EXPOSING WHAT SOCIAL ENTERPRISE IS ALL ABOUT (Being An Enterpreneur)

    A social enterprise is an organization that applies commercial strategies to maximize improvements in human and environmental well-being. This may include maximizing social impact alongside profits for external shareholders. Social enterprises can be structured as a for-profit or non-profit , and may take the form (depending in which country the entity exists and the legal forms available) of a co-operative , mutual organization , a disregarded entity, a social business , a benefit corporation , a community interest company or a charity organization. 

They can also take more conventional structures. But what differentiates social enterprises is that their social mission is as core to their success as any potential profit. Many commercial enterprises would consider themselves to have social objectives, but commitment to these objectives is motivated by the perception that such commitment will ultimately make the enterprise more financially valuable.

 These are organisations that might be more properly said to be operating corporate responsibility programs. Social enterprises, as I may say differ in that their commitment to impact is central to the mission of the business. Some may not aim to offer any benefit to their investors, except where they believe that doing so will ultimately further their capacity to realize their social and environmental goals, although there is a huge amount of variation in forms and activities.

  Many have being hearing Social Enterprise but do not know what part it plays in our society as a whole. Social enterprise plays the role of what I will call 'Change agent' in society as a whole by:

 * Adopting a mission to create and sustain social value.

* Searching for and pursuing new opportunities to serve that mission

 * Continually innovating, adapting, and learning in pursuit of the mission.

 * Acting boldly without consideration of resources current in hand.

 * Being accountable for outcomes of activities.

Going through all this up mentioned roles Social Enterprise plays in our society............ Many social entrepreneurs will exhibit these characteristics in different ways and in different degrees and very few will exactly fit this mould of an ‘ideal’ social entrepreneur.

  Now developing a social enterprise idea, the first stop on your journey as a social entrepreneur should be thinking about a great idea. I believe that you cannot be taught to be a social entrepreneur. But you can only learn to be a more effective social entrepreneur through practical experience. To be a social entrepreneur you do not need a long list of qualifications.  Resilience, Passion and Drive is what you need.

 Are these qualities you see in yourself? Can you solve your own problem?

 One need to check ones self. To be able to answer these questions......resilience, passion and drive must present in us. First hand experience is invaluable, it will mean you have an understanding of the shortcomings of current provisions, as well as access to and credibility within the community you wish to support. 

Experience also gives you a passion that will keep you going when things get tough. When you first have an idea you won’t have all the answers......... that’s OK. You can gather detail as you go along.

 What skills and experience do you have? Do you have experience of working in a particular sector or possess a certain skill set? How can you use this in your social enterprise? What questions do you need to answer?

 Don’t be discouraged if you do not have all the answers.........but make it your goal to find them out. It is rarely the case that from concept to implementation any idea stays the same. Be open-minded to

adapting your idea over time. Your end goal might stay the same but the path to achieving it could alter dramatically. Just keep an open mind and seek feedback along the way.

  I know by now someone will be meditating on how do I create my own social enterprise?. I feel that we are at the very beginning of a new revolution, moving towards a future where all corporations are expected to create an overall positive impact to the society. 

 A social enterprise, having both a commercial operation like a business, synergistically integrated with a social intention like an NGO or charity, seems to bring out the best of both worlds. What's been interesting to see in this new sector is how social entrepreneurs are combining the two, and the ways in which these two very different pursuits integrate. 

There are many distinct ways in which social entrepreneurs attempt to achieve this, and this will hopefully serve as a starting point for ambitious social entrepreneurs.

   To start with...........EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES: These social enterprises train disadvantaged

persons or communities to produce or operate their enterprise.  An example is Iwoland Youth Empowerment Programme, a programme by Damilauryn Youth Foundation Care..........where youths are gather, train and empower to become a professionals.

Another is HArise Organization of Nigeria, a non-governmental organization / social enterprise working in the area of education, youth advocacy, development and empowerment and good governance. These social enterprises are aiming to create an overall positive impact on the lives of people who are part of their enterprise or within the grassroots community. May God continue to be their source of help.

   Another is......POSITIVE IMPACT PRODUCTS OR SERVICE: These social enterprises provide products that are 'better' for the consumer, the society or the environment. Example is 'Omo Alata',  an enterprise producing packaged blended pepper in the right proportion for different kind of food. Omo Alata, today it is widely known and accepted, mostly in the neighbouring countries especially U.S.A. 

Without forgetting to tell you it's owned by a Computer Science graduate. The third and the last I will be talking about is .......RETURNING PROFITS: Such social enterprises focus on returning parts or all of their profits back to the society, or by providing similar products or services at low prices or for free to disadvantaged(less privileged) people.

 Such as 'buy one give one free' shoes, or clinics that provide cheap basic services but at the same time offering premium services at high prices. By promising to give back with their profits, these social enterprises are fund generators that support worthy causes.

  A perfect example I will state here is.....National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Where people get treatment at a very minute payment. And is mostly free to children under the age of four years and pregnant women...if I'm not mistaken. NHISs are own by private sector in partnership with government to give humanity service to the community.

Another example is FADAMA Agricultural Project........an enterprise set to help out farmers in different aspect of agriculture. Yes its a governmental owned, but lots of private sectors do partner with them to give service to farmers.

More so, we have International Institutes of Tropical Agriculture(IITA), which is private.

   As social entrepreneurship is a relatively young sector. I feel that we have a long way to go in our dear country. If our youths can make something good from the God-given talents, then our dear country will be a developed country soon.

  Remember, if you are an Entrepreneur, you are a Boss........a Freeman, for "There is nothing greater than been a Freeman"........DrDamiDrey.

______________________

Damilare Daniel OYEJIDE

Co-Ordinator,

Damilauryn Youth Foundation Care.

 +2347069378900

drdamidrey@gmail.com