By Dele Sobowale “Liars ought to have good memories”. Algernon Sidney, 1622-1683 VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, VBQ p 127. Read online. Right now, the nation, and indeed the entire world, is still confused regarding the situation with the two Port  Harcourt refineries. Suddenly, in the last ten days of November, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, announced […]

“FCCPC warns Ikeja, Eko Discos to halt metre replacement amid compliance concerns — Report, November 14, 2024. The story went on to say that “The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has issued a stern warning to Ikeja and Eko Electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) against plans to replace metres”. The FCCPC under Mr Tunji Bello […]

By Dele Sobowale “We eagerly anticipate the coming on stream of the Kaduna, Warri and Port Harcourt refineries before the end of this year, as promised by the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPCL, Mele Kyari. This milestone will not only end baseless rumours of monopoly but also position Nigeria as a refining hub […]

By Dele Sobowale “Currency outside banks hits N4.02tn  —  CBN.” Report. The story in the PUNCH went on to state that “Currency outside banks surged by 66.2 per cent in September 2024, reaching N4.02tn compared to N2.42tn in September 2023, a notable rise of N1.60tn in just one year.” It was speculated that some of the […]

By Dele Sobowale I am delighted to announce here today that just three days ago, the African Development Bank board of directors approved $100 million for the establishment of the Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank for Nigeria.” — Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank for Africa, AIDB, Friday, October 18, 2024. All the people […]

By Dele Sobowale ‘He is a fool who trusts to luck; one should play a safe game.” — Leo Tolstoy, 1828-1910, VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, VBQ, p 62. “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” — Alexander Pope, 1688-1744, VBQ  Sometimes a national matter likely to affect the fortunes of millions of Nigerians comes […]

By Dele Sobowale “Shock as banks record huge profit amidst gloomy economy.” Vanguard, October 7, 2024. History does not usually repeat itself; it is human beings, in various spheres of life who commit the same blunders several times; and the same consequences follow. According to the story by Peter Egwuatu and Nkirka Nnorom, “Earnings rise 132% […]

By Dele Sobowale “A man cannot gradually enlarge his mind as he does his house.” – Alexis de Tocquiville, 1805-1859”. African leaders also cannot gradually enlarge their minds just as they expand their appetites for self-enrichment and waste of public funds. If you are still wondering why Africa, especially the sub-Sahara part of it, has been underdeveloped […]

By Dele Sobowale “We must therefore not shirk from accusing our friends, or praising our enemies, nor need we be afraid of praising or blaming the same people at different times; since, it is impossible that the men and women who are engaged in public affairs should always be right; and unlikely they should always […]

By Dele Sobowale “It is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong.” – Jeremy Bentham, 1748-1832. Let me declare upfront that I am in total support of the two fundamental policies of Tinubu’s administration. Fuel subsidy had to go; and exchange rate needs to be harmonised. My disagreement was […]

By Dele Sobowale “An army marches on its stomach.”  — Napoleon Bonaparte, 1769-1821; Vanguard Book of Quotations, p. 14, available online Right now several millions of Nigerians’ stomachs are empty; and movement has virtually stopped. Unfortunately, it is not only the scarcity of food and high prices which are slowing us down, scarcity of all the things […]

By Dele Sobowale “Corruption remains one of the most significant obstacles to the progress and prosperity of our nations. It undermines the very fabric of our societies, erodes public trust, and impedes equitable distribution of resources”  —  President Bola Tinubu in an address to ECOWAS leaders A senior cousin of mine died recently, aged 96. During […]

By Dele Sobowale “Drought: Kogi Govt; farmers seek divine intervention.” “Despite harvest, food prices remain high in Taraba.” “Food crisis may worsen as flood hits 10 states.” “SEMA seeks govt help as drought dry up crops in four states.” “Why grains importation won’t happen soon, by stakeholders.” Like a sudden heavy downpour and thunderstorm, destroying […]

“Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, Nigerian Employment Consultative Association of Nigeria, NECA, and other business groups in Nigeria would be best advised to get their members to individually and collectively address the issue of permanent shrinkage of markets and inevitable loss of jobs.”

That was the verdict of a Management expert during the late 1960s and early 1970s. He used that declaration to warn managers of businesses to beware of thinking that the strategies, plans, products and corporate mind-sets which led to their success in the past and present will also ensure their sector leadership in the future. One President of S C Johnson Wax, a global leader in air-fresheners, insecticides and other industrial chemicals, in the early 1990s warned his global managers against complacency – which eventually afflicts successful companies or organisations. As American best selling author of the book, THE BRIGHTEST AND THE BEST, David Halberstam said about victorious Generals, “Most Generals are good at fighting the last war.