THE MERCHANT OF NAIROBI
I know that most of you Kenyans are not strangers to Michael Joseph OBS, the Safaricom mogul, and in case you were wondering whether he is a son of the soil, then just know that he is much a Kenyan, as you and I, and this is the reason why he is being featured and honoured as an inspiration to many a people, in this segment of black history month. I believe that Michael is a visionary, born with a midas touch, to be an inventor, as well as an innovator, roles that come so naturally to him. For those young ones who have no idea about this individual, he is the brainchild behind Safaricom Limited and all its products and services that you all love to enjoy. Michael founded this company decades ago that has revolutionized our communication services.
Michael Joseph is a jack of all trades,
known to wear many hats, and is the proverbial merchant of Venice, trading in
our beautiful capital of Nairobi. This is the type of visionary whose entrepreneurial
ideas lay rock solid foundations for future generations. Michael is that
alchemist, who blends business skills, technology, human resource, with both passion
and talent, to produce quality goods and services, which serve humanity for decades.
This is an extraordinary individual, gifted in creating business projects, and one
who is not afraid to channel prolific ideas that suit the populace. Ladies and
gentlemen, Michael has managed to tap into a highly fierce territory of mass communication,
and carved a niche in a field where competition is stiff, and largely
prevailed, because he sort to serve people with his gift, more than earn
himself a few coins. In a word, Michael Joseph is a certified borne
businessman.
Additionally, Michael holds several titles;
having previously served as CEO of Safaricom Limited, and was the Director of Vodafone
mobile money, he is the current chairperson of Kenya Airways, the Lewa Wildlife
Conservancy, the M-Pesa Foundation, as well as the M-Pesa Foundation Academy. Do
you now see why Michael Joseph is the merchant of Nairobi? For those of you with
noble business ideas and start-ups, I kindly request you to seek the services
of this economic guru, as he is able to accurately guide your inventions to a
profitable end.
Nonetheless, be ready to receive constructive
criticism, which might leave you tongue-tied, and feeling somewhat incompetent,
as your brilliant ideas are slowly torn apart and shredded to into pieces. But
do not worry yourself to death. It is not that you are dumb or incapable of piping
innovative ideas, it is just that when you are dealing with an economic genius of
Michael’s calibre, one who has an expanse of entrepreneurial capabilities, you
just have to swallow your pride and take the reproof with a dose of humility. Even
if you have two business degrees and you are the chairperson of the Nairobi Merchants
Association, I would again like to sincerely request that you take not the nit-picking
to heart, and rather run with the recommendations given to you. Speaking of
which, Michael, I also do have this popping jua kali idea that needs your
golden touch. Therefore, if have the time, and you are feeling sufficiently
philanthropic, kindly give me a quick buzz, and let me know if it is possible for
me to have a one on one with you off camera, for I need wise counsel, with this
special business idea.
Anyway, I always tell Kenyans that aside
from the gospel, nothing sells better in this nation than Safaricom products
and services, all thanks to Michael’s ingenuity of revolutionising the customer
service that caters to all. In short, Michael ensured that you and I are able
to access money, airtime, and make numerous purchases, all at the comfort of
our homes. Is that not a wonderful thing? What of the M-Pesa service that we
Kenyans have been so accustomed to, such that we cannot live without? This is
Michael’s potent idea of sending and receiving money anywhere in the world. All
our institutions, both local and international, have embraced this money
service, including our sacred spaces, which is our churches.
Nowadays, Christians have no excuse as to
why they cannot give their tithes and offerings promptly. Moreover, even you
are broke or cash strapped, the Fuliza service was invented by Safaricom Limited
just for you, allowing you to borrow money from them, in order to pull yourself
out of a tight corner, during those dry days, just as long as you pay them
back, with interest of course. Besides, know that people will look at you sideways,
when you claim to have no money or change, knowing very well that we are living
in a cashless society. However, thanks to Michael’s ingenuity of buying and
selling through the M-Pesa service, he also added till numbers to the mix, for
easy access of goods and services. How convenient!
Furthermore, Kenyans know just how heavily invested
and how deep Safaricom has tapped into technology, in that they operate in high
efficiency, such that there is little no room for hiccups. That is why their
services are prompt, and why they also sell you data, whether in Wi-Fi or in
bundle form. Therefore, most of you need no scamper around the cyber cafés, in
order to access the internet service. Why, Safaricom has got you covered. Is
that not splendid? Thus Michael Joseph and his Safaricom team have dedicated
both their time and resources to ensure that their customers are never lacking
in their vast products and services, proving to us that they are the better
option.
Michael is on record saying that he is not
wealthy, as some of us deem him to be. According to him, he barely owns
anything, other than his God-given gifts and talents. Well, maybe that is true
but, we all know that you have it like that, God has been super generous with you,
and that you Michael Joseph, are deserving of it too. Therefore, it is easy to conclude
that Michael tapped into his higher calling a long ago, brought the vision down
to earth, understood the blue print of the call, and made the print financially
viable, and beneficial to all.
Here is to you Michael Joseph; teach us to slay,
show us the way, as we desire for the day, that we may come and play, in your light
and say, how glorious is the ray, how powerful is the pay, and how peaceful is
the lay!..
No comments:
Post a Comment