For 10 days,that was between January 15 and 25, Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams, took a major leap in the business world when he travelled to Thailand to explore the business prospects of the Asian country.
The business trip wasn’t accidental. It was a journey that started about two years ago with the Thailand government and the business conglomerates.
Despite the initial postponements, the journey to Thailand offered better opportunities for the Yoruba Generallissimo and stakeholders in Thailand to discuss the prospects of building strong ties in several business projects.
Nigeria is the pride of Africa, with a big business environment, but the
ravaging spate of insecurity has made the country to become a shadow of itself among the comity of nations.
Communication giants like the MTN, AIRTEL and several others tried it and they confessed that the Nigerian market remains the best in Africa.
In the good old days, Nigeria was the giant of Africa. With its huge human capital and material resources,Nigeria dwarfed other African countries in many areas.
With the obvious challenges and risk resulting from the security situation in the country, many great countries still prefer to do business in Nigeria than any other African countries.
That was what triggered the business meetings between Aare Gani Adams and the Thailand business community recently.
Beaming with the joy of fulfilling one of his roles as the Yoruba generalissimo, Iba Adams set the ball rolling when he presented his all-inclusive business proposals to the Thai Chambers of Commerce, and Trade Association and they all agreed to partner with the Yoruba culture aficionado
While presenting his speech on the need to boost the business bond with the Asian country, Iba Gani Adams said he was pleased that his lifelong ambition was beginning to come to reality.
He added that the best way to explore the various business opportunities between Nigeria and Thailand is to strengthen the bond between the two countries.
Disclosing further that the reason for holding different business meetings with the Thailand business partners was to discuss the prospects of having a global business brand between Nigeria and Thailand.
He stressed the need for the two countries to create viable business opportunities that could enhance the possibility of addressing the various problems confronting the two countries.
In his words:”We seek investors and business partners that will work with us in making these projects a reality both in Nigeria and in Thailand.
“We intend to build a Thai-Nigeria Trade Centre,set up a new Oodua Farm Village and also build the Budiest Temple in all the Thai- Nigeria Trade centres.
Iba Adams added also that the three projects are futuristic in nature, insisting that it has been his desire to empower the Nigerian youths and women in his capacity as the Aare Ona Kakanfo Yoruba land.
Giving insights Into the prospects of the business,Adams told the world that the best approach for the success of the meetings is to remain focus on the need to strengthen the business prospects and bring about global gains and opportunities for the two countries.
Part of the gains of the global business parley,he noted, was the transformation of the business milieu in both countries.
While admitting that the global business environment is highly competitive,he added that with the huge human capital and material resources in Nigeria,it is possible to explore the business potentials that can help the growth of both Nigeria and Thailand, making the two countries the global business hub in the world.
Speaking further,Iba Adams said the purpose of the various business meetings with Chairman of Board of Directors and the Board of Directors of the Thai Chambers of Commerce and Board of Trade in Thailand,Mr.Sanan Angubolkul and other top business owners in Bangkok,Thailand is to expand the coast of Nigeria ‘s business and Yoruba land in particular.
He maintained also that he is looking at a better way of using the global inter- business relationship as tools to strengthen the bond between the Republic of Thailand and Nigeria.
In his remarks,president,Thai- Nigeria Trade Association and the host,Dr. Vorrakorn Chamnanpaisarn expressed delight at the various business parleys held.
He applauded the courage of Iba Gani Adams for bringing up an enduring business ideas and proposals that could enhance bilateral trade between Thailand and Nigeria.
Mr. San Angubolkul assured Aare Adams of a prosperous business prospects, stating that all the stakeholders in the Thailand business community would support the business idea to thrive and drive prospective customers to Nigeria.
He added that the visit of the Yoruba Generallissimo had been a major boost to Thailand business community,stating also that the Thailand business conglomerates will support the Thai-Nigeria business initiative.
In my view, the business will create another window of opportunities to explore the biggest market in Africa and that the Thai business partners are ready to work together as a team in driving that global market.
Apart from the three major areas specified in the Thai-Nigeria business initiatives,there are other areas of interest that the Yoruba generallissimo and the Thailand Trade Association agreed upon.
Other sectors highlighted in the business proposals include the education sectors,agric sector and other important sectors.
For instance,in Asia,China is the leading creator of businesses. As
one of the leading nations,Thailand remains the greatest beneficiary of the China business growth and development plan.
Whether we like it or not, it is very important to say that the Gani Adams’ Thailand trip was an eye- opener for the people and it is an opportunity to drive the tourism potentials of the country.
As the Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land,and Global Convener of the Yoruba diaspora organization,the Oodua Progressives Union(OPU)
presently in 96 countries across the six continents of the world,Iba Gani Adams has a global strength of using OPU as a vehicle to drive the business prospects in Yoruba land.
He is fulfilling his purpose, not only as the king of all warriors in Yoruba land,but as the sole purveyor of good tidings in Yoruba land.
Today, Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land has endeared himself to many people, spreading the gospel of unity,and peace beyond the shores of Nigeria and at the same time marketing the Nigerian dream and that of the Yoruba race to other countries of the world.
And as he rightly said during one of his meetings with the Nigerian Ambassador to Thailand, Oma Djebah,it is his life long ambition to create job opportunities for the Nigerian youths and women in particular.
That is one of the greatest legacies of the Yoruba generallissimo and we are still counting.
*Aderemi is the Special Assistant on Media, to the Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams.
