In Nigeria, Youth Needs To Be A Millionaire Just To Own Barber’s Shop, He Needs A Generator– Okonkwo
Veteran actor, lawyer, and politician Kenneth Okonkwo has raised concerns over the rising cost of starting small businesses in Nigeria, using the example of setting up a barbershop to illustrate the economic challenges facing young entrepreneurs.
Taking to his official X account on September 14, 2025, Okonkwo lamented the impact of Nigeria’s epileptic power supply on the cost of doing business.
He compared the situation in Nigeria to countries where electricity is stable, stating that in such places, a young person can start a barber’s shop with minimal capital and without worrying about power generation.
Okonkwo highlighted that in Nigeria, the absence of reliable electricity forces youths to make additional and costly investments before they can start even the smallest of businesses.
According to him, this includes purchasing a generator, fueling it regularly, and bearing the cost of maintenance all of which significantly increase the startup capital needed.
In his words: “In a country where there is stable electricity, an industrious youth needs just a clipper to open a barber’s workshop at the corner of his house. In Nigeria, that youth needs to be a millionaire to even own a barber’s workshop. He needs to have a generator to provide his own power.”
Okonkwo argued that access to uninterrupted electricity should be a top priority for any government serious about economic growth. He explained that reliable power supply would not only reduce the cost of establishing small businesses but also make it easier for citizens to be productive and innovative.
He stressed that job creation is closely tied to the ease of doing business, noting that many Nigerians are discouraged from entrepreneurship because of high operational costs.
“When there is electricity for people to work, the rate of unemployment will reduce drastically in the nation and it will also make the citizens productive,” he added.
His post sparked widespread conversation online, with many Nigerians agreeing with his position and sharing their own struggles with high costs of running businesses. Others called on the government to intensify efforts to reform the power sector and provide affordable and reliable electricity to homes and businesses across the country.
Okonkwo’s comment comes at a time when inflation and energy costs continue to rise, placing extra burdens on small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Analysts say his statement highlights the urgent need for government action to remove structural bottlenecks that hinder economic growth and job creation…See, More
