Young Nigerians have been urged to emulate the entrepreneurial spirit of Mr. Yinka Afonja, chairman of Ace Mall, a fast-rising supermarket in the Southwest.
Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Oyo central senatorial district, Dr. Yunus Akintunde, made this known in a goodwill message sent to Afonja as he opens another supermarket in Oluyole area of Ibadan.
According to the former commissioner, “I am always happy for people like Mr. Yinka Afonja for what he has done for himself and humanity. Like I tell people, and especially young Nigerians who are just leaving schools, not all of them would be employed. Some will be employed, some would be coke employers of labour. It just takes a very sound and creative minds to know what works well with him. Those who are salary earners aren’t bad. Those who are job creators are not also special breeds. But I think it pays to be one’s boss in most cases. It allows for more opportunities.
“People like Mr. Yinka Afonja have helped the society and not only government by providing jobs for the teeming youthful population. This is despite the fact that the enabling environment is not there. I want to congratulate him for these laudable things he is doing. Gradually, if I am not mistaken, his malls should be close to 20 spanning many major Yoruba cities. With that, you know what the staff strength looks like. You know what he pays per month as salary.
“Mr. Afonja isn’t alone in this journey of problem solvers. His friends like Arc Bayo Ajisafe and Mr.Remi Omotoso are also doing wonders. People like these should be encouraged by government. Government alone can’t create jobs. These people have greatly assisted the society. Thousands of people depend on them for survival through salaries made as staff and services rendered,” he said.
Akintunde also saluted Engr. Dotun Sanusi, proprietor of the popular Ilaji Resort In Akanran area of Ona Ara local government, urging government at various levels to assist all of them by providing amenities around their facilities.
“Apart from the jobs and reduction in criminal activities, these individuals contribute to the economy through taxes paid for different purpose. So I congratulate Mr. Yinka Afonja for this feat. I am proud to be associated with him.”
