| What is Social Entrepreneurship? | | | | upheavals have all contributed to turning this |
| Essentially, social entrepreneurs identify public | | | | resource-rich nation of 148 million people into a |
| problems and apply business acumen to resolve | | | | landscape of economic malfunction and some of |
| them. Instead of using a venture solely to make a | | | | the worst human development indicators for the |
| profit, they aim at simultaneously impacting a | | | | entire African continent. The return of democracy |
| society and regulating positive change. The | | | | at the end of the last century and the installation |
| success of such an endeavour is, therefore, | | | | of progressive policies have started the process |
| measured not just on the basis of balance sheets, | | | | of redirected growth through more sustainable |
| but on the effect it has had on a community. | | | | means. Today, Nigeria is seen as having stepped |
| Social entrepreneurship demands the same | | | | back from the abyss of economic and social |
| confidence, motivation and innovation as any | | | | disaster and on the brink of a resurgence |
| other business, but in a manner that prioritises | | | | projected to take the second largest economy in |
| social development and the simultaneous creation | | | | Africa to the top twenty economies of the world |
| of social and economic values. Hence, more than | | | | by 2020. |
| making a profit, it amounts to executing social | | | | A host of Nigerian social entrepreneurs are |
| change by means of unique solutions that help a | | | | actively helping achieve this objective by alleviating |
| community overcome established obstacles. | | | | social ills and driving positive change through |
| By definition, most social entrepreneurs take on | | | | innovative solutions. |
| problems that are ideally in the domain of | | | | Durojaiye Isaac instituted DMT Mobile Toilets in |
| government concern. Instead of waiting around | | | | Lagos in 1999, an organization that strives to |
| for problems to be solved or brushing them under | | | | make a difference to the economic and |
| the carpet as many governments and societies | | | | environmental health of Nigeria. His social |
| are wont to do, they see them as opportunities | | | | enterprise produces, hires out and maintains |
| to effect positive change. Social entrepreneurship | | | | portable toilets, promoting sanitation and creating |
| is therefore all about combining a vision for a | | | | job opportunities for hundreds of local youths. For |
| brighter future with the realization that, in order to | | | | his innovative contributions, Isaac was awarded |
| achieve long-term goals, drastic effort and | | | | the prestigious Schwab Foundation's Social |
| creative solutions are called for. | | | | Entrepreneur of the Year award for 2005. |
| Like any other business venture, social | | | | Joachim Ezeji is the founder of Rural Africa Water |
| entrepreneurship programmes cannot be isolated | | | | Development Project (RAWDP), an ambitious |
| exercises. Most entrepreneurs, for instance, | | | | programme dedicated to improving access to |
| promote a non-profit organisation in the hope that | | | | potable water in remote Nigerian communities. |
| other individuals and agencies will move in to | | | | Founded in 2000, the project continues to train |
| support the cause and help multiply its benefits | | | | new members in an effort to develop community |
| across larger sections of society. The extent of | | | | water infrastructure across the tropical country. |
| success of such endeavours is often based on | | | | Since its inception, RAWDP has given millions of |
| the amount of collaboration and grassroots | | | | Nigerians access to clean drinking water. |
| involvement they are able to generate. | | | | Ada Onyejike launched the Girl Child Art |
| Furthermore, and just like business ventures, | | | | Foundation (GCAF) which promotes education and |
| social entrepreneurship projects depend on some | | | | social change by empowering young women |
| degree of risk-taking. Only, in this case, the risk is | | | | through performance arts and creative writing. |
| not limited to financial security but involves social | | | | This pioneering enterprise focuses on issues like |
| activism and passion. In this context, social | | | | child marriage, trafficking and polygamy through |
| entrepreneurship activities may appear to be | | | | art, music and dance in and effort to engineer |
| incredibly perilous, but the risks pay off many | | | | progressive change in Nigerian society. Beginning |
| times more in terms of their benefits to society. | | | | as a small volunteer operation in 2000, Onyejike's |
| The Impact on Society | | | | foundation currently reaches thousands of women |
| Social entrepreneurship is as important for a | | | | in the age group 8-25 in hundreds of communities |
| growing society as business entrepreneurship is | | | | across the country. |
| for a developing economy. They are both critical | | | | Cletus Olebune operates an outfit that tells the |
| for sustainable development and accelerated | | | | world about events occurring in Africa in an effort |
| inclusive growth. | | | | to boost tourism and open up the continent to |
| The significance of their impact on societies can | | | | the world. This passionate social entrepreneur |
| be gauged from the contributions of some | | | | uses the power of the written word to help |
| eminent social entrepreneurs who are feted for | | | | Nigerians in diverse aspects of their lives, |
| positively and permanently impacting our world. In | | | | imparting knowledge and education to boost |
| 19th Century United States, Susan B Anthony led | | | | productive engagements and improve the |
| the fight for women's suffrage and helped | | | | country's standing in world rankings. |
| establish equal rights for them. In 20th Century | | | | Gbenga Uriel Ogunjimi, a social entrepreneurship |
| India, Vinoba Bhave founded the Land Gift | | | | pioneer, works to promote employment |
| Movement that caused the redistribution of more | | | | opportunities for Nigerian youths. He runs |
| than 700,000 acres of land to the country's | | | | Landmark Internship International, which uses the |
| poorest. Italian physician Maria Montessori (1870 - | | | | Internet to connect with social enterprises around |
| 1952) determined deficiencies in the early | | | | the world in need of local talent, as a means of |
| educational system and developed a new | | | | meeting the nation's social and economic |
| approach that continues to be relevant across the | | | | challenges. |
| world today. Before her, compatriot Florence | | | | Rochas Okorocha is a rich entrepreneur. He |
| Nightingale helped establish the first school for | | | | established the Rochas Foundation which was |
| nurses and fought to improve hospital conditions. | | | | borne out of a simple commitment to help the |
| Birth control activist Margaret Sanger encouraged | | | | less privileged and poorest in the society. The |
| family planning around the world with her Planned | | | | foundation also focuses on breaking the cycle of |
| Parenthood Federation of America. These and | | | | poverty so that children can become self |
| other social entrepreneurs have made | | | | sufficient, contributing members of their societies. |
| extraordinary contributions in shaping the modern | | | | These are just a few examples of social |
| world. | | | | entrepreneurs and their impact on Nigeria's holistic |
| Examples of Nigerian Social Entrepreneurship | | | | growth prospects. Besides generating |
| It is hardly surprising that social entrepreneurship | | | | employment, innovative goods and services and |
| has tremendous relevance for Nigeria, a country | | | | fostering equitable growth in society, they help |
| of paradoxical economic realities, with booming oil | | | | generate the much needed social capital that is |
| revenues on one hand and decrepit poverty on | | | | crucial for Nigeria's emergence as a worthwhile |
| the other. Civil strife, political turmoil and religious | | | | economic powerhouse. |