The Future of Entrepreneurship in Africa: Cross Sectoral Perspectives Post Covid-19

Thsi book focuses on entrepreneurial development and the development of small businesses in Africa. The central idea of this book is that entrepreneurial development and small business development are connected. Entrepreneurship is lauded as an engine of growth (economic development and job creation), with small businesses often contributing to new job creation. Also, entrepreneurship and small business development are the heart of many countries’ economies. The decision to focus on entrepreneurial development and small business development is that first, there is a consensus that most entrepreneurial activities are aimed at creating small new ventures. Second, countries that give special attention to entrepreneurship stand a chance of industrialization. Third, Africa has been reported as having a rich entrepreneurial landscape as the continent’s wealthiest individuals generated their wealth as trailblazing entrepreneurs. Fourth, small-scale entrepreneurs and businesses form the backbone of economic activities across the continent. A motivation to focus on entrepreneurial and small business development is the generally accepted view that start-ups in Africa are growing calling for understanding into how to enhance productivity, efficiencies, and application of new technologies.

The book aims to enhance the understanding of stakeholders (business owners, governments, practitioners) to overturn challenges such as inadequate start-up capital, competition, lack of employees with the right skills, and low use of technology. The ability to develop entrepreneurship in Africa, and the role of small-medium enterprises cannot be underestimated. The promotion of entrepreneurship in Africa is crucial as it creates jobs, provides decent livelihoods, and contributes to GDP. Most entrepreneurial initiatives in developing economies entail identifying opportunities and new venture creation. It is worth recognizing that most new ventures created take the form of small businesses and the entrepreneurial processes involve entrepreneurs’ knowledge and skills, identifying opportunities, involvement in setting up a business and managing the business.

The various aspects of this book focus on many entrepreneurial activities that are undertaken on the African continent. This book is focused on African countries since there is a reason to be optimistic about the prospects for growth and entrepreneurship. To achieve entrepreneurial success in African countries, the African Development Bank (2021) proposes that there must be a link between macro and firm-level characteristics that will serve as the mix of entrepreneurship in societies.

This book, therefore, considers some macro-level factors such as education, training, and skills development, technological developments, government programs, and entrepreneurial challenges and opportunities. At the firm-level, this book focuses on entrepreneurial initiatives such as branding and marketing.

Professor Robert Ebo Hinson is the Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Kigali. He is also an Extraordinary Professor at the Northwest University Business School and Visiting Professor of Marketing at the Lincoln International Business School. He is also a Professor of Marketing at the University of Ghana and has twenty-three monographs and edited volumes to his name. He was ranked in 2021, the leading marketing scholar in Africa (https: //www.adscientificindex.com/scientist.php?id=89518).

Kojo Kakra Twum is a lecturer at Presbyterian University College, Ghana. His research interest is focused on entrepreneurial development in higher education in Africa. He has published in entrepreneurship Journals such as Entrepreneurship Education. He recently co-edited a book on Responsible Management in Emerging Markets (https: //www.adscientificindex.com/scientist.php?id=89518).

Paul Agu Igwe is a senior lecturer in Strategy and Enterprise with Lincoln International Business School, UK. He has led research projects which include African Enterprise Project, DFID/AFCAP Transport and Entrepreneurship Project, and European SMEs competitiveness project. He is published in Business Strategy and Development, Studies in Higher Education, International Journal of Emerging Markets, and the Thunderbird International Business Review.

David Rugara is the Head of International Office at Lincoln International Business School, UK. His research interest is focused on entrepreneurship, and he is published in the Thunderbird International Business Review’.

Patient Rambe is a Research Professor in Entrepreneurship, a C2 Rated Scientist of National Research Foundation, Director of Center for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Studies and Leader of entrepreneurship and Innovation Cluster of Higher Education Regional Development in Central Region in South Africa and is the Acting Chair: Faculty Research and Innovation Committee, Department of Business Support Studies, Centra University of Technology, Bloemfontein, South Africa.