Oluyomi Ola-David Insights

For those who know already and for others who may care to be informed, Africa is the next global engine of growth. The next civilization that will make the achievements of the West pale into insignificance is emerging from the hitherto 'third world'. You can safely engrave these words in gold. Africa and its national policy environments are becoming most favourable to foreign direct investments (FDIs) as against portfolio investments, because FDIs tend to be more value- and employment- creating than portfolio investments. Development literature also attest to the knowledge spillover and demonstration effects from the presence of foreign firms in domestic economies. Moreover, the launch of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area  signals a new trajectory for the Continent's contribution to global trade and value-chains. All these are signals to smart investors who may seek to gain a first-mover advantage in specified areas of goods and services delivery on the Continent.  It

As I reminisce on the history of Independence in various African states, the glamour and the euphoria of liberty, with particular interest in the experience of Nigeria – the land of my birth. I am reminded of the celebration that ensued upon the expulsion of Mr. Jones and his men from the Manor Farm in George Orwell’s Classic, 'Animal Farm ’. In a speech motivating the animals to fight for their freedom, Old Major painted on the minds of his fellow ‘comrades’ a picture of a new world, which they could only access and possess after their gaining Independence from the oppressive rule of Mr. Jones and his likes. Oh how they relished the allure of freedom! Freedom from misery and slavery, which comes with an opportunity to own all they would ever produce without fear of external subjugation. Almost overnight every animal would become rich and free! Little did they know, except for the ‘cleverer’ of the animals, that following the eviction of an imposed master and a d