Profitable businesses you can do in 2018

As Nigerian politicians make plans for 2018 electioneering, aspiring entrepreneurs should also set plans in motion to conquer the coming year.
The 2017 is winding down and it is clear that it has been a year for agriculture, agro processing and tech start-ups. Is this going to continue or will there be any shift?
Start-Up Digest predicts that this will most certainly continue. In 2018, the federal government of Nigeria will vote more money for agriculture and agro processing as part of its core projects and to gain votes in the coming election.
Apart from the 2018 budget, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Bank of Industry (BoI), the Bank of Agriculture (BoA) and state agencies will vote more money into rice production, poultry and egg production, piggery, cashew processing, and cassava production, among others. If you are in agriculture and agro processing, you will most likely experience your biggest opportunity next year if your business is well structured, according to government sources who spoke with Start-Up Digest.
So far, the CBN has spent N43.92 billion on the Anchor Borrowers Scheme and more money will certainly flow next year towards this direction.
There is egg glut in some parts of northern Nigeria at the moment, but egg producers may smile at some point next year, as the federal government will likely increase the spate of the School Feeding Programme. Yes, it may all be about election, but next year will most likely see increased economic activities than the previous two years of Muhammadu Buhari administration. This is not new as this has often been the case in Nigeria.
The economic growth rate will rise and contractors will be mobilised into various sites. But this is not about contractors but about taking advantage of opportunities in the economy.
Experts believe Nigerians are not tapping into the opportunity in piggery because of ignorance and poor perception about pigs. It is good to tap into this industry next year, as it is still being done by few Nigerians.
The biggest thing about pigs is that they reproduce in large numbers. Pigs can go between N15,000 and N40,000 depending on their size and weight, and one pig can easily reproduce up to 15 to 20 piglets. This is its biggest advantage. Secondly, pigs can survive in any environment.
Pigs are in high demand in China, Japan, India, Mexico, Canada and many parts of Asia. In 2015, United States exported pork (pig meat) worth $4 billion; Germany $4 billion; Spain $3 billion, among others.
Apart from these, tech start-ups will receive more attention, not just from government, but also from offshore companies.
Nigeria has not even scratched the pan on technology and it is a business of the future.
More so, 2018 will be a year of numbers and achievements. Data miners who can provide accurate statistics will be hired.
The export splurge will happen and the quest for export of agro products will continue.
Note: It is important to tap into opportunities in a campaign year, but it will be dangerous to build your business on that. Doing that is risky as your business may die after the election. In fact, it is not sustainable to do so.
Again, it is important to have a good business plan in 2018, know your target market and have a good record-keeping. Employ an accountant and pay yourself a salary, rather than take the remnant of your income for yourself. Learn to plough back profit into your business and use online opportunities to promote your business.

ODINAKA ANUDU