Over the past decade, the Masterpiece Resource Development Centre (MRDC) has become a powerhouse for entrepreneurship growth in Nigeria, nurturing more than 10,000 business owners and providing a showcase platform for over 500 enterprises nationwide.
Speaking ahead of the organisation’s upcoming conference, Modupe Oyekunle, MRDC’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, reflected on its 18-year journey of building capacity, driving innovation, and promoting enterprise sustainability since its founding in 2007.
According to Oyekunle, MRDC’s rise from a small idea to a national hub for entrepreneurial excellence was accelerated through its collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Through the Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) and Training of Trainers (ToT) initiatives, MRDC has equipped a new generation of business coaches and entrepreneurs with practical skills and strategies.
Between 2024 and 2025, the centre trained 20 ILO-certified trainers, who are now rolling out the SIYB curriculum nationwide. These programmes have already reached more than 200 small business owners and SMEs, strengthening Nigeria’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Sharing experiences from a recent trade mission to China as part of a delegation from the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Oyekunle encouraged Nigerian entrepreneurs to look beyond local markets and adopt global best practices to remain competitive.
She highlighted how MRDC’s annual conference and trade expo challenges participants to raise their standards — citing an example of an exhibitor who completely revamped her business branding after attending a past edition.
The organisation’s 10th Annual Entrepreneurs’ Development Conference and Trade Expo, themed “R.I.S.E. – Reinvent, Innovate, Strategise, Expand,” will take place in Lagos from November 27–28, 2025, promising new insights and opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Delivering the keynote address, Dapo Adelegan, CEO of CELTRON Group, drew from 36 years of entrepreneurial experience, tracing his journey back to 1988 when he launched his first venture during the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Adelegan described entrepreneurship as both demanding and fulfilling, noting that many business owners wear multiple hats, often sacrifice personal comfort, and face setbacks before success.
“Entrepreneurship is not an easy path, but it’s the most rewarding one,” he said. “To thrive, every entrepreneur must learn to keep an open hand — to give, collaborate, and stay kind.”
He also emphasized adaptability, innovation, and technology as the keys to business sustainability in the evolving global economy.
