"The number of accelerators has increased considerably in various emerging market countries in the past decade, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. This includes Nigeria, the largest economy in West Africa. One important question then is: are these incubators and accelerators effective in providing support to enterprises in emerging markets, especially youth-led enterprises? This knowledge brief seeks to capture information from our study of incubators and accelerators in Nigeria in relation to their effectiveness in supporting youth-led enterprises."
The West Africa chapter envisions a thriving ecosystem for SGBs across the region, with the goal to create an inclusive platform for all stakeholders and leverage ANDE’s global connections within the local network through collaboration and relationship building, convenings, and knowledge sharing.
In 2019, the West African entrepreneurial ecosystem experienced major development, with the rise of tech hubs and impact investing activities. There was particularly an increase in direct and indirect investment funds from Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), as indicated in ANDE’s recent State of the Small and Growing Business Sector report.
In 2019, 119 participants from 66 organizations and 17 countries attended the ANDE West Africa Regional Conference to discuss key issues in the West African SGB sector.
ANDE recently launched the entrepreneurial ecosystem snapshots of Ibadan and Port Harcourt, Nigeria. These reports expand on the study of the entrepreneurial landscape of Nigeria, of which Abuja and Lagos snapshots have been previously launched.
The ANDE West Africa Chapter held a meeting on incubation and acceleration in Lagos, Nigeria in December 2017. This article provides a summary of the insights and happenings at the event.
In developed and developing economies, the role of Small and Growing Businesses (SGBs) cannot be overemphasized. The Nigerian Tribune covered the ANDE West Africa Chapter's Lagos entrepreneurial ecosystem snapshot launch, identifying trends, challenges, and opportunities.
The ANDE West Africa Chapter was featured in The Nation, a Nigerian newspaper, for releasing the Lagos Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Snapshot. This article discusses what is required for a start-up community to thrive.
ANDE's Executive Director, Randall Kempner, participated in an agribusiness-focused event and pitch competition Ghana, where he identified access to talent or human resources as a major challenge facing small businesses. The Mobile Business Clinic, which is part of the Lundin Foudation in Accra, hosted the event, selected three winners at the end of the competition.