THE PLATFORM (Stirring the Intellectual grassroots of a Nation )

Below are excerpts from the platform held on the 2nd of October 2010.



Pastor Poju

TOPIC: Building Community Organization

Don't think you can live for yourself alone and not participate in the development of your nation because no matter the level of your success, unless in exceptional circumstances, you will ultimately be defined by our collective (Nigerian) identity whenever you leave the shores of this country.

Whoever will go into office must have turned 10 from 10 (citing the parable of the dollars.)

Once you succeed as an entrepreneur the next level is solving social problems; That is where the greatest fulfilment lies.

There are two types of people in this world, they are not the haves and the have-nots but the have some and the want mores; So find what you have.

Have a heart of gratitude because gratitude is the great multiplier.

For our nation to change it has to be from the bottom up. Community organisations such as Organising for America, The tea party movement have proved that this is possible.

Building Community Organizations
1. Find out why I want to do this; That becomes your story.
2. Call people that can give capital(cash,expertise etc) to that project to join you.

Prof. Yemi Osibajo, (SAN)

TOPIC: Laws that make nations great.

These were the laws that the puritans (16th & 17th century English protestants) used in creating the successful nations in Europe, America and which the Japanese got from the Iwakura mission 1871.

1. Hard work and Creativity
2. Integrity
3. Respect for credit and obligation
4. Frugality
5. Rule of Law & Maintenance of Law and Order
6. Payment of taxes and dues
7. Altruism


People in Government must be picked by merit.

Recognition of diligence is the first law of greatness.

Time is the factor within which we have been given to attain greatness. So we must take it seriously; your work ethic, timeliness, not allowing visitors during work hours. Most things are measured in time.

The average Chinese worker is nine times more productive than the average Nigerian worker (Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala)


Trust is the most important currency in the world today. We need a person whose word is his bond.

Every great society has successfully developed a system where credit (Obligations & Promises) is respected.

Frugality is the careful use of resources, have an attitude of saving. Africans love to engage in invidious consumption, use resources for things that will benefit the others. Save for what is most important but enjoyment and entertainment is with the left over.

Policing has to be local and native to the environment.

Payment of tax ensures that the government is made accountable.

Altruism (& Patriotism) is the selfless concern for the welfare of others. What have you done for others lately?

Pastor Sam Adeyemi


TOPIC: Rise take up your bed and walk.

Jesus did what he could do; He healed the leper and told the leper to do what he could do; Rise up take up your bed and walk.

What will Nigeria's next 50 years look like?

You need to be grateful because in life everything doesn't fail at once in your life some things are working.

You have the power to change your life use that power!

God will never do for you what he has given you the power to do!

Prayer alone won't get things done e.g: prayer doesn't build roads or power stations. You need a combination of humanity and divinity to get things done in the world.

The most powerful form of government is self government.

The Key to self government is self discipline; Aligning yourself with principles brings order.

What principles and values are you living by?

The problem that Africa has been having is that, African culture does not value principles. Africans are mystical in their approach to life but this world is controlled by principles. God is a God of principles when you practice principles they become your values.

The greatest challenge Africa has is it's value system. No human being in Nigeria is More Important than the other. Leaders are just “primus inter pares” first among equals.


Where To Start.

1. Discover who you are. You are Created in Gods image; Whatever God doesn't deserve you don't deserve it.
2. You are not poor.
3. Have a dream and set plans to accomplish it.
4. What value are you offering.

Align your life with the principles.

Opeyemi Agbaje.

After all the planning comes the Strategy Execution; Acting to do that thing this is where most miss it.

Sequencing
Processes that guide execution
Systems&Technology(e.g. do you have a visitors book)
Structure
Measurement
Milestones
Review
Details/Tactical
Culture & People
Delegation & Empowerment
Incentives & Rewards
Feedback.

Competitive Advantage is the value you create that exceeds the cost of creating it. Value is what the buyer is willing to pay. You must be sure that you are creating superior value to what is being created.

Study Porters Generic Strategies.
Study Porters Value Chain Analysis.


A changing market context; Market context is dynamic.

Factors affect market context
1. Convergence
2. Global Lifestyle
3. Info Revolution

Blue Ocean Strategy. Looking for you own blue ocean.

Leke Alder.


There is a business model for small businesses and another for large businesses.

Applicable Knowledge; Wisdom is the principal thing. Return on knowledge = Return on capital

Take the initiative do something.

Presentation Matters. How can we take you serious if you are not serious about your idea.

Listen to the still small voice in your heart.

We are the Oct 2 generation its our time to correct that which the Oct 1 generation could not.

Great Leaders are molded by their difficulties.

Thelma Ekiyor


TOPIC: Philanthropy & Nation building


Philanthropy can be defined as private initiatives to promote public good.

Billionaires and millionaires in developed countries are always trying to use their money to create the kind of environment they wanted to see.

Nigeria lacks sufficient philanthropists, Foreign philanthropists contribute far more to the nation than their Nigerian counterparts do.

The developed nations have been successful in institutionalizing philanthropy.

When you are an advocate of change you will face opposition. During this time of opposite look for good company, people who share the same ideals, tell few people about your dreams.

The Same power available to God is available to you.

Philanthropy is like a virus. Let's spread the virus.

Professor Adebayo Olukoshi


TOPIC: Civic Culture; What has gone wrong in Nigeria?


We need to be comparing Nigeria's progress with its counterparts in East Asia (Malaysia,Vietnam,Singapore) and not with other African nations.

What is the legacy of the colonial era?

The Economist sometime ago released a publication tagged "Africa the Hopeless Nation."

In his book the bottom billion Paul Collier suggests some radical ideas for tackling Africa's problems.

Africa has become a burden to the western world every solution throw in to Africa has failed and the western world sometimes question Africa's ability for self prognosis. We need to start solving our problems now so that we are not systematically colonized all over again.

Good Leaders are people who seek to reconcile things in the society.

Be the change you want to see in the world.

Mrs Ibukun Awosika.


What truly changes our lives is what we do with today and tomorrow.

We(Nigerians) need to talk to ourselves what exactly do we want?

Nigerians are dynamic and resourceful. We create businesses out of nothing.

Nigerians where has our fire gone? In time past you dare not insult the intelligence of Nigerians. Have we forgotten who we are?

The future of Nigeria is in the hands of the young ones those under the age of 35 because they constitute approximately 70% of the population. It is how they vote that will determine where the elections will turn. Young Nigerians should vote for the Nigeria they would love to live in.

There is dignity in for fighting for what is right.

A nation gets built when it's people are ready to build.

A nation gets built when its citizenry decide it's time to build.

You cannot reap what you do not sow invest in praying for Nigeria. Deuteronomy 29:29

The choice to rebuild the nation is our choice. Its time to build from bottom up.

We need to engage the inductive effect; changing Nigeria one person at a time. To propagate change influence someone and let it spread on.

I AM BECAUSE WE ARE.

We need to understand the implications of our actions. We need to stop accepting what is wrong as right. We need to stop acting like a people without a right. Stop acting Like a people without a right!

Nigeria is bigger than you or I. Even if you are standing alone persevere for ultimately you will see others joining you very soon.



Links

http://theplatformnigeria.com/

http://enoughisenoughnigeria.com

http://governance500.org

http://enterprise500.com