Ethiopian Tesfaye Bogale left his remote home in Shewa Province in 2001. His dream was to get a job in Addis Ababa.

With no formal schooling, he was sure he would end up as a back-door security officer in his nation's capital, some 350 km away.

But in the 12 years since he first stepped into the city, Bogale's life has changed immeasurably. Heavy investments from China in Ethiopia's construction and telecommunications sectors have created massive opportunities for the African nation's population. Bogale, a 42-year-old father of two, has now set up a security firm, employing more than 100 guards.

"China's working culture is distinctive. The Chinese operate round the clock. The kind of equipment they use requires tight security, especially at night," he said. "This compelled us to source more guards to look after these pricey machines."

Lengthier hours mean firms have to employ more people to cover three eight-hour shifts for each day. While companies would traditionally close up at dusk, China's entry into the continent has radically revolutionized how things are done. The days of nine-to-five operation are over.

Opportunities beckoning

This schedule is becoming very popular in Africa. Following the example of nightclubs and restaurants, other businesses, including supermarkets, transport operations, commercial banks and gas stations, have joined the 24/7 trend.

The 24-hour work schedule started in earnest during the construction of Kenya's first eight-lane superhighway, Thika Road. According to contractors, the $350-million stretch of road linking Nairobi and Thika would have taken another two years were it not for night shifts.

The road is currently used by more than 80,000 vehicles per day. It has sped up the movement of goods from remote areas to Kenya's capital, and the African Development Bank says the superhighway is part of the grand dream to link South Africa and Egypt.

"There is overwhelming support for the idea of a 24-hour economy, and Kenyans are ready for it. As with all other major policy issues, the how, who and when of implementation becomes the main focus of strategy," said Dr. Julius Muia, Secretary of Kenya's National Economic and Social Council, a think-tank looking at the effects of the 24-hour economy.

In South Sudan, the 24-hour business operation schedule is being adopted quickly. Having signed an $8-billion infrastructure construction deal with Beijing, the world's newest nation is building roads, bridges and telecom networks. It is also developing its agricultural and hydroelectric power sectors.