CONNECT! With Ideas That Work

"Why African Entrepreneurs Struggle to Access Loans and Grants"  By  Chidike Edmond Chidike Edmond Ojuyenum Founder & CEO, Nova Gate Limited  When people ask me why entrepreneurs in Africa struggle to access loans and grants, I don't just hear a question — I relive a story. My story. Our story. In 2022, I stood before a panel of investors at a business reality show. I was hopeful, dressed for success, and armed with a vision I believed in. But what met me was not applause or critique — it was silence. Cold, confusing silence. Not because my idea lacked potential. But because I didn't know their language — the language of pitch decks, business models, and scalable metrics. I hadn't been taught. And they didn't bother to translate. Later, I applied for a ₦3 million SME loan. Again, I believed I was ready. But I had no guide. No mentor. No knowledge of the paperwork maze ahead of me. I failed — not for lack of vision, but for lack of access. And that's th...