#BloggingRedefined - DO WE HAVE ANGEL INVESTORS IN NIGERIA SHA?

Posted on Palhood, December 12th 2012.
It is a pity state and condition for a young entrepreneur to have great ideas and to turn these ideas into an establishment then becomes a problem in Nigeria. The problems I mean here are start-up capital, funding and financing. I had this same problem when I had the idea of establishing my own company, after a lot of research on these great ideas, writing business plan and doing a great feasibility study, to now set it up became a problem. Although, I have successfully crossed the line and the ‘how I did it’ will soon be shared here. But, I still feel this problem needs to be tackled.

While I was making research on my idea, I came across what is called Angel Investor. I thought with this set of people, my dream will become a reality. Before moving on, for those who do not really know what these set of people are; Angel investors are group of individuals or let me say a non-profit organization that provides resources to private investors and entrepreneurs. They don't only help start-up businesses, they also help crashing businesses. All you just need to do is to provide them with your business plan (for start-ups) and they check through them, if they find it interesting and profitable, then you are the man. They will not only help you with capital for your business, they will also connect you to resources (human and materialistic) that you will need to succeed in your business.

Now, back to my experience, I was very happy to learn about them. This was even what led me to knowing how to write a standard business plan. Then after all these researches, here comes the next bombshell on the result page of Google with the keyword: Angel Investors in Nigeria , there are only two (2) of them in our so called developed country. As in, when I saw this, my hand fell. I almost got discouraged. Believe me, even the two (2) that I followed their links, I can say they are not really functioning well or let me say; they cannot be called non-profit organization as I have defined them to be earlier. Now my people, what should we do? How does our Government expect us young entrepreneurs
to setup businesses without cash? 60 percent of the Nigerian youths wish to become an entrepreneur but only 2 percent eventually become the entrepreneur at the end. Why? Start- up capital! And our fight is to reduce unemployment in Nigeria? But, how would this be possible if those that are willing to become job creators cannot create their desired jobs, which is the only way to reduce unemployment. Even if the government cannot create opportunities like this for want-to-be entrepreneurs, what has happened to the made men in the country? I discovered that the Angel Investors in U.S.A consists of great and successful entrepreneurs of the same country. Men that is willing to spend and invest on young entrepreneurs.

Apart from the fact that I’m against the opinion that cash should not be the reason why one cannot start his/her business, but come to think of it; you shall always come to the point of needing cash for your business even if you started it with no or less money. The loan banks are providing are attached with heavy interest. Even, families and friends are not ready to help. I know some people will be like; "why can’t you work with a company to earn and save some money and then use the saved money to establish.?" But, tell me; how many years will they have to wait to save and get the enough money they will need to establish?

We have so many people having this problem. All I know as the solution to this is: Government should provide a platform that gives voluntary cash to whosoever needs capital to start business. For people that learnt one trade or the other, graduates, and this should be irrespective of the tribe, grade level and experience. We have thousands of millionaires and billionaires in this country. Let them all come together and form an effective Angel Investors organization. I believe, when one is helped through this organization, that person will be willing to help others too and that’s how it will continue till unemployment is eradicated totally from Nigeria.

My people, what do you think?

Thanks and God bless!

You can follow me on twitter: @Mc_Jawbone

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