Innovation, Entrepreneurship and the Informal Economy in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Sustainable Development Agenda

Set against the backdrop of a rising population in Africa and the lowering opportunities for white collar jobs, as well as the continent’s limited access to resources, this edited collection demystifies the interconnectedness between the factors and actors involved with innovation and entrepreneurship development in sub-Saharan Africa’s (SSA) informal economy for more effective, result-oriented outcomes.

Exposing the underlying motivations that define uniqueness in Africa’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, particularly in the informal sector, the editors argue that there is a significant knowledge gap that this book seeks to fill, concerning institutionalization, motivational factors and the harnessing of the innovative potentials of Africa’s informal sector entrepreneurs and their supporting role in achieving a more sustainable African region

By identifying patterns of domesticating entrepreneurship theories and showcasing the latest research, the book covers a wide array of topics that discuss a multidisciplinary and multicultural perspective to entrepreneurship theory and practices in Africa. In this way the book contributes to the goals of SDG 9 (’Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation’) in Africa.

Ayodotun Stephen Ibidunni has extensive experience as University researcher and teacher, as well as in his capacity as a management consultant. Dr. Ibidunni is a Senior Lecturer and Head of the Business Administration Department at Chrisland University, Nigeria. His research interests are Strategic Management, Operations Management, and Entrepreneurship in developing economies. He is the Director of the International Centre for Policy Research and Industry Linkages (ICePRIL) and also a Research Fellow of the Covenant University Centre for Economic Policy and Development Research (CEPDeR).

Oyedele Martins Ogundana is a Senior Lecturer in Accounting and Finance at Nottingham Trent University. His research interest includes Women Entrepreneurship, Venture Growth, SMEs, Financial Reporting Standards and Business Performance, Micro-entrepreneurship, Family businesses, Social entrepreneurship, International Entrepreneurship, and International Business.

Maxwell Olokundun is a researcher and a member of faculty in the department of business management at Covenant University. He holds a PhD with specialisation in Business and Entrepreneurship from Covenant University Nigeria. Maxwell is a start-up coach and an entrepreneurship consultant for firms in the retail and oil and gas sector.