1	SELF ENTERPRISE & SELF HELP: THE BUSINESS ASPECTS OF IGBO CULTURE
2	IGBO CULTURE (THE WAY WE ARE) Family Oriented (umunna, unity & self-help, ‘igba boyi’ , Bond of brotherhood in Diaspora: nwanne di na mba, a strong home coming mentality: Aku ruo uno ) Deeply religious –Traditional (okpesi & alusi) and Modern (Christianity) No central leader or Igwe (Igbo enwe Eze) Strong ethos & values (Ome na ani such as Ime ego & igba nkwu nwanyi, Iwa oji, …He who brings kola… Respect for elders e.t.c) Love money? (Highly ambitious & competitive: onye fee eze…, Enterprising & business oriented, Hardworking: an almost spiritual understanding that …onye ruo, ya erie.) Others
3	SELF ENTERPRISE (IGBA MBO) Entrepreneurs are ordinary people with extraordinary determination Philip & Sandra Webb 2001 The only way forward? Is it for everybody? Following whose footsteps? The titans, who? What shall I do ? Open a shop, not again! Self help? Sure, but any other help? Action plan Essential skills See you at the bank
4	"if you don’t know where..." if you don’t know where you are going, how will you know what path to follow… ancient Igbo proverb Break the -P cycle (glass ceiling, poverty) & move into the +P cycle (prosperity) No more ‘motion without movement’ Achieve your Potentials (Be all you can be) The Nigerian government factor (On Your Own - oyo) How about the public and private sectors? Achievement & rewards
5	IS IT FOR EVERYBODY? You see things and say, ‘Why?; but I dream things that never were and say, ‘Why not?’ George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) Two stone cutters were asked what they were doing, the first said ‘I am cutting this stone into blocks’. The second replied ‘I’m on a team that’s building a cathedral.’ TEASER: Do you like things the way they are in your life and family? Is that it? You don’t have the answer, find it. You don’t have the time, make it. You don’t have the courage and confidence, build it. You may not be the biggest or the best but be the most committed The feeling of self-worth that you develop as a business owner far outweighs everything else
6	REMEMBER THE TITANS? Those that do not respect greatness will never live to be Great.- Rt.Hon (Dr) Nnamdi Azikiwe (1904-1996) Going back to the roots and basics (Introduction to Business 101) Humble beginnings & Grass to Grace stories –fetchers of water -Hewers of stone & wood -sellers of ‘pure water’, akara & bread Indicators: Are Igbos in the town? No! Pack your bags and leave. HONOUR ROLL Sir Louis O. Ojukwu Chief Stephen Ilodibe (Ekene Dili Chukwu) Chief Akwiwu Chief Orji Ogbu Chief Ferdinand Anaghara Chief R. O Nkwocha Chief John Anyaehie Chief (Dr.) Cletus Ibeto e.t.c. TEASER! ! ! Why is it that with the MBAs & 1st class degrees, the present generation have failed to carry on and manage some of their businesses? (Intro. to Business 101)
7	WHAT SHALL I DO? OPEN A SHOP, NOT AGAIN! The human mind once stretched by a new idea,never regains its original dimension – Oliver Wendell Holmes Avoid the line of least resistance, the widely travelled road (Food is Ready, F.I.R e.t.c.) I am your idea, I will not remain hot forever –Andersen consulting What was it you studied again? Neighbourhood & society audit, (SWOT) what do they want? –chair rental,in London? Please! -Nigeria Film Awards, £35 gate fee? You must be joking. Nigerian O.K & HELLO magazine? they won’t afford it Buzz Phrases: -Niche markets -specialising in your areas of competence Visit ideas fairs, websites ROLE MODELS Chief Annie Okonkwo (Clemco Group) Joe Okoye (JOE BEST) Tony Elumelu (Standard Trust Bank) Prof.Pat Utomi (Lagos Business School & Platinum Bank) Chief Orji Uzor Kalu (Governor of Abia state, Chairman SLOK LTD ) Others
8	SELF HELP AND OTHER HELPS Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is a success – (Phillip & Sandra Webb 2001) United we stand (Igwe bu ike) -Community projects such as Town halls & schools, Imo Airport, Oba Airport The Jewish connection (unity & progress in the face of difficulties and persecution) ‘Are we our worst enemies?’ – envy, jealousy, political infighting (the ezego syndrome) - The ‘sabos’ amongst us Networking – old boy, Igbo associations, others Peer mentoring & Counselling Government Support: (see websites) The Complete Small Business Guide by COLIN BARROW (Capstone 2002)
9	ACTION PLAN: what now? Today is the tomorrow you talked about yesterday -anonymous Decide Seek professional and free government help Invite partners for shared knowledge, skills, set-up costs, profits and loses Start small now and grow big later Persevere (winners don’t quit & quitters don’t win.) –ndidi amaka
10	Essential Skills Entrepreneural skills: -The sixth sense: Ability to sell ice to an Eskimo & squeeze water out of stone -Remember the story of the two shoe salesmen sent to an island of natives (In today’s world, its Business unusual) – when one door closes, the Igbo man opens it Numeracy, literacy, communication, ICT Flexibility, Team working, planning, Reliability, Problem solving, practical, self presentation/style, willingness to learn new things, leadership.
11	SEE YOU AT THE BANK The true measure of success is not what you have, but what you can do without it… ANONYMOUS Aka na aja, Mmanu na onu! Onye ruo, ya erie! GOOD LUCK
12	ABOUT THE WRITER UCHE NWORAH BA(HONS) M.SC, PGCE PGD Business & Marketing lecturer, NewVic London unworah@newvic.ac.uk uchenworah@yahoo.com Resident partner, WOODHOUSE CONSULTING LTD. Abuja & London