The thought behind the Platform was borne out of a desire to create an avenue through which a certain type of knowledge could be shared. It was also important to make this knowledge available to the public on a mass scale. We were of the conviction that as Nigeria moved from a military era and became a democratic nation – with a free market economy as the real goal of the political change – there would
have to be a deliberate effort sustaining the new socio-economic and political thrust. It was therefore necessary to renew the minds of the people and awaken them to the new possibilities that were emerging.

We firmly believed that nations, which were more advanced and developed, channelled this kind of re-awakening primarily through an educated populace. This form of education was a distinct type of knowledge that organized their people and had its origins in the Judeo/Christian culture. This education went beyond the knowledge that was acquired through the formal sector (i.e. schools), even though formal learning was a part of it. It was the kind of knowledge that empowered people to learn from history, to interpret what was going on in their environment and utilize the resources around them to enhance their well being. It showed them how to build systems and structures to make their society better, unleashing the entrepreneurial spirits of people that made the private sector the engine of growth. Through this knowledge, individuals suddenly realized that they had the power to change things and surmount the challenges in
their environment. They learned how to “capture thoughts” and turn these ideas into tangible corporations. They learned also, to build institutions that would preserve and protect their societies and ensure their leaders thought of themselves more as public servants, rather than lords. By this knowledge, an effective and efficient work ethic was developed and by the same token, a way of handling the wealth that the work had created.

The focus of the Platform is therefore educational and we intend from this edition to propel it to greater heights, creating additional channels to express our intent.

God bless you and welcome to The Platform October 2013.
Poju Oyemade
Visionary, The Platform

Register and get ready here www.theplatformnigeria.com