Nigeria - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Nigeria being plagued with erratic power supply, makes it difficult for small scale traders to preserve their goods. This project through solar energy aims to generate and distribute power to traders who depend on power supply to preserve their goods.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Erratic power supply has always been a problem in Nigeria and with the recent increase in electricity bill and petroleum resources, it has made it difficult for business owners to keep up thereby leading loss of goods on a daily basis. My project aims at targeting local markets, thereby offering them an alternative power supply which will provide minimum of 8 hours uninterrupted power supply daily at a cost much cheaper than opting for generators or dealing with erratic power supply from the power holding companies. The markets will be surveyed and a load list of the interested shops will be calculated to determine the size of power supply we will be providing. A maintenance crew will be put in place to solve any technical challenges that may occur during and after working hours. Payments will be made on weekly basis from which the crew will be paid, and maintenance will be carried out while profit will be used to expand the business.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

This project is generally trying to solve the challenges faced by small scale traders and entrepreneurs such as erratic power supply which prevents them from achieving their daily targets or even lead to loss of goods. Our solution to this is providing an alternative power source which is cheaper and more environmentally friendly compared to the other available options.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

The cost of paying for the new electricity bill or sustaining a business through diesel generators are highly unbearable for small scale traders and entrepreneurs alike. Therefore, our project aims at providing hybrid power supply to meet the needs of local traders and entrepreneurs at a very cheap rate while also giving them control over their business as they would be confident in making decisions knowing they have power supply during business hours.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

Our project is primarily aimed at serving businesses that heavily depend on power supply for the smooth running of their operations especially small scale entrepreneurs in shopping complexes, markets etc.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2023-08-01

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

4

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

2

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

1. Nissi is a student and an entrepreneur she schools and works at the Nigerian Institute of Leather Research where she makes and sells footwear nationwide. She is one of the pioneers of this idea. She will be overseeing the marketing aspects of the startup. 2. Bright is a graduate Mechanical engineer who currently works as an engineer in Port Harcourt. He has also been an entrepreneur for years now and is keen on seeing this project till the end. He will be overseeing the technical aspects of the startup 3. Winnie is a student and an entrepreneur, she is into fashion wears and is passionate about the project and will love to see it through. She will over see the accounting aspect of the startup. 4. Joshua is a Chemical Engineer and an entrepreneur who has made several startup pitches. He currently works with Dangote Cement Nigeria. Joshua will also be part of the engineering team for the project

01.09 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mishael-yakubu-wayo-b707a2252/

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

a) Energy (equipment, services, sustainable energy and fuel)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

My startup aims at employing the services of other people thereby reducing the population of unemployed people.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

As earlier stated, this idea will enable business owners carry out their normal activities at a much cheaper rate and also provide job opportunities for a few people and many more as the business expands. This will no doubt play a vital role in the campaign for zero hunger.

02.03.01 My project contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

3

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

4

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

Being a result oriented individual, my project focuses on what you can bring to the table and not your gender and it is on this note that my partners comprises of a team of 2 females and 2 males hence being evenly balanced and promoting gender equality.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

4

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

My project harnesses the production of energy using natural resources such as sunlight (also known as green energy). This reduces CO2 emisions and thereby advocates strongly for the clean energy campaign.

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

My project aims at providing decent employment opportunities for unemployed inhabitants of the society thereby sustaining economic growth.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

4

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

Yes, we are result oriented hence we are more focused on value.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

4

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

My project contributes to the sustainability of cities and communities by providing jobs and sustaining business owners

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

4

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

My project has zero CO2 emissions thereby combating climate change and it's impact

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

My project poses no threat to the aquatic habitat thereby sustaining it's usage.

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

This project has zero carbon or methane emissions, which means it poses no threat to the ecosystem thereby promoting sustainability of the terrestrial ecosystem.

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

4

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

6

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

My project aims to create more jobs while sustaining already existing jobs, thereby campaigning for sustainable development.

05.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

3

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

2

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

4

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

5

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

5

05.06 The product/service we envision creating responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

6

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

6

05.08 Justification

Generator manufacturing companies came into business with the aim of solving the issues of power supply,, but their products are now very expensive to use which is where we come in. Our services are much cheaper and has zero CO2 emissions.

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

Our potential competitors are the generator manufacturing company and the power grid. Our advantage over them is that we give more value for money in an environmentally friendly manner.

10.06 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

Yes, in my little way I have prompted the training of female entrepreneurs by the community development association.