When Bolatito Ogunseye started her fashion academy in Lagos, Nigeria, last year, she had no idea she'd end up in the news so much as being named one of the country's most promising young entrepreneurs.
But the 29-year-old, who's trained more than 500 young women at her SBT Fashion Academy, had a change of heart.
"I think that more needs to be done to create an enabling environment for youth entrepreneurship, especially in the fashion industry, which has a huge potential to contribute to the economic transformation of Nigeria," she tells Forbes.
"I believe that with the right policies and support, young entrepreneurs can overcome the challenges and seize the opportunities to scale their business ideas and make a positive impact on the society."
Among the barriers to young entrepreneurs in Nigeria, per Ogunseye: "limited access to funding, inadequate infrastructure, high costs of production, lack of skills and mentorship, and regulatory hurdles."
But Ogunseye, who says her academy has "helped young people gain valuable skills and knowledge that help them achieve their goals," adds that "the government should prioritize addressing the current issues and improving the overall situation for young people.
This includes areas such as healthcare, education, and public infrastructure."
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