Lawani Fosters Entrepreneurship in Nigeria

Oladipo Lawani '08 dreamt of being a banker his whole life, he says. What Lawani did not know was how that dream would pale in comparison with reality just four years after coming to Knox. Now an economics major, he is eager to make his way in the world and to succeed in one of the poorest countries in the world - Nigeria.

?My long range plans include going home to Nigeria and being an educator for young entrepreneurs. A large number of Nigerian undergraduates do not get a job after they graduate. I want to establish a ?Naija Go-Getters chapter all over Nigeria.?

Naija Go-Getters is a brand name created by Lawani. ?It is synonymous with youth empowerment and youth entrepreneurs,? he says.

According to Lawani?s vision, under the Naija Go-Getter banner, each chapter would include youths in a community coming together as entrepreneurs building economic development. He hopes to have chapters all over the nation and even internationally.
 
?Outside those immediate goals, I would also want to go in other entrepreneurial directions. I?m looking at developing a magazine and developing learning tools,? Lawani says.

While at Knox, Lawani completed an internship at CitiCorp and Stanley Morgan. He also completed a class, Creativity, The Liberal Arts and Entrepreneurism, taught by Carl Nordgren, Knox?s entrepreneur-in-residence. But a bigger challenge was to come. Lawani had a seminar to attend. But he was not registering for Awaken The Entrepreneur Within, he was organizing it.

With a long-time friend from home, Lawani coordinated a youth entrepreneur seminar in Nigeria during winter break. ?It was our maiden event. Unemployment is high in Nigeria. We felt it would be beneficial to Nigerian youths who wouldn?t have jobs. They would find this event informative and educational.?

Attendees ranged in age from 16 to 30. Corporate sponsors were persuaded by Lawani?s pitch for developing the economy of Nigeria.  ?I sent letters and said economic development is a priority in Nigeria, in Africa and actually the whole world. The pitch to the sponsors centered on social responsibility, and most of them bought into it,? he says.

The seminar, with 250 registered, included three speakers that discussed the financial aspects of starting a business, getting funded, and developing a business plan with Lawani facilitating a session focused on community. With the use of the internet, members from all over the world interested in social entrepreneurship share ideas, gain support, mobilize teams, and even collaborate. ?I talked about what our goals are as a community and invited everyone to be a member of our online community (www.naijagogetters.com).?

Although the workshop/seminar was for one day, Lawani proved that small things do matter and can become socially significant. He showed capable young people that social entrepreneurship can offer a career that provides both social and economic returns.

He is passionate about making a difference in the world. ?Naija Go-Getter?s is a fitting ending to this chapter in my Knox life. I feel like Knox has really changed my outlook and the way I think. I would tell prospective students to indulge in Knox, indulge in the learning environment, the interaction with the entire Knox community,? he says.

Lawani says he still has a lot to learn and experience. ?But, I?ve learned the importance of self-belief. There is no goal unattainable if you believe in your own abilities to accomplish them.?

Oladipo Lawani '08 founded Naija Go Getters and organized a entrepreneurship seminar for Nigerian youths.

Oladipo Lawani (left) visits with Issac Durojaiye. Durojaiye was a speaker at the Awaken The Entrepreneur Within seminar organized by Lawani.