In commemoration of Nigeria’s 60th anniversary of independence from Britain, Forbes Africa highlighted “The New Tycoons” featuring Iyinoluwa Aboyeji (Founder of Andela, Flutterwave and now Future Africa), Farah Ashiru Jituboh (Co-Founder & CTO, Okra) and Obi Ozor (Founder, Kobo 360).
Also celebrating their 9th anniversary, Forbes Africa is the primary source that is “documenting the present for posterity and the countless stories of entrepreneurs and visionaries taking us into the future.”
From their site: “The Covid-19 pandemic may have come right in the middle of the country’s mid-life crisis, but there is hope in the form of its tech innovators and the resilience of its growing youth population, cementing its never-say-die attitude. We focus on these young leaders, and also include a state-of-the-nation report with commentary from the top billionaire and multi-millionaire titans on how they are strategizing their business models in the new normal.” You can get your digital copy here.
Iyinoluwa Aboyeji had this to say in his love letter to Nigeria for her 60th birthday:
Happy 60th Birthday Nigeria.
If you were a civil servant today would be your retirement party and shortly after we should send you back to the village but we are worried you might get kidnapped. In any case rest easy the youth who should get your hand over notes are at home as the universities are on strike or unemployed because they don’t have the skills to do meaningful work. You say they – not you – should go to the village and farm but they’ll probably be killed by a bandit who makes more so why risk life. They are patiently waiting a never-ending turn. But perhaps if they watch enough premiership games and argue with strangers on twitter about Big Brother, maybe trend a few dance challenges on instagram and TikTok – somehow they’ll figure out like those Ma(r)lians did that despite your stern exterior and bellowing voice, at 60 you are so frail they don’t need your permission to push you out of your chair and sit on it. When that day comes, I’ld love to see how they rise to challenge of rebuilding this complex nation in their own image. In the meantime I pray; that our youth learn the truth about how our nation was built by a self-perpetuating cycle of blood money and violence it must heal from; that our youth grow in love for each other because we can’t afford to inherit our parent’s tribal enemies; that our youth have honest conversations about who we are and who we need to be to attain those lofty heights we blame prior generations for falling off. And in the end, we make a commitment to rebuilding Nigeria as one, undivided nation where peace, prosperity and justice reigns.
Happy Independence Day, young Nigeria.
It is time to Lead.