The
Highlighter
March 2010
Featured Projects (cont.)
Entrepreneurs in Nigeria (continued)
Minds and hearts like sponges, the Igbo know too well the dark side: 3 million were slaughtered in the great Nigerian Civil war in Biafra in the 70s. Owerii — where we stay — was the capital city of Biafra. And now the Igbo are second class citizens, bright, engaging, hard working but subservient to the Yoruba and the Housa. Betrayed by their mannerism, their accents, their food, their likes and dislikes, the Igbo are bound by custom and by poverty and will not accede to the Presidency. But like cream, they rise to the surface against the most powerful of odds. Like the Efik, their neighbors, they are core to four (4) million souls sold into slavery in the new world; one out of three coming to the Americas … all from SE Nigeria — once called the slave coast. Loose packed or tight packed into the holds of the slavers, dying in filth and vomit and chains, many never arrived. Yet like their slavers, like John Newton, they were saved by the Amazing Grace of God. Those who remained in Africa have never known the whip of the slaver or lived to be sold by their own or to gaze upon the Efik chief’s ships bells; gifts of the slave captains to Efik Chiefs for selling their own.
So the Igbo run free, waiting to learn, to grow, to explore and to find a bright future, to emerge from a third world into the bright sun of a material world with promise of convenience, leisure time, medical miracles, lights and longevity. No lack of initiative here. No worries of a Nanny State, overbearing government or promises of ‘trust me, trust me.’ You work, you struggle or you starve. What social state exists, what support exists, exists out of compassion and love for family and friends, not from any state obligation.
A hand-up, not a hand-out; how does that work anyway? Technology transfer? Education? Large financial grants? Dependency?
Think again. Teach 5 students to become entrepreneurs and how to write a business plan and one (1) will eventually become an entrepreneur according to a recent Swedish study. In ten years, the one — the entrepreneur — will hire an average of 4 employees. That translates into 5 out of 5. Train 5 would-be entrepreneurs, and eventually you get 5 jobs; pretty important in a world where 100 million new jobs will be required to keep up with demand with each and every passing year based upon current birth rates.
Where to begin? Three Rotary Clubs: Altadena, California, Libertyville, Illinois, and Owerii #1 Rotary Club, their members and friends, free traders and free marketers seize an opportunity to reach young college job seekers in Imo State, SE Nigeria.
Target? Five universities of Imo State with a shared learning venue at the Federal Polytechnic University in Nekeda is reserved for intensive entrepreneurial training in a three- (3) day seminar for all comers, January 4-7, 2010.
1000 young scholars show up, and the three day seminar is on. Sarah Coulter from Chicago and John Frykenberg from Altadena take turns at the podium along with the self-made millionaire / owner of ABC Bus Company (largest in Nigeria), an Accountant, an Ethics professor and senior Business Department staff and faculty of the University and the Rector and Vice Rector of the University in Nekeda.
Questions to consider and discuss with the five-university combined student body enrolled in respective business departments included:
Entrepreneurs
1. What Do They Do? Identifying Entrepreneurs:
a. Roles & Contributions
b. Problems, Opportunities, Risks, Obstacles, Rewards
c. What Entrepreneurs Contribute
d. Brainstorming
a. Personal Assessment. Are you an entrepreneur?
a. Spotting, Hunting & Exploring
b. Goods & Services
4. Evaluating Opportunities:
a. Interviewing
b. Generating & Evaluating Ideas
c. Possible Target Markets
d. Demand & Supply
e. Differences Between Opportunities and Ideas
a. What is Your Market?
b. Marketing Basics – Research, Strategy, Target, Mix, Performance
a. Specify, Measure, Appropriate? Realistic?, Timeline?
a. Start-Up Costs, Product Costs, Projected Operating Costs
b. Pricing – Break-Even & Profits
a. Equity, Earnings and Working Capital
a. Components
b. Developing a Plan and Going Into Business
Aspirations differ for young, respectful and diligent Nigerians. They just want to make it. They want to survive. And they are willing to learn and to fight for that opportunity. They don’t fantasize about Hollywood or cashing in on the Option Market. They just want a job. And we can help them get one.
Making a Job for the world’s impoverished yet deserving youth is one of the most powerful things one human being can do for another. Giving hope based upon the high probability of success is the very essence of belief and faith necessary to transform third world aspirants into first world entrepreneurs.
This is a noble goal worthy of our time and effort.