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Discussion on America.gov's New Enterprise Blog
+ Brandon Fuller
The New Enterprise blog on America.gov facilitates discussions between entrepreneurs from the United States and the rest of the world. Ikuemonisan Banabas Ayobami, co-founder of the Glimmer of Hope Foundation in Nigeria, recently discussed the importance of role models with Paul. Role models like Ayobami can instill in young people the productive and pro-social norms that greatly enhance the prospects for individual and economy-wide prosperity.
Ayobami:
The foundation helps homeless young people, some of whom have been involved in anti-social behavior as a means of survival. In South West Nigeria, we are bringing kids, between 9 and 15 years old, who are on the streets right now, back to school. We also give them vocational training. We have to keep young people from following bad leaders.
Romer:
Social norms – each person’s learned beliefs about what is right and wrong – are also part of human capital. Social norms influence our interactions with others. If the only available role models are the bad leaders to whom you refer, young people will internalize social norms that undermine Nigeria’s prospects. Your organization provides a much-needed alternative, offering a different standard of what is normal and right.
In the pursuit of human capital and economic development, changes in social norms are driving forces, not incidental side effects.