KINGinVAHALA: Mr man, we re not talking about a yoruba, hausa, igbo or ESAN man/woman here. What we re talking about is Nigerians in particular and Africans in general. so stop given yourself false hope because the obi smartphone your mentioned isnt owned by an igbo man/woman. Google it yourself.
It's not that deep. It was a valid question in this context. I appreciate you're looking at the bigger picture which is in line with the article, but seeing "Obi", a significantly Igbo word, the question also fits too. I do understand the knee-jerk reaction but take am easy on our brother.
Seriously these re wat i feel africa money bags & investors should put their money on. The brains re here, bt wht has been holding us backward is finance nd financing our young businesses.
It isnt easy though largely due to lack of finance nd institutions dt would give loans wit little or no interest to young nd upcoming africa entrepreneurs, but i feel wit doggedness, hardwork and determination, we will surely get there soonest.
And for we to make Nigeria in particular nd Africa in general great, we must first jeopardise the mindset in us of going abroad for no just reason nd also kill the perception in us of wanting to work for govt just because of future pension.
All talk with no even a little action on ground is nd would become irrelevant. so i urge all fellows with the mind of an entrepreneur to put something on ground before we start looking for a higher capital.
Who re u nd wat little business hv u put on ground?[/b]
I personally am in the process of starting up my own technological services company. I also have some land that I bought that has appreciated in value. I want to develop that land into a residential complex, sell it and use the proceeds into a developing a larger complex.
My own interests are in property development and technological services. My close relation is into manufacturing of FMCG goods and is looking to diversify their products; I am assisting with the market research and hopefully will be rewarded with a stake in the expanded business.
Chinom: "The phone in the picture is one of the versions of the Obi Worldphone; a low-priced smartphone that’s specifically targeted at the African market.
Guess what? It sells for just about $129, and it’s selling like hot cakes."
Is this our very own Obi (Igbo) or some Asian man ?. Just curious.
They wouldn't pontificate an article on African businesses by using a non-African example, would they?
**Modified**
I take that back... According to Google, it's founded by John Sculley and Neeraj Chauhan
It still baffles that there is starvation in a country like Nigeria. So much fertile land, hunger in the midst of plenty.
Precisely!
I also think the write-up would do well to mention tourism. There is a large amount of virgin coastal property that will greatly boost the tourism industry with the right marketing and development.
Every last tribe in Nigeria has something they are all great at. Healthy competition should see all Nigerians competing to be their best whilst growing the country's profile.
Tourism would also bring in the foreign exchange that doesn't rely on volatile natural resources.
DifferentBoy1: How I wan take read that unending scroll I be professor
This thread went over your head. Are you happy where you currently are in life? If you have ever wanted to achieve more than you dreamed of, it won't happen when you're too lazy to read a post with this title. Stick to the Wizkid and Davido baby mammas posts.
If you have a change of heart, then open up your mind to the opportunities around you. You just may make it.
We really are a chosen generation. With all this knowledge, access to information and a huge market potential at our fingertips, this is the golden age for legit African millionaires and billionaires to be born.
The latest Africa Wealth Report by New World Wealth reveals there are now just over 160,000 millionaires in Africa.
Interestingly, from 2000 to 2013, the number of millionaires on the continent grew by more than 145 percent, compared to the worldwide growth rate of 73 percent.
In recent years, most of the ‘new millionaires’ have been young entrepreneurs and investors who have created promising businesses and invested in lucrative sectors of Africa’s fast-growing economies.
This year, more new millionaires will join the club.
In this article, I’ll share with you the top business opportunities on the continent that will make more millionaires in 2016.
Let’s meet them…
1) Solar Power
Solar energy is one of Africa’s most abundant natural resources. Most parts of sub-Saharan Africa enjoy more than 300 days of free God-given sunlight every year.
Still, over 600 million people on the continent, especially in rural areas, don’t have access to reliable electricity. In most cities and towns, power outages are the norm and people often have to rely on noisy petrol and diesel power generators.
Solar energy is free, absolutely clean and abundant. And it provides the best alternative for people in remote parts of Africa who are out of reach of electricity grids.
Interestingly, some smart entrepreneurs are rising to the challenge of lighting up Africa through solar energy, and are very likely to join the millionaires club in 2016.
I’ll share a few interesting examples…
Off Grid Electric, a solar energy provider in Tanzania recently raised $25 million from international investors and won a $5 million grant from USAID. The company is already on track to provide solar power to 1 million homes in East Africa by 2017 and has recently expanded into Rwanda.
M-KOPA, which provides ‘pay-as-you-go’ solar power systems has attracted investments of up to $40 million. This Kenyan-based business has already provided solar power to nearly 300,000 homes in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
2) Agribusiness
Agribusiness is Africa’s untapped goldmine, and a major potential source of millionaires in 2016.
According to a World Bank report, Africa’s agribusiness industry is expected to be worth $1 trillion by 2030.
With up to 60 percent of the world’s uncultivated arable land, fertile soils, abundant labour, and all-year sunshine, sub-Saharan Africa surely has the potential to become the world’s biggest exporter of food products.
Even if Africa decides to ignore export markets, the continent’s one billion people provides a huge and ready market for agribusiness.
Still, every year, African countries import more than 70 percent of wheat consumed, over 300,000 tons of chicken and spend more than $10 billion on imported grains, especially rice.
Interestingly, more African entrepreneurs are tapping into the vast opportunities in Africa’s agribusiness market.
And with the continued harsh impacts of low crude oil prices in 2016, sleeping agribusiness giants like Nigeria and Angola are finally putting a strong focus on agribusiness as a means to diversifying their economies. This means that governments in these countries are now more open and supportive of agribusiness initiatives.
3) Smartphones
The phone in the picture is one of the versions of the Obi Worldphone; a low-priced smartphone that’s specifically targeted at the African market.
Guess what? It sells for just about $129, and it’s selling like hot cakes.
Africa is currently the second fastest growing market for mobile phones, after Asia. However, the first wave of Africa’s mobile phone revolution is almost over.
These days, African consumers are looking to upgrade from ‘first generation’ feature phones to smartphones. It’s no surprise that the continent’s growing population of technology and fashion-savvy youth now presents a multi-billion dollar market for smartphones.
However, most ‘new-age’ smartphone devices like iPhone, Blackberry and Samsung are quite expensive for the average African. This has created a huge opportunity for low-priced smartphones that are now hitting the African market.
Better still, many of these smartphones are built on the Android operating system, have similar features to the ‘high end’ smartphones and most are just as stylishly designed.
In the last eighteen months, over a dozen low-priced smartphone brands have debuted on the African market. Given the market potential for these phones, they’ll very likely make more millionaires for the entrepreneurs behind them.
4) Internet Access
Africa’s internet market is worth billions of dollars.
It’s no surprise that tech giants like Google and Facebook are scrambling to improve internet access to millions of Africans. Google’s Project Loon and Facebook’s Free Basics are just two of several bold initiatives to connect Africa.
However, some smart African entrepreneurs are already making impressive moves to conquer the internet access market.
One example is ‘BRCK’ a startup company in Kenya that has created a rugged internet modem device that’s designed for harsh environments with limited internet connection and electricity. The modem can hop between Ethernet, WiFi, 3G and 4G, and comes with eight hours of battery life.
This African-inspired invention has already sold thousands of units in 54 countries, even in faraway places as India. Their biggest customers have been schools.
Recently, BRCK raised $3 million in funding from investors to extend the reach of this amazing device. The entrepreneurs behind it will surely be smiling to the bank, after all the hardwork is done.
5) Education
Africa’s human talent is one of its most ignored and underexplored assets.
With one of the world’s youngest populations (over 50 percent of Africans are younger than 31), the continent is rich with creative and innovative talent. However, poor access to quality education is a serious threat to Africa’s human capital.
Currently, a couple of interesting businesses and initiatives are achieving remarkable successes as they tackle Africa’s education problems head-on.
Bridge Academies (in Kenya and East Africa) and Omega Schools (in Ghana and West Africa) have built an incredible education model of low-cost primary schools that allow pupils to pay as low as $1 a day as school fees.
Another interesting business on Africa’s education scene is Andela. Through its free and highly rigorous training program, Andela develops promising African talents into top class software developers who are hired out to the likes of Microsoft and other tech giants in the USA and Europe.
This interesting business model is called ‘talent-as-a-service’.
Andela recently attracted $10 million in investment and is on track to train 100,000 world class African software developers over ten years.
6) African Art
How much do you think African art is worth these days?
You’ll be surprised.
In November 2014, a collection of antique African art from Mali, Gabon, Congo and Liberia was sold in New York at Sotheby’s for a record-breaking price of $41 million. This is the largest ever sum realized from the sale of African art in the USA.
Not too long ago, a set of wooden sculptures by the Nigerian artist Ben Enwonwu sold in London for over $500,000, three times the expected price.
New World Map, the aluminium and copper sculpture of El Anatsui, the Ghanaian artist, sold for roughly $767,000, one of the highest prices ever fetched by the work of an indigenous African artist.
After decades of neglect, both antique and contemporary works of African art are attracting high prices in the world’s major art markets.
In 2016, more investors and collectors will be upping the demand for African art, and more millionaires will be made in the process.
7) Retail
In April 2016, the Mall of Africa will open in South Africa. This massive 131,000 square metres of retail space is the largest shopping mall in Africa ever to be built in one phase.
Recently, the Two Rivers mall opened in Nairobi, Kenya. It’s the largest shopping mall of its kind anywhere in East Africa.
Across the continent, both local and international supermarket brands like Shoprite, Game, Checkers, Woolworths, Edgars and Spar are expanding as they scramble for every inch of available space in shopping and retail infrastructure developments.
Interestingly, the battle for retail supremacy in Africa isn’t only happening in physical retail chains.
eCommerce giants like Konga and Jumia have grown quite impressively in the last few years. Both internet-based retail businesses now have a combined worth of over $1 billion.
In fact, the battle ground for Africa’s retail market is moving beyond the continent’s shores. New eCommerce entrants like Mall for Africa and Shop to my Door now make it possible for Africans to shop directly from retailers in the USA, UK and China.
Amazing!
Africa is now one of the fastest growing retail markets in the world. A large and growing middle class, increasing local spending power, and a boom in the number of expat workers are fueling the shopping trend on the continent.
8.) Apps and Online Services
There’s a digital revolution taking over Africa. These days, many services now have an app or are going online. Africa’s digital economy is growing really fast.
These days, there’s almost an app or online service for anything you want.
If you’re looking for a suitable hotel accommodation in Nigeria, Hotels.ng and Jovago.com are now the biggest online services in the hotel booking business. Recently, Hotels.ng attracted an investment of $1.2 million.
If you want to watch African movies on the fly, there’s an app for that. IrokoTV is an app that gives you access to 5,000+ African movies on your mobile phone.
In January 2016, IrokoTV secured an additional $19 million in investment funding to expand its presence across Africa.
If you’d like to order bespoke furniture pieces without having to run after artisans or worry about quality, there’s an online service for that too. Showroom.ng is a Nigerian startup that’s changing how people buy furniture in Africa’s biggest economy.
In 2016, more apps and online services will launch across Africa to solve problems and provide value. And more millionaires will be made in the process.
9) Payment Solutions
Every year in Africa, over $100 billion in transactions are still done in cash. This presents a huge and lucrative financial services opportunity for savvy entrepreneurs.
Since M-Pesa was introduced in East Africa, the transformational mobile-based money transfer and payment service has proved to be phenomenal in Kenya and Tanzania, where the platform handles over 200 million person-to-person transactions every year.
In other parts of Africa, there is a huge scramble for Africa’s next big money transfer and payment service.
In Nigeria alone, several promising businesses are jostling to dominate Africa’s biggest economy. Some of the top contenders are Paga, PayAttitude, SimplePay and PayWithCapture.
Less than six months ago, Paga attracted a $13 million investment to expand its business within and outside Nigeria. It’s a huge bet that has the potential to really pay off.
Payment solutions will be a key area to watch in 2016.
10) Real Estate
Africa’s real estate market is a multi-billion dollar opportunity, and several new millionaires will build their fortunes in this market.
In almost every corner of the continent, real estate projects are emerging. The biggest attractions are high-rise hotels and office buildings, residential homes and apartments, and shopping malls.
In Nigeria alone, there is a shortfall of 17 million housing units, with a funding requirement of $363 billion.
In Angola’s capital, Luanda, prime office rents are among the highest in the world at US$150 per sq metre per month.
In Mozambique, property prices at the sea ports, particularly for warehouses, are one of Africa’s most expensive.
The key markets for real estate on every investor’s agenda are Angola, Nigeria, Egypt, Mozambique, South Africa and Kenya. All of these countries are experiencing a real estate boom like never before in history.
Africa’s large and youthful population, an expanding middle class, increasing urbanization, influx of expatriates and multinational companies are the key drivers of demand for both commercial and residential real estate.
11) Startup financing
Investing in startup and early-stage businesses is on the rise globally, accounting for 67 percent of all venture capital (VC) funds in North America and increasing 19-fold in Europe.
Across Africa, start-up companies are attracting the interest of venture capital, private equity, social impact funds and angel investors who are looking for higher returns on invested capital.
In 2015 alone, the amount of capital invested in African startup businesses was roughly $0.5 billion. And in 2016, this figure is expected to double.
As Africa’s young entrepreneurs continue to come up with brilliant business ideas that have the potential to significantly disrupt both new and established markets, it’s almost impossible for investors to ignore the lure of attractive investment returns.
As of January 2016, there are now more than 200 investment organisations, firms and platforms that are focused on investing in early-stage African businesses.
Hilarious. How can proganda government affect economical change when not even present in the times of decision-making? So Nigeria's interest was not represented. Only four countries attended the meeting to decide for everyone else? Hmph!
Obiodunukwe: That is common sense Budget allocation
The SW is home to most Nigerians, it is only right that it gets the lion's share
The SW is bombarded by immigration from other parts of the country , especially the SE, so the government has to provide more infrastructure for the region to take care of the emigrants
How does one "immigrate" within one's own country?
And later you'll tear out your vocal chords screaming One Nigeria. Nonsense.
ikeg7416: Story!!!!! Delta is neck deep in which debt? Delta debt is not even in the level of your miserable South West. Hungry people.
As I said, the hunger emitting from your Southwest and imo announcing they are broke after aligning with you thieves is evidence for proper survival, do not listen or follow Una "sophisticated" politics. I'm just grateful none of us fell for Una BS and the ones that did such as imo is suffering from it
My brother, come on. I was enjoying the healthy debate between you guys but there's no need to lower the tone with insults.
luvmijeje: Who the heck are the forces? I hate this kind of helpless statement. The health minister should the needful by reporting the forces to the EFCC.
This response of yours is enough to tell me that you are a critical thinker and someone with great sense.
Exponental: I don't wish this for anyone but all females should avoid going into a relationship with the intention of greed. if you die for love, it's better than for greed.
We cannot say why she got into that relationship with a certainty, we weren't there, so we don't know if she was being greedy. The man however, was. What we do know is that a man who she allowed to get close to her tried to steal her destiny, in every way possible.
From the way they showed her laid out on the back of that truck and taking videos of her walking, I worry about the quality of her care going forward.
I am sure that any African who has been near any form of social media will be familiar with the story of the unfortunate young lady buried for 8 months by what can only be called a demon - I do not want to believe humans are capable of such.
This story has moved my family and I immensely, especially as we are a household full of African (Nigerian) females and know that such a fate could have fallen easily upon any one we know (but GOD in His infinite mercy has kept us). Seriously, it has even brought us to prayer for the oncoming arduous road to recovery she will be facing.
But we know that faith without action is dead. Who can rise to the occasion to bring succor to this girl? She clearly is in need of the best medical and psychiatric help available. Trying to even imagine her quality of life from this point forward is just heart-wrenching. She looks to be my age! God have mercy.
I wish I were in that position to step in financially and take care of EVERYTHING, but God has many soldiers already equipped with the necessary means to help this girl regain her dignity and hope for tomorrow. But, who out there is touched enough to take immediate action? May the right eyes come upon her story and be moved to the point of action.
I am willing to start something small on my own. If anyone knows how to get in touch with her people or whoever is looking after her, I know I can help with the means I already have. At least to get the ball rolling.
God please watch over us; help us young women to make the right choices. Give us the discernment to know when to say enough is enough, to stay away from those who are only there to steal our essence and to cut off all negative ties and associations. Heavenly Father, as we are raised by our earthly parents, please continue to raise us into the Godly, disciplined, safety-conscious and wise young women that You want us to be. May Your words always be imprinted on our hearts. This situation could have happened to anyone, but Father, You have kept us out of harms reach. Thank You for Your mercies and please help us to help our sister. Amen.
Farnsworth: I would instigate tribal war... If I ever became president by the time I step down, half the population of Nigeria will be gone because since coming on NL, I have seen the true nature of the other people in Nigeria from Igbo's, to Yoruba's to Hausa's... I now have nothing but deep hatred for most of the other tribes in Nigeria now.
I thought it was just me... Seun has helped to make many people harbour hatred toward their "fellow" Nigerian. I feel myself beginning to tow that path. Thanks Nairaland!
Business › Re: 11 Business Opportunities In Africa That Will Make More Millionaires In 2016 by Bre(op): 10:27pm On Mar 01, 2016
