THE JOPADHOLA COMMUNITY

THE SECOND ANNUAL JOPADHOLA COMMUNITY

CONFERENCE 2019

ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT

CTF II Auditorium, Makerere University, Kampala

by

Prof. Erisa O. Ochieng

International Development Consultants
P.0. Box 16231 Kampala
E-Mail: ochiengerisa@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: +245-772 379 561

31st August, 2019.

 1. THE CONCEPT OF DEVELOPMENT

1.1 The concept of development has undergone a lot of changes since after the
Second World War, and it is now generally agreed that development
should encompass the following elements:
(i) Economic growth;
(ii) Provision of basic needs to the people, i.e. food, shelter, health,
clothing and education;
(iii) Improvement of the people’s standard of living;
(iv) Provision of well-being to the citizens including:
 Adequate levels of nutrition, health and education;
 Opportunities for earning fair reward for labour;
 Participation in political decision making;
 Freedom of choice;
 Respect for civil and human rights; and
 Provision for the vulnerable in society.
In summary, we should avoid growth which is jobless, ruthless, voiceless,
rootless and futureless.
(v) Transformation process for attaining specific desirable goals i.e.
movement from status quo to new ways of doing things, and
dynamic process of change leading to desirable outcomes.
1.2 This requires peace and democracy, good will and joint effort by every
citizen, attitude change, hard work and a helping hand where necessary.

The trigger for development is usually

 Dis-satisfaction with the current situation;
 A desire to improve self;
 A desire to be like others or to excel them.

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 One of the major obstacles to development in Padhola is that most
Jopadhola are satisfied with their current situation. They are in what we
call “Low level income equilibrium trap”. You often hear a poor person say:
“I AM OK”.

The Jopadhola need to be awakened, and their low income level equilibrium
must be destabilized. They must be dissatisfied with the current and strive
for better things. Entrepreneurship can play a leading role in awakening
the Jopadhola. In conclusion, most Jopadhola should strive to become
entrepreneurs.

2. THE ROLE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN PROMOTING

DEVELOPMENT

2.1 Entrepreneurship is the creation of value through:

 Identification of business opportunities. Every problem creates
opportunities to make money by solving it;
 Converting ideas into action;
 Undertaking promotional activities to launch an enterprise;
 Organising human, financial, and material resources to implement the
project;
 Bearing the risks and uncertainties involved; and
 Constantly striving for excellence in work.

In other words, entrepreneurship involves innovation, organization, and

risking taking for rewards such as money, satisfaction, and independence.

2.2 The person who undertakes entrepreneurship is called entrepreneur. He

visualizes and identifies new business opportunities; takes steps to

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 promote new enterprises; assembles resources to implement new
enterprises; and bears the risks and uncertainties involved.

To be a successful entrepreneur one must have the following qualities:

(i) Ability to explore and identify opportunities,
(ii) Analytical ability to make strategic decisions,
(iii) Capacity to plan and organize,
(iv) The urge for achievement,
(v) Willingness to take moderate risks,
(vi) Determination to win,
(vii) Perseverance, drive and hard-work;
(viii) Initiative and intelligence,
(ix) Flexibility, open mindedness and adaptability
(x) Self-confidence and optimism
(xi) Leadership qualities.

2.3 Entrepreneurship can be an engine of development because of the

following:
 Makes the best use of opportunities available;
 It promotes capital formation and productivity;
 Invents news products;
 Promotes outputs, incomes and value addition;
 Pioneers new technology;
 Creates employment;
 Stimulates innovation and efficiency;
 Mobilizes local resources and skills;
 Widens the distribution of wealth, reduces concentration of wealth in a
few hands and promotes balanced regional development;
 Creates snow ball effects and accelerates the pace of economic
development;

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  Relocates resources to new and more productive ventures.

2.4 The factors that favour entrepreneurships include;

 Developed infrastructure facilities,
 Financial assistance,
 Protective and promotional activities,
 Growth of education,
 Risk taking abilities,
 Hunger for success,
 Technical/industrial training facilities
 Social security,
 Favourable environment and culture.

The Jopadhola need to be awakened and their low income level equilibrium
must be destabilized. They must be dissatisfied with the current situation
and strive for better things. Entrepreneurship can play a leading role in
awakening the Jopadhola. In conclusion, most Jopadhola should strive to
become entrepreneurs.

2.5 How can we instill and embed entrepreneurship among the Jopadhola,
and turn them into entrepreneurs? It is through education, to give the
Jopadhola entrepreneurial competences of knowledge, skills and attitudes
that affect the willingness and ability to create new value (see 2.2).