Senegalese-American singer and entrepreneur Akon has stirred widespread conversation after sharing a bold vision of what Nigeria could have become had it retained full control of its oil wealth since independence.
In a thought-provoking Instagram post, the Grammy-nominated artist reflected on how Nigeria’s economic and political landscape—and even the balance of global power—might look today if the nation had managed its oil resources independently instead of partnering with foreign multinationals such as Shell and ExxonMobil.
“Lagos Would Rival London and New York” — Akon
According to Akon, if Nigeria had kept 100% of its oil revenues from 1960 onward, the nation could have accumulated an estimated two trillion dollars in retained wealth, fueling massive infrastructure, education, and technological advancement.
“Lagos would be the world’s financial capital today, not London or New York,” he wrote, imagining a Nigeria where economic power was firmly rooted in African hands.
He suggested that such prosperity could have transformed Nigerian universities into global centers of innovation, producing world-class tech leaders, scientists, and entrepreneurs.
Nigeria as the Heart of Global Innovation and Entertainment
Akon also envisioned a version of Nollywood not merely competing with Hollywood, but dominating global entertainment, setting global cultural trends and exporting African creativity on an unprecedented scale.
In his hypothetical scenario, Nigeria’s growing economic might would have reversed migration patterns, with Europeans and Americans seeking jobs and better lives in Africa.
“Europeans would be crossing the Mediterranean in search of work opportunities in Africa,” Akon wrote, painting a dramatic reversal of today’s realities.
A Shift in Global Power Dynamics
He further imagined that global financial institutions would relocate from London to Abuja, and that the Nigerian passport could become more valuable than the American one, symbolizing Africa’s rise as the new center of opportunity and prosperity.
“The global power structure would flip entirely,” he said. “Instead of brain drain, Nigeria would attract the world’s brightest minds.”
Akon: “It’s Never Too Late for Nigeria”
Despite his nostalgic what-if scenario, Akon concluded on an optimistic note, asserting that Nigeria—and Africa as a whole—still has the power to reclaim control of its natural resources and chart its destiny.
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“It’s never too late,” he wrote. “Africa controlling its own resources would reshape the entire world order.”
The post has since sparked lively debates across social media, with Nigerians and Africans weighing in on the enduring impact of colonial-era economic structures, governance, and resource management in shaping the continent’s trajectory.
