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Get expert answers to your African business questions. Connect with experienced entrepreneurs and business leaders for insights on markets, startups, and growth strategies.
How can improved due diligence and screening processes help investors reduce risks when investing in businesses across Africa?
Improved due diligence and screening processes can significantly help investors reduce risks when investing in businesses across Africa by providing a comprehensive understanding of the potential investment environment, mitigating uncertainties, and identifying red flags before committing resources.Read more
Improved due diligence and screening processes can significantly help investors reduce risks when investing in businesses across Africa by providing a comprehensive understanding of the potential investment environment, mitigating uncertainties, and identifying red flags before committing resources.
Improved due diligence and screening processes are essential tools for mitigating the unique risks of investing in African businesses.
By ensuring transparency, identifying potential challenges, and verifying the viability of opportunities, investors can protect their capital, build successful partnerships, and contribute to sustainable economic growth on the continent.
See lessAfrica's Youth Employment Crisis: Government Initiatives Focus on Self-Employment
Africa's youth employment crisis is one of the continent's most pressing challenges. With a rapidly growing youth population, the demand for jobs far outpaces the available opportunities in formal employment sectors. To address this, many African governments are shifting their focus towards promotinRead more
Africa’s youth employment crisis is one of the continent’s most pressing challenges. With a rapidly growing youth population, the demand for jobs far outpaces the available opportunities in formal employment sectors. To address this, many African governments are shifting their focus towards promoting self-employment and entrepreneurship as key strategies for tackling the issue. Here are some notable initiatives and trends:
Countries like Kenya and Ghana have established youth enterprise funds that provide seed capital, training, and mentorship for young entrepreneurs. These funds aim to empower youth to start and grow their own businesses.
Governments and private sector collaborations have resulted in the creation of innovation hubs, such as Nigeria’s Co-Creation Hub (CcHub) and South Africa’s Innovation Hub, which provide resources and mentorship for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Many governments are expanding TVET programs to equip youth with practical skills in trades such as carpentry, plumbing, and information technology. For example, Rwanda’s government has heavily invested in vocational training to increase employability and self-employment opportunities.
Partnerships with industries ensure that the skills taught are aligned with market needs, increasing the chances of successful self-employment.
Recognizing that lack of funding is a major barrier, initiatives like the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) “Boost Africa” program aim to improve access to finance for young entrepreneurs. These programs often include microloans and favorable credit terms.
Digital lending platforms, supported by governments and fintech companies, are also expanding financial inclusion.
Agriculture remains a significant sector for employment in Africa. Governments are encouraging youth to explore agripreneurship—innovative agricultural ventures that integrate technology and sustainable practices. For example, initiatives like Uganda’s Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP) include agribusiness projects.
With Africa experiencing a digital revolution, governments are promoting ICT-related self-employment. Programs such as Nigeria’s Digital Youth Nigeria Project aim to train youth in coding, app development, and digital marketing.
E-commerce platforms and digital marketplaces also provide avenues for youth to start small businesses with minimal upfront costs.
Governments are implementing policy reforms to improve the business environment for youth. These include simplifying business registration processes, reducing taxes for startups, and providing legal protections for micro and small enterprises.
While these initiatives are promising, challenges such as corruption, inadequate infrastructure, and limited scalability remain significant. To ensure success, governments must:
By prioritizing self employment and equipping young people with the necessary skills and resources, African governments aim to turn the youth employment crisis into an opportunity for economic growth and innovation.
See lessWhat is the meaning of CordQA?
CordQA stands for "Connection of Questions and Answers." This platform aims to facilitate the sharing of authentic African knowledge by providing a space for individuals to ask questions and receive insightful responses. The name embodies the essence of connecting people through the exchange of infoRead more
CordQA stands for “Connection of Questions and Answers.” This platform aims to facilitate the sharing of authentic African knowledge by providing a space for individuals to ask questions and receive insightful responses. The name embodies the essence of connecting people through the exchange of information and fostering a community dedicated to preserving and sharing Africa’s diverse countries and rich heritage. The inspiration behind choosing this name reflects the platform’s mission to create a cohesive network of individuals interested in contributing to and expanding knowledge about Africa.
See lessGreen economy model inclusion to enhance African youth development.
@Edug Let me share some practical ways young Africans can get involved in the green economy, based on what I've seen working on the ground: Start small and local. For example, if you're interested in solar energy, begin by learning basic installation through online courses or local technicians. ManyRead more
Edug Let me share some practical ways young Africans can get involved in the green economy, based on what I’ve seen working on the ground:
Start small and local. For example, if you’re interested in solar energy, begin by learning basic installation through online courses or local technicians. Many successful solar entrepreneurs I know started by installing systems in their communities before expanding.
Farming is a great entry point. You don’t need huge capital – start with a small plot using organic methods. I’ve met young farmers who began with quarter-acre plots growing high-value organic vegetables, then gradually expanded as they found reliable markets.
For funding, look close to home first. Local savings groups or small business loans are more accessible than big international grants. In Kenya, for instance, many youth groups pool resources to start recycling businesses or eco-friendly ventures.
Digital opportunities are real but require careful planning. Instead of trying to build complex apps, focus on simple solutions like connecting farmers to markets or helping people find solar products. A young entrepreneur in Uganda built a successful business just by creating a WhatsApp group connecting organic farmers to urban customers.
The key is to start with what you can manage now, learn from experience, and grow gradually. Many successful green businesses began as small community projects before scaling up.
What specific area of the green economy interests you most? I can share more detailed examples from that sector.
See lessHow can inflation be better addressed on the African continent
@Edug, As someone who follows African economies closely, I believe tackling inflation requires a multi-faceted approach. Many African countries are currently struggling with high inflation rates, partly due to global factors and domestic challenges. I think effective solutions should include: StrengRead more
Edug, As someone who follows African economies closely, I believe tackling inflation requires a multi-faceted approach. Many African countries are currently struggling with high inflation rates, partly due to global factors and domestic challenges.
I think effective solutions should include:
Take Ghana’s recent experience – they’ve made progress in reducing inflation through tight monetary policy and efforts to boost local production. While each country’s situation is unique, these principles could be adapted across the continent.
What are your thoughts on these approaches? Have you seen any particularly successful examples in your country?
See lessAre carbon markets beneficial to Africa or will they even be beneficial?
@Edug regarding carbon markets: From my analysis, carbon markets present both opportunities and risks for Africa. The continent has vast carbon sinks through our forests and peatlands, which could generate significant revenue through carbon credits. For example, Kenya's Kasigau Corridor REDD+ ProjecRead more
Edug regarding carbon markets: From my analysis, carbon markets present both opportunities and risks for Africa. The continent has vast carbon sinks through our forests and peatlands, which could generate significant revenue through carbon credits. For example, Kenya’s Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project has earned millions for local communities through carbon trading.
However, we must be cautious. Some carbon market projects have faced criticism for displacing local communities or failing to deliver promised benefits. For carbon markets to truly benefit Africa, we need:
Hope this answer will help you and others reading on this platform.
See lessWhat is the new name for Access Bank Nigeria?
Access Bank Nigeria hasn't changed its name—it continues to operate under the same "Access Bank" brand that people have known for years. This might be a common question because some banks do occasionally rebrand or change names after mergers or acquisitions, but Access Bank has maintained its identiRead more
Access Bank Nigeria hasn’t changed its name—it continues to operate under the same “Access Bank” brand that people have known for years.
This might be a common question because some banks do occasionally rebrand or change names after mergers or acquisitions, but Access Bank has maintained its identity.
They’ve built a strong reputation under this name and continue to serve their customers as Access Bank.
See lessWho is the owner of Access Bank Nigeria?
Access Bank isn't owned by a single person or entity - it's a publicly traded company listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) now Nigerian Exchange Group. This means that ownership is shared among many different investors, both big and small. Think of it like a huge puzzle where each shareholderRead more
Access Bank isn’t owned by a single person or entity – it’s a publicly traded company listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) now Nigerian Exchange Group. This means that ownership is shared among many different investors, both big and small.
Think of it like a huge puzzle where each shareholder owns a piece. Some of these pieces are owned by everyday people who buy shares through the stock market, while others are held by large institutional investors like pension funds and investment companies.
The bank’s employees might also own shares through various employee stock programs. This diverse ownership structure helps ensure that the bank is run in the interests of all its shareholders.
See lessIs Access Bank the richest bank in Nigeria?
This is an interesting question that doesn't have a straightforward answer. You see, measuring a bank's wealth involves looking at several different aspects of its financial performance. Access Bank is certainly among Nigeria's top banks, with impressive assets and a strong presence in the market. HRead more
This is an interesting question that doesn’t have a straightforward answer. You see, measuring a bank’s wealth involves looking at several different aspects of its financial performance.
Access Bank is certainly among Nigeria’s top banks, with impressive assets and a strong presence in the market. However, calling it the “richest” would be oversimplifying things.
Think of it like this: just as you wouldn’t judge a person’s wealth solely by their salary, we can’t judge a bank’s financial position by just one metric. Access Bank consistently shows strong financial performance and has a large customer base, but other Nigerian banks also demonstrate similar strengths in different areas.
See lessIs Access Bank still functioning in Nigeria?
Yes, Access Bank is absolutely thriving in Nigeria's banking sector. The bank continues to be one of the leading financial institutions in the country, serving millions of customers through its extensive network of branches and digital platforms. They offer everything from basic savings accounts andRead more
Yes, Access Bank is absolutely thriving in Nigeria’s banking sector. The bank continues to be one of the leading financial institutions in the country, serving millions of customers through its extensive network of branches and digital platforms.
They offer everything from basic savings accounts and personal loans to sophisticated corporate banking solutions. Whether you’re looking to open a simple savings account, get a mortgage, or handle complex business transactions, Access Bank provides these services across Nigeria.
Their digital banking platforms have also made it easier for customers to handle their banking needs from anywhere, at any time.
See less