IDOMA POLITICAL AWAKENING POST 2015

Ainem,

Now that the general elections are over, one can bring up burning issues that are of importance to Idomaland (and her people) without being accused of partisanship. I am one of those that believe the campaign beclouded our reasoning such that rational thinking got lost along the electioneering campaign way. It’s time to reflect deeply on issues with a clearer perspective. As Idoma sons and daughters, we joined the nation in shouting ‘Transformation’ or ‘change’, GEJ My Hero or ‘Sai Baba’ etc but as the dust settles, we will be faced with the abject poverty in Idomaland (for those that goes home).

Let me begin with the key political topic in Idomaland and Idoma social media forum in the wake of this election: Idoma Governor. The hard truth and reality is that Idoma governor in Benue state is difficult or near impossible under this political structure and number. Many were upset with Suswan and PDP for reneging on party constitution of rotating its candidate when it came to Idoma’s turn. I tell you some hard truth, if we had muscled PDP to give Idoma a ticket, all Tiv would have voted any party (even AD). If you read on, you will encounter my review of how only Tivs and Igedes can conveniently elect a Benue state Governor without a single Idoma vote. !!!! Some of us believed that we should negotiate or beg our way into the Government House in Makurdi but power is never given, it is taken. (if you want to argue with this, please count me out).  I read some Idoma folks protested in Makurdi to ‘force’ Idoma Governor and I ask on what basis are they protesting. Do they even have PVC? In a democracy, the purchasing power is Voters’ card not placards or friendship, or marriage. So, when about 4 prominent Idoma sons ‘fooled’ themselves during PDP primaries and lost, I lamented that some cool cash that would have built say, a Cassava Processing Facility in Ugbokolo was lost.

The second issue is on the performance of the outgoing Senate President (David Mark). We castigated and ridiculed him. Truly, he deserves to be so castigated for some blazing lost of opportunity to develop the land, but I believe the constitutional structure does not allow him perform the miracles we so much expected from him. For example, he has no say over Suswan and Akume’s decision to squander LG allocations meant for Ogbadibo for example.

Before I delve into the issue that should preoccupy Idoma people in this dispensation, let me identify the key challenges facing us, to include [1] Poverty, [2] Unemployment, [3] Worsening Health situation, [4] Lack of govt presence (not even police post in most communities), [5] Rural – Urban drift etc. All of these issues are interwoven and are resultant effects of absence of LG allocation having a landing foot on Idoma land. Akume, and Suswan for 16 years decides(ed) the fate of over N0.75 Billion monthly allocation meant for LGCs in Idomaland. These is over N85 Billion annually and in the 16 years reign of the two, well over N135 Billion of LG funds allocated to Idoma LGCs were squandered with nothing on ground to show for it. Truth is, if Ortom reverses the trend it is because he chooses to be a nice guy not because any law compels him. Sadly, these resources were needed to build and maintain health facilities, build and repair Trunk C roads, drive agriculture and employ people. The little that came from this wholesome amount entered few pockets and returned back to Abuja into private pockets. Nothing is spent on the land to rejuvenate economic life. It is hard to believe that is some Idoma communities, folks still resort to trade-by-batter or have their miserable farm produced bought off them by middle men at low prices, with women often heard lamenting home from weekly markets.

The health situation in Idoma land is more appalling. Thanks to the Catholic Church that have built pockets of hospitals but in this day and age, pregnant women still travel over 25 km from hinterland to deliver babies, resulting to high infant and adult mortality. Ante natal is a strange topic in most communities in Idomaland. Thousands still die from preventable diseases like malaria, TB, etc..

Constitutional Structure

The current constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria does not favour Idoma people. Of the 23 LGCs in Benue state, we have 7 (9 when you include Obi and Oju which I left out of this analysis for a reason). As it stands, if Idoma boycotts election as some suggested on social Media, Tivs and Igedes will form 2/3 to elect a governor. We are inconsequential. (Don’t be offended o).

Anyone who knows the men that represented us at the 1979 and 1999 constituent assemble should ask them what they went there to do, that Idoma came back weak and undermined from both conferences. What political mathematics did they solve there? These two constituent assemblies and the constitutions from them failed Idoma people as follows:

1  [1] Inability to enshrined LG autonomy in the constitution and even gave the Governors the power to conduct LG elections.

2   [2]  Failure to enshrined power rotation (among senatorial zones in states) in the constitution.

3   [3]  Failure to achieve State-wide character in appointments and resource allocations (as in the Federal).

The recently held National Confab addressed the first points: LG autonomy and giving INEC powers to conduct LG elections. But the constitutional review process to achieve LG autonomy failed to achieve 2/3 support from state Houses of Assembly. It is on record that all APC states voted against it and our APC members (Audu Ogbe et al) should define what their goals are in the party (for Idomaland) and not just follow follow..

2015 General Election

How did we perform in the just concluded elections? A quick analysis in the gubernatorial election points to a poor one. Idomaland accounted for only 17% of total votes casted with only 125,653 votes out of 736,810. This count is almost what only Gboko and Katsina Ala alone returned in Tivland. !!!This is an average of 18,800 per LGC compared to average of 40,535 in Tivland. Yet some folks want to be governor of Benue state. I dey laugh...! How can you achieve that when your constituency cannot account for 30% of total voting population? Please stop fooling us. Again, democracy is about votes not ethnicity or position in government or marriage.

Amazingly, most Idoma folks don't deem it necessary to travel home to register there and vote (like others) but prefer to stay back in Abuja/Lagos or obodo oyibo shouting ‘changi’on Facebook. Some travelled home only during elections to mobilise the community that have no PVC. I, yours sincerely is guilty as well as my efforts to transfer PU to Owukpa failed – no thanks to INEC.  I travelled home in between the election and what I saw baffled me. In the Ugwu-Amuta family (where I belong), there are about 25 eligible voters but only 1 has a TVC but no PVC. The PU in Iga Uroko has over 70 of such families and can achieve a voters’ number far above 2,000. If sons and daughters in cities and Diasporas return home, that PU can have over 7,000 voters. Unfortunately, not up to 200 votes were casted there (any number above that is rigging). So, when I saw the votes count from Idomaland, I was not surprised. Is this one David Mark’s fault also? What is the solution to this voters’ apathy? Please read on...

In the new political dispensation, Idoma must be strategic in what she wants and I will attempt to suggest 2 classes of issues:

a    [1] What we should demand, and

b    [2] What we must do

What We should Demand

Considering our low Political Purchasing Power (in number of votes), we are lucky to have presented a Senate President for 8 years, command some Federal appointments like Minister, DGs etc all by the personal efforts of David Mark (his hates can lick their pen). We must not be satisfied with appointments and positions anymore. It serves the generality of our people little and does not develop local economy. We should demand constitutional review to achieve [1] Local Government Autonomy, [2] State-wide power rotation among senatorial zones, [3] State-wide character in appointments and resource allocations. In addition, we should demand the abolition of the State Independent Electoral Commission and give INEC powers to conduct LGC elections.

If we can achieve these items during the 4 years of APC, we should be satisfied. And as David Mark exits senate presidency, he should be ashamed of himself for failing to give us LG autonomy. Shame.!!! Woooooooh ! !! !!! (That’s how we troll failures in Idoma !!!!).

What We Must Do

In 1982/3, a presidential candidate in person of Chief Obafemi Awolowo counted it necessary to fly into and campaign at Ugwu-Okpoga (my first time of seeing a helicopter and we told the story for years).  This was because we had voter numbers but today, no presidential aspirant torched ground in Idomaland. They won’t come because of 125,000 votes.

We urgently need to reverse the voters’ apathy through a deliberate political awakening. I recommend the following steps:

a    [1] Awareness Creation

b    [2]Incentivising Voters Registration

c   [3] Lobbying INEC to open Voters’ registration centres close to critical mass, and compel distribution of PVC on timely basis.

d  [4]   Encourage Idoma sons and daughters to return home for voters’ registration and community mobilization

e   [5]  Information sharing on voters registration efforts.

Suffice to say that the above should happen 2 years before general elections with a single goal of converting 70-90% eligible voters into actual voters in 2019. We can undertake these tasks individually and collectively.

Before you leave, please complete this poll: 

https://plus.google.com/+MathiasAmuta/posts/XHn9fx8QuLe

A ongmalipum.... al a w’ainya choor.

CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS OF WOMEN ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT IN NIGERIA

Presented at the Focus Group Meeting of BUDFOW Stakeholders

Held at: Shehu Musa Yar Adua Center, Central Business District, Abuja

On October 9, 2014

Key: BUDFOW - Business Development Fund for Women.

Introduction

Nigeria is an entrepreneurial nation where most adults perceive opportunities, believe in their capability and declare themselves ready to start and run their businesses. ^[1]. It is no doubt that we lead the world in enthusiasm for business, but Nigeria is one of the few countries in the world where female entrepreneurs outnumber the males. As stakeholders in the quest for Women Economic Empowerment, this presents a positive implication for us especially the policy makers, as women breadwinners contribute more to the development of the country in general. According to World Bank Group research, women are more likely than men to contribute additional income to household poverty reduction, increasing women's economic power is more likely to translate into improved livelihoods for a wide cross-section of society, and women entrepreneurs are more likely to employ other women. In Nigeria, women are estimated to own or manage 25 to 30 percent of registered businesses. Only an estimated 10 to 15 percent of them, however, have access to appropriate bank credit, limiting their ability to develop and expand their businesses.

Over the years, a good number of international commitments support Women’s Economic Empowerment, including the Beijing Platform for Action, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the International Labour Organization conventions on gender equality. The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development (FMWASD) through the Transformation Agenda of the Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s administration, has been at the fore front in mainstreaming gender equality at the economic front.

Women Economic Empowerment is a process of preparing and equipping the women for a safe and productive livelihood. Introducing the women to economic empowerment opportunities equips them with the knowledge and skills needed to achieve economic prosperity and voice.  Women Economic Empowerment involves a combination of the the following:

·        Access to Financial Knowledge and Capabilities

·        Access to Finance

·        Access to Productive Assets

·        Access to Information

·        Access to Market

·        Access to gainful Employment.

Women Economic Empowerment is not just an action but a process; it is not just access to Credit but a combination of all of the above, and more.

Challenges of Women Economic Empowerment In Nigeria

Over the years, cultural practices have placed the woman in economic disadvantage leading to feminization of poverty. Of the World poor living in less than $1 a day, 70% are women!!!. Inequalities in economic access to resources and participation in wealth creation continues to harm social cohesion, inhibit effective participation of women in the socio-economic development of Nigeria. The poorest half of Nigerian population that is largely women holds only 10% of national income (British Council Nigeria 2012). There is therefore a quantum loss suffered in terms of economic growth as a result of gender inequalities.

According to the 2012 ‘Gender in Nigeria’ British Council Report, if Nigeria is to maximize its demographic dividend, it must prioritize investment in women and girls to ensure that the next generation of all young adults are better educated and more able to contribute to economic growth and development.  Nigerian women run only 20% of enterprises in the formal sector with 23% of activity confined to the retail sector. [3]

Women Economic Empowerment in Nigeria is seem from the one-sided prism of Access to Finance and particularly Access to Credit. While Access to Credit is a major impediment to Women Entrepreneurship, it’s only one of the factors that encapsulate Women Economic Empowerment. Even within the context of Access to Finance, much concentration is placed on Access to Credit without recourse to other areas of finance such as Savings, Investment, Insurance and Pension.

It must be noted furthermore, that granting access to credit without financial literacy is an effort in futility. Making Business cash available to Women who lacked Financial Education (in the midst of poverty) is akin to giving a gun to a hungry young man. Your guess is as good as mine. Therefore, access to finance must be preceded and accompanied by Financial Literacy training. [2]

Another key challenge of Women Economic Empowerment in Nigeria is the failure to acknowledge the Lifecycle needs of Women in the design and deployment of financial products. The life cycle needs of Women are classified into three categories:

1.      Emergency needs: sickness, maternity, disaster.

2.      Consumption needs which could be planned: education, marriage, housing, old age.

3.      Productive needs: working capital, housing, Assets etc. for which loan products can be designed.

Ironically, the Business Development fund for Women (BUDFOW) is designed to address gender gaps ONLY in Access to Credit and assist women to own viable businesses. It targets Women Entrepreneurs who are desirous of transiting from micro to small scale or small to medium scale businesses. It is no secret that Nigerian Financial Institutions shy away from funding Start-up Businesses due to inherent risks; and if intervention funds such as BUDFOW exclude this category of Women, where do they run to? Little wonder therefore, that 61.6% of Nigerians still borrow outside formal financial institutions: [5].

Prospects of Women Economic Empowerment

Despite the challenges in ensuring Nigerian Women Economic Empowerment, there is tremendous opportunity for stakeholder to make remarkable impact in the sector. Most of the 43% women cited as economically inactive make their living through micro-enterprises, revealing that owning a business is the main source of income for Nigerian adults ahead of farming (18.7%) and wage employment (12.6%). The importance of micro-enterprises as the main source of income for Nigerian women in particular, makes it a strategic area for the empowerment of women.

Other factors that support the need to vigorously pursue financial inclusion of vulnerable groups especially women, in Nigeria is buttressed and amplified by findings from the EFiNA Financial Inclusion Survey 2012 which profiles the population of unbanked Nigerians and reveals that although 50.1 million (57%) of 87.9 million adult Nigerians are formally excluded from financial access, women are more financially excluded with 61.7% women as compared to 52.6% men within the Informal and Financially excluded bracket.

Nigeria’s Vision 20:2020 Economic Transformation Blueprint has the following as its core objectives:

·          Increasing Women access to credit and other productive resources by 80% by the year 2020.

·          Encouraging Women Entrepreneurs to form Cooperative Societies to be able to obtain loans from financial institutions.

·          Design and organize financial literacy, vocational and entrepreneurial skills training for rural and peri-urban women to equip them in dealing with cyclical poverty problems.

This Blueprint presents a tremendous opportunity for investors, policy makers and financial institution to put Women Economic Empowerment at the front burner.

Conclusions and Recommendations

The Economic transformation of any nation is hinged on her ability to achieve total inclusion of all sections of the society and especially Women. A holistic approach must therefore be made to ensure that gender gaps in economic opportunities are closed. In order to achieve an accelerated Economic Empowerment of Nigerian Women, the following must be pursed vigorously:

1.      Capacity Building: this must precede access to working capital and should be continuous until the business scales the start up phase into the growth phase. Capacity Building exposes the entrepreneur to business opportunities, and prepares them for challenges that are likely to arise in the business. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has developed a brochure that can be easily adopted. These includes Generate Your Business Idea (GYBI), Start Your Business (SYB), Improve Your Business (IYB) and Expand Your Business (EYB)[a].

2.      Access to Market: information on local and export market opportunities should be widely disseminated to women in local dialects and in popular media such as radio, SMS, and other channels. Women-only Trade Fairs should be organized on a continuous basis to generate linkages between producers (women) and buyers in local and international Markets. There should be a formal linkage between the Women Entrepreneurs and the Nigeria Export promotion Council (NEPC).

3.      Monitoring and Mentoring: the BUDFOW desk must deploy a more efficient project monitoring system but beyond that, a Women Chamber of Commerce should be encourage where women can share information, and organize a mentorship program for upcoming businesses.

Thank You.

Mathias E. Amuta

An SME Development Expert based in Abuja

[Email: amuta_me@yahoo.com. Mobile: 08133165490]

REFERENCES

1.      Amorós, J, E. and Bosma, N. (2014). 2013 Global Report, Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, GEM.

2.      Amuta, M. E. (2013). Engendering Access to Financial Services in Nigeria. BusinessDay March 14, 2013.

3.      British Council Nigeria (2012). Gender in Nigeria

4.      Commonwealth Secretariat. (2013). Engendering Access to Financial Services. Report of Pan Commonwealth Capacity Building Workshop for Savings and Credit Organisation. Ahmedabad, India. February 2013.

5.      EFInA (2012). EFInA Access to Financial Services in Nigeria 2012 Survey.

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[a] Start & Improve Your Business (SIYB) programme is a management-training programme with a focus on starting and improving small businesses as a strategy for creating more and better employment in developing economies and economies in transition

HOW NIGERIAN JOBS ARE CREATED AND MAINTAINED IN THAILAND

There are many reasons why Nigerians prefer to consume imported goods and services. Over the years, Government has advocated the consumption of local goods and services in order to improve productivity and create jobs. It has always embarked on fiscal policies such as import embargo, tariffs and duties to discourage importation of producible goods. In fact, Nigeria has been stupid over the years to import goods and services it can easily produce.

Beyond the above measures, we need to analyse the reasons Nigerians buy foreign made goods and services rather than being ‘patriotic’ to buy locally made alternatives. I shall attempt to highlight some of these reasons below.

Number one: Prestige.

Forget it. We like to show off at the least provocation. Even the traders in the market know it, and on approaching any, will make you believe their products are imported. For example, an Aba made shoe will be inscribed as Italian just to make a quick sale. ‘Aba-Made’ is synonymous with inferior quality. The reason for this practice is not farfetched. We indeed produce inferior goods and we must admit it. Until we improve our quality, this perception will not go away and to improve quality, there has to be (1) Conscious Government policy on Vocational and Technical Skills development (not University education alone. ASUU una hear !!!!!) (2) Quality Control which Standard Organisation of Nigeria is responsible for and must wake up. We are tired of their burning of imported inferior goods on television. Na only that one dem sabi !!!!!!

Number Two: Quality.

Nowadays, even if you want a quality building finishing such as POP, neat carpentry works etc, don’t go for a Nigerian, but look for a Benin man (not Benin city o. I mean Benin Republic). They are sought after and often ‘imported’ across the border from Cotonou. We travel all the way to Senegal to design and sew African traditional attires. Kai !!!! What has gone wrong is what I mentioned above: lack of Vocational and Technical Skills in our educational policy. Education is not only ASUU and their seasonal madness of strikes. In fact, in order climes Technical and Vocational skill are emphasised at all levels. Most of the expatriate workers in our oil industry (and others) are actually technicians who know the practical. Not degree and masters carrying engineer who cannot operate a machine.  If the quality of our goods and services are comparable, I bet you that Nigerian will buy not minding if they are Aba-made or imported.

Number Three: Price

Competitive pricing of goods and services is a major factor in our decision to patronise our own. I hear that imported palm oil is cheaper in our markets than local ones. Infrastructural bottlenecks have made Nigerian products expensive in comparison to imported alternatives. All major production inputs such as Water, and electricity are self generated and expensive not to mention access road network for movement of raw material and finished goods as well as Security. The Government must improve on these and stop coercing us to buy Nigerian goods by force!!!!

Another reason is the availability of the goods and services in the market and this is due to low capacity utilization at the factories as well as absence of production capacity in the country due to long years of neglect of the manufacturing sector.

I am about replenishing my store house as the foreign rice in the house has reached such level. I didn’t know about locally made rice when I had need of this product earlier in the year. And kudos to the marketing skills of Dr Adewunmi Adesina (Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development), I became aware of Ebonyi rice and other locally made ‘foreign’ rice in the market. Methinks, Dr Adesina can make a good marketer any day. The deftness with which he advocates his Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) will get one glued to listening to him without blinking. I wish other office holders will stop reading prepared speeches at events as this shows what they are reading is not their original ideas and may not have their input. Some of them can’t even read eloquently (lol).

It is in consideration of the above factors that I stumbled at a locally-made rice at Sahad Stores in Abuja and I am considering buying it instead of imported alternatives at the same shelves. I must confess that I have forgotten the brand name of this rice but my choice based on the above factors is as follows:

Prestige: I am willing to drop my pride when I became aware of our food import bill. According to the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria imports over 1.3 Trillion Naira worth of Wheat, Rice, Sugar and Fish annually and this is growing at 11% annually.  Let’s do this simple mathematics, assuming the labour cost of these items is 20% along the value chain (it could be higher), this translates to N260 Billion Naira and at current minimum wage of N18,000 per month (N216,000 per annum), over 1.2 million jobs are created and maintained (but in Thailand not Nigeria).   

Quality: Frankly, I have not tasted this rice nor seen/heard any testimonies of it but from the packaging, I am willing to take a risk. I am a risk averse person by nature (lol). Judging from our nature of poor packaging, if this rice producer can package this stuff neatly, then I presume the real thing will not be mixed with stones and husk. I hope I will not be disappointed.

Price: this is one of my attractions. The product is going 10% less than its imported alternative on the shelves. With the infrastructural bottle necks analysed above, it’s interesting that this product is coming to the store shelves at this competitive price. But why not, we have the land, and the climate for rice farming so it’s possible. Lower price is not synonymous with lower quality as often posited afterall, the cassava bread I ate today from Next Cash and Carry Stores (along Gwarimpa Road, Abuja Nigeria) is of better quality and at lower cost.

Finally, for the product to become available in a high store like Sahad at the middle of Abuja, I believe it has scaled the availability hurdle.

On the basis of the above, I shall go for this locally produced rice instead of imported rice from Thailand, and hoping that I will not be disappointed at the end. 

SELFISH LEADERSHIP AT INDEPENDENCE: HOW AWOLOWO, AZIKIWE, AHMADU BELLO AND OTHERS FAILED NIGERIA

As were marked (not celebrate) 53 years of independent nationhood, one is forced to examine the time, lives and practices of the founding fathers of the nation. We read so much about them in books and social studies’ lessons where we were compelled to acknowledge their ‘sacrifices’ to the nation. I am now, having seen the reality of of the building whose foundation they laid, convinced that the structural design, execution and cost of the project called Nigeria is faulty. I ask: Did they fight for Nigeria or for their respective regions?  The answer is obvious!!!

The prominent ones were Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ahmadu Bello each representing the major tribes and regions – Yoruba (West), Ibo (or Igbo depending on whom you are reading or listening to)(East) and Hausa (North). The names of other nationalist and actors are easily forgotten. You see them in pictures with Ahmadu Bello in the middle flanked by Awolowo and Azikiwe to the left and right or otherwise.

Let me be clear. They may by heroes in their respective regions but it’s hard for us to masticate that they are nationalistic heroes. Not for what is happening in Nigeria today. It is the tribal sentiments; unnecessary envy, contention and clamour for what gets to the regions, that were inherited and have now lead to the mass corruption, and agitation at the center in Abuja today.  One of them even described Nigeria as a mere geographic expression, meaning he had no faith in the nation. Nigeria is not the only country accidentally conscribed together by colonial masters for their selfish gains. Such other countries include: USA, Brazil, Singapore, Malaysia etc but while these countries have acquired real independence to celebrate, Nigeria is still shilly-shallying for a conference. At independence, the leaders of these countries believed in their new found ‘geographic expression’ and worked hard to build them but our folks were just selfish.

Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana for example had among his three goals upon independence, planned and executed a strategy to unify the four territories of the old Gold Coast. Ghana is a West African neighbor with an equally diverse and multicultural configuration like Nigeria. Only difference is our selfless leadership at independence. Singapore was and is also a multi-racial, multi religious and a multi lingual country yet their independence leader – Lee Kuan Yew orchestrated a programme that created unique Singaporean identity among the populace with religious tolerance and racial harmony. 

In moving forward and as the National Confab is being planned to hold soon, we must undertake a conscious move to correct our ideology of nationhood. Regional sovereignty is not a solution as minorities exist, and their agitation will become louder at regional levels. Nigeria of today is not the same 53 years ago where minority voices were subdued in the regional voices at the time. The conference must debate among other things on how to tackle corruption, how resources will be utilized for the majority of rural populace, income disparity, infrastructural development, diversification of the economy from oil, and the halt to importation of items producible in Nigeria. Importantly, the representations at the confab must be of the people, voices and segments of the society. It must not be a conference of PDP and/or Government apologies.

Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Peace.

SME as Panacea for Economic Development and an alternative Source of Income

The task of job creation and the eradication of unemployment must be tackled at all fronts. National Economic Growth and Development can only be achieved when new businesses become viable and thriving. The great Economic Revolution in the Asia peninsula was not achieved overnight through the establishment of gigantic industrial complexes and big corporations, but by the creation of Small and Medium Scale businesses on a mass scale, at every nook and cranny, and in every community.

While the government of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is going to town celebrating the level of Foreign Direct Investment into the country via the establishment of large scale industrial complexes in some states, (kudos to them by the way) it is critical to understand that Small Businesses birthed, incubated and nurtured into thriving enterprises is the sure bet to Economic Growth and Income Distribution. For one thing, jobs will be created, more direct impact will be made at the local economy and wealth will be more equally distributed. By the way, one has to analyse the nature of the $6.8 Billion FDI purported to have been received into the country in 2012 but I hope it is not hot money  that will develop wings at the press of a button! This is a topic for another day.

But imagine 1000 new cottage businesses created in each local government area, employing 10 people and making goods and services for both local consumption and for export even to neighboring countries. This will create over 3.5 million direct jobs not minding other indirect jobs created along the value chain. Local communities will begin to take comparative advantage of their peculiar endowments.(I recall that most of the packaged bananas on shelves in most Nigeria supermarkets are imported from the Republic of Cameroon! The same goes for ginger syrup among other products! Yet Nigeria has more arable land than Cameroon and with similar weather conditions). 

However, impediments to business creation are not the lack of Financial Capital but lack of ideas and information on markets opportunities. Government agencies in both local and state government levels should do more in bringing to fore, the opportunities that abound and markets that exists in different locations for local investors to key into. Investors can be in a paid employment but would want to build business enterprises either for retirement or as a secondary source of income. Most workers have the finances, time and the interest to develop businesses but not the information. Yours sincerely manages this blog as a ‘mid-night’ business taking one hour daily at the cool of the night. My job is therefore to avail you enough information to visualize any business, birth same and incubate it into profiting and income generation. As a business researcher, I shall not only introduce viable business ideas but avail you the information required to make well researched investment decisions, on the following:

• ·         Available business opportunity in your local community.
• ·         Sources of Raw material
• ·         Size of the market
• ·         How and where to sell your products and services to both local and foreign markets
• ·         Access to finance
• ·         Legal and Licensing matters (where applicable)
• ·         Machinery and Equipment sourcing and quotes
• ·         Technology

It does not matter if you are interested in short term investment or generation-next investment for your children, I shall undertake research studies, pre-feasibility studies and business plan development to suit you

.

I therefore enjoin you to make frequent visit here for more.

Enjoy!

Welcome

I welcome you to my blog. I promise that you will enjoy my online publications and you will continue to make a re-visit to this page. Firstly, I need to introduce the range of topics that will be trending here. I shall coach on Social Entrepreneurship, Access to Finance, Service quality, Business and Life Coaching, Inspirational stuff etc. I, surely will not bore you with theory but please watch out for the following:

My How-Not-To Series

This is a lesson-learnt section. I have made some mistakes in my life and have learnt some lesson there from. I also have a passion for studying great minds in history and even in contemporary times. Surely, you will never stop learning but it is foolish to re-invent the wheels, make the mistakes others have made when you have the opportunity to take corrections. Hence, my frequent How-Not-To series shall expose you to areas, issues and steps you must not take. This include: How-Not-To manage people, How-Not-To trust etc. Watch out for it.

Social Entrepreneurship

I am passionate about societal Impact of our activities including business. If you must make profit, you can and should make profit while making positive impact on the society. I believe that no one can develop Africa (our Africa) but Africans. Aids and grants don’t work. We must develop social businesses that have lasting positive impact on local communities. Great Ideas and outlook on this shall be trending from here. Importantly, I shall be highlighting some business ideas ready-made for ready investors.  Watch out for it.

Service Quality

In our clime, service quality is not a topic that anyone is bothered about. Why should we, when banks, Telecommunication Companies and just every other person who should be ‘worshipping’ their clients believes she is doing great favour with her products or service. Customer services officers in banks will shut you down and ensure you acknowledge how much of the bank’s policies he/she knows. Telecommunication Companies seldom care about the services received by Nigerians. They only care about some cheap promos that will eventually enrich them anyway. Thank God for ‘porting’. This blog shall provide a platform for readers to comment on poor quality services received anywhere, whether Government agencies/ministry, banking hall or mobile phone service.

Mini-pulpit

I am a Christian. Simple. I have utmost respect for people of other faiths: Muslim, Jews and everyone. I don’t discriminate against anyone being Catholics or Protestants, Redeemers or Winners, Christ ‘Embassier’ or Deeper ‘lifers’. I believe different men of God are sent for different purposes and to different generations. With this in mind, I shall (when moved) bring some nuggets received from my spiritual fathers, once in a while. It surely will benefit us. 

Street News

I intend to bring us some news from the streets once in a while. My motivation for this is my experience last week closing late from work and using public transport. Meen! Check out the night market in Berger (for those of us in Abuja). You can buy anything for less than half the price in Wuse market or High street stores. So those fine!  Fine !!  wears ladies put on wey guys dey really admire na bend down boutique them dey buy them? More on this coming so just stay tuned.

Once more, I welcome you to amutame.blogspot.com !!

Enjoy

Engendering Access to Financial Services in Nigeria

Dear Readers,

I shall open my blog with my recently published Article in BusinessDay Nigeria and other print and online news media . In case you missed, here is it:

http://www.businessdayonline.com/NG/index.php/analysis/commentary/52936-engendering-access-to-financial-services-in-nigeria