Comments on NIGERIAN CURIOSITY: A NIGERIAN REVIEWS CNBC'S "DOLLARS AND DANGER"

Its extremely informative video for me, and Busine...

2009-06-25T22:48:33.414-04:00

Its extremely informative video for me, and Business related videos and funny videos also effective for business for online marketing. Thanks for sharing and please add some more business videos or about us videos.

I share your sentiments -- the program has a feel-...

2009-06-16T23:29:04.576-04:00

I share your sentiments -- the program has a feel-good aura about it. Just imagine what can be achieved more if the required infrastructure are in place ...

We made top 10 in The Africa Competitiveness Repor...

2009-06-16T17:14:22.588-04:00

We made top 10 in The Africa Competitiveness Report 2009 that highlighted upgrade infrastructure, improve healthcare and educational systems, and strengthen institutions, but, have we heard this before? Nigeria was not even on the TOTPs last year and before anyone start the celebration of mediocre, "improvement on governance institutions” is one of the ways World Bank MD Ngozi puts it. This is the same woman Obasanjo wouldn't allow to, well, just get on with it.

Noises at the World Economic Forum was simply that of leadership as Kofi Annan puts it, African leaders 'must shape up' since $150bn lost to corruption per year can help Africa drive its own development. In the face of $150bn per year, does anyone still think we have a leadership challenge? Almost all on the video reports mentioned the inefficient ways we continue to do things, including the Lagos State government worker in shirt sleeves. Perhaps those white shirts and suits in stifling heat are for another time.

@ Beauty: "barriers that hinder rather ...

2009-06-16T14:26:15.841-04:00
@ Beauty: "barriers that hinder rather than help our businesses. How do we get an educated workforce, remarkable infrastructure, a lot of government support? Living on the so called crumps and creating 2/140M potential billionaires? Ngozi famously said Africa is ready for business, but of course, she was only joking. Ask her today."

Nothing more to add. There are far too many barriers to business in Nigeria, particularly for small business owners. Large international enterprises actually have it easier I would argue. We really should ask Ngozi is she was indeed joking, loL!

@ NIMMO: Yes, let he who dares, come. But, how about those of us in the country who dare to take our business to the next level? Especially without connections? We all know that it is not easy and like Beauty said, there are serious barriers making it such that in a country as wealthy and resource heavy like Nigeria, we can only account for 2 billionaires. Yes, I know there are many more billionaires but their money is shady...

Anyway, thanks for swinging by o jare, my broda. Hope your family is well.

@ Denford: "It has always puzzled me how there can be fuel queues in a country like Nigeria. Even now, after some people tried to explain, I am still in the dark."

Don't worry my brother, we Nigerians are equally in the dark and we live there.

"
We are letting the lowest denominator run our countries and they have no powers of inspiration of vision."

Too true. That is indeed gospel. In fact, preachers should take this up in church and Imams should d the same. But, then again, they would get into trouble, so...

"Africa will, within the next ten to twenty years, become a new powerful force in the world."

Unfortunately, Denford, I don't think the continent has that much time, and I will expand on that in tomorrow's post. But, being that you live in southern Africa, I know that you are only too aware of the impact HIV/AIDS is having on the segment of Africa's population that will be needed in the years to come - the young. If a large percentage of these people are being wiped out because of disease, and a large amount of those that are left don't have the basics (good education, clean water...), in 10-20 years things will be worse because we will have a small minority (even smaller than what we have now) continuing to control resources and making money off the backs of the ever increasing poor. Think about it...

"
Let our generation take center stage and show our people that mud huts and food are not the epitome of a good life!!

My brother, do you not think our people know this already? In fact some will argue that our own generation is worse than that of our fathers and their friends. Our generation understands wealth and power much better than our elders. We have seen the mistakes they have made and many of us, believe it or not, are simply interested in getting paid. Anyway, I stand by you in the belief that we can change things for the better. Thanks so much for your intriguing comments.

It has always puzzled me how there can be fuel que...

2009-06-16T11:01:04.272-04:00
It has always puzzled me how there can be fuel queues in a country like Nigeria. Even now, after some people tried to explain, I am still in the dark.

But I know from our own experience in Zimbabwe that this is probably due to lack of political vision.

We are letting the lowest denominator run our countries and they have no powers of inspiration of vision.

All this will end, I am certain, and Africa will, within the next ten to twenty years, become a new powerful force in the world.

Let our generation take center stage and show our people that mud huts and food are not the epitome of a good life!!

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2009-06-16T09:50:41.750-04:00
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Any serious business person knows that the greater...

2009-06-16T09:36:57.036-04:00
Any serious business person knows that the greater the risks, the greater the profit.

It has always been so.

The earliest Europeans who came to the west African coast knew they could die from a single bite of the mosquito or from the treacherous waters but they still came and the ones who persevered left with ships laden with handsome profit. Of course, many others died.

Today, the dangers may be a little different but the profit is still as bounteous.

Ask MTN, Zain, Glo, Huawei, Etisalat and others. Only those who venture gain.

The glass will always be either half-full or half-empty. Wisdom says that only a fool is thirsty in the midst of plenty.

Virgin Atlantic's issues are myriad and IMO have more to do with the global downturn in aviation than with any other thing. Sir Richard Branson would be the last person to complain about business in Nigeria, he's an old hand. He's been making money here since the 70s.

Africa is open for business.

Let him who dares, come.

Officials in northern Nigeria Kano State have rehabilitated a creaking water plant in the small town of Wudil, 30 km south of Kano city in an effort to bring residents cheap, safe water, but some question if the price will stay affordable. Less than 40 percent of Kano State population of nine million had access to clean water in 2004.

Of course there are good news galore in Nigeria. Paulo Coelho's allegory, The Alchemist is a better read if anyone is interested in good omens since Nigerians are entrepreneurial and hardworking people. But is this about the people or the environment they work? In a global economy, nobody is expecting government handouts, but good government can give people the tools to make the most of their own lives.

5/5,000 strengths is Unfair! Who rules and on whose behalf as things fall apart is a question that came to mind on the video. The democracy we created have become tyrants. They are creating barriers that hinder rather than help our businesses. How do we get an educated workforce, remarkable infrastructure, a lot of government support? Living on the so called crumps and creating 2/140M potential billionaires? Ngozi famously said Africa is ready for business, but of course, she was only joking. Ask her today.

@ Cee: I want to focus on something you said, beca...

2009-06-15T12:07:15.269-04:00
@ Cee: I want to focus on something you said, because it is of particular interest to me.

"Africa is ready and open for business. I believe that with all my heart BUT...the big but, it's government is not ready. "

Let us replace 'Africa' with Nigeria. I definitely believe that Nigerians as a people are ready for business. We have always had our side hustles, and even our side hustles have had side hustles. Those who make up the government however, are more concerned with corrupt practices to help/make business/enterprise run relatively efficiently and that is a concern for me. I will spend some more time on this issue in the concluding part of this post and hope you will join in the conversation to expand your comment.

Thanks.

I watched a bit on Bella Naija and I am watching t...

2009-06-15T10:35:27.535-04:00
I watched a bit on Bella Naija and I am watching the remaining clips on NigeriaVillageSquare. I think they have been very fair but to be honest what I am paying particular attention to is what the Nigerians being interviewed are saying and that's why I am impressed.

Ultimately, like Ms Okonjo Iweala said on TED, Africa is ready and open for business. I believe that with all my heart BUT...the big but, it's government is not ready. Certainly the majority of Nigeria's government is not ready bar Lagos state as far as I'm aware. The Federal government does not have the intellect (and I am not being mean) but the FGN does not have the intellect and foresight to do a thorough job and that's where the problem lies. Many individuals, both home-based and returnees have amazing vision right now but the government is ridden with saboteurs, people who would sabotage the creative process for these changes to be made. What do I mean? Take for instance the power issue- those who have a stake in the alternative power generation ind. aka generators etc will do anything to sabotage meaningful change in the power situation and we can go on and on.

So until the ruling class is changed we'll never fully realise our potential.

well, Erin seems to have a keen interest in africa...

2009-06-15T10:22:54.962-04:00
well, Erin seems to have a keen interest in africa as a journalist.It will be hard to tell what she personally holds in her heart about Africa, since we wont be able to seperate her professional life and her personall life. As a journalist she is helping in her own ways. i hope to see this particular documentary now.

2009-06-15T10:09:48.126-04:00
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I have gone through the videos and the views are f...

2009-06-15T09:20:59.713-04:00
I have gone through the videos and the views are fair. The comments are consistent - fix power!

Interesting

2009-06-15T07:20:38.694-04:00
Interesting

where can we watch the show? thanks

2009-06-15T06:45:38.601-04:00
where can we watch the show?

thanks

Thanks for sharing this. Off to go through the doc...

2009-06-15T04:46:26.581-04:00
Thanks for sharing this. Off to go through the documentary.
You've been experimenting with your comments field, clearly. This has changed and your other is not working too...

Hmmn. A refreshing way to start my week; even thou...

2009-06-15T04:03:13.467-04:00
Hmmn. A refreshing way to start my week; even though there has been no power for 6 days now.

I'm first on your other blog but the comment t...

2009-06-15T02:06:38.724-04:00
I'm first on your other blog but the comment thingie isn't working :'(

I'm actually about to cryyyyyyyyyyy!