[dropcap custom_class=”normal”] Wondering what the whole fuss is all about with the current buzz on ‘Global Entrepreneurship Week’? Well, you need to start by asking yourself these 2 questions. Are you an entrepreneur? or do you have an entrepreneurial mindset?. Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) is a celebration of the innovators and job creators who launch startups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare. During one week each November, GEW inspires people everywhere through local, national and global activities designed to help them explore their potential as self-starters and innovators. [/dropcap]
GEW emerged in 2008 as a result of Enterprise Week UK and Entrepreneurship Week USA 2007.
According to Wikipedia, since the creation of GEW, more than 10 million people from 102 countries have participated in entrepreneurial-related activities during the Week.
This annual event occurs over the span of one week and includes the participation of entrepreneurial experts, policy-makers, education practitioners and politicians. Last year 88 countries hosted Global Entrepreneurship Week and generated over 32,000 activities.
The aim of the GEW is to expose people to the importance of entrepreneurship through different activities and to motivate them to explore their own entrepreneurial ideas.
This year in Nigeria, the Global entrepreneurship Week Campaign kicked-off with a walk for entrepreneurship. The walk engaged hundreds of young people in a 9km walk around Victoria Island Lagos, Nigeria to steer up the awareness for the week actively in Nigeria. The walk took place simultaneously in three other locations in Nigeria.
The only way you could be aware of this of course is if you are an entrepreneur of have entrepreneurial friends.
How Global Entrepreneurship Week Came About?
So, I was really curious to know how GEW came about and thought to share my findings with you. Apparently, according to Wiki, the founders were The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation which is a non-profit foundation based in Kansas City, Missouri, established in the mid-1960s by the late entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing Marion Kauffman.
The Kauffman Foundation’s mission is to foment “a society of economically independent individuals who are engaged citizens, contributing to the improvement of their communities. Two main areas of focus are: advancing entrepreneurship and improving the education of children and youth.
Amazing isn’t it, talk about creating an idea in the mid-1960s and has grown to become globally acceptable (hmmmmm).
Question: Do you have an idea you have nurtured for too long in your mind?
Question: What are you doing towards actualising the idea?
Meditate on this mission from Kauffman’s Foundation: “a society of economically independent individuals who are engaged citizens, contributing to the improvement of their communities”.
Imagine this: If we had more local and global thinkers (entrepreneurs), we will all be contributing so much more to the improvement of our economy.
Have you heard of the Bella Community? A community that is aware of the importance of entrepreneurship in the economy, with a monthly meet up here to help aspiring entrepreneurs START, upcoming entrepreneurs REMAIN whilst gaining and sharing knowledge through NETWORKING with experienced entrepreneurs.
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