Lime versus Lemon: Factors That Constitute the Differences between Hausa and Igbo Entrepreneurs in Nigeria

Abstract

The level of economic development, standards of living, and employment across countries or regions in a country differ considerably from the level of entrepreneurship. The same phenomenon is observed in Nigeria as literature downplayed the economic significance of Hausas despite being involved in long-distance trading for many centuries. Meanwhile, excellent interpretation of Igbo skills in economic activities has been widely reported. Therefore, this paper identified those factors accounting for differences in the entrepreneurial development between Hausa and Igbos in Nigeria. Ten Hausa and Igbo entrepreneurs were used in these qualitative interviews. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed thematically using ATLAS t. i7. Eventually, four broad categories identified were: the background of the entrepreneur; the nature and mindset of the entrepreneur; the entrepreneur’s goals and aims; and well as orientation and nature of the business. Thus, identifying these factors serves as a guide for policymakers to design an appropriate model for the development of Hausa entrepreneurship.