Category: Education

An author and entrepreneur, Ebele Obi, has urged Nigerians, especially the youth, to rediscover reading, rethink money habits and embrace entrepreneurship.

Obi, who spoke at the public presentation of her book, “Just Go Further, Become a Total Entrepreneur,” said true wealth lies not in oil, but in the creativity, discipline, and financial wisdom of the people.

She called on the government, educational institutions, and financial players to make entrepreneurship and practical business education central to Nigeria’s economic revival. She said the inspiration behind the book came from both conviction and concern — a conviction to inspire change and a concern that Nigerians are gradually losing their reading culture.

“Notices are posted, yet people still walk up to ask what’s written there. We must build a stronger reading culture because reading changes how we think and act”, she said.

Obi explained that beyond promoting literacy, she was motivated by the need to raise awareness about entrepreneurship and financial literacy — two vital but under-emphasised areas in Nigeria’s education system. Drawing from her personal experiences, she recounted how growing up in a trading family shaped her understanding of money and discipline.

“I grew up in a trading family. My father, a trader, would bring home bundles of N5, N10, and N20 notes — the highest denominations then — and ask me to count them. That experience taught me discipline in handling money long before I understood finance,” she noted.

The author said her early exposure to money management later influenced her career at Fidelity Bank, where she worked in the “bulk room” counting cash.

Obi also spoke passionately about the traditional Igbo apprenticeship system, locally called the “boy-boy” model, which she described as one of Africa’s most effective paths to wealth creation. “No matter what Google says about its origins, I believe it was perfected in the East. Long before I was born, apprenticeship was a respected system for business development. Sadly, it’s fading today.”

She called for its formal recognition in Nigeria’s education policy, noting its proven success in countries like Germany and the UK.

“Apprenticeship works abroad and can work here too. Our youth can earn, learn and grow at the same time. It builds loyalty, trust, and real-world skills. Many successful business leaders today — especially from Onitsha — are products of that system,” she added.

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Obi also emphasised that financial literacy must become a national priority and a compulsory subject in schools. “If I had my way,” she said, “I’d make finance and money management compulsory — right alongside English and Mathematics. What’s the point of being a brilliant doctor if you can’t manage your hospital’s finances, or a successful lawyer who can’t run your firm’s accounts?”

She urged schools to take responsibility for teaching practical money management rather than leaving it to chance or family background.

In his review of the book, Osaeloka Obaze described “Just Go Further, Become a Total Entrepreneur” as a motivational and practical guide for dreamers, emerging entrepreneurs, and business owners alike. He said the book captures the grit, creativity, and resilience required to succeed in Nigeria’s challenging business environment.

According to Obaze, Obi challenges readers to see themselves not merely as employees, but as employers and innovators — capable of building sustainable businesses even in an age dominated by technology and artificial intelligence.

Through relatable stories and real-life lessons, she explains why entrepreneurs start businesses, how they sustain growth, and how they can transfer knowledge and build enduring legacies.

“Her style is simple, relatable, and deeply human,” Obaze said. “She writes, ‘I want to take you on a journey — like a rollercoaster. You know where it begins, but never where it will turn next.’ That metaphor perfectly mirrors the entrepreneurial path — unpredictable, thrilling, and transformative.”