Business and Entrepreneurship

With the increase in the call to return to agriculture comes the increase in the use of foreign exchange as bait. Over time the need/call for diversification from a mono product economy to multiple product economy has also fuelled the desire of African nations for foreign exchange. This has deprived African economy from being independent of other continents. In the quest for foreign exchange, we have had to export agricultural produce mostly in their raw form without creating any major value chain through value addition. Value addition would have created a value chain that would have taken care of unemployment. Foreign exchange is not bad but should come after value addition. That way, we would have strengthen the semi finish goods industries, created employment, established local technology/techniques, build more research centers, develop our storage and processing techniques. We would have succeeded in declaring our relevance within the committee of nations. Africans needs to make

Bank Of Industry, Nigeria CALL FOR ENTRIES: Nigeria ranks as the second highest producer of tomatoes in Africa. N11.7 billion is spent annually to import processed tomato paste into the country while over 200,000 farmers in Nigeria, whom collectively grow over 1.5 million metric tonnes of tomatoes every year, currently grow this vegetable crop. In a bid to deepen the techniques of tomato processing and setting up of small-scale tomato processing and packaging venture. The Bank Of Industry Limited is organising a technical training on tomato processing & packaging workshop for Nigerian youths scheduled to hold in Kano and Lagos respectively. Application opens 17th February and closes 23rd February 2017. Interested applications should register at www.boi.ng/boitpworkshop ... Please pass it on to other groups for those that might be interested. Thank you

Over the years, the jingles about returning to agriculture has increased. Even a child would tell you that the solution to the Nigerian problem is returning to agriculture. The problem I have with those advocating for a return to farming has always been emphasis on exporting agricultural produce for foreign exchange. The truth is that we are not yet self sufficient and therefore should not be talking of export. One of the reasons why the prices of agricultural produce are costly and scarce today is because a large chunk that should have remained in circulation has been moved to the port for export. The local industries cannot even depend on our agricultural sector because of inconsistency in supply. If we therefore desire our industries to grow, it's time we stop export and focus first on local production and satisfaction. The excess can serve as export.

One of the hardest decision to take in a country like ours is to become an entrepreneur. Not that it's bad but because it's difficult due to lack of Infrastructure and value chain coupled with excess dependence on import. The best thing one can therefore give to entrepreneurs is to encourage them. Everyday in Nigeria, one gets to see people hawking their wares in different forms. Some sells sachet water, some chin chin and many more. What is surprising however is the fact that there are many beggers too. Beggers not handicap in anyway but goes home with serious amount everyday while the hustlers go home with little gains or even lose. In whatever capacity you can help, please do. You can leave your little change with sachet water sellers. You can pay more for chin chin. Instead of encouraging begging, encourage hardwork. Don't go about asking to know how small the entrepreneur makes at the end of the month for jest making. People that has the ear of those in government

It is important in life and especially business to prioritize ideas. Some questions that will help us as regard priority includes "when should this idea be implemented?" "Do I have all it takes to implement this idea now, if not, when will I have them?" "Won't it be late to implement this idea in so so and so time?" Etc. Many times, it's difficult to run/implement two or more ideas at a time but through priority we can still achieve them all though at different times. It also prevent tying up of capital and that may even affect both businesses. In priority, it's best to do the easiest first or one in which one has more expertise or one better research. In priority, a schedule is also important. When we ask the necessary questions, it would help us know how prepared we are for every idea we intend to implement less we start and encounter problem not anticipated. Some ideas are best implemented now than allowing them to wait while some are bet

You don't expect Nigeria to come out of recession by wearing that clothes made in other countries when we have our Nigerian made. You don't expect jobs to be available for everyone when you prefer foreign made goods to Nigerian made. You don't expect farmers to keep farming when you import most of the same raw materials they produce. We even import most of the same food we readily produce. Let the next set of things/items you will use be made in Nigeria and we will be on our way to self reliance economically. Change indeed begins with me. Proudly Nigeria.