During my undergraduate studies, though I had the means to meet my basic needs in my final year. The entrepreneurial spirit in me ensured I didn’t graduate without putting it into use. I discovered a need, and met that need. I realised the entire institution had no individual selling stamp and envelops, in an era of internet and IT solutions. Though unpopular as the idea was, I insisted on embarking on the business irrespective of the mockery I received from my peers who felt I was above such intent.
Two months after, I sold just a stamp and two envelops. That didn’t deter me. In the 3rd month of same year, the then Governor Ibrahim Idris gave green light to commence payment of student’s bursary and one of the conditions for all Kogi indigenes was to fill a form with a stamp duty attached. Wao! It was indeed huhuru as I realized more than 20,000 Naira within 3 days of selling stamps to more than 90% of the entire undergraduates at 20naira profit per stamp. That proceed was what I used to fund the publishing of my second authored book, while an undergraduate. Same book is now in the shelf of 5 United States Universities as a research material.
If given the opportunity to govern, I will reawaken the entrepreneurial spirit in several Kogites who are without jobs through training, empowerment and giving of startups either via grants or loans at a single digit interest. This will have a ripples effect on the economy of the state and as well, improve the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
The current predicament of the state, where the average monthly revenue is 5.13 billion naira and the average monthly recurrent is 5.24 billion naira thereby, running at a fiscal imbalance in debt stock, can only be nipped in the bud if Micro Small and Medium Enterprise (MSMEs) growth is made a priority, amongst other good intentions of my government, to grow the state’s economy.
Join me in actualizing this mandate. Say no to politics of calumny, and embrace politics of ideas.
– Sunday Bala Oma
Governorship Aspirant, Kogi state.
