[dropcap]P[/dropcap]resident Muhammadu Buhari on Monday commended the founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank, Jim Ovia, for his contributions to entrepreneurship in Nigeria. Buhari gave the commendation in a message at the public presentation and launch of Mr Ovia’s book “Africa Arise and Shine” in Lagos.

He said Mr Ovia had contributed so much to inspiring entrepreneurs, particularly the Nigerian youths. “It is my pleasure to convey my congratulations to you on the publication of the book ‘Africa rise and shine,’ which you authored.

“I commend you in this contribution to the knowledge base of Nigeria’s entrepreneurs, particularly the Nigerian youth.“Your journey in building one of our country’s most iconic enterprise is an encouragement to our fellow citizens. Congratulations on this achievement,” Mr Buhari wrote.

The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, in his speech said that successful people in the country owed the society three taxes.

Mr Osinbajo described the three as personal income and corporate tax, social and civic tax.He, however, said Mr Ovia was not one of such people as he was a law abiding citizen who discharged his obligations in tax payments.The vice president also lauded Mr Ovia’s philanthropic gestures, particularly his investment in education where he said Obi’s impressed him by his many feats.

According to him, in the book, Mr Ovia shares important words of wisdom drawn from his more than 38-year experience as a trail blazer in Nigeria’s banking sector and his experience in the telecommunications and insurance sectors.

“The book conveys an inspirational message on universal principles that are applicable in every country which can serve as a guide to millions of young Nigerians on how to succeed.

“These principles are devotion to knowledge, commitment to excellence and courage to dare where many feared.

“As you will find in the book, these factors were instrumental in enabling him to build a US$16 billion conglomerate from barely N203 million at start-up of this empire.

“For those of us who know him and have worked under him, Jim Ovia is a stickler for knowledge and is deeply committed to excellence.”

Mr Emefiele said those were important principles that should guide local and foreign investors in their approach to the Nigerian and African markets.

He said that the key success factors for investors should be clear understanding of the potential of the market, leveraging technology and innovation in providing superior products and services to a market of about 200 million people, in the case of Nigeria.

“If these principles are followed like Mr Jim Ovia has done in Nigeria as well as in other parts of the world, you can expect to receive huge rewards for your efforts.

The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, highlighted the contributions of Mr Ovia to the accountancy and banking professions in Nigeria.

Mr Ambode called on leading entrepreneurs in Africa to take time to expose the younger generations to their inspiring stories with a view to showing them how to become successful business owners.

He said it was important for successful entrepreneurs like the author of the book to tell the story of how they were able to navigate the business climate to inspire others who looked forward to be like them.

He commended the author for taking out time to write the book, saying Mr Ovia’s contributions to the banking and accountancy professions could not be downplayed.

“Obviously, the truth is there is no person that has actually gone through the profession of accountancy that would not have had something to do with Jim Ovia,” Mr Ambode said.

The author said internet was changing the world which had enabled people to do online transactions, online sales, online education and everything.

He said that an economy driven by technology would always blossom.

“So, for us to blossom the Nigerian economy, lets start to digitise the economy. if we digitise the economy, it will continue to grow.

“If we use technology to drive our manufacturing process, our agriculture and healthcare, we will know what that will do for us”.

Mr Ovia said that what inspired him to write the book was the need to change the narrative of African continent.

“The narrative of Africa has been something so pathetic.

“When you Google about Africa then, the first things that come out is that it is a continent of complex, a continent of corruption and of coups.

“That was played out very dramatically when The Economist magazine had on their front page that Africa then was a continent of coup and a continent of corruption.But after two decades, that narrative started changing. Today, we now know that Africa is truly rising,” he said.

Mr Ovia said that African countries had recorded GDP per capita of above 1,000 dollars, whereas about 20 years ago, it was below 500 dollars.

“So, for me, Africa is rising. Twenty years ago, only few African countries had mobile phones, but today, all the African countries, not only have mobile phones, they also have broadband technology and internet penetration is high.

“Africa is rising by embracing technology.

“Amazon is now over $1 trillion. This Amazon doesn’t have a factory anywhere.

“They don’t have any oil well at all, but has over $1 trillion in market capitalisation and richer than Nigeria and twice the GDP of Nigeria.

“It is because they embraced technology and the internet,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the book is essentially about the story of how Mr Ovia commenced his business in the 1980s and now worth 16 billion dollars. Dignitaries at the event included Governors Emmanuel Udom (Akwa Ibom), Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Ibrahim Shettima (Borno), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti Governor-elect).

They also included the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, Segun Osoba Christopher Kolade, Emeka Anyaoku, Akintola Williams, Tony Elumelu, Folorunso Alakija, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede and Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu I. (NAN)

[dropcap]M[/dropcap]ilitant groups under the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA) have declared their support for the second term ambition of President Muhammad Buhari, saying PMB is the only president that has shown commitment to peace and willingness to the development of the Niger Delta since he came on board in 2015.

Leader of Reformed Niger Delta Avengers, RNDA, Major General John Mark Ezonebi at a crucial meeting held at the Benin River in Rivers state with various service commanders, declared, after appraising the administration of Dr. Good Luck Jonathan and President Muhammad Buhari, that the incumbent is better placed for a second term in office. The RNDA, which is a coalition of Nine Militant groups, said though the Niger Delta region have suffered from under development and massive looting of oil resources under the PDP administration for 16 years including their own, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the coalition endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari for another second term in office due to his integrity characterized so far in fighting against menance of corruption.

The RNDA, in a statement made available via email, warned those they referred to as self acclaimed leaders of Niger Delta region and “the so called PDP South South Governors to stop cerebrating looters who contributed to the under development of the Niger Delta region the likes of Chief Dr E k Clark and the Pandef group of failed corrupt PDP members who were the self acclaimed father to former president good luck Jonathan who mislead Jonathan and the likes of Diezani’s & Orubebe that looted the funds meant for the development of the region to dry.”

“Furthermore the RNDA with the coalition of the nine militant groups in the Creek has endorsed president Muhammadu Buhari for another second term in office due to for his integrity characterized so far in fighting against menance of corruption to standstill in the country because the it is the corruption and bad leadership that has contributed to the under development of the Niger Delta region and the country at large, ”

“And president Muhammadu Buhari led APC federal government has shown much commitment to address the under developmental challenges facing the Niger Delta region for decays wish is been attributed by the corrupt previous bad administration of PDP wasted sixteen years of governance.”

“RNDA note with regret that the six years administration of former President Good luck “Badluck” Jonathan was characterised by massive corruption, looting, favouritism and gross non supervision of his appointees with no completed project in the long neglected region  that had set the people and region back to the stone age of under development. ”

“RNDA accepted the Federal Government’s ceasefire agreement in 2016 for dialogue that had led to the remarkable sustained the peace process for the development of the region in the wake of renewed destruction and bombing of oil installation and facilities that crippled the nation’s crude oil output which eventually led to recession. ”

“Most worrisome and painful is the fact that Former President Jonathan’s administration goofed on the development of the region as he was unable to complete the road to his Otuoke community while the most corrupt disciples he had in his government were sons and daughters of the Niger Delta such as Diezani, Orubebe and their cohorts in PANDEF led by High Chief EK Clark.”

“RNDA is pleased with President Buhari’s willingness and commitment to the development of the Niger Delta since he came on board in 2015 inspite of the economic recession that greeted the emergence of his administration as the crude oil output hit an all time low of #35 per barrel.”

“President Buhari fight against corruption which was the signpost of the previous PDP administrations had clearly defined his stand on the development of the region and commended him for the smooth take off of academic activities at the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, and the Minister of Transportation,Rotimi Amaechi for the approval for the dredging if the Escravos river to enable cargo vessels access Warri which will in turn boost economic activities ”

The Federal Government should look into the implementation of the 3 percent gas fund into the NDDC,construction of Bonny inland roads, completion of the East West road, approval for the deep Sea Port project at Akwa Ibom State,Gas Flare penalty fund, pipeline surveillance jobs, proper funding of the NDDC and release of 10 licences for Modular refineries as well as the relocation of the headquarters of multinational oil companies to the Niger Delta”

“RNDA wish to acknowledge the superlative efforts of some major stakeholders in the peace and development process in the Niger Delta who have contributed to the peace being enjoyed that stopped the destruction of oil pipelines and other facilities in the creeks  that eventually brought Nigeria out of recession with crude oil output rising from 900 barrels to 1.8million barrels per day.”

“The Paramount Ruler of Seimbiri Kingdom and National leader of the Pan Niger Delta People’s Congress, HRM Pere Charles Ayemi Botu(Former National Chairman of TROMPCON), the Ibenanaowei of Ogulagha Kingdom, HRM Elder Captain Joseph Timiyan, Alabo Graham Douglas, former Minister of Aviation, High Chief Francis Inegbiniki, Hon Jude Tabai, son of retired Supreme Court Justice, Elder T. k Ogoriba, HOSTCOM National Chairman,Dr Mike Emuh among others are men of integrity who have staked their lives for the peace of the region”.

“The President should open dialogue with these persons and the Pan Niger Delta Peoples Congress under the leadership of HRM Pere Charles Ayemi Botu on the way forward for the region.”

“RNDA was emphatic that the President Buhari and the office of the Presidential Amnesty Programme should be watchful of some self acclaimed leaders of the Niger Delta such as Mike Loyibo who parades themselves in Abuja on behalf of the region to curry favour whereas they are not known to have pushed for any form of development for the region”.

“While we wish to work with the new Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Professor Charles Dokubo, he should be mindful of Members of PANDEF who misled the immediate past Coordinator Retired General Paul Boroh and abandoned him when the tide was against him despite spending millions of Naira on the disbanded group which is majorly  made up of failed and corrupt PDP politicians”