Our billionaires ought to publish novels.

 

Occasionally, an idea can become so persistent that it takes on a life of its own the moment it's put on paper. Maybe that's what written language is all about. Strong concepts can be expressed using words. They have the power to alter people's lives in unimaginably powerful ways. 

The intergenerational value is maintained when it is written. I have a context in mind when I write something. An ongoing conundrum exists in civilizations that do not advance very far: people who have something to contribute barely write, and people who are written for do not read.

A few weeks back, I finished reading Andrew's book A Good African Story: How a Small Company Built a Global Coffee Brand Rugasira. What drew my attention at the time of purchase was the phrase "A Good African Story" in the title.

 I don't plan to review the book, but I appreciated that the author took the time to discuss the particular difficulties faced by African entrepreneurs who have a global perspective and ambitions in light of the enduring effects of pre- and post-colonial history in narrating their experiences. In my opinion, people who have accomplished great things ought to give back. They ought to put pen to paper. In this manner, anyone hoping to pull off a similar achievement might receive some guidance, or even better, some inspiration. In this regard, the contributions of African entrepreneurs can make a big difference. People who have taken this action deserve praise and celebration. Without a question, we require both more indigenous intellectual equity on the African experience and a more resilient indigenous African capitalist class.

Many of the prosperous individuals in Nigeria frequently do not view writing memoirs as a way to "give back." They might give a few speeches, provide a few interviews, or engage in other activities, but they won't write.

For instance, he poses the query, "What's wrong with Africa?" in Chapter 1. He makes an effort to respond, drawing on the works of academics as well as his own personal experiences as a young man growing up in Uganda under the harsh military regime and "African bigmanism." Even if the book is enlightening, I am constantly in awe of people's efforts a text.

 Here's what Rugasira has to say: Not a single one of the sixteen business titans on the continent honored on Forbes' 2012 list of "African Billionaires" has written a memoir detailing their extraordinary achievements. As a result, African entrepreneurs in the future will not be able to experience the pride and motivation that these incredibly inspiring tales would provide. This has to be changed.

I concur.

Given it was more than ten years ago, I made the decision to confirm what is still true now. There are 19 billionaires in Africa on Forbes' 2024 list. Four of them—Mike Adenuga (fifth), Abdulsamad Rabiu (sixth), Femi Otedola (19th), and Aliko Dangote (first)—are Nigerian. I am interested in the Nigerians on the list, obviously. None of our billionaires have published biographies or memoirs as of yet. That is insufficient.

 
When comparing then and now, a few things can appear to have progressed, "billions" of them. There were sixteen African billionaires in 2012; currently, there are nineteen. While there has been some improvement, there is still much more we can do. We must accelerate on the journey toward building a strong native capitalist class (in Nigeria and throughout Africa) propelled by innovation, true value creation, and a purpose that goes beyond financial gain.

A brief overview of our billionaires.


One has been the top performer in Africa for the past 13 years: Aliko Dangote GCON. In Nigeria and across the continent, Dangote is a household name. The Dangote model is the one that local musicians reference when they sing of their lofty goals. They aspire to be like him, Otedola, or Adenuga. Second, they rank among the world's greatest benefactors. A few of them have foundations of their own and have contributed significantly to health, education, and other causes. These are admirable attempts. Three, they're all four gone Dangote (67), Adenuga (71), Rabiu (63), and Otedola (61) are the sixty-year-olds. They basically have nothing to show anyone.

They had "arrived," as we say in Nigerian social parlance. These folks have achieved success in their own lives. However, I believe that their wealth—both individually and collectively—represents a small portion of what is feasible.

Why do I believe that writing memoirs is necessary for these Nigerians? The answer is straightforward: in order to make their achievements replicable. Sharing the seeds, not the fruit, is the most effective way to spread success. The How-I-did-it insights—vision, planning, disappointments, failures, perseverance, recoveries, support networks, and so forth—are the seeds. All of these are necessary components for someone to be successful. Achievement in Depending on how one interprets it, life is not exactly predestined. It is a component of the package for people who take on challenges they can't overcome. Life is a trip with many turns and turns that is rarely taken in a straight line. There isn't a single formula that works in every circumstance. Different dynamics are at work in different people's life. Certain things are under our control; choosing discipline over laziness is one such example. Similarly, there are other elements that we may not have any control over. For instance, having the good fortune to meet someone at the ideal moment or place, or going through a difficult event on a personal or professional level that forced one to prioritize what really matters.


My The main idea is that while life offers us certain lessons, some lessons come from our own experiences. Life has greater meaning when the two are combined. We witness the interaction through the narratives of great achievers. The values that were significant are evident. People who have accomplished great things in their own lives and who understand this fact about life ought to share. They ought to put pen to paper. Easy.

These people find that writing books encourages them to deal with matters honestly, even when it comes to details of terrible decisions made, deceptive acts, or acts done in the absence of sufficient information at the time. They might make an attempt to shed light on some contentious incidents that were handled poorly or to make their stance on other non-business-related matters more apparent.

Telling it as it is is the best approach. Sincerity matters. Writing these books is another large-scale mentoring endeavor in this regard. There will never be a time when a "billionaire" can meet everyone face to face. However, his tale and book have the power to impact them. I think that's priceless.

Of course, not everyone on the Forbes list should be a rich writer. Other Nigerians have achieved great success in different fields of endeavor. Numerous them contribute to society in various ways, including through their foundations. I cannot undervalue the efforts of some of these individuals who have penned autobiographies that are all-inclusive of their life experiences in the context of the argument I have attempted to present. I just finished reading From Storeroom to Boardroom: 

How Integrity and Courage Shape Global Business (2021) by Babs Omotowa. Previously, he was Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited's (NLNG) Chief Executive Officer. I have read a great deal of others throughout the years.

All things considered, there should be widespread encouragement of the writing culture.

Memoirs should be written by those who have changed history or made their nation and themselves proud. Nigeria, being a society undergoing change, requires more writers among its actors in the public service, business, education, and other domains.

 Being the first African-American to hold those positions—National Security Advisor in 1987, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1989, and Secretary of State in 2001—made history in and of itself! He co-wrote his memoirs, It Worked for Me:

 In Life and Leadership (2012), reflecting on his fortunate career in public service. I recall the poignant obituary written by Alex Otti, the current governor of Abia State, following his death in a post titled General Colin Powell's Last Command (published November 8, 2021). It was clear that he had studied Powell's memoirs and drawn his own conclusions. That's how things ought to be.

There is never too much of these literary works. A personal narrative may serve as the catalyst for the next revolutionary concept. Let the forward-thinking write for the behind-the-curtain. We need more regular people in Nigeria and around the continent accomplishing exceptional things in a variety of fields. It is the seeker who finds. Nothing has changed regarding the rules. Allow the children to discover something when they come looking for it. Set to work, Dangote, Adenuga, Rabiu, and Otedola!