British millionaire speaks to SA teens

British millionaire, author and motivational speaker Sabirul Islam has urged young South Africans to work hard for success.

Islam, 20, spoke to high school pupils at the SA Teen Entrepreneur Foundation launch in Cape Town.

He started a web design business when he was 14 and published his first book, The World at Your Feet, when he was 17 - after 40 publishers rejected it, thinking it would never sell.

He designed and marketed the book himself and it sold over 42 000 copies.

"Everything seems hard before you start, but once you come up with an idea, speak to a few people and then connect through the use of social media. Success is right at your fingertips," said Islam.

"Always persevere. If you don't work hard, you won't succeed. Failure is a learning tool, not a form of disappointment. If you work hard and bounce back from failure and rejection, the world is literally at your feet."

Young people needed to understand the skills life and leadership required.

"I am really looking forward to my stay here and launching the SA Teen Entrepreneur Foundation over the next few days."

The foundation aims to promote entrepreneurial skills among the more than 16million teenagers in South Africa.

Foundation director Lydia Zingoni said: "Through the foundation, we aim to show tomorrow's leaders that, from an early age, they can create their own ideas, passions and skills."