Africa and Sustainable Entrepreneurship: A Pathway to Economic Self-Reliance

Is entrepreneurial and environmental sustainability the only way to safeguard Mother Earth? Professors Nyaanga and Ehiobuche present perspectives, prospects, and opportunities that African entrepreneurship offers and more effective strategies and principles to thrive. Given the distinctiveness of the African continent in terms of its economic infrastructure, political systems, extreme poverty, rapid urbanization, deforestation, environmental impact of the extractive industries, rate of economic growth, rural development, high dependence on foreign aid, low human capital, rising high youth unemployment, climatic variability, natural environmental hazards, abundant natural resources, and alluring consumer goods, most people would concur that at its heart, entrepreneurship is the identification of possibilities in the unmet, underserved, and growing needs of people through the mobilization of resources and the establishment of enterprises. Still, the nature of the activity is very context-sensitive. What functions in one setting and for one population will not necessarily function in another. The needs themselves, as well as the approaches and structures that can be produced acceptably, vary from one place and person to another. Although many business owners believe sustainability is important in their personal lives, they are persuaded that they lack the means to implement it in their fledgling business entities. This book presents baby steps and common-sense ways to see that sustainability is the most effective strategy for ensuring long-term success.