Entrepreneurship reduces unemployment and crimes in societies, raises the human spirit, and restores the dignity of mankind and nations. Nigeria for sometime has maintained a constantly increasing and alarming unemployment rate, which in part, is responsible for the recent menace or scourge of terrorism that we now grapple with as a nation. In the face of a significant body of socio-cultural and t
ribal problems that are fast snowballing into issues of national and international concerns, I take up the challenge to tell the compelling and inspiring stories of foremost businessmen and women whom I describe as partners-in-progress with the Nigerian government in building a stronger economy by contributing in no small measure to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP); and helping eradicating societal unrest by creating jobs for the teeming unemployed youths. I decided to produce a publication on Titans of Corporate Nigeria with the aim to raise awareness about positive stories from Nigeria that have been emasculated by negative ones. I seek to open the world’s eyes to see opportunities in the country. I hope the book will serve as a new reference point for budding entrepreneurs, graduates, corporate executives and investors, professionals, academics, opinion leaders, policy and decision makers, and government officials. As such the volume 1 of the book will be the first publication of its kind with 10/100 of the foremost entrepreneurs and corporate executives selected, profiled and written about by me – they are operate their businesses in various sectors of the Nigerian economy. The book has been five years in the making and promises to be a business and inspirational publication – such that helps in championing campaigns for attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), engendering entrepreneurship and thereby reducing social vices. Nigeria’s business environment first needs to be understood; the challenges that come with opportunities for investment and growth have to be comprehensively explained and demystified in order for us to appreciate what a business haven the country could be - and the Titans of Corporate Nigeria is the book to help achieve this. The inspiring and marvelous stories of unprecedented achievements of the visionary men and women therein will inspire and compel a paradigm shift. The patriots that I choose to chronicle, and how I present their stories in relation to Nigeria is a reflection of optimism I think, hope, feel and believe. The Titans of Corporate Nigeria will make us abandon the bird’s eye view that let us see everything from the sky above (the often exaggerated and inaccurate media reportage, and hearsays); it will make us embrace a worm’s eye view, trying to find the reality of the Nigerian business climate, as it comes right in front of us – it makes you see it, smell it, explore it, and see if you can expand in it. For me, the world of business, opportunity and challenges are inextricably connected – irrespective of which country it is on earth! I write the book with the intent of encouraging entrepreneurship and helping corporate players and investors navigate the vicissitudes of our business environment while celebrating genuine success stories of industry, resilience and patriotism of some business magnates. Indeed, I have written this unique book, telling stories of quintessential men and women with rare entrepreneurial drive, using real characters on the pages of real history, with Nigeria, the most populous black nation on earth and the strongest economy in Africa as it is setting.
– Ayo Aderemi-Davidson
