who is an entrepreneur ? Are you one ?

What Does It Really Mean to Be an Entrepreneur?

I have always been entrepreneurial.

In 2006, while studying for my OND, I started a phone repair business.

In 2008, during my Industrial Training year, I took a risk. I quit my job and started repairing phones by the roadside in Ajah, Lagos State. From the roadside, I rented a shop along the expressway. When roadside demolitions happened during the Fashola administration, I moved back into a kiosk.

It was uncertain. It was stressful. But it was mine.

If you had asked me then what I did for a living, I would not have said I was an entrepreneur.

I would have said, "I am a phone repair engineer."

If you asked me what it felt like to be my own boss, I would have said, "When you own a business, you are not the boss. You are the employee."

It took me years to understand that I was, in fact, an entrepreneur.

According to a simple definition:

An entrepreneur is a starter. An initiator. A challenger. A driver. Someone who creates Something new — a business, a project, an initiative.

Looking back, that was me.

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Who Is Really an Entrepreneur?

Many small business owners don’t see themselves as entrepreneurs.

At the same time, some people proudly wear the title without ever building anything.

So where do we draw the line?

Is a roadside mechanic an entrepreneur?
Is an Uber driver an entrepreneur?
Is someone selling clothes on Lagos Island an entrepreneur?

The definition has evolved.

Today, entrepreneurship is less about title and more about mindset.

It is about ownership. Initiative. Value creation.

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Eight Traits of an Entrepreneur

(Using Aliko Dangote as a Case Study)

Let’s break it down using someone we all know — Aliko Dangote.

1. Start Young

Dangote started trading sweets in primary school. He knew early that he wanted to build.

The lesson: Start learning now. Attend seminars. Read books. Surround yourself with business-minded people.

2. Own Something

Wealth rarely comes from salary alone.

Dangote started his first real business at 21 with a ₦500,000 loan from his uncle.

Start small. Start early. Start somewhere.

3. Leverage Other People's Assets

You may not have capital. That’s fine.

Dangote borrowed his initial capital.

Money exists. Investors exist. Microfinance exists. Partnerships exist.

Stop waiting. Start pitching.

4. Start Local, Think Global

Dangote began locally but built with a global vision.

Start where you are, with what you have — but never lose sight of where you are going.

5. Produce, Don’t Just Trade

In his own words, Dangote said:

“Manufacture, don’t just trade.”

When he moved from trading commodities to producing them, his margins increased dramatically.

What can you produce?

Ownership increases value.

6. Diversify Wisely

Dangote expanded into cement, sugar, flour, and more.

Once your foundation is strong, explore other opportunities.

But diversify strategically, not emotionally.

7. Network With Greatness

Entrepreneurs must build strong relationships.

Dangote’s strategic alliances opened doors.

Your network can accelerate your growth.

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The Nigerian Context

Nigeria needs entrepreneurship now more than ever.

Yet challenges remain:

• Limited access to capital

• Weak infrastructure

• Policy instability

• Poor support systems

Still, interest in entrepreneurship is rising globally.

According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, 66% of adults worldwide see entrepreneurship as a good career path.

Why?

Because the definition has expanded.

From sidepreneurs to infopreneurs, creators, consultants, digital builders — entrepreneurship today is about creating value independently.

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But Here’s the Truth

Not everyone is meant to be an entrepreneur.

And that is okay.

Being an employee does not mean you will not succeed.

What matters is understanding your calling.

If you are wired to build, build.

If you are wired to execute within systems, excel there.

Know yourself.

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Final Thoughts

Entrepreneurship is not glamorous.

It is stress.
It is uncertainty.
It is a risk.
It is ownership.

But for those who are wired for it, there is nothing more fulfilling.

I wish you clarity.

I wish you courage.

I wish you growth.

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Adekunle Adeniji
CEO, Micserah
Co-Founder, Naijawin247

Follow my journey on YouTube — Daily Hustle, a documentary-style vlog showcasing the realities of building businesses in the internet age.

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