Our biggest challenge is to increase the size of Nigeria's economy as here are 10 relatively new companies whose market capitalisation is greater than the country's gross domestic product

Ayo Akinfe

[1] Apple - $1.6trn

[2] Microsoft - $1.54trn

[3] Amazon - $1.52trn

[4] Alphabet - $1.04trn

[5] Alibaba - $673bn

[6] Facebook - $665bn

[7] Berkshire Hathaway - $466.8bn

[8] Taiwan Semiconductor - $431bn

[9] Visa - $419.2bn

[10] Johnson & Johnson - $387bn

No matter how you cut it, Nigeria’s problems all stem from the fact that we are simply not productive enough. Look at the GDP of several developing nations too:

[1] India - $2.65trn

[2] Brazil - $2.05trn

[3] Mexico - $1.15trn

[4] Indonesia - $1.05trn

[5] Turkey - $851bn

[6] Saudi Arabia - $686bn

[7] Argentina - $637bn

[8] Thailand - $455bn

[9] Iran - $454bn

[10] United Arab Emirates - $382bn

I have no doubt at all where our problems lie and if I had my way, every activity in Nigeria would be subordinated to industrial production. Unfortunately, as a people, we are not yet ready for the harsh medicine this requires as it will demand a fundamental overhaul of our lifestyles and values.

As things stand, even if we have zero corruption in Nigeria, we will still be a poor and beggarly nation. Out GDP of less than $400bn is nowhere near enough to cater for the needs of 200m people!

ayoakinfe@gmail.com