I WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT MY PEOPLE POSITIVELY – DR. EMMANUEL NTATAM

The Founder, Heal the World Mission, Dr. Emmanuel Ntatam, is a Business Development expert, seasoned financial professional and a philanthropist. He spoke with Inemesit Ebu and Emmanuel Ukpong in this interview. Excerpts …

YOU ARE THE FOUNDER OF ‘HEAL THE WORLD FOUNDATION”; WHAT IS THE DRIVING FORCE THAT PROPELLED YOU INTO FLOATING THIS NGO?

For me, being kind to humanity is a virtue, besides, it is my calling. There are some people all over the world that are wealthy and rich yet, there is something important that they lack, and that is human milk of kindness. Embarking on this kind of a noble journey is not something that I am being compelled to do but I consider it as a virtue that God has imbued in me and which I take it as my calling. I consider helping one another as my job, and it is my Ministry and that is the path I have chosen to take.
It is about fulfilling God’s design in my life. The words of God had clearly stated that ; ” when I was hungry, did you feed me?” or naked , did you clothe me?” . You know in Nigeria we are all considered as good Christians as we are known to be a religious country. Some are Christians, while some are Muslims but it is observed that our Muslim brethren handle the issue of humanitarian services more than their Christian counterparts. They are more practical when it comes to this kind of giving as a religious injunction. We, as Christians, most often, make reference to this biblical injunction but renege in fulfilling it. It is like showing eye service, as it enters from one side of the ear and goes out from the other end. Those who are fun of reading that particular Bible portion are those who are gifted with the virtue and who will want to carry them out without being prompted to do so and are ready to put it into practice as it is written in the Bible, moreso, being commanded for us to observe it.
For me, that is the most important and profound aspect of Christianity that every true Christian should imbibe. It is indeed , working for God through service to humanity and that is the way I see it.

In 2023, you contested the election to represent Ikono State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom state House of Assembly. What will you say were those things you experienced that need to be rectified and which also contributed to your inability to scale through in the Primary election?

The race to Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and every other Legislative Houses for that matter is always skewed with a lot of controversies. I was inspired to aspire to the post to represent and serve my people since 2019 and also fought keenly for the same position in 2023 but the powers that be, did not allow me to scale through at the primary level to stand for the proper election. I believe that it was not God’s time and that could also be the reason I was not favoured. However, I am still dreaming to serve my people. I have seen a lot of marginalization, I have seen a lot of injustices that have been meted out to my people. Because of this, I have a compelling reason based on the above challenges to always throw myself out to serve them. I want to go out there to address these Injustices, add value to democracy through good representation. That is primarily what prompted me to always made myself available for the race and God’s willing, I will in future represent them in what ever capacity God will ordain me to lead them.

There’s much concern and unease from the people of Ikono over the abandonment of the more than 21 kilometers of road spanning from Urua Naira to Nung Ukim . What is your take on this sordid state of affairs considering the strategic nature of the infrastructure?

It is a good thing that the House of Representative member, Hon. Emmanuel Ukpong Udo has written an open letter to Governor Umoh Eno on the current situation concerning the road.
For me, what happened to the project in Ikono is not peculiar to Ikono as it is a national malaise as projects abandonment abound all over the country, Akwa Ibom state inclusive. It goes to show that some leaders are not interested to deliver on their campaign promises. I understand that the project was awarded by successive government of the State but unfortunately, up till this moment the work is yet to be completed. If the people, being the rightful owner of the project were to be carried along in the execution of most projects, iam pretty sure that most of the projects in Nigeria will not be abandoned as the people will show interest and thereafter take ownership of such projects.
I understand from grapevine that some political stalwarts from Ikono went behind and extorted money from the contractor and of course when that happens, you know that such projects will not be completed on record time or the designed and integrity of the projects will be compromised or there will be outright abandonment.
So, in the case of Ikono, since the funds earmarked for the project is alleged to have been misappropriated, the job execution is bound to stall as is presently being witnessed.
You can see that corruption is a bane in our society and unfortunately, it is being carried out these days in the open as if it is the rule and much so with impunity. People feel that doing such despicable thing is normal as perpetrators of such act do no longer consider it as abnormal thing to do. But if the leaders were to consider the masses , they will be keen to attract infrastructural development to their areas but it appears the present crop of our leaders don’t bother about developing their localities nor are concerned about the welfare of the people. They are self centered and you can imagine the pains and damages they have inflicted on the people through their illicit act, as in the case of Ikono, which has caused the contractor to abandon the road project that could have brought huge relief to the people and open up the area to economic boom and agricultural development.
It is a pity that this particular project has experienced abandonment severally, having been awarded by successive governments of the State but it’s still in a deplorable condition.
I want Gov. Umoh Eno to use his wisdom and good Office to investigate the reason (s) for the abandonment and see how the project could be brought back to life and its subsequent completion for the benefit of our people. Those leaders that have been known to have visited this injustice and found complicit in one way or the other should be brought to book for them to face justice no matter how highly placed they may be or their status in the society so that it will serve as a deterrent to others.
I consider this project abandonment, for whatever reason, as unfair and a great disappointment to my people.
I pray our present government under the able leadership of Pastor Umoh Eno will address this issue squarely and ensure that the road project is executed and speedily too, so that the matter will be brought to its logical conclusion.

STILL IN IKONO LGA, IT IS NOTICED THAT TWENTY- FIVE YEARS OF DEMOCRACY DOWN THE LINE, POLITICAL LEADERS FROM THE LGA ARE NOTED NOT TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ATTRACT DEVELOPMENTAL PROJECTS TO THE AREA COMPARED TO OTHER LEADERS IN OTHER LOCALITIES OF THE STATE. IN YOUR OWN OPINION, WHAT COULD BE THE UNDERLYING REASON FOR THE SLOW PACE OF DEVELOPMENT AND THE ABYSMAL OUTING OF ITS POLITICAL LEADERS IN TERMS OF ATTRACTING PROJECTS THERE?

It is all about leadership deficit in the LGA. Whereas, other LGAs in the State can boast of and parade leaders who are people oriented and in their consciousness, are able to attract infrastructures and amenities to their people, my local government, Ikono, is however, not lucky to have leaders who are people oriented and with the mindsets to make the people taste the dividends of democracy based on the social contract they entered with the people. They don’t consider the people as a priority in their representations. Until leaders of Ikono consider the people as the basic reason for leadership, our LGA will continue to wallow in backwardness. I am hopeful that when good leaders mount the saddle of leadership in Ikono, that is when we will begin to have positive narratives. It is unfortunate that the present crop of our political leaders, as it is presently constituted do not mean well for us and I am sure nothing good will be noticed in our LGA, for now.
As it is, Ikono is so poor in all ramifications that our leaders are not interested in the welfare of the people and how best they could attract development to the people for the benefits of all. Infact, our leaders in the LGA are very self-centered and their mindsets are antithetical to development.

WHAT WILL YOU DO DIFFERENTLY IF YOU ARE ELECTED TO REPRESENT YOUR PEOPLE IN FUTURE. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PLANS FOR ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT OF Ikono LGA?

Well, leadership is basically service to the people and all of us understand that. So, when I assume that position, I will be mindful of the fact that I am going there for real and untainted service to the people. When God will give me the opportunity to serve my people in a leadership position, I will definitely go in there to change a lot of narratives positively as they affect my people. To me, we cannot have any realistic form of development or growth in the society without considering the people as a factor because they are seen as pivotal to development.
When the people you represent are on top of your developmental consideration, definitely, development will come naturally in such an environment. I know that God is making plans for me and when I am eventually given the position to lead my people, I will deploy my expertise to work and give them the best that leadership can offer by ensuring that I attract both Federal and State governments’ projects that are due for them to the LGA. This will be anchored on the fact that I am a grassroots person, and I know what their needs are. Beside this, I know what their priorities are and again, whatsoever development I will be able to attract there will be anchored on the needs assessment. I know what my people needs are and not what their wants are because I am very conversant with our environment. I will attract the projects and bring ultimate development to the area that will help change the narrative of my people for better.

PASTOR UMOH ENO HAS JUST CELEBRATED HIS ONE YEAR IN OFFICE AS THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF AKWA IBOM STATE ; WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT OF HIS PERFORMANCES. CAN YOU DEDUCE ANY HOPE FROM HIS “ARISE AGENDA”?

Infact, if you will ask me, I can tell that I see our governor as a bridge builder . He was elected on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP but he is now the governor of all Akwa Ibomites, both at home and ithe Diaspora. He considers his people as one no matter what political platforms individuals come from. What matters to him and which I believe forms his primary concern is to be able to bring the people together for unity as we all know that unity is a catalyst for progress, human existence and development. I see him as someone who is not partisan and he is not bothered about individual political persuasions but how best he can bring development to the entire landscape of the state and the citizenry.
Within the last one year of his leadership and political direction, he has been able to galvanize together people from different cultural, religious and political backgrounds for the purpose of development and unity in the State.
It is very obvious that these days, our people are coming together as one irrespective of political platforms or other existing and known differences.
For me, that is one of the hallmarks of a good leadership and I see him as someone that, if given the right cooperation and resources, he will deliver on the dividends of democracy.
What he has already done in terms of road infrastructure, education, welfare of the people, economy etc. are indications that the future is bright for him to deliver on his mandate.

IN NIGERIA, WE ALSO CELEBRATED ONE YEAR OF SENATOR BOLA AHMED TINUBU AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA. WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT OF HIS ONE YEAR RULE IN OFFICE?

Like I earlier said, leadership is meant to better the lots of he people. I want to really talk about the management of our economy. Presently, there are lots of worries, discomfort in the system from the people arising from wrong application of economic policies in the management of our economy.
Managing an economy is not a “Trial and Error” thing. I want to believe that there is a seeming understanding amongst government officials on the fact that all is well because it is an ideological thing.
This neo liberal economy they seem to adopt, to me, does not work as the market forces put in place doesn’t work as it has advantages and disadvantages. He has subjected the economy to “demand and supply” as you can see with the issue of Forex and what it has caused us.
They left the economy open for the forces of demand and supply and in a situation like this, you can always find disequilibrium. When it comes to the reality of economy, it doesn’t work that way . Even in the most advanced capitalist economies of the world, it doesn’t work that way. I remember one American Writer who is considered a very renowned critic of the neo liberal economy, who wrote a book titled ; “ROAD TO FREEDOM”. He was the Adviser to the American government and the World Bank. In his narration contained in the book, it will appear very pleasant and sweet to your ear when they give you the analysis of the economic theory as contained in the book but those economic theories do not work in some contexts and in some localities and climes.
In this case, what do we do when this economic theory doesn’t work for us in our society as it doesn’t also suit our economic pattern? If you ask me, in terms of consumers behavior, in our context , it doesn’t really work. That is the more reason you see that our government has subjected the economy to trial and error thing today and by tomorrow, it is another experiment.
It is unfortunate that our government adopts every policy framework they received from the International Monetary Fund ( IMF) and the World Bank without a second thought on how that will work in our local economy. My advise is that they should not adopt every policy hook, line and sinker from these Financial Institutions. It doesn’t work that way as being presented. What the government should always do is for them to first bring such policies to our locality, open it, subject it to public scrutiny and see how such policy could be integrated so as to align with our local concept and that is where it will work for our economy.
What we have right now is a dependent economy where we are subjected to everything foreign. Note that when you make your money it is as a result of business transaction and which is through give and take, but in the present economic circumstance, we do not give but we are only taking. For that reason, we are right now at the mercy of the people giving us whatever they are going to give to us and that is what we will take because we are a consumer economy.
At present, what do we give, practically nothing as we don’t produce anything. It is only in a situation that when you give what you have, this will effect your prices on those things you give and they also do same in return, that our economy will be stronger. But in a situation where they are the only one that give you, they will certainly impose their prices on you. What we have at present to give them is our crude oil only and when they decide what to give to us without us doing same constitute a big problem to us.
What we witness in the Nigerian society playing out in terms of our economy is because those presently in charge were not well prepared for the current challenges they met on ground. They probably didn’t know the calamity at hand and the extent of damage that the previous governments have done to our economy. It is my candid believe that the present crop of leaders did not under-study our economy before now and it may likely take two to three years from now for them to fully grasp the situation at hand and be able to come up with lofty ideas and policies that will change all the mess they met on ground in our economy. Before we know it, four years of their tenure is gone. For example, how much did we buy a fifty kg bag of rice before now? It was Thirty thousand Naira but now is Eighty thousand Naira. A fifty kg bag of flour was formerly Twenty-four thousand Naira but presently is going for Fifty thousand Naira. There has been astronomical increase in the prices of onions, palm oil, cement, tomatoes, garri etc. which have resulted in the increase of the purchasing power of the ordinary Nigerians, causing acute hunger in the land.
The present government may have come up with good intentions for the people but where is the action to put this intention into practice? One of the primary duties of a responsible government is to put foods on the tables of its citizens and put money in their pockets and when these aspects of governments’ responsibility elude the citizens, then there is no governance and therefore, good leadership has taken flight as it is the case in Nigeria now.
Iam talking from the point of an entrepreneur who has felt the pains and the heat associated with the present economic situation. Beside this, in the cause of my humanitarian mission, I go around and freely interact with people and also touch lives in some ways. So, I feel the pulse of the ordinary Nigerians, I feel what they feel and I see what they see. I am talking from the point of someone who knows the things that happened every other day while on my Heal the World Mission activities. To me I want to suggest that people in leadership should go down to the remote areas to see exactly what people are passing through. Quite a a good number of Nigerians are daily going through hell, so to say, in their own country.
My personal resources cannot meet the needs of all my people and it is my believe that when I step into leadership position, I will use the good office to carry out the projects that will positively affect my people which my personal resources could not do. God has blessed me and I intend to use it to reach out to them and lead them through public office. I will ensure that the Commonwealth will be used for the good of the people through efficient and good represention and also meeting their needs. Therefore, my yearning for public office is to go there and provide quality service to my people with utmost sacrifice and with the spirit of a servant leader.
I pray that God will use me at the appropriate time for this important assignment.
To be candid with you , the nation’s economy is completely battered . It will therefore take the ingenuity of one person with good intentions to be able to turn things around for good.
But I believe that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has good intentions for Nigerians and one year might not be enough to pass verdict or give judgement of non-performance as the beginning is always very rough.
You know that when a patient pass through an operation in the theatre, you can imagine the pains he will face under the knife but after the pains comes the healing. I plead with Nigerians to give him, his Ministers and all his economic team some time and see what will come out from the policies put in place and coupled with the president’s promises which he assured he will turn things around. For now, we should bear the pains as I am sure we will soon come out from this economic strangulation.

AKWA IBOM STATE IS BLESSED WITH ENOUGH ARABLE LAND FOR AGRICULTURAL CULTIVATION BUT REGRETTABLY, WE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH FOOD TO FEED OUR TEEMING POPULATION AND FOR EXPORT. WHAT DO YOU THINK GOV. UMOH ENO SHOULD DO DIFFERENTLY TO ENSURE FOOD SUFFICIENCY FOR THE INDIGENES AND FOR EXPORT?

Thanks for this wonderful question. In some advanced countries of the world like the United States of America, USA, Britain, Canada etc., it is the big time farmers that go into agricultural production. For example in USA, it is this big time commercial farmers that engage in agricultural ventures and are able to produce enough food that can feed their entire population and for exports and they constitute just five percent of the country’s population.
Until Akwa Ibom State encourage and support those that are considered big time farmers and with passion for agriculture, all the preaching concerning farming and agriculture by the government will be an elusive statement, so to say.
If the State would want to feed the indigenes through agriculture and still have some for exports, government must be very sincere in their approach to agriculture and give priority attention to it. Sincere in the sense that the government should be able acquire large expanse of land for the big time farmers and subsidize farming implements for them. Government should also establish fertilizer company where these farmers will get cheap supply of fertilizers. In view of the fact that clearing the land for large scale agricultural venture in a State like Akwa Ibom that is Mangrove in nature, will require specialized equipments, government will do well by providing them with these machinery and tools. This is because some genuine farmers may not have the requisite wherewithal to undertake this rigorous job unlike other parts of the country that have open land and clearing them for cultivation could be less tasking.
When the government is willing to assist these big time farmers with tools and implements to facilitate their work in the farms, the farmers also will be willing and ready to cultivate and produce enough food in commercial quantity for the indigenes, with some warehoused in strategic food reserves and for exports. It is regrettable that eighty percent of the food we consume in Akwa Ibom State comes from our neighboring State, Cross River. The question is; where are our poultry farmers? where are these young men who should engage in fisheries? where are those farmers going into other aspects of agricultural production?
If the government expect them to go into agriculture on their own, the Bank of Agriculture ( BoA) may likely not provide loan to them because these farmers may not have the collateral to access the loan and moreso, as the fund from such bank may not be enough for these farmers. The State should be ready and willing to step in to indemnify them so that the farmers can conveniently access this loan from financial institutions so that they can for sure go into real time farming.
That way, the State can boast of large scale food production, enough to meet our local needs and for exports, but if we continue in the same and old fashion where everyone is asked to go into farming on Fridays, we may not be able to feed ourselves through this approach. At present, much of the foods we eat in the state, a large percent of them like garri, potatoes, yam etc. come from Cross River State and this is because our people are not encouraged by the government to go into large scale farming and crop cultivation. Luckily enough, there are crops like cassava, yam, beans, cocoyam and so many others that can be produced with comparative advantage in the state. The outgone government of Udom Emmanuel built a Green House somewhere along Airport road but unfortunately it has been abandoned.
To me, it is a very big investment that should be revitalized and sustained. A project of such magnitude should not be stalled but instead, government can partner with individuals to manage the facility and make good use of it.
Tomatoes, pepper, legumes, fresh v. I can assure you that if the green house is properly put into the purpose use for which it was built for, we will boast of vegetable production and enough supply of such in the State all year round, be it during dry , rainy and off season farming.
All these will be possible through good government policies. I suggest that government should allow investors with speciality in mechanized farming to come in and the government shiuld make available to them enough land, support them with necessary tools and implements, provide security, infrastructures and incentives that will aid in massive farming. Note that insecurity has been the major problem that constitute impediment to agriculture. If government can provide up to a hundred thousand hectares of farmland and designate them for agricultural purpose and hand it over to these agricultural investors, I can assure you that the State will be known for food production, sufficiency and net exporter of agricultural produce.
It is imperative that government should provide the enabling environment so as to attract both local and foreign investors into our State. The government should also encourage and support investors so that they can consider Akwa Ibom State as their next destination for agricultural investment.

WHAT IS THE SECRET OF YOUR SUCCESS STORY AS A BUSINESS MAN AND YOUR ADVISE TO THE UPCOMING AND YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS?

Sometimes people feel that getting to the top is easy. You need to pass through stages. It is like digging for gold which involves being rough in appearance due to the environment and the inconveniences you will encounter in the course of searching for it. Again, it requires enough will-power to dig to where the gold is. So, for those people who have the ambition and willing to go into entrepreneural development, there are certain things you must do as a person. It is not all about money as that is even secondary. The basic thing is Idea as that counts, not someone’s own idea but your own idea that you believe when put into practice, will work for you.
Supposing you want to go and collect loan from the Bank, if you don’t have good, solid, convincing and workable idea or plan, you cannot secure a loan from the bank.
Therefore, you must be able to come up with an idea of what you really want to achieve. In that wise, you should be able to put it down, that is through Feasibility Study or Business Development Plan and someone has to go through it, decipher what you have in mind to do . When satisfied, he will now indicate his interest to assist you with funds for such business plan.
Whoever will want to be an entrepreneur should be able to come with the format I have just highlighted so as to convince those people with funds for support.
A would- be successful entrepreneur should be ready to sacrifice to ensure that his idea becomes operational and functional. Another aspect is that of proper management of the business as it plays a vital role for one’s success. Then you also need to have the right human capital who will be able to drive your vision and idea into success on your behalf.
I want to tell you a story. Some years back, I decided to start a business in Uyo and so I agreed to engage some people to carry out the transaction for me but eventually, the business went under after few years. The impression some people had was that I don’t have enough funds to sustain it. But the fact remains that those I employed, instead of putting in their very best decided to pilfer the resources until the business collapsed. That is one of the main reasons some investors who are indigenes cannot or may not be willing to come to Akwa Ibom to invest. Their concern stems from the mindset of the people that will be recruited , who would likely not be honest and are not ready to share with your vision of the business. The plan of these employees are to plunder your business and get out of it. That has been the problem all along.
Other aspects of a successful business is training and mentorship, because if you must succeed , you need mentorship as your mentor will need to train you on the rudiments and nitty gritty of how to succeed in business. You must also be disciplined if you want to succeed as an entrepreneur. If the above points are considered by a would-be entrepreneur, he will be sure to make success from his entrepreneural venture and that have been my standing rules over the years which helped in shaping my success story over the years.
If you go to some advanced economies of the world today, like in America, you will hear people talk about their visions concerning their businesses and those hired to work in such establishments are expected to key into the vision of these founders. But in our clime, unfortunately people don’t key into the vision of the founders with regard to such businesses but are only interested in either their wages, or misappropriation of the resources and looting of whatever is left of such entities.
That is the main reason entrepreneurs in America and other advanced countries are doing well in their businesses as such entities do endure for decades.
Therefore, training, efficient management, vision and sacrifice, are key to a successful entrepreneurship and employees working in such organizations are equally expected to imbibe the above through regular training to ensure the success of such organization.