Dele Momodu
22 February 2008
column
Lagos — As I walked through the doors of the THISDAY Dome, on Alfred Rewane Road (former Kingsway Road), in Ikoyi, Lagos, last Sunday, February 17, the simple conclusion that came to me was that indeed we are the salt of the world. It was unthinkable that just the week before, that venue was nothing but mere rubble, a wasteland, pending the time the owners would decide what to do with it.
I could not believe what I saw. For a moment, I thought I had been mistakenly transported to dreamland. The THISDAY publisher, well known for his uncommon dreams, and dare-devillery, had performed his magic again. I went round the heavenly creation with him, and marveled at the amazing power of human imagination, and creativity. I also thought to myself that only a Nigerian would attempt such a mission impossible and succeed.
Nduka Obaigbena and his team have demonstrated again and again that the word impossible does not exist in their lexicon. A few years ago, all the superstars in the world flew over the Nigerian air space to perform in South Africa. A few of them even landed in Ghana, just forty-five minutes away by air, and never looked in the direction of Nigeria. We were treated with disdain because of the sticky perception that Lucifer had escaped from the pit of hell and was now domiciled in Nigeria. All that was bad was linked to us.
We were all supposed to be artful dodgers, rogues of the first order, grand commanders of the drug trade, compulsive murderers, and all the unprintable names. Nations warned their citizens against visiting Nigeria except it was totally necessary. Several airports carried such unfortunate denigration of Nigeria and Nigerians on giant boards. Some even thought we were monkeys that lived on some African trees, in some mysterious forests. The worst was thought of us.
The story about Nigeria was always the bad news. A country that produced the Chinua Achebes and the Wole Soyinkas was never recognized as a special place on the surface of the earth. A nation that produces some of the world's best and largest petroleum and gas deposits was never accorded its due respect. This giant of Africa that did so much to support the African Union, in war and in peace, was never rewarded for her efforts. Her citizens were tossed about by smaller nations that enjoyed our legendary generosity and large-heartedness. We were slapped black and blue at every flimsy excuse.
Of course, we were to blame for some of our woes. Many of our leaders and citizens did not do us proud. A land over-flowing with milk and honey was totally devoid of the standards of good living. We lack basic infrastructure, no water, no electricity, no roads, no hospitals, no security, and no social welfare to take care of the poor. We hear of fat budgets and obese contracts on radio but never see the results. We waste unbelievable resources on useless projects and throw our wonderful country into turmoil. Those saddled with responsibilities were only responsible to themselves and their families. They steal us blind and leave the populace absolutely impoverished. Our youths became restive and desperate, and search for any available visa to escape to the countries they consider paradise on earth. Those who cannot escape chose to terrorize both the guilty and the innocent, and ensure that we cannot sleep with our two eyes closed. And the world watched in wonderment as our country was ravaged by poverty, diseases, war of attrition, political instability, unemployment, hunger, and so on.
It seems there is no solution to these myriad of preventable problems. We were more of a pariah in the comity of nations. Our narcoleptic leadership showed no sign of moving us forward, despite the fact that our nation parades some of the most fertile brains in virtually all the fields of human endeavour. Everywhere in the world, we are never found wanting, and we contribute immensely to development in all spheres. What then is the matter with us?
But hope has come from the direction of our private sector which has chosen to challenge fate and take its destiny in its own hands. The whiz-kids are coming from all directions and making nonsense of nonsensical governments. Against up-scale odds, they are pulling down age-long superstitions, and seizing the initiative, and operate their own private governments. In media, THISDAY has worked assiduously at building a mega-brand. It has created a solid platform for the promotion and elevation of the human spirit. It celebrates the virtues of the spirit of free enterprise. Before our very eyes, the leading newspaper has challenged the distorted notion of a backward continent.
Perhaps, one of the greatest moments in the life of the newspaper was the decision to go into the business of entertainment. There were all manner of cynical comments, as usual. What's the business of a media organisation in promoting entertainment, they asked. Nigerian companies are not known to be very generous with spending huge budgets on advertisements, and sponsoring events. Most of them have failed to borrow a leaf from Coca Cola, the world's greatest brand, which has refused to step down its advertising campaigns despite being the most popular product on earth.
They also forget that media companies the world over are drawing from the synergies presented by entertainment, content provision and news dissemination. This has led to major mergers and acquisitions led by media baron, Rupert Murdoch of Fox Entertainment, Fox News, myspace.com and the Dow Jones Company, publisher of the revered Wall Street Journal. This is in addition to his newspaper conglomerate in Australia; Sky Television Network in the UK; and leading British news tabloids such as the News of the World and the Sun, and of course the venerable Times of London newspaper. The US media and entertainment giant, CNN/TimeWarner emerged through a similar fusion in the 1990s.
I don't know how he did it but Nduka Obaigbena took off on a supersonic note. In one fell swoop, he was able to attract superstars that we thought will never come close to Nigeria, Beyonce, Jay Z, Missy Elliot, Snoop, Ciara, and others on the same stage. He has since brought P.Diddy, Kelly Rowlands, Diana Ross and Lionel Richie. Please, don't underrate the public relations equity to Nigeria. Look at it this way, if the most successful artistes in the world can fly to Nigeria and fly back with their limbs intact, we have given a lie to the conspiracy against our country, and the impression that we occupy the most dangerous spot on earth. We must thank THISDAY for shattering this cruel myth forever.
I felt very proud as a Nigerian last Sunday as the best of the world gathered inside the THISDAY Dome to receive well-deserved awards. For me, Nigeria was the ultimate winner. It is now up to our government to get cracking on matters concerning our image. We need all patriots on board. The efforts of THISDAY have shown that ours is not a lost case. This is our glorious moment. We must involve those who have the contacts and the exposure. We must begin at the level of the private sector. Nduka told me this much as he proudly conducted me round the dome on Sunday morning. "Let every individual pick his own sector and excel, with or without government. I have chosen mine." Those words still resonate even as I write this article.
I am very convinced that the future of our country lies with the private sector. The bureaucracy in government makes it virtually impossible to achieve quick results. Entertainment is a great weapon we can employ to drive tourism. Human beings would climb mountains, and drive through rough roads to catch a glimpse of their stars. As soon as we can get some decent infrastructure in place, some of our problems will disappear. We do not need to look exactly like Europe before we attract tourists and investors. Image is an act, and a make-belief. It is about perception. I have seen it in The Gambia. I have experienced it in Barbados. I have savoured it in Mexico. We are certainly not worse than those countries. All we require is the imagination and the determination of those brains behind the THISDAY Awards.
An Ovation for Great Awardees
It was a very moving moment as the recipients of the THISDAY Awards matched unto the raised stage to enthusiastically receive their artistic plaques. Say what you will, every man loves to be rewarded for hard work. The excitement was palpable, as some of the distinguished personalities buried the delicious meals inside their tummies, and washed it down with Don Perignon, and bottles of Crystal, the kings of champagnes. It was celebration time.
The dome paraded the best of Africa and indeed the world, the A-list, Michael Ibru, the icon of business; Aliko Dangote, the sugar and cement merchant; Jim Ovia, the banking guru; Sonny Odogwu, the doyen of insurance and hospitality; Yakubu Gowon, the youngest man ever to rule Nigeria; Tayo Aderinokun, the gentleman at GTB; Aig Imoukhuede, the gentle giant at Access Bank. There were so many stars. But the real star for me was Femi Otedola, the entrepreneur of the year who has confounded everybody by his boardroom prowess. He came with his pretty wife, Nana, a wonderful gesture I believe was a great statement on the promotion of family values.
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