Keywords

1 Introduction

In Africa, the natives have long been fighting poverty through their aborigine entrepreneurship activities in small businesses rooted in their cultural and traditional values and resources which are practiced and passed from generations to generations. The contemporary definition of entrepreneurship is concerned with the viability of business and its essential focus on uniqueness as a resolve for the commercialization of inventions and novel discoveries [1]. The indigenous people see their entrepreneurship as one that identifies the worth of trade for the advantage of the whole society [2]. To this end, entrepreneurship, to the indigenous people, is self-innovative conception, organization, and improvement of new ventures and for their own benefits with serious concern about society’s cultural beliefs, values and inheritance conservation and accomplishing personal autonomy [1]. Indigenous entrepreneurship, to the indigenous people is more concern with new business conception or search of commercial advantage for the benefits of the societies in line with its cultural ethos [3]. The major disparity between orthodox and indigenous enterprises, therefore, is that in the latter, communal involvement is always prevalent [1]. Thus, integration of indigenous community’s IK exemplified by the cultural values, beliefs and traditions and neglect of these by any agenda for developing small businesses and motivating entrepreneurship for poverty reduction and empowerment program in the local communities is crucial. This provides the basis for campaign for the involvement of indigenous people in any entrepreneurship agenda.

There have been several programs and policies directed at improving the performance of small businesses and the entrepreneurial capabilities of people in the continent. Also, several institutions were established with capacity and budgetary allocation to promote small and medium enterprises and improve people’s entrepreneurial skills. These are yet to yield the expected results. Thus, there is need for a rethink to find a lasting solution to the daunting and persistent poverty crises in the continent. It is on this note that the article finds solace in exploring issues in IK as a paradigm shift in entrepreneurship development to improve on the past efforts. This is with a view to achieving strong entrepreneurial capabilities building and skills of people for sustainable human development.

The novelty of this work is not only found in its focus on research on IK and indigenous entrepreneurship practice and development in Africa where there is dearth of research attention. African continent is focused being the one mostly engulfed with incidences of poverty. The significance of the paper is also found in the strategy employed which is concerned with ways of solving the continent’s daunting and severe poverty problems with African solution using its neglected vastly endowed indigenous resources. The paper is expected to redirect and reposition the thinking of both the policy makers and the citizens, especially the youths, that enterprises capabilities and promotion, and entrepreneurship development is beyond fund allocation or how much financial resources is expended. It is also about how IK can be effectively harnessed, deployed, utilized, and balanced with other factors in driven entrepreneurship development agenda. This is with a view to enhancing wealth creation, employment generation and poverty reduction. The innovative deployment of IK will change people’s attitude and perception towards indigenous entrepreneurial activities and establishment of small businesses for public interests and benefits. This will in turn enhance their involvement in the poverty reduction agenda through encouraged initiative that facilitates self-sufficiency, self-actualization/fulfilment, wealth creation and employment, and therefore reduce persistent social problems in Africa.

2 Exploration of Existing Literature

There is no There is no doubt the fact that research in indigenous innovation, indigenous entrepreneurship and practice have gained less attention [4]. Besides, when related with conventional Entrepreneurship, it remained an under-researched exposure and prominence [5]. This majorly affects IK and Indigenous entrepreneurship, among others [6]. While there is plethora of collected works on conventional entrepreneurship, only few exist regarding the discourse on IK and entrepreneurship [7]. The reason is not far-fetched, as has been identified elsewhere, indigenous entrepreneurship is basically seen to be imperfect and defective because most creativities remained emergent or inappropriately executed by indigenous people.

Literature on what constitute indigenous people are countless and shrouded with different conceptions and meanings. This notwithstanding, indigenous people still share similar features, and uphold exact or unambiguous characteristics dissimilar from dominant groups in society [8]. To make a clear distinction, for example, United Nations applies four criteria that can be used to at least clearly differentiate indigenous peoples to include geographical proximity and contiguity; unique institutions; special communal aspirations; and preservation of shared features [8]. Unfortunately, most of the entrepreneurship programs developed for wealth creation and employment generation do not properly take into consideration the aspirations, needs, values and importance of these peoples and their knowledge. This forms the basis of some argument that the neglect of these variables caused deteriorating state of indigenous peoples’ welfare condition and forcing them to be more marginalized as well as the increasing failure rate associated with implementation of development policies, programs, and agenda. This therefore sparks interest in the study of indigenous resources’ propensity to enhance viable empowerment agenda [9].

3 Methodology of the Research

The paper utilizes qualitative and historical research methodology. Critical interpretation and conclusions are made from the in-depth literature review and content analysis of methodically organized secondary data sourced from historical and policy documents, reports, scientific papers/journal articles archival sources and library sources.

4 Examining Research Issues and Findings

4.1 Indigenous Knowledge and Indigenous Innovation: Relationship to Entrepreneurial Activities and Poverty Reduction

Indigenous, traditional, or local knowledge is used to denote the special skills possessed by and identified with a community. It incorporates such a community’s way of life and how they relate with their environment [10]. This, according to [11] also comprises definite idiosyncrasies and dogmas that form the society’s ethics and standards for judging behaviors. On this note, [12] posits that, this knowledge is critical and essential for the continued existence of the inheritance of a specific people because the foundation of all their life activities is erected on it. To [13] IK is concerned with society’s innovativeness, ingenuity, and dynamism in solving and mitigating different challenges of life. Thus, IK becomes inseparable from society’s existence as it serves as the essential means of livelihood through their various indigenous innovative and entrepreneurial activities [10]. In this circumstance, it implies that indigenous peoples have engaged in entrepreneurial and wealth creation activities abinitio regardless of the system of practice when compare with the contemporary definitions of entrepreneurship. For instance, the contemporary meaning and practice of “entrepreneurship” may convey and refer to the viability of enterprise and its focus on individual’s creativity and innovativeness for wealth creation [1]. Consequently, ordinary usage of entrepreneurship refers to individual action taken as a fulfilment of a set task independent of any external influence or intervention [3]. Thus, while comparing the contemporary and indigenous entrepreneurship, the latter is more concern with the rewards from trading for public welfares and advantages [2]. On this note, [1] defined indigenous entrepreneurship as the conception, controlling and growth of novel business or commercial ideas by local people for the advantage of their community while given deserve credence to society’s inheritance and personal independence. Thus, lack of deserved attention and respect for indigenous community and their cultural beliefs, tradition, and values as well as the integration of same in the entrepreneurship agenda is responsible for the abysmal failure of any policy and program directed at wealth creation and poverty alleviation.

A critical catalyst for economic growth is creativity which is one of the essential features of IK. Without creativity, inventiveness, innovativeness and innovators, wealth creation and employment generation will be limited. All these activities take place within a social system and must be considered by any development agenda. The GEI examines the environmental conduciveness and compatibility of the social system with entrepreneurial activities. According to the 2018 and 2019 GEI Ranking, no African country is among the first-fifty countries and among the 137 and 136 countries examined in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Those that managed to feature among the first-eighty in 2018 are just five. The most disheartening situation is that none of these countries improve in their ranking in 2019except for Mauritania that moved from 136 position in 2018 to 133 in 2019. The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2020/21 Global Report also found that, of the 46 economies that participated in GEM’s 2020 survey, levels of Total early-stage Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA) were high only in Middle East and in Angola and Morocco in Africa. This, by implication, shows that the continent of Africa is still lagging in engagements involving starting or running a new business. Besides, as reported by CEOWORLD magazine Entrepreneurship Index, 2021, apart from six (6) economies from Europe and North America with Taiwan and Israel, no countries from Sub-Saharan Africa have the potential skills, knowledge, and experience to take advantage of better opportunities to start a business. However, only South Africa is found to have high spirit of entrepreneurship by the 2021 Entrepreneurial spirit index by country. All these portend an intense indicator regarding capacity building and education for entrepreneurship, wealth creation, employment generation, and poverty alleviation.

5 Discussion of Research Findings

5.1 Indigenous Knowledge and Its Potency for Enhanced Entrepreneurship Development, Employment Generation and Poverty Alleviation: Global Examples

Exploration of literature has confirmed that Indigenous peoples are not novice or unfamiliar to creativities, innovativeness, and entrepreneurial activities. As can be found in history, ‘the aboriginals exhibited and demonstrated ground-breaking innovation before the advent of colonial rule.

Globally, indigenous peoples have found to be instrumental to the conception and setting out of many exchange systems which are foundation upon which contemporary commerce is based 14. The basis and practice of trade and the way trade is being facilitated among people at the local communities remained naturally novel, resourceful, and commercial. The notion of local invention associates and involves wide familiarity and understanding of locality and local talents in manufacturing implements and objects compliant to their setting. Examples of this can be found in the indigenous traditional industries including traditional fabrics, traditional medicine, carving, leather works, metal work (Blacksmithing and Goldsmithing), pottery making and fiber crafts among other industrial and technological activities in Nigeria, Australian indigenous tools and technology [4], among others.

Specifically in Africa, indigenous capacity for entrepreneurship development and resource management has existed long ago among different communities [14]. These forms of traditional industries/technologies constitute an important aspect of people’s culture, and they equally epitomize the tools used for enduring relationships with their environment. Therefore, an understanding of the procedural issues in traditional technologies would enhance the appreciation of a people’s beliefs and worldview. In the area of transport, indigenous people have used their ingenuity to facilitate trade, livelihood, and survival 14. To further facilitate this, indigenous peoples have used their familiarity with and understanding of their natural environment in directing the means of transportation technologically advanced. For instance, centuries ago, indigenous people have creatively navigated several kilometers all over the Pacific to participate in economic activities [15]. In the areas of invention and creativity, indigenous people are found to be great and distinguished innovators and entrepreneurs ever before colonization. The Maori, for instance, are said to exemplify an Indigenous people whose strength and fame became renown because of their creativities as well as their ease absorption of technical skill and know-how [16]. For example, they controlled significant proportion of commercial activities in Aotearoa (New Zealand) due to their preoccupation with the sale and distribution of produce to Australia and other countries [2]. What made these people unique beings as described by [17] is their avowed commitment to hard work, devotion to quality, use of skill and dedication towards protection of their identity. All these can be leveraged to foster effective entrepreneurship development for poverty reduction. However, despite the obvious potential of IK to drive sustainable development, its utilization is still minimal. Some reasons advanced for its neglect include colonial rule and policies [18], modernization and specializations [19], the attitude of those in possession of the knowledge towards knowledge sharing, lack of IK database due to absence of proper codification, documentation, and effective policy [20], the misconceptions about African IK and practices in academic discourse and literature, among others.

6 Conclusion and Policy Recommendations for Achieving IK Renaissance and Entrepreneurship Development for Poverty Alleviation

Without doubt indigenous peoples are reviving their heritage to reinstate and uphold their local uniqueness and existence and well-being through indigenous-led enterprise. However, the approach of the government to implement indigenous welfare programs, foster and implement entrepreneurship agenda have failed to recognize this pattern and therefore responsible for the persistent poverty and economic dependence among the indigenous peoples. Thus, indigenous economic independence, based on the utilization of IK, is a way forward to achieving entrepreneurship development to ensure program acceptability, maintain indigenous community integrity and survival. Consequently, to achieve effective utilization of IK for enhanced entrepreneurship development and poverty reduction, the government/policy makers, development partners, researchers, and individuals, as stakeholders, have different roles to play. For instance, to clear the fallacy and the challenge of non-scientific nature attributed to African IK for its effective freedom from Eurocentric conception. Government and policy makers should endeavor to empower both the historians and scientists in all the existing knowledge institutions by providing necessary infrastructure and grants for Research and Development (R&D) in the promotion, adoption, and transformation of African IK for entrepreneurship development. In the same vein, international development partners and agencies should intervene in the provision of funds required for R&D in IK. The research outputs, through effective and strong legal framework, should be properly patented to protect the intellectual property of the knowledge providers and commercialized for enhanced economic value of IK.

For proper documentation and prevention of the loss of the knowledge, the Indian Digital Library of Traditional Knowledge provides a good example from which African countries can learn as well as the guidelines of the World Intellectual Property Organization. Above all, all stakeholders must adopt and seek full execution of the pronouncement on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. How then will this impact on poverty alleviation?

Regarding governance structure and legal framework for improving IK utilization for impacting poverty alleviation. There is need to provide or strengthen governance structure and legal framework which will facilitate the utilization of IK and enhance entrepreneurship development that will fast track the growth of SMEs [21] and impact poverty alleviation programs/agenda and reduce poverty incidences. This entails the establishment of new institutions for development and/or strengthening of the existing ones. The structure will provide a mechanism for stakeholders to have a clear understanding of their roles, expectations, objectives, performance, and line of communication and authority. To be able to do this effectively requires identification of the stakeholders (ministries, implementing agencies and departments, the private sector and civil society), prioritizing the goals to be achieved, creating the appropriate processes, selecting the best workforce, and unambiguous communication. This will help to sustainably preserve IK and encourage academics, policy makers, scientists, and students to gain enhanced respect for local culture, its wisdom, its environmental ethics and propensity for economic independence and poverty alleviation. In this regard, there is need for effective partnership and collaboration among appropriate institutions like the Ministries of Education, Labor and productivity, Justice, Chambers of Commerce, among others. While some countries have done well in integrating entrepreneurship studies in their school curricular, there is still much to be desired. This is yet to impact on poverty alleviation due to the Eurocentric nature of the program. It ignores the African content which is very useful in improving people’s innovative and commercial skills, capability that reinforce sustainable entrepreneurship, trade and commercial improvement and reduce poverty incidences. Thus, the teaching of entrepreneurship should also include exposing students to AIK resources and focus on the AIK and its propensity to foster economic development, impact and ensure sustainable poverty reduction agenda.

To further strengthen and consolidate the governance structure, it is critically important from the government to support and encourage IK and its accompanying economical activities and respective institutions with appropriate laws, regulations and required legislative power. Most especially, the issue of intellectual property must be addressed. To achieve adherence to the legal framework requires creation of awareness about and deep understanding of the Intellectual Property Right (IPR) laws to motivate, encourage and give confidence to innovators in developing startups/spin-offs from their IK. Besides, there is a need for appropriate industrial codes of conduct and ethical guidelines strictly implemented in any areas involving IK, its holders, and the created SMEs. Lastly, it is very essential for government to domesticate the laws across all levels of government and make provision for effective national and international alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in case of any violation or disputes arising from IK utilization and IPR. Putting this in place will yield maximum result if there is periodic monitoring and evaluation of all activities related to the management of IK, entrepreneurship policy and its accompanying SMEs.

While it is difficult to thoroughly explore all the strengths of IK in Africa, let alone globally, for driven entrepreneurship development in a single paper, the paper to a greater extent, has detailed most of the key issues involved in IK and entrepreneurship development with in-depth analysis. This notwithstanding, the global analysis and discussion as well as the theoretical and practical implication of the article is limited by its major focus on Africa. However, these are not substantial and sufficient to weaken its general application, value, and content as a good reference material for further research in the area. Hence, the relevance, credibility and acceptability of the content does not suffer due to this limitation. The lesson learnt from the discourse will provide direction for various countries in other continents of the world on how to look inward and effectively utilize their endowed IK and resources for solving their challenges with little or no cost.