Unlocking Business Potential | Africa Haguruka 2023

Dr. Philip's message began by explaining how Africa is a continent rich in untapped natural resources, boasting vast fertile lands that hold tremendous potential for agriculture and economic growth. With the largest youth population globally, it presents a promising and continuously expanding consumer market. However, Africa also faces various challenges across different sectors, ranging from meeting basic human needs to addressing higher-level demands. The continent's diverse demands and opportunities make it a region of immense significance and potential for development and progress.

A Global dimension with a Local Mindset
Every individual, possessing the Mind of God, holds the capacity to be creative and bring forth fresh ideas. With distinctive graces and abilities, there lies the potential to uncover business opportunities in various endeavors.
In Proverbs 14:23, it is declared that there is profit in every labor. It is essential to take charge and establish your own business. Instead of being complacent or ignorant, seize the opportunities that God has placed in your surroundings.

Only the wise can rise.
In every adversity lies a potential business opportunity. The challenges encountered by large groups can serve as the foundation for new and innovative business ventures.

How do would you know when an opportunity knock?

• It must present solution
• It should not be in news; whatever is in the news is no longer new. If an investment opportunity is the news, chances are that the big sharks must have invested and reaped before they leaked it to the others.
• People your (prospective clients) must be willing to pay for or accept your solution.
• It will not be easy to solve, everyone else will not see the solution part.

Opportunities are boundless. By expanding our reach and efforts, we align with God's design to transform small seed beginnings into bountiful harvests.

What next, when you see an opportunity?

• Identify a viable Solution.
• Do a customer analysis: surveys, questionnaires.
• Do competitor analyses: who Else has this product or solution? How can I be different?
• Do an industry analyses: what is required for entry? Is the industry growing or shrinking?
• Do a SWOT analysis.
• Be certain your Solution is affordable.
• Commercialize your Solution

Prosperity awaits those who embrace intelligence, diligence, persistence, and consistency in their pursuit of learning and growth.

Can debt financing alone support the African economies growth? 
The answer is No because the borrower is a servant to the lender, as explained by MME Christine Baingana. It is hard to outgrow the lender.

Debt Financing must be supplemented by these values:  

• Operate with the spirit of excellence: It is a lifestyle choice that involves giving your best with a clear purpose, leading to exceptional performance without cutting corners, and leaving people with no faults or complaints about your work. 
• Establish an organizational culture: that recognizes the value of every person. Consider how your organization would appear if it resembled you, and model the practices you wish to see within it. Be mindful of what you communicate to your customers and workers, and mentor them to implement the principles they have been taught.
• Spirit of Generosity: The secret to success is generosity. The spirit of generosity prepares the business for a legacy for future generations.

Who should Mentor African Business Mentors and How?
Biblical models mandate fathers to teach their children both their trade and faith. Those in ministry assignments have a responsibility to impart truth to people, guiding them not only towards heavenly matters but also enabling them to live well on earth. Whatever you have received, ensure that you also teach it to others. These models should be communicated, systematized, and monitored deliberately to achieve predetermined results in the context of business mentorship.
Whatever you are inspired to do, you are not the first, and you won't be the last. So, you must find and connect with others who share the same inspiration. Africans should embrace the principle of collaboration and networking to amply and accelerate their goals. The statement is grammatically correct, but it may benefit from some additional context or clarification to make its meaning more apparent. When there's nothing to share, there's no core until there's something to share.
In conclusion, start small to grow big, Lord’s provision follows a vision. Capital is not the actual big need; Look for mentorship and know what to do how to and when to. Build a structure that reflects Christ in everything you do and encourages generosity, even with the little you have. This will be rooted in prayer, depending on God, working for an audience of one, and committing to solving problems in the community. 

More Pictures: Flickr Album