Albert Einstein’s belief that “real solutions require a shift in mindset rather than surface-level fixes” also talks about his idea, that “problems cannot be solved using the same way of thinking that created them”. This great scientist’s belief critically dwells on the entrepreneurial spirit for innovative strategies and reforms that can usher in progress in business circles. It is, therefore, important to recognise that “commerce” is the heartbeat of progress in every legitimately established and operational business at all levels in the economies of the world. It encompasses the movement of products from creation to consumption, involving various scales from local retail to international trade.
From a business perspective, Einstein’s deep thought on a shift in mindset to realize innovative solutions, is in line with the social science knowledge that breaks free from known assumptions and mental limitations; expressly elucidating a think-out-of-the-box approach that challenges the status quo; from new business frontiers and perspectives that explore possibilities beyond the obvious which, however, is not restricted within conventional borders but unlocks new strategic business moves.
We take commerce here as “the activity of buying and selling, especially on a large scale”. This same activity is also referred to as “trading”, where direct exchange of goods and services between parties receive values in material provisions and its commensurate worth financially. Trading or commercial activity could equally be viewed as an operation in the organised system of buying, selling, and exchanging goods and services, encompassing all activities that facilitate the said trade, like transportation, banking, insurance, and advertising, to connect producers with consumers and drive economic activity. It therefore follows that by seeing commerce in this wider sense we can easily come to terms in acknowledging commerce as the soul of economic growth and development. The working or the implementation of strategic concepts that yield the actualised or realizable goals for man’s satisfaction, requires the rendering of interactive services, compelled as a duty that is diligently performed on a daily basis, towards driving purposeful monetary rewards in return. The three basic needs of man (food, clothing and shelter) therefore, can only be achieved by sustained constant actions of man that is powered and driven by the attractive, realizable financial gains and pecuniary benefits once the tasks are executed.
Macro-economically, wealth is created and generated from all economic units (through daily commercial activities within the domestic borders and the economy) that are assembled to build up an aggregate lump sum for growth and national development. As the heartbeat of economic growth and national development, commerce significantly drives movement of goods and services; capital flow and exchange of new business ideas amongst stakeholders. It is really the dynamic shift from extant mindsets, which are exchanged for new innovative ideas that brings in efficiency, facilitates economic growth, improves standard of living for all stakeholders and every citizen at the micro unit level, and ultimately ushers in an overall development within the economy. Let it be known that without sustainable daily commercial activities in the economy, the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the fabric of the nation’s economic structure, would not be meaningfully engaged to crystallize physical manifestation and yields for man’s three basic needs (food, clothing and shelter) in human existence.
It is this ‘commerce’ or ‘trading’ that substantially connects all stakeholders, ranging from artisans, to all service providers (both professionally trained and non-professionals), to interact on a daily basis along different sectorial economic value chains, critically delivering goods and services as specifically agreed in commercial contracts. Commerce, essentially, structures the circulatory system for the nation’s economy, realised through market structured operational marketing and sales arrangements along a specified value chain in all distribution channels (with well developed infrastructure, to support the efficient flow of goods), from manufacturers to end users. Trading, in the real sense, demands expertise gained through either apprenticeship or professional touch (as a vocational trade or occupation) for every individual that is open to considering it as a vocation for their livelihood.
In Nigeria, for instance, a particular tribe, the Igbo race is recognised globally as a people with a general proclivity for this vocation. As ‘professional traders’ they are regarded as having this occupation in their DNA. The Igbos are generally characterised as a very hardworking, industrious and diligent crop of resourceful citizens, who never accept failure for an answer in their occupational life.
All over the world and in Nigeria, in particular, they are the major contributors to real national development, when compared with other major tribes in the country. This contribution is in the form of setting up market locations, while their residential houses are lavishly developed in all nooks and crannies of the economy. By their prowess in commerce and spread of these activities, this tribe qualifies as true nationalists as they take every part of the country as home, settling among the indigenous people peacefully undertaking their commercial activities without any discrimination, which is visibly observed in their attitudes toward physical development.
