Bavijas Review

“Nothing in the universe can stop you from letting go and starting over”  — Oprah Winfrey A few days ago, I was skimming through the life story of the iconic Oprah Winfrey, and her journey has lingered in my thoughts. Oprah had a challenging childhood. Growing up without proper parental love, and endured abuse from the age of nine until she bravely decided to run away from home. At just 14, she faced the hardship of a premature birth and the subsequent loss of her son. Despite facing countless challenges, she held onto a vision that transcended her immediate circumstances. She embraced numerous fresh starts, each leading to unparalleled success. Her story teaches us that resilience is merely about bouncing back. It is about embracing the power to start over, to reinvent ourselves.  I have witnessed individuals who, after significant business losses, dust themselves off and embark on a new beginning. Conversely, I've seen those who, facing similar challenges, surrender immediately,

On Tuesday this week, a 400-level student of Petroleum Engineering at the University of Uyo asked me why the Dangote refinery is sourcing crude oil from far away the US when it has NNPC Ltd. as its equity shareholder. And I gave him an honest response that went thus:  “Dangote doesn’t seem to trust NNPC Ltd much when it comes to crude delivery. NNPC Ltd has failed before, so it (Dangote) is taking an extra layer of supply assurance.” Manufacturers with large production output worry when their supply base can't deliver on their promise. It makes them vulnerable to demand disruptions and volatility, which, of course, are undesirable for businesses.   To avert this, they often depend on a list of external suppliers to cut lead times and achieve assurance of supply. This is exactly what Dangote is beginning to do to sustain its refinery operations since NNPC Limited, its equity shareholder, couldn't deliver as when due. I don't think Dangote broke any agreement with NNPC Ltd. b

L-R: Italian PM Georgia Meloni, African Development Bank Group President, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, Italian Republic President, Sergio Mattarella at Palazzo del Quirinale Countries around the world are beginning to take Africa for what it is: equal partners for growth and development.  On Monday in Rome during the Italy-Africa Summit, the Italian government unveiled a US$5.95 billion facility dubbed The Mattei Plan, prioritising energy security in Africa. In her speech, the Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni said the following:  “We believe it is possible to envision and write a new chapter in the history of our relationship, a cooperation among equals, far from any predatory imposition or charitable stance towards Africa. There is a natural inclination for Italy to be a bridge between Africa and Europe. The whole world cannot think about the future without Africa.” Italy sees Africa as a critical role player in its future growth and development plan. Africa has grown past the years when