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Strategic agility unleashed: Empowering teams to navigate and lead change

Professor Rodria Laline , the inventor of the first chip used on the first ATM card, Former Senior Vice President of Oracle in Asia Pacific and Harvard, INSEAD and IESE Professor. She has been CEO of global research and development collaborations with IBM, ING, Hewlett-Packard, Digital Equipment Corporation, Honeywell Bull, Elsevier Science, Oracle Corporation, Siemens and Philips. She was co-founder of the Global Chipcard Alliance and board member of the Open Software Foundation. She will be among the four faculty members delivering the TEXEM, UK programme Strategic Agility and Inspiring Change.

Other faculty members include Ambassador Charles Crawford, an Oxford and Harvard-trained British Diplomat. He is the winner of the equivalent of two Oscars and a former British Ambassador to Bosnia and Poland. Oxford-trained Professor Roger Delves, Board Member at Global Firm at the age of 30 and Dr Alim Abubakre, Advisory Board Member of London Business School Africa Society and Founder of TEXEM, UK.

In this interview, Professor Rodria Laline shares insights on how to inspire change and fuel Sustainable Success as part of this TEXEM, UK programme Strategic Agility and Inspiring Change: Fuelling Sustainable Success taking place between 26th and 29th of August at Hilton Liverpool.

Given your extensive experience with global giants like IBM, Oracle, and Siemens, how can executives effectively navigate the complexities of strategic agility in their organisations today?

Strategic agility is about balancing the need for flexibility with the discipline of execution. Companies like IBM and Oracle have thrived by constantly evolving their strategies to align with market changes while maintaining a solid operational backbone. For example, the shift from hardware to services and cloud-centric open-source models at IBM exemplified strategic agility. The transformation from a profit-maximising system into a purpose-driven IBM. Kyndryl is another example of how IBM has created a purposeful business in an agile way. Executives must foster an organisational culture that is both adaptive and resilient. This involves not just reacting to changes but anticipating them. The forthcoming TEXEM programme in Liverpool will delve into these dynamics, helping leaders master the art of strategic foresight and lead their organisations through uncertainty with confidence and clarity.

Can you provide an example of a company that successfully implemented radical change, and what lessons can executives learn from this?

A notable example is ING Bank, which transformed significantly to embrace a more customer-centric and digitally driven approach. This involved overhauling their operational models and flattening their organisational structure. The lesson here is the importance of a clear vision and the courage to dismantle existing paradigms. Leaders must understand that radical change often requires learning and letting go of legacy systems and mindsets that no longer serve the organisation’s future. Running the banking business and changing it requires agile leadership. It involves a hyper-awareness of the foreseeable strategic business changes with the current and desired business portfolios and IT risk profiles. During the TEXEM programme, we will explore such case studies, equipping executives with the insights needed to initiate and sustain transformative changes within their organisations.

Why is mastering change management critical for today’s leaders, and how does TEXEM’s methodology support this?

In today’s challenging environment, the ability to manage change is no longer optional; it is a critical leadership competency. Effective change management involves not only planning and execution but also managing the human dimension of change, such as resistance and morale. About half of the work in leadership is transformative, institutional transformation, creating leader-follower relations, renewing institutional vision, societal engagement, effective communication, and performance. A quarter of the work is building bridges, providing salvation in hopeless situations, and gaining the trust of stakeholders through humility and authenticity to realise the interest of those they serve. The remainder of agile leadership is an agency that leads advocacy for ethical and social advancement for the well-being of wider society. It is transformational, empowering individuals to make meaningful contributions by exploring and questioning current reality. TEXEM’s methodology is unique in that it combines rigorous academic insights with practical, real-world applications. This approach makes learning engaging and memorable, ensuring that participants are passive recipients of knowledge and active contributors to their development. The interactive sessions, such as panel discussions and Kahoot games, reinforce learning, making it easier for leaders to apply these lessons in their own contexts.

Read Also: Aiyedatiwa pledges commitment to empowering Amotekun

Could you elaborate on the role of leadership in fostering strategic agility and provide an example of this in practice?

Leadership is pivotal in fostering an environment where strategic agility can flourish. This involves setting a sharp vision, empowering teams, and creating a culture that embraces continuous learning and adaptation.

Good examples are Oracle Corporation and Philips International, which navigated several product-market shifts by empowering its product management leaders to make decisions aligned with the company’s broader strategic innovation and change objectives. At the end of the last century, both companies had an adaptation strategy that pushed more decision-making authority out to countries and regions. National sales representatives were deciding each year next year’s sales product portfolios. Their selection of products was mainly a listing of current cash cows. Innovative products from the headquarters product groups were hardly selected.

At the end of the last century, both companies completed a 90-degree transformative change by empowering their product management at headquarters with P&L control over sales, changing the strategy from adaptive to aggregation. The boards of Oracle and Philips were instrumental in pivoting towards more profitable business segments when traditional markets declined. The TEXEM programme will examine how leadership behaviours influence organisational agility, providing executives with actionable strategies to enhance their leadership impact.

What challenges have you seen executives face when implementing systemic change, and how can they overcome them?

One of the most significant challenges is overcoming internal resistance and breaking down silos that hinder communication and collaboration. For example, Royal KPN faced these issues when it moved from a traditional telecommunications company to a bank and digital service provider in the banking sector. Overcoming these challenges required strong leadership, clear communication, and a relentless focus on strategic agility objectives. Executives attending the TEXEM programme will benefit from discussions on managing these challenges, learning from the successes and failures of others, and acquiring the tools needed to drive systemic change effectively.

How does your global experience across multiple cultures and industries inform your teaching, particularly in programmes like TEXEM?

My global experience has taught me that while the principles of leadership and strategy may be universal, their application is often context-specific. This is particularly true in multinational settings where cultural nuances can significantly impact decision-making and implementation. Working across diverse industries and geographies, from the industrial sector with Philips to financial services with ING Bank and autonomous navigation systems at the Port of Rotterdam, has shown me the importance of adaptability and cultural intelligence. At TEXEM, we incorporate these insights into the curriculum, ensuring that participants can apply the principles of strategic agility and change management in ways relevant to their unique environments.

Why should executives invest their time in the forthcoming TEXEM programme in Liverpool, and what can they expect to gain?

Executives should consider the TEXEM programme because it offers a rare blend of academic rigour, practical insights, and interactive learning. The programme is designed to inform and transform, equipping leaders with the tools and frameworks they need to navigate today’s complex business environment. Through a carefully crafted agenda that includes strategic discussions, real-world case studies, and engaging activities, participants will leave with actionable strategies to drive sustainable success in their organisations. Furthermore, the opportunity to network with peers and learn from experienced leaders like me adds immense value, making this programme a must-attend for any executive committed to mastering the challenges of change. For more information, please visit here.

August 20, 2024
Imperative of digital literacy for economic growth
- By Olasupo Olusi
As the future of work and life becomes increasingly intertwined with digitisation and technology, the demand for higher-value skills and digital literacy is on the rise. This shift is creating new business models, job opportunities, and driving economic growth. According to the World Economic Forum, an estimated 70% of new value created over the next 10 years will be based on digitally-enabled businesses—businesses that leverage digital technologies to create, deliver, and capture value in the market. The benefits are substantial, as these digital tools and technologies are expected to boost productivity, efficiency, and innovation across various sectors, thereby accelerating economic growth.

Nigeria’s digital opportunity: Job creation and emerging sectors

In Nigeria, the onset of digitisation presents a significant opportunity for job creation and the emergence of new sectors. Digital technologies are reshaping traditional industries, with sectors like fintech, e-commerce, and digital health growing rapidly. For instance, companies like Flutterwave and Paystack are revolutionising financial services by providing innovative solutions for entrepreneurs. A 2022 McKinsey report projects that Africa’s Financial Services market will grow by 10% annually, reaching $230 billion in revenues by 2025, with Nigeria’s fintech sector accounting for about a third of this market.

Need for enhanced digital literacy

To capitalise on the opportunities presented by digitisation, Nigeria must prioritise enhancing digital literacy and developing higher-value skills across its workforce. With the population becoming increasingly connected through the internet and digital devices, ensuring that citizens—especially the younger generation—are digitally literate is key to harnessing the full potential of digital technologies. An estimated 122.5 million people are internet users in Nigeria, indicating a 55.4 percent nationwide connectivity. According to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), 70% of these users are young people between 18 and 35 years old. However, this also means that a large proportion of Nigerians, most of whom are young, still cannot access the internet and are unable to benefit from advancements in communication and technology. This digital divide could result in a generation missing out on the global digital revolution and its dividends to Nigeria.

Bridging the digital divide: Gender equality in access

The digital divide is even more pronounced when examining the disparity between men and women. Women are notably disadvantaged in accessing mobile and internet technologies, with only 34% of Nigerian women and girls online compared to 54% of men and boys (GSM Association). To bridge this inequality and truly harness Nigeria’s potential as a digital powerhouse, it is essential to address these gaps. By advancing gender equality in digital access and youth participation, we can strengthen our economy and make meaningful progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring inclusive and equitable growth for all.

A unified approach to digital literacy

To truly enhance Nigeria’s collective digital literacy, especially among the youth, a coordinated effort is essential. Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) like the Bank of Industry (BOI), alongside the government and private organisations, have a pivotal role to play. Their contributions through policies, training programmes, and infrastructure development are crucial in promoting digital literacy across the nation. However, the current landscape is fragmented, with too many splintered efforts that dilute the impact of initiatives.

Recognising this challenge, the BOI has already taken significant steps to lead the unification of these efforts. By aligning roadmaps with key stakeholders, pooling resources, and strategically deploying massive capacity, the BOI is working to create a more cohesive and effective approach to digital literacy. This unified strategy not only maximises the impact of digital literacy initiatives but also accelerates Nigeria’s journey towards becoming a digital economy powerhouse. The BOI’s leadership in this regard is paving the way for unprecedented results, setting the foundation for a digitally empowered future.

Read Also: Tinubu appoints new management team for NDPHC

Recognising the challenges of the digital divide and other inequalities, the Bank of Industry has identified six thematic groups: Youth & Skills, Gender, Digital, MSMEs, Climate Finance, and Infrastructure, to deepen our development impact. Each thematic group has interventions designed to provide targeted solutions to their respective sectors, fostering more equitable and inclusive development.

Investing in the future: The path to sustainable development

At the Bank of Industry, we are committed to supporting and empowering the next generation to harness digital tools and contribute to sustainable development. A digitally literate economy could significantly boost Nigeria’s growth over the next decade, potentially increasing GDP by 2% by 2028, creating nearly 2 million new jobs, and generating NGN 1.6 trillion in additional tax revenue (GSM Association). Investing in a digitally skilled workforce is crucial to fully realise these opportunities and drive sustainable development.

Celebrating International Youth Day

As Jack Ma insightfully noted, “The most important thing is to make technology inclusive – make the world change.” And I couldn’t agree more. We joined the world in celebrating International Youth Day as Nigerian youths participated in our carefully curated Masterclass session which held on August 15. This event featured thought leaders and seasoned professionals who shared their expertise and insights on this year’s theme, “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development.” This occasion presented an opportunity to impact over 150 young individuals, equipping them with essential digital skills and fostering their growth as future leaders in the digital space.

•Dr. Olusi is MD/CEO, Bank of Industry.
August 20, 2024
As NSITF intensifies stakeholder-engagement
- By Nwachukwu Godson
One of the promises made by the new Managing Director of the NSITF, Oluwaseun Faleye upon assumption of office few weeks ago was to intensify stakeholder engagements at the sub-national levels to ensure that workers at the state and local government levels are availed the abundant benefits of the Employees’ Compensation scheme (ECS).

Recall that the Employees’ Compensation Act (ECA 2010) provided that all employers in the public and private sector across the federation shall contribute one percent of their total emoluments to the NSITF to compensate workers or their dependents in case of injury or death in the course of work. Recall also that the Employees’ Compensation Scheme was further buoyed by the October 2014 circular by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on compulsory 1% deduction from the emoluments of all MDAs and the payment of backlog of contributions since 2012. This was a follow-up to the decision of the extra-ordinary Federal Executive Council meeting of May 16, 2023, which approved the universal implementation of the ECS across all tiers of government.

As it is today however, many state governments are yet to fully enrol into this no-fault scheme which has since inception in 2011 assisted thousands of the victims of work-related injuries or their beneficiaries with cash and non-cash benefits. It is therefore not surprising that the new managing director made the expansion of the ECS to the states and local governments in line with the social security inclusion of the ILO Convention 102 a top agenda of his leadership.

It is in line with this that he led a delegation comprising members of the National Assembly Committees on Labour and Employment on an advocacy visit to the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. The visit came on the eve of a two-day Lagos retreat organized by the NSITF to acquaint members of the National Assembly Committee on Labour with the mandate and processes of the fund as well its procedures. For Faleye, it was a home-coming of sorts. He was an Assistant Director in the Lagos State Civil service and cut his teeth in private law practice with the sprawling law firm in the city. On hand therefore to accompany Faleye on the mission to Lagos apart from the Executive Directors of the NSITF were the chairman of the both the Senate and House of Representatives committees on Labour, Senator Diket Plang and Adegboyaga Adefarati respectively among other members of the National Assembly.

The visit, which incidentally brought together key figures in the labour policy and administration, highlighted the importance of collaboration between federal agencies and state governments in mitigating push factors of poverty in the world of work. It further underscores the commitment of the NSITF in fostering strong relationships with the sub-national governments in quest to uplift the lots of the workers. While addressing the governor, Faleye said he led the team to solicit for the enrolment of the Lagos State workforce into the Employees’ Compensation Scheme. He noted that being a leading state in the federation, embracing the ECS would be a big motivation for other states to do likewise. He said, “We are here on a two-day retreat on how we can collaborate with lawmakers so they can better understand what we do and use their legislative influence to help us achieve the mandate of the fund. He added, “The Employees Compensation Scheme, which is our mandate is a no fault scheme which replaced the Workman Compensation Act. This Act makes it compulsory for every employer of labour in the public and private sector to enrol into the ECS by paying 1% of its total emolument to the NSITF to take care of the workers or their dependents in case of accident or death in the course of work. We have robustly been doing this since 2012, and we want to continue doing it . We know Lagos State can give us critical support in what we are doing.”

Read Also: Tinubu appoints new management team for NDPHC

While responding to the request by the NSITF, the Sanwo-Olu echoed the need for transparency and accountability in the administration of the agency, further charging the NSITF to be responsive in dispensing claims and compensations to the people. He added that even though the Lagos State government has a robust insurance package for its workers, Lagos will be willing to explore collaboration with the NSITF to further boost social security to the Lagos workers.

Sanwo-Olu’s pep on accountability and responsiveness in discharge of compensation to injured workers comes in synch with the cardinal agenda of the new managing director who has already cut the ice in the restructuring agency for efficiency through the digitization of its processes and procedures. He had while taking briefings from the agency’s heads of department two weeks ago assured that no stone will be left unturned in re-positioning the fund to be at par with similar agencies in global best practices. Expressing determination to clear all the inhibiting factors to the digitization of the NSITF, he described it as key to efficiency as well as transparent delivery of its programmes. Faleye has also taken steps to overhaul the fund’s claims and compensation process to widen the net and accommodate more injured workers, noting that percentage of injured workers under different categories of claims was not at par with his vision.

While the chairman of the Senate Committee on Labour, Senator Plang Diket said the National Assembly was committed to assisting the NSITF discharge its responsibilities to the Nigerian workers, his counterpart in the House of Representatives, Adegboyega Adefarati commended Sanwo-Olu for being worker friendly, hoping that bringing the benefits of the ECS to the Lagos workers will be accorded needed attention.

•Nwachukwu is the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, NSITF.
August 20, 2024
USAID/Palladium launches campaign to save Benue Child from trafficking

The Counter-Trafficking in Persons (CTIP) Commission Cluster, anchored by Adinya Arise Foundation (AAF), has said it is implementing the Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) project in Oyo, Benue, and Taraba states.

The initiative, funded by USAID through Palladium, aims to establish CTIP commissions in some target states.

Read Also: Three kingpins, 16 other convicts bag 302 years in jail for drug trafficking

The project employs a cluster model, with AAF serving as the anchor organisation. The cluster comprises five selected organisations: Justice, Development, and Peace Commission (JDPC) from Oyo; Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) from Taraba; and Ecumenical Centre for Justice and Peace (ECJP), OSA Foundation, and Gender and Environmental Risk Reduction Initiative (GERI) from Benue.

August 19, 2024
Fundamentals of peace and progress
- By Oluwole Ogundele
Sustainable peace and progress will continue to elude Nigeria as long as good governance is not given pride of place in our political engineering. There is a trust displacement between the ruling class and the led. It is a pity that the country’s socio-economic and political space has been seriously polluted. This started from the dawn of our independence from Britain in October 1960. However, the situation has been going from bad to worse on a daily basis. Therefore, there is an urgent need for an attitudinal change, not necessarily a constitutional reform.

If truth be told, a new constitution is not a magic bullet for sustainable peace and progress. The most critical issue to address in my opinion is the reckless/unpatriotic/megalomaniac attitude of the operators of our constitution. The Nigerian leadership has no respect for the rule of law or due process. This menace cuts across the entire spectrum of our society. This is the main reason why there are usually no consequences for corrupt practices, except when dealing with opposition politicians or individuals without strong political connections. Corruption is the most serious disease ravaging Nigeria. There is a collapse of many facets of our age-old indigenous values and value systems broadly enshrined in considerable integrity or noble behaviours. Indeed, recklessness and insane greed have been normalised in our country-a geo-polity rich in natural resources and superb human capital, but paradoxically poor.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is a brilliant concept. But painfully, this is being substantially run as a selective, punitive body since its establishment in 2003. EFCC was a response to the request of the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF). But the impact of this body (EFCC) cannot be felt. Maximum corruption goes on unabated, in the face of unfettered hypocrisy and gross indiscipline across the board. Thus, for example, the current chairman of EFCC continues to openly express his frustration with the judiciary and a few powerful individuals with their excessive dose of megalomania. To these ugly members of the Homo sapiens group, Nigeria is their personal estate, to be run the way they like. What a country!

Indeed, the whole world is watching some of our political class members who are unashamedly doing open defecation, as if they suffer from intestinal worm infections. These individuals have forgotten that power belongs to the people in the long run. According to Shehu Sani, a prominent former senator cum activist, diversion of rice by government officials took place in Katsina State recently. The Katsina State Command of the Department of State Security (DSS) recovered at least 2,000 bags of rice, out of the 20 trucks donated to the state by the federal government. This attitude of the political leaders across the country (federal and sub-national levels), is an act of provocation, economic sabotage, and disrespect to the citizens who are desperately hungry and hopeless.

Read Also: We need peace and progress

I have no doubt, that what happened in Katsina State must have taken place in other parts of the country. This makes nonsense of palliative measures in this part of the global village. In other words, palliatives are for a select few in the society. Why must the government over the years continue to use the same methods without positive results? President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should kindly confront corruption at all levels of our existence.

In this context, exemplary leadership occupies a central position in the scheme of things. Nobody can have his cake and eat it. This existential need takes us to the sphere of “Mandelanism”-an ideology crafted with some threads of selfless service to humanity. Mandelanists are trustworthy and financially disciplined. Empathy and compassion as opposed to nauseating rhetoric and unbridled arrogance, rule their hearts.

In March, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) reported that corruption was prevalent in Nigeria particularly in the judicial system. This is very worrying, largely because only an impartial and independent judiciary can uphold and preserve the Nigerian Constitution. The African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2018 created the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC). But unfortunately, African leaders (with a few exceptions) lack the willpower to fight corruption in their various countries. Nigeria has to begin to write a new narrative in order to prevent a bleak future.

Nigerians with a special emphasis on the ruling class are not a bunch of apes with a lesser cranial capacity averaging 480cc. Even apes such as chimpanzees and gorilla either in captivity (zoological gardens) or the wild, are now much more refined than hitherto in aspects of their behaviours. This is with a special emphasis on their culinary practices. These primates eat biscuits among other snacks with great relish. Even those in the wild, often beckon to other apes whenever a new feeding ground is found. Similarly, they alert their colleagues when a danger looms. This behavioural trait is located in the domain of fellow feeling. Therefore, the ruling class in Nigeria must prove that they are indeed, fine members of the Homo sapiens family, with a considerable amount of wisdom.

Political leaders must stop treating the led like trash. Leadership bereft of good conscience and/or robust humanity is a disaster to any society. There is need for a critical self-analysis or introspection. These leaders should not forget in a hurry, how some African coterie of elite bureaucrats in the past, met their Waterloo. Thus, for example, what is bad in patronizing local vehicle assemblies like Innoson Motors, Nnewi and Nord Automobiles Limited, Lagos, thereby promoting Nigerian industrialisation? Why should our top public office holders be buying exotic SUV pieces from Japan, particularly now that the national economy is in a coma? Definitely, there is a disconnect!

Governance is a social contract. Again, there is need for some re-education of Nigerians. Ethno-religious bigotry is one of the vestiges of savagery that must be wrestled to the ground, in order to move forward as a country. It is a pity that truth has become a hate speech in Nigeria.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has the mental capacity and broad exposure to fix this battered geo-polity, through the lens of “Mandelanism”. Mandelanists are prudent, caring, humble, and incorruptible. He should ensure also that looters do not get off scot-free. Nigeria now has layers of looters. Looting public treasury has become a generational socio-economic sickness of monumental proportions. Some of these looters are currently pretending to be saints, as if ghosts were responsible for the numerous crises down the ages. They assume that every Nigerian has a memory like a sieve. PBAT should drastically cut down governance costs. Exemplary leadership is of the essence!

Starvation, poor public health, and aggravated insecurity are an inevitable outgrowth of corrupt leadership culture. These abnormalities must be speedily corrected as the clock ticks. Certainly, PBAT can become our Nelson Mandela in the face of strong determination to strengthen our weak institutions. This is possible by flying on the wings of people-sensitive attitudinal re-engineering with or without constitutional change.
- Prof Ogundele is of Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Ibadan.
August 19, 2024
Labour House raid
Security operatives penultimate Wednesday, i.e. 7th August, raided Pascal Bafyau Labour House where the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has its national headquarters and secretariat in Abuja. The 10-storey building in the vicinity of the Federal Ministry of Finance, in the federal capital’s Central Business District, houses NLC’s offices on its three topmost floors with tenants occupying other spaces.

It was the NLC itself that broke the news of the raid. In a late night statement on the said day, the congress made known that heavily armed security agents at about 8:30p.m. stormed its offices in a raid it suspected linked to its sympathetic disposition towards then roiling hardship protests that began across the country on 1st August. NLC spokesman, Benson Upah, said in the statement that the security squad – initially assumed to also involve Department of State Services (DSS) agents – “swooped on the 10th floor of the NLC (building) and arrested the security operative on duty and then commandeered him to the second floor where he was asked to produce the keys to the offices.” The statement further said when NLC’s security man told the invaders he had no such keys on him, they broke into the second floor and ransacked the bookstore located there, carting away hundreds of books and other publications. “The invading troops claimed they were looking for seditious materials used for the #EndBadGoveranance protests,” it added.

According to the congress’s spokesman, the raiding party produced no legal document enabling their invasion. He argued that the labour body’s national executive had only that afternoon held a meeting where it slammed the high-handedness with which security operatives tackled the hardship protesters and imputed treason to the motivation of some. The labour house raid was thus viewed as a reprisal for that stand, and the statement warned that it portended danger for “democratic rights, freedom of speech and association, and the unimpeachable right of citizens to protest peacefully on any issue they feel strongly about.”

Read Also: Labour condemns invasion of NLC Secretariat by Police

The DSS was swift to deny that its agents partook of the operation. The police, however, confirmed that its personnel conducted a raid targeted at a foreigner who is a prime suspect of cross-border criminalities, and who happened to be tenanted at labour house and was allegedly using the bookstore and publishing business being conducted there only as a façade. Force Public Relations Officer Muyiwa Adejobi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), in a statement explained that the labour body was not the target of the raid. According to him, a prime suspect in an ongoing investigation was traced to a shop within the building that turned out to be labour house. The police spokesman argued that detectives armed with “appropriate legal authority” conducted the raid, adding: “This well-coordinated, lawful operation was solely aimed at apprehending the prime suspect – a foreign national implicated in numerous criminal activities across Nigeria and other African countries… The NLC secretariat was not the focus of the operation, which was targeted at a rented shop within the building used by the suspect as a front for his criminal activities in Nigeria.”

The statement by the police strained to explain the high-risk potential of the suspect and solicited NLC leadership’s cooperation in efforts to safeguard this country. “The high-profile nature of the suspect poses a significant security threat to Nigeria and other African nations, making this investigation crucial for the safety of all involved, including the NLC,” it said. “The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to upholding the rule of law, maintaining professionalism and respecting human rights in the discharge of our statutory duties,” the statemen added, as it urged civic vigilance such that property owners would conduct security profiling of persons seeking to rent spaces from them.

Labour leadership dismissed the police’s narrative as an afterthought aimed at covering up the real motive for the raid. NLC General Secretary Emmanuel Ugboaja was reported insisting that contrary to the claim that police detectives raided only the bookstore on the second floor and spared the congress’s offices on the upper floors of the building, they indeed forced their way into those offices during the raid. The labour body demanded public apology from the Federal Government and police authorities for the invasion. In a communique after an emergency meeting of its national execute council some days following the raid, the congress said it rejected the police’s explanation for the invasion and alleged “a pattern of intimidation, brutality and deceit against the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Nigerian people” under the present national leadership dispensation. The communique signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero, which also copiously dwelt on fallouts of the recent hardship protests, said the congress was indefinitely suspending operations at its national secretariat over safety concerns pending a forensic audit.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has since weighed in on the discourse and affirmed that the police were on the trail of a man who was actively involved in the Sudanese crisis and is currently in Nigeria. He did not disclose details of the suspect’s identity, but he said the fellow was mobilising to destabilise this country and was tracked to the shop located in labour house that he was using as a decoy. Responding to a question at a youth summit organised by the police early last week in Abuja to review the hardship protests, he stated inter alia: “We had intelligence at our disposal that some agents of destabilisation are ready to use the hardship protest to destabilise our country. I won’t be able to share the details yet because we are still on the trail of these individuals. Some of them are already out of the country, and they immediately escape. Some of them are even foreigners.”

The police boss said one of the suspects was traced to labour house and wondered at the uproar over the raid. “We raided only a shop that the individual was using as a front and we have been monitoring his activities. He was very active in the Sudan crisis and he’s in Nigeria mobilising people to destabilize our country,” he said, adding: “We traced him to that shop and our detectives raided his shop. We recovered valuable documents, so there was no need for the noise about the raid on labour house.”

Journalists who visited the multi-storey labour house following the controversial raid corroborated the police’s account that detectives ransacked only the second floor where the bookstore said to be operated by a foreigner was located. That does not necessarily invalidate the claim by Labour, though, that the squad struck first at the 10th floor from where they commandeered its security man on duty to the second floor that was their target and demanded of him access keys. It is not unreasonable to expect that as the landlord’s representative on site at the time, the security man could be in possession of spare keys, and the detectives thought to get him to produce the one for where they aimed to access but drew a blank. That by no means constituted premeditated violation of NLC’s offices and shouldn’t be so regarded.

But there are germane questions thrown up by the police’s modus operandi in the labour house raid. The Force’s narrative was that the raid aimed at apprehending a prime suspect whose activities had been under its radar. The Force also didn’t deny that the operation was executed at very late hour (i. e. 8:30p.m.), and you would wonder whether purported surveillance of the suspect had suggested to the detectives they could find him on location at such time of the day to be apprehended. Besides, courts of law are known to issue search warrants and not raid warrants, and search warrants are typically executed by first being shown to the subject whose facility is up for a search. It, therefore, stands to reason that when detectives invaded labour house at such ungodly hour, they hardly had the mind to properly execute a search warrant if indeed they had one. The operation was incorrigibly outside due process, and was one that typified the tendency of the police to muscle through its operations rather than be guided by fine constraints of law.

Still, there is room for remediation and reconciliation of interests. The police should produce to the NLC the “appropriate legal authority” by which it conducted the raid; and this should in turn obligate the labour body to facilitate police hunt for the suspect because it is an indictment that it tenanted a national security risk without due diligence profiling. In all, the interest of this country must be paramount.
- Please join me on kayodeidowu.blogspot.be for conversation.
August 19, 2024
Stephen Lawani at 80: Mysticism and the Intellectual Search for Meaning in Christianity

By Tunji Olaopa

The title of this piece should not be strange to those who avidly follow my reflections on religion, African theology and its role in my spiritual maturation. In my estimation, Dr Stephen Lawani plays a significant role—as one of the many critical interlocutors on matters religious and spiritual in Nigeria and beyond. I am very pleased to be able to keep paying homage to someone whose spiritual commitment has never been in doubt; someone who embodies the purity of the search for spiritual enlightenment. It is also delightful to celebrate Dr Lawani’s octogenarian arrival. Being eighty only tells me that I now have to contend with the spiritual and existential wisdom of a man who never stops learning, and who never stops searching for meaning.

The trajectory of Dr Lawani’s unraveling is beautiful. It is that of a man who Providence gave a hint of the path to enlightenment, and he caught the break and flowed with it. Being a librarian is not considered to be lucrative in Nigeria. A fortuitous appointment to library services as a secondary school boy at Christ School, Ekiti led to not only the abandonment of a future as a theoretical chemist, but a “lukewarm” choice in librarianship after a first degree in Chemistry. Dr. Lawani most likely would not have known that deciding to be a librarian would eventually open up a purposeful pathway through life in ways that opened several fundamental portals that humans get to peep through when they are as blessed as Dr Lawani. From librarianship to a doctorate in library and information science to a distinguished career at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the World Bank, Washington D.C., and then on to a lifetime recognition as a foundational bibliometrician and an author of significant renown. And then on to many other great things.

When retirement happened in 2006, Dr Lawani was ready, but definitely not tired, to take up things he considered of “lasting value.” And what could be more of value than spirituality and the search for meaning about God and existence, especially existence in a deeply divided and deeply dysfunctional country like Nigeria? It takes fundamental courage to write about God; indeed, to set out to articulate conceptions and debunk misconceptions about God comes from a place of earnest spiritual boldness. This is because “God” is a concept that excites paradoxical effects and emotions. On the one hand, it is a loaded word that is buried under multiple layers of philosophical assumptions, theological reinventions, eschatological anxieties, religious differentiation and socio-cultural interpretations. And yet, the idea is all the more complicated because it references the mysterious, the unknown, the mystical or the ineffable. Second, history is littered with the tales and horrors of many battles fought in the name of God, or many who have died defending the integrity of the idea of the Almighty.

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There is no other author I know in Nigeria who has invested time, energies, emotion and conviction in the urgency of articulating the critical intersection between spirituality, enlightenment and God. All the religions that speak about God as the supreme being also considers God to be a mystery, “an eternal mystery” as Stephen Lampe (Dr Lawani’s pseudonym) says in his 2014 brilliant book, Thinking about God. And he was courageous enough to plunge into this mystery of God with a determination that is meant to unravel pathways for humans to live meaningful and purposeful lives that will not only help them come to a deeper sense of who they are and why they are alive, but would also impact their relationship with others according to the spiritual laws of justice. Lampe is right, as he argues in the book, that misconceptions about God in a plural society like Nigeria has grave consequences. And we need not look farther than the very divisive role religion has played in deepening the postcolonial predicaments in Nigeria. But Stephen Lampe is theoretically and theologically relentless; there is a further conclusion that follows correcting the misconceptions about God. If there are wrong conceptions about God, it implies that there must be a right one. And it is that right conception that is the focus of Lampe. Since he is coming from the Grail Message theological perspective, we need not look further for where that right conception could be found. And in his latest theological offering—The Spirit of Truth brings the Everlasting Testament—Stephen Lampe presses home his most fundamental conclusion: the right conception of God presented by the Grail Message is encoded in an “everlasting testament” that encompasses and ultimately transcends Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

This everlasting testament is the result of a “progressive revelation” of the Spirit of Truth, mentioned in the Bible, that is now emerging as the third phase of a spiritual chronology. The first phase he calls the age of the Father (corresponding to the Old Testament). The second phase is the age of the Son (the New Testament). The last and final age is that of the Spirit of Truth that clarifies, sums and transcends the other ages. And this new revelation conjoins the divine justice of the old testament and the divine love of the new testament with the divine purity of the Spirit of truth into a final blueprint of divine perfection.

Three significant points keep bringing me back to Stephen Lampe. The first is his commitment to a rational understanding of spirituality. This derives essentially from the core method by which the writer of In the Light of Truth: The Grail Message, Abd-ru-shin, offers the message to the world—via a rational acceptance rather than a proselytizing compulsion; its theological claims must be reflected upon and logically accepted. The second is his insistence that Nigeria’s problems are essentially spiritual. From this perspective, it is therefore easy to see what religious fundamentalism, mobilization and ignorance have done to further fragment Nigeria, and still be able to argue, as Stephen Lampe does, that the religious is different from the spiritual. And that as humans, we are first spiritual beings whose attempt at creating a good tradition of governance can become successful only if we reject wrong theologies and spiritualities, and focus on what he calls “the primordial laws of creation.” There is a lot for me to accept in this understanding of the relationship between religion, spirituality and the predicament of, say, the Nigerian state and its citizens. I am a Christian and I hold strongly the claim that God rules in the affairs of humans.

And this brings me to the third reason that Stephen Lampe keeps drawing me back to his theological arguments. This reason draws on the two previous ones: it is the intellectual undercurrent of my own commitment to Christianity. When I started my journey into Christianity, it was more intellectual than emotional. In other words, I am more of an intellectually-minded Christian whose faith is rooted more in the knowledge and experience of the faithfulness of God. My experiences in secondary school reinforces the basis of my intellectual inquiry into Christianity, especially in relations to human mystical experiences. And this is centered around the questions: How can we know Christ outside of his historical manifestations? How can Christians come into an intimate union with Christ? How does knowing Christ mediate my life and temporality as a Nigerian living in a postcolonial context of underdevelopment, fear and poverty?

My response to Christianity as a source of spiritual enlightenment therefore parallels Stephen Lampe’s continual probing of spiritualities for the right understanding of God. In my search for spiritual enlightenment, I was forced to confront the dilemma opened up by a sense of spiritual puritanism that Christianity preaches and the open-mindedness that derives from the spiritual possibilities inherent in non-Christian practices, like the Ifa corpus. And this is why I find Stephen Lampe even more intriguing. In both Thinking About God and The Spirit of Truth brings the Everlasting Testament, the thesis that Stephen Lampe builds ultimately inserts the Grail Message itself into the absolutist and binary thinking of other Abrahamic religions. It is this same absolutism that I struggled against while keeping agnosticism at bay in my search for spiritual understanding and enlightenment. And the unseemly solution I found to resolve my spiritual puritanism and intellectual open-mindedness, what I am certain will fall short of Dr Lawani’s enlightenment framework, is to hold on to my faith in Christianity while deeply and respectfully relating with other religious and spiritual formations without undermining their validity as established conceptions about God and belief systems.

This “solution” certainly requires serious theological finetuning. I have always been suspicious of theological absolutism on the basis that God cannot be summed by just one religious’ framework. And my suspicion of such absolutism is even more enhanced given the entanglement of religions in Nigeria’s national project. How can Nigeria achieve a civic nationalist space if religions eschew open-minded and ecumenical relationship with one another? How can the Grail Message step into the breach as a spiritual panacea to Nigeria’s myriad postcolonial predicaments if it excludes other religious and spiritual forms as “false”? I know I am posing formidable queries to an even more formidable octogenarian whose many more years in search of spiritual enlightenment I can always count on to sharpen my own understanding of the place and role of God in human affairs.

• Olaopa is a Professor of Public Administration & Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission, Abuja

August 18, 2024
ACU: Taking varsity education a notch higher
- Sunday Saanu
Universities all over the world function on the tripod of teaching, research, and service. The impact of this triad on society is incredible. Underscoring the importance of education, an American, who is the President of the Children Defence Fund (CDF), Marian Wright Edelman says education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it. In today’s world, however, university education offers students advanced academic and professional knowledge in their chosen fields. It equips them with the necessary skills to excel in their future careers by providing in-depth knowledge, research skills, critical thinking abilities, and practical experience.

     However, if our universities in Nigeria live up to these expectations, why do we still need to talk about ‘unemployable graduates’? Who are the unemployable graduates? What makes them unemployable? Didn’t they pass all the compulsory, required and elective courses? This is perhaps a sad commentary on the huge investment on any individual who has gone through the academic rigour from secondary school up to the university level. Whatever makes him ‘unemployable’ must be critically examined.

     On a flip side, some pundits have argued that any university graduate worth his salt should not be looking for a job upon graduation. Rather, the supposed graduate must be a job creator. This is altogether another interesting debate because the environment must be conducive for job creation with all the desiderata. It is tough for anyone to create jobs in Nigeria. Yet, the labour market is, to say the least, saturated as we have more willing hands to work than the available opportunities.

    In response to this unemployment problem, the Federal Ministry of Education directed that entrepreneurship education be included as part of the curricula of the universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education effective from 2007/2008 academic sessions. The intention is to encourage job creation through entrepreneurship. The goal is to make an average graduate a creative entrepreneur, rather than to be looking for a non-existing white-collar job. The idea is noble and progressive.

      Interestingly, Ajayi Crowther University (ACU) located in the ancient city of Oyo seems to have taken this entrepreneurial training to another level. This university whose motto is “raising Godly intellectuals” has created 20 different vocational skills in which every student must register for any skill that catches his fancy. The available entrepreneurship training are Computer Hardware and Mobile Phone Repairs, Graphics & Creative Arts, Paint Production & Tilling, Tailoring ,Tye & Dye , Beads, Shoes & Bag Making, Catering ,Make-up and Cosmetics, Horticulture, Metal Works & Welding, Alternative Energy (Solar), Wood Works and Carpentry, Auto-Mechanical Work, and Household Consumables. Others are Agri-Business, Electrical Works and Wiring, E-Publishing, Household Consumables, Carpentry, Waste Management and Masonry and block making.

   As part of their General Studies, all students at ACU register and participate fully in this entrepreneurial training. At the end of the training, they are expected to practically demonstrate their acquired skills by producing and marketing their products. I was at the last public parade or exhibition of their vocational skills. It was marvelous. Each group in a different skill set showcased their talents to the amazement of the school authorities. We moved around to inspect their products. When we got to Catering , my mouth began to salivate. I was tempted to taste their jollof rice, going by the aroma I perceived. The same impressive feeling in each stand. Indeed, if these students could turn their experience in this entrepreneurial training into expertise upon graduation, none of them would go through the nightmarish experience of unemployment.

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    Obviously, this entrepreneurship education gives them an opportunity to fend for themselves in life. This is one area they have the highest probability of becoming job creators. ACU believes that it is a manifestation of half literacy for a graduate to become a job hunter after graduation, hence, the seriousness it attaches to the programme. At ACU, every graduate goes home with at least three certificates. Apart from the certificate attached to their core disciplines, there is a certificate for entrepreneurial training, and Mind Education among others.

    It is true that no law makes it mandamus for ACU to issue three certificates for its products upon graduation, it is just a way of taking education of its products a notch higher. I can state with unimpeachable facts that ACU is working hard to ensure that the quality of education of its products is unquestionable. The world is constantly changing: from mechanization to modernization and to globalization. This is what the university is preparing its students for, believing that a future unprepared for, is a disaster afoot. Recently, ACU recorded a big feat in the final Bar Examinations of the Nigerian Law School as four of its students finished in the first-class category.

     According to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Timothy Abiodun Adebayo in my interactions with him, “Ajayi Crowther University believes that the future depends on what we do in the present. Anyone who attends our school can self-actualize without holding out a begging bowl in the labour market. Our university is a place where students are being exposed to rigorous, multi-level self-application with a view to promoting value optimization. We ensure that the parents and guardians get their money’s worth “

    Arguably, private universities enforce stricter discipline than the publicly owned institutions. This is seen with the way ACU VC does not hesitate in sending home any errant student. Prof. Adebayo, a cerebral scholar of uncommon standing who keeps boasting that ACU is not a place for robbers, rapists and ritualists does not condone what should be condemned. Any time he catches a student who steps out of line, you will hear him, saying, “call me Saanu to come and take his picture. I am going to publish your picture in national newspapers before I send you home” It is his own way of instilling fear in the students. He has never published any student in newspapers. But everyone appreciates his energy and purity of purpose.

     On recent unsavory developments in ACU where a female student was allegedly raped by night guards and another student was beaten to death by fellow students on allegation of phone theft, one can only describe these as isolated off-key notes in a melodious verse of the university which does not approximate the realities in ACU. The university has learned its lessons from the storm. It is a useful guide, going forward.

    On the whole, ACU observes that there is psycho-spiritual disequilibrium in the public university system. Consequently, the faith-based university believes that one’s life shouldn’t be built on faulty foundations, hence, the spiritual component of its educational offerings. Therefore, fellowship is compulsory for both staff and students. This is no special claim of moral or ideological exceptionalism, but a clear demonstration of faith in God. The university carefully shapes and strengthens the moral conduct and compass of its staff and students. Yes, ACU is a sky luminous with stars, it believes the stars must be guarded with prayers and words of God.

     As my sabbatical gradually comes to an end with this beautiful campus of Godly intellectuals, one cannot forget the fond memories of this amazing university. There is a world of difference in managing both public and private universities. It is in a private university that a student can walk up to the Vice Chancellor and complain that he has no money for food, and the VC will give the student money. But in a place like the University of Ibadan, University of Lagos or Obafemi Awolowo University, such an indulgence exists only in fantasies!

     The Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo was established by the Supra Diocesan Board (West) of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), has its origins in the defunct CMS training institution, Abeokuta and the defunct St. Andrews College, Oyo.
- Saanu is on sabbatical at Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo.
August 17, 2024
Issa Hayatou: End of a golden era in African football
- By Ikedi Ohakim
THE death of Dr. Issa Hayatou, the longest-serving president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) recently at the age of 77, marks the end of a golden era in African football. Hayatou served as CAF president between 1988 and 2017 and even though he left office seven year ago, he remained an inspiration for all those who are desirous of seeing African football attain more glorious heights. Under Hayatou, football in Africa experienced an exponential limp both in intra and international competitions. Unfortunately, the last seven years seem to have witnessed a reversal of the gains the continent garnered in the management and prosecution of its football in the nearly three decades of Hayatou.

It was under Hayatou that the African Cup of Nations finals was expanded to include more national teams – from eight to sixteen. Similarly, competitions at the club level also grew both in numbers and scale, allowing more clubs to participate in the African Cup of Champions Club, the CAF Confederation Cup, the CAF Cup, and the CAF Super Cup. Within this period also, African football expanded in scope to include youth and women’s competition. But, of course, the hallmark of Hayatou’s CAF presidency was that under him, the continent began to make appearances at the FIFA World Cup finals. Not only did Nigeria, Senegal, and Cameroon get to the World Cup finals, but also Hayatou succeeded in getting African places at the finals increased from two to six.

The climax was the hosting of the FIFA tournament by South Africa in 2010, the first and only time by an African nation. But perhaps Hayatou’s most visionary ambience for African football was to create more incentives for footballers within the continent, itself, the final objective being to reduce the flow of African players to other continents, especially Europe. Hayatou, in fact, stirred a big controversy when he described the situation with the metaphor of rich countries importing “raw materials” – talents – from Africa and often sending their less valuable technicians. Here, he was apparently alluding to the situation whereby the best of African talents – in football – get signed on by clubs in other continents, especially Europe, in exchange for poorly rated foreign coaches or so-called technical advisers.

This initiative was highly applauded by both writers and politicians in the continent.

Regardless of the fact that it did not enjoy the level of support it deserved from African governments and club owners, Hayatou succeeded in getting the Union of EuropeanFootball Association (UEFA) to pay fees to African governing bodies and clubs for African-born players working in Europe. This was followed by the Meridien Project, initiated in 1997, creating the UEFA – CAF Meridien Cup and which provided for the payment of fees to African National Associations every two years. Two years later, CAF and FIFA went into an agreement, the 1999 Goal Project, which gives forty six African Football Associations financial support of one million dollars over four years.

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Apart from impacting directly on the development of African football, these collaborations created a cordial relationship between Hayatou and UEFA leaders to the extent that the latter backed him to the hilt when he aspired to take over from Sepp Blatter in 2002. Even though he lost to Blatter with the backing of the American and Asian confederations, Hayatou eventually became the acting president of FIFA in 2015 following the corruption case that led to the removal of Blatter. He held that position until February 2016 when the current president, Glanni Infantino, was elected.

I had the privilege of working closely with Dr. Issa Hayatou when, as governor, I led the preparations for the participation of the Heartland Football Club of Owerri in the 2008/2009 CAF Champion League. It was the 45th edition of Africa’s Premier Football Club tournament organized by CAF.

Immediately after the official launching of our flagship programme, the Clean and Green Initiative in August 2007, and as part of the New Face of Imo Vision, I authorized the recruitment of a foreign Technical Adviser for Heartland by name Mitko Dobrew as part of our also GREENING SPORTS PROJECT. I recall with nostalgia that we also engaged the services of three of Nigeria’s best international soccer stars: Christian Chukwu, Samson Siasia and Ben Iroha. We rebranded Heartland and targeted the African cup. In 2008, however, it finished second in the Premier League by one point against Kano Pillars and that earned it automatic place for the African championship slot.

Heartland crushed so many African clubs with a rich history until it got to the finals. The first leg of the finals with TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo was played at the Dan Anyiam stadium, Owerri. It ended 2-1 in favour of Heartland. The second leg was on November 7, 2009 at the Federic Kibassa Maliba stadium in Lubumbashi which unfortunately ended 1-0 in favour of the Congolese under very controversial circumstances.

But TP Mazembe was awarded the trophy on technical grounds based on the Away Goal rule; with Heartland getting the Silver medal, that is, second place. In addition, Heartland’s striker, Uche Agba, whom I gave a lot of personal attention to during the preparations, earned the second highest goal scorer of the tournament with seven goals; after TP Mazembe’s Kaluyituka who scored eight goals.

In appreciation of and support for our efforts, the then President, the late Umaru Yar’Adua, provided the club with his presidential jet for our trip to Lubumbashi for the match. But it was a very rough encounter. In spite of the fact that T.P Mazembe won, the Congolese were very hostile to us but we were saved from anything sinister through the intervention of CAF officials led by Dr. Issa Hayatou. Before that glorious outing in 2008/2009, Heartland only got to the quarter-finals of the African championship when it was known as Iwuanyanwu Nationale, losing to Esperance of Tunis in the first leg in 1994. It would be recalled that it was on that trip that the team, Iwuanyanwu Nationale, suffered an air crash tragedy at Tamanreaset, Algeria, losing two of its players, Aimola Omale and goalkeeper, Uche Ikeogu.

The proprietor of Iwuanyanwu Nationale, Chief Iwuanyanwu, who departed a couple of weeks ago, had during his life time severally acknowledged the big support his club received from Hayatou. Even though the two had ceased playing active roles in African football, it is a matter of regret that these two pillars of African soccer had to pass on at time the continent would have still wished to draw inspiration from their wealth of experience. Truth be told, this is not the best time for African sports. Nigeria, the giant of Africa, has just returned from the 2024 Paris Olympics without a single medal.

Even though nine African countries won gold medals, it cannot be said to be a very good outing for the continent. In the men football, only four African countries were at the Olympics but none got even a bronze medal. In the 1996 Olympics, Nigeria got the gold for men’s football but the performance of Africa since then in that category has been nothing but abysmal. I am of the strong belief that if African nations had rallied round Hayatou when he canvassed for those initiatives that were earlier mentioned in this article, the situation would have been most properly different.

Back to Nigeria, however, we should go back to the vision of the likes of Hayatou. Nigeria is arguably a “football nation” but her performance has not matched her size. At the 2023 African Cup of Nations, Nigeria again lost a big opportunity to rule African soccer, losing to a less-rated host country, Cote d’Ivoive by 2-1 goal margin on February 11, 2024. It was a match Nigeria had everything going for it to win.

Today, Nigeria ranks in the third position in African football, after Morrocco and Senegal in that order. These are two countries that are quite small and peopled by much less talented professionals. Although Nigeria jumped four places from the 42nd position to the 28th position after that tournament, all hands must be on deck in order to ensure that there are no further slides down.

The back and forth surrounding the search for a new coach for the national team, the Super Eagles, should have been avoided because it makes Nigeria’s football vulnerable. As things stand, it is clear that the choice of a fellow to replace Jose Peseiro, who left after the 2023 African Cup of Nations, has been plagued by politics, intrigues, and power play. I think something more serious should be on the table.

To be sure, there is the need to pay great attention to our economic and political challenges but it should not be at the expense of sports development. The perennial lackluster attitude to preparations for our participation in international sports competitions must cease. The reason why the developed countries pay so much attention to sports and spend heavily on them is that they realize that economic and political prowess alone are not enough to earn them honour and prestige in the international arena.

Some might argue that these developed countries invest handsomely in sports because they have the resources. My response to that is two folds; one,it is not the financial resources that matter in the first place. It is realizing and accepting the importance sports play both at home and in the optics within the comity of nation. If we develop the right attitude, the financial resources would not be the problem. In other words – and this is the second point – we are not even making judicious use of the little we can afford to channel towards sports development.

In my days in Imo, we did not wait to amass billions before putting up our thinking caps for sports development. Rebranding sports and using it to attract both national and international attention as well as engage our youths was part of our GREEN vision. And once that determination was there, we discovered that what was needed was a little bit of pragmatism. For example, we decided to focus more on sports like football, athletics, boxing, and hockey, areas we felt we had a comparative advantage. And it paid off both at home and in our international engagements.

At the National Sports in Kaduna in 2008, Imo State came first. At the African Hockey Championship in 2009, we also came first. We were the leading state in both female and male handball. The climax of our success was our outing at the 2008 African Championship football tournament in which we came second as earlier narrated in this write-up. As a matter of fact, it was during the preparations for that tournament that I got close to Hayatou and we both found ourselves in a cordial personal relationship.

The point, therefore, is that we must sit up as a nation in the area of sports. There is no intention here to indulge in a blame game but I make bold to state that left for the average Nigerian, we should jettison most of the things we are doing and pay attention to sports. A young youth was once asked what he thinks is Nigeria’s biggest problem and his response was quite interesting. To paraphrase the youngster, if Nigeria gets it right with football, every other thing will fall into place! That might have been an exaggeration but it is, nonetheless, significant. Another version of this passion is the oft repeated saying that the only time Nigerians forget their differences is when watching a Nigerian team playing another country’s team in a football match. We can go on and on in demonstration of the fact that sports, generally, is a measure of both strength – locally and internationally – on one hand; and love and national unity on the other.
- Ohakim is a businessman and former governor of Imo State.
August 17, 2024
Nigeria’s forgotten poor!

Have heard you loud and clear. I understand the pain and frustration that drive these protests, and I want to assure you that our government is committed to listening and addressing the concerns of our citizens”.

These were the words of President Bola Tinubu in a broadcast to the nation on the now-suspended #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests. Among other things, the protests have highlighted the plight of Nigeria’s forgotten poor, who are not just passive bystanders but active voices demanding change. The brief nature of this outcry finds its flow in the poor’s ability to sustain their demands and hold their leaders accountable. Therefore, as the protests subside, it is crucial for the governments at the national and subnational levels to acknowledge the poor’s legitimate grievances and engage in constructive dialogue to address the systemic issues perpetuating poverty and inequality in the land.

It is interesting to note that Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has long struggled with the principalities of inequality and powers of political disenfranchisement. Amidst the chaos of decades of mismanagement, corruption and neglect, Nigeria’s poor have been denied the opportunity to participate fully in the political process, to shape the decisions that affect their lives. They have been denied access to basic services and infrastructure, thus leaving them vulnerable to a cycle of disempowerment and social injustice. The sickening reality is that our economy has been stifled by a system that spends more time managing bureaucratic red tape and political conflicts. Of course, that’s why politicians are always competing to see who can promise the most bread and circuses to the poor, because, clearly, that’s all the poor needs! Tragically so, the country as a whole country has suffered as a result!

The carnage in Bangladesh today, which has led to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and flight from the country, highlights a deeper issue. Paradoxically, in terms of the conventional definition, by growth rate, Bangladesh “is doing well”. Unfortunately, the episode in Bangladesh has once again brought up the illusion of the ‘trickle-down effect’ which, decades ago, particularly, in the 1960s, was referred to as ‘growth without development’. In view of the defining events in Kenya and Bangladesh, even in a different context in the UK and France, perhaps, in discussing the poor, we might care to contrast ephemeral growth of trickle-down economics with the concept of ‘pre-distribution’, an approach which prioritizes building from the base, ensuring access to education, healthcare, and other essential services. With all the events unfolding around us, we in Nigeria should take this with more than a passing glance.

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With the advent of self-rule in the early 1950s, pre-distribution actually became the conventional wisdom. The thrust of political thinking was to build up from the base in terms of access to sustainable development and equitable growth; and it worked! A critical look at the building of social capital by agencies such as the Lagos Executive Development Board (LEDB), and the various agencies of the regional governments attested to this. Indeed, their mode of operations led to the emergence of what used to be described as a thriving petite and real middle class. Evidence of their achievements can still be seen in areas like Surulere, which was originally ‘New Lagos’, Bodija in Ibadan, and a host of other places in and around the regional capitals of that era.

The on-going social crises worldwide have debunked the Bretton Woods’ Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) anchored on its flawed ‘trickle-down effects’ ideology. So, it’s time to revisit ‘pre-distribution’ by recognizing the state’s crucial role in citizens’ lives. Pre-distribution requires state involvement in capital and market structures, redirecting capital to the real sectors for sustainable growth. This, in turn, generates tax revenues for the state. For instance, a universal health insurance system, funded by, say, 40 million Nigerians, each contributing a modest amount (e.g., N3,000/month) in health insurance premiums, could create a massive economy comparable to that of Togo, which is a sovereign state. The possibilities are vast, with numerous examples, such as recapitalizing the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and linking it with Commodity Exchanges, Boards and Agriculture Cooperatives. This framework may trigger an agro-industrial revolution, boosting non-oil exports to half of crude oil exports by 2031; and that’s a conservative estimate.

Pre-distribution is the key alternative for countries like Nigeria. So, dear fatherland must choose between pursuing the discredited Bretton Woods-inspired illusion or reverting to the more enlightened approaches of the 1950s and 1960s. The motto of the London School of Economics (LSE), ‘rerum cognoscere causas’, is instructive! By ‘knowing the causes of things’, the government can avoid social upheavals and implement a comprehensive anti-poverty programme that not only alleviates suffering but also empowers the masses, serving as a catalyst for economic growth. A notable example is President Ignacio Lula Da Silva’s poverty reduction initiatives, which sparked Brazil’s rise to a top ten global economy.

The World Bank predicts that approximately 40.7% of Nigeria’s population will be living below the international poverty line by the end of 2024. So, the government must recognize the poor’s inherent dignity and worth. In a world that seems to have forgotten its meaning, Tinubu’s efforts have so far demonstrated a commitment to the well-being of Nigerians. His initiatives, aimed at economic growth, job creation and social welfare have been driving the steam of promise, and his willingness to engage with diverse stakeholders is a good cup towards inclusive governance. Building on this momentum, the president can solidify his legacy by taking bold steps to empower the poor and the marginalized.

In a country that’s full of possibilities and questions, Tinubu’s administration must seize the opportunity presented by the protests to recalibrate its priorities and create a new life for the poor, free from the complications of their existence. Rather than dismissing the protests as a mere nuisance, it can empower this obviously marginalized group to drive positive change. The protests have ignited a spark, and it is now up to the government to fan the flames of reform by creating a brighter future for all Nigerians, especially the poor, who have been left in a desolate place where hope seems as elusive as freedom. The poor shouldn’t be the objects of our charity but the subjects of our own moral reckoning. Only by confronting this truth can the hymn of humanity resonate, echoing through the chambers of our collective conscience.

Walt Whitman was right: “A promise is a cloud. It rains nourishment.” The president’s recent statement echoes this sentiment, as he cautioned against allowing “violence and destruction” to “tear our nation apart”. Instead, he urged Nigerians to “work together to build a brighter future, where every Nigerian can live with dignity and prosperity”. Commendable! But will the government, which has historically regarded the poor with suspicion and disdain, rise to the challenge and show compassion, or will it let the embers of connection to fade, once again leaving the poor forgotten? Only time will tell!

May the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us peace in Nigeria!

August 17, 2024