SELF ENTERPRISE & SELF HELP: THE BUSINESS ASPECTS OF IGBO CULTURE

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

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

"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

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

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)

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

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)

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

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.

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

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