Don’t eat tomorrow today

“If a cat thinks about tomorrow, it will not kill a pregnant rat.” – African Proverb 

“The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets.” – Proverbs 21:20

There is more to an African proverb than meets the ear. “If a cat thinks about tomorrow, it will not kill a pregnant rat” may sound like a simple folk saying, yet its wisdom is profound. The cat that feeds only on immediate gratification ignores the promise of tomorrow. By devouring a pregnant rat, it not only consumes one meal but destroys a future supply of food — a whole lineage of possibilities. Therein lies the heart of sustainable thinking: deferring temporary pleasure for enduring prosperity.

In the early 1990s, as the world’s dependence on oil deepened, Norway made a critical decision. Rather than spending all its oil windfalls immediately, it chose to invest for the future. The Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG), often called the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund, was founded in 1990 with a modest $150 million from oil revenues. Today, it stands as the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund, valued at over $2.2 trillion, roughly $340,000 for every Norwegian citizen. The fund exemplifies national discipline and visionary leadership at its finest.

The GPFG is managed by Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM) on behalf of the Ministry of Finance. It follows strict ethical and environmental guidelines, ensuring every investment aligns with Norway’s principles of transparency and responsibility. Its portfolio is carefully diversified — approximately 70% in equities, 25% in fixed income securities, and 5% in real estate and renewable infrastructure. Some of its high-profile investments include Apple, Microsoft, Nestlé, and prime real estate in New York, London, and Paris.

But what makes this fund extraordinary isn’t just its size or structure—it’s how it serves the Norwegian people. Typically, the fund finances up to 25% of Norway’s national budget. It supports free education, world-class healthcare, public pensions, and generous social benefits. Norway’s wealth has been transformed into welfare, not waste. The government abides by a disciplined “fiscal rule”, restricting annual withdrawals to no more than 3% — the expected real return on investment. This ensures that the principal capital remains untouched for future generations.

Norway’s law even mandates that the fund invest exclusively outside its borders. This prevents the economic phenomenon where a sudden influx of foreign exchange from natural resources drives up local currency, making domestic industries less competitive. By investing globally, Norway protects its domestic economy and secures sustainable growth.

During times of global crisis — such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine — the fund provided a reliable cushion. Norway could increase public spending without resorting to tax hikes or austerity measures. The result is a resilient economy grounded in prudence and foresight.

In 2025, the GPFG recorded a 15.1% return, equivalent to $247 billion, primarily from surging global tech stocks. Such performance reaffirms that wisdom in saving and diversification yields long-term rewards.

By contrast, Nigeria’s story is one of unfulfilled potential. Blessed with vast oil reserves, Nigeria followed a similar opportunity path but executed it poorly. The Nigeria Sovereign Wealth Fund (NSWF) was created in 2011 under President Goodluck Jonathan, with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) Act providing its legal framework. The fund began operations in late 2012 with $1 billion seed capital drawn from the Excess Crude Account — money meant to stabilise the economy against oil price shocks.

Its goals mirrored Norway’s: save for future generations, invest in infrastructure, and provide a stabilisation buffer. For a time, progress seemed promising. In 2024, NSWF’s assets grew by 56%, to $2.84 billion, attributed to strong investment returns from Eurobonds, private equity, and currency gains. By mid-2025, the fund reached $3.1 billion.

However, beneath these numbers lies a story of lost time and conflict. Almost immediately after its establishment, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, spearheaded by then-governor Rotimi Amaechi, sued the Federal Government. Their argument was that pooled national resources should be shared among the states rather than saved. What followed was a 14-year legal battle, effectively crippling the fund’s development. This litigation was only resolved by the Supreme Court in 2025, long after thousands of potential opportunities had evaporated.

In that period, the fund remained underperforming and under-resourced. While Norway converted oil into a national safety net, Nigeria dissipated its surpluses into consumption and political patronage. Today, with over 200 million people, the NSWF’s total value translates to roughly $16 per citizen, a damning contrast to Norway’s $340,000 per citizen.

What separates these two nations? Leadership. Norway’s leaders made hard decisions for the national good, whereas Nigeria’s political class prioritised short-term comfort over long-term sustainability.

Whether in nations, businesses, or personal lives, prosperity follows sacrifice and patience. The philosophy of “don’t eat tomorrow today” insists that the future must be safeguarded by today’s discipline.

Leadership is tested most in the tension between now and next. True leaders, unlike opportunistic politicians, sow where they may never harvest. They invest in policies and institutions that outlive their tenures. A statesman thinks beyond electoral cycles; a visionary leader thinks in generations.

This timeless truth applies to individuals, too. Many people suffer in retirement, not because they earned too little, but because they consumed too soon. They spent rather than saved, indulged rather than invested. Living for the moment often mortgaged the future. Wisdom, therefore, demands an attitude of restraint and foresight.

Genuine wealth extends beyond currency. Wise s.

Invest in relationships—both vertically (with mentors, visionaries, and people ahead of you and even below you) and horizontally (with peers, collaborators, and future partners). You cannot predict life’s seasons, but you can prepare for them. The people you deposit value in today often become lifelines tomorrow.

Likewise, invest in assets — business ventures, real estate, bonds, and innovation — rather than liabilities that drain your tomorrow. Material possessions depreciate; disciplined investments appreciate. The goal is not just to accumulate wealth, but to create legacies that empower others even after you’re gone. Invest in education, integrity, health, and knowledge. These form the true infrastructure of enduring success.

The saddest ruin is not physical, but moral and visionary bankruptcy — the inability to imagine a sustainable future.

Vision is fragile. Even the best ideas can be destroyed by those who view life only through the lens of immediate gratification. In Nigeria’s case, a few political figures crippled an idea that could have transformed millions of lives. Beware of people who mock long-term thinking. Guard your vision fiercely. It is safer to appear foolish saving for the future than to be wise in a wasteland tomorrow.

Discipline is the bridge between potential and prosperity. Every individual, like every nation, has potential. But potential alone is worthless without discipline. For both leaders and followers, self-control is the bridge that connects resources to results. Whether saving income, nurturing a business, or managing public funds, sustained discipline transforms transient success into generational legacy.

Nations are built by choices made in wisdom, and tough choices, not in haste. Individuals prosper by preparation and contribution, not by consuming blindly. Today’s pregnant rat is tomorrow’s abundance.

The Norwegian story shows that discipline, integrity, and vision birth sustainable prosperity. Nigeria’s contrasting experience is a warning of how greed and short-term politics can devour collective destiny. Whether as citizens or leaders, we hold the choice daily: eat now or build a feast for the future.

For the wise, the answer is easy.  

Remember, the sky is not your limit, God is