Coming to terms with new developments in Nigeria is such an arduous task. The dynamics in politics and the economy have never been this dynamic. Particularly with the change in government and the falling price of crude oil in the international market, the need for new leaders to champion the course of redirecting Nigeria’s economy is more pressing.

If you are a regular reader of our magazine, you'll note that a few names have dropped from the list because of the change of guard in Aso Rock, while new names have sprung into the list. We tried to make the equation more dynamic, but our team of mathematicians couldn't come up with a better formula than we used in 2015. While we promise not to relent in the research for a new formula, we still had to work something out.

With an equation as unique as Einstein’s law of relativity, this equation should get you thinking. We arrived at this list of those who were most prominent in the Powerplay for the year 2015 and should be closely watched this new year 2016.

Powerplay Equation = C + B + I + H, where:

• C: Control over issues and people
• B: Bankability (the money factor)
• I: Influence in various fields of the economic and social sectors of the nation
• H: Heat and Controversiality, it just gets everyone talking about you.

Everyone in this list possesses at least traces of the above factors. Some have modest levels of C but less of H, others have limited B but oodles of I. Nobody has all four elements in equal measure; if they did, the whole country would blow up. But enough of any one of them is all it takes to rise to the top.

1. President Muhammadu Buhari: On the fourth time of asking, PMB rode on the back of the desire of Nigerians for change to become the first civilian opposition candidate to win the presidential elections. Since taking over, he has re-energized the war on corruption and repositioned the armed forces to battle the Boko Haram menace.

2. Olusegun Obasanjo: Like the cat with nine lives, OBJ seems to have found the formula to steer clear of the negative publicity that trailed the former ruling party and has gradually started building a statesman reputation that allows him to comment on various national issues without being partisan.

3. Aliko Dangote: Little needs to be written about the Kano-born billionaire. He is the richest African and the biggest private sector employer of labor in Nigeria.

4. Bola Ahmed Tinubu: BAT was the pointsman in opposition? Fast forward to 2016, he is the leader of Nigeria’s ruling party and a godfather to many political and business heavyweights.

5. Pastor Enoch Adeboye: The General Overseer of the Redeemed Church of God has proven that there’s a lot a country can benefit from the pulpit.

6. Mike Adenuga: The Ijebu chief remains the gold miner in Nigeria.

7. Babatunde Raji Fashola: BRF, the darling of Lagosians, has been saddled with the responsibility of three powerful ministries that would determine the scorecard of the PMB administration.

8. Bukola Saraki: Rich, young, versatile, and controversial. Against all odds, Saraki emerged as the President of the Senate.

9. Kemi Adeosun: Described by critics as a greenhorn in the finance industry, Kemi’s disposition is one that is ready to transform the economy of Nigeria.

10. Ibrahim Magu: The new helmsman at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission can aptly be described as the face of the president’s fight against corruption.

For more juicy stories, get your copy of GENESIS INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE, (Issue 9). Available with the vendors, and online on jumia.com.ng, konga.com. Available also internationally in the USA in all Barnes & Nobles Stores, Chapters booksellers in Canada and isubscribe.com in UK.

By tunji egberongbe

Dr Nasra Alli is a kenyan by birth and a Nigerian by Marriage. She is a Medical doctor by training but has a passion for Coffee. She grew up in Coffee business in Kenya and decided to follow up on passion which led to the birth of Kaldi Africa..

The sweet aroma of coffee filled the air as we entered into her cosy office and we were treated to the nice taste of Nigeria coffee which evoked some nostalgic feelings. ‘Coffee used to contribute about 4percent of Nigeria’s GDP prior to the oil boom’, you could see the pain in her eyes as she took us through the history of coffee in Africa and in Nigeria. ‘Like every other non-oil sector, the coffee industry has been allowed to rot away gradually whilst the whole populace concentrated on the oil windfall, something drastic need be done to arrest the fall and make the coffee trees glow once again, that is my passion and I am driven to achieve this aim’, such strong words from Dr Nasra. Would you call her ‘mama coffee’, yes! Because not only is she in the business, she also knows coffee like the tip of her fingertips, from history to farming, processing, retailing, exporting, to medical and lifestyle advantages, Nasra Ali is an encyclopedia when you talk coffee. She traced the heritage to the ancient coffee forests on the Ethiopian plateau where legend says the goat herder Kaldi first discovered the potential of these beloved beans. It is said that Kaldi discovered coffee after noticing that his goats, upon eating berries from a certain tree, became so energetic that they did not want to sleep at night. Kaldi reported his findings to the abbot of the local monastery who made a drink with the berries and discovered that it kept him alert for the long hours of evening prayer. The abbot shared his discovery with the other monks at the monastery, and slowly knowledge of the energizing berries began to spread. As word moved east and coffee reached the Arabian peninsula, it began a journey which would spread its reputation across the globe.

She posited that if well managed, coffee could become one of the most important exports from Nigeria as researches and records have shown that Nigeria is in the coffee belt region encouraged that efforts be put in place by government to encourage the growing of coffee on a much larger scale that will increase its foreign exchange capacity to the nation. According to her, 11 of the 36 states of Nigeria are in the coffee belt and that the nation is able to grow, process and export coffee on a very large scale. So much is her passion for coffee that in spite of her MBBS Degree and Practice of Medicine she fell back to her passion (Coffee). This time she has taken Coffee to another level by not only visiting the states in the coffee belt, Kaldi Africa, spearheaded by Nasra have entered into working arrangements with farmers in these areas to see how they can partner to revive the coffee plantations. Most of the states fall in the northern part of Nigeria and quizzed on the environment and the reception of the local farmers, she pointed out that ‘the response has been very good! The farmers understand that we are not coming to usurp their lands, rather we are bringing in good seeds, mechanization, funds and all the expertise to help in growing the business of the area. We also would help with the harvesting and on the long run still purchase the seeds from them at premium price, its a win-win situation for everybody and so they’ve all been very co-operative’.

Trained as Medical doctor, Nasra can be known as called Madam Coffee. All her life she has known coffee having come from a family at coffee growers, processors, brewing and drinking family. According to her, “the aim of Kaldi Africa Limited is to bring coffee to where it should be in Nigeria. Nigerians take a lot of coffee both at home and abroad, with this huge population of coffee lovers, it could be turned into a goldmine and also help shore up our export earning potentials.

Along with cultivation of Coffee, the company also plant and package tea which brand have they have labeled Highland tea. ‘We are also passionate and focus on cocoa. Our Cocoa Process Plant is in Ekiti state and its doing pretty well! We do not intend to plant cocoa in Nigeria, she explained, because the country has enough to sell.

Kaldi Africa has three departments which altogether enhance the production of coffee, tea and cocoa. The foremost, is the training department. Because planting, harvesting and processing requires a degree of expertise this department trains farmers on how to plant and nurture cocoa seeds to maturity. Having mastered this, they are trained on how to process the seed into powder how to prepare, serve, market and make profit from the products. Our customers include high networth individuals, big supermarkets, and first class hotels. ‘Our technical department handled the maintenance of coffee processing machines’. We are supporting some established coffee shops to purchase their own machines; I must say however that the machines are very expensive even though some shops who buy machines still come to us for maintenance”. The machines are of German and Italian origin and we have engineers from these countries in the management of Kaldi Africa Limited. “All in all, we are available to support and encourage upcoming coffee shops and intending investors in the business to help increase the economic value of Coffee in the country.

Ali is counting on the country’s rising consumer class to shun imports in favor of her homegrown brew. “We are trying to see how to be able to be part of that growth, with our value addition and ensuring that we really are able to appreciate good coffee in Nigeria,” said Ali.

Is drinking coffee good for the health and she replies, ‘coffee is a lifestyle thing with lots of benefits’. Coffee can improve energy levels and make you smarter, its good for the liver and also helps prevent Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. She also added that, coffee can fight depression and make you happier, coffee drinkers also have a lower risk of some types of cancer and can help you live a longer and healthier life. Above all, she recounts jokingly, ‘I remember granting an interview where I said coffee also boost men’s sexual performance, and before the end of that day, I got calls from different parts of Nigeria asking how they can purchase our coffee’. We all bursted out laughing, ‘seriously she said, ‘it is true, coffee is good for the act and makes you stronger particularly when taken fresh.’

Now a full fledged Nigerian, Nasra is quick to add that being a Nigerian is such a sweet experience and that her sojourn in the country has erased all the false notion that Nigerians are bad people, she recalls her experience to various markets in Lagos when she came to Nigeria, the friendliness, hospitality and honesty of the average Nigerian and was surprised at how warmly she was received by all and sundry’, honestly I have no regrets settling in Nigeria, she concluded.

The coffee dream is one that she encourages everybody to pursue, from the planting to processing and retailing. She advised that her company, Kaldi Africa is well posited to help train, equip, maintain and even set up your company as a consultant all in her effort to see coffee attain her potentials in Nigeria.

For More Juicy Stories, Get your copy of GENESIS INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE, (Issue 9). Available with the vendors, and online on jumia.com.ng, and konga.com. Available also internationally in the USA in all Barnes & Nobles Stores, Chapters booksellers in Canada and isubscribe.com in UK.

Youthful Toyin Sanni is an interviewer’s delight, very delightful to speak with and without mincing words, her story is one that inspires you as she also launched a new book titled ‘Yes! You too Can!’. A trained lawyer, chartered secretary and stockbroker, her foray into the male-dominated and competitive world of financial services is a lesson in tenacity, commitment and hard work. Toyin clocked 50 recently and she attributes her glowing success to God, she says, ‘It’s all about God’.

Toyin was admitted into the then University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) to study Law at age 15 and was called to the Nigerian Bar at 19years old against all odds and she attributes all to God! Never one to sing her own praise, Toyin has a Masters degree in Financial law from the University of Lagos and you may wish to call her a role model to millions of not only Nigerian girls but every aspiring young person, male or female.

A chip off the old block, Toyin got her dexterity and wisdom from her late father. “My father was very outstanding with number. In his school days, he was nicknamed ‘another method’ because he always had an alternative method to solving mathematical question in class. Even after the class teacher has solved the problem, my father would raise his hand and say I have “another method” to solve the equation’. Little wonder, her father grew up to become the treasurer of the then Western Region of Nigeria.

On her transition from Law to Financial services, she said, ‘I have always been a person with affinity for numbers, there’s no way you’ll be my father’s child and not be good with figures, mathematics was the yardstick for measuring whether you passed in your exams because when you come home with your result, my father would check your scores in math first before other subjects’. And like a family tradition, we all gave our best in mathematics, my mother was also a trader, so you can understand. I also majored in the financial side of law thus the transition was actually not a herculean task because I had it in me and God has been my main stay. She reiterates.

Toyin Sanni is the Group CEO, United Capitals Group (subsidiary of United Bank for Africa UBA). Prior to this appointment, Toyin had made her mark in the private sector running successfully Trustee Asset and Management business and has served as a part-time lecturer of Business Law and Pension Trusteeship at the University of Lagos/APFN Post-graduate programe. She is a frequent speaker at various seminars, and workshops in various countries including International Investor Services events and conferences; Harvard University Africa Business Conference Washington DC, the Global Custody Conference and the Network Managers Conference.

Toyin has played leading roles in landmark deals. She held the position of Chairman of the Nigerian Capital Market Annual Retreat Committee from 2012 to 2014. Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA) UK and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Stock Brokers (Nigeria), she was Vice President of the Association of Pension Funds of Nigeria (AFAN), an Associate of the Institute of Directors, the President of the Association of Corporate Trustees Nigeria as well as National Board Steering Committee, the West African Capital Capital Market Integration Technical Committee and Chairperson of the Custody Subcommittee of the Capital Market.

She spoke extensively on Pensions Management Fund and wished Private Sector Employers who deduct Pensions from their Workers Salaries will remit same to the appropriate quarters so that on retirement such workers are able to access their money without any stress. “As we speak, I am aware that funds deducted from public servant salaries are being invested in other areas to attract interest so that on retirement, workers not only get value for their monthly savings they also earn interest on them over the years. We do hope that such is the situation in the private sector.

As a woman leading a pack of men as the CEO, her experience has shown that a woman often times is easier to work with than men executives “I perform my duties, assign duties and co-ordinate every staff working with me everywhere I find myself”. Asked how she has been able to cope in such a male dominated industry, she smiled, saying ‘when you deal strictly officially, and show understanding and respect, gender will have no role to play in the delivery of service and achieving results’. An advocate of women empowerment, Toyin was quick to point out that, ‘women were born disadvantaged, its not just an African thing but a deeply entrenched societal ill. For example, parents raise their sons to play with the computers but train their daughters to play with dolls’, you raise your daughter not to speak too loudly but raise your son to bully, infact parents are proud seeing their sons talking. When a woman is talking you say she’s shouting, but when a man is, you say he’s speaking! There’s a lot of conditioning in the society that has repressed the girl child for a long time, she loses her name on getting married et cetera’, She however advises women not to get caught up in the gender discrimination struggle in their offices, ‘women should go to their respective offices with the sole aim of working and not getting trapped in the gender debate’.

Beauty and brain you’ll say, but the brawn part became more apparent as we continued our discussion on women advocacy and freedom, infact if there was any part of the interview that brought Toyin out in her element, it was on this issue, ‘can you imagine a man having a business appointment at 7.00pm and a woman having the same appointment, how would the husband feel? How does a woman tell her husband that she wants to go and close a deal in a restaurant at 7.00pm but the same appointment, a man would go without even taking permission from the wife, its such an unbalanced playing field! She enthused that there must be a conscious effort by the public and government to address this anomaly, women should be considered on the same grounds as men! Speaking further, ‘a review of fortune 500 CEOs reveals that the companies run by women were outperforming others and the answer is simple, the women CEOs would have gone through so many challenges to reach the top such that they become rockstars once they get there’. Asked if she feels even the Bible is not gender biased, the Pastor in her rose to the fore, she took us through so many women in the Bible who performed valiantly and believes that God is not gender biased but requires that everyone should stand up to be counted for her rights. By and large, research has shown that for any country to move forward, its high time governments invested in their women population because women constitute about 60 percent of any country’s population and when 60 percent of a country’s population is already disenfranchised based on gender, how do you expect that country to progress, its simple logic she exclaims! As the gist continued, I ran into trouble when I asked her how she felt on the women appointees in the former administration in Nigeria and how their performance has done little good to the women cause, ‘you are in trouble, she shouted, how many are you in your family? I answered, seven? And she said how many are women? I said 4, so are you saying the women in your family are not trustworthy? Who conducted the trust test on the men or does wearing trousers confer on men the toga of trustworthiness and by the way women are also wearing trousers now and we all bursted out laughing. Men have been mismanaging, pillaging, killing, maiming, embezzling money for decades yet they kept getting recycled, this is just a case of calling the dog a bad name, so why is it the women folks that get criticized for small misdemeanors that have not even been proven? We have great women who have contributed immensely to the growth of this country and we still need more women in positions of authority who can champion this cause for the good of our generation.

How does it feel to be fifty, she smiled, ‘to everyone asking me how it feels to be fifty, I can only say, it feels the way you want it to feel, for me, fifty is the new thirties! It feels good, empowering, you are at an age where there is a degree of acceptance of yourself and who you are, you are not so anxious to prove anything to anybody and it earns you a bit of respect, I love the feeling!’.

Toyin is married to a banker and pastor and she has three children; a 24-year old boy who already had a Masters Degree in Law and two daughters studying Accounting & Finance and Biological Sciences

Quizzed on how she’s been able to manage the homefront and still climbed this height in her career, she smiled, ‘it begins with your partner realizing that God has also deposited in you some talents which needs to be expressed yet creating quality time for your family’. My husband and children knows they come first and having this at the back of their minds makes them relaxed. For example, we have a family code that when they need to get my attention, no matter where I am, they just need to say the word and I’ll drop anything I’m doing and attend to their needs first and this has really helped us as a family’. Furthermore, she explained, ‘I am a believer in God’s word that says I can do all things through God that strengthens me, I believe God has created us to multitask and nobody is better at that than the woman. Before I set out everyday, I try to draw strength from my maker and this prepares me for the task ahead for the day’. And this is the message of Toyin’s new book, ‘Yes you too can!’ Every woman can maximize her life, you can balance things, balance your work with your life, you can have your ministry, impact your community, you can be everything God wants you to be. The major issue is that we underestimate what God has deposited in us, women are created to multitask with ease.

The secret of her young look, ‘I drink a lot of water and eat light and do lots of exercise’. Because of her heavy work schedule, she says, ‘walking is my best form of exercise’, atimes I just walk for the gate of my estate to my house, just to keep fit!

An accomplished author and speaker, Toyin Sanni marked her fiftieth birthday in Lagos recently and it was a roll call of eminent personalities in the finance industry that included the likes of Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Mrs Arunma Oteh, VP of the World bank, Oba Otudeko, the Chairman Honeywell Group, Mr Bola Adeboye, the MD/CEO of the Nigeria Police Mortgage Bank Plc and other dignitaries. She also used the occasion to launch her new book, Yes! You too Can!  Oluwatoyin Sanni’s book- Yes You Too Can– provides a blue print to understanding how to maximise life’s opportunities. She also shared her experience not just as a woman, but an African woman, which in itself can be a complex labyrinth and how with the grace of God has been able to weather the storm and excelled, The most powerful tip being maintaining a strong personal relationship with God“.

For More Juicy Stories, Get your copy of GENESIS INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE, Issue 9  Available with the vendors, and online on jumia.com.ng, konga.com. Available also internationally in the USA in all Barnes & Nobles Stores, Chapters booksellers in Canada and isubscribe.com in UK.

By Remi Ola-Samuel

It is generally accepted that cities are the engines of economic growth, and nowhere are these engines firing harder, or populations growing faster, than in the developing world.  Mass urbanization is proving to be “the single most important transformation” the world is seeing in the 21st century, according to Jamal Saghir, director of sustainable development at the World Bank, and it shows no signs of letting up. By 2050, the U.N. predicts 66% of us will call a city our home. Whilst other continents have gone far ahead of Africa in terms of infrastructure, there is hope however that in the coming years, the wisest destination for investment would be Africa. Taking into consideration variables such as housing, transport, water and power, healthcare, education, public safety as well as factoring economic indicators like GDP, inequality, middle-class growth, ease of doing business and FDI inflow, it is reputed that all investors would do well to focus their energy on capturing a large chunk of the virgin African landscape. Many may find this surprising due to the conventional view of Africa as a poor and corrupt continent plagued by political uncertainty. However, the best investment opportunities exist where perception does not match reality because the state of Africa is not as bad as has been portrayed. Over the course of the past 10 years, there are parts of Africa that have taken gradual steps towards greater democracy, security and prosperity.

Sub-Saharan African countries have experienced an average growth rate of 6% for the third straight year, which is growing toward 7% this year. At this rate, Africa’s poverty rate is expected to be reduced by 50% by 2015. That said, sub-Saharan Africa is growing faster than Asia, with the exception of India and China. The growth rates seen by African nations is due to various factors such as high oil and other commodity prices, practical government policies and an emphasis on tourism. Of interest, Kenya is one of Africa’s fastest growing economies, despite the fact that it does not have any commodities, because of the revenues it brings in from tourism. In addition, Zambia’s growth is due to copper and agricultural exports. This may come as a surprise to many but, Africa has developed an emerging middle class and Nigeria has a mobile-phone penetration of 8%, which is rising rapidly. Little wonder why the Chinese and Indians are taking the front row in FDI initiative to Africa. We take a look at the top 10 investment destinations in Africa and their unique offerings in no particular order.

 South Africa

South Africa is still the No. 1 destination in Africa for foreign direct investment with no indication that will change. Investors have been attracted in recent years by government efforts to shore up infrastructure, with a handful of large-scale long-term capital investment programs including the 2012 National Infrastructure Plan. The government promised to spend $38 billion on new and upgraded infrastructure in transportation, energy, water, sanitation, health and education over 15-years. South Africa accounted for 24 percent of all foreign direct investment projects over the past seven years, receiving as much as the next three FDI leaders combined — Nigeria, Angola and Kenya. Investors are attracted by diverse economy, solid infrastructure, and ease of doing business, The top sectors and job creators through foreign direct investment include communication, metals, coal, oil and natural gas, food and tobacco and consumer products.

Nigeria

Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy with Lagos, PortHarcourt and Abuja as its major cities. As Africa’s sixth fastest growing economy (according to IMF projections 2015-2019), Nigeria is likely the most attractive market for retail property. By 2030, Lagos city in Nigeria is predicted to have a population of more than 25m and a per capita income of $2,810.

Ghana

Ghana, attracted $4 billion worth of capital investment in 2014 to put it at number eight of the top 10 FDI ranking. A major investment contributing to Ghana’s ranking is the Tema Port Expansion Project worth $1 billion. The port expansion involves the development of four deep-water berths and an access channel for larger vessels, increasing the port’s throughput capacity to 3.5 million twenty foot equivalent units

Morocco

FDI trends in Casablanca, Morocco are similar to those in Cairo with business services, ICT and media, retail and consumer products, and financial services being the sectors that attract the most investment. Casablanca is a top business destination in Africa for business investments and economic growths, its trade and investment programmes make Morocco a destination of business interests for any entrepreneur or business organization

Kenya

Nairobi, the capital city of East Africa’s largest economy is ranked as one of the most attractive destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa and a regional financial services hub. Kenya has had its economy being driven by agriculture in the past years but have opted for other means such as mining, tourism and trade and this has seen major discoveries of minerals including oil, rare minerals and gold in Kenya. The planned construction of the Konza technology city, a technology hub to be constructed as part of the nation’s Vision 2030, has also attracted the interest of key global tech giants including IBM (which set up the first African research lab in Nairobi last year), Google, Microsoft and Intel. Dubbed the African “Silicon Savannah,” the project is expected to be a key economic driver for the country in the coming years

Egypt

Egypt is Africa’s third largest economy with Cairo, Alexandria and Giza as its major cities. Al-Qahirah in Cairo, Egypt, is the second most popular destination for FDI projects, despite seeing a decline in activity in recent years.  Cairo provides considerable opportunities for consumer-facing companies. The return to growth in 2015 begins with regaining lost production to match pre-Arab Spring numbers and then expanding at a rate that could surpass pre-Arab Spring projections.

Mozambique

Recent gas and coal discoveries in Mozambique have resulted in a number of multinational companies and foreign investors entering the country. Maputo, the capital city, has been experiencing a property and construction boom, and an influx of expatriates. It is projected as the 2^ndfastest growing economy in Africa over the next five years, only trailing Ethiopia. The Mozambican government’s plans to invest heavily in the country’s industry and manufacturing market is pushing up industrial real estate as companies rush in. it is also a city that will rapidly see rising incomes post-gas production and export in the near term.

Tanzania

Tanzania’ s administrative and business hub, Dar es Salaam, is predicted to become Africa’s fifth most populous city by 2030. According to EY’s report, the country will see the greatest expansion of middle class households with incomes between $5,000 and $20,000 per year by 2030. 

Ethiopia

Ethiopia is Africa’s second most populous country with a population of approximately 85 million habitats. Ethiopia is the third fastest growing country just behind China and India. Ethiopia is currently the fourth biggest economy in Africa. Ethiopia economy largely depends on agriculture accounting up to 46% of its economy.

Rwanda

Known as the “Land of a Thousand Hills,” and not minding its small size, Rwanda’s reform efforts have been so outstanding that it is reaping rapid rates of economic growth and associated improvements in the business environment. According to the World Bank’s Doing Business 2013 report, Rwanda ranks 52 out of 185 on “ease of doing business” and 8 on “ease in starting a business.” It is the second most improved nation globally and the top improved in sub-Saharan Africa since 2005. Through safety and security, zero-tolerance for corruption, and a stated goal to eliminate foreign aid (currently about 40 percent of its budget), Rwanda has put itself on a trajectory toward greater self-sufficiency; the evidence is in the numbers—projected 7.8% GDP growth in 2013, making it the ninth fastest growing economy in the world.

The good news is that perceptions about the continent seem to be shifting. For the first time, Africa is seen as the second most attractive investment destination in the world. It has strong fundamentals to encourage investment including steady democracy and macroeconomic growth; an improving business environment; rising consumer class; abundant natural resources and infrastructure development.” “Africa’s stronger investment attractiveness is best explained by its own sustained growth rates in the context of slower global growth. Africa’s growth prospects are likely to remain solid, as an urbanizing and rising middle class drives demand for consumer products and improved services.” The bottom line? According to Makhtar Diop, World Bank Vice President for the Africa Region, it will take partnerships between governments and the private sector, between African countries and their neighbors, between Africa and non-neighbor countries, and between Africa and its development partners for the realization of africa’s huge potential and a better life for the citizens. These countries may not necessarily be the biggest economies in Africa, though some are, but countries with the biggest potential in investment opportunities.

The GENESIS INTERNATIONAL Magazine CEO of the Year Award program was founded to identify and recognize outstanding leadership and achievement by a Nigerian Chief Executive Officer. This highly respected award honors an executive in Nigerian business who exemplifies integrity, insists upon excellence, earns the trust of others, and has built a globally competitive organization. The honoree is selected by a distinguished advisory board comprised of eminent business leaders based on the following criteria: Corporate Performance, Vision and Leadership, Global Competitiveness, Innovation, and Social Responsibility.

2015 has sure been a very trying year particularly with the transition in government and the dwindling oil prices and its effects resonating on all other spheres of business in Nigeria. Despite these challenges, however, some businesses still posted huge successes as a result of their dynamic leadership. Our team came up with a list of three most outstanding CEOs in Nigeria for 2015 from a list of over 30 contenders, and we presented them to our reading audience to vote for their preferred choice to become the first winner of our annual CEO OF THE YEAR Award. After One month of voting exercise on our website, www.genesismagz.com, the overwhelming favorite is Mr. Bisi Onasanya, Group Managing Director of First Bank Plc.

Mr. Bisi Onasanya is so credited because he has been able to make a difference in highly competitive markets. He has demonstrated effective management capabilities through hard work, resilience, research, an understanding of the Nigeria business climate, thus moving First Bank as a group to the next level and positioning it favorably for the future. He has been able to stabilize and modernize the expanding FirstBank brand since his appointment in 2009, thus reinforcing the confidence of the bank’s diverse stakeholders.

Reputed as a seasoned banker and chartered accountant, Onasanya is a highly respected and personable executive who has established a reputation at FirstBank for solid performance and sound judgment. He succeeded Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (now the Emir of Kano) as Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer upon the appointment of the latter as the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria in 2009. He is widely reputed as the architect of the modern FirstBank, associated with various innovative and creative achievements. He was the Project Coordinator of Century 2 the new frontier, FirstBank’s far-reaching enterprise transformation project at the turn of the century, as well as the Coordinator of the FirstBank Corporate Transformation project which has seen the bank accentuating its foothold on modernization. Mr. Onasanya also superintended the latest composite Corporate Identity/Brand Refresh of the FirstBank Group, a bold step heralding the international expansion of the FirstBank brand which under his leadership now boasts of subsidiaries with operations across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Relentlessly, he not only pursued the corporate rebranding of the First Bank Group, Mr. Onasanya also invested heavily in the human capital of the company culminating in the transformation of the bank’s training center into First Academy, a best in class corporate university that recently clinched the 2015 Global Council of Corporate Universities Award for best impact by a corporate university on the implementation of business strategies. The bank has also received the highly coveted Best Place to Work award under his management.

His penchant for innovation, excellence, and creativity knows no bound. At an award ceremony recently, he stressed the plans of the bank stating “As a group we plan to grow in priority segments, especially the retail and emerging corporates. We also intend to continue strengthening our service proposition, including optimizing our distribution mix.” A man of his words, First Bank under his watch recently opened its 700th branch nationwide creating employment opportunities for the youth.

One of the cornerstones of his repositioning drive was to be the driving force and partner of first choice in facilitating the growth and building of the future of the nation. And in keeping with the ‘You First’ promise to Nigerians, FirstBank supports the entirety of the agriculture value chain, from food production to transportation, retailing, and consumption. This also culminated in their partnership with Eventful on Fiesta on Flavors recently bringing together hundreds of food and beverage enterprises.

First Bank, under his watch also inaugurated the mobile payment service which he aptly captured at the inauguration thus, “with the inauguration of this service, the stage is now set for the banks customers and anyone in Nigeria with a mobile phone to enjoy financial services, using their mobile phones to send money, pay bills, top up their phone airtime, do shopping, deposit and withdraw cash, without the need to visit a bank branch.” The idea of firstmonie was conceptualized and unveiled in 2012 by FirstBank of Nigeria.

This award comes on the heel of the announcement of his retirement as the Group CEO of First Bank and it could only be described as a fitting cap to a sterling career after over three decades of diverse management and operational experience, 21 years of which he has spent with FirstBank, serving meritoriously in the last six years as Group Managing Director/CEO. He was before this appointment the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of First Pension Custodian, and began his career with Arthur Young, an American audit firm. A chartered accountant, Bisi is credited with pioneering initiatives in Nigeria’s nascent pension custody industry that helped define best industry practices.

Born in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Mr. Onasanya hails from the Onasanya Family in Ijebu Land, Ogun State. Bisi grew up in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, where he attended St Paul’s Anglican Primary School (Mushin), Eko Boys High School (Mushin), and the then Lagos State College of Science and Technology. Bisi is the eldest of four children from his mother, and the third of his father’s children.

2015 has sure been a very trying year particularly with the transition in government and the dwindling oil prices and its effects resonating on all other spheres of business in Nigeria. Despite these challenges however, many businesses still posted huge successes as a result of their dynamic leadership. GENESIS INTERNATIONAL Magazine chronicles the giant strides of these CEOs with one emerging top of the bunch… our team has come up with three most outstanding CEOs in Nigeria for 2015 from a list of over 30 contenders and we present them to the reading audience to vote for their preferred choice to become the first winner of our annual CEO OF THE YEAR Award.

Bisi Onasanya – First Bank Plc

Tunji Oyebanji – Mobil oil Nigeria

Michael Arumemi-Ikhide – Arik Air

These CEOs have been credited because they have been able to make a difference in highly competitive markets. They have demonstrated effective management capabilities through hardwork, resilience, research, an understanding of the Nigeria business climate, as they moved their companies forward.

Cast your votes on  www.genesismagz.com

Make it Count!

Nigeria Decides: Issues At Stake

Nigeria is at the threshold of another general elections into the various arms of government in the nation. A critical look at the political, financial and developmental stages of the nation is not too assuring when you consider all variables. For some time now, people in Nigeria and the Diaspora have expressed the fear that the country may seize to exist as a corporate united country after 2015 particularly if the next general election is handled with levity and the wish of the people is truncated.

Several reasons for this position have been adduced. The nation has been polarized along tribal, religious and primordial interest which has in turn eroded the citizens’s trust and confidence in the ability of the leadership to take them to the promised Eldorado. A recent study conducted reveals that many Nigerians believe the economic policies of recent governments have not been of help and that the government at the center has not shown any quality that it is capable enough to ensure their general welfare. A report also claims that more than seventy percent of the Nigerian population are living below poverty line; Nigeria is a country where each citizen provide their own security, generate their own electricity, where holders of Ph.D degree certificates rush to apply for driving appointments, where finding the means of survival have been very challenging.

Cries of marginalization, divide and rule system have permeated the polity, unemployment is at the highest peak and corruption assuming alarming rate never witnessed in the annals of the country’s history. Insecurity has become the order of the day! What with the Boko Haram insurgency where most part of Northern Nigeria have been taken over by the rebels. Nigerians in the North East have become destitutes in their own traditional homes; impunity has become the order of the day, the rule of law is being trampled upon on a daily basis and the center does not seem to be able to hold. The leadership have failed the nation!

In contrast, the very few people who are in government live in opulence and affluence, displaying so much wealth that will make the ordinary citizen ask whether life itself is worth living at all. They see people in whom they have put their confidence to represent them in exchange for a better life accumulate so much money and become billionaires overnight. At best, they organize vocational trainings which end with no money to buy equipments or start up the trainee in business. You see them launch a borehole for the community with so much fanfare and one wonders whether its not the same borehole a good spirited youth corper singlehandedly donated to the community of his service year, How Sad!

Across the nation, particularly in the last two months, governance has been pushed to the background in preference for politicking. You hardly hear or see what state governments are doing rather you hear them campaigning subtly for a second term or new ones trying to convince us of their ability to salvage our situation if voted into power. Even when the scorecards of incumbents are full of red ink, they still come asking for our votes to occupy the same seat on which they have achieved nothing. Sometimes I ask myself if our politicians have taken us for fools, and the answer I seem to get is a capital Yes! Why not? You ask again! The electorate over the years, have proven their ever increasing appetite for the newly acquired syndrome of ‘stomach infrastructure’. Politicians on the other hand understands this and produces so much of this when elections approaches.

In the midst of all these however is the belief that life must continue, afterall the legendary Afrobeat king, late Fela Anikulapo Kuti sang the song, ‘Shuffering and Shmiling’ painting the picture of our resilience and ability to adjust to situations however unpleasant they may be. As we approach the General elections in February 2015, what lessons have we learnt from previous election results that have brought us thus far and what are the issues that the candidates should take note of and find urgent solutions to in the quest to take Nigeria to the next level?

Free and Fair Elections

On the part of INEC, the electoral body, what assurance do we have that the body is well prepared, ready, willing and able to conduct a free and fair election? The question becomes pertinent when one takes a look at the slip-shod arrangement that characterized the voter registration and issuance of the permanent voters card exercise? If for instance in Lagos state, where more than half eligible voters cant find their names on the registration list, if the governor’s immediate family’s name is missing on the list, what happens to the ordinary man on the street? All across the nation, the story is not different. Not a few people have advised Prof Jega to speak out now, spelling out the handicaps facing his commission so that the federal government can address them on time. Anything short of that, the commission may be seen as an accomplice to an election that has been programmed to fail or at best, favouring the party in government. INEC must of necessity put its house in order so as to be seen as an unbiased umpire. Efforts to strengthen its database to ensure that no eligible voter is disenfranchised; Proper delineation of wards, local and states should be perfected; movement of election materials monitored to avoid diversion and or tampering are areas the commission needs to concentrate and get spot-on! Information management is also crucial just as training of election personnels.

The APC National Conference have come and gone, the result is not secret to the entire world any longer. Whilst some say the result was predictable, others expressed contrary opinions. All the contenders acquitted themselves very well. The coverage which lasted more than 48hours eventually produced a four time contender Alhaji Mohammadu Buhari. The process that led to his emergence vis-à-vis the conduct of the primaries are legion and could serve as lessons in organized, peaceful and orderly conduct of elections at party level, be it ward, council, state or national. It shows that there is hope for a rancor-free, rigging-free elections. However it must be noted that the APC as a party, the contenders as individuals and the delegates were determined to have a free and fair process, worked towards it and achieved it. It is therefore apt to say at this point that if and when our interest is in the peaceful outcome of elections, where the electorates’ voice is not muscled, where voting materials are not tampered with, where every Nigerian involved in the election process perform their jobs according to stipulated rules in the electoral act, where there are no ballot snatching or box stuffing, where security men are restricted to ensuring security alone, electoral officers are diligent in the discharge of their duties, Nigeria can and will irrespective of the candidate that emerges, say confidently that their voices have been heard, their votes counted and the declared winner is the choice of the people of Nigeria.

Do or Die Politics

It is important to point out that no politician is worth dying for and no one deserve to die because of an election. History shows that the utterances of some political gladiators during electioneering are clear pointers that motivate violent tendencies in the electorates. Therefore, it is high time we start holding our leaders responsible for their unguided utterances in the run-up to elections. It still beat my imaginations that in this year and age some people still participate in political thuggery without the political godfathers and their children leading the way in the streets. It is totally against the law of fairness for politicians to incite the masses to kill themselves on the streets during elections while their children are sent to the most expensive schools abroad studying. Nigerians must do away with the politics of tribe, religion and region, the politicians have played this card for too long, its high time we concentrated more on issues. Winners and losers must understand that even in defeat, you can be dignified and humble.

Security of Lives and Property

Fast forward 2014, the Fulani man carrying stick before is now carrying gun. The repentant Niger Delta militants carrying guns before are now warship importers. The Boko Harams carrying AK47 before are now controlling Armoured Personnel Carriers.

For close to 230days, over 200 girls have been abducted in Chibok with any trace of their whereabout, the government claims to be doing its best but the evidence of the girls’ recovery is the only thing that can assuage the frustration and anger of the people. Whilst so much of Nigerian money is seized abroad in the name of trying to purchase arms, one is apt to think that efforts should be intensified at reaching a truce with Boko Haram and other recalcitrant groups rather than the various senseless killings around us.

 Constitutional Reforms

One is constrained to comment on the issue of the relationship between incumbents and their deputies, with the spate of strained relationship particularly between state governors and the deputies in many states, it becomes very necessary to ask what brings so much tension between them such that a once happy blossoming relationship suddenly turns sours almost immediately after taking their oath of offices and rising to the boiling point when another election is around the corner. Does the constitution not specify the duties of a deputy governor? Enugu, Ogun, Taraba States, scattered everywhere is this governor deputy duels that one begins to wonder if we are really matured enough for this democracy or the constitution is too silent on such an important aspect. All these brings to question, the selection process, who picks the vice president, deputy governor? Is it the governor, governor in conjunction with the party or the party picks for the governor?

The Nigerian constitution seems silent on so many issues, though the President Jonathan administration convened a National conference recently, the reports are still be debated on the floor of the National Assembly and the average Nigeria is still left to rue the confusion created by the interpretation, misinterpretation or absence of so many clauses in the Nigerian constitution.

 Economy

It is crystal clear from the moves of the central government that the Nigerian economy is gradually running aground and something drastic needs be done. Nigeria’s external debt stands at about $10billion now as against $3.98 billion in 2009. Nigeria has the highest borrow rate in Africa. According to Business Eye, Nigeria has become the largest recipient of loans from the International Development Agency (IDA) arm of the World Bank between 2009 and 2013 and currently has the largest outstanding IDA portfolio in Africa, ahead of Kenya and Tanzania. Additional loans like the $1 Billion to supposedly fight Boko Haram, paint a picture of a nation that lives off financial indebtedness. The domestic debt stands at almost $50 Billion as at November 2014. There has been a 22% yearly increase in domestic indebtedness from 2009 to 2014 and this shot up even higher in 2014. BusinessDay says that what is worrying about this worsening profile is that these debts are used for fruitless and “unproductive” ventures. Based on current oil prices, with the barrel price dropping from $111 to below $60/barrel as speculative and futuristic trade, Nigeria may be dragged on her face. With corruption and lack of reasonable plans to diversify the economy, save surpluses—which always end up being looted and used to finance the billionaire private jet loving cabal—Nigeria has nothing to save itself with and cannot afford to pay the Jonathan loans based on current oil prices. The rebasing of Nigeria’s economy in 2014 has put the nation in a more dire state as this was just an incentive to seek and be given more loans.

Elections 2015 is another opportunity for Nigerians to choose who governs them and for Nigeria to start on a new pedestal to the next level. Our political aspirants may need to take a lesson in putting others first before self, the interest of the electorates should be uppermost in their hearts. Not again should they become scarce and incommunicado to the electorates whom they wined and dined with ‘yesterday’. One would also expect that money voted for constituency projects are not seen as pocket money or personal allowance. Four years may seem a long time but sooner than it start, its gone and they’ll come back to the electorate and it will be reckoning time when answers to scripts are marked, there will be no chance to repeat the same class. Time was, when the father of a former governor pleaded for his son to be allowed to repeat the class after his scripts were marked zero. Did he perform any better in the second attempt? No! Ahead of time therefore, all aspirants should know and realize that they have only one chance to prove their sincerity at governance!

By Yomi Agbabiaka

They are bold, , they are smart, they are inspiring, they are fearless, they are better than they were yesterday, they are diverse, they are strong, they are successful, they are optimists, they are leaders, they are classy, and they are GENESIS INTERNATIONAL’s 2014 New Billionaire Kids on the Block! These following gorgeous guys did not just become successful to hold a trophy and sit on a pedestal. They have used their ideas and their success to positively influence many, many other people to live their best life. Meet 4 powerful Nigerian men who are carving a name for themselves and simultaneously changing their communities and the continent.

Simdul Shagaya, Nigeria – Tech Entrepreneur and Founder of Konga.com and DealDey.com 

Shagaya is the founder and CEO of Konga.com, Nigeria’s largest online shopping portal and DealDey spinoff site. Konga.com, Africa’s answer to Amazon.com, is an e-commerce platform that sells goods and services directly to consumers. Shagaya is also the founder & Executive Chairman of DealDey Limited, which offers services and products at discounted prices. In 2013 Shagaya won the All Africa Business Leaders Awards’ Entrepreneur of the Year award. HumanIPO selected Konga.com as one of the African technology startups of 2013. Shagaya is a graduate of George Washington University, Dartmouth College and holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Simdul Shagaya (photo courtesy of Simdul Shagaya)

Kola Karim, Nigeria, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Shoreline Energy International

Kola Karim is the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Shoreline Energy International Limited and Shoreline Power Company Limited. with interests that span oil & gas, power generation, engineering, commodities trading, infrastructure and construction across sub-Saharan Africa.  In 2012, Shoreline Energy partnered with U.K-based Heritage Oil in acquiring a stake in OML 30, an oilfield asset in Nigeria for a reported $850 million. An avid polo player, Karim was named Young Global Leader class of 2008 by the World Economic Forum.

His first foray into business was establishing Koda Trading Limited, which specialised in Shipping. The company was also involved in trading bulk feed stock raw material, as well as importation of heavy duty machinery and equipment. Karim is also a Director of Industrial & Mechanical Services Limited, Davof Technical Services and Fortis Construction Limited. Since March 2008, he has been a Director of Nigerian Ropes Plc. He is also a Non-Executive Director of Ecobank Nigeria Plc. He is currently the chairman of the board at Costain, and had served as its Deputy Chairman.  Karim, a polo buff, is patron of Lagos Polo Club.

Chinedu Echeruo, Nigeria, Tech Entrepreneur & Founder of Hopstop.com and Tripology.com

Echeruo is a Tech entrepreneur and founder of HopStop.com which he reportedly sold to Apple in the “billion” dollar range. HopStop.com is a mobile and online application that provides mass transit directions door-to-door mass transit, taxi, walking, biking and hourly car rental directions in major metropolitan markets throughout the U.S., Canada, U.K, France, Australia, New Zealand and Russia. In 2001, HopStop was named one of the 100 fastest growing companies in the US by Inc. magazine. Chinedu also founded Tripology.com, an interactive travel referral service focused on connecting travelers with travel specialists which was later acquired by USA Today Travel Media Group. Echeruo obtained an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a B.S from Syracuse University.

Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah, the President Masters Energy Group,

Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah, OON, is the President of Masters Energy Group, a conglomerate with over 15 subsidiaries and interests spanning across Oil & Gas, Banking, Insurance, Aviation, Shipping, Dredging, Logistics, Construction, Travel Agency, Power, e.t.c. A banker of distinction and spent over 10 years in banking sector during which he received many commendations and awards as proof of his diligence and high rated performance. He voluntarily resigned from Zenith Bank as an Assistant General Manager.

“no nation can ever grow when her productive citizens are wasting their productive years. This has always bothered me and makes me restless everywhere I go, and I become challenged to see what I could to help alleviate the problem.”this was Ogah’s quote in a recent interview and that has been his driving force since diverting from banking to full business. He also said that he has continued to invest in Nigeria because of his total belief in the Nigerian economy and realization of the fact that no foreigner will ever come and develop Nigeria except Nigerians. He stated that aside the Masters Energy City in Port Harcourt comprising of the 158,000 MT petroleum products storage facility, Fabrication Yard, Jetty and other projects, he has invested in development and creation of Masters Energy Industrial City in Ututru, Isikwuato in Abia State.  He informed that “already about 7 companies comprising of fertilizer plant, plastic plant, lubricant plant that will produce engine oil, grease, hydraulic transmission oil, noodles plant, steel plant etc are in various stages of completion within the industrial city. These plants aside stimulating economic activities are meant to create employment for the youths.” He is the founder, The Uche Ogah Foundation

To say that Nigeria is a failed experiment would be too harsh as despite the humongous problems our nation faces daily there is still progress undoubtedly. If you want to argue, be my guest but the simple show of solidarity by a nation to come together and kick out the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2015 elections shows that we are indeed moving forward. However, there is one loophole that needs to be plugged, and that loophole is staring right down on us.

I’m no atheist, hard to believe huh? But seriously, I am neither a racist bastard nor an atheist. I love black people, and I love God, but unfortunately, the two don’t mix and you have to admit, God and black people can never mix, until a spiritual restraining order is slapped on the Dark Continent.

Before delving into the reason why our dear country doesn’t need God anymore, let’s take a quick detour into the path of India. India is a blessed country, with blessed people who have a wonderful cultural and religious diversity and is similar to Nigeria in a thousand and one ways. India got her independence a meager 13 years before our beloved country but let’s face it, in 13 years, Nigeria won’t even be able to surpass the toilet standards of India let alone their economic prowess. What is the reason, you might ask? God!

The British colonized both India and Nigeria and we all know that the British brought two things during their colonial era, technology and God. When India got its independence from Britain on August 15, 1947, they stuck with the British technology and still had time for their religion and today they are one of the world’s leaders. But when Nigeria hurriedly pushed for independence (when it was crystal clear that we weren’t ripe enough for it) we stuck with the British God and look where it has gotten us. Most people argue that Nigeria’s problem is the vastness of the nation, I mean; we are the largest black nation in the world right? Well here’s the thing, India is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world. How about that for size? The Indian economy is the world’s tenth-largest by nominal GDP. India is a nuclear weapons state and a regional power; it has the third-largest standing army in the world and ranks ninth in military expenditure among nations. India is a federal constitutional republic governed under a parliamentary system consisting of 29 states and 7 union territories running a parliamentary system governed under a constitution. India is a pluralistic, multilingual, and a multi-ethnic society with over 2000 ethnic groups.

With all of the above, I guess it is safe to say that Nigeria and India are like twins from different continents. What differs in the two countries is the black nation’s addiction to God, so much that the term common sense is thrown down the offering bag! The average Nigerian doesn’t believe in anything else than God. He believes that his waking up, his breathing and his survival lies in the hands of the creator, and contrary to most beliefs, that isn’t always the case. I know this might sound a tad pagan but the truth is that God doesn’t, let me use the word, give a damn about how many times you pray or fast, as long as we’re still being fools, Nigeria isn’t going anywhere.

The bible tells the story of Mary Magdalene, a young woman who upon seeing the Jesus in her house, decided to give reverence to the King of Kings by washing his feet with perfume. What did Judas say? He argued that she should have sold the perfume and given it to the church rather and Jesus replied that what she did wasn’t wrong, I mean how many times was Jesus shown that kind of gesture in the bible? See that’s the major problem with Nigeria, we think we can chase off anything with a stash of offering, prayer or tithe. An unemployed Nigerian youth with a secondary school certificate would rather fast and scream at the top of his voice in prayer for a job at Chevron than actually getting a degree in the University. How many white people scream and shout in prayer? Are there not still white men in heaven? When we face reality, it is then that we actually learn. Take for instance the case of the Chibok girls. When the girls got kidnapped what did the nation do first? Pray. I sit down at times and imagine Obama calling a prayer session when 200 kids are kidnapped by the Al Qaeda; he’ll be taken out by a sniper, and fast too.

That’s the problem!!! We don’t want to face reality here in Nigeria. On Sunday the churches are pack full with a lot of hopeless people (forgive my choice of words) who aren’t ready to work. The few people who are successful Christians in the country are those who have managed to balance their spiritual with the physical, those who pray to work and actually go to work; those who are fully focused on the target than putting all their hope on a ‘helper’ that God will send. For crying out loud, this isn’t the time of Abraham! The economy has lagged because the number of people working is smaller than the number of people who are playing ‘faith’ with their business. Everyone claims to fear God and revere him to the point that they have prayer sessions a night before they loot billions of Naira.

As if this isn’t enough, the pastors in Nigeria aren’t helping matters. It might be a shock to you but of the ten richest pastors in the world, five are Nigerians. Now people, there’s the punch line. The entire population is engrossed with religion and the pastors are fueling it. I always say something, if Jesus were to be alive today; he would have gone James Bond on so many churches. In the bible, all the people did was sell a few birds in the Temple and Jesus fell on them like Kamikaze. Today, adverts are done in the church, anointing oil, ‘Miracle Water’, special ointments and even broomsticks are sold in the church, pastors beat their congregation and torch them when the pain isn’t enough (See Reverend King for reference).

Pastors extort millions from poor people in the name of tithes and offering and build schools so expensive, the members can’t even afford the scholarship. The religious scene in the country is so messed up because the country depends on God so much and the wolves have taken advantage of this. If you think I am talking rubbish go outside and count the number of churches on your street. It’s embarrassing. The church when formed was simply a place where Christians gather for encouragement and help, even then, the church wasn’t led by only one person, it was more like a brotherhood. But in Nigeria today, the church business has turned into a one man show where one human being is the pastor, evangelist, prophet, counselor, accountant, overseer, general overseer, assistant deputy vice overseer. The bible has tried in its own way to get Nigerians off its back, and here are a few verses. God wasn’t mincing words when he proclaimed ‘Let us make man in our own image’. If you do not understand that simple sentence, well here’s a breather. You and God have the same blueprints! The same structure, the same IMAGE! So in other words, you have the same traits as God. Then why do you saunter to the church the moment you have a buffet in your dreams. Why do you run to the church when the trials of life hit you? Look, I’m not saying that you shouldn’t go to the church, but face it, you have the power! You can decide if you will let that problem pull you down. And if you can’t solve that part, then God can do nothing for you, sorry. No matter how many revivals, camps, transformation services or deliverance you attend, you are going nowhere. See that’s the truth most pastors aren’t willing to tell. They’d rather cook up service after service with corny themes like Marriage by Force and sell unorthodox religious fetish that only cause more problem. They would rather tell you that your problem is in the village. They would rather tell you to give generously to the Lord in order to receive bountifully. They would rather tell you that your placenta was buried by an old woman during your birth. And unfortunately, even the literate are caught up in this web. Millions of Naira are doled out yearly to churches in the name of donations for solving problems, problems that would have been solved with a sincere prayer and a small dose of common sense.

Look, all I am saying here is simple. Let us give God a break. The issue of religion is now an over flogged horse that animal rights need to intervene. I think it is high time Nigeria left God alone and faced our troubles head on. It’s time to forsake going for deliverance over and over and it is time to unite and save our country. How, one might ask, can we save our nation from the religious scourge it faces now? The answer is simple. We need to face reality. We don’t need God anymore! He’s already done his best and now it’s up to us to complete the job.

We need to realize that prayer only works when there’s an implementation plan. We all pray that God saves our nation from terrorism. But most people are eager to buy fuel when it’s time to lynch a thief. We all pray that God saves our country from poverty yet we spend thousands of Naira in the clubs but turn a blind eye when that child comes to beg during a traffic jam. We all pray that God saves our country from corruption. In churches, mosques, everywhere, the main topic of prayer is corruption and how to weed it out. But it is in the same church environment that 5 Nigerian pastors are millionaires. If a said pastor is worth over 150million Dollars, then we have a problem my people. Jesus, as influential as he was never took money from anyone. Yet we see our pastors owning private jets, living in ridiculously gigantic mansions, and even recently divorcing! It is sad to say but before we decide to leave God alone, we need to open our eyes and see the light, and in my bible, Peter, Paul and even 12 pieces Judas never owned anything while walking with the Lord. Muslims have it easy. Their clerics aren’t extravagant and all but the Christian leaders have turned the church into a market place. I am not saying that we shouldn’t pray to anyone anymore or go to any church again, but let’s face it, corruption starts right from the church. We as Nigerians want corruption to be weeded out but how many of us are actually working on making it possible? In offices today, bosses sleep with lower colleagues, bribery is very active and the activities of the day has turned into a scratch-my-ass-I-scratch- yours situation. In schools, JAMB, NECO, GCE and the likes are failed every year with figures threatening to turn Nigeria into the Land of The Dumb. What is even more scary is that behind the failures, money had changed hands for leaked answers. So I ask you my people, if at that level, there is corruption, then why won’t there be in the higher places? We all pray for peace yet we are quick to fight when Chelsea are shown the exit door during the Champions League. We all pray, that’s the disappointing truth, but how many of us are working to make sure the prayers are heard?

Salvo By Tersoo Achineku is a regular feature in GENESIS INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

For More Juicy Stories, Get your copy of GENESIS INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE, (Issue 10). Available with the vendors, and online on jumia.com.ng, konga.com. Available also internationally in the USA in all Barnes & Nobles Stores, Chapters booksellers in Canada and isubscribe.com in UK.