It is no secret that Nigeria is a leading hub for entrepreneurship in Africa. For the past three years, Nigerians have comprised more than a third of Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30 – a definitive list of ‘the brightest, hungriest and most successful entrepreneurs’ on the continent. So why are so many Nigerians making waves in the global business world?
I can come up with at least six reasons why Nigerians make excellent entrepreneurs. Read on to find out what these are.
1. They have that natural hustling spirit
Over the past few decades, the term ‘hustler’ has become synonymous with an enterprising nature and a determination to succeed against the odds. A hustler thinks outside the box, breaks boundaries and finds innovative ways to make money with limited resources.
According to this definition, Nigerians are born hustlers. When it comes to making money, Nigerian people have a remarkable dexterity for overcoming challenges and achieving success in the face of adversity. This natural hustling spirit is largely due to the socio-economic situation of the country. The current rate of unemployment in Nigeria is a massive 27.1% – the third highest in Africa. In a country gripped by rising poverty and job losses, Nigerians have been forced by necessity to find new and innovative ways to make money. Nigerians hustle to survive – but their struggle has made them some of the most enterprising and resilient people on the planet.
2. They always look on the bright side
Despite these political and economic hardships, Nigerians are very famously optimistic. In fact, in a 53-country Gallup poll, Nigeria was rated one of the most optimistic countries in the world. Nigerians have an adage that says: “If life has beaten you severely and your face is swollen, smile and act like a fat man.” This proverb perfectly captures the determinedly positive attitude of Nigerian people. In the face of so much adversity, Nigerians are certain to make the very best of any situation.
This positive attitude is another reason Nigerians make such powerful entrepreneurs. Nigerians are focused on success and truly believe that they are capable of achieving greatness. Their unflinching optimism fuels their entrepreneurial spirit drives them forward and keeps them going when others give up. It helps that Nigerians are competitive, though: “Naija no dey carry last” is a well-known mantra to remind anyone daring to forget this truth.
3. They are industrious
Nigerians are famously industrious people. In a nation where most people are forced to live on less than $2 a day, hard work is a matter of survival. For many Nigerian citizens, if you do not work, you do not eat. From a young age, they are taught that hard work is the only way out of poverty and, as an old Nigerian proverb states, “it is laziness that brings despair and hardship”.
When a Nigerian leaves their home country to build a life elsewhere, they bring this industrious spirit with them. Whilst their peers may be resting on their laurels, Nigerians continue to work as hard as ever to carve out their place in the world.
4. They are passionate about education
In Nigerian culture, education is considered a privilege that should be respected. In a country still gripped by poverty, education is deemed a blessing and an opportunity for a better chance in life. If you are lucky enough to have access to schooling, you are expected to devote yourself to your studies and excel in your examinations.
And it shows. According to the Institute of Public Policy Research, Nigerian pupils are among the highest performing students in the UK. In the United States, 29% of Nigerian-Americans have a masters degree, making them one of the most educated ethnic groups in the country. But this positive attitude to learning goes beyond traditional educational institutions. Throughout their lives, Nigerians are always seeking ways to develop new skills and expand their knowledge. A Nigerian will never stop trying to better herself. With this in mind, it is no surprise that Nigeria is home to so many revolutionary thinkers!
5. They own their mistakes
Successful entrepreneurs do not get ahead in life by doing everything perfectly the first time round. We all make mistakes – what matters is how we react to them.
Nigerians do not run away from their failures or try to cast blame on others. Instead, they have been taught to take responsibility for their mistakes and, more importantly, to learn from them. Nigerians are always looking for ways to improve themselves and for them, failure is just another opportunity to learn and grow.
6. They are resilient
Life in Nigeria is not easy. Living in a country rife with corruption, crime, inequality and failing infrastructures, many Nigerians are denied fundamental rights that so many of us take for granted. For Nigeria’s poorest citizens, even finding food and clean water is a daily struggle.
This battle against adversity has made Nigerian people remarkably resilient. And tenacious. Nigerians are not afraid of hardship, because life has shaped them that way. Nigerians have a way of integrating difficult experiences into their lives in a way that makes them stronger, smarter and bolder. Whatever befalls a Nigerian, she will always find a way to push forward and emerge stronger on the other side.
And when Nigerians are not being successful entrepreneurs, they are being high achievers.
According to a 2018 report by Migration Policy on sub-Saharan immigration, Nigerians (and South Africans) are the most highly educated demographic amongst immigrants to the US, with more than six out of ten holding a bachelor’s degree. (The fact that your parents only give you a handful of career choices – or else – helps: doctor, lawyer, engineer, architect, dentist.) Nigerians are also second only to South Africa in being the demographic most likely to hold management positions in the US. Nigerians also lead the way in terms of remittances dispatched to Nigeria, which in 2019 was $17.5 billion in direct diaspora remittances.
With so many remarkable qualities, it is easy to see why Nigerians across the globe are finding success in the business world. What do you think sets Nigerians apart?
Let us know in the comments.
