Understanding Social Entrepreneurship in the African Context: An Exploratory Review of Evidence From Nigeria.

Abstract

1Understanding Social Entrepreneurship in the African Context: An Exploratory Review of Evidence from Nigeria Bamidele A. Wale-OshinowoUniversity of Lagos,NigeriaChijioke Dike UbaUniversity of Northampton, United Kingdom. Mercy Adeyeye, Federal University of Technology, Minna. Nigeria Ayokunle O. OmobowaleUniversity of Ibadan,NigeriaABSTRACTSocial enterprises are organisations created with theaim of applying entrepreneurial skills and innovations to solving social problems. They are managed by “individuals who combine pragmatic and result-oriented methods of a business entrepreneur with the goals of a social reformer” (Hsu, 2005:61). Such enterprises combine resources in innovative ways to create social value in and for the society.However, Social Enterprises may face challenges that impact on their ability to accomplish social goals. For instance, when confronted with the harsh realities of economic recession, teaming poor population and the need to profit for social intervention, social enterprises existing in hostile economic environment in developing countries may face possibilities of shut-down. This chapter examines the concept of socialentrepreneurship in a subsisting economy in Sub-Saharan Africa. Specifically, itdraws from relevant primary and secondary datato explore the nature of social entrepreneurship in the Nigeriacontextand the potential role that social entrepreneurship can play in addressing social problems in Nigeria. The chapter discussions gravitate towards extrapolatingthe findings and discussions to the broader African countries’ context, contributing to the literature on Social Entrepreneurship in Nigeria and the broader African contex