Social Technologies for Solving Humanitarian Problems: experience of Nigeria

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21847/1728-9343.2019.1(159).158013

Keywords:

entrepreneurship, media, Nigeria, unemployment, youth

Abstract

The purpose of the paper is give substantiations of social technologies as means of curbing the problem. In particular, the role of the media as an instrument of attraction of Nigerian young people to participate in entrepreneurship. Reflection of entrepreneurial perspectives of Nigerian youth are stated from the viewpoint of two competing theories - neoliberal and political-economic theories. The first of them provides an explanation of informal entrepreneurship as a result of rational decision of economical subjects to work in informal economics by reason of burdensome regulatory environment; the second explains the work of entrepreneurs in informal economy by insufficient state interference, limited capability of consultations and remote possibility of small business support at initial stage of its development. It is shown that in Nigeria these theories are rather complementary than competing. The clear evidence of this statement are empirical observations.

The author’s research is based on two assumptions of agenda-setting theory: the first is that the press and the media do not reflect reality, they filter and shape it; the second is that media concentration on a few issues and subjects leads the public to perceive those issues as more socially important than other issues. Based on this theory, it can be argued that if the media set proper agenda on the issue, it will have effect on construction of relative worldview attitudes of the youth. In the conclusion it is shown that entrepreneurship in Nigeria is considered as promising method of creating workplaces for unemployed school and higher education graduates, therefore attraction of young people to the entrepreneurship can tackle the humanitarian challenges that the country is facing.

Over the course of many years the governmental policy of Nigeria did not succeed in creating favorable institutional environment for the entrepreneurship development. The climate that is present there nowadays is the main deterrent in process of self-sufficiency and creation of economic autonomy, what leads to increase of unemployment, vandalism and other social defects in the young country. The media is the factor that influences on the development of the entrepreneurship by means of creating relevant discourse, which transmits values and images ascribed to entrepreneurship, encourages an entrepreneurial spirit in the society and becomes an instrument of attraction of youth to participate in entrepreneurship. Possible media technologies of support to the entrepreneurial activities are outlined, in particular: regular reporting the success stories of entrepreneurs; transmitting entrepreneurial activity values among the youth by means of creating special media product; creating documentaries with the purpose to promote the entrepreneurship and demonstrate positive dynamics of its development; stimulation the government and banking sector to give preferential credits to future entrepreneurs through the use of corresponding advertisement tools.

Author Biography

Alice Aladi Jonah, Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger State

Department of Mass Communication

References

Adebayo, P. (2015). Impact of Government Entrepreneurial Programmes on Youth SMES Participation in Nigeria. International Journal of Economics and Business Management, 1(8): 65-70. Retrieved from https://iiardpub.org/get/IJEBM/VOL%201/65-79.pdf (In English).

Akpeji, C. (2016, April 12) 500,000 apply for 10,000 police jobs in 12 days. Guardian. Retrieved from http://guardian.ng/news/500000-apply-for-10000-police-jobs-in-12-days/ (In English).

Aleksandrova, O. & Omelchenko, Y. & Popovich, O. (2018). Competition as a Factor of Social Development. Studia Warmińskie. Tom. 55. pp. 43-62. DOI: 10.31648/sw.3061.

Asemah, S. E. (2011). Selected mass media themes. Jos: University Press. (In English).

Baumol, W. J. (1968). Entrepreneurship in economic theory. The American Economic Review, 58. (2) 64-71 (In English).

Chand, S. (2015). Entrepreneurship: Characteristics, Importance, Types, and Functions of Entrepreneurship. Retrieved from http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/entrepreneur/entrepreneurship-characteristicsimportance-types-and-functions-of entrepreneurship/5228/ (In English).

Djankov, S., Tim, G., Caralee, M., Ramalho, R. & Andrei, S. (2010). The effect of corporate taxes on investment and entrepreneurship. American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, 2(3), 31-64. DOI: 10.1257/mac.2.3.31 (In English).

Editorial (2014, August 2). Immigration job scam forgotten? Leadership newspaper. Retrieved from http://leadership.ng/opinions/editorial/379760/immigration-job-scam-forgotten (In English).

Editorial (2015 August 17). Framing fresh approach to job creation. Punch. Retrieved from http://thecitizenng.com/public-affairs/framing-fresh-approach-to-job-creation-punch/ (In English).

Hang, M. & Weezel, V. (2013). Media and entrepreneurship: A survey of the literature relating Both Concepts. Retrieved from http://www.personal.psu.edu/amh13/e ship/hangandweezel.pdf (In English).

Ihugba, O., Odii, A. & Njoku, A. (2013). Challenges and prospects of entrepreneurship in Nigeria. Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 2(5), 25-36. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5901/ajis.2013.v2n5p25 (In English).

Levie, J., Hart, M. & Karim, M. (2010). Impact of media on entrepreneurial intentions and actions. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/­uploads/attachment_data/file/32243/11-773-impact-of-media-entrepreneurial-intentions-actions.pdf (In English).

Madhuoshi, M. & Sadati, A., Dalaveri, H., Mehdivand, M. & Mihandost, R. (2011). Entrepreneurial Orientation and Innovation Performance: The Mediating Role of Knowledge of Management. Asian Journal. 3 (4), 310-316. Retrieved from http://maxwellsci.com/print/ajbm/v3-310-316.pdf (In English).

Martins, S (2004). Barriers to entrepreneurship and business creation. European Entrepreneurship Cooperation. Retrieved from http://www.adrimag.com.pt/downloads/cooperacao/Barriers%20entrepreneurship%20and%20business%20creation.pdf (In English).

Mokaya, S. O., Namusonge, M. & Sikalieh, D. (2012). The Concept of Entrepreneurship; in pursuit of a Universally Acceptable Definition. International Journal of Arts and Commerce. (6), 128-135. Retrieved from https://www.ijac.org.uk/images/frontImages/gallery/Vol._1_No._6_/13.pdf (In English).

National Bureau of Statistics (2015). Unemployment/ under‐employment watch 3Q 2015. National Bureau of Statistics (In English).

Obaji, O. & Olugu, M. (2014). The role of government policy in entrepreneurship development. Science. Journal of Business and Management, 2(4), 109-115. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11648/j.sjbm.20140204.12 (In English).

Onuoha, G. (2007). Entrepreneurship. AIST International Journal. 10, 20-32 (In English).

Onwuka, E. M., Ugwu, K. E., & Ukpai K. (2014). The effect of policy measures on entrepreneurship development analysis of Nigeria’s experience. European Journal of Business and Management, 6(23), 270-276. Retrieve from https://iiste.org/Journals/index.php/EJBM/article/view/23812/24383 (In English).

United States Department of State/Bureau of International Information Programs (n.d). Principles of entrepreneurship. Retrieved from http://www.ait.org.tw/infousa/zhtw/DOCS/enterp.pdf (In English).

Webb, J. W., et al. (2012). Research on entrepreneurship in the informal economy: Framing a research agenda. Journal of Business Venturing. 28(5): 598-614. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusvent.2012.05.003 (In English).

Williams, C. & Martinez, A. (2014). Do small business start-ups test-trade in the informal economy? Evidence from a UK survey. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 22, (1): 1-16. DOI: 10.1504/ijesb.2014.062127 (In English).

World Bank (2016). World Bank Ranking list of economies - July 2016. Retrieved from https://www.google.com.ng (In English).

Downloads

Published

2019-02-28

How to Cite

Jonah, A. A. (2019). Social Technologies for Solving Humanitarian Problems: experience of Nigeria. Skhid, (1(159), 42–48. https://doi.org/10.21847/1728-9343.2019.1(159).158013

Issue

Section

Social Philosophy