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Issue #144: Survival in Nigeria requires residents to take on the government's job.
Hello Venturer,
Many people remember “The Revenant” as the movie that won Leonardo DiCaprio his first Oscar. Watching Hugh Glass’ (Leo’s character) journey to survive in a harsh, unexplored wilderness after getting abandoned was quite enthralling. But for some of us, it’s a bit oddly relatable. It seems like a metaphor for the average Nigerian’s daily life.
Sure, we’re not fighting off bears, but there’s a constant battle for survival against unpredictable, sometimes extreme circumstances. In many ways, Nigerians feel abandoned by the governments that ought to make life easy for them. And for decades, they have learnt to survive by adopting a Do-It-Yourself lifestyle.
The recent elections were a grand display of the average Nigerian’s instinct to get things done themselves rather than rely on their government. So this week, we explored how Africa’s largest economy thrives through a Bring Your Own Infrastructure (BYOI) model.
Oluwatosin Ogunjuyigbe
Staff Writer, Ventures Africa
What’s New?
From elections to emigration: Nigerians bring their own infrastructure to succeed.
Nigerians demonstrated their resilience and ability to self-organize during the recent elections. But history shows they’ve always had this trait. Read more.
Top 5 African countries with the most improved economic freedom in 2023
As the global economy continues to evolve, African nations are beginning to find their footing in terms of economic freedom. Read more.
Meta’s legal battles in Africa are rising.
Meta is facing fresh legal trouble in Africa over its outsourcing practices. That makes its third case on the continent in just a few months. Read more.
The exclusion of women in politics is costing Africa’s economy.
The gender gap in African politic trickles down to all other sectors of the economy, But Africa can be more if women occupy top political positions. Read more
Devolution of power: A new dawn for Nigeria’s struggling power sector
As Nigerian states have been granted autonomy to generate power, there is hope that its power problems in the country will soon be in the past. Read more
Jumoke Dada’s Taeillo is taking its share of Africa’s urban furniture market.
With over $3 million in funding, Jumoke Dada’s Taeillo hopes to use technology and craftsmanship to close a widening gap in the furniture market. Read more
My Pivot Journal: How Precious Kolawole landed her dream tech job in less than two years
From pursuing a medical degree in Nigeria, curiosity drove Precious Kolawole to become a Dev Degree Intern at Shopify in Canada. Read more.
What was Naspers Foundry’s portfolio like before it shut down?
Naspers Foundry, the $100 million fund by Africa’s biggest company, has shut down. But what legacy is it leaving behind? Read more
AfDB bets big on Nigeria’s tech and creative startups with a $618 million investment
The African Development Bank has partnered with other investors to set aside $618 million to fund Nigeria’s tech and creative startups. Read more.
ICYMI: CBN yields to court orders, Emirates is done with Nigeria, Gaddafi’s missing uranium
Emirates Airlines has vowed never to resume operations in Nigeria following the CBN’s delay in releasing some of its trapped funds in Nigeria. Read more.
Holiday Jollof
Read our special holiday issue on the events, businesses, people, and policies that impacted Africa in 2022. Click to read.
Our weekly collectibles
While wealthy companies like Google and Microsoft announce unprecedented layoffs, the economy continues to trend in the right direction. Then, Why are businesses acting like there’s a recession?
Lagos prides itself to be the commercial capital of Nigeria. This article shows that A Yoruba man called Lagos ‘no-man’s-land.’ Nobody beat him then, and nobody can now; he’s dead.
Can hairstyles influence how people treat you in a professional setting? Find out why 25% of Black women say they were denied job interviews because of their hair, survey says.
How much hatred can one have their own skin? find out in The hatred of dark skin explained.
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