Igbo cultural values and indigenous entrepreneurship in Nigeria

Abstract

Western scholarship has traditionally focused on traits associated with entrepreneurship and national development, using the Global North as the benchmark. Consequently, the cultural values driving entrepreneurial success in the Global South have received little attention until recently, when some authors began to highlight indigenous cultural practices’ positive contributions to entrepreneurship and development. This imbalance reflects a longstanding Western research tradition, yet the impact of local cultural traits remains underexplored in the Global South, creating a significant gap in the literature. To address this gap, this study employs a qualitative approach to explore the cultural values of the Igbo people in Southeast Nigeria and assess their role in entrepreneurship. Using purposive and snowball sampling, the study engaged 60 entrepreneurs from three major Lagos markets, all mentored in indigenous Igbo business practices. The findings reveal that core Igbo values- Ochicho (ambition), Akụ (wealth), Nsopuru (respect), and Ugwu (honour) substantially influence entrepreneurship, wealth accumulation, job creation, and community development. This research highlights the importance of indigenous values in economic progress and offers a perspective that challenges Western-centric frameworks. These insights are particularly relevant to addressing the developmental challenges faced by the Global South, emphasizing culturally grounded approaches to national development.