SELF STARTERS NIGERIA

The slogan “Trash to Treasure” seems to be a common phrase related largely to waste and environmental management, but this creatively amazing Nigerian lady has taken it literally to another level with proof that indeed there is wealth littering our Nigerian streets and clogging our drainages. Life is all about perspective and for Nigerian Interior Designer and Furniture maker –Marvis Marshal-Idio, what people abandon as trash for her is viewed as materials for her indigenous artistic furniture pieces. Marvis’ passion for creativity and design of living spaces influenced her bagging a masters in Interior Design from the Florence Design Academy in Italy, where she emerged as one of the top students in her class, and upon her return to Nigeria, she started experimenting with locally sourced materials including trash such as metal and plastic scraps, used tires etc, which have a longer lasting capacity when used as re-enforcement for some of her works. Her career objective is to create ...

In his continued quest to provide a platform for the promotion of Made in Nigeria products in order to boost Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in the country, Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has informed of his plan to launch 'Made in Nigeria Challenge' in January 2017. Saraki, in a statement signed by Bamikole Omisore, his special assistant on New Media, stated that the 'Made in Nigeria Challenge' initiative will afford entrepreneurs in the country opportunity to connect manufacturers that produce alternatives to imported products. The initiative, the Senate President stated, will not only assist upcoming entrepreneurs but open door of opportunities for established local manufacturers to compete in international markets. "On 2nd of January 2017, my office will launch #MadeInNigeria challenge to connect investors to manufacturers that produce alternatives to imported products, since inception of the 8th Senate, we have championed and encouraged the...

Aminu Bakori is a Software Developer, Programmer and CEO of Friendstie Concepts; a technology company that designs and builds custom computer software and online services for individuals and businesses around the world. Even though computing started many years ago,  Aminu started coding in senior secondary school; about 8years ago. He started coding when the now defunct Liberty Reserve was one of the only ways of buying web hosting services. When he started programming, a yearning for change drove him to try, fail and rise again in several business endeavours. After the death of a social network he started, Friendstie Social Network, Aminu vowed that the failures would not deter him. Therefore, he kept working hard until Friendstie Concepts the software company had a solid footing. The company is currently registered as a business in Nigeria. According to Aminu, minimizing costs for clients and creating value are the major driving forces behind his software solutions and busine...

A 23-year-old Nigerian entrepreneur, Chris Kwekowe turned down a job offer to work as a software engineer at Microsoft, owned by the richest man in the world, Bill Gates, in order to begin his own start-up in Lagos. The Lagos State University computer science graduate proudly revealed this to Bill Gates during a television interview for Africa’s brightest young entrepreneurs in August 2016. Kwekowe, who won the 2015 Anzisha Prize which came with a $25,000 cheque, said he rejected the offer to build up his own startup, Slatecube– a website aimed at helping other young Nigerians find jobs. “When I told him, Gates was intrigued and he smiled. After the programme, all the directors were like, ‘Dude, you mean you actually turned down a job at Microsoft and had the guts to tell Bill Gates?’ Kwekowe founded Slatecube with his brother Emerald, 20, in October 2014. The pair funded their efforts by freelancing as web designers and running a software solutions fir...

Lawrence Afere is an organic farmer and founder of Springboard Nigeria, a social enterprise that uses organic farming to create meaningful and responsible work for rural and semi urban youth in Ondo State. He speaks to Punch's Kemi Lanre-Aremu about his preference for farming. What schools did you attend? I had my secondary school education at Parker International High School, Akure. I studied Business Management at Covenant University, Ota. I also studied Business and Social Entrepreneurship at North Western University, USA; Kanthari International Institute, India, and Do School, Germany. I also studied a course on leadership at the International Institute for Global Leadership, USA. Why did you decide not to utilise your business management degree? In 2003, I studied Business Management with the intention to graduate and get a high-paying job. My life changed on November 17, 2006, and this change was triggered by a report in the newspaper about the plight of over 30 million u...