July - September 2015 •
The Lion King
• 19
Akon on lighting Africa and Investments |
Business
He said African businesses must learn
to collaborate more often noting that
while competition is good, collabora-
tion can enlarge the coast for busi-
nesses and thereby create a bigger
pie for all. Businesses must therefore
find ways to encourage collabora-
tions in the work place, he said.
Akon also talked about being success-
ful, noting that success like anything
one does in life, cannot be taken for
granted. He said planning is the key
to success.
“Faith can only take us far. We need
to think carefully and plan for our
tomorrow” he said.
Speaking to the Tony Elumelu entre-
preneurs, Akon advised on how they
can get more investors interested in
their businesses noting that investors
are interested in the numbers.
“You have to be able to prove that
you can make profit. It is not just about
trust, you also have to be able to show
through the numbers that the business
can make profit,” he said.
On how he gets the inspiration to get
going even after making so much
money from music, he had this to say:
“Nobody wants to go down. The goal
is to get to that point where you are
at your peak, and then it is not about
success anymore, it is about legacy. I
don't want it to be about songs any-
more, the songs paved the way. It is
now about what I leave behind.”
Akon told the audience at the UBA
House that he believes that he has
been blessed by God and therefore
he has to reach out to others less for-
tunate.
“When God has put you in a position
where you are blessed, you realize
that you're a gift and it's the bridge to
why you are here on earth.”
Pictures (From Top - Bottom)
1.
L-R: UBA Chairman, Tony Elumelu with Akon
at UBA Head Office in Lagos, Nigeria
2.
L-R: Akon with UBA GMD/CEO, Phillips
Oduoza
3.
Akon in a group photograph with Tony
Elumelu Entrepreneurs from Nigeria, UBA
Executives and business leaders at the
Amphitheatre in UBA House
