The 44-year-old jubilant PhD graduate, Josephine Oluwabunmi Ilesanmi from Nigeria travelled to Durban for her Nigerian hometown to be conferred with her Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Management Sciences specialising in Business Administration. Sharing her excitement, the elated Dr Ilesanmi described the journey as long and emotional.
“I’m excited to be here. It’s been a very long journey, and it’s been quite emotional for me. I’m excited about the future,” she said.
She shared some insight into her thesis, titled: “The prospects and challenges of sustainable eco- entrepreneurial businesses in Lagos .”
Dr Ilesanmi stated that PESTEL factors (political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal) heavily impact how sustainable business innovations contribute to climate action and low-carbon plans amid global climate change.
“This study focuses on SMEEs in Lagos State, a key commercial hub. It examines the PESTEL barriers to the growth of Small to Medium-scale Eco-Entreprises (SMEEs) in a developing-country context. The study explored the barriers and enablers for SMEEs and examined policies and sustainable business management best practices in high-performing green growth jurisdictions, such as the United Kingdom, that enhance SMEE growth,” she explained.
The results, she indicated showed that SMEEs face inadequate policies, fiscal incentives, poor infrastructure, weak environmental regulatory framework, low sustainability awareness, poor internal capabilities, and high start-up costs.
The study proposed transformative internal and external recommendations informed by successful United Kingdom governance and business practices. The findings highlight actionable strategies derived from these established national models.
Currently Dr Ilesanmi is working in research and running her own start-up, she expressed that she is looking forward to the next chapter of her academic and entrepreneurial journey.
Pictured: Dr Josephine Oluwabunmi Ilesanmi
Photography: Sifundo Thwala
Nosihle Mthembu
