We’ve got entrepreneurial spirit, yes we do

We’re living on the most exciting and exponentially growing continent for new, independent business development. It could have something to do with the fact that Africa is the world’s youngest continent.

The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) reports that ‘globally, youth are 1.6 times more likely to want to start a business than are adults’.

It may also have something to with the need for jobs: which creates the incentive to build businesses. But actually, it’s something much more compelling than that.

Opportunity. Africa has, and it seems always will be, a centre for opportunity. An official GEM study showed several African countries are beginning to focus on opportunity entrepreneurship rather than necessity entrepreneurship. Nigeria in particular stands out.

The results of GEM 2012 showed that Nigeria is a world leader in entrepreneurial spirit: ‘Nigerians see good opportunities to start businesses; they also believe that they have the skills and knowledge necessary.

More Nigerians pursue entrepreneurial activity due to perceived opportunities than out of necessity; Nigeria also exhibits one of the lowest levels of fear of failure in the world.’ Entrepreneurial Lagosians fly in the face of the norm, with the average entrepreneur in Nigeria being older, with 60 per cent falling between 35 and 64 years of age.

In fact, Nigeria and Zambia are top of the world rankings. Another interesting fact is that Africa also leads the world in the number of female entrepreneurs.

Women business owners even outnumber men in Nigeria, Ghana, and Zambia. Since its inception a year ago, Uber has been driving a new wave of self-starters in Lagos.

The tech company, doesn’t just connect citizens with a way to get from A to B, or indeed a steady income for partner drivers. But also the opportunity to own their own businesses.

Many start as drivers, and through Uber’s platform are given the necessary skills and tools to become business owners in their own right, who grow their capital to purchase more cars, and in-turn employ others.

Feeding the cycle of opportunity. Not to mention: these self-made Lagosians can enjoy a better quality of work with flexible hours, all on their own terms.

Albert Einstein said “logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” Just like a trip with Uber may get you from one destination to the next; using your imagination and harnessing the technology offered by the company can literally take you anywhere and everywhere.

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