← Expanding in Africa: Small Business Tips for Success

SmallBizAfricaMain

By Janell Hazelwood | Published September 4, 2012 | Full size is 620 × 480 pixels

It took a trip to Nigeria for Jason Njoku to begin to see success, starting IROKO Partners, the premier source of Nigerian entertainment --- from movies to music. In just two years, the company has become the world’s largest distributor of Nigerian music and movies. Njoku knows a thing or two about overcoming, having switched gears from a career in science (He holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Manchester) to the world of Web by way of several early failures. (He ran a student magazine which folded; a financial blog franchise which faltered; and a t-shirt company that eventually didn't work out.) "My early failures could have--- maybe should have knocked my spirit. But I was determined not to let failure get in the way of raw ambition. I love what I do," Njoku says. Today, IROKO has reached more than 560,000 registered users in less than seven months and has viewers in 178 different countries. Take a cue from Njoku with these tips for business success in Africa. --- Octavia Goredema

It took a trip to Nigeria for Jason Njoku to begin to see success, starting…

  • Alexis

    Europe is declining and Africa is rising. I am very impressed with many of the African countries’ progress since independence from Western domination and exploitation. This is an untapped market with unlimited potential and we should join, help our distant brethren; we can learn a great deal from each other and benefit each other greatly.