SAN FRANCISCO, August 02, (THEWILL) – Nigeria’s former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Wednesday declared that Lagos will become the third largest economy in Africa before he leaves planet earth.
THEWILL recalls Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, as disclosing last December that his administration is making frantic efforts to make the state Africa’s third largest economy from its present fifth position in the continent.
Obasanjo reiterated this position during the launch of a book entitled, “Making Africa Work”, co-authored by him alongside the Director of Brenthurst Foundation, Greg Mills; President of NEWSEUM, Jeffrey Herbs, and a retired major general, Dickie Davis.
The ex-president observed that the Lagos State government is working towards making the state an economic hub, which he jocularly said would come to fruition before he passes on.
Obasanjo, who chairs the Brenthurst Foundation, disclosed that plans are underway for the foundation and Lagos state government to make the state the third largest economy on the continent.
“(Even though) People said I look like someone who is in the departure lounge, Lagos will become the third largest economy before I take my boarding pass,” he said.
The former president also argued that Africa is not a poor continent but was only poor by choice.
He further enjoined Africans to focus on wealth creation and job opportunities, saying the continent should complain less about poverty.
According to him, “Africa is poorly managed. We are poor by choice (and) we will also get out of that poverty by choice.”
