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Striking a balance for impactful policy actions: From Awolowo and Tinubu

By Vincent O. Akinyosoye

Governments initiate policy actions to solve prevailing societal problems that leave impactful long-time effects on the public. Such policy actions necessitate striking a balance between government plans and smart and bold complementary strategies to arrive at optimal development equilibrium much higher than what existed before. This optimal position, for example, calls for balancing government expenditures to meet the desirable societal goals with strategies to find the resources to fund the policy actions. This had always been the best way to initiate and implement interventions in more developed climes that beget the success we all see in developed environments. The basic philosophy behind this approach is that there is no free lunch in managing governance as whatever the government does for the betterment of the society has to be paid for by the people, one way or another.

This was the principle that guided the government of Chief Awolowo in the Western Region in the 1950s and what is guiding President Tinubu at present. As for Awolowo, he was an astute public servant whose understanding of public policy initiation was far ahead of his contemporaries. While panning to introduce the Universal Free Primary Education Programme (UFPEP) in Western Region of Nigeria in 1955, Awolowo started planning for its implementation in 1951. A great economic planner, he knew that the success of the programme was dependent on the accurate number of six-year-olds in Western Nigeria that would be ready for school in 1955. There was nobody in the public service at that time with a good knowledge of demography and statistics to estimate the figures of potential primary-one pupils that would be ready for school in 1955. The University of Ibadan, which was the only one in the country then, had no department of demography. Awolowo then wrote to the Secretary-General of the United Nations for help stating his goals and the need for statistical capacity to plan and guide the implementation of the programme. The Secretary-General was impressed, found a Nigerian, Dr. Igun, who was a Demographer-statistician within the UN system and recommended him to Awolowo who quickly accepted him. He was promptly seconded to Western Nigeria Public Service. He soon settled down in Ibadan and recruited other Nigerians geographers and economists from the University of Ibadan to work with him on the new programme.

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The starting point was a census of pregnant women and babies less than one-year old in the region as well as an estimated number of adults working male population in 1955 or thereabout.

The technical team working on the programme under the leadership of Igun then went to town to cost the programme, item by item using pencils and papers because there were no calculators or computers then. This, Chief Awolowo needed to balance his intended expenditures on his bold initiative with the search for funds, that is, balancing the demand side of the programme with the supply side.

His planning team put their thinking caps on and advised Awolowo to seek help from the Central Government in Lagos under the Governor-General. The central government, which was responsible to the colonial government in London, was, in the pre-independence years, keeping export proceeds from agricultural exports in a central pool in London for development purposes in Nigeria. Before going to the Governor-General in Lagos, Awolowo approached his political rival, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, to lobby for his support with the central government. While Western Region exported cocoa beans, Eastern Region exported palm oil and palm kernel while the Northern Region exported groundnuts and cotton lint. After gaining the support of Azikiwe, they both approached the Governor-General, who welcomed the idea after consulting with Ahmadu Bello, the government leader in Northern Region then. And, because cocoa was priced much higher than other commodities in the export market by then, Western Region’s share from the pooled funds was very substantial. Despite this high share, the funds accruing to Western Region fell short of the estimated cost of the free education programme. The balance was, however, met with levying a tax on all adult males in the Western Region – a token of five shillings per month, to meet the planned expenditures.

When schools opened in 1955, every eligible pupil had enough schools to attend, classrooms to receive lectures, teachers to impact knowledge and pieces of chalk for teachers to write on blackboards. The programme was a remarkable success unlike the experience in the Eastern Region where their Premier, Azikiwe, who had declared that he would start his Universal Free Primary Education Programme in 1956, but did not plan to balance expenditure with sourcing for funds. And, when the programme started in the East, the schools and teachers were not enough, and the programme was abandoned the following year.

About 50 years after Awolowo, Tinubu’s entry into the Nigerian political space produced bold Awo-like policy actions. In the first few months of Tinubu’s governorship, he was busy strategizing on how to solve the societal problems in Lagos that manifested in observable disequilibrium situations. As a reminder, prior to his coming into the governance of Lagos, insecurity was a major societal problem with routine robbery attacks in many areas of Lagos in broad day light, especially during the military rule under Babaginda and Abacha.

Similarly, during these pre-Tinubu days in Lagos, roads in other parts of the country were not motorable, communication was criminally poor and schools and hospitals were not functioning adequately. From late 1999, however, Tinubu brought sanity to Lagos by allowing security to be prioritised and managed by communities and the private sector operators who were empowered to secure the city.

In addition, new towns were built as well as schools, hospitals and other items of infrastructure which were completely either rebuilt or modernised. The culture of good governance continued after Tinubu under his guidance that transformed Lagos to what the city is today, that is, a picturesque modern city with a plethora of modern city infrastructure.

How did Lagos become this modern city in Nigeria? Tinubu strategized rightly by laying the foundation of sourcing for funds to meet the cost of the development. Having studied the country’s constitution, he discovered that Personal Income Tax (PIT) was the preserve of state governments which he could leverage on to fund his bold plans to modernise Lagos. He rejigged the Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) by using an American top ICT company, ORACLE, to develop a data system that would house data on all taxable persons in the public and private institutions within Lagos. This was how he used his private sector experience to build a robust database of taxable individuals with their correct income history to facilitate the collection of taxes that could be monitored and audited by LIRS. With this data infrastructure, the IGR of Lagos State went from the pre-Tinubu years of an average of N600 million per month and moved the figure multiple times over the years to around N60 billion per month today.

Now that Tinubu is president, he wants to replicate this feat in the country with first initiating bold fiscal policies of eliminating the much abused subsidy regimes in the petroleum products and foreign exchange markets as well as the now proposed re-engineering of our present tax regime to raise the money to fund more development projects at the state and local government levels as well as the federal level to fund some legacy projects like the Lagos-Calabar, Lagos-Sokoto and Calabar-Abuja highways to ease movement of goods and persons as well as facilitate trade and ease business transactions all over the country.

Like how Awolowo laid the foundation for the enhanced economic activities in Western Nigeria with a balanced policy intervention in the 1950s, Tinubu has started laying the foundation for the economic development of the nation with his iconic fiscal policies now being implemented.

•Akinyosoye is a professor of Applied Economics and Data Management.

February 3, 2025
Exposing media propaganda against Uni Abuja VC
- By Hakeem Alohunmata
Twenty-six years later, the story of the 49 lecturers that were sacked at the University of Ilorin for disrupting an ongoing examination during the ASUU strike still lingers. Even though the lecturers were later reinstated in 2009, after 10 years of a prolonged litigation, the story is still very fresh in the minds of Nigerians.

Sadly, three of the sacked lecturers had died before the long-awaited and much-celebrated victory eventually came from the Supreme Court of Nigeria, which ordered their immediate reinstatement. The story was everywhere in the media and still oscillates within the circle of Nigerian academics. The empathy elicited by the sudden death of the three professors in the course of the struggle, and how others and their families survived the trauma of living without salary for ten years is much less a reason why the memory still lingers.

The reason the incident is still glued to our heart till today is the beautiful and well-crafted coinage- ‘Unilorin 44’. The word Unilorin 44, as made popular by the media, is almost synonymous with that unfortunate incident that happened at Unilorin some 26 years ago.

A failed media attempt, recently, was made by some disgruntled elements, at the University of Abuja, to replicate the same coinage to a fake course that has no similarity whatsoever with the Unilorin experience.

A coterie of friends who felt dissatisfied with the outcome of the thorough processes, outlined by the University of Abuja Miscellaneous Act that produced Prof. Aisha Sani Maikudi, as the 7th substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University, formed a group with the appellation, ‘Uniabuja 43’. By ‘Uniabuja 43’, they gave a false impression of a group of aggrieved 43 professors who are against the appointment of the new Vice-Chancellor.

The group that shamelessly carries the emblem of ‘Uniabuja 43’ is actually below nine in numbers and the group is fast thinning-out by the day. Some of the professors that were crookedly smuggled into the list of 43 have come out openly to denounce the group. The group, which as at today has been reduced even from nine to five persons, is going around parading itself as ‘Uniabuja 43’ to earn public sympathy through media propaganda of various sorts.

Like a perpetual loser, the coterie of friends has lost confidence in virtually everything, including their lives. At first, they lost confidence in the advert made for the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor until it was revised. They lost confidence in the process that led to the emergence of the acting Vice-Chancellor. When a new council was inaugurated, they passed a vote of confidence on it, in order to probably win its heart, and have it do their biddings.

The moment they realised it didn’t go as planned, they quickly expressed loss of confidence in them. When they failed, in their usual manner, to buy the academic union into causing chaos on campus, they passed a vote of no confidence in the union. Afterwards, they ran to the ministry with fallacies and propaganda of Uniabuja ‘43’. When they realised that the smell of their filthy lies did not go beyond their nose, they went quickly to the media to pass a vote of no confidence on the Hon. Minister of Education. This is how they keep running from pillar to post sarcastically wasting their God-given ‘Vote of No confidence’ on frivolities. By their action, they have lost confidence even in God Almighty that gives position to whomever He deems fit. I know, for sure, that sooner or later they will pass a vote of no confidence on Him.

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Contrary to the impression they created, Prof. Maikudi’s appointment was well received by the University community that paid detailed attention to the whole process to ensure that due process was followed. The whole exercise was without rancour or chaos. It was the smoothest transition in the history of the University.

To the University community that had been yearning for an internal candidate, it was a prayer answered. They see her emergence as a New Year gift.

Stakeholders in the university, Staff Unions, Alumni Association, student bodies, host communities were in joyous mood, celebrating her appointment. They besieged her office to drop their congratulatory messages and pledge their support for her administration.

Most recent of this was the standing ovation and overwhelming support she received from the University senate at its 187th regular meeting which had, in attendance, over 192 professors among whom were Deans of faculties, Directors of Centres and Heads of Department. The University senate showed their commitment to work with the new Vice-Chancellor to achieve a greater and better University of Abuja.

Prof. Maikudi, a highly sophisticated and dependably dynamic leader, young but vibrant at heart, understood her task very clearly, having previously served as a Deputy Dean of Faculty of Law, Director of Centre for International Studies, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), and Ag. Vice-Chancellor for six months. Upon assumption of office, even in acting capacity, she hits the ground running putting behind her the unperturbed noise of the wailers. She created a class of her own, charting about a new course for the University, and consolidating on the gains of the past. Prof. Maikudi has been working hard mobilising resources, both human and material, for the development of the university.

Prof. Maikudi has extended an olive branch to the aggrieved individuals to join her in her resolve to take the University to a greater height. As she celebrates her birthday, and one month in office today, I wish her a successful tenure. Congratulations, Madam Vice-Chancellor!
- Alohunmata is a staff member of University of Abuja
February 2, 2025
Olaopa, building institutions, and public service
- By Paul Onomuakpokpo
Since former President Barack Obama alerted Africa to the deficit of strong institutions as the bane of development on the continent, the merit of his position has unremittingly received reification. The failure of an African nation to meet the developmental aspirations of its citizens is not only attributable to its   core leadership but also its institutions. Clearly , a measure of the trust citizens repose in their institutions is reflective of the confidence they have in their leaders.

In most African nations where the leadership problem is an ogre that is gnawing away at the citizens’ trust in public institutions, the latter are commonly believed to be crude extensions of   insouciant national managers that are ever-disposed to miring the citizens in their immiseration. Thus, the summation of the performance of institutions constitutes a basis for the assessment of a government by the Ibrahim Index of African Governance, and Transparency International Corruption Index, among others. Still, it is imperative to come to terms with the fact that the African continent is not entirely denuded of public institutions that are building   citizens’ confidence in them and governance.

This currently finds exemplification in the Federal Civil Service Commission . The leaders of the commission in the past presumably offered their best to serve their nation and compatriots. But there remains their    identification with the zeitgeist besmeared with the persistent perception that the commission luxuriated in the negation of the public good. There is the perception that on their watch, the commission became a bastion for the travestization of meritocracy as the beneficiaries of the discharge of its constitutional mandate of recruitment were peddlers of a huge   amount of political, social and pecuniary influences at the detriment of eminently eligible citizens . Worse still , with the collusion of some officials of the commission, the plague of fake employment festered. Indeed , that there was corruption at the commission seems to be lent credence by the existence of fake employment letters that had been issued to people who were only found out years after they had been receiving salaries.

But the above malaise is now being consigned to a definitely fast-vanishing era in the commission. A refreshing era has commenced   since the beginning of the 10th board of the commission led by Prof. Tunji Olaopa. The commission is no longer a place plagued by the leakage of examination questions, and promotion owing to financial inducement . It has recorded a huge success in reinventing itself as a hub of credibility in governance. It has become a place where citizens’ matters are decided without the apprehension that their interests that cater for equity would be unconscionably trumped.

The commission serves the citizens through its three constitutional responsibilities. These are recruitment, promotion and discipline. Through the effective discharge of these three responsibilities, the Olaopa’s leadership has restored credibility to the commission. Olaopa’s success at the commission has brought into sharp relief that it is not a far-fetched possibility to make public institutions work. It has also shown that the factors that are responsible for his success can be replicated if the citizens desire to repudiate the memory of a nation where nothing works as legendarily etched in public consciousness by Prof. John Pepper Clark’s poetic jeremiad.

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Ultimately, public institutions can work if the core leadership epitomised by the president in the case of Nigeria has the will. As regards Olaopa, the president demonstrated this will by appointing the right person to lead the commission. He could have given the appointment to his political supporter who was the least qualified for it. But the president appointed Olaopa who in all ramifications is the best person for the job now. Olaopa thoroughly understands the civil service having worked there and risen to the peak as a permanent secretary. He is a professor of public administration , a practitioner-teacher whose deep knowledge of public administration makes him to be able to enrich the Nigerian experience with its location vis-a-vis the public services of advanced nations of the world . Olaopa has given expression to his love for the public service and his knowledge of it by describing himself as a reformer. He has devoted books to public administration , the most recent of them being The Unending Quest for Reform: An Intellectual Memoir. Indeed, for Olaopa, working as a civil servant is not just a means to providing food for his family. To him, public service is a priestly calling through which to serve the people. Olaopa’s preoccupation with making the country’s public service to fit in the league of top-rated ones globally shares kinship with the patriotic fervour of the former Premier of the defunct Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who once observed that while his contemporaries were dissipating their energy and time on women of easy virtue, he was busy grappling with the problems of the nation and proffering solutions to them. As Awolowo tells us: ” While many men in power and public office are busy carousing in the midst of women of easy virtue and men of low morals, I, as a few others like me, am busy at my desk thinking about the problems of Nigeria and proffering solutions to them.” Olaopa also reminds us of Barack Obama who before he became the president, had sufficiently studied the challenges of the American society and the outside world. As his wife, Michelle tells us in her famous autobiography, Becoming , Obama in his pre-White House days was so consumed with finding answers to the raging questions of his time that he sometimes forgot the happenings in his immediate environment. She writes: ” Barack, I’ve come to understand, is the sort of person who needs a hole , a closed-off little warren where he can read and write undisturbed”. Having taken time to understand the challenges and pathways for the nation’s public service, Olaopa   sufficiently fits in the mould of the philosopher king who is hallmarked by reason , knowledge and a quest for justice and thus the most suitable for public service in Plato’s republic.

Olaopa is succeeding because he definitely enjoys the support of the president. He operates with the confidence that underwrites an absence of the apprehension   that his strenuous efforts at the enthronement of credibility, meritocracy and equity at the commission might trigger blistering censure from the president.The president has given Olaopa the free hand to turn around the commission for optimal productivity. Indeed, at the inauguration of the Olaopa leadership, President Bola Tinubu had given him the charge ” to competently facilitate the transformation, reorientation and digitization of the federal bureaucracy to enable, and not stifle , growth and enhance private sector participation in the development of the Nigerian economy”   . Thankfully, the president understands that the commission is a public institution that should not be subject to political interference. His non-interference averts the danger of nurturing a public institution that is blighted by mediocrity in public service.

Before Olaopa’s appointment as the chairman of the commission, he was enjoying his work as a professor of public administration. He was not a political hustler who would jostle to get a position. In local parlance, he had and still has another address or other addresses. Thus, it is not surprising that he carries out his official responsibilities with a certain Napoleonic chutzpah.We are reminded of Napoleon who after conquering and losing half of the world, he spent his last days at St. Helena . In a moment of defiance at his gaoler who thought he he held the power of life and death over him, Napoleon told him: ” You can dispose of my life as you please, but not of my heart. That is still as proud as on this rock as it was when all Europe was awaiting my orders. ” If we want public institutions to work, we should not appoint people to them as a means of political patronage. Such appointees should have the experience and confidence to discharge their responsibilities effectively

Equally important is that apart from the leader of the public institution, those who manage it with him should be eminently qualified. This is the case of Olaopa and his commission. He is succeeding because the president equally appointed members of the board who are very qualified. On the board of the commission are a former minister and an ambassador, erstwhile heads of service at the state level, state commissioners , lawyers , engineers and doctors. These are people who obviously possess the experience and confidence to think for themselves and guard against manipulation to serve interests outside those of the state.This is why in the discharge of the commission’s responsibilities, so much debate goes into arriving at decisions. The issues affecting the employment of citizens, their career progression and discipline are thoroughly debated to ensure that the interests of equity and meritocracy are duly served. This is why a meeting of the commission would normally last from morning till evening. Thus, in the matters of recruitment, promotion and discipline of civil servants, various aspects such as the legal and moral are considered. No arbitrary interest is served.

With Olaopa and his team of federal commissioners at the helm of the Federal Civil Service Commission, the public and particularly civil servants can inhale fresh air of the activation of a slew of guardrails that would usher the nation’s public service into a golden age marked by credibility, equity and meritocracy.
- Onomuakpokpo, PhD, Ex-Acting Editor, The Guardian and Ex-Group Managing Editor/OP-ED Editor, The Daily Times, is the Special Assistant on Strategic Communications to the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission.
February 2, 2025
Remembering Anthony Enahoro

It is a settled fact that Anthony Eromosele Enahoro (July 22, 1923 – December 15, 2010) was an outstanding product of Nigeria’s pre-independence era. Enahoro moved one of the motions for independence and there’s a lot for us to look at in the context of the life he lived and the political firmament that brought him up. Therefore, remembering this Father of Nigerian Nationalism is to reminisce about an era where courage and conviction were the currencies of change.

As a pioneering journalist, politician and champion of independence, Enahoro’s unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s self-rule has left an enduring legacy that continues to inspire generations. His remarkable story is a testament to the transformative power of leadership, perseverance and the unrelenting pursuit of freedom.

Building on his legacy as a champion of independence, Enahoro went on to serve in various capacities, including as Minister of Information and Labour. He was later tried alongside Obafemi Awolowo and others for treasonable felony, a trial that became infamous in Nigerian history. Although convicted, Enahoro was later released and continued to play a significant role in shaping Nigeria’s political landscape.

Enahoro was an outstanding nationalist and a principled person, and this was evident in his involvement with the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO). Of course, there was no need for him and Alfred Rewane to have been involved in the struggle for the enthronement of democracy, particularly in the aftermath of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election won by MKO Abiola as they had too much to lose!. But they risked everything to fight for popular democracy, Although Rewane ultimately lost his life in the struggle, Enahoro was fortunate to have escaped the same fate.

Despite the risks and challenges, Enahoro remained unbending in his convictions, refusing to waver even in the face of adversity. As a gifted individual, he recognized that the issue at hand was not just about the violation of an individual’s rights, but an affront to democracy and national sovereignty. He, along with Alfred Rewane and others fought for principles, not personalities. This commitment to principle was evident in their diverse backgrounds: Enahoro was a Christian from Uromi in Edo State, with Esan extraction; Rewane was a Christian of Urhobo descent from Delta State; and Abiola, whose rights they fought for, was a Muslim Yorubaman, from Ogun State. Unlike some NADECO members who howled with the wolves and bleated with the sheep for convenience, Enahoro was not duplicitous. Unlike the crop of Janjaweeds who now populate our political landscape, he remained steadfast, refusing to compromise his values.

Olajumoke Ogunkeyede, a close ally of Enahoro, described him as “a man with a seriously fantastic sense of humour.” Ogunkeyede, fondly called JMK, shared several instances of Enahoro’s ability to bring joy to those around him. His humorous takes on serious issues, such as “the demons in Abuja”, showcased his wit. Moreover, his clever commentaries, including his defence of now-President Bola Tinubu’s aspirations, and his ingenious use of allegories and analogies, like ‘Ogbuefi’ and ‘Ogbueniyan’, collectively attested to the capacity of his wit and charm.

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When writing about individuals like Enahoro, Rewane, Herbert Macaulay, Awolowo, Aminu Kano, Maitama Sule, and others, it’s essential to consider the context in which they lived. This context is bittersweet, as they represented an era where political activism was rooted in philosophical positions and guided by principles. People during this time held strong convictions and were willing to make sacrifices for their beliefs. That’s why society was more orderly in their time, and it achieved proper sustainable development, unlike today where what we have is largely ‘growth without development’, to be polite, or, if we want to be impolite, ‘the development of underdevelopment’. Amidst this, our leaders continue to sing the same old, worn-out refrain while satiating a vacuous idolatry that elevates an ego bereft of substance, a hollow monolith that stands on feet of clay.

If we look at people like Enahoro and Adegoke Adelabu, their lives exemplified a paradox that underscored the tenuous relationship between knowledge and credentials. This was because, despite lacking university degrees, they possessed a profound intellectual depth that eluded many of their contemporaries who boasted an array of impressive certifications, forgetting that it is not the parchment that confers wisdom, but the depth of one’s inquiry, the rigour of one’s thought and the breadth of one’s understanding.

Enahoro became the youngest editor of Nnamdi Azikiwe’s newspaper, the Southern Nigerian Defender, in 1944 at the age of 21 while Peter, his younger brother, became the editor of The Morning Star at the age of 23. The older Enahoro also worked with other publications, including Daily Comet and West African Pilot before parting ways with Azikiwe, whom he always referred to as his chairman, while Awolowo was his political leader. The reasons behind this preference are intriguing, but that’s a story for another time.

These early experiences laid the foundation for Enahoro’s later involvement with the Action Group (AG), a political party that shared his vision of ‘making life more abundant.’ Enahoro and the AG represented an understanding that the process of economic development must be structured and based on a philosophical thrust. In contrast, what is absurdly described as ‘politics’ today is terribly bad and basically transactional; and it’s driven by a “cash-and-carry” mentality, where individuals seek to outdo one another in a “chop-and-quench” political economy! No unity! No discipline! No structure! For them, any goose can cackle and any fly can find a sore place!

Looking at the plane, Enahoro’s life and career epitomized the complexities of Nigeria’s struggle for independence and democracy. His life and work embodied the intersection of individual agency and structural forces that steered the trajectory of nations. As a prominent anti-colonial and pro-democracy activist, he played a pivotal role in the country’s transition from colonial rule to independence. The Adolor of Uromi and the Adolor of Onewa was a vocal critic of authoritarianism and a strong advocate for human rights. His perseverance in the face of resistance, setbacks and imprisonment demonstrates the dedication required to bring about transformative change.

In moments of emotions and situations, we often discover our true strength and resilience. Enahoro has gone to the ages but his legacy continues to inspire, much like Abraham Lincoln’s. In simpler terms, he was a brave soul who dared to challenge the colonial powers. So, his legacy should serve as inspiration and role model for future generations, demonstrating the potential for excellence that exists within individuals and communities. In fairness to fate, Enahoro and his contemporaries were well-prepared for the liberation movement, thanks to their involvement in the West African Students Union (WASU) and their time at King’s College, Lagos. This institution, attended by Enahoro and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, was a hotbed for political activism and discourse. To truly reboot, Nigerians must remember the personal histories of pioneers like Enahoro.

Today, we remember Enahoro, a pioneering figure who dared to dream of independence for Nigeria. We honour not only his significant contributions to Nigeria’s history but also his untiring commitment to democracy, self-determination and human rights. As we remember him and his dogged commitment to federalism and the quest for social justice, it is in our best interest to recreate the ethos and the spirit which created him and people like him.

May Anthony Enahoro’s spirit soar on the wings of eternal peace!

May his memory continue to serve as a testament to the enduring impact of individual agency on the course of national history!

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

February 1, 2025
How Abiodun is tackling Ogun’s infrastructure deficit
- By ‘Dare Odufowokan
The brand new year 2025 is here and Governor Dapo Abiodun has left no one in doubt that with renewed, bold and audacious approaches, he will continue the fulfillment of his campaign promises to the good people of Ogun State.

In his new year message, Governor Abiodun said, 2025 will be a time to address some of the major challenges facing the state, using his deep understanding of the various socio-economic factors.

Using the governor’s wonderful performances and ratings in 2024 as yardsticks, pundits are already predicting that Abiodun will deliver on more of his promises to the advantage of the good people of the different parts of Ogun state.

Last year, the good listener that he is, he calmly but intently examined the many constructive criticisms directed at his person and his administration by sincerely concerned stakeholders as well as the destructive and tirades of opposition politicians at various times, seeking to further understand the needs of his people in his quest to leave Ogun state and its citizens much better than he met both in 2019.

Since his emergence as governor, he has been redefining the responsibilities of government in Ogun State. The silent operator that he is, within a short period of time, his administration has constructed about 700kilometres of roads, spread across the three senatorial districts of the state.

These completed roads are beside the several other ongoing road projects as we speak. Always eager to promptly address the concerns raised at any time, Governor Abiodun in 2024, gave ultimatums to contractors handling roads and other projects across the state.

The Ogun State helmsman who also got elected as the Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum in 2024, ended the year tackling the road deficit in many parts of the state, including Akute, Agbara, Sango-Otta, Mowe, etc, with renewed vigour. He has promised to continue with that.

Already, following the firm instructions and inspection visits by the governor and other leading figures of his administration, as at the time of writing this piece, contractors were almost done laying asphalt along the Alagbole-Ajuwon road in Ifo Local Government Area. The road has suffered decades of neglect like many others across the state before Governor Abiodun recently took up the task of easing the suffering of the residents of the area.

Similarly, as I write this piece, asphalt laying commenced on the completed sections of the Ota-Abeokuta expressway. Like many other successful projects of this administration, the road will soon be commissioned. This is another promising keeping act of Governor Abiodun. It followed his decision to take over the rehabilitation of this critical federal road as part of his commitment to ease the harrowing troubles encountered daily by users of the road.

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Also, the Atan-Lsada-Agbara road in Ogun Central Senatorial District is progressing speedily toward being delivered by Governor Abiodun. Already, the binder asphalt layer of the right-hand side of the road stretching from the Lagos-Badagry Expressway/Agbara junction to Atan on the Ota-Idi Iroko road, has been completed. As promised by the governor, construction activities has now shifted to the left-hand side of the road.

In Ogun East, a visit to the ongoing Tai Solarin Way road project in Ikenne town showed that extensive work has been done with asphalt laying already in progress. The road project is exemplifies the plan of Governor Abiodun to make all parts of the state, urban and rural, accessible as part of his drive to industrialise and develop the Ogun state rapidly. The project is expected to be completed and commissioned soon.

Asphalt has also been successfully laid along Liberty road in Oru town located in Ijebu North Local Government Area. The road, given its location is a testament to the governor’s determination to improve the quality of life in Ogun state through the provision of durable and well-constructed roads that connects communities and boost local economic activities. Similarly, work is ongoing on the Iperu-Ode-Sapade road in Remo North Local Government Area of the state.

Work on the vital Ijeja-Igbore link bridge in Abeokuta South Local Government is also progressing impressively. Residents of the two communities are full of praises for the governor for remembering them and working hard to link Ijeja and Igbore with the bridge. During a recent visit to the project site, the governor promised that the entire Ijeja-Igbore road will also be rehabilitated by his administration.

The ongoing construction work on Toyin-Giwa-Hercules road in Ifo constituency 2, aimed at addressing age-long issues of accessibility and flooding, is another great feat of the Dapo Abiodun administration. The construction includes road expansion, drainages, as well as surface repairs to ensure more durable roadway for the residents of the many communities in the area. The project is expected to be completed on schedule.

Governor Abiodun also approved the reconstruction of the 8.17kilometres Magboro-Makogi road in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area. The reconstruction project will also works to be done on the Magboro underbridge road. The project, when completed, will open up the area for more development

A couple of weeks ago, the governor commissioned the Ojodu Abiodun-Denro-Ishasi-Oluwakemi road in Ifo Local Government Area. This confirmed his unwavering dedication to leaving behind a more accessible and prosperous Ogun state. Determined to further reduce the road deficit in the area, Governor Abiodun openly announced that the Alagbole-Akute road and the Akute-Ijoko-Oke Aro road will soon be awarded for construction in phases. Commendations have been trailing these feats from within and outside the state.

Before now, Governor delivered the Ijebu-Ode-Epe road, another federal road. What is more? It is a road that evacuates people from the Lekki corridor in Lagos to other parts of Nigeria. As important as it is to both Ogun state and the country, that road was in total disuse prior to the coming of Governor Abiodun. According to the governor himself, he had to prioritise that road. Today, the road is a success story.

Similarly, Sagamu-Abeokuta road, the very road leading to the state capital, was in a terrible state for many years before the current administration came on board. The road became a death trap witnessing incessant and usually fatal road mishaps. People were dying. When he took over in 2019, Governor Abiodun prioritised the road, though it is another federal road, and turned it into what we all are proud of today.

Also onfirmed to have been completed by the Abiodun administration are; Owode-Siun road in Abeokuta, Owode-Ilaro road in Yewa South, Sagamu-Iperu-Ode road (Phase1), Ogijo road in Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode-Mojoda-Epe road, Abeokuta-Siun-Interchange road, Panseke-Adigbe road in Abeokuta, Molusi College road in Ijebu North, Ọba Erinwole road In Sagamu, Ikola-Navy-Osi Ota road in Ota, AIT-Raypower road in Ota.

Kemta-Somorin road in Abeokuta, Oru-Awa Ilaporu road in Ijebu North, Joju-Iyana Ota road, Fajol-American Junction-Gbonagun road, Olose Titun Vespa road in Ifo, Baruwa road in Sagamu, Koko-Alari road in Ipokia, Iboro-Imasayi-Ayetotro road (Phase 1), Okeola road in Imeko, Total-Itori township road, Igan-Ishanmurin-Odo Shikiti road in Ago Iwoye, Esure Road, Ijebu Imushin in Ijebu East, Sagamu-Ikenne road, Arepo-Journalist Estate road.

Lantoro-Elite-Idi Aba road, Ejinrin-Idowa-Awa-Ibefun-Itokin road, Awujale road(Awujale, Stadium, Oke Aje), Molipa-Asafa Isale-Ayegun-Ojofa road in Ijebu Ode, Asafa Oke-Fusigboye-Ojofa street road in Ijebu Ode, Olommore-Sanni road in Abeokuta, NNPC – MKO Stadium road down to Kuto bridge and IBB Boulevard in Abeokuta, Idarika street raod, Araromi Sokoto street road, Iregun-ItaOsukun-Ilisa road.

Ogbagba Street, Ijebu-Ode, Ilishan Market road, Ilishan, Erunwon-Atan road, Togburin – Agodo – Tigara, Molipa express way-Ibadan garage road in Ijebu Ode, Oyingbo-Olisa-Saka Ashiru-Ijebu Ode road, Ikenne-Ilishan-AgoIwoye road, Ijebu Ode Club road, Ososa road, Ajegunle road in Sagamu, GRA road in Ota, and many more as this list is not exhaustive.

In addition, not less than a hundred new road projects (five in each local government area), received approval from him recently.

Recognising and identifying with the rights of the citizens to demand for better living condition from the government, Governor Abiodun has promised to speed up the completion of the many ongoing road projects even in the New Year. According to him, the pace of the phenomenal strides being experienced in the state since his assumption of office is in fulfilment of his ‘Building Our Future Together Agenda’ and the ISEYA mantra of his government.

The good news is that the good people of Ogun are willing to patiently cooperate with their hard working governor as he strives, with renew vigour, to drastically reduce the infrastructure deficit he inherited.

•Odufowokan is the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor Abiodun on Public Communications
February 1, 2025
Trust issues in media’s digital revolution

By Samson Olufemi Olanipekun

Technology has always been a transformative—and often disruptive—force in the media ecosystem. From Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press in 1450 to Samuel Morse’s telegraph in 1837, each technological leap has redefined how information is produced, distributed, and consumed. Friedrich Koenig’s steam-powered printing press in the early 19th century, for instance, revolutionized media production, increasing output from 480 pages per hour to over 3,000 by the 1930s. Today, we stand at the precipice of another revolutionary change, driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and digital innovation, which is reshaping the media ecosystem in ways that is both exhilarating and concerning.

The media landscape is undergoing unprecedented disruption. AI is altering how news is gathered, reported, and consumed, while also posing existential threats to traditional journalism jobs. CNN’s recent announcement of the layoff of 6% of its TV staff, part of a broader $70 million pivot to digital streaming, underscores this trend. As ratings for traditional TV decline, media giants are scrambling to adapt, but the human cost is undeniable. Smaller newsrooms are increasingly automating processes, reducing staff, and relying on technology to cut costs. In some television news production in the United States, for example, roles once filled by a team of 10 or more—camera operators, audio technicians, graphic designers, and more—are now being handled by a single director using advanced automation tools. While this boosts efficiency, it comes at the expense of jobs and raises questions about the quality and depth of reporting.

Newspapers, too, face these existential threats. Each wave of technological advancement—radio, television, and now digital platforms—has been met with predictions of their demise. Yet, newspapers have proven resilient, adapting to survive. The New York Times’ transformation under former BBC Director General, Mark Thompson, who grew its digital subscriptions from 500,000 to over eight million, is a testament to this adaptability. Thompson’s recent appointment to lead CNN signals a similar digital-first strategy.

However, the challenges are mounting. Traditional TV and radio are losing advertising revenue to digital platforms, where influencers and podcasters command growing audiences. For instance, the Joe Rogan Experience podcast averages 11 million views per episode, dwarfing the primetime viewership of major US TV networks like Fox News and NBC.

The rise of digital media is not just a technological shift but a cultural one. Social media and podcasts are increasingly central to news consumption, particularly among younger audiences. According to Pew Research, 54% of U.S. adults now get news from social media, while 37% of those under 30 regularly turn to influencers for information.

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This shift is global.

In Nigeria, 91% of the respondents of a Reuters Institute survey say they access news online weekly, with platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok dominating. Politicians and activists are also bypassing traditional media, using social media to communicate directly with the public. Donald Trump’s mastery of Twitter and podcasts during his 2016 and 2024 campaigns exemplifies this trend.

Yet, this democratization of information comes with its attendant risks. The erosion of trust in the traditional media, fuelled by perceptions of bias and censorship, has led many to seek alternative sources. Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter (now X) and Mark Zuckerberg’s decision to adopt community-based moderation on Facebook have emboldened conservative voices, challenging what they see as institutional suppression of free speech.

Meanwhile, scandals like the British media’s failure to adequately cover the gang rape of young British girls’ scandal have further damaged trust in traditional outlets. Critics argue that political correctness and institutional bias have compromised journalistic integrity, pushing audiences toward unregulated, often unreliable sources.

The consequences of this trust deficit are profound. As Jeff Bezos, owner of The Washington Post warned, the erosion of trust in traditional media risks exacerbating the spread of misinformation. Without credible journalism, the public is left vulnerable to manipulation by unprofessional outlets and partisan influencers. The challenge for media organizations is not just to adapt to technological change but to rebuild trust by addressing concerns about bias, transparency, and accountability.

The future of the media lies in convergence—integrating traditional and digital platforms to create a unified, accessible experience. The global measurement and data analytics company, Nielsen’s concept of Convergent TV, which blends broadcast, cable, and streaming, offers a glimpse of this future. But beyond technology, the media must confront its credibility crisis. In an era of AI-generated content and algorithm-driven narratives, the role of journalists as truth-tellers and watchdogs is more critical than ever. The stakes are high: without trust, the media cannot fulfil its democratic function. As we navigate this digital revolution, the question is not just how to survive but how to uphold the principles that make journalism indispensable.

•Olanipekun is a media and communications professional. He currently researches the intersection of artificial intelligence and media, contributing to the evolving discourse on technology’s impact on journalism.

January 31, 2025
Implications of new virus outbreak in China for Nigeria

By Umezurike Emeka Taye

The global community has once again, been on high alert following reports of an outbreak of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China. As the world grapples with the continuous threat of emerging infectious diseases, the emergence of HMPV demands careful consideration, particularly for countries like Nigeria, where public health infrastructure remains a critical concern.

HMPV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the family Paramyxoviridae. First identified in the Netherlands in 2001, HMPV has since been recognized as a leading cause of respiratory infections worldwide, especially in young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. The virus shares genetic and clinical similarities with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), another prominent member of the Paramyxoviridae family.

HMPV is primarily transmitted via respiratory droplets, direct contact with infected individuals, or contaminated surfaces. Once contracted, the virus targets the epithelial cells of the upper and lower respiratory tract, leading to a range of symptoms from mild upper respiratory infections to severe lower respiratory illnesses such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. While most infections are self-limiting, severe cases can result in hospitalization and even mortality.

Symptoms of HMPV infection

The symptoms of HMPV infection vary depending on the severity of the disease. In mild cases, individuals may experience cold-like symptoms, including cough, nasal congestion, sore throat, and mild fever. In more severe cases, particularly among young children, the elderly, or those with compromised immune systems, symptoms can escalate to include high fever, wheezing, shortness of breath, and respiratory distress. In some instances, the virus can lead to complications such as bronchitis, pneumonia, or exacerbation of underlying respiratory conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Preventing HMPV infection

Preventing HMPV infection requires a combination of personal hygiene practices, public health measures, and targeted interventions. Regular hand washing with soap and water is crucial in reducing the transmission of the virus. Avoiding close contact with individuals displaying symptoms of respiratory infections and practicing proper respiratory etiquette, such as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, can further limit the spread. Disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and ensuring good ventilation in indoor spaces are additional preventive measures. For high-risk populations, such as children and the elderly, strengthening immunity through adequate nutrition and timely vaccinations against other respiratory pathogens can offer indirect protection against HMPV.

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The current situation in China

Recent reports from Chinese health authorities indicate a significant rise in HMPV cases, with a notable clustering of severe infections among children and elderly populations. This resurgence has raised concerns due to the virus’s potential to cause outbreaks, especially in densely populated areas. Factors such as increased urbanization, climate variability, and post-pandemic vulnerabilities in immune defenses may have contributed to this surge.

China’s response has included enhanced surveillance, public health campaigns, and targeted interventions to mitigate the spread. However, the global interconnectedness of modern societies underscores the potential for the virus to cross borders, necessitating a coordinated international response.

Implications for Nigeria

Nigeria faces unique challenges in addressing the potential threat posed by HMPV. These include limited diagnostic capacity, inadequate surveillance systems, and a high burden of respiratory infections due to existing pathogens such as influenza and RSV. The following are key considerations for Nigeria:

Enhanced Surveillance and Diagnostics

The absence of routine testing for HMPV in Nigeria highlights a critical gap in the country’s infectious disease surveillance framework. Strengthening laboratory capacity to detect HMPV and other respiratory viruses is paramount. This can be achieved through partnerships with international organizations, the establishment of sentinel surveillance sites, and the incorporation of molecular diagnostic tools. The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and its partners have always done an excellent job in these situations and I believe in their capacity and expertise. Yet, it must be stated that government should ensure that they get all they help they can. Prevention we know is better and cheaper than cure and so measure must be taken to prevent this disease from finding its way into the Nigerian population. Our large population is both a blessing and a challenge, and this disease must be curtailed if it ever gets to Nigeria.

Public Health Awareness

Public health education campaigns should emphasize preventive measures such as hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, and vaccination (where available for related respiratory infections). Raising awareness among healthcare providers about HMPV can improve early recognition and management of cases. This is a job for everyone from the National Orientation Agency, to the federal and state ministries of health, public health experts and the distinguished members of academia must play the role of sensitizing our people to this disease.

Healthcare System Preparedness

Given Nigeria’s limited intensive care facilities and high patient-to-doctor ratios, a surge in severe HMPV cases could overwhelm the healthcare system. Proactive measures, including stockpiling essential medical supplies and expanding critical care capacity, are essential.

Focus on Vulnerable Populations

Children under five years of age and individuals with underlying health conditions are particularly susceptible to severe HMPV infections. Targeted interventions, such as immunization campaigns for other respiratory pathogens and improved access to pediatric care, can mitigate the impact on these high-risk groups.

A call to action

The emergence of HMPV in China serves as a timely reminder of the constant threat posed by infectious diseases. For Nigeria, this is an opportunity to prioritize investments in public health infrastructure, strengthen international collaborations, and adopt a proactive stance in preparedness and response.

As global health experts continue to monitor the situation in China, Nigeria must remain vigilant. By leveraging existing knowledge and implementing strategic interventions, the country can mitigate the potential impact of HMPV and build resilience against future outbreaks. In a world where pathogens know no borders, preparedness is not an option but a necessity.

•Dr. Umezurike is a medical microbiologist and lecturer at Lead City University, Ibadan.

January 31, 2025
Way forward for the Democratic Party

By Olabode Lucas

Donald Trump’s political blitzkrieg which started in 2016 with his stunning victory at that year’s USA presidential election over Hillary Clinton of the Democratic Party shook USA politics to its very foundation and since then politics in the USA has never been the same. There was an interlude on Donald Trump’s hold on power in 2021 when he was defeated in the 2020 presidential election by Joe Biden, the Democratic Party candidate. Donald Trump, who is a Republican Party member, still disputes the results of this election up till today. Trump, who had never held an elective office until 2017, came back with a fury to win the 2024 presidential election squarely by beating Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party candidate. He had 77,284,118 popular votes while Kamala Harris had 74,999,166 popular votes and with respect to Electoral College votes, Donald Trump scored 312 votes to Kamala Harris’ 226 votes and subsequently became the first Republican candidate to win both the popular votes and the Electoral College votes since 2004.

It will not be wrong to assume that the two stunning victories of Donald Trump in the 2016 and 2024 presidential elections jolted the Democratic Party which is the major political opponent of Donald Trump’s Republican Party in USA political setup. Donald Trump’s new movement in the Republican Party, whose slogan is Make America Great Again (MAGA), is now a strong threat to the Democratic Party politically. The movement with its racial undertone has now provided a political shelter for USA citizens who want a radical change to the policy direction of their country both at home and abroad. Whether the change will augur well for the USA is another different question.

The Democratic Party in the USA was founded in 1828 by Andrew Jackson, the 7th USA president and Van Buren, the 8th president. Interestingly, the party before the civil war supported slavery and even after the war opposed civil rights for the Blacks in order to retain its support in the southern states of the country. The party subsequently changed its racist and unprogressive policies under Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd president who introduced the New Deal when he became the president in 1933 at the height of the great depression. Franklin D. Roosevelt cobbled together in the Democratic Party, a winning coalition of urban voters, American Jews, union workers, college graduates and black voters.

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Since the beginning of US presidency in1789, the Democratic Party as a distinct party has produced 15 presidents to 21 produced by the Republican Party. Some of the consequential presidents produced recently by the Democratic Party included Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, the first Black president and Joe Biden who vacated the office on 20 January 20. At present, the party has 45 senators, 215 members of the House of Representatives and 23 state governors. The party stands for abortion rights, voting rights, action on climate change, health care reforms, universal childcare, legalization of marijuana and LGBT rights.

Presently, the Democratic Party is not in a comfortable political situation in the USA, having lost both the presidency and the two legislative houses. There is no doubt that the party leaders like the fiery Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker, Charles Schumer, the Senate minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries the House minority leader and others who control the political machine of the party would be scheming on how to get the party out of the present political hole.

Many reasons have been adduced for the loss of the presidency and the two Houses by the Democratic Party, but I point to two major ones that brought grief to the party in the elections. The first is the bad state of the economy under Joe Biden. Despite his good intentions, he could not tame the economy and the rising inflation. USA voters are very sensitive to anything that would dent their standard of living. It happened before, during the time of President Bush Senior who despite his high approval rating after his success in the Gulf war, was defeated by Bill Clinton in the 1992 presidential election because of the deteriorating economic situation after the war. The second electoral albatross on the neck of the Democratic Party was the inability of the Biden administration to take decisive action to curb the unbridled influx of illegal immigrants into the USA from its southern border.

The leaders of the Democratic Party, which is a party with high sympathy level in Africa, need to examine critically while the presidential candidate of their party lost many votes among the traditional Democratic Party voters like the Blacks, the Latinos and the working-class people. The party leaders would no doubt be pained that the decisive states won by Joe Biden in 2020 were lost by their presidential flag bearer whose popular votes in the 2024 election were six million votes less than what Biden got in the 2020 presidential election.

It is not clear yet whether the poor performance of the Democratic Party was due to the personality and antecedent of its presidential flag bearer Kamala Harris, or due to some of the party’s bewildering left-wing policies on cultural and social issues especially those on gender which were repulsive to moderate voters. The Democratic Party should fine-tune its policies to make it electable again. The midterm election next year would give an indication on how far it has gone in this direction.

•Prof Lucas writes from Old Bodija, Ibadan.

January 31, 2025
Anambra: The rise in idolatrous materialism
- By Chukwunonso E.C.C. Ejike
Driving to the village has recently become an opportunity for reflection while behind the wheels for me. Such trips offer me opportunities to reflect on our failures, not just failures of the state in providing security and basic infrastructure, but also failures of complicity by the Church in leading society away from evil. On the roads leading to my village, one would find items wrapped in red, yellow, white or black pieces of cloth at ‘T’ or “Y” junctions. The items would usually be sprinkled with candies, biscuits, soft drinks, etc.

Around the banks of the Ezu River, one would notice dozens of young men, stripped to their waists being bathed by women inside the river. The young men usually have exotic cars and SUVs parked nearby. These (often tertiary-educated) young men usually claim that their practice is about a return to our culture. But it is not. What the young men are doing is abominable in the Igbo culture.

It appears to me that the rise in idolatry and idolatrous materialism observed is tied to the inordinate crave to acquire wealth without honest labour by our young men. The rise in these forms of idolatry is inextricably linked to the rise in “Yahoo Yahoo” and “Yahoo Plus” in Nigeria. These boys come home to the villages with exotic cars, dreadlocks, sagging over-sized trousers, and bold gold-plated necklaces and rings, and lure others to join them in their “good life”. Parents and elders do not ask questions about the sources of the flaunted wealth; and priests turn a blind eye. As a society, we must interrogate these trends, learn lessons and make amends.

A variety of reasons may be adduced to explain this dangerous descent into idolatrous materialism. Easily one would come to the conclusion that the economic realities of our time is at the centre of this sad development. The fact that parents, teachers, elders, and indeed all of us, are failing in their (our) roles, is not debatable. Indeed, it could be argued that the economic strain on parents distract them from parenting. It could also be argued that the lack of opportunities for the youth contributes to deviant behaviours. I am nonetheless convinced that the Church is complicit in the rise in idolatrous materialism which we now witness. By the Church, I mean those Christian groups that are directly linked to the small group of illiterate and semi-literate men and women who physically experienced life with God-made-man and subsequently took the gospel to Europe where a culture blossomed and spread, then arrived our shores to ‘save us’. I do not, by any stretch, refer to the variant that blossomed in America and arrived our shores as business.

When the Church arrived our shores, the missionaries realised the import of the Great Commission as outlined in the gospel according to Matthew 28: 16-20. Many of the missionaries who worked among our people lived in perilous environments, and in addition to evangelism, built schools and hospitals. They lived austere lives, preached holiness, hard work and acceptance of the will of God, and were not attached to material things. Our brothers who were the first to be associated with them, even as priests, lived like the missionaries. Unfortunately, priests now brag about the number of cars they own and the size of their houses in our villages and cities!

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Growing up, we were drawn to the Church because the priest taught us how to live as Christ had instructed – in moderation, in holiness, etc. The Church was a place of solemn worship where our spirits were roused to God by hymns and songs and a properly prepared and delivered sermon. But things have changed; and priests appear to have changed too. Priests are now specialists in extortionist fundraising that once in a while I wonder if it is taught in our seminaries nowadays. Sometimes, threats and blackmail are used to force gullible parishioners to empty their purses into the treasury often held by admirers of Judas Iscariot. It is now common practice to see publicly known thieves, embezzlers of the common patrimony, and murderers, honoured with all sorts of titles in the Church. Things have truly fallen apart.

Unfortunately, many priests of the Church have eaten sour grapes, and the teeth of the people are on edge. When the Church that should point the people in the direction of our Lord who lived as a modest carpenter and owned nothing, not even a colt, is now populated by ministers who by their words and actions tell us that we should elevate our primitive acquisition tendencies, one should expect moral disaster. The implicit message from the Church in Nigeria, is that being wealthy is all that matters, and that showing it off is very important. Our young men have heard this message, loud and clear. They have therefore abandoned the age-long Igbo truisms of aka aja aja na ebuta onu mmanu mmanu and aruo n’anwu, erie na ndo both of which placed premium on honest labour and the enduring sweet that comes from sweat. They have moved into the ‘ministry’ businesses of these priests, where people are promised solutions to their material problems in spite of their sins.

Sadly when the ministry scam fails, as it often does, the young men remember the Igbo traditional practice of replacing a poorly performing deity with another until a solution is found or the supplicant dies. These young men, failed by ministry merchants, have now moved on to romance with dangerous idolatry.

My thesis is that with the affluence many priests currently live in, and with their inordinate and frightening acquisition of material things, the youth in our societies may have found enablers and are now engrossed in dangerous idolatrous materialism. The Church must therefore take responsibility (at least in part) for the rise in idolatry and idolatrous materialism in our society and take urgent steps to remedy the malady it may have inadvertently caused.

•Ejike, PhD, is a Professor of Medical Biochemistry at AEFUNAI. He writes from Abakaliki.
January 30, 2025
China-Nigeria cooperation: A synergy of growth and prosperity
- By Mustapha Bala Tsakuwa, Li Chunguang, & Li Hongfeng
China and Nigeria have more than 50 years of diplomatic relations. The two countries have some similarities and “are entering into a new era of national construction and development”. The two countries are building a comprehensive strategic partnership and a high-level of shared community between China and Nigeria, which fully embodies the phrases “unity is strength” and “join hands for success”.

This cooperation is evolving in various sectors, including trade, investment, infrastructure development, and cultural exchange. The implications of this partnership are far-reaching and beneficial for both nations. The 2nd China-Nigeria Bilateral Symposium on Area Studies held at Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT) on November 23, 2024 was a testimony to these facts and an avenue towards understanding more about the long-time bilateral relations between the two countries. Diplomats, experts and scholars from China and Nigeria in the fields of politics, economy and trade, as well as humanities, summarized the highlights of the cooperation between the two sides and drew a picture of how the bilateral relationship should continue to develop in the new era in order to promote the common interests of the two countries.

Trade as the foundation of partnership

Over the years, China and Nigeria’s trade relations have grown exponentially. According to recent statistics, Sino-Nigeria bilateral ties have grown stronger, with Nigeria being China’s number one contracting market, second largest export market and major investment destination country in Africa. This relationship shows a certain degree of mutual trust, and both China and Nigeria have benefited from economic and trade cooperation in various fields.

Building the future together through infrastructure development

One of the hallmark features of the partnership between China and Nigeria lies in infrastructure development. Chinese investments help Nigeria’s economic diversification strategy by generating jobs and supporting local industries. If properly used, this can eventually improve stability and growth. Chinese companies are actively engaged in important projects that are essential to Nigeria’s economic development goals, such as railways, roads, agriculture, and power plants. The building of the Lagos-Ibadan railway, which represents development and connectivity, is a noteworthy example. These projects are about building the groundwork to ease life and for a better future.

Bridging hearts and minds through cultural exchange

For quite a long time, China and Nigeria have been enjoying cultural exchanges between them which they consider important in fostering friendliness and rapport among the people of the two countries. Opening of Chinese learning centres in Nigeria and programs offered by the Confucius Institutes in Nigeria promote Chinese language and culture. While cultural and sport events in Chinese universities give space to showcase Nigeria’s cultural heritage, diversity, vibrancy and richness. Such programs and exhibitions of Nigeria’s culture in Chinese institutions deepen our understanding and they create a beautiful tapestry of collaboration. The more we learn, the more we discover our cultural commonality and uniqueness. Thus, language learning, art displays and cultural festivals strengthen the bond between the hearts and minds of the people of the two nations.

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Education as a driving force for mutual growth and development

It was highlighted that education is the driving force for mutual growth and development and it should be emphasized in China-Nigeria cooperation. Both nations should enhance their educational system and foster a better future for their outstanding population by means of scholarships, research cooperation, cultural exchange and language learning. It was really interesting to know that China is ready to support the establishment of the China-Africa network of knowledge for development, research centres and platforms for China-Africa science and education cooperation, and centres for digital education. These can really help boost not only the China-Nigeria partnership but also China and many other African countries. As we all know, education is the key to success and it should be among the primary drivers of the cooperation between China and Nigeria so that people can mutually share and benefit from the talents and expertise each country has.

Challenges and the path ahead

Despite its success, the partnership has not been without challenges. China and Nigeria should work for mutual benefits and sustainable development through bilateral talks, especially through intermediaries in the fields of language and culture to build bridges between their hearts and minds, with the aim of solving the challenges encountered in cooperation between the two sides.

In conclusion, China and Nigeria are the largest partners in various aspects of life. Their partnerships embody harmonious relationships based on respect for one another, common interests, and cross-cultural interactions. Challenges pointed out can pave ways and opportunities for strong collaboration and mutual benefits. Both countries can succeed when they work together. Their relationship can be an important lesson in unity, resilience, and the pursuit of a shared vision for a prosperous future.

As it is anticipated, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi visited Nigeria in early 2025. It is thought that the Chinese Foreign Minister’s adherence to the 35-year practice of making his first visit will contribute to the continued development of China-Nigeria and China-Africa relations.

•Tsakuwa is of Yulin University, Chunguang is of Foreign Studies University, & Hongfeng is of Beijing Foreign Studies University – all in China.
January 30, 2025