity, entrepreneurship and innovation on the global stage.
According to her, TRAF promotes African brands through exhibitions, product showcases and business networking platforms, fostering market access and cross-border collaboration across industries such as fashion, technology, beauty, commerce and the creative economy.
The awards presented at the event included Creative Organisation Award, Product Excellence Award, Social Impact Award, Customer Service Award, Telecom Innovative Brand Award and Leadership Award.
