The Future of Nigeria and Our Children: A Call for Wealth Creation through Entrepreneurship Written by MSUGH GEORGE NDER, Founder, Managing Director/CEO, EXIMIA SYNERGY As we look ahead to the future of Nigeria, we must ask ourselves some hard questions: What kind of country do we want to leave for our children? What kind of values are we passing down to the next generation? And most importantly, how are we preparing our young people to shape the destiny of this great nation? It is true that more Nigerians are going to school today than ever before. We see students crowding classrooms, graduating in thousands each year, clutching degrees with high hopes of employment. But the bitter truth is this: very few are willing to pay the price of creating jobs for others. Everyone wants a job, but few want the responsibility of building something that others can benefit from. Now, imagine Nigeria without the likes of Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola, Tony Elumelu, and other giants of entrepreneurship. These are individuals who decided to dream beyond a paycheck. They built companies, created industries, and in doing so, provided jobs for tens of thousands of Nigerians. Without them, our economy would be in a much deeper crisis. Imagine America without Jeff Bezos, without Elon Musk, without Warren Buffet. Imagine China without Jack Ma. These individuals changed the direction of their economies through innovation, enterprise, and the courage to act. They are not just wealthy—they are nation builders. Let us not forget, electricity was someone’s invention. The cars we buy and drive with pride were invented by visionaries. Facebook, which millions of Nigerians use daily, was created by a man who didn’t even complete his degree. Mark Zuckerberg built something out of an idea. That idea became a global empire. That empire employs thousands of people. That’s what entrepreneurship does. Sadly, in Nigeria today, the mindset with which many of us approach education is flawed. For most, the dream is to go to school, graduate, and get a job—preferably as a civil servant or in a bank. But the government alone cannot, and will never, solve our unemployment crisis. Most of the jobs we are all applying for are offered by private companies—companies built by individuals who refused to wait for opportunities and instead decided to create them. Our youths must wake up to a new reality: you too can create jobs. You too can own a factory. You too can build a product. You too can start a brand. You too can be the next Jack Ma. There is no law that says only foreigners or billionaires can build companies. The truth is, only in production lies true wealth. Nations that manufacture, invent, and innovate are the ones that rise. If we do not start creating and producing, we will always be consumers—forever dependent on others. Unfortunately, our schools are not preparing students to create wealth. We are churning out graduates, not wealth creators. Knowledge, if it cannot help you solve problems, create value, or generate income, is of limited use. Schooling should be an avenue to discover who you are, what problems you can solve, and how you can contribute to national growth. But today, schooling has become a path to frustration for many because it fails to ignite the entrepreneurial spirit. We are not taught how to think, how to create, how to innovate. We are only taught how to obey, memorize, and follow instructions. We must change this narrative. Invention and innovation must be celebrated once again. Technical skills, creative thinking, and problem-solving must become central to our curriculum. We must encourage our youth to dream, to dare, and to do. Dear Nigerians, the time to rise is now. If we want to secure the future of Nigeria and our children, then wealth creation must become a national obsession. Not wealth through shortcuts or politics, but wealth through ideas, innovation, and enterprise. You have what it takes. You have a mind. You have skills. You have access to knowledge and technology. Start small, think big, and never stop building. Your dreams are valid. And the future of Nigeria depends on you. MSUGH GEORGE NDER Founder, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer EXIMIA SYNERGY