Firewood is a log of dried wood suitable for the generation of both domestic and industrial sources of heat and illumination. When added to the word millionaire, one of the ideas that come to a sane mind is, “someone who has made millions from the sale of firewood.” The other meaning is probably derogatory in that it implies that the persons concerned were once millionaires but now, they have dried up due to stress and other adverse conditions to the intent of reducing to non-millionaires.

            But that’s pretty jargons! The real meaning of a firewood millionaire as we will consider it here is, a group of young guys making impact and money in an adverse environment. These boys bring out the common sense in entrepreneurship. They see the potential worth of a pitiable economy, locate the overall community’s prime needs, push for the release of unavailable funds and create valuable products and services in the society.

            Even when the banks declare that the funds are not available, these boys seek other honest means of capital and make more money! To all of them, I say I respect o!

 

Greenshotz, Wonderful photographs describe him. Plus, he is a pastor!

 

Panayo, he wears a jersey that says forex, Nigerian stock market & DSTV

 

Emmandus, he does everything books...except stealing, looting, toyboying.

 

Goshendraw, this is the sharp “pastor” guy that first got my 3k for Corel Draw training! He is a publisher!

 

Stanley. This boy-looking man can solve any computer problem! Incredibly, he doubles as a gifted writer!

 

Afo. This guy himself is a program. He can write a program that makes your pets see to their own upkeep themselves

 

Akinwumi. All his life, Ak has been a consultant. Alata, Satisfier, and everybody knows him! It’s good to know that he knows their monies too!

 

Ibukun. IBK is an utility guy but I know him more as a distinct compere

 

Fasdel. Right from PDSP, dele started speaking to everything, both living and non living.

 

Emmy. In 100Level, Emmy bought a motorcycle and employed someone to run it for him. When he bags his Ph.D., I expect it to be in business.

 

Kirk: y’all lucky that he’s around. Now, pack up your sounds and let the master teach you how it’s done.—Archbishop Kirk.

 

Sylvester Usein: don’t mind this guy, he can write a program that writes any program you need to write. Looks like he cannot kill a fly with an insecticide- like a nice air freshner. But really, this guy can kill two birds with a third bird.

 

Nifemi. He talks, poeticizes and dramacomediates! One more thing, he gets paid.

 

XG. I knew him for fashion but now, Gbenga mixes sounds and does compuras (not yahoo). Also, proudly Naija! Yes o!

 

IB. Ibrahim does everything from data wreckage/disaster prevention to their recovery. Plus, he is RHG media redefined!

 

Akinlolu: He studied farming. Has made money from the rearing of bees, is absolutely into music, does MC, can repair your PC, can cook more than some Aso Rock chefs, can…What can’t he do? Yes! I remember, he can’t play football.

 

Prof. Lowo: he’s done business and business has done him. And now, he still does business. Beyond that, he is a graduate in chemical engineering.

 

Amusan Olusola: when you think of electronics and get confused, call this guy. I don’t know why, but he’s always known what to tell you. While what he tells you may not make any sense to you initially, when the deed is done, you’d be tempted to hand him a blank cheque or even your ATM card and its PIN code.

 

Olaide Olawuwo: I’m still wondering why BusinessDay newspaper has not given this guy any award yet. He sells it and smells of it! Bro Laide is an entrepreneur.

 

Niyi: this is the chicken guy, the fish man and the mango farmer. And he is a maaaan of God.

 

The Transparent Mind is probably the least of them. At age 7, he sold mangoes to some people while living in Letmurk Officers’ Qtrs (his parents still don't know about it).

The list is endless, there are many whose names I am not worthy of typing. It will take an incumbent Larry King to do so. Besides, as at the time this piece will be published on facebook, there will be many more of these guys.

 

 

The one who learnt from everybody hails you all, knowing he will still learn from anybody.

Written: December 2010