By Hon Agnes Kunihira Abwoli
Female Workers MP.
Definition: According to the oxford advanced learner’s dictionary an entrepreneur is a person who starts or organizes a commercial enterprise especially one that involves a financial risk. The word entrepreneur originates from a French word ‘’entreprendre’’ which literally means ‘’to undertake’’ (Richard Cantillon 1751) it refers to someone who gets between a supplier and the market and takes a profit by facilitating the exchange profit. J.B Say in his book written in 1800 defines an entrepreneur as one who shifts economics resources from an area of lower to an area of higher economic yield.According to this definition a maize trader who buys maize in the village and brings it to town where the price is higher is an entrepreneur. As evidenced by the above definitions entrepreneurship started very long ago and it has been developing over a time. Characteristics:In attempting to explain the entrepreneurial characteristics, it is important to look at three main themes of the person referred to as an entrepreneur. 1. The entrepreneur as a personality the individual entrepreneur’s way of life. 2. The entrepreneur as a founder and owner of an enterprise 3. The entrepreneur as a business manager. During my first term in parliament as a female workers M.P, I came to learn that if women workers are given skills in entrepreneurship, they can really help themselves a lot to supplement their low pay. Without missing words it is well known that the majority of working women are paid low salaries and yet they have to meet a lot of expenses. In order for them to make ends meet, they need to start income generating projects (call them self help projects) This can be done in the evening after work on weekends, off days, public holidays etc. You don’t need to be rich in order to start a business. You can start small. All what you need are:- – Skills – Determination – Being focused – Learn to take a risk- Business ethics (simple book keeping /keeping records) – Learn to face competition (you are not alone) – Sacrifice (in terms of time, money, energy e.t.c) In the circumstances, therefore, I wish to call upon all women trade union leaders to assist their female members to start small enterprises which they can run after work. These businesses can range from selling tomatoes, onions and vegetables, charcoal and fire wood, fruits like mangoes, bananas near their residence to sophisticated business like running a photocopier, tailoring, hair plaiting, mobile money and air time selling just to mention but a few. Alternatively if one cannot start by herself, she can employ one to do the business for her (taking risk) in this case you need a lot of control and monitoring.In my manifesto 2021 – 2026 (plan of action) I have promised to support women entrepreneurship projects in different labour unions (Page 8 of my manifesto) Advantages of starting worker’s small enterprises are:– Opportunity to get extra income (top up) – Opportunity to minimize loans / advance etc- An opportunity to contribute to society, national economy (GDP)- It gives one opportunity to gain control over ones destiny and provides an entrepreneur the opportunity to achieve what they consider to be important■
