I just took an exciting trip to Lagos, Nigeria, to speak at an event called "The Platform", hosted by Pastor Poju Oyemade. "Pastor Poju" is a respected colleague from across the sea, and a man who possesses leadership potential that I would put on par with President Barack Obama. Taking advantage of the political freedoms obtained by Nigeria over the past decade, the pastor has pushed forth an agenda which focuses on economic empowerment and free enterprise.

The event organizers took great pains to ensure that we were safe during our trip and I appreciated that. Upon our arrival, a caravan of SUVs and a police escort rolled up and guided us through the thick Nigerian traffic. I looked out the window to see men on motorcycles riding alongside our caravan, as tall guys with sun glasses and dark suits drove the big, black trucks in which we were riding. It was definitely an interesting experience, which I discuss in more detail on my Black Scholars Blog.

Nigeria is a country that has been falsely presented to the world as a haven of danger. But like any other nation, it has it's good and it's bad. The extra security was more of a hospitality than a serious precaution, since most Americans are afraid of Nigeria. I was most impressed by the way the people of Nigeria overcome their obstacles and still keep working hard every day. African Americans can learn a great deal from our brothers and sisters across the sea.

When I arrived in my hotel, a comfortable spot on Victoria Island, right outside the city, I was shocked at who would greet me. I opened the door, ready to crash on my bed, and suddenly I saw Jay-Z.

OK, it wasn't the real Jay-Z, just his face on the cover of a magazine. But I am admittedly shocked when I head to Europe, Asia and other parts of the world, only to bump into the very same brothers I see when I drive to New York City. We know that Hip Hop has taken over the world, and megastar "blingaholics" like Jay-Z are leading the pack. What is most interesting is that although some might argue that the Jiggaman and I are very different people, the truth is that we are the same: brothers who hustle to use our intellect to get ahead. What is also interesting is that Jay-Z's lessons of free enterprise are incredibly powerful when considering the set of possibilities which exist for all of us in a compassionately capitalist society.

Capitalism is powerful, like a drug or fire. Fire can either keep you warm or it can burn you alive. A drug can make you healthy, but it can also be abused. It is my firm belief that capitalism, when appropriately balanced with a genuine concern for our fellow man and the protection of human dignity, can lead to tremendous economic growth and individual opportunity. At the same time, when capitalism is abused, it has the capacity to enslave its citizens. That is why I am not a Republican.

I learned long ago that I could never be a good professor unless I learned to be a good student. So, as much as I was there to teach the individuals in the audience, I was also there to learn from them. I learned from their persistence and determination when it comes to fulfilling basic needs for their families. I learned from the men on the street selling everything from house slippers to cans of Pringles potato chips as we drove by. I learned from the successful Nigerian businessmen who explained how they make their money from oil and gas futures trading. I even learned a lot from Jay Z, as he has evolved from being a source of labor to being a controller of capital. In other words, he didn't fall for the common temptation of becoming a high paid prostitute.

My trip left me impressed. The audience, roughly 20,000 in tow, all came out in hot Nigerian weather to get a taste of the very things that we as Americans take for granted. As much as we might get angry with our country, we must remember that there are economic and social opportunities that don't exist in other parts of the world. The pastor told me that just a decade ago when Nigeria was under military rule, a professor like myself would never have been allowed into the country. Military leaders don't tend to condone the idea of people thinking for themselves, since free thought threatens their hold on power. But there we all were, in a free society, being powerful and learning how to help Black people around the world achieve economic freedom. It was truly amazing.

I am going back to Nigeria in October. I've been invited, along with Rev. Jesse Jackson, to address a similar audience in Lagos. I look forward to the trip, for the economic opportunities in Africa are greater than the rest of the world. When it comes to economic growth and investment, Africa is destined to be the next China. I plan to be part of Africa's rise.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Finance Professor at Syracuse University

and author of "What if George Bush were a Black Man?" He makes

regular appearances in national media, including CNN, BET and

The Wendy Williams Experience.

For more information, please visit www.BoyceWatkins.com.