Sunday, January 13, 2008
Kenya: Lessons from Naija
Democracy has indeed failed Africa going by the happenings is this East African country. Nigeria last April was in a similar situation. After the 'election monitoring teams' have left the country, Nigerians voted for 'peace'. Following which all those who claimed not have rigged the elections as much as those who out-rigged them went to the courts. Mind you - the courts are the same democratic institutions just like the election itself that have been promoted as part of the panacea of all Africa's governance problems.
The outcome: more than four governorship, numerous senate, several federal and state parliamentary seats were declared vacant in readiness for another round of elections in affected areas. In one case in the hot-bed of the Niger Delta crises a governor was summarily dismissed and another sworn-in within a 48 hour period.
What else do you call this other than 'Nollywood paradigm', this time around applied to democracy.
Democracy has indeed failed Africa going by the happenings is this East African country. Nigeria last April was in a similar situation. After the 'election monitoring teams' have left the country, Nigerians voted for 'peace'. Following which all those who claimed not have rigged the elections as much as those who out-rigged them went to the courts. Mind you - the courts are the same democratic institutions just like the election itself that have been promoted as part of the panacea of all Africa's governance problems.
The outcome: more than four governorship, numerous senate, several federal and state parliamentary seats were declared vacant in readiness for another round of elections in affected areas. In one case in the hot-bed of the Niger Delta crises a governor was summarily dismissed and another sworn-in within a 48 hour period.
What else do you call this other than 'Nollywood paradigm', this time around applied to democracy.
Labels: Strictly Naija 2
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
A New Dawn
It has been predicted that economic growth that leads to reducing poverty levels in Africa is key to peace and prosperity for the continent.
This year 2008 should be a new beginning that would see this happening. Here in Nigeria we should endeavor to tap from the philosophy of resourcefulness and tenacity that we have seen with the 'Nolloywood Paradigm'.
All our waking hours should be devoted to finding out how we can create jobs for anyone who is willing to work using this same very Nigerian phenomenon.
It has been predicted that economic growth that leads to reducing poverty levels in Africa is key to peace and prosperity for the continent.
This year 2008 should be a new beginning that would see this happening. Here in Nigeria we should endeavor to tap from the philosophy of resourcefulness and tenacity that we have seen with the 'Nolloywood Paradigm'.
All our waking hours should be devoted to finding out how we can create jobs for anyone who is willing to work using this same very Nigerian phenomenon.
Labels: Strictly Naija
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
The Business of "Packaged Water"
When something is very common Nigerians refer to it as 'pure water'. Many people do know how this two-letter phrase got into common usage.
It was around the 80's thanks to falling oil prices, global economic recession and macro-economic adjustments directed by the World Bank and some 'voodoo economists' - public utilities notably water and sanitation began to crumble. The poor and not so rich continued to salvage whatever they could from available sources, making it safe as much as they could by boiling, filtering, adding some chemicals and other measures just to get adequate supply of this vital liquid. The rich and those who could afford it began to drink water packaged in plastic bottles purported to have been taken from some divine sources somewhere high up in the hills in Plateau State. This trend became a status symbol and of course the smart entrepreneurs were soon smiling to the banks. Other people followed using the same business model, creating several brands of what could have ordinarily been taken out of the tap pipped from the Utility Boards. Our senses were insulted with media adverts from the likes of Ragolis, Swan etc. What started as a little drop just to wet the grounds became a torrent, and so came Eva, Gossy, etc. You could even have them custom made for your birthday or wedding celebrations with your photograph on the package. Yes, you, your own very brand just for one occasion.
This is as far as the fancy plastic bottle could go because the vast majority of the over 140 million Nigerians have several uses for the cost of one bottle of packed water. Enter the Nollywood Paradigm: What if we could just put water in some transparent waterproof material strong enough to with stand tropical heat of over 30 degrees centigrades? We could easily make smaller packages, make them cool using ice blocks and hawk them at the motor parks, along the major roads in the city with heavy traffic. What about the water source? Never mind, we could sink a bore hole or we can buy the raw material from that politician on our street. What about NAFDAC? 'My Guy' we have to start first and then regularize the business. How much are we going to sell the product? Will poor people be able to afford it? You could have 10 for the cost of the smaller bottled cousin.
The result - another combination of raw talent and appropriate technology in defiance of the traditional mode of development. Now we could find this later version popularly known 'pure water' in every part of the country. No marketing, no branding , just an essential commodity made available in a form that is acceptable to consumers. It even delivers more than it promised. 'Pure water' has contributed immensely to the reduction of diarrheal diseases in children and thus cutting down infant deaths resulting from drinking unsafe water without the interference of doctors, nurses and all those pretenders from the Ministry of Health, Unicef and other donors. And poverty reduction - yes the UN will like this for its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) project. It has provided loads of employment to people from retired soldiers to retrenched civil servants and unemployed school leavers . Yes again, it is a major source of second income for those who work in banks, oil companies etc that invest in or set up such businesses. Even corporate organizations are not left out of this lucrative business - ask Coca Cola and May and Baker about how this has contributed to their bottom line.
When something is very common Nigerians refer to it as 'pure water'. Many people do know how this two-letter phrase got into common usage.
It was around the 80's thanks to falling oil prices, global economic recession and macro-economic adjustments directed by the World Bank and some 'voodoo economists' - public utilities notably water and sanitation began to crumble. The poor and not so rich continued to salvage whatever they could from available sources, making it safe as much as they could by boiling, filtering, adding some chemicals and other measures just to get adequate supply of this vital liquid. The rich and those who could afford it began to drink water packaged in plastic bottles purported to have been taken from some divine sources somewhere high up in the hills in Plateau State. This trend became a status symbol and of course the smart entrepreneurs were soon smiling to the banks. Other people followed using the same business model, creating several brands of what could have ordinarily been taken out of the tap pipped from the Utility Boards. Our senses were insulted with media adverts from the likes of Ragolis, Swan etc. What started as a little drop just to wet the grounds became a torrent, and so came Eva, Gossy, etc. You could even have them custom made for your birthday or wedding celebrations with your photograph on the package. Yes, you, your own very brand just for one occasion.
This is as far as the fancy plastic bottle could go because the vast majority of the over 140 million Nigerians have several uses for the cost of one bottle of packed water. Enter the Nollywood Paradigm: What if we could just put water in some transparent waterproof material strong enough to with stand tropical heat of over 30 degrees centigrades? We could easily make smaller packages, make them cool using ice blocks and hawk them at the motor parks, along the major roads in the city with heavy traffic. What about the water source? Never mind, we could sink a bore hole or we can buy the raw material from that politician on our street. What about NAFDAC? 'My Guy' we have to start first and then regularize the business. How much are we going to sell the product? Will poor people be able to afford it? You could have 10 for the cost of the smaller bottled cousin.
The result - another combination of raw talent and appropriate technology in defiance of the traditional mode of development. Now we could find this later version popularly known 'pure water' in every part of the country. No marketing, no branding , just an essential commodity made available in a form that is acceptable to consumers. It even delivers more than it promised. 'Pure water' has contributed immensely to the reduction of diarrheal diseases in children and thus cutting down infant deaths resulting from drinking unsafe water without the interference of doctors, nurses and all those pretenders from the Ministry of Health, Unicef and other donors. And poverty reduction - yes the UN will like this for its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) project. It has provided loads of employment to people from retired soldiers to retrenched civil servants and unemployed school leavers . Yes again, it is a major source of second income for those who work in banks, oil companies etc that invest in or set up such businesses. Even corporate organizations are not left out of this lucrative business - ask Coca Cola and May and Baker about how this has contributed to their bottom line.
Labels: Pure Water
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Nigeria's Mobile Telephone Financial Markets
Most adult Nigerians cannot actually remember that there was a time in this country when they lived without mobile telephones. But the mobile phone phenomenon is impacting on the lives of ordinary Nigerians in more fundamental ways. Apart from the common uses of talk...and Nigerians can talk and text messages, virtually all the features of any new model are being put to use as far as the network operators can support them. Thanks to the Chinese - mobile phone handsets are becoming so cheap that they have become party gifts for kids.
While these are expected trends, a more profound effect is that on the financial markets. I recently asked a banker about the competition in the funds transfer business within Nigeria. He went on to list the major banks, financial houses and then transport companies that have expanded into courier business - the likes of Edo Line, Chisco, ABC etc - which is an example of Nollywood paradigm in its own right. But he failed to recognise the cellphone service providers who provide the 'backbone' for millions of airtime transactions that are redeemed at a discount at millions of locations across the country. The average daily transactions may run into billions of Naira. This amount is outside the banking sector. There is no way for the Central Bank of Nigeria to capture this sort of data. A financial system in its own right, it has enabled people to solve emergency financial problems in a creative way.
Meanwhile, we still hear a lot of rhetorics around traditional thinking of making payments through cellphones while a functional system regulated by the 'visible hands of the market' has been put in place by Nigerians for Nigerians. In this day and age of globalisation, who knows how this phenomenon will affect the business of Western Union and MoneyGram. They should be worried or better still watch the space before this lucrative Nigerian market is eroded by yet another Nollywood paradigm.
Most adult Nigerians cannot actually remember that there was a time in this country when they lived without mobile telephones. But the mobile phone phenomenon is impacting on the lives of ordinary Nigerians in more fundamental ways. Apart from the common uses of talk...and Nigerians can talk and text messages, virtually all the features of any new model are being put to use as far as the network operators can support them. Thanks to the Chinese - mobile phone handsets are becoming so cheap that they have become party gifts for kids.
While these are expected trends, a more profound effect is that on the financial markets. I recently asked a banker about the competition in the funds transfer business within Nigeria. He went on to list the major banks, financial houses and then transport companies that have expanded into courier business - the likes of Edo Line, Chisco, ABC etc - which is an example of Nollywood paradigm in its own right. But he failed to recognise the cellphone service providers who provide the 'backbone' for millions of airtime transactions that are redeemed at a discount at millions of locations across the country. The average daily transactions may run into billions of Naira. This amount is outside the banking sector. There is no way for the Central Bank of Nigeria to capture this sort of data. A financial system in its own right, it has enabled people to solve emergency financial problems in a creative way.
Meanwhile, we still hear a lot of rhetorics around traditional thinking of making payments through cellphones while a functional system regulated by the 'visible hands of the market' has been put in place by Nigerians for Nigerians. In this day and age of globalisation, who knows how this phenomenon will affect the business of Western Union and MoneyGram. They should be worried or better still watch the space before this lucrative Nigerian market is eroded by yet another Nollywood paradigm.
Labels: send me credit
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
What are Nollywood practitioners doing that their literary counterparts are not doing?
This was the question posed by a commentator in one of the Nigerian weekly newspapers as the writer tried to explain the 'Nollywood paradigm'. It was obvious from reading the article that despite having a deep understanding of this phenomenon the writer was not able to properly define it. Consequently he was not able to measure it. However, he was able to apply it - although to a limited level.
I am referring to the article - Between Nigerian Literature and Nollywood; a stakeholder's comment - written by Mcphilips Nwachukwu and published by Sunday Vanguard, August 27, 2006. Interestingly the essence of this article is the very purpose of this blog site. Permit me to repeat the next set of questions that actually encouraged me to read the article further and of course the burning desire to make a critical review of it. "Does Nigeria literature need to learn from Nollywood in order to succeed? Can one business succeed by applying the success secret of another business? Does a baker need the secret of a banker to make a good bread?" The answer to all these questions is YES even if the two businesses are not related - contrary to the author's opinion.
The fact that home video(movie) and literature are closely related is pretty obvious. Therefore applying similar business models make the whole issue quite simplistic. The success of the home video industry is not because it is the time for actors and actresses to shine. Neither is it that households in Nigeria have increased disposable incomes to spend on leisure activities. Come to think of it. Like in all things in Nigeria all odds are against the movie industry. It would amount to a rhetoric to repeat all the known variables to succeed in Nigeria. One thing has become certain - a sea change has taken place in the way Nigerians think about themselves and tell their own story. No. I am not talking about Nollywood stories. But a change in culture of getting things done - getting on with it rather than bemoaning a bad or ugly situation. There are several examples, but for now let is focus on how the Nollywood business model can be applied across board.
As observed correctly - the first and most important consideration is business. Which also means that there is livelihood consideration. Even the Pastors and Prayer warriors that dot every street corner of this country know this. This is just common sense. That the basis of every human endeavor involves some form of economic transaction has been known to us for long. Before now musicians and artists in our villages get paid one way or the other. However, western education and economic model has made us to think otherwise. Now that we know better, things have started to look up.
The Nollywood paradigm as a change model is not new in Nigeria. No one old enough in Nigeria ever remembered how long it used to take us to get our money that we kept in custody with banks in Nigeria. The so called traditional banks then told us that there was no other way of doing it. Thanks to the 'three minute turn around' banks a.k.a new generation banks. Banks no longer kept seats for 'waiting and wailing' customers. People need not take sleeping mats to banks in case siesta catches up with them. Yes, that was the era of 'tally number'.
So are you surprised that the home video industry has reminded us of whom we are. Nigerians - self confidence bordering on arrogance. That this renewed awareness is being translated to models for development should be reassuring. That finally the Nigerian spirit has been given a name should be celebrated. So we can define and measure it. We can also apply it in all things that we do. Be it in writing poems - find some way of getting people who are interested in your poems to pay for it. Keep on at it. Get better at it. Get more people who otherwise would not be interested in poems to like them. Or you want to be a guru of some sort - just get on with it. But make sure your work (read business) does not only pay the bills and put food on the table but also provide enough for you to enjoy the good things of life. That is the message of Nollywood Paradigm.
This was the question posed by a commentator in one of the Nigerian weekly newspapers as the writer tried to explain the 'Nollywood paradigm'. It was obvious from reading the article that despite having a deep understanding of this phenomenon the writer was not able to properly define it. Consequently he was not able to measure it. However, he was able to apply it - although to a limited level.
I am referring to the article - Between Nigerian Literature and Nollywood; a stakeholder's comment - written by Mcphilips Nwachukwu and published by Sunday Vanguard, August 27, 2006. Interestingly the essence of this article is the very purpose of this blog site. Permit me to repeat the next set of questions that actually encouraged me to read the article further and of course the burning desire to make a critical review of it. "Does Nigeria literature need to learn from Nollywood in order to succeed? Can one business succeed by applying the success secret of another business? Does a baker need the secret of a banker to make a good bread?" The answer to all these questions is YES even if the two businesses are not related - contrary to the author's opinion.
The fact that home video(movie) and literature are closely related is pretty obvious. Therefore applying similar business models make the whole issue quite simplistic. The success of the home video industry is not because it is the time for actors and actresses to shine. Neither is it that households in Nigeria have increased disposable incomes to spend on leisure activities. Come to think of it. Like in all things in Nigeria all odds are against the movie industry. It would amount to a rhetoric to repeat all the known variables to succeed in Nigeria. One thing has become certain - a sea change has taken place in the way Nigerians think about themselves and tell their own story. No. I am not talking about Nollywood stories. But a change in culture of getting things done - getting on with it rather than bemoaning a bad or ugly situation. There are several examples, but for now let is focus on how the Nollywood business model can be applied across board.
As observed correctly - the first and most important consideration is business. Which also means that there is livelihood consideration. Even the Pastors and Prayer warriors that dot every street corner of this country know this. This is just common sense. That the basis of every human endeavor involves some form of economic transaction has been known to us for long. Before now musicians and artists in our villages get paid one way or the other. However, western education and economic model has made us to think otherwise. Now that we know better, things have started to look up.
The Nollywood paradigm as a change model is not new in Nigeria. No one old enough in Nigeria ever remembered how long it used to take us to get our money that we kept in custody with banks in Nigeria. The so called traditional banks then told us that there was no other way of doing it. Thanks to the 'three minute turn around' banks a.k.a new generation banks. Banks no longer kept seats for 'waiting and wailing' customers. People need not take sleeping mats to banks in case siesta catches up with them. Yes, that was the era of 'tally number'.
So are you surprised that the home video industry has reminded us of whom we are. Nigerians - self confidence bordering on arrogance. That this renewed awareness is being translated to models for development should be reassuring. That finally the Nigerian spirit has been given a name should be celebrated. So we can define and measure it. We can also apply it in all things that we do. Be it in writing poems - find some way of getting people who are interested in your poems to pay for it. Keep on at it. Get better at it. Get more people who otherwise would not be interested in poems to like them. Or you want to be a guru of some sort - just get on with it. But make sure your work (read business) does not only pay the bills and put food on the table but also provide enough for you to enjoy the good things of life. That is the message of Nollywood Paradigm.
Friday, August 04, 2006
Nollywood: A New Model for Progress or Reverse Technical Assistance
Over the years Nigeria has been integrated into the world economy only on the basis of her petroleum resources. Even the understanding of the western economic model by her people and their ability to out-smart it positively has been presented as criminal activities in many instances. Her leadership role as the country with the highest number of happy people on earth despite her failings has been noted as a paradox. Not with standing, Nigeria still maintains her prime position as the country that has made a billion dollar business out of religion - especially the Christian variety.
All these achievements and many more have not been given their due mention especially in the western media. But not any more. Nollywood is a world beater any day. In the avoidance of doubt - Nollywood is Nigeria's answer to Hollywood, Bollywood.... and all the woods of this world. Thanks to rare native intelligence combined with plenty of common sense.
We hear....."The French Cultural Centre in Nigeria wants to bring French movie-makers here to study our methods". How on earth can you make a movie in seven days, at low cost, enjoyed by over half the population of your continent and still get noticed by the world? And Yes at a huge profit too.
You may wonder if this is reverse technical support to the West or is it something else. Could this be the development model sub-Saharan countries and indeed the rest of the developing world have been waiting for?
The fact that the Nigeria's video industry is both profitable and self-sufficient is a clear indication that you can still win without cheating in Nigeria. That the movie industry has grown to be one of the bright spots in the nation's economy is also a demonstration of the possibilities even in the face of non-existent economic opportunities.
Who knows where her next leading role would come from? Her resilient people and even her economy that has defied all available economic theories are bound to pull another stunt. However, most credit reside with the rare breed of homo sapien found in this part of the world - homo sapien nigeriane - who in the face off all odds is able to re-create that elusive Nigerian Dream.
The lesson: If Change would come, it has to come from within and be sustained. The Nollywood pattern is definitely the direction to go.
Over the years Nigeria has been integrated into the world economy only on the basis of her petroleum resources. Even the understanding of the western economic model by her people and their ability to out-smart it positively has been presented as criminal activities in many instances. Her leadership role as the country with the highest number of happy people on earth despite her failings has been noted as a paradox. Not with standing, Nigeria still maintains her prime position as the country that has made a billion dollar business out of religion - especially the Christian variety.
All these achievements and many more have not been given their due mention especially in the western media. But not any more. Nollywood is a world beater any day. In the avoidance of doubt - Nollywood is Nigeria's answer to Hollywood, Bollywood.... and all the woods of this world. Thanks to rare native intelligence combined with plenty of common sense.
We hear....."The French Cultural Centre in Nigeria wants to bring French movie-makers here to study our methods". How on earth can you make a movie in seven days, at low cost, enjoyed by over half the population of your continent and still get noticed by the world? And Yes at a huge profit too.
You may wonder if this is reverse technical support to the West or is it something else. Could this be the development model sub-Saharan countries and indeed the rest of the developing world have been waiting for?
The fact that the Nigeria's video industry is both profitable and self-sufficient is a clear indication that you can still win without cheating in Nigeria. That the movie industry has grown to be one of the bright spots in the nation's economy is also a demonstration of the possibilities even in the face of non-existent economic opportunities.
Who knows where her next leading role would come from? Her resilient people and even her economy that has defied all available economic theories are bound to pull another stunt. However, most credit reside with the rare breed of homo sapien found in this part of the world - homo sapien nigeriane - who in the face off all odds is able to re-create that elusive Nigerian Dream.
The lesson: If Change would come, it has to come from within and be sustained. The Nollywood pattern is definitely the direction to go.
