Title: Conceptual overview of social entrepreneurship and its relevance to Nigeria's third sector

Authors: Akuraun Shadrach Iyortsuun

Addresses: Federal University, Wukari, P.M.B. 1020, Katsina-Ala Road, Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria

Abstract: Social entrepreneurship has evolved as an important instrument for achieving measurable and sustainable change in the society. This paper attempts a conceptual overview of the field and its applicability to the third sector in Nigeria. Interview and secondary data sources guided the author to find that there is a dearth of information on social entrepreneurship in Nigeria and a lack of collaboration, partnership and the scalability of innovative solutions to address societal problems. However, the study recommends that the social entrepreneurship ecosystem should be developed and the political institutions recognise and support social entrepreneurs as sustainable positive change agents in the society.

Keywords: social entrepreneurship overview; social entrepreneurship relevance; social entrepreneurship applicability; social entrepreneurship ecosystems; Nigeria; third sector; collaboration; partnerships; scalability; change agents; voluntary sector.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSEI.2016.082296

International Journal of Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 2016 Vol.4 No.3, pp.242 - 256

Received: 02 Sep 2016
Accepted: 30 Oct 2016
Published online: 17 Feb 2017 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article