KENNETH’S KREATIVITY KONFETTI: Creativity & Innovation — A Solid Case For Wealth Creation Opportunities

By Kenneth Nwabudike Okafor

My first experience at being subtly mocked for effort I was pouring into what I imagined was a passion and a dear pursuit occurred early in my life. And it came from someone whom I knew loved (loves) me and was (is still) so close to me I have decided to protect the person’s identity. This person did not mean me any harm but the words hurt anyway. One day this close person who had been watching me struggle with developing my writing skill, pouring hours upon hours writing, reading and then writing some more, littering the whole house, with books, paper and paper trash, asked me "When will we begin to eat from all this writing?"

The question did not throw me off balance, I just did not expect it, at least not at the time and place it was asked. I was mildly irritated actually by the query, however I answered it, even though I realized it was rhetorical. I looked this person straight in the eye with uncommon confidence and answered boldly "Very soon."

From this point onward I have had several people ask me, basically, the same question, but perhaps with different framings, words and contexts. People are now asking the same question of NAIJAGRAPHITTI BLOG.

They ask in various ways and at various times: "When will we begin to eat from this your blog?

When would I begin to reap the fruit of this labour?"

The prospects, I must admit, are truly exciting.

I can give you a hint: Just from sharing my professional / field experiences, trawling knowledge archives, browsing libraries and other places where information could be found, writing and researching for NAIJAGRAPHITTI BLOG I have come across the idea for writing new books and I have also completed a PhD-level research on the Dufuna Canoe. Those who read the three-part post entitled The Canoe and The Paddlers would remember when this blog first wrote on the Dufuna Canoe. (See these posts Part 1 HERE, Part 2 HERE and Part 3 HERE if you missed the write-ups).

Beyond personal milestones however, I am concerned more about the value this blog generates for the reader; I wish to see this blog readers become truly creative and inventive, developing personal competencies in creative thinking and problem-solving.

The conviction that powers NAIJAGRAPHITTI BLOG is that the possibility of exploiting the concepts of CREATIVITY and INNOVATION to create wealth and maximize our potentials and add value to Nigeria as a nation is a phenomenon which time has come. Of this I am deeply convicted; this is the season for creating and enabling a culture of creativity and innovation indeed, not mere posturing, in Nigeria.

To create real and sustainable wealth, we must tap into individual creativity and creative potential as other countries and civilizations have done. Actually we have run out of options; people have tried the professions, politics, vocations and even crime. The results have been the same diminished productivity as long as the concepts of CREATIVITY and INNOVATION are excluded.

Firstly, Nigeria would turn a corner, as all our performance indices would improve: the link between creativity and innovation in economic development is well documented (and we have published some on this blog).  Secondly, the quality of our leadership would improve (creative thinking and problem-solving proficiencies make for more effectual and qualitative leadership).

NAIJAGRAPHITTI BLOG has identified there are a whole lot of opportunities with the creative Industries and creative economy with the add-ons of intellectual property rights, patents as well as formulating effective national systems of innovation which Nigeria like most developing countries have as yet to tap fully into to build the national economy and the country’s intrinsic value.

Let me paint a picture for you here.

What is the new size of Nigeria’s GDP? 

The rough figure is about US$526 billion.

Can you guess the size of the world trade of creative goods and services alone? 

UNESCO calculates that in 2011 world trade of creative goods and services totalled a record of US$624 billion.

Let me quote to you directly from a UNESCO / UNDP Special Edition report launched in Paris in 2013 which showed that that recognizes the power of culture as an enabler and a driver:

The creative economy –which includes audiovisual products, design, new media, performing arts, publishing and visual arts– is not only one of the most rapidly growing sectors of the world economy, it is also a highly transformative one in terms of income generation, job creation and export earnings. Between 2002 and 2011, developing-countries averaged 12.1 per cent annual growth in exports of creative goods.

"While creating jobs, creative economy contributes to the overall well-being of communities, individual self-esteem and quality of life, thus achieving inclusive and sustainable development. At a time when the world is shaping a new post-2015 global development agenda, we must recognize the importance and power of the cultural and creative sectors as engines of that development."

"Culture is both a driver and an enabler of human and sustainable development. It empowers people to take ownership of their own development, and stimulates the innovation and creativity which can drive inclusive and sustainable growth."

Nigeria is lagging at both country and individual levels.

Please note that even with the takings from Nollywood, Nigeria’s cultural export as well as its general trade of creative goods and services are some of the least in the world.

One of the targets of this blog is to promote the culture of enabling creativity and innovation in all spheres of national life.

NAIJAGRAPHITTI BLOG is partly about: empowering individual with lessons sharing, information and motivation to develop their ideas and to turn a moment into an opportunity for financial freedom while adding value to Nigeria as a whole.

It is not magic; it is not a get-rich-quick scheme.

In terms of personal financial security, you could become creative and make one invention that would free you from financial worries for the rest of your working life. It is possible.

How can being inventive, creative and innovative lead to financial freedom? I am sure you can fill several notes with catalogues of examples. 

Elijah J. McCoy - Image source: http://www.blackenterprise.com

But you know that this blog is particular about multidisciplinary CREATIVITY and INNOVATION. This is CREATIVITY and INNOVATION that includes everyone not only musicians, writers, actors and other so-called creative workers.

I would mention the names of two men out of several and I would tell you the story of one of them.

The two men are Jacques-Yves Cousteau (French) and Elijah McCoy (African-America); and I would tell you the story of Elijah McCoy. I have written about Jacques-Yves Cousteau (1910–1997), a French marine explorer who invented the aqua-lung and pioneered marine conservation in my book EXPLODING POTENTIAL: Exploiting the Fullness of Your Creative Potential.

Elijah McCoy was born in 1843, in Colchester, Ontario, Canada. His parents escaped slavery in the mid-1800s by way of the Underground Railroad and moved to Canada.  At 15 Elijah was sent to Scotland to study engineering. After graduation he moved to Michigan, US where his family had finally settled. Upon completing his studies, discrimination prevented Elijah McCoy from finding employment as a professional engineer. So he went to work on the railroad as an oilman responsible for keeping the moving parts of the trains lubricated for locomotion. He found that walking along the trains oiling the axles and bearings was inefficient so he created an oil lubricating cup that automatically dripped oil onto the moving parts.  His invention allowed trains to travel long distances continuously without the need to stop for oiling.  After he received a patent for his invention there were many engineers who imitated his work.  But informed train operators knew his invention was superior and when they needed to order an automatic oil cup they would ask for "the real McCoy." His invention became standard equipment on most locomotives and heavy machinery. McCoy went on to patent more than 50.

What is the moral of this story: CREATIVITY and INNOVATION pays practical dividends in cash, kind and value addition for people and for their countries.

This just one story, out of thousands upon thousands of stories all over the whole. As soon as we start the CREATIVITY SCHOOL posts, I cite various authenticated examples.

So people, I am not wasting time writing BIG GRAMMAR, I wish this blog would find enthusiastic readership among curious people who would take up the challenge so that together we can contribute in a meaningful way toward raising a generation of wealth creators and financially secure but learned individuals.

Did you just say you are interested in helping popularize CREATIVITY and INNOVATION?

Come on board then; the more, the merrier!