Re: “The people’s share: Democratising wealth, securing the North’s stake in the Dangote Refinery”

Samaila Mohammed's article, "The people's share: Democratising wealth and securing the North’s stake in the Dangote Refinery," poses a crucial question about Northerners' involvement in the proposed Dangote Refinery share offer. The author believes that Northerners should participate in the investment, provided they can afford it, understand the investment, and are comfortable with the risks.

However, he argues that subscribing to Dangote Refinery shares does not fundamentally secure the North's economic stake. Instead, the author emphasizes that true economic inclusion requires Northerners to own and control productive enterprises across the economy.

The phrase "Northern stake" is misleading, as it fails to address the real measure of economic power – the ownership of businesses by ordinary Northerners. The author contends that the real economic crisis in the North is the lack of self-ownership among its people. To address this, the author calls for a Northern MSME ownership revolution.

This transformation should involve strengthening the Northern MSME ecosystem, with Northerners owning and controlling businesses in various sectors, including agriculture – the author's greatest missed opportunity.