INTERVIEW –Ayodeji Richard Makun, also known by his stage name A.Y, is a Nigerian comedian and film director. FinIntell caught up with him in Manchester recently during his AY Live UK Legendary Tour to get his view on the challenges facing Nigeria as an entrepreneur and the future of the Nigerian economy.
As an entrepreneur, what would you say is the challenge confronting Nigeria?
The challenge in Nigeria is that the problem there is multifarious. First, there is the issue of corruption. The level of corruption is the major determinant of the success of a government because it will determine how much work the government can effectively deliver to the people.
The task for this government should be to cut down on the massive corruption and put an enabling environment for investments to thrive because investors across the world are constantly looking for places where they can make money. Government does not need to talk much to woo investors; just show them the enabling environment and investors will come.
It is entrepreneurs that generate wealth for a nation not the government. The role of government is to create the environment and a level playing ground for all.
What do you see as the future of the Nigerian economy?
The future of any economy is dependent upon the sacrifice that the government is willing to take. With the wealth of abundance of human and natural resources that we have in Nigeria, there has to be a synergy between our attitude and what we have. If the government is willing to create an environment that will enable people to put their minds to work, Nigeria will emerge as one of the strongest economies in the world.
The federal government also needs to devour power to other states in order to balance up because the federal government is currently too powerful. Almost everything right now is dependent of the federal government and the budget it will release, and that gives the president enormous power. The fate of the whole country is dependent on one man which should not be.
Finally, to woo Nigerians in Diaspora back home to investment in the economy, Nigerian government must ensure security of lives and properties. The issue of kidnapping must be quickly addressed. Security and energy are the most important aspect of an enabling environment to create a brighter future for Nigeria.
