Busayo Akanro - Light does not shine in light

Africa has been dubbed the untouched and virgin continent. This was due to the seeming unscathing of African countries in the global meltdown that characterised the latter part of 2008. African seems to have escaped almost wholly from the economic recession that hit the world and crushed many countries and multinationals in other continents of the world. Iceland is bankrupt, auto makers in the US are bankrupt; Mega Banks in UK, Japan, Switzerland, US, Belgium, Germany and many other countries of the world would have gone under but for aid from their governments. Albeit, many banks have still being crushed in the wake of the recession.

However, Nigeria for one has been touched by the recession. Even though the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria has kept assuring Nigerians that we are beyond the reach of the economic whiplash swinging across the globe, happenings in our own economy are pointers to the fact that his assurances hold no water. Examples are: (more…)

I am attending a meeting somewhere in Ilorin where one of my mentors, Fela Durotoye reiterated that Nigeria by 2025 will undoubtedly be the most desirable Nation to live in. As far reaching as this is, I am absolutely certain of its veracity, not only because he said God told him so but because I sense it in my innermost being. Events that will make this possible may not necessarily be progressive, they may be instantaneous. They may not necessarily be step-wise; they may well be revolutionary. While I’ll deign to bore you with what may bring or may not bring this word to pass on this great Nation, I’ll like you to consider the report released on the 16th of November, 2008 by Merrill Lynch - a foremost economic institution in the world. (more…)

This morning I heard a report on the news that the price of crude oil on the international market has dropped to below $50 per barrel. Ofcourse, this is a fall out of the recession that has been on going in the World now for several weeks. What is happening is that the order for crude oil has dropped desperately because many more countries, organisations and people around the world don’t have the extra to pay for crude oil derivatives. (gas, diesel etc.). Crude Oil price due to this situation has hit a 3yr low and could go lower. The fact that OPEC hasn’t sufficiently cut down on production to create scarcity in the market isn’t helping at all. (more…)

This past weekend was a very busy one for me. I attended quite a number of seminars as a support facilitator and facilitator alike. I went with my boss for some and one of my colleagues joined us for others.

Very early, saturday morning,  we set out from Lagos for Abeokuta, Ogun State. Our destination was University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. The theme of the seminar was Ideas, Opportunities and Wealth. The hall was almost packed full with students desirous of learning how as students they can leverage on the ideas and opportunities available to them to generate wealth. Of course,  one of the most pressing needs they had was knowing how to source or recognise opportunities around and take advantage of them. (more…)