A client: “Ndubuisi, where do you see public sector opportunities in markets for tech?”

My response, summarized: I noted that companies which can execute and implement national firewalls like the Great Firewall of China will see growth in the next few months and years.

My postulation is based on the great corporate sanctions in Russia where many US and European tech firms are phasing out from Russia. I do think that Google, Mastercard, Facebook* and others, while doing a noble thing by protesting over the invasion of Ukraine, have also provided strong reasons to many countries to look for alternatives.

I expect India, Brazil and many other countries to visit China and ask for the code and playbook which it used to build the Great Firewall of China. Simply, you may not have to rely on non-national companies, and alternatives would be critical.

In other words, the corporate sanctions against Russia would be interpreted by many national security committees, and many will see what China has done for ages from a different angle now. Yes, China censors at the national level while the US does so using private companies like Facebook and Google which continue to limit “enemy” content. For example, Facebook has taken down Russia’s news channels.

People, this conflict will rewire the world order! Indeed, unlike government sanctions, private companies are willingly disconnecting from Russia even when no one asked them to. So, some countries will pay attention to this novelty. Expect governments promoting local brands and those will offer public sector tech opportunities across the world.

We write and our words could be piercing. I had one yesterday against one of our European friends here. He threw the first verbal attack – and I responded to defend Africa, by chronicling European history. You cannot believe it – I learnt more about Europe in my Geography (yes, Goh Cheng Leong’s Physical & Human Geography) and History classes in secondary school than even Africa! But as I was sleeping, he edited his comment.

Later, LinkedIn wrote that it did not appreciate my comment, hiding “deleted” it. (If it had not hidden it, I would have updated it to align with the updated comment from the member.)

Europe is in pain; let’s show support. Yes, we have to modulate because people are expectedly emotional. When bad things happen, you will realize that we’re ALL humans. There is no civilized human or non-civilized human; environments define most ways we act.

I pray for peace but also remind everyone that the Igbo Nation has a proverb: do not wake a sleeping leopard. There is a reason for that; if the leopard wakes up, you lose your right in the forest! Every continent has a challenging history and no one should insult Africa and Nigeria without remembering that we’re a people also.

Udo diri unu [Peace be to you all]

Good People, happy Sunday. Let me be the one to remind everyone that the world is healthier, smarter, safer, richer and happier. While it may not seem that way, daily, the fact remains that things, on average, are improving.

Please do not go into depression because of the news, and if you cannot take it, go offline and stop listening. More so, and most importantly, NEVER allow the current events to rewire your mindset about decency, honour and values.

If you feel helpless and notice that you cannot do anything about the state of Yemen, Tigray, Ukraine, and some Sahel regions of Africa, you can just PRAY for them. That will renew your mind and give you a positive energy to keep going.

The future has promises. Happy Sunday.

Good People, I received my first ever “censor” from LinkedIn today; they removed my comment. Someone wrote offensively about Africa, and I responded to him. Nothing personal but from history. I do not like to make people feel bad but after seeing that the person had edited his original comment, I feel that I need to put this comment. Just for the records, I have put my original comment here.

I appreciate everyone coming to this feed and certainly will not like to make people feel bad. Yet, respect is reciprocal. You may not see Nigeria (or Africa) as a respectable country (or continent) but Nigeria is AMAZING to me because as I have noted, there is nothing a nation can give a young man that Nigeria did not offer me.

I attended college on scholarships, received job offers months to graduation, etc, and I am not sure I can ask for more. Yet, I do desire that EVERYONE will have the same testimony.

This is Sunday; we will show civility here. Every continent has its own challenges and as the Igbo Nation will say, there is no need waking up a sleeping leopard if you want to remain in the forest. Africa has issues. Europe has issues. Do not throw African issues daily at me if you do not want me to remind you of your continent’s history.

Let’s show respect here and that has to begin with me. Typically when I notice that someone has edited a comment which triggered a tough response, I will follow.