Interview Between Mr Rafiu Akinpelu Olaore, Executive Director at Youths Enterprise Development & Innovation Society (YEDIS), Nigeria and Mr Michael Herglotz, an Academic Researcher at Vienna University of Economics and Business, Europe.
Date: 16 June 2023. Venue: Zoom (online)
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=os8m7vtsm1M
(Transcript edited)
Michael Herglotz: Okay. I just started to record. Our discussion today aims to delve into the impact of digitalization on rural entrepreneurship initiatives, especially in enhancing the prosperity of the rural population in sub-Saharan Africa. Given your expertise and experience in this field, your insights will be invaluable in shedding light on how these initiatives can leverage digital advancement to tackle current challenges and seize new opportunities. There are no right or wrong answers, and I am interested in your experience and opinions. Before getting started, do you have any questions?
Rafiu Olaore: [0:00:52.0] No question. Let us get started.
Michael Herglotz: [0:00:56.0] Okay. Can you tell me about yourself, your initiative, and your main activities? How long have you been operating this business?
Rafiu Olaore: [0:01:09.0] I am Rafiu Akinpelu Olaore, the Founder and Executive Director of Youths Enterprise Development & Innovation Society (YEDIS) in Nigeria. I have an MSc in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from the University of Essex in the United Kingdom, a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Entrepreneurship and Business Management from the National Open University of Nigeria, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Ekiti State University, Nigeria and a Higher National Diploma in Purchasing and Supply from Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Nigeria. I am a chief lecturer at Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Nigeria, and I was an Assistant Director of Entrepreneurship Education from 2013 to 2019. The acronym for the Youths Enterprise Development and Innovations Society is YEDIS. So, along the way, I will use YEDIS to discuss the organization. I founded YEDIS on 11 February 2020. So, the objective is to promote entrepreneurship education, youth employment, gender equality and community development. YEDIS operates in underserved communities.
YEDIS helps marginalized people, especially young people, primarily girls and young women. It is a grassroots nongovernmental organization. So, we understand the challenges facing the people in the rural community. That is why we introduced the NGO to help less privileged people. We introduce entrepreneurship education and digital literacy skills to explore innovation, encourage gender balance, and promote decent jobs and economic development.
So, those are some of the things that we do. Since 2020, we have carried out more than twenty-five social activities and empowerment programs.
We target marginalized young people, especially in the creative industry and agri-business sector. In Nigeria, a more significant percentage of women and girls are in the agri-business because it is the primary source of their livelihood. Then, there are some of the school leavers, those who cannot proceed to their higher education. We empower and organize capacity building for agri-preneurs, students, artisans and people in creative industries like agriculture, fashion designing, computer training, hair styling, and students. We also provide entrepreneurship training. We give them business support, like a small amount of funding, and then present materials and tools to support their business. For example, as a social impact practitioner, I presented a paper titled “Strengthening Digital Literacy Skills for Marginalized Women and Girls in Agri-Business Sectors.” at the Social Business Creation Conference 2023 in Montreal, Canada, on 15 June 2023. We encourage food security and the food transformation system because more marginalized people are in rural villages and communities. We promote agribusiness, new initiatives and other creative ventures to reduce unemployment, poverty, and inequality. Then, we work on the environment and climate resilience so that the business will thrive. That is the abstract of what we do.
Michael Herglotz: [0:06:32.0] Okay. Thank you. You already mentioned that you use digitalization. So, which technologies do you use to encourage women for equality in your initiative?
Rafiu Olaore: [0:06:50.0] Thank you. We apply technology: computer systems, android phones, and digital applications. Because most rural women and girls do not have Android telephones, we use verbal and SMS to communicate whenever we want to talk to them. But most underserved youth have Android phones, so we contact them via social media. Regarding YEDIS training and empowerment, digital technology includes projectors to display film, storytelling, charts, video shows and skills development. We show the participants the practical aspects of their work with advanced methods. So, we use film. We use stories to deliver our messages. Furthermore, we use Microsoft and Google applications to develop and report our activities, get feedback, evaluate our performances, and then communicate with our stakeholders.
Michael Herglotz: [0:08:30.0] I read on your website that you also offer workshops for women, for example, or especially the youth. Can you explain how these workshops work?
Rafiu Olaore: [0:08:45.0] Thank you. The workshop is about entrepreneurship training, digital skills, business plans, marketing, procurement strategy, supply chain management, creative ideas development, skills acquisitions, business networking and SDGs advocacy. The workshop includes networking and leadership training. Those are the kinds of workshops we organized for them. Then, for example, in 2022, YEDIS organized a digital fashion designing workshop for over 200 tailors in Osogbo, Nigeria. We encouraged the participants to use digital technology to make a design and then put it on their social media for marketing to those outside their vicinity. As you are in Austria, you can buy clothes in Nigeria when you like the design. They will make the design for you and then send it to you.
These are the kinds of workshops that we organized for them. Then, we give support by buying materials for them, especially those who are just starting. We motivate them by giving them a little material to start their job. YEDIS encourages apprenticeship so that when you are learning, you have mentors. Your mentor will guide you. YEDIS encourages mentoring in the process of training.
Michael Herglotz: [0:10:59.0] Okay, that sounds very interesting. Thank you. What are the main barriers and obstacles you face in using technology and digitalization in your initiative?
Rafiu Olaore: [0:11:17.0] Our challenges in those marginalized communities include inadequate electricity, inconsistent internet networks, inadequate infrastructural facilities like clean water health, and a lack of quality education. Then the other vital challenge is the people’s wrong perception of NGOs. They need to gain an understanding of how nongovernmental organization works. Anytime we go to the rural community, they believe we are politicians that come to campaign. So, some of them, you know, show apathy and reluctance to YEDIS’s social mission. It took the YEDIS team a lot of sensitization to get them involved. Regarding what we do, they believe it’s for politics because some politicians always go to them for election campaigns with unfulfilled promises.
Another challenge we have is the issue of innovation and the need for development. Many underserved people are not ready to take risks for growth. They want to maintain the status quo. So, they want to keep what they do just for a living. They don’t wish to improve because of their limited exposure and knowledge. They have little managerial skills. YEDIS encourages them to develop their professional skills. Accordingly, our challenge includes a need for more support from the government, private organizations, local and international organizations, academia, and community leaders. The Nigerian government focuses on urban city development, neglecting rural communities regarding infrastructure and industries, leading to youth migrating to metropolitan cities for survival. So, most young people leave their communities because they need more infrastructure, quality education and professional development. We face these challenges, and YEDIS strives to fill the gap by promoting entrepreneurship education, youth employment, gender balance and community development. To leave no one behind by encouraging them to stay where they are, introducing innovative initiatives and business development. YEDIS promotes youth enterprises and networks and partners with them to reduce inequalities and promote gender balance so they can meet up with advanced people in cities and compete globally.
Michael Herglotz: [0:14:19.0] Okay, and what would you say about the role of culture and social norms? Do they play a significant role in your community or your initiative about entrepreneurship and technology?
Rafiu Olaore: [0:14:36.0] Yeah. The issue of culture and norms. In most Nigerian communities, culture and religion are interrelated. Firstly, concerning gender, women take authority from their husbands. Whatever they want to do, they must get their husbands’ approval, which limits their participation in social empowerment programs and business professional development. Secondly, the issue of family nepotism and kinship subjectively affects their business and community development. But one of the things we enjoy in the culture is family business succession planning. Succession planning is effective in rural communities, especially agriculture and creative businesses. The challenge is the need for quality education to advance their entrepreneurial skills. Recently, the culture is improving. There is an improvement in the culture in Nigerian communities because most young people migrate to urban cities to learn new skills, modern ways of living, and multicultural human relations.
Michael Herglotz: [0:16:51.0] What do you think is the role of having social networks in your area?
Rafiu Olaore: [0:17:00.0] Social networks bring development. Social networks build managerial skills. Social networks bring advanced skills. And then it brings civilization. It improves youth employment because when there is a good network, it gives you quality education and professional development. You learn what you lack. It brings disruptive innovation. Social networks will enable you to compete with others and develop your team spirit, leadership, and managerial skills. You will be able to tackle any challenges, and then you will see failure as a lesson. Social networks are essential to meaningful development. And since we started YEDIS, we have encouraged many young people by bringing them to our social network. YEDIS advanced their managerial skills; YEDIS developed their literacy skills. YEDIS creates more employment opportunities for them. These are some of the advantages of a social network and YEDIS impacts.
Michael Herglotz: [0:18:35.0] Okay. You mentioned the role of the government and other governmental institutions and that mainly rural communities are the areas that get little attention from them. Can you give any examples of how government institutions are just focusing on the urban centres in Nigeria and how disadvantaged your areas are?
Rafiu Olaore: [0:19:05.0] Nigeria is a developing country like any other developing country with infrastructural deficits such as inadequate good roads, clean water, electricity, digital technology, and telecommunication network facilities. So there needs to be more attention. The government focuses on urban city development. YEDIS is appealing to the government to come down to the marginalized communities. YEDIS advocates for poverty reduction, zero hunger, quality education, decent jobs for youth, inclusive growth, and sustainable development. As a grassroots NGO, YEDIS sensitizes the people in the government to support our social and humanitarian services. There are natural resources and young, talented people in rural communities that can shape the future of Nigeria economically. We want the governments to tap these resources so the nation can grow economically with gainful employment opportunities for youth. There are a lot of natural resources, creativity, and innovation in underserved communities, but there is no adequate support. No encouragement. They need funding, equipment, materials, and entrepreneurship education. Objectively, we can achieve these through government partnerships with grassroots nongovernmental organizations. These are some of our advocacies. So that when we develop our marginalized communities and underserved people, we create a sustainable nation.
Michael Herglotz: [0:21:45.0] All right. Thank you. Um, the next question is regarding support. So you said that you lack support from national governments, but do you receive any help from outside, from international NGOs via, let’s say, digitalization that made your organization bigger and working better?
Rafiu Olaore: [0:22:15.0] Yes. What we receive is not direct funding. However, we receive managerial skills and capacity development through advanced free online professional training (certificate courses, seminars, webinars, workshops) by the United Nations, British Councils, World Bank Group, International Monetary Funds, Nigeria Network of NGOs, and other reputable organizations.
Most significantly, YEDIS enjoys free digital application grants from Google for nonprofits, Microsoft, TechSoup, Canva, and other relevant digital technologies. These are some digital opportunities we have to develop YEDIS and its team. We impact the acquired skills to help vulnerable youth and communities for sustainable development. We have not received any financial support, but we are working towards it to bring more economic growth and professional development to underserved people and marginalized communities. Currently, we raise funds from family and friends for social and humanitarian activities in the local community. We organize fundraising among family and friends and partner with community trade associations and youth social groups for social developmental activities.
Michael Herglotz: [0:23:56.0] So digitalization has already changed your opportunities and chances a lot, but still, of course, the communities lack electricity and available funds. If this were available, then the region would be blossoming and capable of reaching so much more. Right.
Rafiu Olaore: [0:24:24.0] Yes. There will be more sustainable developments when all these facilities are in place.
Michael Herglotz: [0:24:33.0] Have you seen any developments to, let us say, ten years ago in your region?
Rafiu Olaore: [0:24:44.0] Yes. There is a development. People are coming together. We partner with other local organizations. Our work is gaining momentum, yielding fruitful outcomes because the YEDIS beneficiaries and community leaders share their testimonies and call for more support from us and the government. The YEDIS empowerment beneficiaries utilized the support given to them as we received favourable feedback. YEDIS SDGs’ advocacy and impacts motivate political officials and public and community associations to bring development to their communities, but the gap is far.
Michael Herglotz: [0:25:24.0] Yeah, I understand that. So, what do you know about prosperity?
Rafiu Olaore: [0:25:41.0] You mean in my organization?
Michael Herglotz: [0:25:43.0] How would you define prosperity in general, like in economic terms or social terms – a community being and working together? Yeah.
Rafiu Olaore: [0:25:57.0] We have a feasible development and hope that the current government will improve every area in Nigeria regarding social, economic, cultural, technological, legal and political developments. Soonest, there will be a sustainable life for marginalized youth and communities. Nigerian NGOs and other social organizations are advocating for fruitful improvement. In the next few years, Nigeria will be great. We wish for adequate infrastructures, gainful employment for youth, poverty reduction, gender balance and reduced inequality. With the advocacy and support we are giving, we hope everything will be okay in the next few years, and there will be gainful employment, inclusive education, peaceful and resilient community.
Michael Herglotz: [0:27:33.0] Can you give any examples of how your organization contributed to, let’s say, the income of local people or social connections and a better sense of community or, for instance, if there were any environmental tasks or things you did in the past?
Rafiu Olaore: [0:28:01.0] Yes. We have more outstanding contributions.
Michael Herglotz: [0:28:05.0] Okay. Explain.
Rafiu Olaore: [0:28:08.0] We contributed meaningfully to rural people’s economic and social values through YEDIS empowerment programs, entrepreneurship training and capacity building, and a digital literacy skills workshop. We promote their business and initiatives on YEDIS social media and connect them with other members of the YEDIS network. YEDIS has over 4000 members globally, with significant numbers in Nigeria. Anywhere we implement social activities, we involve the beneficiaries in the YEDIS network and share relevant social and professional opportunity updates with them. Concerning the environmental tasks, YEDIS promotes agrifood and advocates for sustainable agriculture, including water management and climate resilience, at its previous empowerments and capacity building for underserved young people in agribusiness. Periodically, we assess their performances and receive feedback on the training and usage of donated materials. We support them with business advice and connect them with financial experts and business development service providers for free.
Rafiu Olaore: [0:30:13.0] So these services can increase the income generated from the business and improve sociocultural relationships because we bring people from different backgrounds. When we have the training with them, we separate them into groups. We encourage teamwork among them. Then, most importantly, we use the local language for training, specifically the marginalized artisans and young women and girls in agribusiness. A local language expresses a detailed understanding of the discussions, creates a sense of belonging, and enables us to interact well with the participants. So, all these services improve their relationship, environment, and businesses. They can relate very well. Moreover, we introduce them to different markets, both physical and online, and how to sell on their social media. So, these are some things we do to improve people’s living standards.
Michael Herglotz: [0:31:52.0] Okay. Thank you so much. That was a perfect answer to all the many questions I had. And we are already coming to the last question: do you see a connection between entrepreneurship, digitalization, and the prosperity of your region?
Rafiu Olaore: [0:32:14.0] Entrepreneurship, digitalization, and prosperity. Yes. In 2008, the Nigerian government introduced entrepreneurship education into the higher education curriculum (Polytechnic). They made entrepreneurship education compulsory for every discipline. So, this is in line with what we are doing in YEDIS.
I mentioned entrepreneurship education and digital literacy. So, these two factors bring prosperity to the country. Entrepreneurship education brings innovation. It brings new initiatives and disruptive innovation. It enhances competitive advantage. It promotes new startups, social capital, and clusters of industries, including venture capitalists.
We let them know that whatever they can do legitimately, they should do it to fill the missing opportunity gap. Seek the opportunity. What do your people lack? Try to provide it. We have been seeing prosperity in the community and the youth based on YEDIS’s social impact. We see prosperity in our work through the youth’s gainful employment.
Michael Herglotz: [0:34:33.0] Those were the perfect sentences to end this interview. Thank you so much for taking the time today. I appreciate it. And you have helped me a lot with my research. I hope to visit Nigeria someday and visit your initiative in person.
Rafiu Olaore: [0:35:02.0] Yeah, you are welcome.
Youths Enterprise Development & Innovation Society (YEDIS).
Website: https://yedis.org
Email: info@yedis.org
WhatsApp: +2347054997660
Social Media Links:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/yedis.org
LinkedIn:
https://linkedin.com/company/youths-enterprise-development-and-innovation-society
YouTube:
Twitter:
TikTok:
The director, you are done a good job since the establishment of the organization till date. Well done sir. May the Lord continue to bless you
Thank you for your motivation.