Good morning. This morning, let’s talk about responsibility, discipline and consequences. I was privileged to have been invited by @AEAtwit to be on to the judging panel to select the entrepreneur that will represent Nigeria at the Annual Investment Meeting in Dubai. Thread...
When I got to the event, I was told that I had been nominated the Chief Judge. After the various speeches, we eventually got underway with the business of the day. A number of young innovative entrepreneurs came forward and presented their businesses to us. We grilled them.
Everyone had arrived at the appointed time of 9am. There were 13 businesses. We had listened and scored 9 of them, only to be told that the 10th company was “on their way” and that we should come back to them later. I consulted my fellow judges and none of us were happy.
We felt that it was disrespectful to us, the other participants and the audience for that company to be “on its way” at 12:30pm for an event that started at 9am. I asked that we should disqualify them and put it to a voice vote to the audience. Everyone agreed to disqualify.
Shortly after, a representative of the Dubai sponsors came to plead that we should allow the latecomers on. I said they could takeover the judging by themselves if they wanted & started packing my bags to leave.
A fellow judge, a lady, noticed and said “Doctor, don’t worry. Even if they come and do their pitch, we should just score them zero anyway.” I reflected on this and felt that it made sense but that ai would make a statement later. We skipped them for the moment and carried on.
When we had finished listening to all the pitches, it turned out that they had still not come. That was that. From the video that had formed part of everyone’s application, you could see that they were doing good work taking digital education to the rural areas.
They could have stood a good chance of winning the global prize in Dubai. But they were disrespectful to have said they were “in their way” THREE HOURS after the event started. After all the effort of applying, they were irresponsible not to have arrived by the time we finished.
We felt it was important to disqualify them, so that they don’t go and disgrace us before a global audience by saying they were “on their way”, turning up late or not turning up at all. No matter how good you are at what you do, if you lack discipline and respect, you’ll suffer.
A lack of discipline and respect must also have consequences. That is what is killing our country. You can get away with any nonsense in the knowledge that you can always beg or someone will beg on your behalf. You can always bring an ePastor, Imam, traditional ruler or big man.
Both my fellow judges and the audience had agreed that they should be disqualified. What would have happened if they had eventually turned up? Would the Nigerian in us have said “Well, they are here now. Allow them nau.” Or would we have stuck to our earlier unanimous decision?
In the end, two companies tied on points. We decided to vote and, by a majority of 8-2, decided that the winner would be @UsmanAliNG and his company @UsaifaNG. I am sure that they will do us proud in Dubai. Congratulations to them. Good morning. End.
