I am happy to face challenges and I am happy I became an entrepreneur - Mike Mlombwa

Mike Mlombwa

Malawian businessman and a billionaire, Mike Mlombwa, Who owns Countrywide Car Hire, a vehicle rental and chauffeuring service operating in major cities, airports and hotels across Malawi. He has also recently ventured into the hospitality business with the construction of hotels. Today he is considered one of the country’s business success stories and has given talks globally.

But Mlombwa’s story began in poverty – a fact he hopes will be a source of inspiration for others. He grew up in the southern border district of Mwanza and lived with various families who were able to pay for his primary education in exchange for odd jobs.“My mom was very poor… So, in the village, I grew up with several people who paid my school fees,” he recalled.“In the afternoon I would come back from school to work in gardens or look after cattle or whatever.”

But, after completing his primary schooling, he was unable to find anyone in his district that would fund his high school education. And so Mlombwa made a 60km journey – on foot – to the commercial capital Blantyre. With no income or place to live, he visited churches looking for assistance and eventually found part-time employment that allowed him to complete his secondary schooling.

“One family took me in as a servant. I was working… but I was going to school where I did my Form 1-4.”

Mlombwa then started selling stationary and used his earnings to buy a second-hand car so he could travel across borders to buy stock from wholesalers in Mozambique, Zambia and South Africa. He then managed to acquire a second vehicle, and then a third.

“But the business became flooded [by competitors], especially from India…  So I sat down and thought: ‘What should I do?’

“Then the idea of opening a care hire company came into my mind.”

In 1997, and at age 28, he began his service with three second-hand cars. “And little by little I started increasing my fleet. In 2005 I had about seven vehicles. Then in 2007 I had 15, but three quarters were second-hand vehicles. This is when I asked my friend to assist me with making my company a limited company.”

But it wasn’t long before he needed a loan to expand further and increase his fleet for a government tender for airport services. He approached banks, but with no luck.

“I didn’t have a very good education like a degree, so it wasn’t easy,” he explained. “I struggled… The banks were not giving me an opportunity.”

To expand his fleet and service, Mlombwa struck a deal with various car owners to use their vehicles for a 20% commission. “And that was how [my business] took off. I make very good money.”

He used the profits to buy new vehicles and, once his business started blossoming, was able to receive a bank loan. “When they saw I was doing fine, banks came to me and said: ‘Okay, we can assist you now’,” highlighted Mlombwa.

Today his company owns a fleet of 80 vehicles and can be found at airports and hotels across the country.

But Mlombwa believes there is still considerable room for his service to grow and is now seeking investment to double his fleet. He is also constructing a number of hotels, under the Countrywide brand, which are expected to be completed by December.

Proud of where he came from

“I came from a very poor family. When I say poor, I mean the poorest family. That is where I came from. Today sometimes I have to ask if I am dead in heaven or still alive, because I can’t believe that God has sent me here – that I have got a name in the world, in Africa.”

While Mlombwa had always wanted the opportunity to pursue a degree in university, he has no regrets.

“I am happy to face challenges and I am happy I became an entrepreneur. And to be honest, I don’t see it as a regret that I did not finish my schooling, because now I can employ people with master’s degrees or whatever. They are assisting me here and there.”

He noted it is not easy to start a small business in Malawi and compete with large international players. Access to finance and information also remain key hurdles for SMEs, and Mlombwa said the high interest rates on loans can cripple a business. To help combat some of these challenges, he started the Indigenous Business Association of Malawi (IBAM) to support local entrepreneurs with identifying opportunities and growing their ventures.

According to Mlombwa, a major reason many young entrepreneurs fail in Malawi, and across Africa, is because they are impatient and want to achieve success too quickly.

“They rush. When they see their business is doing fine in the first year, they want to start living a luxury life. They want to drive a Porsche; they want a certain life.”

He advises others to start small and grow strong, sustainable businesses over time.

“Younger people are always in a hurry to do things. They want to become billionaires in two years, but in another two years, they collapse,” he continued.

“That is why I always advise business people that only time allows you to [get there]… Time is going to allow you.”

Ex:howwemadeitinafrica.com

At 13 He Got an “A” in College Maths, Now at 17 In Howard University Student & a National Scholar

David Hill II

Even at just 13 years of age, David Hill II, had shown promises of genius when he became the first African American (and one of the youngest overall) in the State of New York to earn an “A” in college mathematics while on his summer break.

At 16 he’d already graduated from high school – at the top of his graduating class, no less – while at the same time having completed 53 college credits. He had shown an inclination towards computational science and engineering and led the software programming team with FIRST Robotics Challenge in New York.

His exemplary achievements have gone on to be noticed far and wide – right up to the ears of the family that established the Nobel Prize awards.

A senior member of the family, Claes Nobel, said, “I am proud to announce that David Hill has been selected to become a member of our esteemed organization as a National Scholar. I am also honored to recognize the hard work, sacrifice and commitment that David has demonstrated to achieve this exceptional level of excellence.”

Hill has been inducted into the National Honor Society as well as the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

While most students would probably kick back and lay off books during their school breaks, Hill uses the time to learn and grow more. He has, for example, spent previous summers at Northwestern University studying about leadership; at Cornell University learning about engineering and at Dartmouth College learning about mathematics.

Right out of high school, he accepted a software engineering internship for the summer at tech giant Corning Incorporated where he made vital contributions to the software and modeling simulation group.

Although, Hill has been accepted at the Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Virginia and New York University last fall, he has set his mind on joining the Howard University engineering program because they have multidisciplinary practical learning opportunities and merit scholarship.

Hill said, “I am currently a rising college junior at 17 years old conducting cyber-security research on global satellite systems with Dr. Gerard Bloom and find it very interesting. Shadowing with Cisco Systems during my spring break will allow me to develop market driven skills and obtain a practical perspective of market dynamics in the technology industry.”

Ex: theblackhomeschoo

Maritime expert decries leadership instability in NIMASA

The Chief Executive Officer of Ships and Ports Communication Company, Mr Bolaji Akinola, on Monday said the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has had 10 director-generals since May 1999.

Akiola, who stated this in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos, said NIMASA "is at the heart of the growth and development of the nation’s maritime industry’’.

According to him, NIMASA is responsible for not only regulating shipping activities and dock labour but also for developing Nigeria’s tonnage.

"Unfortunately, the agency has consistently failed to deliver on its mandate since inception. The failure of NIMASA is the failure of the maritime industry and a disservice to the Nigerian economy.

"Two factors stand out strongly for the failure of NIMASA over the years. One is leadership instability while the other is the undue politicisation of appointments into the Board and top Management positions of the agency,’’ he said.

Akinola said that the offices of the director-general and those of the executive directors had been most hit by politics.

The maritime expert noted that before the appointment of Mr Patrick Akpobolokemi as Head of the agency in December 2010, there had been too frequent changes in the leadership of NIMASA.

"In the history of the nation’s apex maritime regulatory body, only two people were appointed from within the organisation as substantive chief executive officers.

"The first was Mr John Egesi. Unfortunately, Egesi spent barely three months in office before he was replaced in 1999 as a result of series of political intrigues.

"The second was Dr Ade Dosunmu from May 2007 to July 2009.

"Mr George Eneh took over from Egesi. He was in office for less than a year before his replacement by Mr Ferdinand Agu.

"Agu had the fortune of heading the agency for over four years. The Cabotage Act was passed during his tenure and he was replaced by Mr Festus Ugwu of blessed memory,’’ Akinola said.

He said that, "After Ugwu, came the creation of NIMASA and the appointment of Mrs Mfon Usoro in 2006, as the first female Director-General.’’

Akinola said that Usoro’s tenure lasted for barely nine months before the appointment of Dosunmu in May 2007.

"By July 2009, Dosumu was replaced by Mr Temisan Omatseye. Eighteen months into Omatseye’s four-year tenure, he was kicked out,
paving the way for Akpobolokemi, who completed his first four-year term and reappointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan but removed on August 2015.

"The leadership instability at NIMASA has led to underdevelopment of the maritime industry.

"NIMASA is struggling because there has been undue over-politicisation of appointments into its Board and Executive Management at the expense of professionals.

"Appointments in NIMASA in the past have been to the detriment of proper policy formulation, growth and development of the shipping sector, ‘’ the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes Akinola saying.

It was reported that NIMASA was formerly known as the National Maritime Authority (NMA) but its creation came upon the fusion of the NMA with the defunct Joint Maritime Labour Industrial Council (JOMALIC) on Aug. 1, 2006 

(NAN)

Patrice Talon, opposition candidate won Benin Republic presidential elections

Patrice Talon (centre) Flanked by supporters (Photo: Yahoo)

Talon, who competed against Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou in a second-round run-off vote after neither won an outright majority in the first round of voting on March 6, won 64.8 per cent of the vote, against 35.2 for Zinsou.

Reports from Cotonu say Zinsou, on Monday called the winner Patrice Talon to congratulate him on his victory and wish him luck.

Talon, 57,  former ally turned political rival of outgoing President Thomas Boni Yayi defeated Yayi’s hand-picked successor  Lionel Zinsou on Sunday’s run-off election.

By relinquishing power after serving two terms in office, Boni Yayi stands in contrast to leaders in other African nations, including Burundi, Rwanda and Congo Republic, who have altered their constitutions in order to extend their rule.

The President-elect Talon attacked his main opponent  Zinsou dual French citizenship, presenting himself as the real Beninese.

Benin Republic Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou and Presidential Candidate in the election

Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou, a former economist and investment banker backed by both Boni Yayi and the main opposition Democratic Renewal Party.

Buhari plans to improve power supply with additional 10,000 megawatts in next three years

President Muhammadu Buhari said on Monday that his administration would ensure steady power supply before the expiration of his tenure through the provision of additional 10,000 megawatts.

The President gave the assurance at the National Economic Council Retreat holding at the Presidential Banquet Hall, Abuja.

According to him, 2,000 of the anticipated 10,000 megawatts will be added to the national grid in 2016.

"Nigerians’ favourite talking point and butt of jokes is the power situation in our country. But, it is no longer a laughing matter.

"We must and by the grace of God we will put things right.

"In the three years left for this administration we have given ourselves the target of 10,000 megawatts distributable power.

"In 2016 alone, we intend to add 2,000 megawatts to the national grid.

"In our determination to change we must and will, Insha Allah, put a stop to power shortages.’’

The President, who stated that the nation was facing the classic dilemma of privatisation of the power sector, noted that no remarkable improvement in the quality of service had been recorded after the exercise.

He, however, stated that the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) must ensure that consumers get value for money and over-all public interest is safe-guarded as government will complete the process of the privatisation.

Buhari further gave assurance that government will hasten the completion of pipelines from gas points to power stations.

He said that more security to protect gas and oil pipelines would be provided while power companies should be encouraged to replace obsolete equipment and improve the quality of service and technicians.

He maintained that the companies must also address the problem of high electricity bills in spite constant power cuts.

On the manufacturing sub-sector, President Buhari expressed regret over the inability of some industries in the country to obtain foreign exchange to import raw materials and spare parts.

"Painful though this is, I believe it is a temporary phase which we shall try to overcome but there are deeper, more structural problems bedevilling local industries which this retreat should identify short and long-term answers to’’.

President Buhari, who also spoke on current state of the nation’s agriculture, noted that for too long government policies on agriculture had been ``half-hearted, suffering from inconsistencies and discontinuities.”

He, therefore, stressed the need for urgent government action to ensure self-sufficiency in food production.

According to him, the nation’s real wealth lies in farming, livestock, hatcheries, fishery, horticulture and forestry.

The President directed the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to convene early meeting of stakeholders and identify problems facing the agricultural sector with a view to addressing them.

He also urged the media to enlighten the public on government’s efforts towards increasing local food production so as to bring down food prices in the markets.

President Buhari called on state governments and commercial banks to provide more incentives to small holder and medium scale farmers to boost agricultural activities.

"Banks should be leaned upon to substantially increase their lending to the agricultural sector.

"Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) should bear part of the risk of such loans as a matter of national policy.

"States should increase their financial support through community groups.

"The appropriate approach should be through leaders of community groups such as farmers’ cooperatives.

"Provision of feeder roads by state governments to enable more effective evacuation of produce to markets and processing factories.’’

He recalled the 1950s, when Nigeria’s foreign exchange earners were from the export of groundnuts, cotton, cocoa, palm kernel, rubber and all agro/forest resources.

He further stated that regional banks and development corporations in all the three regions were financed from farm surpluses.

"When I was a schoolboy in the 1950’s the country produced one million tons of groundnuts in two successive years.

"The country’s main foreign exchange earners were groundnuts, cotton, cocoa, palm kernels, rubber and all agro/forest resources.

"Regional banks and development corporations in all the three regions were financed from farm surpluses.

"In other words, our capital formation rode on the backs of our farmers.

"Why was farming so successful 60 years ago? The answers are simple:

"Access to small scale credits, inputs (fertilizers, herbicides etc)

"Now we have better tools, better agricultural science and technology, and greater ability to process.

"With determination we can succeed.’’

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, expressed displeasure at the drastic fall in income from the Federal Accounts Allocation.

He, however, stressed the need for the country’s natural resources to be harnessed to address the current economic challenges.

Yari expressed hope that the retreat will come up with practical solutions aimed at growing the nation’s economy.

All the governors except Rivers, Benue and Lagos states (represented by their respective deputies) attended the opening of the two-day retreat being presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, and the Minister of Budget and Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma were among other top government functionaries in attendance. 

(NAN)

Nigerian High School Student builds Himself A Car From Scraps And Drives It To School

Nigerian SS3 student builds car, drives it to school in Kebbi 21-year-old Muzzamil Umar from Kebbi state is a car maker.
He makes engines and cars from scrap materials found around Birnin Kebbi.

The young and hardworking SS3 student said he is using the car he made to go to school.

(africanleadership)

Army Killed Notorious Boko Haram kingpin In Dalore

Elements of 22 Brigade Garrison carried out clearing operation at Dalore camp on Sunday in which they killed 19 Boko Haram terrorists among whom was Ameer of Dalore. The troops also captured 2 AK-47 Rifles, 1 Small Machine Gun and 1 Hand Grenade and recovered 4 pickup vehicles.

The troops also rescued 67 hostages from the terrorists. The freed hostages are undergoing screening at Internally Displaced Persons in Dikwa.

Unfortunately, during the operation the troops Mine Resistant Anti-Personnel (MRAP) vehicle ran into an Improvised Explosive Device and had a damaged tyre.

Kindly disseminate this information and attached photographs to the public through your medium.

7 years to study medicine not 11 as reported - NUC

Medical students are required to do seven years in the universities and not 11 as erroneously reported in some news media recently.

The National Universities Commission (NUC), made the clarification during interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday.

The Director, Quality Assurance of the commission, Prof. Chiedu Mafiana, said on telephone that every student in Medical science must have a first degree in anatomy, physiology and medical biochemistry.

"Another basic requisite is that there must be clinical skill laboratory, whereby in teaching, students would use mannequins, dolls, to simulate diseases.

"The students will then use the mannequins to practice, rather than using human beings.

"This will also assist the students to mature psychologically for the profession’’, Mafiana added.

Some newspapers last week had quoted Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof Julius Okojie, as saying student wishing to study medicine would henceforth spend 11 years in the university.

Okojie reportedly made the remark at the maiden matriculation and inauguration of the University of Medical Science, Ondo, in Ondo. 

(NAN)

Dangote Group Sponsors 800 Nigerians To Understudy Refinery Operations In India!

A source in the multi-billion Naira company, Dangote Group, has exclusively confirmed to TheCable on Friday that billionaire business mogul and Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, is sending about 800 Nigerians to India, to learn the operations of a petrochemical refinery, adding that the first batch to be trained will leave for India on Sunday, March 20, 2016.

It was learnt that the 800 Nigerians will travel to the Asian country over the next 24 months in a batch of fifties, to learn from the nation with the largest refinery in the world.
India is home to the world’s largest refinery, Jamnagar Refinery Reliance Industries, Jamnagar, which refines as much as 1.2 million barrels per day.

“About 800 will be trained in batches within 24 months. The first batch of 50 is leaving for India on Sunday,” the source said.
Dangote is looking to creating employment within the Nigerian economy, rather than importing expatriates to run the first private refinery in Nigeria.
The refinery, projected to worth $9 billion, is being built to have a refining capacity of about 500,000 to 650,000 barrels per day.

“After receiving a private licence to build a refinery, Dangote has commenced the building of a 650,000 barrel per day (BPD) petroleum refinery, which will be the single largest in the world.

“The refinery would have a larger capacity than all of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) refineries put together,” the conglomerate said in a statement more than a year ago.
Dangote, who hosted Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), at the site of the refinery in January, assured Nigerians that the refinery would be ready to meet the nation’s need by 2018.