Igbopreneur is a startup business blog focused on telling and monetizing the neglected business stories of Igbo entrepreneurs and promoting conversations around growing Igbo structured and bankable business brand.
Summary: The Igbo race are an enterprising people well known for their interest in business and trading, though informal. But we at Igbopreneur.com is on a verge on promoting conversations and creating awareness on how Igbo entrepreneurs can build formal structures around their profitable businesses which should help it grow fast from single shops, into large scale business brands. Brands that could stand the test of time and be passed on to generations. Brands that are bankable and capable of setting the entrepreneurs as captains of their various industries.
We as well aim at presenting an award of honour to Igbo business founders who have been able to grow successful businesses that have attracted positive recognition to Igbo entrepreneurs worldwide and also tell the stories of how they started and grew their business because Igbo entrepreneurs are mostly seen as ritualists or fraudsters but we want to change that negative narrative and promote more of the positive ones like the western world does. Believing that in time to come, through our story telling and business conversations, we will be able to position the mindset of other Igbo entrepreneurs towards growing businesses that are structured and free of fraud. Business that can create opportunities, attract investors and partners to help build a structured market ecosystem that is capable of boosting the GDP of a nation because we know many will love to invest into Igbo trading because its profitable but because there are no structures in place to measure growth and monitor their investments, they often back away from investing but with conversation as this, we believe we can attract business attentions towards the trade.
Please note: This is not a tribal initiative because many will ask why it is streamlined towards Igbo entrepreneurs alone but to get the message, you have to understand that it is true we all trade and do business but the Igbo race has trading embedded as part of its culture and lifestyle, just like the Fulanis are known for cattle rearing and trading. So Igbopreneur should be seen as an initiative trying to promote the trading culture of a people in order to gain the international recognition needed to do make exploit as they travel round the world in pursuit of their craft and therefore bring good names to their race and Nigeria at large because Nigeria is a country with huge number of about 180million people, if like Chinese we are going to be the commercial trade power of Africa, then it has to start and come from this traders who spend billions importing from China annually.
It’s a good idea but there are only a considerable number of igbo entreprenuers making LEGITIMATE money through entreprenuership. You will run out of content pretty soon. By the way, do you need more space to fit your title?
I want to know what informed this statement and what you are insinuating [quote=“manifest, post:4, topic:13881”]
but there are only a considerable number of igbo entreprenuers making LEGITIMATE money through entreprenuership
[/quote]
I think I love this. You are One of the reason we are starting this blog because you think they are few but we are telling you and gonna show you they are in thousands.
“An entrepreneur is a person who organizes and operates a business or businesses, taking on greater than normal financial risks in order to do so.”
Legitimate Entrepreneurship does not include selling substandard products, faking branded products or inflating prices of items due to buyers ignorance…
Admittedly, the Igbo’s are generally fast and smart when it comes to doing business and making money. However, based on those two definitions, I would like you to mentally list the difference in numbers between renowned, LEGITIMATE igbo entrepreneurs and compare this independently with other tribes in Nigeria.
After careful research, you will realize and agree with me that the difference is only marginal. There are just about the same number of people within a tribe that make money LEGITIMATELY in Nigeria. So you cannot categorically claim that the igbo’s are really entrepreneurial by virtue of the tribe. You guys have over hyped this myth and I believe that’s the notion your blog intends to portray.
Notwithstanding, it is still a good business idea and I look forward to seeing the infamous entrepreneurs.
I read your abstract and I understood it. Especially when you said, “Igbo’s have trading embedded in their culture.” You have got to be showcasing the right people and information to the public otherwise the purpose of your blog has been defeated. Having said that, my post was to make you see the bigger picture and the future of your blog. No intention to castigate or undermine your initiative.
Let’s face it, nothing screams tribalism more than a business name that reflects a preference for a particular tribe. And believe me, so many have viewed this topic, read your abstract and concluded that you are tribalistic. Else, this topic would have had more comments than this.
To understand this, then you have to understand Igbo culture as relates to business and a blog that tries to promote the culture of a people, has noting tribalistic about it because you can login to ibadaninsider.com and read the blog because it talks only about ibadan and its lifestyle and culture. That’s why I say, read the summary very well and the only way to get the picture is to kill IPOB agitation from your mind and try seeing this from a cultural perspective.
Every race has what they are none for. Like the fulanis are widely known for cattle rearing, so are this Igbo race known for their interest in trade. Not that we all don’t trade, but about 70% of igbos trade that it has become part of our life and culture. You can’t go into any market around the world and you won’t find an Igbo man in it. So Igbopreneur.com is only trying to tell the neglected story of some of this guys making impact in order to attract business attention towards this guys, and push conversations on how the scam guys could do legitimate businesses and structure their businesses to enable them grow beyond a shop into a brand.
I think from your last point, you got the message and you read through the context.
Please note: Its a review, so every opinion its accepted because I love it when people tell me its tribalistic, this will help me build this from a cultural perspective and not just business. Because business and trading has grown to become part of the culture of this people.
I also got your point on limited number of sincere business people, but the part one chose to follow will become clearer as you journey through.
Not everyone is my target audience. Its a niche. Just like not everyone is interested in tech but I just needed some words from my none audience to help me brand it in a way they won’t kill the brand name in their own world.
Are you a bigot? an ethnic jingoist? Do you make sweeping prejudiced statements about entire ethnic groups? Better still, do you harbour deep seated resentment about an entire ethnic group? If yes, I have just the perfect product for you. You’ll love it.
Lol… Like seriously? There are countless local media outlets attending and telling the story of Yoruba and Hausa/Fulani here in Nigeria.
Just google Yoruba blogs and Hausa blogs
mujallarmu is a hausa blogger. He blogs in Hausa language only. Does that make him a tribal bigot.
I wonder why its OK when other tribe promote their culture and tell their stories but once it comes to Igbo, even your own brother will tell you “we have to look beyond tribe” and I wonder is it that they are just dumb.
Summary: The Igbo race are an enterprising people well known for their interest in business and trading, though informal. But we at Igbopreneur.com is on a verge on promoting conversations and creating awareness on how Igbo entrepreneurs can build formal structures around their profitable businesses which should help it grow fast from single shops, into large scale business brands. Brands that could stand the test of time and be passed on to generations. Brands that are bankable and capable of setting the entrepreneurs as captains of their various industries.
Nice initiative and idea. But seriously, there are many Nigerian entrepreneurs that need advice on how to build scalable businesses not just mom and pop shops. Think of all those women at Isale Eko who spend billions annually importing baby products from London, Lace from Switzerland and China and Jewellry from Dubai. Don’t you think they need the advice you want to give too? The shocker is that most of those women and their children (who usually inherit the businesses) are not Igbo. By naming your blog Igbopreneur, you have essentially locked yourself out of this audience.
We as well aim at presenting an award of honour to Igbo business founders who have been able to grow successful businesses that have attracted positive recognition to Igbo entrepreneurs worldwide and also tell the stories of how they started and grew their business because Igbo entrepreneurs are mostly seen as ritualists or fraudsters but we want to change that negative narrative and promote more of the positive ones like the western world does. Believing that in time to come, through our story telling and business conversations, we will be able to position the mindset of other Igbo entrepreneurs towards growing businesses that are structured and free of fraud. Business that can create opportunities, attract investors and partners to help build a structured market ecosystem that is capable of boosting the GDP of a nation because we know many will love to invest into Igbo trading because its profitable but because there are no structures in place to measure growth and monitor their investments, they often back away from investing but with conversation as this, we believe we can attract business attentions towards the trade.
The problem highlighted above is a general Nigerian problem. Most of the legitimate business men we have in the country only share “testimonies” of how they got rich. Nigerians (not just Igbos) need to know how to run businesses from those that have successfully run theirs and we also need to celebrate those whose source of wealth is verifiable and legit.
From my comments, you would see that the problem I have with your idea is not the idea itself but the scope of the idea. The entrepreneurs you want to celebrate have no problem doing business with other tribes. Last I checked, God Is Good does not give bus rides to only Igbos and Cosmos Maduka does not sell his cars to only Igbos.
If you had told me you wanted to start a blog to celebrate the Igbo culture, fine; no problem. But I would definitely visit a blog that celebrates Nigerian entrepreneurs from all tribes first before visiting a blog that celebrates only entrepreneurs from a particular tribe. And it’s because there is a certain concept called diversity and I just love it! And if you want to profile an Igbo entrepreneur, start with Cosmos Maduka; the man is doing great things despite being educated to just Primary 6 level. Then follow it up with a profile of Victor Mbanisi.
Its more of a cultural tribal niche blog sir. We are just trying to streamline and target that audience and anyone who wants to invest in their businesses. Its more of an initiative and an online conversations.
Also as for the entrepreneurs, we have cosmos maduka. Nnamdi ezeigbo of Slot stores, and even innoson vehicles. Many as well sir.
I think I got what I need from you, I will brand it more as a cultural but business blog.
I honestly can’t believe anyone will scream tribalism because of the name of a blog.
Programmes have always been carved to suit and appeal to particular audiences. I mean is Gboromiro or BBC Hausa tribalistic because they broadcast in language understood by some people? I struggle to see how this is different.
On the other hand, how to monetise (or not) publications or any written content on the net, has not gotten any easier. That’s where this might stuck. Let’s assume you don’t have any problems getting really good content (I’m finding it hard to believe any Nigerian self-made entrepreneur will give you juicy info), then how do you make money on this niche market?
Of course, if you’re doing this as some sort of social-good with no intention or need to monetise, then no reason why this can’t work.
