Genesis group with interest in Real estate, urge Nigerians to change their views

The Group Managing Director of the Genesis Group, Dr. Nnaeto Orazulike, has urged Nigerians to change their view about Nigeria and focus on the inherent opportunities in the nation.

Orazulike, who said this while speaking on behalf of the recipients of honorary doctorate degrees from the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, noted that despite the bad news Nigerians spread about their nation, foreigners continue to establish new businesses or expand existing ones, “which is a pointer to the fact that the foreigners see opportunities in our economy while many of our people see doom and gloom. “We need to change our perception about our country and start looking at the opportunities and how to harness them,” said the Genesis boss at the Port Harcourt event, adding: “I am not saying that the challenges are not real, but beneath every challenge lies legitimate business opportunities. It was this desire that inspired the Genesis Group.” The businessman, who started his entrepreneurship with the Genesis Restaurant at the age of 21 years immediately after graduation from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, said his success was driven by his trust in God and belief in the opportunities in Nigeria.

According to him, “that one restaurant that opened its doors to customers in 1991 is what has given rise to the conglomerate of seven businesses in the Genesis Group. The Group now has interests in Restaurants, Hotels, Catering, Cinemas, Real Estate, Bakery/Confectioneries, Facilities Management and Lifestyle Centres employing over 2000 Nigerians”.

He said: “People who reel out all these negatives about our country forget to tell you that Nigeria has the biggest market for almost everything in Africa. Even at that, the doomsayers will not stop to let you know that about 70 per cent of our population live below poverty line. But what they have forgotten is that the 30 per cent of 170 million that live above, which is about 51 million, is still bigger than the population of South Africa (44 million). They forget to let you know that Nigeria is the biggest economy in Africa with about $510 billion in GDP; and expected to be growing at over 5 per cent annually, which is one of the highest growth rates in the world.

The Genesis boss promised to mark the honoris causa by building and donating a befitting science laboratory to the University of Port Harcourt in its continuing education centre as well as a Genesis entertainment centre within the university to create a balanced life in the university community.