By Charles Adingupu

Renown industrialist and entrepreneur, Chief Sonny Odogwu, the Ide Ababu of Asaba Kingdom, his  advised the Federal Government to shop for foreign investors to  help  Nigeria  harness our human and natural resources.

He charged  government to evolve a  system that will allow capitalists to thrive.

He stated that the government must realise that Nigeria is a consumer nation with  a large population. “I consider  it slightly dangerous trying to get ourselves in industries that make the Western nations survive”, he stated.

“If we limit ourselves to the provision of raw materials for the industries to thrive, we can do very well on just that. In time past, we did it when we provided rubber from the then Bendel State which was used for the manufacturing of most plastic products including tyres. We also have other raw materials too numerous to mention.

“However, if Nigeria must venture into industrialisation, let it be on a small scale. In other words, our industries must not compete with that of the foreign investors. Though, Nigeria has the human resources, it lacks the materials and technology to drive the research that would encourage the growth of indigenous industries.

“But fortunately, the governments of Brazil, India and Nigeria are still making the same mistakes. These led to the extinction of our steel and petro-chemical industries. We can succeed if we allow the West to harness our materials and lead them to drive our resources.”

What government must do

Odogwu suggested that the federal government should limit indigenous firms to concentrate on small scale industries for now and allow foreign investors to use our resources to manufacture goods for export. “The government should create human and material infrastructure. The foreign firms will pay tax and generate employment for the teeming jobless youths. China is currently manufacturing goods for America.”

We must invest in tourism

The celebrated hotelier and a man of wealth who ups the ante in the hospitality industry in Nigeria disclosed that there are great promises in the tourism industry in Nigeria.

The Ide Ahaba who noted in dismay that Nigeria has many tropical land which are currently under-utilised and wasting away also stated that apart from the vast lands available, “we have enough wild life, animals, mountains as well as human and material resources to make fortune from this sector as well as enhance our economy. According to him such move would help to bail Nigeria from her mono economic status”.

He went on: “Switzerland economy depends mainly on tourism and banking. Tourism has remained the largest foreign earner for most countries in Europe and Asia. We don’t need any aid but investments. We want the Western nations to invest their money and we shall encourage them by giving them land and creating an enabling environment for them to succeed. We don’t need loan, but help us to stop corruption.

“Also, a country like UAE whose economy is largely dependent on tourism today, exports flowers as a means of foreign earning. Nigeria as a nation has the potentials because for every five black man, there is always a Nigerian there. How do we expect to survive if we still continue to nurse fear. Let’s give the white-man a comfortable place to come and establish.”

The bane of corruption

Odogwu believes  corruption in Nigeria is being taken out of context. According to him, the level of corruption in Nigeria today is largely because of the gradual fading away of our rich cultural values.

“The invasion of capitalism into our tradition makes a mockery of the liberalism embedded in the capitalist system. The African tradition does not encourage stealing in whatever guise.”

He advised the Federal Government to create a better social system that would cater for the elderly and the jobless youths in Nigeria.

“In Europe, governments create convenient environment for people to live happily. Such countries make education free for her citizens, the elderly are well taken care of, the health system is functional and there is social security for the unemployed.

“We have suffered for almost 60 years and we cannot continue suffering. Let us challenge and fight against those vices that set us back. We must learn to love ourselves and live in unity. We shall succeed. Corruption in Nigeria will reduce. But if we dissipate energy fighting corruption because the West says we are corrupt, then, there is problem,” he said.

How to tackle corruption

The Ide Ahaba expressed optimism that one of the ways the nation would be corruption free is to resort to our inherent rich culture, which is laced with respect for human dignity.

The business mogul disclosed that in Europe, at a certain age, every citizen is expected to join the military because it is the foundation for enforcing discipline and nationalism. Why can’t it happen in Nigeria? he queried.

Chief Odogwu however disclosed that in Europe it is compulsory for every citizen at specific age to enlisted into the army because it is a foundation for enforcing discipline and nationalism. Against this backdrop, he advised the current government to put in place a perfect social security system that would help to put corruption to check.

“It will be proper to put a working system that will address corruption. Whenever incidence of corruption arises, it behoves on the government to look at the system,” he said.

Beyond these, the Ide Ahaba advised the government to tackle unemployment frontally, as well as poor social services, infrastructural decay, and create enabling environment for competition among youths to thrive.