‘Nigeria Would Have Been a World Power if It Kept Its Oil Wealth’ — Akon

By Micheal Chukwuebuka

Senegalese-American singer and entrepreneur Akon has stated that Nigeria could have been one of the richest and most powerful countries in the world if it had retained full control of its oil revenues since independence in 1960.

In an Instagram post, Akon imagined an alternate reality where Nigeria’s oil wealth remained in local hands, suggesting Lagos would rival London and New York as a global financial hub, and Nigerian universities would lead in science and technology.

He added that Nollywood would surpass Hollywood in influence and that Africa’s economic power could have reshaped the global order.

Akon emphasized that while history cannot be rewritten, Africa still has the opportunity to reclaim control over its resources and shape its destiny.