Understanding social entrepreneurship
What is social entrepreneurship?
Essentially, social entrepreneurs identify public problems and apply their business acumen to solve them. Rather than using a business solely for profit, your goal is to simultaneously impact a society and regulate positive change. The success of such an effort is therefore measured not only on the basis of balance sheets, but also by the effect it has had on a community.
Social entrepreneurship demands the same trust, motivation and innovation as any other business, but in a way that prioritizes social development and the simultaneous creation of social and economic values. Therefore, more than making a profit, it is equivalent to executing social change through unique solutions that help a community overcome established obstacles.
By definition, most social entrepreneurs face problems that, ideally, are in the domain of the government. Instead of waiting for problems to be resolved or hiding them under the rug, as many governments and societies often do, they see them as opportunities for positive change. Therefore, social entrepreneurship is about combining a vision of a brighter future with the understanding that achieving long-term goals requires drastic effort and creative solutions.
Like any other business venture, social entrepreneurship programs cannot be isolated exercises. Most entrepreneurs, for example, promote a nonprofit organization in the hope that other people and agencies will move in to support the cause and help multiply its benefits in broader sectors of society. The degree of success of such efforts is often based on the amount of grassroots collaboration and involvement they are capable of generating.
In addition, and like business ventures, social entrepreneurship projects depend on a certain degree of risk-taking. Only, in this case, the risk is not limited to financial security, but involves social activism and passion. In this context, social entrepreneurship activities can seem incredibly dangerous, but the risks pay off much more in terms of benefits to society.
The impact on society
Social entrepreneurship is as important to a growing society as business entrepreneurship is to a developing economy. Both are critical to sustainable development and accelerated inclusive growth.
The importance of its impact on societies can be measured from the contributions of some eminent social entrepreneurs who are awarded for having a positive and permanent impact on our world. In 19th century America, Susan B. Anthony led the fight for women’s suffrage and helped establish equal rights for women. In 20th century India, Vinoba Bhave founded the Land Gift Movement which led to the redistribution of more than 700,000 acres of land to the poorest in the country. The Italian physician Maria Montessori (1870 – 1952) determined the shortcomings in the early educational system and developed a new approach that is still relevant throughout the world today. Before her, her compatriot Florence Nightingale helped establish the first school for nurses and fought to improve conditions at the hospital. Birth control activist Margaret Sanger promoted family planning around the world with her Planned Parenthood Federation of America. These and other social entrepreneurs have made extraordinary contributions to shaping the modern world.
Examples of Nigerian Social Entrepreneurship
It is not surprising that social entrepreneurship is of enormous relevance for Nigeria, a country of paradoxical economic realities, with booming oil revenues on the one hand and decrepit poverty on the other. Civil strife, political upheaval and religious upheaval have contributed to turning this resource-rich nation of 148 million people into a landscape of economic malfunction and some of the worst indicators of human development in the entire African continent. The return of democracy at the end of the last century and the installation of progressive policies have started the growth process reoriented by more sustainable means. Today, Nigeria is seen as having receded from the abyss of economic and social disaster and is on the brink of a resurgence that is projected to bring Africa’s second-largest economy into the world’s top twenty economies by 2020.
A host of Nigerian social entrepreneurs are actively helping to achieve this goal by alleviating social ills and driving positive change through innovative solutions.
Durojaiye Isaac instituted DMT Mobile Toilets in Lagos in 1999, an organization that strives to make a difference in the economic and environmental health of Nigeria. His social enterprise produces, hires and maintains portable toilets, promoting sanitation and creating job opportunities for hundreds of local youth. For his innovative contributions, Isaac was awarded the prestigious Social Entrepreneur of the Year award from the Schwab Foundation in 2005.
Joachim Ezeji is the founder of the Rural Africa Water Development Project (RAWDP), an ambitious program dedicated to improving access to clean water in remote Nigerian communities. Founded in 2000, the project continues to train new members in an effort to develop community water infrastructure throughout the tropical country. Since its inception, RAWDP has provided millions of Nigerians with access to clean water.
Ada Onyejike launched the Girl Child Art Foundation (GCAF) that promotes education and social change by empowering young women through the performing arts and creative writing. This pioneering company focuses on issues such as child marriage, trafficking and polygamy through art, music and dance and strives to engineer progressive change in Nigerian society. Beginning as a small voluntary operation in 2000, the Onyejike foundation currently reaches thousands of women in the age group of 8 to 25 in hundreds of communities across the country.
Cletus Olebune operates a team that informs the world about events happening in Africa in an effort to boost tourism and open the continent to the world. This passionate social entrepreneur uses the power of the written word to assist Nigerians in various aspects of their lives, imparting knowledge and education to drive productive engagements and improve the country’s position in world rankings.
Gbenga Uriel Ogunjimi, a pioneer of social entrepreneurship, works to promote employment opportunities for young Nigerians. He runs Landmark Internship International, which uses the Internet to connect with social enterprises around the world in need of local talent, as a means to address the nation’s social and economic challenges.
Rochas Okorocha is a wealthy businessman. He established the Rochas Foundation, which was born out of a simple commitment to help the least privileged and poorest in society. The foundation also focuses on breaking the cycle of poverty so that children can become self-reliant and contributing members of their societies.
These are just a few examples of social entrepreneurs and their impact on Nigeria’s holistic growth prospects. In addition to generating innovative jobs, goods and services, and fostering equitable growth in society, they help generate the much-needed social capital that is crucial to Nigeria’s emergence as a valuable economic power.
