Shina Peters (left) Jim Ovia right
SHINA PETERS VS JIM OVIA
Shina Peters is a musician in Nigeria who dominated the music scene in the early 90s. His genre of music is afro juju, a style made popular by him. His style of music though in juju category (popular among the Yorubas in southwest of Nigeria) made waves, many non Yoruba caught the fever. He made fortune during the period.
Jim Ovia is a banker and founder of Zenith bank in Nigeria. A bank started in the 90s, has grown to become a multi million naira investment in Nigeria and Africa. The bank currently ranks among the leading banks in Nigeria.
We want to draw an analogy between these two individuals who are successful in their chosen fields.
In 1990, Shina Peters built a house with N20 million naira; the same year Jim Ovia started Zenith Bank with the same amount.
Today, you and I don’t have a room in Shina’s house but I have an account in Jim’s bank and probably you do too.
Shina’s house was built in Iju Lagos and remains there till date.
Jim’s bank started in a corner and now has over 500 branches in Nigeria, and many international branches.
Millions of people transact business in Jim’s bank daily.
Shina’s house is becoming dilapidated…in 2015, he SPENT more money to renovate the house and bought a Nissan Pathfinder with N10 million…additional liability, while in the same 2015, Jim’s bank MADE a profit of N105.7 billion.
Zenith bank employs hundreds of thousands, and feeds their families.
This is the difference between Assets and Liability. If you buy a car for N20 million today, in 20 years time, you will be ashamed to drive it. On the other hand, if you invest that same amount in a lucrative business or in an asset, It may be worth billions in 20 years. ( Jim Ovia is now worth $980 million dollars, with the official dollar rate of N320, that means he is worth N313 BILLION NAIRA because of an investment of N20 million).
Spend the little money you have today wisely. Some people driving expensive cars today, are not aware that they are driving their future and the future of their children. Some people carrying iphone7 today, may not be aware that they are carrying their future.
When you are young, don’t spend money. Invest it. Every penny in your hand is like a seed, you can decide to eat it, or sow it. When you sow it, it will bear much more seeds later in future.
