Understanding Social Entrepreneurship
What is Social Entrepreneurship?
Essentially, social entrepreneurs identify public problems and apply business acumen to resolve them. Instead of using a venture solely to make a profit, they aim at simultaneously impacting a society and regulating positive change. The success of such an endeavour is, therefore, measured not just on the basis of balance sheets, but on the effect it has had on a community.
Social entrepreneurship demands the same confidence, motivation and innovation as any other business, but in a manner that prioritises social development and the simultaneous creation of social and economic values. Hence, more than making a profit, it amounts to executing social change by means of unique solutions that help a community overcome established obstacles.
By definition, most social entrepreneurs take on problems that are ideally in the domain of government concern. Instead of waiting around for problems to be solved or brushing them under the carpet as many governments and societies are wont to do, they see them as opportunities to effect positive change. Social entrepreneurship is therefore all about combining a vision for a brighter future with the realization that, in order to achieve long-term goals, drastic effort and creative solutions are called for.
Like any other business venture, social entrepreneurship programmes cannot be isolated exercises. Most entrepreneurs, for instance, promote a non-profit organisation in the hope that other individuals and agencies will move in to support the cause and help multiply its benefits across larger sections of society. The extent of success of such endeavours is often based on the amount of collaboration and grassroots involvement they are able to generate.
Furthermore, and just like business ventures, social entrepreneurship projects depend on some 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 may appear to be incredibly perilous, but the risks pay off many times more in terms of their benefits to society.
The Impact on Society
Social entrepreneurship is as important for a growing society as business entrepreneurship is for a developing economy. They are both critical for sustainable development and accelerated inclusive growth.
The significance of their impact on societies can be gauged from the contributions of some eminent social entrepreneurs who are feted for positively and permanently impacting our world. In 19th Century United States, Susan B Anthony led the fight for women’s suffrage and helped establish equal rights for them. In 20th Century India, Vinoba Bhave founded the Land Gift Movement that caused the redistribution of more than 700,000 acres of land to the country’s poorest. Italian physician Maria Montessori (1870 – 1952) determined deficiencies in the early educational system and developed a new approach that continues to be relevant across the world today. Before her, compatriot Florence Nightingale helped establish the first school for nurses and fought to improve hospital conditions. Birth control activist Margaret Sanger encouraged family planning around the world with her Planned Parenthood Federation of America. These and other social entrepreneurs have made extraordinary contributions in shaping the modern world.
Examples of Nigerian Social Entrepreneurship
It is hardly surprising that social entrepreneurship has tremendous relevance for Nigeria, a country of paradoxical economic realities, with booming oil revenues on one hand and decrepit poverty on the other. Civil strife, political turmoil and religious upheavals have all contributed to turning this resource-rich nation of 148 million people into a landscape of economic malfunction and some of the worst human development indicators for the entire African continent. The return of democracy at the end of the last century and the installation of progressive policies have started the process of redirected growth through more sustainable means. Today, Nigeria is seen as having stepped back from the abyss of economic and social disaster and on the brink of a resurgence projected to take the second largest economy in Africa to the top twenty economies of the world by 2020.
A host of Nigerian social entrepreneurs are actively helping achieve this objective 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 to the economic and environmental health of Nigeria. His social enterprise produces, hires out and maintains portable toilets, promoting sanitation and creating job opportunities for hundreds of local youths. For his innovative contributions, Isaac was awarded the prestigious Schwab Foundation’s Social Entrepreneur of the Year award for 2005.
Joachim Ezeji is the founder of Rural Africa Water Development Project (RAWDP), an ambitious programme dedicated to improving access to potable water in remote Nigerian communities. Founded in 2000, the project continues to train new members in an effort to develop community water infrastructure across the tropical country. Since its inception, RAWDP has given millions of Nigerians access to clean drinking water.
Ada Onyejike launched the Girl Child Art Foundation (GCAF) which promotes education and social change by empowering young women through performance arts and creative writing. This pioneering enterprise focuses on issues like child marriage, trafficking and polygamy through art, music and dance in and effort to engineer progressive change in Nigerian society. Beginning as a small volunteer operation in 2000, Onyejike’s foundation currently reaches thousands of women in the age group 8-25 in hundreds of communities across the country.
Cletus Olebune operates an outfit that tells the world about events occurring in Africa in an effort to boost tourism and open up the continent to the world. This passionate social entrepreneur uses the power of the written word to help Nigerians in diverse aspects of their lives, imparting knowledge and education to boost productive engagements and improve the country’s standing in world rankings.
Gbenga Uriel Ogunjimi, a social entrepreneurship pioneer, works to promote employment opportunities for Nigerian youths. 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 of meeting the nation’s social and economic challenges.
Rochas Okorocha is a rich entrepreneur. He established the Rochas Foundation which was borne out of a simple commitment to help the less privileged and poorest in the society. The foundation also focuses on breaking the cycle of poverty so that children can become self sufficient, contributing members of their societies.
These are just a few examples of social entrepreneurs and their impact on Nigeria’s holistic growth prospects. Besides generating employment, innovative goods and services and fostering equitable growth in society, they help generate the much needed social capital that is crucial for Nigeria’s emergence as a worthwhile economic powerhouse.
Exhibition Management Companies Make Impressive yet Cost-Effective Arrangements
A well-known fact is that meticulous planning and utmost precision is required for organizing any seminar, meeting or exhibition at a corporate level. A single mistake or blunder can make an event a big failure. It is due to the fact only organising a corporate event is regraded as a herculean task and demands attention of event organisers. Companies offering exhibition management or seminar management services are professional event management companies that take complete responsibility of organizing an event. Managing and executing minute details with great precision is a cakewalk for them.
Exhibition or Meeting management-What it all includes?
Meeting management encompasses managing, organizing and executing each and every small as well as large details in a planned and effective manner. A series of activities that are performed by event organisers for managing an exhibition are:
Managing registrations of number of attendees
Tracking the payment schedule and appointment schedule
Task of selling the tickets online
Taking necessary steps for promoting the event
Selecting suitable location and booking it
Making arrangements of caterers, kind of food items and drinks need to be served at regular intervals
Making sitting arrangements and required decorations as per the event theme
Kinds of gifts need to be distributed to attendees as per their designation
Aforementioned are some of the services provided by the professional companies. It is necessary to give them flexibility and important information timely for making an event a roaring success. Information like who are the target audience, number of people attending an event, etc. is vital and needs to be obtained beforehand.
Another thing which is equally important is that do not forget to avail services from leading meeting management service providers. Before availing services, check the track record of the companies, number of meetings or seminars organized by them, number and quality of services they are providing for managing a meeting, number of experience they are holding etc. These are small yet vital pieces of information, which plays crucial role in selecting a quality service provider. The leading companies offering meeting or exhibition management services can be contacted through internet.
Top 10 Business,–small Business Ideas for Those That Want to Quit Work Someday
Top 10 business ideas..Small Business Ideas For Beginners who Never Thought they could Learn How to Start a Business The Discovery of these 10 businesses will excite you.
Discover innovative, high-profit business ideas that are great for novices yet refreshing for current small business owners. Best of all, you will find obvious, over-looked business startup ideas that meets the most minuscule budget and dismal experience.However, when asked “how to start a business” there’s never an easy answer but starting your own business can be a stress buster. A small business idea could be the answer to your dwindling retirement funds. View our top 10 amazingly simple ideas for starting a business today. No doubt the biggest concern of starting a business is the business start-up cost. Which is the number #1 reason for business failure according to the Small Business Administration.
With 20 percent of small business starting in the home, these top ten business ideas are perfect for those on a shoe string budget. Finding the most suitable top 10 business idea for you could mean eliminating long exhausting commutes……carelessly speeding to your daycare provider to avoid the notorious late charges … cooking less, hiring a housekeeper, yard work… and the honey due list..that’s still due Our top 10 business picks are in no specific order, based on our research of the many sites that we visited, these are some of the small business ideas that consistently come up. As you read the top 10 business review…Imagine…how would you feel if your commute was from one bedroom to the next.. cooking around your schedule or even hiring your own personal caterer.
This small business ideas are excellent for both genders.
Sound Incredible? After discovering these op 10 legitimate business ideas your starting your own business dreams can become your reality …Remember everything that exists now started with an idea first! (Are you next!)?
Here’s our top 10 list of small business ideas
• Personal caterer
With both parents working and children activities, this is a timely small business idea.…it’s at the top of our list.. a needed service~ • E- Book Publisher
. For the computer savvy, this is a growing market. The internet marketers would welcome the help. • Personal Coaches
We all know at least one Personal Coach “Dr. Phil”, …..if a sports (Phil Jackson) coach can improve your athletic performance.. than a financial coach(Robert Kiyosaki) should be able to do like wise..very profitable small business idea. • Home Debt Collection
Here’s a thriving lucrative business. Our country’s debt is the worst in history… over 6000 + offices can’t handle the dead debt… this will be a top 10 business for years to come…weigh your tolerance level if starting a business in debt collection should be your long term game plan • Direct Selling
Swal-low… breathe.. men listen… your prayers have been answered...85% of the direct selling market distributors are women…over 60% are college graduates…worldwide sales over 100 billion… and most companies offers residual income…..what more can one ask for… Is starting a business a priority NOW!
*dating becomes tax deductible!
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Garage Organizers
Who in their right mind wants to clean their own garage.
garage organizer… a super solution…Starting a business to specifically de-clutter garages is a superb idea • Children Art Education.
Someone had to explain this one to me but it makes total sense…. the abridged version…our school art budgets have been extracted from our public school systems and children are loosing their creative ability…Children are our future They definitely need to know how to start a business… they will create out future businesses • Background check
With our global society security measures are compromised background checks are critical and in demand…check with your local agencies the laws are different for home agencies…due to identify thief I understand how this made the top 10 business. • e.Bay aftermarket
over 500,000 businesses use E-Bay…. many internet marketers employ this strategy..great small business idea when starting a business online • Pet Sitting!
What’s more adorable then taking care of the one family member that loves you unconditionally. Your dog is always happy and enthusiastic, certainly you want to participate in the Billion Dollar Bonanza…..starting a business allowing you to do what you love and get paid for it. We hope our information about the top 10 business will encourage you to start your own business soon.
As usual do your due diligence and keep moving.. .
So if you’re looking for a way to stop your 401 k from bleeding to death or a way to earn six-figures and above without the overhead and business expenses-putting in 70 hours plus work week… be sure to view the video for more information.
6 success stories The worst decision in the world is no decision. Brian Tracy said it the best, make a decision on when you will make your decision.
example;on Tuesday I’ll…..
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