Nigerian Leaders Charged on Financial Prudence  

By Rebecca Ejifoma

Ebonyi State Development Association (ESDV) has urged Nigerians; especially leaders to acquire financial knowledge to enable them manage the nation well in the present economic situation.

Speaking during a seminar in Lagos organised for Ebonyi indigenes in Lagos State, the association’s President, Mr. Paul Ikele said, “We have a very sound economic system but we have leadership problem. We need to activate those economic facilities we have to begin to yield profits for livelihood of Nigerians.”

Ikele, who spoke on ‘Basic Financial Knowledge’, explained that the country has a lot of money but live in wastages. “The federal government has a lot of waste in infrastructure and otherwise while some people get involved in capital flight and that makes Nigeria a mono-country and dependent on others. We have all the money to feed ourselves. We have land enough to feed ourselves but we are fraudulent otherwise Nigeria is supposed to be a very rich country.”

The CEO of the Institute of Business Development described the seminar as a tool to assist their members to acquire knowledge especially financial knowledge. He called for adequate savings for retirement, noting that it was very necessary to enable them live better after working for many years. He added: “With financial knowledge, you will not be coached to go into criminal activities. In the end, you will know how to plan yourself under this economic dispensation to be a responsible citizen and contribute to your town union, the state and the country.”

Meanwhile, a retired Professor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), William Olugho, who enlightened participants on ‘Personality Building for Achievements’ and ‘You are the Creator of Your Experience’, hailed Ebonyi State. “We are proving the world wrong. We are becoming unique. We are bringing out what we have with quality.”
He urged participants to take home the lessons learnt and impact their people in the various communities for a change in attitude and development.

A participant and General Overseer of Great Grace Assemblies, Apostle Lazarus Alinweze,  lauded the leaders of the association for such seminar. “This is a good theme for the state, Having rated the seminar excellent at such a time in the country he called on members to stop looking down on themselves; take charge of their lives through practice, determination and faith. “If you must move to the next level, you must recognise opportunity is where you are,” he noted.