I saw the news about Nigeria’s new deep-offshore investment framework and the potential to unlock up to $50 billion in investment.

I didn’t think about oil first. My thoughts were on the other businesses that might come out of it.

When we hear about a huge investment coming into Nigeria, it’s easy to think about the money itself. Our analysis becomes how many jobs it will create, or how much foreign exchange it will bring.

Those questions matter. But I think there is another question worth asking:

Who is building around the opportunity?

A $50 billion oil project does not exist in isolation. Someone has to provide the equipment. There will be a need for logistics. Someone has to build offices and accommodation. How about technology, payment infrastructure, security, food, and more?

These are all opportunities.

The government can create the framework. Investors can bring the capital. Large companies can execute the projects.

But entrepreneurs can build businesses around them. That becomes an opportunity for you.

And this is not just about oil.

This same idea applies to housing, building, farming, tech, energy, and pretty much every growing industry in the country.

Stop waiting for the big opportunity to arrive in a form you can recognise. Sometimes they arrive as someone else’s investment. Other times, as a new regulation.

Your duty as an entrepreneur is to look at what is changing and ask:

What will people need because of this new development?

I am more interested in that than the headline numbers.

Nigeria may unlock $50 billion in offshore investment. That is significant.

But the bigger story, at least from where I sit, is what Nigerians will build because that capital is coming.

That is where opportunity becomes enterprise.

See you tomorrow.

Oluboba Ayodeji