Source: http://www.financialslot.com/2017/02/08/reasons-igbo-mans-impressive-successes-entrepreneurship/


I did not witness the Nigerian Civil war (1968-1970) because I was not born by that time, but I have read a lot about it in addition to listening to eye witness accounts from those who were there and even fought on different sides.

The Igbos lost almost everything during the war. They abandoned their businesses and properties outside Igbo land and moved home for safety as they became easy targets for mischief makers. These assets were mostly forfeited, confiscated or hijacked. This was the era when the term “Abandoned Property” became popular and real.

After the war, they were further subjected to financial and economic hardship, as their bank accounts were credited with a flat rate of 20 pounds irrespective of the volume of Biafra pounds in those accounts, effectively rendering them penniless.

This happened almost fifty years ago, as today the Igbos have moved on with their lives conquering the Nigerian business environment and building large business empires for themselves. Everywhere in Nigeria today, you will find very successful Igbo business men and women making the country proud in their various entrepreneurial pursuits.

How did they do it despite all the setback and challenges?. These should be some of the reasons why they have become a phenomenon in entrepreneurship.

Courage: The average Igbo is very courageous and ready to surmount every challenge in the pursuit of anything he sets out to accomplish. They are also very adventurous and ready to relocate to new places despite the inherent risks, as long as they can see opportunities. There is probably at least one Igbo man or woman in every country in the world.

Resilience: They focus on opportunities and ignore challenges, this makes them very tough and flexible. The Igbo man will nurture his small business painstakingly taking risks and experimenting and innovating with different strategies until the business begins to boom and flourish.

Creativity: I read accounts of how the Igbos improvised and created their tanks and refineries during the civil war. Today the likes of Innocent Chukwuma of Innoson Industries are building cars and fabricating spare parts for the Nigerian Air force. If you still have doubts about the Igboman’s creativity then visit Nnewi and Aba to see how all types of machinery are fabricated.

Support system: The have a way of rallying round each other to ensure that their successes are multiplied. You will find all types of Igbo unions, clubs and associations in every city in this country; and even in most countries of the world. They have gone a step further to install Igbo traditional rulers outside their ancestral homes (eg. Eze Ndigbo of Lagos), who will govern their affairs and mediate in crises situations.

Apprentice System: Success in Entrepreneurship requires knowledge, mentorship and capital. The Igbos developed their own home grown system of entrepreneurship. This unique form of apprenticeship allows a male family member or community member to spend time and work with another family. During this period, the apprentice will learn the trade of his master and would also receive mentorship. At the end of the agreed period, the master will establish his apprentice; either by setting up a separate business for him, or giving him money or tools to earn a living. This system has helped to spread wealth from the rich to poor in Igbo communities; and many of the big Igbo business men of today went through this system. The likes of Mr Innocent Chukwumma of Innoson Motors, Mr Cosmas Maduka of Coscharis Motors and Chief Alex Chika Okafor of A-Z petroleum are all beneficiaries of this system.


These reasons may not be exhaustive and it will be nice to hear other reasons, I may have omitted.

igbos are quite intelligent... ibo is the most intelligent tribe in africa according to the US. as we all know intelligence boosts creativity so u cant take it from them.
.. however, what ibo can do any other tribe can do better


#positivevibes

Epositive:
igbos are quite intelligent... ibo is the most intelligent tribe in africa according to the US. as we all know intelligence boosts creativity so u cant take it from them.
.. however, what ibo can do any other tribe can do better


#positivevibes

This is very true. Igbos have both local and classroom intelligence

Igbo kwenu!

Kwenu!!

Kwezuenu!!!


Etere ugba

Etere ose

Nke bu eziokwu bu



Igbo Amaka

Chukwu goziri anyi

Nyekwa anyi ogugu isi di egwu

Maka ndi anya ufu down there

Onye si na Ihe oma adighi ya mma
Ya gaa kata onugbo taa

The apprentice system is in my opinion the most important ingredient of the IBO entrepreneurial success story

PapaBrowne:
The apprentice system is in my opinion the most important ingredient of the IBO entrepreneurial success story

True, but you will agree that the other factors are equally important for success.

Lalasticlala

Financialslot:


True, but you will agree that the other factors are equally important for success.

Oh yeah sure! Totally concur with the rest.

What makes the apprentice system unique is that it's mutually beneficial and at the same time guarantees continued growth and multiplication of the IBO entrepreneurial success story.
First two things are guaranteed for the business owner when he has an apprentice. 1) Zero labor costs 2) A committed apprentice who would go any length to ensure that nothing spoils his chances of setting up.

For the apprentice, a complete practical learning experience on everything from sales, accounting, logistics, human relations, sourcing et al. Better still, it comes with guaranteed startup capital at the end of the apprentice period. Nothing beats that. Success is nearly guaranteed.

It's more effective than studying Business in a University.

I'm just proud to be Igbo man

na wa o. so na only ibo dey succeed for business abi.
i guess dangote is also an ibo man

they are also risk takers


done biz worth millions with some of them and we are yet to see face to face

Whitewashing lies!

What's tha business?

with all the fake and substandard stuff everywhere? you called that intelligence or greed?

igbo kwenu!


Like if u support the igbo community

Wait for them to come

I dnt think other tribes succeeds

Dem haters will soon arrive.

h

.

proud to be an Igbo man.

most importantly the theory that I must make it no matter contributes to the reason

I am a pure-blooded Afonja but i admit the igbo man is all that and even more. If given adequate support, the igbo man can single-handedly industrialize Nigeria and take us to that height in production we've really sought for decades on end.

Well, you forgot to add that the igbo man is also criminally minded & un-trustworthy. This vice still helps him succeed in business anyways.

REALLY

baby factry

Anticorruption:



they are also risk takers


done biz worth millions with some of them and we are yet to see face to face

You succeed by taking some risks.

6. They sometimes do some dirty jobs as compliment .

Observe the Igbo man who has shop around you there is particular time that you don't see Him around. He has gone to do the other job.

#justsaying

The fullest drum makes the least noise

Proudly Nwafor

They are very stingy

trendymart:
with all the fake and substandard stuff everywhere? you called that intelligence or greed?

I don't support fake and substandard stuff (and those who do it especially for food ad medicine should be punished) but there are two good reasons they exist:

1. There are willing customers who want to pay pure water price for champagne

2. The government regulatory agencies are not doing the job sufficiently well.

Businesses everywhere in the world try to sell substandard products, but regulation and punishment is a viable deterrent.

Reason why I must marry an Igbo gal

jamex93:
igbo kwenu!


Like if u support the igbo community

What kinda temptation is this biko? ??