[Africa CEO Forum] What is your vision on the development of the Nigerian economy in 2015?

On a regular basis we consult African CEO's about their views on business. Today's question: What is your vision on the development of the Nigerian economy in 2015?

Gabriel Kajero, CEO Katika Energy: "In lieu of the financial brownie point gained over South Africa, Nigeria has flown the nest but is not laying any eggs soon for the majority of its population. 2015 has a political outlook, to be driven mostly not by the usual pseudo mantra of the West, but by guts and perseverance of 160 million people.

Fast forwarding, the political shove and push will cloud the first half of the year while the economy cheer leads from a distance. Yes, big businesses will continue to contractually talk big dollars, but the fashionable tradition of “pledge and not commit” will continue to constrain development... read more

Prince Latunde, President EMILAUG Energy Limited: "For any meaningful development, government should counter corruption to a full stop. Secondly, genuine power supply after acclaimed privatization should be addressed and implemented. Other infrastructure are very key to ensure job creations - good roads, railway lines, PIB should be passed and government should improve on Agriculture, Education and Health.

Government spending should be reduced on individual and make people accountable. Security is necessary and they should fight Boko Haram to succumb. Though, religion and ethnicity will continue to play a major part in the selection of candidates but it's high ti,me we begin to feed in people with high probity. Lagos State government has proven to be one. Rivers and Kano have come out powerfully, let us push them to a higher responsibility. Finally, l still maintain my stand that this a very great country."

Tunde Makinde, Executive Consultant Executives in Africa: "From a TMT - Telecoms Media and Technology - perspective we are expecting our clients to continue expanding their businesses particularly with the forthcoming Digital switchover.

The 2015 elections will no doubt have an impact and this will cause some uncertainty in the short term but with smart phone and broadband penetration rates continuing their upward trend, and more and more people purchasing products online, we are expecting 2015 to be a fantastic year."

Ayanda Olalekan - CEO Impact Makers International: "Looking at the question critically pulled a trigger in me. The word Your Vision has prompt me to come to the conclusion that Nigeria in 2015 will not be an offspring of Government policies and propaganda; it will simply be what we make of it.

All we most times do is complain about what's wrong, going wrong, or about to go wrong. i beg to say that the main true is "What is your Vision." What is each and everyone of us ready to contribute to make things great.

As for me, i go with two popular saying: "change your family and they will change the community. the community will change the state; and the state will change the country..." and secondly "If you want to see a change, change yourself first"

"My Vision" is thus not what all see but what i see and this is why i am doing everything possible to change my state first, through Publishing; to abolish "vanity publishers" and secondly i am embarking on a project tagged "Dream 700" (next year God willing) to bring out the ideas and genius in every Nigerian youth.

If the Government won't take any discovery or idea that will improve this country simply because they want to keep getting money by importing, "I will stand up and do so with the little resources i have." If the Government won't pay attention to the geniuses amidst us simply because they are blinded be oil, we are the ones to stand up and do that.

Start making a change...we need to stop complaining. Make an impact on someone. I see a Great 2015...'cos "my VISION", not theirs; is GREAT!

Daramola Olabanjo, Business Manager Banud International: "2015 will be a function of who wins the 2015 general elections. The economy has been dependent on oil exploration for donkey years and has failed to diversify, also Nigeria has always been an importing country and the continuous crash of naira against dollar will consume not the economy.

Firstly we need every Nigerians to come to the aid of Nigeria by ensuring you get your voters card and of you have not been registered kindly ensure you are duly registered. And ensure you make a positive impact with your vote. The problem with Nigeria has been playing politics with our economy, competent technocrats are not given the opportunity to impact positively and the few that came on board were not given free hand to operate other have joint in looting the public funds that would have make better impact on our economy to foreign land.

We need to start planning significant individual input. The country is blessed with resources and agriculture is a viable business either for local supply or large commercial size. We need a government that will review policy or enact policy that will favour and encourage entrepreneurial activities, farming and exportation. Nigeria is blessed with a whole lot of resources but the government uas been clouded with lazy funds generated from crude exploration. And no one functional refinery.

To ensure a viable 2015 the county must be transformed into an industrialised environment. Where our locally developed agricultural system provides our industries with raw materials there by reducing overheads cost.

Lastly I will want to end my submission by saying good Government begat good policy, good policy begat good investor, good investment begat job opportunities, good jobs begat satisfaction and conformability which in turn begat security of prosperities and life."

 

Want to contribute?

Send your contribution to this forum to bas@africabusinesscommunities.com. You can contribute to this forum but also to next forum: What is your vision on the development of the Ghanaian economy in 2015?

 

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