By Job Osazuwa
An entrepreneur and founder of 2 Wheel Media, Mr. Gerald Nnasor, has challenged Nigerian youths to be more creative in fighting the harsh economic realities ravaging the country.
He expressed the belief that young Nigerians could only overcome the present economic situation when they start seeing opportunities in every difficult situation. In his words, the solutions were staring at them in the face, and it required critical thinking and bold steps to overcome the challenges facing the country.
He maintained that Nigerian youths must be problem solvers, not people that would be searching for someone to solve their problems. He recommended that every unemployed youth should embrace entrepreneurship, stressing that it was the antidote to surmount Nigeria’s diverse woes, especially unemployment.
The founder of the advertising outfit said it was unfortunate that majority of the youth of today were sitting idle, folding their arms, waiting for non-existent white-collar jobs.
Nnasor told Daily Sun that he started his business from scratch, and before long he was competing favourably with his contemporaries who were using sophisticated tools to sell their clients’ products and services. He said creativity was and has remained his winning strategy.
Said he: “I carefully designed my advertising outfit to do things in a different way from what other advertisers were doing. It came about as a result of creativity. I noticed almost all the professionals were heading towards the same direction – offering the same value. I started using bicycles to advertise and showcase products and services to the public. The use of bicycles for advertising is unique because it can penetrate all nooks and crannies to deliver your message at your choice location. They are perfect for creating brand awareness and targeted promotions at busy high streets, traffic spots and market areas.
“The effectiveness of the business is also dependent on the manpower it has. We engage young, energetic people, especially those who can ride bicycles, to propel it.
“I had the idea about the business in 2014 when I saw a gap in the industry that nobody was able to cover those hidden but busy places in the metropolis. I discovered that the goods or services advertised weren’t getting to most people that they were actually meant for. I bought two bicycles for a start. I experimented with the idea, which got a lot of positive feedback from friends and many business minded-people. Then I resolved to take it to the next level. And the rest is history.”
Nnasor said another defining moment for his brand was in 2015 when he participated in the second edition of Uche Ahubelem Centre for Human Development (UACHD) empowerment series, tagged “Attack Young.”
He explained that: “It was a programme designed for people to showcase their entrepreneurial skills and creativity. I felt I needed to display my idea on that big scale, and I won N800,000 at the end of the day.
“Entrepreneurship is the way to go, but I will urge government to provide a good ground for businesses to strive. Make the various basic amenities available and I’m optimistic that doing business will be easy for many people who are willing to become entrepreneurs.”
On whether he could dump his business for any high-paying job, Nnasor told the reporter that he would rather remain in the business and nurture it to greater heights.
He was full of praise for Ahubelem, the brain behind UACHD.
“I appreciate him for the opportunity he has been providing for budding entrepreneurs to showcase their businesses and ideas.
“I really gained a lot from the competition. We were drilled and judged by experienced entrepreneurs. The experience is second to none. May God bless UACHD for the rare privilege it is providing Nigerians to become better persons in the society,” he said.