Chief (Dr) Jerry Nwakobi, an eminent Real Estate Developer was honoured with an honorary doctorate degree in real estate management after observing his impressive works and achievements.
Dr. Nwakobi imputes in the development of the real estate sector in Nigeria was duly recognized by the Europian-American University Commonwealth of Dominica African Regional Operations recently.
Dr. Nwakobi opened up on salient issues that affect the country’s economy, policy formulations, businesses and personal life at a press briefing.
In his address, he expressed deep concerns over the cankerworm called corruption that has eaten deep into the Nigerian system. He said even though we have well-meaning people that occupy important positions in this country but the system has made it difficult for them to stand tall amongst the bad heads which he said could have been responsible for the recent statement the President made when he (President Buhari) said “He is not happy.”
“Our industries do not have conducive environment to strive,” Dr. Jerry said when speaking on the challenges of doing business in Nigeria.
“Government ought to wake up to its responsibilities of making basic amenities available and affordable for business growth. For instance, the government is supposed to provide access road to any estate while the estate management make provision for motor-able link roads within the estate likewise electricity but the situation has changed, estate management now make provision to buy polls, cables, transformers and installation only for discos to bring bills. It is killing business.”
He spoke on his political ambition especially why he stepped down from contesting the just concluded general election where he had indicated his intentions to run for a senatorial seat under the umbrella of the All Progressive Congress (APC) but later stepped down.
“I was not pressurized to step down by my party or anybody contrary to speculations; I always evaluate and critically re-evaluate whatever I want to do that is important to me. It was in the process of my evaluation of my readiness to run that I discovered that I am not fully prepared yet, hence, I stepped down but I will definitely run for the seat again.” He also added that, vote buying still remain a menace the electoral umpire INEC and the government of Nigeria have to pay serious attention to.
According to renowned real estate developer, his challenges in life are that he was born a poor boy and as for his profession, government is the greatest challenge he has. He stated that the collapsed buildings in Lagos were due mainly to corruption. “Government set up committees to investigate collapsed building but there is nobody to monitor the activities of the committees, so they get to the field, collect bribe and when the job is not appropriately done no body is penalized. There is need to investigate the investigators,” he concluded.
