THE EMERGING FUTURE THOUGHT LEADERS

The kind of Nigeria we seek is already being defined today. Politicians, businessmen and public speakers have continually encouraged us to get prepared for the future, but the people who will be the leaders and shakers of the future are not complaining about the present, they are not even preparing for it, they are creating it- there are people who are creating, crafting, defining the future you will be living in tomorrow, today. Imagine sitting in front of the system like I am, I cannot operate my system without a mouse, touch screen, or keyboard. I cannot think outside the box and be creative when operating my office software – the control keys were already pre-determined by someone else. When you get home it is almost impossible to spend a week without touching a Dangote product. Someone is trying to define the parameters of my daily need. When I connect to my DSTV or Hitv multi-channel system, someone had already chosen the limit of the channels I can check out. Some people are trying to define the future you will live in tomorrow. 

                                      “You cannot afford to sleep walk into the future”.

Interestingly the kind of Nigeria we are building is gradually following the American model. The system of thinking entrepreneurship will build the nation, entertainment taking a major driving seat in the reshaping of our values, and musicians creating songs to define our norms and ideas. How else can you accept the public acceptance of Yahoo-yahoo (online scams) as an acceptable pastime without the input of an Olu Maintain. We need to pay attention to the direction of our growth.  Our dream democracy in America is on its knees today, begging for answers to the questions she created. Building businesses enhancing corporate establishments will not build the nation- only righteousness will. It is important to build in a way that what is built outlasts present sensations.

There has to be a system of managing the kind of Nigeria we want to build, we do not want to drive and build a Nigeria we would begin to cry against later. We are not seeking a Nigeria where everyone is in a desperate rush for survival, following latest ladder of opportunity available or advertised to others, are not crying for change in Nigeria not because life is not as peaceful as Dubai, or has more opportunities like China- we seek change because we cannot exist in a nation that cannot allow us to express our deepest values; values of equity and justice, which are hallmarks of an egalitarian society.

I remember with fondness, the great passion with which Blessing Awosika spoke with passion at The Platform, a programme organized by Covenant Christian Center. I remember her starting by saying that people should be careful not to run and start businesses because entrepreneurship is the next big thing- some people are called to work for others. It is important not to rush and follow the latest fad in town, from HYIPs to Stocks; hoping from one idea into another, it is important we understand how to manage the change we seek.      

I attended a meeting of the future thought leaders’ summit titled “BACK TO THE FUTURE”, somewhere in Gbagada. I could not make the Saturday meeting because I could not make it to the venue before the electoral curfew imposed on Lagos State took effect. this was an event organized by TSL Global initiatve led by Ernest Paul. It was a summit that further confirmed that the uncertainty and crises we have in the nations is the opportunity we have to define the future, to proclaim the principles of true life in every facet of human existence. In the true sense, there is never a true future without a pointer from the past- the future comes in circles.

It was powerful, but like most beginnings and programmes that seek to build, there was no hype, no gig, no pancake fixes, just the real meat – business-like. The future will reward those who not only prepare, but also plan TODAY in shaping the future.