Tony Prest

Interview by Chief Executive
June 2020 21 min read

Chief Anthony Tosan Prest is a businessman, a patron of active culture and lifestyle pioneer based in Lagos. He ran as a candidate for the office of Governor in 2015 in the state of Delta. He is the founder and Chief Executive of Prest Group, owning a portfolio of companies across the southwest region in Nigeria. As one of the main features in our Visual Collaborative Grand Masters interview series, Prest talks to us about his perspectives on the African continent, his background, and aspirations to raise people’s livelihoods in his home region and the general populous of his country. He also gives young entrepreneurs advice on the value of persistence and African culture in a technology-driven world.

(VC) The country Nigeria has a growing number of conscious people, but there has been a sluggish restoration of normalcy that many other nations enjoy. What are your general thoughts on why this is happening?

(Tony Prest) Yes, Nigerian people have always had deep-rooted consciousness, which has marked them out locally and internationally in politics, economics, and culture. To this end, perhaps the new word ‘Naija’ usually used for Nigeria encapsulates and defines the essence and characteristics of the Nigerians nature- friendly, politically aware, industrious, survivalist, adventure-seeking, competitive, and ingenious kind.

You seem to have carefully chosen your words ‘sluggish restoration of normalcy’ and one can only presume that you are referring to the effects of hiccups experienced in our political and economic development as a nation which may be perceived as somewhat affecting our ‘ranking’ amongst other nations in Africa and the developing world. This is disturbing when one sees that Nigeria in the ‘’60s and indeed into the ’70s was the African’s potential emerging black power. We were known for giant strides in agriculture (groundnut pyramids, cocoa, etc); rail infrastructure which ran across the country; manufacturing companies of various types creating employment; ocean-faring shipping lines facilitating our international trade and national airline; with the advent of oil, refineries that worked; steel rolling companies; vehicle manufacturing plants; etc. We also contributed in no small measure to the liberation of African countries earning us space as a ‘Frontline State’. Our successful interventions in wars of Liberia and Sierra Leone evolved a new concept in peacekeeping operations worldwide following Nigeria’s concept of ‘peace enforcement’. Our successfully hosting of the FESTAC ’77 festival which brought together Africans at home and in the diaspora ignited pride in Africanism which no other event has been able to match.

The story today, however, is not a very cheerful one. It’s like we are playing a game of snakes and ladders where all the gains have been ‘swallowed down’ and we have to start working our way up again – in agriculture; infrastructure; manufacturing; etc. This has been exacerbated by our rising debt stock; inflation; falling exchange rate value of the Naira (Nigerian currency); unemployment; insecurity challenges; etc. This unfortunate tipsy turvy, roller coaster approach to our development may be attributed to three critical criteria – leadership, corruption, lack of faithfulness in implementing development plans, and fragile political stability.

This second scramble is not patently coercive as the first scramble, which led to physical colonization, so Africa must learn from its past lessons. We must be careful to negotiate and engage only in deals that are clearly in our interests

(VC) Many critics may argue that locally borne ideas are not really local but because the African continent is in her second economic scramble, and many multinational companies are already contributing to the mainland. What are your general thoughts on this?

(Tony Prest) The world has been termed a ‘global village’ for quite a while now. The critical thing, therefore, would be HOW we adapt and adopt ideas to our local environment. It’s, therefore, almost a Darwinian type of ‘adapt or die’ world. What’s the use in re-inventing the wheel? Everybody is adapting and re-inventing themselves. Even China, once a closed ‘communist’ type economic system, has had to open up to new ideas, changing them to re-inventing their economic system. And they have been quite successful at this. But for the recent ‘slow down’ which the Wuhan Virus controversy attributed to China had caused very effectively spread its economic tentacles across the world with its strategic ‘Road and Belt policy.’

Yes, in a sense, Africa is experiencing a ‘second economic scramble’ by foreign interests and powers showing that Africa’s mineral and natural resources and huge human population (serving as great windows of the market opportunity for foreign goods and services) is still as relevant, attractive, and sought after as they were in the early foray of the first scramble in the 1880s. Amazing but true. Uranium, cobalt, gold, diamond, timber, oil and gas, cocoa, agricultural produce, etc. – all still attractive
and relevant. Therefore, it is not surprising to see the legacy metropolises such as France and Britain still trying to consolidate their politico-economic spheres of influence in Africa through French La Francophonie and the British Commonwealth. However, new players have come on the scene, including the U.S. and Chinese. The U.S. interests are not only economical (such as the since Clinton) but also strategic military positioning like the US Africa Command (targeted at anti-terrorism and anti-piracy) with boots on the ground in places like Niamey, Niger and conducting joint exercises such as the ‘Obangame‘ with navies of Nigeria and Cameroon in the Gulf of Guinea. The Chinese are all over Africa – entrenching and consolidating their economic hold to the chagrin of U.S. and European interests.

Russia has joined in, perhaps following a global competition, European sanctions, and search for new markets. Recently, Russia’s Foreign Minister went on an extensive African tour of countries in Southern Africa and the Horn of Africa (Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia, Mozambique, and Ethiopia) where she had strategic/ideological relations in the Soviet Union era. Lavrov also significantly met with the Chairperson of the AU in Addis Ababa. It is noteworthy that this comes after Russia hosted 43 senior African leaders in 2019, perhaps with the intent to play ‘catch up’ U.S. and Chinese forays into Africa’s economy and resources.

This second scramble is not patently coercive as the first scramble, which led to physical colonization, so Africa must learn from its past lessons. We must be careful to negotiate and engage only in deals that are clearly in our interests. We are the beautiful damsel being wooed by suitors, and we should be able to decide and play the competition against themselves to our benefit. The AU and sub-regional groups such as the ECOWAS AND SADC have a critical role in defining and articulating and protecting African interests from being ravished a second time. If properly harnessed, this could be the beginning of a new dawn in Africa’s development. For Nigeria, we should hopefully put Adesina firmly back in the saddle in AfDB, putting the contrived saga behind us. I also hope our officials can negotiate and facilitate the entrance of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala as the next World Trade Organisation president

(VC) A perfect world does not exist and is subjective at best, but if one did what core values would you make a staple in your sphere of influence.

(Tony Prest)  Humanity, we must accept, is one of the most complex beings and creatures. In the scriptures, it is recorded that GOD had to wipe out MAN with the flood, perhaps in ‘exasperation’ seeing that humanity keeping HIS ‘values’ was not so forthcoming. But Noah and his family were given a ‘second chance.’ This is at the crux of the matter. We must not give up on humankind because, at various times, various people do not and will not keep our values. We must keep at it and create windows of opening for ‘second chances.’ PERSISTENCE. Persistence, therefore, should be one of our core values of existence. The persistence of Edison in failing over and again, yet eventually creating the light bulb. The persistence of the Wright brothers to take to flight, even if just momentarily! Persistence to sail around the world to discover new opportunities and new horizons! I am a persistent man, and I will not have achieved the attainments which I have if I had been otherwise. So, persistence and hard work will be one of the core values, I would advise to those in my sphere of influence. When you have a vision and believe it, never say never! I attended Mayflower School, Ikenne, founded by the late Dr.Tai Solarin, and discipline which is a key attribute of persistence was a given for character formation at a young age.

Massive and constant development in information technology gives you access to most things you need nowadays. Why not take advantage of it?

Vision. Dream. And dream big. If you don’t have a vision and believe in it, persistence is in futility. We had achieved many firsts in the country when no one believed! If you believe you can fly, someday you might fly. Self-development and continuous self-improvement are important. Without knowledge, information, skills, and wisdom, one would soon be lost at sea in a rapidly changing and developing world. Without these, vision will be opaque, blurry, and short-circuited. Massive and constant development in information technology gives you access to most things you need nowadays. Why not take advantage of it? This helps one to be able to innovate and self re-invent for survival and success in a very dynamic and turbulent environment.

(VC) You ran numerous successful businesses in the past few decades. What do you tell aspiring entrepreneurs about business success and risks?

(Tony Prest) Risk shouldn’t be an aversion. It’s oftentimes what you’d call a “calculated” risk, and that’s not a bad idea for anyone truly striving for success. What we, therefore, term as ‘risk’ is a great learning opportunity to hone in a competitive edge, develop innovation, and upgrade knowledge on the business & market environment. Business risks arise from uncertainty about the profit of a commercial business or enterprise due to unwanted events such as changes in tastes and preferences of consumers; act of GOD such as strikes, fire, pandemics, floods / natural disasters; terrorism, wars, etc.; increased competition / deliberate attack from the competition; uncertainty in financial markets; legal liabilities; credit risk; changes in government policy; new technology/innovation, etc. These can be, however, controlled using various techniques of risk management which involves the identification, evaluation, and prioritization of risks followed by coordinated and economical application of resources to minimize, monitor, and control the probability or impact of unfortunate events and/or to maximize the realization of opportunities and business objectives.

Aspiring entrepreneurs should always proactively think through / consider risk-return trade-offs for their investments or ventures. The development of a business plan for every venture is not only good but is key to projecting and managing risks in order to drive the business towards successful outcomes effectively. As they say, no pain no gain! Entrepreneurship is synonymous with risk-taking. Simplicitas!

(VC) Observing the growing despondency of political movements in parts of Nigeria and some West African countries, as a thought leader and former political aspirant, are you more optimistic given the trajectory of the present times.

(Tony Prest) Nigeria has always had a vibrant political culture. With nearly 60 years of political independence behind us, our political movements have been shaped by the dynamics of local, regional, and international politics. We have also swung between democratic practice and military governance.

The parties that strove for independence from Britain were primarily motivated by nationalism that some called ‘flag independence’ fired by political activism, which drove constitutional developments leading to independence on October 1, 1960. Notable amongst these were the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC); Action Group (AG); Northern People’s Congress (NPC), Northern Elements Progress Union (NEPU), amongst others. Prominent figures of the period were Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sir Tafawa Balewa, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, etc. My late father, Chief Arthur Prest, was the regional minister at Ibadan and was deputy leader to Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Prest, Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Anthony Enahoro, fought for Nigeria’s independence and attended the Lancaster House talks that negotiated and led to Nigeria’s independence. Chief Arthur Prest later became the country’s Ambassador to the Court of St. James in the United Kingdom. Political power play at this period though ethnic in coloration was marked by healthy competition for the development of the regions according to their resources.

Fast forward to the 15th January coup with truncated the First Republic and eventually led to a bloody civil war which lasted nearly three years, Although, we proclaimed No victor, no vanquished, Nigeria never quite remained the same as ethnic cleavages deepened. Politics, which is often described as ‘who gets what when and how’ have been run mostly on these ethnic and regional lines. Political parties have, however, strived to have a ‘national outlook’ in reality, they seem to be different sides of the same coin as they have no distinguishing ideology, and there is rapid and frequent movement from one party to another based interests. Corruption has also taken firm root and has become a vital part of the economic system with spin-offs on the political superstructure. The security of lives and property has taken a turn for the worse. The consequence is that we have gradually witnessed a declining despondency in the generation next and many good people who would wish to join the fray to the right things. However, we can’t be daunted because we have no other country we can call our own and if countries like Rwanda, Liberia and Sierra Leone (whom we helped restore to a path of civil governance), Sri Lanka which survived decades of insurgency with Tamil Tigers – then I believe Nigeria is not a lost cause.

(VC) In your quiet or noisy moments, how toes Tony get inspired? What ultimately motivates you to work the way you do? Are you religious or in a state of wit and will with life?

(Tony Prest) Well, you know the saying about ‘all work and no play.’ I work hard, some say ‘too hard,’ but to me, that’s just a part of life, a reality of existence – keeping alive and saying ahead! But you see, I also play and play very hard. So, there’s a ‘balance’ as it were, or what the Chinese call the ‘Yin and Yang’ of life. This is like the ‘balance wheel’ mechanism, which drives the successful running of a traditional, exquisite, finely crafted wristwatches – performance, beauty, technology, and value all at once. For my pastimes, I play golf. (I am a NAGGer, I.e., a member of Nigerian American Golf Group); I go fishing; I go sailing (I am a qualified Boat Captain); I am an enthusiastic reader and black history proponent. I am avouched jazz enthusiast (I belong to the Lagos Jazz Society, and I own the prestigious Prest Jazz Club in Lagos, Nigeria.) I am a socialite.

From my work and ‘play,’ my consciousness and awareness are constantly honed to stimulate or feel or do something creative, novel, value-adding, and profitable. Perhaps from this process, I get the sparks of ideas, ‘inspiration’ as you call it, which I have most times transformed into reality. A few examples are:

From my work and ‘play,’ my consciousness and awareness are honed continuously to stimulate or feel or do something creative, novel, value-adding, and profitable. Perhaps from this process, I get the sparks of ideas, ‘inspiration’ as you call it, which I have most times transformed into reality. A few examples are: Establishing the Prest Cable & Satellite TV Systems, which was the very first Cable Satellite redistribution service in the whole of Niger Delta. I started with TDMA technology, went on to CDMA, then WCDMA. I introduced wireless internet to Benin in 1997, and it was the only internet service provider in Nigeria outside Lagos State. I established Prestel, the first private telephone operator in the entire Niger Delta region. I created the first 150-seater Prest Lunch & Dinner Cruise fine dining restaurant boat complete with live music. This has been running for well over a decade ahead of any late coming service types who still haven’t matched our class and style to date. In tourism and entertainment, asides owning hotels, I opened the first Beef Burgher shop in Benin City; the first Casino in Benin City (Prest Casino); the first Casino in Surulere, Lagos; the first Karaoke bar in Niger outside Lagos, etc.

These are just a few amongst my various business interests, and inspiration drove business ideas and projects. I am goal/achievement and service-oriented, and I thank GOD for the contributions we have been
able to make to the individual and society so far. We shall not rest on our oars, and in the words of Robert Frost, “I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep.”

(VC) Some mention different historical times as a period they admire for affluence or culture. If you can time-warp to any era to collaborate with its culture, what period would it be and why?

(Tony Prest) One can only speak of historical periods of affluence and culture relative to one’s existential experience, and I was born in 1960. Asides this, one can only draw upon what we have read or heard of such periods across ages, dispensations, and cultures. The post World War II age of affluence in the U.S. (1945-1960) was remarkable which witnessed rising wages and improved welfare of the working class; expanding social benefits; the growth rate of homeownership; increased number of business enterprises and industrial production; increased agricultural production & food supplies; increased GDP; development of the military-industrial complex facilitating security for American citizens home & abroad; and increased influence on world political space. If I were to ‘time warp’, as you put it, I would earnestly seek this and even more for my dear country, Nigeria – increased employment and provision of truly decent wages for the working class; institutionalized social and welfare benefits for the people; access to health for all; reduction of the

gaping housing deficit to a minimum by rapid homeownership for my people of Nigeria; zero-tolerance for the out-of-school-children phenomenon; increased stimulation of business and commercial activities (MSME’s), industrial processes, and technological advancement; massive food production & agricultural development leading to availability of cheap affordable food supply to all Nigerians with enough to export and store as strategic food reserves – in essence, immediate and total eradication of hunger in the land; total overhaul of our security apparatchik to restore full and total confidence in the government to provide security for lives and property, in accordance with our constitution, without fear or favor, for Nigerians at home and abroad; and fully restore Nigeria to its pride of place as a key player not only in its regional sphere of influence but in the international comity of nations.

As for the cultural dispensation, I pride myself as being an African with humanist and welfarist disposition. The recent unfortunate killing of George Floyd, which has pronounced the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement worldwide, is a call to the age where Africans were free, respected, and contributed to world development before the trajectory was truncated by centuries of slavery followed by exploitative colonialism. If I were to ‘time- warp’, I’d like a significant cultural renaissance for black and African people where African people would be considered not on the basis of the color of our skin but based on our achievements and contributions to the world at large – and in times of old, there were many.

In 1971, my father, known to stand firmly for justice, equality, fairness, and development, actually took it upon himself to speak up for the rights of our Ijaw (and other) brothers even though he was Itsekiri. There is no truer testimony of a truly emancipated personality rising above tribal and ethnic chauvinism, promoting just cause, unity and social cohesion, and development

 

(VC) You ran for political office in the state of Delta many years ago. Since that time, what has changed? Would you run again?

(Tony Prest) Yes, in 2015, I ran for Governorship in my home state under the umbrella of the Unity Party of Nigeria. Remarkably, I came in 4th position after the ‘mega parties’ APC & PDP, with private funding, under a lesser-known party, and at short notice. There is a saying in my area that ‘Warri no dey carry last,” symbolizing the doggedness of the average Warri, Delta State person. My family has had very deep political involvement in Nigeria generally and in the Delta area. My late dad, Chief Arthur Prest, was also deeply involved in the struggles for Nigeria’s independence, as I had mentioned earlier, alongside political notables such as Sir, Ahmadu Bello, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Pa Anthony Enahoro, and others. He was Nigeria’s Minister of Communication in 1957, later Ambassador to the St. Jame Court, and Deputy Leader of the defunct Action Group under Obafemi Awolowo.

In 1971, my father, known to stand firmly for justice, equality, fairness, and development, actually took it upon himself to speak up for the rights of our Ijaw (and other) brothers even though he was Itsekiri. There is no truer testimony of a truly emancipated personality rising above tribal and ethnic chauvinism, promoting just cause, unity and social cohesion, and development – a cause still relevant and in dire need of advancement today if the good people of Delta State must frog leap into the premier pride of place which it rightfully deserves. I pride myself as a ‘Warri boy.’ Warri is the historical and traditional melting pot of socio-economic and political activities of all ethnic groups in Delta State – Itsekiri, Urhobo, Isoko, Ijaw, and Anioma Ibo people. Warri, one could say, acquired this status because of the historical role in pre-colonial times interfacing mercantile activities with European interests (Dutch, Portuguese, and British), which made it significant in commerce, trade, and politics. Prince Antonio Domingo of Warri attended a Portuguese university in the 17th Century. Nana Olomu, an Itsekiri chief and merchant’s commercial exploits with the Europeans, are all well known. These also honed political consciousness and activism in Delta people, which is all too well known also. The post-colonial period’s oil production activities also further made Warri a potpourri of Delta State people, politics, and commercial interests. Being a Warri boy, I am an amalgamation, without bias or discrimination, of all ethnic tendencies in Delta State. I am a unifying factor. I am the symbol and personification of emancipation and true development in my state. I have the pedigree, experience, and passion. I will run again! Why not? When we look at the state of affairs in Delta State today, you will weep because less than mediocre performances by past administrations are being touted and sold to the people as ‘best practices’ and benchmarks when in fact, we should be far better than this.

For decades, we have been Nigeria’s first oil-producing state, sustaining the nation, and when you look around you, what do we have to show for it? Low living; no portable drinking water; poor infrastructural development; no maintenance culture; the ever-increasing gap between the rich and the poor; increasing tribal and ethnic chauvinism; primitive accumulation of wealth and corruption by the political class to the detriment of the people; poor road network and archaic and pre-medieval water transportation system; increasing insecurity of the people of Delta State who are being killed without let and remedy; etc. Where is the master plan for the development of Delta State? Nobody knows. This is simply unacceptable.

I ask, with our resources, population, and passion, why shouldn’t Delta State be the Dubai of the Gulf of Guinea region at the very least? I have a vision of a great and internationally recognized Delta State and the total and rapid transformation of Delta State into the Dubai of the Gulf of Guinea region in my very least benchmark. And you know what? I will do it. I will see it happen, together with; the good people of Delta State – ‘the Big Heart’ – when they give me the mandate to drive that vision as
Delta State Governor.

The machinery for this is already in place running on the SPV of “Volunteers for Tony Prest as Governor of Delta State.” Our volunteers’ network of over a million volunteers is a model that is not only novel but eschews corruption and encourages suasion and buy-in of the stakeholders/electorate into our vision and movement based on conviction and being stakeholders. I have used this machinery and model to support and drive the aspirations of several leaders from the federal to state levels with amazing electoral performance results. To my good people of Delta State, I plead with them, to join hands with me, join the movement to make me Governor to put Delta State in the international pride of place where it belongs.