The extraordinary immigrant from South Africa – Elon Musk just dethroned (probably) for good Jeff Bezos the founder and former CEO of Amazon, the former richest man in the world who dethroned Aliko Dangote’s pal Bill Gates. Among the three billionaires mentioned above, only Dangote made his wealth outside information technology. Only Dangote’s wealth was and is still sustained failingly by monopolistic policy from different administrations who should have created a level playing field for the hardworking Nigerians who often wake up to experience tribalism and nepotism in all levels of government. From sugar to cement and other commodities Dangote’s wealth can be credited to his hard work, intelligence and resilience but also to waivers that waved his competitors into bankruptcy at the detriment of Nigerians in terms of competitive commodity prices and the Nigerian economy in the long run. The job created by the Dangote group and the contributions to their source of livelihood cannot be overstated, however, this has always come at a cost. In developed nations antitrust fillings would have been filed against the Dangote group for stifling the competition. Similar to what has been done to Bill Gates’ Microsoft in the United States and Google in Europe. The group would have paid huge fines and made to amend their ways.
The news of Elon Musk becoming the richest man in the world gladdens my heart for many reasons. The first is that though Musk was not born poor, after immigrating to North America, he witnessed hardship and the kind of hustling and doing of dangerous menial jobs reserved for the poor and underprivileged. The second is that once again the creation of wealth via one’s talent has been validated because Musk’s talent as a computer programmer started his steady rise to the top of the Forbes list. In this age where Ponzi schemes are masked as network marketing platforms ranging from the sales of insurance, nutrient supplements, and cryptocurrencies, Elon Musk’s rise is a reminder that using your talents to create goods and services is arguably the surest way to becoming wealthy. From Jay Z to Kanye West and Rihanna, the story is the same. America and China continue to create more millionaires and billionaires because of the strength of their domestic market which we have in Nigeria. This strength is further strengthened by the international demand for their goods and services. Entrepreneurs like Musk who add value to humanity either by creating a better online payment platform like PayPal or environmentally friendly automobiles like Tesla or Space exploration companies doing better than the old guard like Boeing are highly rewarded accordingly.
It is in this regard that I call on younger Nigerians who believe that they have what it takes to create goods and services for Nigeria, Africa, and the world to switch on their creativity and create. The world is waiting for the manifestation of the sons and daughters of Africa. We are in a unique time in history where your creativity plus maximizing the internet can upgrade you to millionaire status within a decade of starting your start-up. Wizkid recently appeared on the Billboard Top 10 with his song ESSENCE featuring Tems and Justin Bieber. He could use his following like Kanye West to launch other lucrative ventures. Nigerian sportsmen like Victor Osimhen and Anthony Joshua who are world-class can become the next sporting billionaire like Michael Jordan. This is the time to discover, develop and deploy our God-given abilities to bless humanity and be rewarded handsomely.
If you are a comedy skit producer like Real Warri Pikin or a bank teller or marketer or even jobless, know the world is waiting for your goods and services. New wealth created with the help of the internet has dethroned old money time and again in the last three decades in many nations. Nigerians must join this good trend that will see one of us dethroning the likes of Aliko Dangote and Femi Otedola whose wealth is heavily linked to national assets and tribal privileges. The internet is a global asset that can be accessed by all, unlike the oil blocks and national assets that produced many older billionaires. I have enlisted into the group of younger Nigerians who will use their God-given talents to start legitimate enterprises to dethrone the old guards. America’s 745 billionaires are now worth more than $5 trillion combined, up from just under $3 trillion in March 2020. There is money out there to be made legitimately! We must join the rich list with legit businesses to free Africa from evil and unreasonable men and women and start an era of peace, progress, and prosperity.
Ata Ukuta, Editor – www.towncryyers.com