THE ROLES OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT

I have chosen this topic to mean the roles of the new government in promoting small-scale businesses. In spite of the outcry over the out-going elections, we have to allow nature take its course and see entrepreneurship as the way forward. I say this because one of the major diseases eating deep into the fabric of our society is corruption.

One research revealed that Nigeria is the fifth most corrupt country in the world, but this is just about to change Since an average Nigerian spends not more than a dollar daily, most youths have now found a goldmine in internet fraud. While corruption is now a household name at different levels in our nation, I think we have to eliminate this incessant tragedy at the grassroots.

Instead of pointing accusing fingers at our leaders, I think we have to in the words of Pastor Chris Oyakilome “embrace the do-it-yourself-attitude”. This do-it-yourself-attitude is the thinking that I am responsible for how I fare in this country. In my own view, the way to shut doors on corruption is to embrace entrepreneurship. The role of the government will then be to create an enabling environment by encouraging small-scale entrepreneurship.

To start with, I will like to quickly define what I mean by a small-scale business. In Britain , Bolton reports (1971) define small-scale industry as one which employs less than 200 people with the following characteristics:

3. It is independent as far as the owner/managers are able to make principal decisions affecting the firm. The Nigerian Bank for Commerce and Industry (NBCI) once defined small-scale industries as those with project cost investment and working capital not exceeding #750, 000.

The government in this context is inclusive of the new president of the federal republic of Nigeria, Governors, Local government chairman and every other persons or bodies accorded authority. The twenty-eight banks are not left out of this.

The point I am swimming towards is that we must put hands together to cut-off corruption and change the image of our nation. We must stop banking on the government like handicaps, when we can actually start and manage our own business. I carry the conviction that you believe in the Nigerian project-that by year 2020, Nigeria will be one of the strongest economies in the world. To ardently pursue the Nigerian dream, we need to start our own businesses and the government should help in achieving this. Roles of the new government in promoting entrepreneurship are as follows:

Making the internet and technology accessible to all and promoting technopreneurship

In the words of Jim Ovia, “a technoprenuer is someone whose business is high technology, but who is possessed of the entrepreneurial spirit…. A technoprenuer in that sense is therefore an entrepreneur whose business involves high technology innovator and business man”. To impede the youth's involvement in internet fraud, the new government should create more computer schools. These schools should not only train, but create a bridge to employment. These computer schools should be extremely affordable.

Provision of loans.

The new government and banks alike should set up bodies to dole-out loans for entrepreneurs. I would like to commend the effort of the Nigerian Directorate of Employment (NDE) on this subject matter. However, more of such bodies need to be created. The greatest challenge of small-scale enterprise is capital. One research revealed that about 82.9 percent of entrepreneurs singled out scarcity of capital as their major problem. About 76.6 percent mentioned loan from government as the only assistance to cover some of these problems. Given that most start-up entrepreneurs may lack the financial savvy to pay back loan when due, then there should be education.

1. Entrepreneurial Education

I am of the opinion that certain courses should be conducted on entrepreneurship and financial management before making loans available to business people. The new government, banks and private sector should set-up edifices for training entrepreneurs. There should also be enlightenment programs on how to secure loans, where to get them and how to maximize them. There is also a need for entrepreneurial education and training in our tertiary institutions. The new government should provide the best possible education for students on the virtues and benefits of creative, innovative risk taking mixed with a sense of responsibility and ethics. Some roles of government in promoting entrepreneurship as suggested by Craig Hall are as follows:

(i) An end to bribery, accompanied by pay increase for police and bureaucrats to achieve fair compensation and honest law enforcement systems

(ii) Leaders from all sectors who are willing to talk about the benefits of responsible entreprenuerism (iii) Celebration of real, ethical local success stories

(iv) Citizen support for environments conducive to responsible entrepreneurs. A time as come in our nation, that demands a government bent on promoting small-scale businesses to enhance national development. To draw the curtain on these thoughts, I want the government to consider the benefits of promoting small-scale businesses which will over time snowball into national development. Benefits of promoting small-scale businesses are:

(i) It addresses corruption at the grassroots.

(ii) Moderation of rural-urban migration (iii) Even distribution of industries

(iv) Technological development

(v) It will curtail unemployment. I conclude with the words of Trevor Manuel (2005), South African Finance minister, “ Africa 's transformation will be founded on the enterprise of individual households and businesses”. Omowole Agbolade is a Motivational Speaker, A Business Communication Coach and a Life Coach. He helps people to achieve extra-ordinary results in every aspect of their lives He can be reached through Mobile : 08020777803 E-mail: agboolaa_coach@yahoo.com.