A survey of MBA students from 19 African countries who are studying at the top business schools in US and Europe reveals that 70% of students intend to return home, and 35% of those who return plan to start their own businesses in Africa. Half of these entrepreneurs are women.
The schools surveyed were the top ten American and European business schools as of November 2012. Respondents from such schools applied: London Business School, Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, INSEAD, Brandeis International Business School, Wharton Business School, Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, MIT Sloan, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Darden Business School, and Cambridge Judge.
The survey was conducted by Jacana Partners, a private equity company which invests in African investors. The organization believes such investment paves the way for job creation and long-term economic stability in Africa.
Jacana invests between one and five million dollars in small and medium enterprises across a variety of sectors in West and East Africa, including the countries: Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Uganda. So far, the organization has invested approximately $20 million, creating over 1,300 jobs.
Investment in the private sector is becoming and increasingly attractive method of development, especially since government aid is often mishandled or withdrawn due to political reasons. Often, government money meant as aid is simply distributed among corrupt bureaucracies. On the other end, government involvement in foreign countries is established simply for appearances, i.e. to appear generous in the eyes of the international community. Vain displays of stewardship often replace real discussion about efficient uses of money and resources.
Creative Commons Love: Book Aid International at Flickr.com
Comments
About the Author
