Dr. Awa Ibraheem, the Chief Executive Officer of ICMA Professional Services, a company engaged in integrated consulting, management, and accountancy services, has observed that the ongoing economic reforms by the present administration are building a foundation for a better future for Nigerians.
He noted that the fuel subsidy removal and the floating of the naira were steps towards resetting the economy which however takes time to bear fruits.
Ibraheem spoke in a chat with our correspondent recently in Saudi Arabia where he performed the 2024 Hajj on the invitation of King Salman Bin Abdul-aziz Al-Saudi.
The renowned accountant, philanthropist and international businessman was one of the over 2000 invited by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the programme of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdul-aziz Al-Saud for Hajj, Umrah and Visit.
According to him, the economic challenges have always been there and called on Nigerians to assist the government with prayers to succeed in its present endeavours.
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He said, “Remember that we have been on this economic issue for a long time, some people have been there for the past two or three decades, we just got another set of government who has started resetting it.`They started from removing subsidy, floating the naira. When you want to do this type of things, it first comes with hardship, it’s not unexpected.
“I believe that all the perceived suffering now is building a foundation for a bigger relief that will come to Nigerians in the nearest future. So this particular government has started resetting the economy, let us assist them, let us keep praying that they succeed.”
Ibraheem who is also the Pro-Chancellor of Fountain University, Osogbo, Osun State, stressed the need for corporate organisations and well-to-do individuals to always assist the government.
He said the education sector requires huge funding which cannot be left to the government alone.
“We cannot leave everything to the government, there is a limit to what the government can do, so if the government is doing their bits, the individuals should do same as everyone has a role to play.
“I believe the government should increase the budgetary allocation to education. In my opinion they should also monitor how the stakeholders in education are actually utilizing those budgetary allocations and other stakeholders should also try to assist as much as possible.
“Maybe we should limit the involvement of government in financing education, if we are running educational organizations as a money making business, definitely the waste will be reduced and there will be lots of improvements.”
Ibraheem stated that his various acts of philanthropy were driven by his desire for heavenly reward.
“My motivation is heaven, I know that whatever we do here, we are going to leave them here, and whatever good that you do here, you get your reward in heaven. If you believe in the world hereafter and if you believe that whatever you gather in this world, you are not taking them to heaven, the only thing you carry is your good deeds, then you should be motivated to do more and more.”
While commending the King of Saudi Arabia for finding him worthy to be his guest, he urged the Nigerian government to take a cue from the Kingdom by being organised within the limited resources at its disposal.
“Remember that the peculiar situation of Nigeria is different from that of Saudi. In Nigeria for example we are over 200 million people that the government needs to cater for, over here they are very, very few, I must however give it to them that they are well organized and the people are very orderly while I will advise the government of Nigeria to be more organized within our limited resources.”
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