Bring all the Ingredients

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	Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more A Jollof Rice Conversation Bring all the Ingredients Olu from MSME Africa Jun 14   READ IN APP   Dear Entrepreneur, A naija party without jollof rice is definitely a national disappointment and a crime against culture.You know. I know. Even our ancestors know. Every Nigerian also knows this truth: bad Jollof rice is an emotional experience. Too much tomato? Soggy rice? No pepper? It messes with your soul. Now imagine running your business with a team that’s the equivalent of tasteless party jollof rice. 😩 Just like Jollof rice, building a great team is all about getting the ingredients and timing right. 🍅 Step 1: Know Your Core Ingredients No matter how you like your Jollof- smoky or spicy, you need the basics: Rice. Pepper mix. Oil. Seasoning. Heat. Same with teams: -Vision = your rice (everything rests on it) -Values = your seasoning (defines the taste) -People = your tomatoes, onions, spices (they bring it to life) Get your combo wrong and you’ll be serving confusion on a plate. 🔥 Step 2: Don’t Skip the “Frying Stage” Ever tasted Jollof that was just boiled without frying the pepper base? Exactly. That’s what skipping proper onboarding and team culture-building feels like. Bland. Tasteless. Before you throw people into work, fry your base. Set expectations, clarify roles, and establish your team rhythm. 🧂 Step 3: Every Ingredient Has Its Timing You don’t add Maggi at the same time you add rice. Great team leadership is knowing when and how to bring each person in, and when to let them simmer on low heat to bring out full flavor. 🥘 Step 4: Don’t Overcrowd the Pot Small pot, 15 ingredients, 4 spoons. Disaster is inevitable. Same with teams: if everyone is doing everything, nobody is doing anything well. Structure, roles, and space to breathe are what make a team cook properly. 🍗 Step 5: Don’t Forget the Extras Yes, rice is the main deal, but the real MVP is that fried plantain, moi moi, cole slaw or grilled turkey on the side. In team management, this means: -Recognition -Emotional intelligence -Conflict resolution -Mental wellness support These extras don’t just make the team happy — they make them loyal. 👩🏾‍🍳 Final Recipe for Founders: If your business is the party, your team is the Jollof rice that makes people come back. So please, no soggy rice, no under-seasoned staff, and definitely no burnt bottom-pot vibes (unless that’s the plan 😅). Here’s what I have for you today: Trending Business News Opportunities Galore Fun Facts about Entrepreneurship Some Resources for you Trending Business News Nigeria Launches $50 Million Impact Investment Fund to Spur Inclusive Growth and MSME Financing The Nigerian Government has launched a $50 million investment into the Nigeria Wholesale Impact Investment Fund (WIIF), marking the first phase of a planned $100 million initiative aimed at accelerating sustainable economic growth across the country. Read more African Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA) Set to Begin Operations in September 2025 AfCRA will primarily focus on local-currency debt ratings—a move aimed at supporting the development of domestic capital markets and decreasing reliance on foreign-currency borrowing. Mutize emphasized that AfCRA will not serve as a platform for favorable bias toward African nations. Get more details HERE Nigerian Government Offers Free Training for Youth under ‘Skill Up Artisan’( SUPA) Young Nigerians now have a new opportunity to upgrade their skills and improve their livelihoods through a federal government initiative known as Skill Up Artisan (SUPA). The programme is designed to equip artisans with modern vocational and digital skills to meet international standards.s. More details Here BOI to Deepen Youth Entrepreneurship Through Tech Hubs and Innovation Funds The Bank is rolling out some high-impact initiatives including the planned launch of the Industrial Innovation Fund which will provide financing across the full innovation value chain—from research and prototype development to equity investments and debt financing—aimed at boosting youth participation in digital technology and the creative industries. Read more Google to Shut down Android Instant Apps by December 2025 Due to Low Usage Google has announced that it will discontinue support for Android’s Instant Apps by December 2025, bringing an end to a product once aimed at transforming how users interact with mobile applications. Launched in 2017, Instant Apps allowed users to access lightweight versions of Android apps via web links—without needing to download them from the Play Store. Get more details HERE Opportunities Galore Call for Applications: The Youth Sustainable Enterprise Challenge (YSEC) The Youth Sustainable Enterprise Challenge (YSEC) is an initiative of British Council and King’s Trust International (KTI), aimed at fostering entrepreneurship among Nigerian youths. It is structured as a 7-weeks hybrid training, delivered through a blend of physical and virtual sessions. The programme is designed to equip participants with the practical skills, entrepreneurial mindset, and mentorship needed to start and successfully manage an enterprise. .Get more details and Apply today Call For Applications: Africa Food Prize 2025 (Up to $100,000 Cash prize) The Africa Food Prize recognizes extraordinary women, men, and institutions whose outstanding contributions to African agriculture are forging a new era of sustainable food security and economic opportunity that elevates all Africans. Get more details here. Call For Applications: The Foundry Fellowship 2025 for Africa-Based Entrepreneurs The Foundry Fellowship is an eight-month, transformative experience for accomplished entrepreneurs who are committed to leading the acceleration and interconnection of Africa’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems.Get more details HERE Call for Applications: SLINGSHOT 2025 Startup Pitching Competition ($400,000 Startup SG Grant Prize) Participating in Slingshot gives you an opportunity to vie for a chance to be part of the SLINGSHOT 2025 Top 60 Global Startups,get connected to our vibrant startup community in Singapore, secure over S$2 million in startup funding, and embark on your global startup journey through SLINGSHOT Get more details here. Call for Applications: International Breweries Kickstart Entrepreneurship Program (Up to N3Million Business Grants, Training, Mentorship) The programme funds youth-owned businesses through business training, seed capital, post investment support (mentoring and coaching) in the following sectors: Agriculture, Retailing, Circular Packaging, Renewable Energy, and others, aimed to empower young entrepreneurs with the strongest business cases, winning grants to fund their businesses, and thereby creating jobs in different sectors. Get more details and apply HERE You can access many more opportunities HERE Fun Facts about Entrepreneurship Did you know that the concept of entrepreneurship in agriculture dates back to ancient Mesopotamia around 4500 BCE, where farmers first began to domesticate crops and animals, leading to the development of settled agriculture and the emergence of early entrepreneurial ventures like trade and specialization? Around 4500 BCE, people in Mesopotamia began to domesticate plants like wheat, barley, and legumes, as well as animals like sheep, goats, and cattle.This marked a significant shift from nomadic hunting and gathering to settled agriculture.Agriculture allowed for food production beyond immediate needs, creating surpluses.With food security, people began to specialize in various tasks, like craftsmanship, trade, and governance. Farmers traded excess produce for other goods, like tools or textiles. This exchange helped stimulate economic growth. This ancient Mesopotamian innovation laid the groundwork for modern agricultural entrepreneurship, showcasing the power of innovation, specialization, and trade in driving economic growth. Some Resources For You Building Resilience: How to Overcome Common Business Obstacles How African Startups Can Secure Funding in Tough Markets 10 Steps to Start a Profitable E-commerce Business in Nigeria For more news, opportunities, resources, and other items, kindly visit: www.msmeafricaonline.com Follow us on social media: YouTube , Instagram, Twitter (X), Facebook, LinkedIn Join other Entrepreneurs across Africa in the MSME Africa Community HERE Till next time Olu, MSME Africa MSME Africa Pulse is free today. But if you enjoyed this post, you can tell MSME Africa Pulse that their writing is valuable by pledging a future subscription. You won't be charged unless they enable payments. Pledge your support   Like Comment Restack   © 2025 MSME Africa 548 Market Street PMB 72296, San Francisco, CA 94104 Unsubscribe

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has officially launched the disbursement of a significant N1 billion interest-free loan scheme, directly targeting traders, farmers, and small business owners across the state. This initiative, flagged off on Fri… Read on blog or Reader SMALL BUSINESS INSIGHTS Read on blog or Reader Edo State disburses N1bn to empower local businesses, farmers By Busola Bamidele on June 13, 2025 Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has officially launched the disbursement of a significant N1 billion interest-free loan scheme, directly targeting traders, farmers, and small business owners across the state. This initiative, flagged off on Friday, aims to provide vital financial support to at least 5,000 beneficiaries, empowering grassroots enterprises. Each beneficiary under the scheme is set to receive between N200,000 and N500,000. Structured as a micro-credit facility, the loan comes with a generous one-year repayment period and an additional one-month grace period, designed to allow beneficiaries ample time to reinvest and grow their ventures before commencing repayments. Speaking at the launch, Governor Okpebholo emphasized his commitment to ensuring the funds reach the intended recipients. "I just wanted to be sure that this money will not go to the wrong hands. That is the essence of this gathering," he stated, addressing concerns over past loan programs that often failed to reach the grassroots. Read also: Prices for common baby items soar in U.S. amid trade policies Edo State disburses N1bn to empower local businesses, farmers Cross River's agric-estates, agencies promise export boom for local businesses SON urge producers to embrace standards, highlight superiority of Nigerian-made cables China expands zero-tariff access to boost Africa trade, Nigeria gets priority attention The Governor issued a stern warning, urging traders to report any failure to access the funds, reinforcing his dedication to direct impact. He added that the initiative aligns seamlessly with President Bola Tinubu's national economic plans. Commissioner for Finance, Emmanuel Okoebor, highlighted the transformative potential of the loan, particularly for rural and semi-urban economies. "It will boost the economy of our rural areas and semi-urban areas, create jobs, and reduce poverty," he affirmed. Okoebor stressed the unique, interest-free nature of the loan, a stark contrast to previous schemes where beneficiaries paid up to 10% interest. "For this, there is no interest. You pay back what you borrowed," he reiterated, underscoring the immediate benefit for small business owners. The launch, attended by key stakeholders including Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa, Speaker of the State House of Assembly Sheriff Agbebaku, trade association representatives, market cooperatives, and community leaders, signals a unified approach to bolstering Edo State's local economy. This interest-free lifeline is expected to stimulate significant growth and foster financial inclusion for thousands of small businesses.

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The cost of essential baby products in the U.S. has seen a sharp increase in recent weeks, driven by former President Donald Trump's tariff policies on Chinese imports, a new report has revealed. According to the minority arm of the Joint Economic … Read on blog or Reader SMALL BUSINESS INSIGHTS Read on blog or Reader Prices for common baby items soar in U.S. amid trade policies By sbinsights on June 13, 2025 The cost of essential baby products in the U.S. has seen a sharp increase in recent weeks, driven by former President Donald Trump's tariff policies on Chinese imports, a new report has revealed. According to the minority arm of the Joint Economic Committee, the prices of five commonly used baby gear items — including car seats, bassinets, strollers, high chairs and baby monitors — rose by an average of 24%, equivalent to a $98 increase, between April 1 and June 9, 2025. The price data was sourced from popular baby registry platform Babylist. The sharp increase coincided with Trump's April 2 tariff announcement, which impacted a wide range of consumer goods, including baby products — 97% of strollers and 87% of car seats sold in the U.S. are manufactured in China, making them particularly vulnerable. "New parents already have their budgets stretched thin by all the products they need to buy — the last thing they need is what's essentially a new tax on babies," said U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan, a leading Democrat on the committee. The analysis tracked price changes of bestselling items on Amazon from leading brands like Graco, AirClub, Summer by Ingenuity, Evenflo and HelloBaby using price-monitoring tools Keepa and Camelcamelcamel. Among the five products, the Graco SnugRide Lite LX Infant Car Seat saw the steepest price hike at 44.8%. Read also While Graco's parent company, Newell Brands, pushed back on the findings — saying the price jump was amplified due to promotional sales ending on April 1 — executives admitted in a recent earnings call that they raised prices across baby gear by approximately 20% to absorb the impact of tariffs. Retailers are feeling the strain as well. Brands like Costco and Best Buy have already raised prices, while Walmart and Target say price hikes are coming on selected items. A broader study by Babylist covering 11 product categories, including diaper bags and baby bouncers, estimates that U.S. families are now spending $400 more on average due to tariff-related increases. The overall additional cost burden on new parents is estimated at $875 million, based on U.S. household data from the American Community Survey. Families in large states are among the hardest hit. California parents face a projected $100.3 million in extra baby-related expenses this year, followed by Texas ($85.3 million), Florida ($48.5 million), and New York ($48.4 million). "These tariffs are creating real pressure on families and businesses alike — from higher costs to difficult choices for manufacturers," Senator Hassan said, warning that the long-term impact could mean job losses or business closures if support measures aren't introduced.

SMALL BUSINESS INSIGHTS © 2025. Unsubscribe or manage your email subscriptions. Get the Jetpack app Subscribe, bookmark, and get real‑time notifications - all from one app! Automattic, Inc. 60 29th St. #343, San Francisco, CA 94110