Issue 03
July/August 2016
Unveiling Nigeria’s huge leather industry Elder care venture as future profit potential Pg 9
Elder care venture as future profit potential Pg 6
How we are faring with the economy -Buhari’s Economic Matters Adviser Pg 11
Forex, power issues, headache for Nigeria’s huge leather business –Emeka Ngoka
Pg 7
2
CONTENT 04
The Big Story
07
Enterprise People
08
Enterprise Strokes
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Editor’s Note
Unveiling Nigeria’s huge leather industry
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Forex, power issues, headache for Nigeria’s Siaka Momoh
Hot idea you invest on
09
Investment Opportunity
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Economy
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Agribusiness
15
Global Matters
18
Entrepreneurship
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Small Business
20
Small Business Advisory
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Company in Focus
Elder care venture as future profit potential How we are faring with the economy Salvaging our tomato Brexit’s looming contagion: What do we do? Family enterprise diversified Grooming small businesses for non-oil export How successful Chinese entrepreneurs really think UBA expands footprint to 25 African countries
he skin and leather industry, like many other businesses, is currently suffering from forex scarcity brought about by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) forex policy and the country’s incessant power
supply. With the CBN forex policy, the industry is experiencing fund constraints. Stakeholders cannot source sufficient funds to run their businesses. When this problem is combined with cost of running machines with electricity generators, you can imagine the kind of hell the industry is going through. But business must continue. Our cover this month gives you the full story of the predicament of Nigeria’s leather business people. Do you know it is good business to help a company or some individuals organise their clutter, their mess that pile up daily or piled up over time? As a journalist for instance (I guess this is the case with my colleagues too) my bedroom is a mess of papers – books, journals, newspapers, magazines (old and new) – literatures of all kinds. It is a big task for me to organise them and throw some of them away if need be. This and many others are the hot business ideas Enterprise Strokes has in stock for you this month. Tomato accounts for about 18 percent of the average daily consumption of vegetables in Nigeria. It is a very important soup ingredient that housewives can hardly do without. But tomato is currently scarce and highly priced courtesy of ‘tomato ebola’. How is this problem being addressed? Agribusiness has the full story. How has Nigeria fared with the economy to date? Adeyemi Dipeolu, PhD, Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, was in Lagos, courtesy of Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce (NSACC), at its monthly Breakfast Meeting to explain it all to a cross section of Nigeria’s robust business stakeholders. Our section on economy brings you the details. At the 51st Annual meeting of the board of governors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) recently, Chairman UBA and Heirs Holdings Tony Elumelu said during a panel session on Jobs for African Youths: “The solution to the problem of unemployment is going to come first from within and then from all of us working collectively. I believe entrepreneurship can solve the problem of job creation.” Mo Ibrahim and several others rendered their views too. Read more on this in our Entrepreneurship section. ”Our adire is dying out. This shouldn’t be. We should revive it. The finishing for our garments is poor – we don’t have a garment industry. Product development and adaptation for export is very vital. What adjustments do we need to make to be product export ready? These were the words of Shade Bembatoum-Young, the CEO of AFRICA Sustainable SME Export Trade Solutions (ASSETS) at a workshop on non-oil export by SMEs held in Lagos recently. Read the rest of the story in Small business. Siaka Momoh
Publisher/Editor
Editorial Advisory Board
Siaka Momoh
Obi Ezeude Alhaji Bashir Borodo Femi Boyede Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau Obiora Madu Prof Titus U.Nwabueze Muda Yusuf Toki Mabogunje
The Real Sector is published by Media Palms Associates(a unit of Commodities Expertise Limited)Plot 2, Morah Ndu Street, Satellite Town Lagos.Tel:+2348061396410; +2348023033988; Email: siakamomoh@yahoo.com; isaacmomoh717@gmail.com.
The Big Story
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Shoe maker
Unveiling Nigeria’s huge leather industry T
he industry is believed to be worth around $4.4 billion for raw hides and skins, $14 billion in rough-tanned and finished leathers of all types and $25 billion for footwear with leather uppers, writes Siaka MOMOH Talking about diversification of the Nigerian economy, Nigeria’s huge
leather industry is one that should be key to this economic strategy. The likes of Emeka Ngoka, a Mushin Leather and Shoe Accessories Cluster-based shoe components merchant, who in 2013 was part of a group of Nigerians (including yours sincerely) who travelled to Brazil in search of international empowerment for their businesses, Adeolu Akintimehin
and Lola Hamsat - footwear makers, strongly believe this should be the case and are playing their role with unquestionable passion. For Ngoka for instance, “Like many other businesses in Nigeria, the skin and leather industry is currently suffering from forex scarcity brought about by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) forex policy and the country’s incessant power supply...With the CBN forex policy, we experience fund constraints – we cannot source sufficient funds to run our businesses...We are forced to source our forex from the parallel market at double the official rate...When this problem is combined with cost of running machines with electricity generators, you can imagine the kind of hell we are going through. But business must continue.” The industry is believed to be worth around $4.4 billion for raw hides and skins, $14 billion in rough-tanned and finished leathers of all types and $25 billion for footwear with leather uppers, according to a study by Chemonics International Inc. prepared for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Continues on page 5
The Big Story
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Unveiling Nigeria’s huge leather industry
Handbag designer Zainab Ashadu, is the brains behind the Zashadu brand. Continued from page 4 According to the study, for over two decades, the average growth in trade has been 3 per cent for raw hides and skins, 10 per cent for rough-tanned and finished leathers, and nearly 8 per cent for footwear and leathers. It states that in developing countries, however, the percentage growth in both rough-tanned products and footwear has been increasing at over 12 per cent per year. The study reveals that there is a sizeable amount of fertile land that can support commercial agricultural ventures in all parts of the country and that leather products will contribute significantly to diversifying the foreign exchange earning capacity of the nation and reduce imports. It observes that the skin and leather industry promises jobs generated both on farm and off farm especially with value added processing of hides and skins into
Leather products will contribute significantly to diversifying the foreign exchange earning capacity of the nation and reduce imports leather products for export, and notes the availability of large domestic and regional markets for the absorption of surplus leather products. It also notes the huge opportunities for value added processing of hides and skins and extensive opportunities for investors (financial or materials) in Nigeria’s
emerging fast food industry, food processing, animal breeding, tanneries, shoe manufacturing, etc., for value added processing to satisfy both domestic and international market. The study argues a long-term neglect of the leather products industry in favour of oil production has left Nigeria behind pack in competing for a global market worth $72 billion, that increases in disposable income are fuelling the international demand for high quality leather shoes, jackets, handbags and upholstery, a market which is growing steadily at 3 per cent per annum. It says developed countries, despite the fact that they are the major consumers of finished leather products, export the bulk of raw hides traded globally to developing countries for processing. “These value-adding developing Continues on page 6
The Big Story
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With strategic utilization of these resources, Nigeria could greatly increase their market share of the global leather and leather goods market.
Workers inside a tannery factory
Unveiling Nigeria’s huge leather industry Continued from page 5 countries, who are unable to keep up with the demand for tanned leather and finished leather products, are constantly seeking new sources of supply and are looking to West Africa as a potential source. With long-term investment, Nigerian stakeholders can potentially share what may develop into a $104 million market for Nigeria...This increased market will be accompanied by a substantial increase in the industry’s employment level” it says. The leather products industry, from raw materials (animals, hides and skins) through to the manufacturing of various leather products (shoes, handbags, upholstery) has tremendous potential to generate foreign exchange and create employment, especially for women, throughout Nigeria. Nigeria already has a
thriving export market; the skin of Nigeria’s Red Sokoto goat commands a premium in the international market, especially from Italy. All of the resources for tanning and producing leather products are available locally, including a large domestic and regional animal population. With strategic utilization of these resources, Nigeria could greatly increase their market share of the global leather and leather goods market. Nigeria faces several challenges to improving its leather production and processing industry. An example of the need for improvement is found in the shoe market. Nigeria imports close to 20 million pairs of shoes annually despite its manufacturing capacity which could meet local demand and even produce export products. Nigeria also has a prosperous local food market for raw hides and skins,
called ‘Ponmo’, which is considered a delicacy. Currently the demand for ‘Ponmo’ competes and wins against the demand for tanning, receiving five times the price for products with fewer quality demands. In order to fully utilize its manufacturing capacity for leather products, the manufacturing industry needs more sources of quality inputs. According to industry experts, traditionally, Nigerian hides and skins destined to become leather have been exported raw for processing elsewhere, and local industry now needs a change to more local tanning and leather preparation. They argue hides and skins that are tanned locally tend to be of poor quality, and the limited high grade leather that is produced is almost exclusively for export. The poor quality of hides and skins is caused by a confluence of factors, including poor livestock husbandry, inadequate flaying and preparation skills, and a lack of grades and standards for branding. Grazing nomad herdsmen produce cattle and rural women rear 90 per cent of the sheep and goat production in their homesteads. For employment generation purposes, there are commercial opportunities in every aspect of the hides and skins production and transformation industries. Experts argue that for Nigeria to compete in this billion-dollar industry the Nigerian leather sector must transform itself from a producer and exporter of semi processed hides and skins to a producer of leather products for both domestic and export markets.
Enterprise People
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Forex, power issues, headache for Nigeria’s huge leather business – Emeka Ngoka Siaka Momoh
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igeria’s huge skin and leather industry, whose export worth is $43.4 is currently bedevilled by forex and power issues. “Like many other businesses in Nigeria, the skin and leather industry is currently suffering from forex scarcity brought about by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) forex policy and the country’s incessant power supply,” said Emeka Ngoka, a Lagos-based shoes accessories merchant. He explained: “Hitherto, the Nigerian shoe industry had its own problem; what reigns are cottage industries owned by small players which have taken over from the likes of Bata and Lenard shoe plants of the past. With the CBN forex policy, we experience fund constraints – we cannot source sufficient funds to run our business. “And over 90 per cent of shoe components are sourced from Asia, China in particular. We buy from Italy too. I have a point-man in Italy who sources my components for me. We get some leather from Kano; every other thing is imported. We are forced to source our forex from the parallel market at double the official rate” “When this problem is combined with cost of running machines with electricity generators, you can imagine the kind of hell we are going through. But business must continue.” The Mushin, Lagos skin and leather industry cluster where Ngoka operates from is a beehive of activities, depicting the “business must continue” picture that Ngoka painted. How do this Lagos Market, Aba shoe market and the popular Kano hides and skin relate? He explained, “The Lagos market attracts customers from the North, Southwest and neighbouring ECOWAS countries. The Lagos, Aba and Kano markets interface; Aba and Lagos buy leather from Kano.” Ngoka advised that government should encourage the importation of light machines that small players in the shoe industry can run with small generators. This, he believes will help solve to some extent, the power problem. He wants the CBN to do a proper rethink about its forex policy which has brought untold hardship
Emeka
The Mushin, Lagos skin and leather industry cluster where Ngoka operates from is a beehive of activities, depicting the “business must continue” picture that Ngoka painted to Nigeria’s business community. The Nigeria’s central bank has since introduced (in late May after this story was written) greater flexibility in the foreign
exchange market after shortages that have hurt investment and sparked a petrol shortage. The announcement came as Africa’s leading economy faced a string of challenges, from a weakened currency and spiraling inflation, to negative GDP growth and rising unemployment. President Muhammadu Buhari refused to devalue the naira, despite a growing gulf between the official exchange rate of 197/199 to the dollar and black market rates nudging 350. The difference led to a shortage in foreign exchange, hitting businesses and leaving fuel importers unable to buy supplies, causing pumps to run dry. Central Bank of Nigeria governor Godwin Emefiele was urged by financial experts to make a U-turn in policy to avoid a “full-blown fiscal, financial and economic meltdown”. But he said the CBN’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) met and decided on the “the least risky option” and agreed to adopt “a flexible foreign exchange rate policy”.
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Enterprise Strokes with Siaka Momoh
Hot ideas you can invest on
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hey may be so close to you but you wouldn’t see them. Should one say only the informed eyes can see them? May be, or may be one that is led by the spirit, one that God has destined to see these hot stuffs that can change destiny. For example, have you ever thought that it is good business to help a company or some individuals organise their clutter, their mess that pile up daily or piled up over time? As a journalist for instance (I guess this is the case with my colleagues too) my bedroom is a mess of papers – books, journals, newspapers, magazines (old and new) – literatures of all kinds. It is a big task for me to organise them and throw some of them away if need be. Offices of all kinds have similar problem. Same goes for bookshops and printing companies. Closets are overflowing with clothes that you don’t need – there are many of them that you have not worn for two years or more; living rooms and kitchens are littered with disgusting items; furniture need to be changed or refurbished. So the glut of clutter in homes and offices is big business opportunity for home-improvement or homemakeover entrepreneurs. This reminds one of the job-loss menace that the nation’s economy is currently saddled with. Take this hot idea: A construction company
once got a contract to build a rail line cutting across a vast area of land. At a point along the route the rail should pass through, there was a problem – an obstruction, a mass of solid rock. That was not all. The company cut through the rock and behold water started gushing out of the rock. The company’s mandate was to contruct a railway not a waterway. All the company’s tested engineers were at a loss on what to do. But a solution came from an operative, a mere operative in the company. A hot idea! What was it? He was thirsty and had to
He went on to his boss and suggested to him that it would be a good idea if the company bottled the water for sale. The company did and today the product is the best table water in Italy
Business ideas drink some of the knotty water. He found it very soothing. He went on to his boss and suggested to him that it would be a good idea if the company bottled the water for sale. The company did and today the product is the best table water in Italy. These ideas are with us. We only need to spot them. A few years back, when underaged children sold water in polyethylene along Lagos streets, no one knew it was a big idea selling table water in sachets. For years Ragolis sold table water, many didn’t know it was a big idea. Swan table water came on later and today it is everybody’s business, even multinationals like May and Baker, Nestle, Nigerian Bottling Company Plc, bottlers of Coca Cola range of soft drinks, etc. do, churning in millions of naira. Today, investment in alternative energy is a big idea and it will be a wise business decision to go into it now. The industrial world knows and they are paying good attention to it. Amanda C. Kooser of the Entrepreneur online says “with unstable gas prices and increasing environmental awareness, an alternative energy business could put you on the road to success”. He cited the case of Justin Carven of Greasecar Vegetable Fuel Systems LLC. He explains “The 29-year-
Continues on page 10
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Investment Opportunity
Elder care venture as future profit potential
Care for the elderly Chukwudi Odili
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e are right now in a stagnant Nigerian economy where a good number of people, many displaced from previous employment, are struggling to survive. The private sector is down, owing to the non-existence of support infrastructure, or rot of existing ones. Only very few people are working in the thriving public sector, lubricated by oil proceeds and controlled by government. Even at that, people who are still working in that sector are spending cautiously, which indicates that bigtime businesses will not boom as much as the small ones. This writing beams searchlight on the opportunities thrown up by elder care service venture, which it sees to be lucrative as from 2013 and beyond. Giving that this prospect is just evolving, it should be started small, and gradually grown over time. The result of a recent reconnaissance survey shows that this service business indeed shows future profit potentials; should an investor invest in it, he would make some profit. Starting an eldercare business is a unique proposition. The population of the elderly in Nigeria is a futuristic business to watch out for, even though it is not yet growing at a fast-pace in Nigeria as in places like the US, Canada, Sweden, etc,. The very old, those 85 years and above, are on track to grow by 2.8
The best service arrangement that majority of these aged parents usually get is the monthly stipend that their children, who are away, remit to them for their upkeep per cent between 2010 and 2030. It is projected that Nigeria will soon begin to witness declining fertility and mortality rates owing to the hard times and disturbances that make life uncomfortable. Attention will switch from caring for babies to caring for the elderly because when the present crop of children and youth will systematically age out, and increase the pool of those needing eldercare. The idea of this proposed service is borne out of the concern that a number of our aged parents are lonely and almost abandoned at the village house, as their children migrate to urban areas and overseas countries to make a
living. The best service arrangement that majority of these aged parents usually get is the monthly stipend that their children, who are away, remit to them for their upkeep. Usually, the personal care and love that they need are not given to them, since their children are not with them at home; worse still, no one else fills that gap nearly so. You can start your own elder care business, as people are always looking for someone to take care of their elderly parents. You should have some experience or education in the area, but oftentimes, taking care of your own elderly parents is enough. If you have nursing experience or education in the field of physiotherapy or community health or social work, you definitely have an edge over other people without requisite training. People will always need help with regard to hiring capable and willing hands to take care of their elderly loved ones. Salaries depend on a number of factors, particularly experience and education. A physiotherapist or nurse is going to get more pay, by a household, than is an individual with little experience in the field. That said, people will pay a lot for good care of their elderly loved ones. Salaries can range from somewhere around N15, 000 per month all the way up to N50,000 in the case of rich homes.
Continues on page 10
Investment Opportunity
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Care for the elderly
Elder care venture as future profit potential Continued from page 9 The start-up costs, for offering eldercare services are very low, in the case of a starterindividual. The service provider will need a willing heart, business cards, surgical gloves and similar gadgets. The person needs to get a list of very good character references along with any elder care, i.e., good homes that he or she would like to associate with. The Corporate approach With the future in mind, against the backdrop of the shortcomings of a personal service, an entrepreneur can take up this business and employ staff who will be on his pay roll. The venture would be best started as an NGO. The entrepreneur will have corporate offices in major cities of Nigeria. The client will have to call up the service provider at any of its offices, then negotiate and agree a fee payable directly to the company. Advantages 1.It will be easy to compile a directory of homes that need service on one hand, and of persons – young boys and girls/ women – who need employment in this service industry; 2.Following from one above, the venture will create massive coordinated employment for the youth essentially; 3.Given that the service looks more like work of charity, it will gain credibility, especially if promoted by a Missionary. 4.Since the service period and other terms entered into with the employee will be clearly
With the future in mind, against the backdrop of the shortcomings of a personal service, an entrepreneur can take up this business and employ staff who will be on his pay roll
specified under official contract, clients will be rest assured that their parents are in safe hands, even in their absence. 5.The aged themselves have guarantee for safer caring and greater longevity; 6.The venture by its nature will automatically be tax-exempt; The programme will require intensive publicity and extensive logistic arrangements. In the light of all the advantages and huge profit potentials of this venture it is worthwhile risking and sinking about N5m start-up funds. Chukwudi Odili’s can be reached via ticodilis@yahoo.com
Hot ideas you can invest on Continued from page 4 old founder’s Easthampton, Massachusetts, business makes conversion kits that allow diesel engines to run on vegetable oil. “Ultimately, it’s the rising fuel prices that are convincing people to get on board,” says Carven. Greasecar sales have grown by more than 200 percent each year over the past couple of years... And the company is jumping into the commercial and municipal markets with enthusiasm.” We have all the potentials to invest in alternative energy hear too. There is also this idea of building houses with treated wood which an aspiring entrepreneur at the Pan Atlantic University
YouWin selection session which held in Ajah Lagos had. This is a good one that will make Nigerians depend less on cement. This a hot business idea. In fact, the young man shared the idea with reluctance with his group. That is a story for another day. Digital journalism is another hot one. It has truly emerged in Nigeria, and it is really waxing strong, puffing its muscles across the nation’s media space. And the space welcomes it with all business pleasantness. This new journalism has very promising prospects. Don Tap Scott, author and business executive, says we are heading towards a world with a global digital internet worked infrastructure that can support the majority of business and leisure
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Economy
How we are faring with the economy -Buhari’s Economic Matters Adviser
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deyemi Dipeolu, PhD, Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, was in Lagos, courtesy of Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce (NSACC), at its monthly Breakfast Meeting, to explain it all to a cross section of Nigeria’s robust business stakeholders.
Siaka MOMOH
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he APC change mantra was punchy and effective. It ruled the wave. It came forth strong, registering perfectly anywhere it reached. Poor downtrodden Nigerians, like our comrade friends would say, caught the fever and flowed along. No doubt, the mess on ground made it a good sell. One year on, how have we fared? Trust Nigerians. They want results, quick results, which they are not seeing. They want power. They want roads. They want jobs. They want food. They want running factories. They want peace and security. They cannot see any of these. They are not interested in someone (jocularly?) telling them ‘I am not a magician’. Thursday May 19, Adeyemi Dipeolu, PhD, Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, was in Lagos, courtesy of NigeriaSouth Africa Chamber of Commerce (NSACC), at its monthly Breakfast Meeting, to explain it all. It was a brainstorming session that pulled a cross section of Nigerian stakeholders to Eko Hotel &Suites. Market and work force He set the ball by presenting Nigeria’s strong demographics, a plus potential. According to him: “Nigeria has a population of about 150 million people (three times the population of South Africa). By 2050, Nigeria will be the 6th largest country in the world with an estimated population of 287 million with an approximate 6 per cent youth population. The population provides a ready
market for telecommunications, IT, agriculture, manufacturing, hospitality and entertainment, construction.” He reeled out the following problems: ? Global growth performance has been roiled by the plunge in oil prices; ? Growth receded among other natural resource dependent countries; ? Nigeria’s growth has continued to be driven by the non-oil sector; ? Fiscal Space: Non oil tax revenue for Nigeria is far below the average of 15 per cent of GDP for other oil exporters. For him, increasing fiscal space through more non-oil revenue collection holds the keys for a growth and social-friendly orientation of the Nigerian economy. Nigeria’s Growth Drivers and Needs He listed these as follow: Growth drivers: Vast mineral resources; abundant oil and gas resources; large population and vast consumer market (access to entire West Africa market); growing agribusiness and agro-industries; political stability and rule of law; growing real incomes and highly trained workforce. Needs: Power capacity and access; food selfsufficiency and export focused agribusiness; transport infrastructure; Social infrastructure; access to low cost education; and significant investment in the non-oil sector and oil and gas downstream.
On the issue of reflating and repositioning the economy for change (refer to the change mantra), he said this could be done by introducing critical infrastructure, embracing the private sector, social inclusion and job creation, and improving security and tackling corruption. Policy Environment, Governance, & National Security What does Dr Dipeolu have for us here? ? Transparency, fight against violent crimes, accountability and compliance with law and order; ? Appropriate Foreign Exchange Regime; ? Low Interest Lending; ? Revenue Growth & Costs Cut Reforms; ? Sustainable Debt Management Strategy; ? Incentivized Fiscal Collections Approaches. And what is government’s strategic Implementation Plan (SIP): ? Diversify the Economy ? Revitalize & Expand Agro-Allied Processing ? Solid Mineral Investment stimulation ? National Industrial Revolution Plan &‘Made in Nigeria’ Campaign ? Increase Manufacturing Capacity Parks, EPZs ? Utilization of irrigable land and Dams for Commercial Farming ? Achieve Self-sufficiency &Become Net Exporters of Agric. Items Power, Rail, Roads & Housing ? Construct & Rehabilitate Federal Highways
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Economy
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How we are faring with the economy -Buhari’s Economic Matters Adviser Continued from page 11 & Improving Connectivity ? Provision of Affordable Housing Units ? Optimize the 7,000MW Installed Power Capacity ? Privatization Of NIPP Plants ? Improve Performance of TCN Effective Tariff & Costs of Transmission, Generation & Gas What is the roadmap on gas development? He cited revising the National Rail Master Plan. Finalizing rail projects scheduled for 2016 Oil and Gas Sectors He spoke of passage of Revised Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) which the National assembly is currently working on. Only God knows how long this ‘project’ is going to take our honourable members. Of concern to Dr Dipeolu also are: •Adoption and Execution of a comprehensive National Oil & Gas Master Plan (NOGM), flare Elimination; •Timeframe for the privatization of NNPC & Refineries to achieve total deregulation; •Deadline to be self-sufficient in refined petroleum products and become a net exporter. Nigerians are tired of waiting for these issues which have been on the table government after government. Ease of Doing Business This is another very critical issue. If ease of doing business is poor, then our economy
cannot attract business from outside; and from within too. In 2015, Nigeria ranked 170 out of 180 countries! In 2016, it ranked 169 out of 189 countries! One step up! Very bad. Do civil servants involved care? Your answer is as good as ours. Dr Dipeolu’s target is moving 20 places up the Ease of Doing Business Rankings. How can this be achieved? “By implementing fast track measures for business approvals, acquisition of land titles. Fast-track visa application and issuance processes. Perhaps we should remind ourselves, courtesy of World Bank report, that the 10 economies showing the most notable improvement in performance on the Doing Business indicators in 2014/15 were Costa Rica, Uganda, Kenya, Cyprus, Mauritania, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Jamaica, Senegal and Benin. These countries together implemented 39 business regulation reforms across 10 of the areas measured by Doing Business. Senegal (with four reforms) and Benin (with three) join the list of top improvers for the second. Among the 10 top improvers, Costa Rica made the biggest advance toward the regulatory frontier, thanks to three business regulation reforms. The electricity utility in Costa Rica made getting a new connection easier by reducing the time required for preparing the design of the external connection works and for installing the meter and starting the flow of electricity. In addition, Costa Rica improved access to
credit by adopting a new secured transactions law that establishes a functional secured transactions system and a modern, centralized, notice-based collateral registry. The law also broadens the range of assets that can be used as collateral, allows a general description of assets granted as collateral and permits out-of-court enforcement of collateral. Finally, Costa Rica made it easier to pay taxes by promoting the use of its electronic filing and payment system for corporate income tax and general sales tax. Overall, the 10 top improvers implemented the most regulatory reforms in the area of starting a business, followed by getting credit, getting electricity and registering property. Can’t we take a cue from this? Social Development Social intervention projects listed by Dipeolu include Job Creation: 500,000 teachers and 100,000 artisans; School Feeding: 5.5 million children for 200 school days Cond Cash Transfer: N5000/month for 1 million beneficiaries Enterprise Programme: Support for 1 million Market women, 460,000 artisans, and 200,000 agric. Workers STEM Educ. Grant: For 100,000 students in Science.,Technology, Engr. & Mathematics.