Social Work and the Challenge of Entrepreneurship in Africa

Ani Casimir¹, Ejiofor Samuel²

¹Department of Philosophy, Institute of African Studies, Nsukka, Nigeria.
²Department of Social Work, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.4236/ojps.2015.52017                

Abstract

One of the most difficult and challenging areas of research in social work practice is to create a philosophy of integration whereby some presumed assumptions are questioned and new areas of collaboration designed for best practices. It is the function of philosophy to question such assumptions and design newer areas of research for the practice in Africa. In this article, we have deigned to question the collaborative work of social work and entrepreneurship. This is what one might describe as the duty of the social innovator, social problem solver in business practices of the commonly defined deliverables from the social entrepreneur. In the social business innovator or entrepreneur, we have the best skills of the entrepreneurship, social philosophy, social work and social interested innovator. Many would have questioned the conjunction between the aggressive business entrepreneur who is profit oriented and the charity oriented non-governmental organizer who cares and works for others happiness. If both are for business and are investors, what kind of investment and profit is the social entrepreneur committed to in his business as different from the profit orientation of the business mogul. In Africa, such questioning and questions lead to a paradigm change in the popular understanding of the emerging area of the social entrepreneurship and the challenge of solving social problems of poverty and crisis in Africa. This article seeks to contribute to such social problem solving by enhancing the public awareness and education on the developmental possibilities of social entrepreneurship in Africa.

Keywords

Social Work, Social Entrepreneurship, Social Philosophy, Poverty, Innovation, Social Responsibility, Paradigm, Africa

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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