By Igbinosa Rhoda, Enaziegbe Esther and Obaseki Ofure
The Young Millionaires Conference 2025, organized by Mr. Caleb Akpasubi, was held at Festus Iyayi Hall, University of Benin, on Saturday, 12th April 2025. The conference attracted over 300 participants, including students, aspiring entrepreneurs, members of JCI, and the Association of Campus Journalists. Themed “How to Make Your First Million as a University Student,” the event aimed to educate young people on practical steps to financial independence.
The event commenced with the national anthem led by a 200-level CIT student and an opening prayer led by another student. The host, MC Owas, welcomed attendees and appreciated the convener for organizing the impactful gathering.
Mr. Caleb Akpasubi, the convener, gave the opening speech where he shared his personal journey of making and losing wealth, emphasizing the need for financial literacy among youths. He explained that the conference was born out of his experiences and aimed to empower students with financial knowledge.
The first keynote speaker, Barr. Lilian Oloriegbe, spoke on the importance of monetizing existing skills, legalizing business ideas, and building personal brands using free tools and platforms. She shared her journey from selling provisions to becoming a successful entrepreneur.
A spoken word performance titled “Official Notice” was delivered by Miracle Chisom, followed by a music performance by Daavil.
The panel session moderated by Mr. Moses Oveh featured Fortune Nnamdi, Ehis Eromosele, Mike Emumwen, and Gaius Kingsley. They discussed critical topics such as balancing academics and business, building a mindset of assets over liabilities, effective time management, the importance of networking, and learning from failure in entrepreneurship.
The next speaker, Mr. Goodnews Obayuwana, addressed “Starting Your Financial Journey as an Undergraduate”. He emphasized hard work, creativity, delayed gratification, and strategic investment as keys to wealth creation. He outlined practical steps such as entrepreneurship, freelancing, investment, and leveraging online opportunities.
The conference concluded with a final speech from Mr. Caleb Akpasubi, who spoke on income generation, financial management, and personal growth. He stressed that wealth creation begins with the right mindset and continuous self-development.
Awards were presented to the speakers, panelists, and the project manager, Lysa Ojoka, in recognition of their contributions.
The event ended with a networking session where participants were encouraged to build meaningful connections.
The Young Millionaires Conference 2025 was an inspiring and educational event. It successfully provided attendees with valuable insights into entrepreneurship, personal finance, and the mindset needed to attain financial freedom as a student.