First Nigerian: Mr. Kase L. Lawal, President and Chief Executive of US-based energy group CAMAC. Second Nigerian: General Olusegun Obasanjo, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Both men are featured extensively in this edition. Obasanjo on page 18 and Lawal on page 50.

Sixteen years ago, Kase Lawal was just another of the thousands of Nigerian-born African-Americans trying to make ends meet in the USA. Today, he is recognised and celebrated as the founder and owner of the largest black-owned business in America. In a few years Lawal and his employees have confronted the visible and invisible business barriers that stand in the way of African-American progress. He has achieved his corporate ambitions despite the daunting tasks. In his word the key ingredient for his success has been "focus". Focus on the key objectives of his company; focus on the needs of his customers and the obligations imposed by the partnerships he has struck.

Against the overwhelming odds, Lawal is 'focussed' and growing. Last year CAMAC generated nearly one billion dollars in revenue. This record has been achieved only once in the last 30 years of African-American business growth. Lawal's business is currently expanding into Africa. The group already employs 1500 people in Southern Africa, with a further 2000 jobs expected in the region next year. This magazine congratulates Mr. Lawal for showing a shining example of decisive leadership in the face of difficulties.

The growing problems have tested Obasanjo's leadership abilities from every angle. In the latest of his presidential headaches, the House of Representatives voted to ask Obasanjo to resign for abuse of office. Yes, there is no love lost relationship between the Presidency and the House of Representatives. But we believe that Obasanjo's problem with the National Assembly is largely self-inflicted. He has virtually ignored them, refusing to make an effort to cultivate the reasonable ones among them. Commentators have consistently reminded Obasanjo that he is running a democratic government, and not a military dictatorship. His failure to build allies in the legislative branch of government is primarily what the lawmakers are exploiting. Obasanjo seems to have angered more Nigerians in his handling of the problem by issuing a statement saying their concerns were an 'unnecessary distraction".

Speaking at a recent conference, former head of state. General Abdusalam Abubakar warned that "political actors have not leant from nor forgotten the negative anti-democratic, potentially destructive trails of our unflattering political past". A reference not only to the attitude of the lawmakers but to the poor management of critical issues by the executive arm of government.

While we concede that leading a nation of millions of people with competing demands is not the same as running a modest multinational company. President Obasanjo can and should learn that successful leadership requires focus. Focus on Nigeria's priorities. Focus on finding clear-cut solutions to the growing political and economic problems of Nigeria.

Nigerian number two; General Obasanjo was elected President of the federal republic three years ago. Previously he had been a soldier, a military head of state, an eminent African personality, a farmer and a political prisoner. Plenty of experience, you would say. Since becoming President, Obasanjo has not enjoyed a smooth ride. Who says solving Nigeria's myriad problems created by several years of waste, corruption and neglect is easy?

In the same vein, who can blame ordinary Nigerians who were promised relief at the start of Obasanjo's term from questioning government delivery. The Nigerian economy is in bad shape. The privatisation process is in a mess, and portfolio and foreign direct investment are drying up. Nigeria is facing a food crisis much worse than when the country was at war 30 years ago.

The growing problems have tested Obasanjo's leadership abilities from every angle. In the latest of his presidential headaches, the House of Representatives voted to ask Obasanjo to resign for abuse of office. Yes, there is no love lost relationship between the Presidency and the House of Representatives. But we believe that Obasanjo’s problem with the National Assembly is largely self-inflicted. He has virtually ignored them, refusing to make an effort to cultivate the reasonable ones among them. Commentators have consistently reminded Obasanjo that he is running a democratic government, and not a military dictatorship. His failure to build allies in the legislative branch of government is primarily what the lawmakers are exploiting. Obasanjo seems to have angered more Nigerians in his handling of the problem by issuing a statement saying their concerns were an ‘unnecessary distraction’.
Speaking at a recent conference, former head of state, General Abdusalam Abubakar warned that “political actors have not learnt from not forgotten the negative anti-democratic, potentially destructive trails of our anflattering political past”.
A reference not only to the attitude of the lawmakers but to the poor management of critical issues by the executive arm of government.
While we concede that leading a nation of millions of people with competing demands is not the same as running a modest multinational company, President Obasanjo can and should learn that successful leadership requires focus. Focus on Nigeria’s priorities. Focus on finding clear-cut solutions to the growing political and economic problems of Nigeria.

As expected of the leading international magazine on business in Africa, this edition is packed with high quality information. In Transition Trauma (page 40), our correspondent in Ghana examines the growing rift between incumbent Ghanaian President Kufuor and his predecessor Jerry Rawlings.

The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) is gradually gaining acceptance. On page 59, a European investor undertakes a SWOT analysis of Africa's new economic blueprint. There are articles on the environment, banking technology, telecoms, and Angola; all written and presented in the style you have come to expect of us.