26 Business & Finance
THE POWER OF SELF-MOTIVATION
IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Meet Modou, a young entrepreneur whose motivation
allowed him to become a self-made business man
I was raised in a middle-class
family brought up by a single
mother with a bare minimum
income.
With
insufficient funds
To execute this,
I began by
the kind my
of business
I
to researching
support
University
fees, I
wanted to venture into. I knew I
continued
to that nurture
my passion
wanted a business
would not
only make money, but have an
for impact
education
however, and began
on young lives. The
Gambia
in the tropical
region of as the surest
to see is this
pathway
Africa where warm weather is
way
to
improve
my life chances.
stable so figured an ice cream
business completing
would profit well. I would
After
high school, I
also be able to include other
got
a vocational
training place in ?,
products
in my menu like cakes
and waffles.
obtaining
a distinction. It was this
So far, I have experienced
a lot of the way into
experience
that paved
challenges in the world of running
international
community college
small businesses.
in the UK. Here I studied Human
Resource Management. During
my studies, I scored the highest
distinction and got accepted to
study at two UK universities; The
University of Sunderland and
University South Wales. Today I
continue to derive my strength
from the power of social change for
human development in The Gambia
and beyond.
Growing up in a society that does
little to nurture talents poses a big
challenge to a highly entrepreneurial
mind—but I continued my belief
in development and growth of a
business in the Gambia.
To execute this, I began by
researching the kind of business
I wanted to venture into. I knew I
wanted a business that would not
only make money, but have an
impact on young lives. The Gambia
is in the tropical region of Africa
where warm weather is stable
so figured an ice cream business
would profit well. I would also be
able to include other products in my
menu like cakes and waffles.
So far, I have experienced a
lot of challenges in the world
of running small businesses.
Problems
include
finding
markets with established retail
stores, sustaining the appetite
of customers, being constantly
innovative to maintain activity in
the competitive market and to
reconcile community demands
and ethics with the needs of the
business. Luckily, I have been able
to manifest resilience, partly due
to my strength faith in my journey
but also the contributions of my
mentors who surround me with
valuable support and guidance.
During my experience of starting
up a small business I was quick
to discern the importance of
selfdiscipline, constant market
research,
self-reliance,
social
interaction with the community.
It was in these interactions that I
was particularly impressed by the
young people who frequented the
ining Rafiki partnership farm project
ice cream parlour to discuss their
life dreams. I have been fortunate
to learn from my interactions with
that group. Likewise they have been
able to benefit from my highspirits
and determination and courage to
venture into a an uncommon career
trajectory for Gambian youths. My
dream is to be the biggest ice cream
parlour and wholesale supplier
in The Gambia and franchise my
business in neighbouring countries
like Senegal and Guinea Bissau.
Africa
has
an
immense
entrepreneurial talent that the
continent is yet to fully harness
and develop. I feel privileged and
excited to be one of the forerunners
of Gambian youths in the small
business management landscape
and can’t wait to see what the future
holds for young Gambian people.
African
youths
should
see
entrepreneurship as a way
of building the economies of
generations to come. ‘Start small,
dream big and achieve’ is my
mantra. Special thanks to my
Mother, Aja Mariama Ceesay for
her unwavering love all these years,
Valentine Nkoyo, Director of Mojatu
Foundation UK, Haddy Ousman Njie
(mentor) for her guidance akways.
We have done initial researches and found
for an investment of £3,000 and with
Target level 1: £3,000 that
average harvest, there will be a prospect of
£12,800 gross income.
The net profit of similar investments have
found to be about 40%, hence about
Membership targets been
£5,120.
RAFIKI FARM
Assuming this is achieved, the returns on
This is our initial membership
drive
with
an salaries
aim for
of
investment,
excluding
free crop,
working
in the project and
and other
recruiting a minimum those
of 10
members
a
benefits accrued, will be about 40% of the
maximum of 20 members. investment. However, this is subject to the
overall partnership performance.
intend to pay returns for shares held in
If we do not meet this We
target,
you will still be
the partnership at a rate to be agreed by the
members provided the profits of the
offered membership.
business can afford it and it’s agreed by the
members.
High Quality White
Maize for sale later this year
Use of funds raised
You can choose not to become
a member.
Payments
will be suspended if the financial
to invest
performance of the farm cannot support
them. You can choose to receive return on
your investment, paid every year, if
affordable or you can forego this right to
claim the annual interest in which case the
farm’s finances will benefit further.
Voting rights
All members have equal voting rights as they all h
equal number of shares
Nature of the investment
Charles 077 2215 6097 | Email. [email protected]
members are expected to contribute equal
The investment should be considered as an opportun