NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Bahamian entrepreneur N’Nhyn O’Cof, founder of Prospuh and CEO of O’Cof Securities Limited, is calling for a fundamental rebalancing of the nation’s economic systems to create a fairer path to opportunity, arguing that ambition without access will continue to stall the country’s progress.
O’Cof said that after speaking with young Bahamians across the country, he found no shortage of drive or determination—only a lack of direction and opportunity.
“Our people are not short on ambition, only opportunity,” said O’Cof. “We just need fair access to start building what we already dream about.”
He said true progress lies in ownership—whether through entrepreneurship, homeownership, or investing. Yet, he notes, the current system makes it far easier to borrow for consumption than for long-term wealth building.
“If every young Bahamian learned to invest and own early, we could completely change what the next generation of this country looks like,” O’Cof said.
He described the imbalance between consumer and business lending as symptomatic of broader structural inequities in housing, finance, and the cost of living.
“Affordable housing, for example, is not merely about property. It is about stability, dignity, and hope,” said O’Cof. “When Bahamians can access land, mortgages, or fair financing, stronger families and safer communities follow. A nation of owners builds a nation that lasts.”
O’Cof argued that change must come from both policy and mindset, urging Bahamians to take ownership of their personal growth while demanding fairness in the institutions that govern their economic lives.
“Bahamians cannot continue to accept the status quo: high gas prices compared to neighboring nations, easier access to car loans than business financing, and a cost of living that climbs while wages remain stagnant,” he said.
He added: “Acceptance breeds stagnation. The Bahamas must reject what holds it back and build mechanisms that protect citizens from unsustainable costs while opening doors to ownership. That includes supporting local enterprises that reduce daily expenses, expanding financial literacy, and championing housing and lending programs that empower rather than entrap.”
O’Cof said lasting change will require individuals willing to excel, collaborate, and craft policies that reward effort and innovation. He called for Bahamians to be given not just jobs, but the tools and opportunities to create real wealth and a secure future in their own country.
