How Nigerian entrepreneurs can be developed

The people of northern Nigeria are at a historic crossroads economically, politically and socially.  High poverty prevalence, chronic unemployment, stark inequality has combined to make human development exceptionally difficult for the larger segment of the society, on one hand. On the other, natural challenges such as global warming, desert encroachment, seasonal floods, deforestation, and social […]

The people of northern Nigeria are at a historic crossroads economically, politically and socially.  High poverty prevalence, chronic unemployment, stark inequality has combined to make human development exceptionally difficult for the larger segment of the society, on one hand. On the other, natural challenges such as global warming, desert encroachment, seasonal floods, deforestation, and social erosion combined to further complicate the situation. These challenges amidst rising population are the main drivers of violent conflicts, crimes, and insurgency all pointing at state weakness. 
Entrepreneurship thought and practice development has the potential to transform the vast territory and its diverse Peoples into a land of opportunity, productivity, creativity and innovation using the knowledge, skills and positive attitudes of the citizens. However, It is necessary to understand the concept of entrepreneurship prior to articulating its relevance and potential contribution to the search for sustainable solutions to the existential challenges facing the  people of northern Nigeria, within the context of the Nigerian State.  The Concept of Entrepreneurship is related to the concepts of entrepreneur and enterprise. 
Entrepreneurship results in job and value creation and harvest, local economic growth, diversification and self-reliance. Governments at all levels collect sundry revenues, levies, fees from enterprises. The more the enterprises the greater benefit they bring to society. 
The healthy development of entrepreneurs would help reduce demand for white collar jobs that are shrinking due to economic meltdown at local and international levels.  This can help in reducing unemployment, poverty and inequality, which have collectively turnout to be the main drivers of conflicts, insurgency and other internecine crises affecting Nigeria.  
Any nation that failed to develop domestic entrepreneurial capacity may have to rely on other nations for its basic needs, grapple with unemployment and its long-term consequences. 
A good learning society is always searching for new or better models, ideas, approaches, policies and practices to learn from, adopt and adapt to their situation to avoid trial and error, waste of time and precious resources in designing and implementing  development policies and programmes. 
The best way to go about it is for government to recreate an enabling environment, generate a bundle of incentives ranging from single digit interest rate financing window, demand-driven but subsidised expert support services, encouraging availability of relevant inputs across the value chain. In addition processes for granting licences, permits and registrations should be simplified and accelerated for fresh start-ups as well as for existing enterprises. Corrupt practices and bureaucratic attitudes of the past must give way to transparency, excellent service delivery and work ethics.
The human resources of any given society are its most valuable resources if properly developed with relevant, qualitative and accessible education. We are therefore stressing the need to impact knowledge, skills and proper mindsets over and above the craze for paper qualifications. The energy, knowledge and skills of the relatively large population in the states concerned can be creatively and imaginatively redirected to entrepreneurship via intensive life skills, social reorientations and entrepreneurship development programmes.
Maikudi is a Kaduna-based Business Development Service Provider.