By Dapo Ipoola

According to that financial guru, Sonja Sadovsky, he said, “I define this as the ability to create monetary flow. This can take a variety of forms: cash, equity, commodities, etc. It is the art and science of numbers and probability. Many times I hear Pagan contemporaries describe the virtues of spiritual or emotional health, but rarely do we engage in conversations around fiscal health. We often use the excuse that we are focused on more “spiritual concerns” and avoid the subject entirely. Most conversations begin with suggestions for a specific incense, or money drawing spells. Then it derails into a litany of how the system is gamed to encourage failure.

“I do not dispute this assertion. Much like a casino, the house always wins. Yet folks still find ways to count cards and win profits. Sometimes they just get lucky. My point is that refusing to play the game creates a culture of ignorance. Just like any esoteric subject, there are certain patterns and rules to the game of finance. The weird thing is that many Pagans thrive on books and describe reading as important to learn and grow in their Craft, yet are functionally illiterate when it comes to financial matters. (It’s not just Pagans, but a widespread cultural thing. About 90% of my day job is explaining how this stuff works to all kinds of folks.). This is a self-perpetuating energetic drain on prosperity. Most of it is self-imposed, due to an emotional aversion to these topics. We think its cool to be against the system and refuse to educate ourselves, but then complain when we are always broke.

“Wealth is a concept that is firmly under the jurisdiction of Pluto. Alongside ideas of dynasty, legacy, espionage and betrayal, Pluto actually has many lessons for those who perceive the game is slanted, but need to play to win. Pagans like to speak about sustainability, but shy away from attaching that term to material reality. Not all of us, but enough of us for the stereotype of “Pagan poverty” to be viable. This is unfortunate, as most folks’ interaction with money is based on their acceptance or rejection of their parents’ monetary habits. Ironically, we have no problem choosing a new religious or spiritual orientation, but refuse to believe that Financial Wizardry is possible, or that one’s fiscal health is in reality, another orientation. We choose it. It is just a matter of learning a new language and relating to the concepts in a way that is empowering. Just like any convoluted occult study (like astrology) financial concepts can be translated, understood, mastered, and applied to positive use.

“This took me a while to figure out. My parents are not good with finances. I always had an adversarial relationship with money when I was younger. I saw it as a finite thing, and there was never enough of it. In college, I worked at a bank to learn more, but I still made mistakes. Got screwed up with credit, dodged bills, all of the things. Fun fact: you will get served with a subpoena if you quit paying bills on revolving debt. It wasn’t until I took the time to readjust my thoughts to a magical framework of finance, that things started to turn around. Money is energy. Nothing more, nothing less. 

Dr. Hauwa Nuru is a financial guru with fiscal eggheadedness to boost. She is intellectually and professionally hotheaded, and she is the Finance Commissioner. An astute manager of men and resources. She is an alumnus of Harvard Business School, a Fellow of the Certified National Accountant and Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria; a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management of Nigeria, member of the Institute of Budget Management and Administration, and a Doctor of Business Administration from Commonwealth University. 

She is a seasoned financial and accounting manager who has worked at different levels, both in PHCN and Eko electricity distribution company. As an accomplished financial expert, she was at different times managing partner, Hareedman Business Solutions Ltd.; General manager, District accountant, Principal manager, and Director of Ellah Lakes, an indigenous agribusiness company. 

Finance ministry is the most sensitive ministry because it manages the finances of the state, including controlling and monitoring state revenues and expenditures; the ministry mobilizes financial resources to finance government programmes, facilitates and participate in the negotiations related to domestic and national mobilisation of resources, collect revenue due to government.

Given her financial knacks and professional dexterity, the ministry has witnessed so many transformational developments like the implementation of the ease of doing business; expanding the tax net through the proposed enumeration of properties; citizens engagement across the state for various needs of towns and villages to be captured during budget preparation; prompt payment of salaries and timely releases of monthly allocation to all MDAs; clearance of backlog of pension, salaries, emoluments, and gratuities owed by the previous governments; fostered reforms in public service delivery, social development and economic prosperity; ensured transparency and accountability, and fiscal discipline in every transaction of the government; prioritization of quarterly monitoring and evaluation report of the state activities.

As regards the appointment of Dr. Hauwa Nuru as the Finance Commissioner, excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intension, sincere effort, and intelligent execution with pragmatic approach to knotty and intricate issues.

•Ipoola, a public affairs analyst, lives in Lagos