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You go to conferences, and your fellow African intellectuals - and even heads of state - they all say: 'Nigeria is a big disappointment. It is the shame of the African continent.'

I felt Nigeria didn't have to succumb to the image of being a corrupt country; we didn't have to let the economy stagnate.

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. If Nigeria succeeds at democratic governance it will be an anchor for all of West Africa. Africa needs a strong Nigeria.

Nigeria is like everywhere, really: there are some beautiful places that have been invested in and others that haven't been.

Nigeria has moved into low-middle-income, but their north is very poor, and the health care systems there have broken down.

Niger is not an isolated island of desperation. It lies within a sea of problems across Africa - particularly the 'forgotten emergencies' in poor countries or regions with little strategic or material appeal.

When your economy is subject to the whims of Libya and Nigeria and Venezuela, you have a problem.

Africa is not for the weak-hearted: infrastructure issues are there. The middle class is absent in most of the countries. We have to cater to the low end of the market to grow.

Africa was perceived - it still is to some extent - as a place which is very difficult to do business in. I don't share that view.