How Ogun govt can liaise positively with Anthony Joshua

Eddie Hearn, the promoter of Anthony Joshua (AJ), recently advised the boxing champion to invest in an English countryside mansion worth about £5 million.

AJ, in his characteristic humility, politely declined the advice by pointing out that “I was not brought up in a mansion.”

Did AJ had Sagamu or Ijebu-Ode in mind when he brilliantly replied to the investment advice of his promoter?

But the key idea in Mr. Hearn’s advice was “invest.” That £5 million investment window was opened when AJ had not fought Wladimir Klitschko; now, the sum of the investment bar could be raised.

Fortunately for Nigeria and the Ogun State government, AJ still thinks highly of this country; there is no stronger, more convincing proof of this fact than the tattoo of the outline of Africa with Nigeria inscribed that is etched on AJ’s top right arm.

What the Ogun State government can do right now is to allot prime location to AJ at the centre of Abeokuta (to synch with Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s City Centre Development) and then invite AJ to develop this lot into high-rise residential condominiums targeting clients as far away as Lagos who may wish to lease these condos for weekend family gatherings, etc.

Shopping malls, etc., could also come into the package as added positive advantage.

When this investment window has been swung wide open, Nigerians would not need the business wisdom of Donald Trump to remind us that this is “one hell of a damn win-win situation.”

We should also remind ourselves that AJ is a potential £1 billion earner in the very near future.

Sunday Jonah

Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State.