DIFA: Experts Urges Entrepreneurs To Build Resilient, Innovative Enterprises At Lagos Summit

Entrepreneurs have been charged to build what was described as “overcoming enterprises” businesses that not only withstand challenges but thrive through them.

This call was made by renowned business expert, Soremekun Adewale Azeez, while speaking on Sunday at the Business Summit and Digital Innovation program hosted by the Digital Innovation For All (DIFA) Initiative, an arm of RCCG His Majesty Chapel, LP122.

Delivering a keynote on the theme “How to Own an Overcoming Enterprise and Drive and Sustain It Through Innovation,” Soremekun defined an overcoming enterprise as one that triumphs over financial constraints, competition, unfavorable policies, and fluctuating costs while sustaining efficiency and growth.

“An overcoming enterprise does not merely stay afloat in murky business waters it thrives buoyantly in them,” he said, while outlining four guiding principles drawn from both business strategy and biblical insights.

Quoting Ecclesiastes 11:1, he urged entrepreneurs to embrace calculated investments of both money and intellect, noting that “your intellect is the driver, your money is the vehicle.” He emphasized adaptability, cautioning against the lure of quick wealth. “Except for an act of God, ‘after many days’ means after many days. Quick profits often lead to lasting problems,” he warned.

Soremekun stressed that innovation is the engine of enterprise sustainability, urging entrepreneurs to leverage creativity, technology, and unique value propositions to navigate competition and drive long-term growth.

Also speaking at the summit, Mrs. Adijat Titilayo Farotika, Customer Service Manager at Ecobank, addressed the theme “From Savings to Investors: Exploring Multiple Funding Options for Startups.” She advised budding entrepreneurs to avoid loans at the early stages, recommending personal savings as a foundation of commitment and belief in one’s business idea.

“Startup owners must learn to explore multiple funding options. Friends and family can provide the first layer of support. Even strategic partnerships and revenue reinvestment are forms of financing that entrepreneurs should not overlook,” she said.

Farotika strongly emphasized that entrepreneurs who diversify funding sources stand a better chance of building resilient and scalable businesses. “As you move from savings to investors, let us see funding not as a roadblock, but as an opportunity to build stronger, more sustainable businesses,” she added.

In his opening remarks, Debo Omilani, DIFA Team Lead, described the summit as a purpose-driven platform designed to go beyond rhetoric. He announced that the event will be held annually with the goal of equipping teenagers, youths, women, men, and professionals with practical knowledge and the mindset to thrive in today’s rapidly evolving digital economy.

According to him, the initiative focuses on six critical areas: business and digital skills training, networking with Christian entrepreneurs and professionals, applying biblical principles for excellence, financial literacy and entrepreneurship development, mentorship and capacity building, as well as church growth and community impact through CSR.

The summit attracted entrepreneurs, professionals, and aspiring business leaders eager to gain insights on innovation, funding, and resilience in the ever-changing business landscape.