Identifying opportunity in importunity
Ajanlekoko, an electrical engineer, is a Senior Manager in one of the telecommunication companies operating in Nigeria. He earlier made same post on Nairaland.com
I had car trouble some years back, and had to hitch a ride with a friend home. We were stuck on 3rd Mainland for almost an hour, and he asked me ‘Don’t you think there is something we can do, some kind of business opportunity, seeing as more than 3 million or so cars are stuck in traffic in Lagos everyday? You’ve a creative guy, that’s what you do, think!’ And I burst out laughing.
You see, for many years, I used to think like this my friend. And basically, that’s how the average Nigerian living in Nigeria thinks. When we were in primary school, there was this Yoruba poem we learnt, titled ‘Ire ti o wa ninu ibi’, meaning, the Good in Evil. The poem basically said look at doctors, grave diggers, casket makers, lawyers, executioners, etc. They make money from someone else’s misfortune. So therefore, there must be a good thing to be derived from someone else’s misfortune?
But let’s look at this critically. Is it really a good thing to profit from someone else’s misfortune? Find opportunity in importunity? I’ve thought about it of late, and made a personal conclusion, which is what influenced the answer I gave my friend.
I told him ‘Look, there is no solution. Government should just do what they should do, build more roads, repair bad ones, create new routes. After all we pay them taxes, and we have oil money. What else should we do?’
I guess what he was expecting was for me to propose some kind of telecoms solution that enables commuters to maybe get MMSs of gridlock spots, or some kind of traffic alerts. For what? So they can sit in Sue bar for hours waiting for traffic to subside? It’s not like the information will change anything. Today is Thursday, and everyday since Monday I have spent 2 hours between Ikoyi, where I work, and Ikeja, where I live.
I think we all need to stop deceiving our selves that we have found any solutions. Those solutions are not individual solutions. Government should solve the major problems with the nation: food, clothing, shelter, infrastructure, public transportation, etc. Once they do that, they can watch and see how things will fall in place.
Your thoughts?
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NB: Ajanlekoko originall;y made this comment in 2009. I think AJ has missed an opportunity. Today, 4 years later, traffic reporting is now big social ventures in Nigeria: there are traffic alert apps, traffic radio, traffic tweeting handle that has won international award. Maybe you and your friend may have pioneered this. So, looking back, AJ, don’t you think this opportunity your friend identified was wrongly dismissed, since you knew our government would not do whta you preferred?
Jarus
Hehehehe….. My views have not changed, really. It is much better to create an environment where people can flourish, rather than an opportunistic society. I still had this very same argument with some colleagues about this yesterday.