By John C. Enelamah
INTRODUCTION:
Nigeria scored 27 points out of 100 on the 2017 Corruption Perceptions Index reported by Transparency International . The index, which ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption according to experts and businesspeople, uses a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean. According to another report published by the Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), on average, Nigerians pay six bribes per year, or one every two months. NBS estimates the total amount of bribes paid to public officials amount to $4.6 billion in purchasing power parity terms—the equivalent of 39% of the country’s federal and state budgets for education last year. The report canvassed 33,000 households across the country about whether they had been asked to pay a bribe, and complied, between June 2015 and May 2016 .
UNDERSTANDING THE NIGERIAN BUSINESS CLIMATE:
The Business climate in Nigeria is therefore a challenging place to do business, but you do not have to personally compromise. People have often argued that no person can do business in Nigeria or even serve in government without compromising. However, how we live our lives is a matter of choice. The choice before us is how does one deal with the challenges of being a person of faith in a business environment that is sometimes harsh, hostile and demanding. Corruption is both systematic and systemic in Nigeria.The answer is to be both determined and prepared to hold on toyour faith. When one works closely with God, compromising is not an option. However, this is easier said than done. Living a life of integrity is a calling of a lifetime.
LIVING A LIFE OF INTEGRITY
To live a life of integrity, you will have to clarify your values. Your values define your boundaries and represent your highest ideals; what you are willing to live for. Defining your values is a sure way to build a strong foundation for your life. It starts with discoveringwho you are, understanding and defining your purpose and deciding your personal boundaries. Clarifying your values must be a deliberate, intentional and planned processand involves defining success for yourself. What does success mean to you? What are the most important things in your life? A person of faith must have his values clear and must be willing to live without avoidable pressure.
LIFE IS A MATTER OF CHOICE
How we choose to live is a matter of choice. God and the Holy Bible set before us life and death. The Bible was specifically written to act as a guide for those who will choose to do and live right. There are many examples of Biblical characters that stood for righteousness in the midst of conflicting circumstances. Abraham is such an example. God is a covenant making and a covenant keeping God. The benefits of living a godly life are generational and transcend time. I am personally convinced that only those who live by principles and have a strong personal conviction can withstand the pressures of a compromised society. The earth was created after a heavenly model and was given to man to rule and reign. The Nigerianbusiness environment is meant to function like heaven, but only Nigerians can make it happen.
THE CHRISTIAN IS CALLED TO CHANGE SOCIETY
We are God’s regents on earth. Our responsibility as Nigerians is to make Nigeria work. God created Nigeria and gave to Nigerians. Simply put, nations are built by men and not angels or any other type of being. The gospel of the kingdom also teaches that life on earth is governed and regulated by certain fixed laws. These laws are called principles. It is on the basis of these principles that men and nations transform. The key driving force of a nation and the bedrock of any nation that will industrialize is not technology or abundance of natural resources or a favourable climate. The economic indices by themselves do not transform nation. What changes nations and promotes nations is righteousness. Righteousness exalts or will cause one nation to rise above all other nations? What is righteousness? Righteousness is another word for godly and positive values. Examples of these values are integrity, honesty, diligence, delayed gratification, the fear of God, and respect for rules.
ONLY THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM CAN TRANSFORM SOCIETY
The gospel of the kingdom, which is the primary message of the New Testament,puts the responsibility of societal transformation on the shoulders of men and women. Society can be divided into spheres: Family, Religion/Church, Education, Government, Media, Celebration (Arts, Entertainment and Sports) and Economics (Business, Science and Technology).God calls Christians to live right and to transform society. Society is transformed through the transformation of the spheres.How does God transform the spheres of society? God calls each of us to make the most of our lives by discovering our calling and utilizing God’s grace to fulfill the same and in the process changing nations and transforming society.God’s grace is made available as ability, talent, passion and inclinations. The ability to trust God to grow your business and maintain integrity is a demonstration of faith in God, implicit faith in God.The Christian should never be desperate.Godlinesswith contentment is great gain. We came with nothing into the worldand we will depart with nothing.It is God that gives us the ability to be successful and he does not require that we compromise our faith.
DEFINING FAITH AND BUSINESS IN NIGERIA
Two notable men who were sent by God to Nigeria tochampionchange in the religious and business environmentsare Pa Sydney Elton and Mr. Richard (Dick) Kramer.Both of them at different times and in two different eraslaid solid foundations in the spheres of religion (faith) on the one hand and business and economy on the other hand. Pa Elton was English and was an apostle to the Nigerian church. Dick Kramer is American anda known entity in the Nigerian Business Community. He has lived in Nigeria since 1978. It was through Dick that Arthur Andersen and Andersen Consulting entered Nigeria. By dint of hard work, professionalism and a dogged commitment to living and doing right, he built two stellar organizations that became factories for raising professionals. Today those organizations have transitioned into Accenture and KPMG Professional services in Nigeria. In addition to these two organizations, many other organizations have been either founded or co-founded by the Andersen Alumnus.
OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE
In addition to Pa Elton and Dick Kramer, in my pioneering work with the Apostles in the Market Place (AiMP) Network, I have worked with and partnered with men and women who are people of faith and are making a difference in the marketplace.
Some of these notable men and women of faith who are still work in progress include, though not limited to:
Dr. Okechukwu E. Enelamah, who is the Honorable Minister, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investments and Co-Founder, African Capital Alliance. Mr. Enelamah believes that he is called to be an apostle of righteousness in the marketplace;
Mr. Olusegun O. Olujobiwhois the Chief Executive Officer, Vertex Energy. Mr Segun’s personal philosophy is absolute trust in God. God is his source and he is committed to carrying Christ into the marketplace;
Mr. Ayodele A. Adeboye of Econet Wireless International & Kwesi TV. Mr. Ayodele’s personal philosophy is that wealth at all cost is not worth the hassle. He is committed to a life of personal integrity and professional excellence;
Mr. Franklyn A. Nlerum is the Managing Partner of Paul Edmond, and a Special Assistant to the Honorable Minister, Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment. Mr. Nlerum was also thepioneer Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Rivers State Bureau of Public Procurement. Mr. Nlerum’s personal philosophy is that life is black and white and that it is either all for Christ or not all;
Mrs. Ndidi Nwuneli is the Founder of LEAPAfrica, a Co-Founder of AACE Foods and Partner, Sahel Capital and Agribusiness Limited. Ndidi is focused and has had to fight to maintain her personal integrity in a challenging business environment;
Mrs. Alero Ayida-Otobo is Chief Executive Officer at Incubator Africa. She left a thriving banking career to pursue her passion of societal transformation. Her personal philosophy is that change is possible and the Education sector in Nigeria can be and will be rebuilt;
Mr. Joseph Mbulu is the Transformation Director at Union Bank Nigeria Plc.Joe is a practicing Christian who has been relied on more than one occasion to transform an institution and put in on the part of profitability while playing by the rules.
YOU AND I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
All these men and women are work in progress, and represent a company of Nigerians who strive everyday to do right and live right. The calling of the change agent is to ultimately transform society.