How Igbos became billionaires with 20 pounds
Igboland is today one of the most beautiful and secured places in Nigeria mana onye ka aga agwa okwete na o bu 20 pounds developed the region?? { Who will tell that the started off with €20 and they will believe}
Shortly after the Nigerian-Biafran bloody war ended in 1970 with the No Victor, No Vanquished slogan by then Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, the Nigerian panel that was set up came to the conclusion that every Igbo person who had an account in any Nigerian bank before the outbreak of the Nigerian-Biafran war will receive 20 pounds. Paltry 20 pounds even if you have millions and billions in the account.
The policy glaringly showed that the Nigerian government is apparently telling the Igbos that unu bu ndi emeri emeri You were defeated and have no place in new Nigeria despite the new slogan of No Victor, No Vanquished
The Igbos who had accounts in Nigerian banks in pain and agony took the 20 pounds from the Nigerian.
Igbos being resilient and hard working, thats one of the qualities that God gave Igbos for reasons best known to him that enable them to over look the pain and focus more on rebuilding there falling economy.
They took the 20 pounds and set to work, engaged in trade and commerce and did what they knew how to do best.
Eg. The Onitsha Main market that was hitherto destroyed by Nigerian soldiers was rebuilt by community efforts with no help from the Federal government and trade started as usual.
They engaged in the sale of farm produce. Wholesalers came from across the Niger to buy the farm produce. They also dealt in textile materials and transportation businesses and second hand clothing too. With time those in second clothing made profits which enable them to import machine and started producing there own fashion especially isi agu - the lion cloth.
Profits made were plowed back into the business and with time, substantial wealth was accumulated. Igbo then diversified into businesses and trades and grew their shops. Umu boy were needed as the business could not be managed by one person any longer.
The umu boy learns the trade and at the end of their learning years, they are settled.
The Indigenization Decree of 197 was another economic marginalization of the Igbos. The government made it practically impossible that the Igbos could not buy into the companies the government was indigenizing. However, Igbos were never deterred.
By 1980, ten years after the war, Igbos were back on there feet. They lives returned to normal. They built industries for themselves and sent her children to school and they came out in flying colours.
They even sent them to Obodo Oyibo { Overseas} to further their education.
With 20 pounds and a great communal spirit, they rose above the challenge and rebuilt their region by themselves.
Today, Igbos are proud to their efforts paid of and haven excelled from business to academics to law, politics to health and they can beat their chest and tell you that in any sector in this whole wide world, onye Igbo dey there.
A great achievement for the people that the Nigerian Government killed more than three million of her people and ravaged her land.
Candid advice, if you want to become a billionaire with 20 pounds, consult an Igbo man. He knows the way.lol