Sure-Fire Businesses for 2016

Below is a small list of business oportunities for S.M.Es for 2016. It's from an E-book written by John-Paul Iwuoha, who is an impact entrepreneur, SME Business Coach, and founder of Smallstarter Africa. He works with entrepreneurs and investors to start up and grow businesses in Africa. He is also the co-author of ‘101 Ways To Make Money in Africa‘, the widely-acclaimed book which reveals several interesting business ideas, market opportunities, and inspiring entrepreneur success stories across Africa. Twitter;@smallstarters

.  Online Services

The guys in the picture above are the founders of Printivo, a small business located in the Yaba area of Lagos. In October 2015, this young business received over $100,000 in funding from foreign investors.

Printivo is actually built on a simple business idea. It designs and prints corporate business cards, letterheads and notepads for all kinds of companies. The only difference is Printivo is a full-scale online service, customers can make their orders over the internet.

Printivo’s service is fast, convenient and very affordable. It’s no surprise the business has become very successful in a short time.

Just in case you haven’t noticed, online business models are taking over Nigeria. Products and services which used to only be available through physical and traditional channels are going online.

You can now buy phones, electronics and household appliances online (eg. Konga and Jumia). You can also buy food products online (eg. Supermart.ng and Gloo.ng).

If you’re looking for the latest job vacancies, Jobberman is surely the place to go. If you want to watch the best Nigerian movies, IrokoTV is the village square. If you’re looking for hotel accommodation options anywhere in Nigeria, Hotels.ng will easily do the magic!

So, as the days go by, more products and services are moving to the internet in Nigeria. But there are still many more that haven’t gone online yet.

Car spare parts, handicrafts and art work, personal and home care services (like nannies, drivers, chefs etc.). All of these and more are still unavailable online in Nigeria.

In 2016, more smart Nigerians are going to bring some of these online.

Will you be one of them?

2.  Footwear 

You got it right. The white guy in the picture is Sir Richard Branson, CEO of Virgin, and one of the richest guys in the world.

And the lady he’s giving a peck? That’s 20-something year-old Odiete Eseoghene, a Nigerian fashion entrepreneur and founder of Hesey Designs, a label that specializes in footwear. She only graduated from university about two years ago.

Guess what? Ese doesn’t even make the shoes herself. She works with skilled local footwear makers who bring her creative designs to life. Her designs are very unique because she blends local Nigerian fabrics and materials with western styles to create hybrids that are very beautiful and attractive.

Ese has won several awards and hit the spotlight when she designed the sneakers worn by Sir Richard Branson, during the launch of Virgin Atlantic’s new uniforms and 30th Anniversary celebration in London.

Fashion is a booming industry in Nigeria. No matter how the economy turns, people always want to look good. It’s just human nature. What’s more, in Naija we love swag!

Footwear is one of those interesting niches in the fashion industry that’s not yet as competitive as the rest. It will surely be a fertile ground for new businesses in the new year.

If a young and fresh university graduate can pull it off, what exactly is stopping you?

3.  Paper bags

Did you know that Nigeria is one of just a handful of countries in Africa that still allow the unregulated use, importation and production of ‘nylon’ bags?

South Africa, Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, Cameroon, Rwanda, Botswana, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Ethiopia, Uganda, Malawi and even Mauritania have all banned or limited the use of nylon bags.

Plastic ‘nylon’ bags are dangerous to the environment. They clog drainage systems and cause flooding, and they’re one of the biggest killers of animals and wildlife. Worse still, with the growing consciousness of protecting the environment, nylon bags may not exist for very long in Nigeria.

In countries where the use of nylon bags have been banned or limited, there has been a boom in paper bag production.

Paper bags are a very viable alternative to nylon bags. They’re cheap and easy to produce, and they’re not harmful to the environment.

Businesses like supermarkets, fast food outlets, and pharmacies are just a few that will have a huge need for paper bag packaging. That’s where you come in! 

4.  Solar Power 

Sunlight is the most abundant natural resource in Nigeria. Forget crude oil and solid minerals!

We receive no less than 300 days of free God-given sunlight every year, yet most parts of the country lack access to electricity and we all suffer serious power outages.

Solar is already changing people’s lives in Tanzania, Rwanda and most parts of East Africa. Even people in remote areas have access to round-the-clock electricity. Thanks to the amazing wonders of solar.

In Nigeria, solar is already making moves into the market. In 2016, and over this decade, I predict that a new generation of millionaires will emerge from the young solar power industry.

Have you noticed that even oil companies like Total are already selling solar-powered devices? In most Total petrol filling stations in Lagos and Abuja, these solar devices are sold under an ‘Awango’ brand.

So, if the ‘big boys’ are diversifying into solar, it’s time for smart Nigerian entrepreneurs to smell the cookie!

Solar power is the future