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Tag: national development

  • Minister urges professionals to boost collaboration for national development

    Minister urges professionals to boost collaboration for national development

    The Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, has urged Nigerian professionals to deepen collaboration, strengthen mentorship and engage more constructively with government as a way of accelerating development in Sokoto State and across the country.

    Goronyo made the call in Sokoto while delivering the keynote address at the 3rd Annual General Meeting of the Sokoto Professionals Network, themed “Expanding Horizons, Strengthening Bonds.”

    He said the theme aptly reflects the realities and demands of Nigeria’s current development phase, stressing that professionals have a critical role to play in shaping the nation’s future.

    Addressing professionals and community leaders at the event, Goronyo described the AGM theme as timely and relevant. 

    According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Maryam Sanusi, the minister explained that “expanding horizons” speaks to growth in knowledge, innovation and global competitiveness, while “strengthening bonds” underscores the importance of unity, collaboration and shared responsibility.

    He encouraged professionals to leverage their expertise and networks to support sustainable development initiatives and contribute meaningfully to national progress through closer cooperation with both government and society.

    “In today’s interconnected world, progress is no longer driven by isolated efforts. It is driven by strong networks built on trust, professionalism, and a common vision,” Goronyo said.

    He stressed that professionals, including engineers, doctors, educators, lawyers, entrepreneurs, and technologists, remain central to nation-building, as their expertise shapes institutions, delivers infrastructure, and drives economic growth.

    According to him, Nigeria’s development trajectory depends largely on how effectively professionals translate knowledge into practical solutions and individual achievements into collective societal impact.

    He noted that platforms such as the Sokoto Professionals Network are critical for mentorship, policy engagement, and meaningful contributions to national and subnational development.

    Speaking on infrastructure, Goronyo described it as a major catalyst for economic and social transformation, explaining that roads, bridges, and transport corridors go beyond physical construction to enable commerce, education, healthcare delivery, security, and national integration.

    Under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, he reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the quality, reach, and sustainability of infrastructure nationwide, while promoting professionalism, accountability, and local capacity in project execution.

    “Government alone cannot achieve these objectives without the support and expertise of organized professionals,” he said.

    Goronyo urged members of the Sokoto Professionals Network to strengthen bonds within and beyond the association, particularly between senior professionals and young graduates, between those at home and those in the diaspora, and between professionals and government institutions.

    He said strong professional bonds promote the exchange of ideas, build trust, and fast-track development, adding that a united and constructive professional voice can significantly influence policy formulation, innovation, and community development.

    As deliberations continued at the AGM, the Minister challenged members to deepen mentorship, uphold ethical standards, embrace innovation, and remain united in purpose.

    “By expanding your horizons, you position Sokoto professionals for global relevance; by strengthening your bonds, you create lasting value for society,” he said.

    The Minister commended the Sokoto Professionals Network and their leadership for sustaining a credible platform that brings together experts from diverse fields in the interest of Sokoto State and Nigeria.

  • Ethnic nationalism and national development

    Ethnic nationalism and national development

    The First World War had ramifying effects on the world including the people of Africa and Nigeria was not an exception. In the case of Nigeria, the colonial administration feared that Islam could be exploited to rally the defeated Muslims in Northern Nigeria against the British because of Turkish propaganda calling for jihad against infidels all over the world. This was the only major threat to British hold on Nigeria but by this time the Fulani rulers who were united in sharing with the British the booty of the Native Treasuries (Beit-el-mal) which were taxes on cattle (jangali) and crops had something in common. This commonality of interest between the colonial powers and the native rulers was to, by and large, draw a wedge between the Northern Effendiyyah and the educated elite in the south before and after independence and possibly till today.

    The idea of native treasuries were extended to the South where it largely met resistance and even uprising in the East which had no hierarchy of chiefs because it was sociologically a chiefless or headless society or what anthropologists call an acephalous society and attempts to create chiefs among the Igbo by colonial administrators by giving warrants to some identified supporters to act as chiefs led to uprising in many parts of Igboland. In Yorubaland where there were chiefs, some of them were elevated beyond their traditional status. This also led to armed resistance in upper Ogun area of former Oyo Empire.

    The effects of the First World War were accompanied by several political and economic ramifications in Nigeria. The Nigerian soldiers and carriers came back with natural exaggerations of themselves in the face of enemy fire while their white colonial officers ran away. Their stories spread to their home cities and friends who demanded rights and better salaries and more respect from their rulers. Political parties initially confined to Lagos and other coastal cities like Calabar began to spread into the hinterland that by the outbreak of the Second World war, the demands and influence of the educated Nigerians in Lagos and the urban centres began to be echoed by illiterate Nigerians saying that service must deserve its rewards. Their leaders began to be known and cultivated by the colonial rulers and their bosses In London.

    Newspapers that had been in reasonable numbers but whose interest and influence were confined to Lagos colony alone began to have wider readership and credibility in regional hubs and places like Ibadan, Abeokuta, Benin, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Kano, Bauchi, and Jos.  The Second World War which began in 1939 and ended in 1945 began with a muffle but ended with a bang in terms of its influence in Nigeria. Tens of thousands of Nigerian troops fought under the Union Jack in the jungles of Burma against tough and intrepid Japanese troops sworn to fight for victory or death in defence of Japan and its emperor Hirohito and its people s ‘interest in Asia particularly in the pacific islands of the Philippines and Taiwan as well as mainland China, Korea and Burma. Nigerian troops saw action mostly in Burma.

    On   returning home, many of the ex-servicemen were courted by the main political parties in existence. Particularly, the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) which was formed in 1944 mainly by former students of Kings College who then surrendered leadership to Herbert Macaulay as president and the America-educated Nnamdi Azikiwe as Secretary General. The NCNC was like the various Rassemblement Africain in several French African countries. It was hoped it will be an umbrella political organisation for the various existing African parties some of them existing since the Lugardian years. Unfortunately, this hope was not realised because Herbert Macaulay, the president of the NCNC died in 1948 and Azikiwe, the fiery journalist and nationalist took over and gave the leadership more élan and vigour but in the process, he was accused of leaning too much on Igbo tribal support. This led to the emergence of the Action Group which had its roots in the Egbe Omo Oduduwa formed in1950 and eventually the Action Group (AG) by Obafemi Awolowo, a journalist and trade unionist in 1951 and the Northern Peoples Congress, NPC ( jamiyyar Mutanen Arewa or JMA. These two parties representing the West and the Northern peoples tried unsuccessfully to make the NCNC look as a tribal Igbo party without effect until independence in Nigeria.

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    The issue of tribalism or ethnic differences have largely ruined the success of the country. It has infected our politics to the extent that people either vote along ethnic lines and where they tried to look at issues rationally and nationally, they are immediately slapped back into supposedly tribal redoubts or ostracized as traitors or saboteurs. There is widespread rigging of votes to enhance ethnic figures in the census which are usually rigged because revenue sharing is tied to census. This is a problem that affects states creation, education, financial allocation and inability to have genuine democracy and stability which have been the bane of our society.

    The constitution which was a negotiated federal constitution before independence has been undermined by the military dictatorship egged on by civilian politicians who have less than noble or patriotic motives. Most of the political problems Nigeria has had since independence are traceable to tribalism or ethnic parochialism. Example of this can be seen in the Action Group crisis of 1961 to 1963 which split the party into two rival groups which indirectly led to the incarceration in 1963, of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the then leader of opposition in the federal parliament. The ruling NCNC/ NPC coalition government combined the forces of the tribally rooted Northern politicians and their collaborators from the Eastern Region to remove Awolowo from the political scene. 

    .Awolowo may have been ambitious, but it is doubtful that he would have  tried to violently overthrow the federal government of Nigeria with a few party toughies trained in Kwame Nkrumah’s WINNEBA ideological school where the likes of Samuel Grace Ikoku, a former Secretary General of the Action Group was a lecturer. The evidence presented at the famous trial for reasonable felony were not overwhelming enough to condemn a major political leader without upsetting the equilibrium of the country and its stability. The reaction of the people of the West got to a crescendo in 1965 when the Chief S.L. Akintola’s government which was obviously unpopular, decided to manipulate the voting process when the Deputy Premier Chief Remi Fani-Kayode boasted that whether the people voted for their party or not “… angels would vote for them” took laws into their hands, burning and looting while the cabinet prepared for the worst.

    When some elements in the army struck at dawn of January 15, 1966 ,some of the ministers felt that their opponents were behind the “attempted coup d’état while the BBC radio network was telling the whole world that there had been an attempted coup and the prime minister  Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa seemed  to have been kidnapped and two regional premiers namely Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto and Chief S.L.Akintola, the Are ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land had been killed and many senior army officers seemed to have been killed. When the news were confirmed, and regional and ethnic dimensions of the killings were analysed, the original cheering for the army putsch petered out in fear of what may happen because Nigeria had never seen anything like this before. The counter coup of July 1966 about half a year later appeared as if the equation was balanced by the number of army officers who were killed. But sadly the situation got out of hands when the pogroms against the Igbo in the North began and the whole country became destabilised setting the stage for the three year civil war after the mediation by Ghanaian military leaders failed and General Gowon on return from the Aburi reconciliation meeting in Ghana, appeared to have been outflanked by those who wanted to militarily sort out the issue.  

    Going to war was a terrible denouement for which Nigeria is yet to recover. Previous opportunities for Nigeria to be more united had been missed in 1954 and 1959 to form a forward looking governments and the July coup of 1966 tragically followed the same trajectory.

  • Identity politics and national development

    Identity politics and national development

    By identity politics, I mean a societal culture whereby the political, social, environmental, and economic dynamics are influenced and/ or determined by racism, tribalism, ethnic jingoism, religious extremism, chauvinism, and other forms of bigotry and parochialism. However, Nigeria and indeed any other Country or society will be better if they are able to overcome parochialism, ethnic jingoism, and other forms of identity politics.

     Global Perspective

    Identity politics has been part and parcel of the political evolution of the entire world. It is part of global sociology. Interestingly, rather than diminishing, identity politics is becoming a more prominent global reality. Certainly, identity politics has always been driving global, national, and subnational politics and socio-economic power dynamics from time immemorial, but more so in the past 60 years. Even though it is being hypocritically downplayed, we witness and experience it everywhere in public and private sectors, including our workplaces and communities. Like other parts of the world, identity politics is part of African culture. The current and historical political dynamics in almost all African countries are the stark reality of the global socio-political situation, which are the indications that national and global geopolitics will continue to be run along the lines of nationalism and protectionism rather than globalization, which in my view are other forms of identity politics.

     Accordingly, globally, we are experiencing a reversal of the achievements made in the past 60 years of trying to break down the barriers of race, religion, ethnicity, prejudice, etc. We are witnessing what is happening in Gaza for the past over 50 years between the Israel and Palestine and the position taken by the global superpowers, especially the western powers, and even the middle-east power blocs, who play the ostrich when it comes to those interests that satisfy their strategic objectives, regardless of how inhumane and how horrible the situation is for the less fortunate countries, states, communities and/ or people. The same scenario is playing out in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, South Sudan, Myanmar, etc. These hypocrisies in conversations and actions are amongst the reasons why I believe that the politics of identity will continue to drive political systems and the emergence of political leaders in societies and nations, including “democratic” societies/Countries.

     Identity politics hinders or destroys societies or national development, fosters polarization, disunity, inequality, and injustice, with the attendant negative consequences.  It narrows the view and progress of any nation or society. Therefore, in my view, in trying to address the issue of identity politics, from a strategic perspective, it is for us to see how we can bring what I call a “balance”, rather than trying to eliminate it or trying to pretend that it is the only problem, or trying to think that some people can actually just stop it. This is because politics of identity is part and parcel of our moral and societal fabric across the world, regardless of race, religion, and regardless of how old or how deep the so-called “democratic tenets” are. The politics of identity remains a key element, leverage or driver of political campaigns and the determinant of electoral victory, or attainment of political power even in the United States of America, United Kingdom, Germany, France, China, etc.

     Consequently, if it is something we cannot do away with, then why shouldn’t we have a system that will manage the process for all of us? Even within the boundaries of countries of the superpowers or the top economies of the world, the politics of identity is what is driving those countries, whether they are at war or they are at peace. From the United States of America to the United Kingdom to Europe to the Middle East to the Far East, Africa, or anywhere else. The re-emergence and growing popularity of the right-wing political parties and power blocks sweeping elections across Europe is key evidence of the prominence of identity politics in the global scheme. Hence, the politics of identity is a key factor that determines the political direction of the entire world.

     Nigeria and the 2027 Elections

    Identity politics in Nigeria is so strong that it cannot be overshadowed even by the power of incumbency at the subnational, state, or national level. It guides our political awareness, determines our political, social, and economic directions. A classic example is the fact that even though Nigerians are aware of the failures of political leaders at the federal and subnational levels. But because of identity politics, we ignore the mistakes or failures of our political leaders at our own peril. For instance, during the tenure of President Goodluck Jonathan, and the tenure of Late President Muhammadu Buhari, or the incumbent President Bola Tinubu, citizens will mostly to be sentimental and never complain or criticize the President, if he comes from their region, state, tribe or religion, even if they are eating from the dustbin or dying in droves. Conversely, citizens are also reluctant to celebrate or commend the President or Governor, even if he is performing well, if he is not of their region, state, tribe, or religion. It is even worse at the state levels, because in the States; the most of the people that are suffering the most are the people that are defending the state governors, no matter how poorly they perform. That is what is identity politics does to a society.

     The politics of identity is a topic of discussion in any political forum and any democratic process. The only difference is that in the more advanced democracies, it is done more sublimely/ hypocritically than in a country like Nigeria. So, to contextualize this perspective, to the buildup to the 2027 general elections, as we approach the mid-term of President Tinubu, I wonder if should we could easily de-emphasize or wish away identity politics. In fact, in my view identity politics will play a huge role in the 2027 general elections, more than ever before.

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     It is highly likely that in the 2027 general elections, we will witness how identity politics may tip the dynamics even more than population. While population has been driving and determining political directions and electoral victories, whether it is in terms of official census numbers, which some citizens challenge its veracity or in reality where the numbers are actually true; political permutations and manipulations will ensure that identity politics will be a critical success factor for the incumbent or for those that want to upstage the incumbent in Nigeria at Presidential, State government, and even local government levels.

     Most times, for strategic or diplomatic reasons, we outwardly downplay the politics of identity only so as to give a sense of “unity and/ or “fairness” or maybe a sense of “justice. But the identity politics always manifests, especially buildup to and during elections, as it has been from time, only more so as the political evolution of Nigeria is becoming more and more complex rather than simplistic due to the failure of successive administrations to deliver the crucial political reforms and socio-economic development.

     Politicians have also recognized identity politics as a very important tool for electoral success, and political control, not just in Nigeria but in many countries across the world.

     Meanwhile, it is worthy of note that some countries like Singapore, Switzerland, etc., have achieved some level of political balance based on ideals like unity in diversity, properly domesticated political systems and structures, meritocracy, etc. Such achievements were also not without costly sacrifices that have remained indelible scars in their histories and evolution. While political idealism is more in the realm of theory; countries like Singapore and Rwanda has demonstrated that societies and countries can overcome identity politics and succeed. Therefore, it is essential that well-meaning and forward-thinking Nigerians should continue advocating for inclusivity, unity in diversity, proper domestication of political systems and structures that will suit our national peculiarities, meritocracy, etc., as the possible best ways forward.

     Way forward for Nigeria

    Change the Political system with a significant reduction of power from the center

    One of the best ways to dilute or neutralize the politics of identity in Nigeria is to change the political system and structure of the Country. Even though changing the political system and structure may not immediately eliminate identity politics, but it will certainly downplay it in the mid to long term, and will provide some level of balance in restructuring the political system of Nigeria from the current presidential system. This is because identity politics is even more pronounced at the local levels, and that is why thinking that we can wish away identity politics at the national level is only wishful thinking.

  • Political wards as building blocks for national development

    Political wards as building blocks for national development

    • By Vincent O. Akinyosoye

    The Nigerian politico-administrative setup can be harnessed for development planning in the country. There are seven layers of politico-administrative domains with distinct political representatives/caretakers and geographical delineation. At the apex is the nation as a geographical domain with the president as the caretaker. There is the state as a domain under the care of the governor. We also have the senatorial districts with the senator as the representative, and the House of Representatives with the member as the caretaker.

    Then at the state level, we have the House of Assembly member as the representative, followed by the Local Government Council with the chairperson as the caretaker, and finally, the political ward domain with the councillor as the caretaker. This setup is like the organic setup of the human body, which is made up of distinct organs of cells working together to make the human body function as a whole.

    Political wards are the basic foundation on which the country’s governance is based, and like the human body, with different organs, a collection of political wards make up a Local Government Area (LGA). In the same fashion, a collection of LGAs make up a state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Each state has three senatorial districts with the FCT having a single senatorial district. This explains why the upper house of the National Assembly, the Senate, has 109 members. A senatorial district is made up of many LGAs, but fewer than the LGAs in each state. The House of Representatives are delineated based on population so that their numbers vary from five in Bayelsa and Nasarawa states to 24 in Lagos and 44 in Kano states. The House of Representatives has 360 members. Each state House of Assembly has members from each LGA, so that they vary in size of membership, ranging from eight members in Bayelsa State to 44 in Kano State. Each Local Government Council has members from each ward, which vary in number from LGA to LGA. On the whole, there are on average 11 wards per LGA. There are 8,809 wards according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which are used as registration centres for elections in the country. The ward is the political and administrative unit closest to the households where people live and work. Therefore, each one of us belongs to a ward. It is the closest quasi-administrative entity that harbours the household as a family or group of individuals or an individual on its own. The political ward can therefore be harnessed as a building block for national economic development under the bottom-up approach to development.

    Bringing development to wards can enhance the welfare of people, and the level of development at each ward can be used to assess or evaluate governance periodically.

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    The reasoning behind this bottom-up approach is that urbanisation of wards is key to the development of the nation. In terms of political engagement, all mobilisations start in the neighbourhoods of wards where people live and vote. Therefore, it is our origin and our destiny. If wards are liveable and all shades of economic infrastructure (electricity, roads, for example), social infrastructure (portable water, education, health), and institutional (government organs) are fully functional, the nation will be laying the seed of development.

    The creativity of the people in the wards will be unleashed as they blossom to create employment and income, which the government can harness for tax generation. The welfare of the people will be enhanced. Therefore, if we are to make wards the centre of our Sustainable Development Goals agenda, the change being championed by the present administration will be easier to achieve.

    The understanding of the development process in most developing countries, Nigeria inclusive, has always been based on orthodox development theories, which tend to support a strong central or federal government with large-scale expenditures and investments in all areas of human endeavours, from food production to investment in manufacturing, including oil refineries, as well as the provision of all forms of infrastructure. This top-down approach to development may be necessary at the incipient stage of the development process, but as the economy matures, this model has to change. The fundamentals of the economy will need to change, and governance has to be organised from the bottom up to ensure an inclusive development. This is the core message of this treatise on transforming Nigeria’s political wards into the building blocks for sustainable national development.

    A major challenge in the traditional development process is the lack of inclusiveness, that is, how to coordinate people at the household or link political wards with power at the centre. People are now beginning to realise that the government at the top has become too large and too distant to allow for any meaningful participation of all in the development process. This new development process can be organised formally by making the wards agglomeration centres of economic, political, and administrative activities. This way, Nigeria will be managed from the 8,809 wards, which will be connected to a governance web for development. This novel approach to development will also allow the democratic process to grow as the people at this grassroots level (wards) will be able to interact and relate with their political representatives; the councillors, state House of Assembly members, House of Representatives members, up to the senators. This interaction is required because societal problems that constantly confront people manifest at the wards level. It is at this level that insecurity, irregular supply of electricity, absence of motorable roads and potable water, as well as dysfunctional primary schools and health centres are felt the most by the citizens.

    The president and governors pontificate at the top, but the people in the wards pick the garbage. It is leaders at the wards level that should matter to the people the most. Being leaders at the wards, they understand the terrain, the mentality of the people, their idiosyncrasies, problems, and needs. They are the best to articulate issues at the wards to the political class at the higher levels. These wards councillors could network with their colleagues at the local government, state, or federal level, collaborate, and probably form a council of wards leaders as an involuntary national network with local chapters to champion the course of wards.

    Although, wards may be different ecologically and in terms of resource endowments, they resemble one another functionally and infrastructurally. They are the smallest domains of administration and the closest form of administration to the people, but they are traditionally under the weight of a dysfunctional local, state and federal administration. All that is needed is to turn these wards into political and economic nodes to become the focal points for development because they all have similar societal problems to contend with.

    A bold suggestion, washing out of the foregoing exposition that will make the wards the bedrock of socio-economic development is to find a way of managing them in a secular way devoid of any political, ethnic and other interferences. That is, secular in a purely administrative sense and independent of party politics, pious activities, ethno-centric beliefs and traditional institutions. This way, the management of wards will start with the assemblage and management of statistical information that will be regularly and administratively collected. Such information will include both numeric and non-numeric statistics or facts about the ward. This exercise will be formalised by creating in each of the 8,809 wards, a Political Ward Management Desk (PWMD) which will manage an integrated information management system in the office of the councillor in the ward. The system will house information on individuals and all economic, social and institutional activities at the ward level which can be organised cumulatively for national development planning.

    • Akinyosoye is a retired professor of Applied Economics and Data Management and pioneer Statistician-General of the Federation and CEO of National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
  • Architects commit to national development, others

    Architects commit to national development, others

    Nigerian Institute of Architects, Abuja Chapter (NIAABC) has reaffirmed its commitment to national development. This is just as it partnered West African Ceramics Limited (WACL) for its 41st AGM Gala Night.

    The event was a gathering of architects and industry stakeholders, among others. It featured launch of the new Onyx Natural Marbles by WACL.

    NIAABC Chair, Yemi Sola-Adebiyi,  hailed the partnership between the institute and WACL, adding it is not only a strong bond,but one that grows stronger every day.

    Managing Director of WACL, Franklin Jose, noted that the firma’s guiding principle aligns with NIA’s passion for design excellence and progress. He announced creation of a new app, Tiles Visualiser, the first in Nigeria, where architects can select their designs or upload the space and create concept.

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    He noted that for over 30 years, WACL has delivered building solutions, empowered Nigerians through direct and indirect jobs, supported education and craftsmanship to build industry leaders.

    He added the firm has also partnered professionals, architects and construction leaders in driving national progress.

    He said with its CSR, it has given families and children renewed hope for a brighter future, citing the electrification of Baban Tunga community in Niger State.

    More than an evening of entertainmen, the AGM Gala Night became a symbol of appreciation and partnership. From the elegance of the venue to the energy of the guests, from laughter to heartfelt words, the atmosphere was filled with unity and gratitude.

    It was a celebration of partnership, progress, and the enduring bond between the NIAABC and WACL.

  • Experts urge youth to take lead in driving SDGs, national development

    Experts urge youth to take lead in driving SDGs, national development

    Experts have called on Nigerian youth to step up as key players in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and shaping the country’s future, stressing that real change starts at the community level.

    Speaking at a recent Fireside Chat held at the American Corner, Abuja, with the theme “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond,” panelists emphasized that young people must be seen not just as beneficiaries but as active leaders in driving change.

    Suleiman Oshioke Abdulahi, Convener of the event, drew from his experience in youth empowerment, saying, “When young people are empowered, communities are transformed.” 

    He noted that the SDGs address everyday issues such as jobs, education, climate, and social inclusion, underscoring their relevance to Nigeria.

    He further urged participants to look beyond 2030, envisioning the roles young Africans can play in shaping the continent’s future through engagement, collaboration, and partnerships.

    Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Nsikak Okon, Acting Executive Director (N-Power) of NSIPA, described Nigerian youth as “energetic and innovative,” highlighting their demographic strength as 60% of the population. 

    He encouraged them to lead in areas such as knowledge and digital learning, green startups, fintech, climate action, and governance, citing the Not Too Young To Run law as proof of their potential.

    Adebowale Olorunmola, Country Director (Nigeria) of WFD, stressed the need to involve young people early, particularly those aged 18-20, in politics and policy discussions. 

    Pointing to successes in countries like Canada and France, he called for a mindset shift from seeing youth as passive recipients to recognizing them as drivers of development.

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    He also noted the continued exclusion of young people, women, and persons with disabilities from governance despite the Not Too Young To Run law, urging deliberate efforts to create space for them in leadership.

    Ibrahim Faruk, Program Coordinator for Africa Division at Yiaga Africa and a leading advocate for the “Not Too Young To Run” movement, affirmed that “young Nigerians are taking action in many areas toward achieving the SDGs.” 

    He emphasized the need to support legislation promoting gender equality, such as a reserved seat for women in the national assembly, to address the “abysmal” representation of women—directly linked to SDG 5. 

    Faruk also challenged the idea of rapid, large-scale expansion for all initiatives, stating, “Scaring is not always the goal. Not every youth-led action needs to be continental. It’s about strengthening local efforts and building from the ground up.” 

    He stressed the importance of learning from failure, citing the multiple attempts of the “Not Too Young To Run” movement before its eventual success.

    For long-term sustainability, he called for developing a pipeline of younger generations (Gen Z), starting in secondary school, to ensure the continuity of SDG efforts beyond 2030. 

    He also urged stakeholders to “shift the conversation from projects and programs to people,” to better measure individual contributions and impact.

    Sonia Elohor Somuvie, ESG Consultant and Founder of Ecosmart Climate Action Initiative, and a Special Advisor on Environment and Climate, expressed frustration over the slow progress and limited measurable impact of some youth-led initiatives. 

    She shared her experience where over half of the 3,000+ trees she planted were destroyed. 

    She identified systemic challenges, including poor communication from the Ministry of Information, inadequate collaboration among government agencies, and suspicion within local communities toward NGOs. 

    Somuvie underscored the importance of youth being “intentional messengers” to bridge the communication gap between policy and grassroots understanding. 

    She passionately urged youth to “prioritize what is important to us in Nigeria,” encouraging them to “pick up our party cards, participate actively—even if not seeking office—and contribute ideas during meetings.” 

    She concluded with a call for intentional collaboration among youth to sustain progress: “If we collaborate intentionally, we can keep this momentum going.”

    Isaiak Ugwueke, Government Relations and Partnership Lead at EyeCity Africa, focused on youth employment (SDG 8).

    He identified a “systemic gap” between the education and employment sectors, where schools teach outdated information. 

    He proposed bridging this gap through collaboration between employers and educational institutions—such as involving professionals in curriculum development and inviting them into classrooms.

     Ugwueke criticized Nigeria’s “credential-based system,” which prioritizes qualifications over practical skills, leading to job-skill mismatches. 

    He asserted, “The problem with youth unemployment is not just training young people with more skills—it’s fixing the system. Schools and the private sector need to work together to solve this.”

    The Fireside Chat concluded with a strong call to action for youth to foster collaboration, embrace innovation, and hold institutions accountable. 

    Attendees were encouraged to network and continue the vital work of transforming their communities and shaping Africa’s future. 

    The event reinforced the message that youth are not just future leaders but current change-makers—whose active participation is essential for achieving the SDGs and fostering sustainable development beyond 2030.

  • Identity Politics versus National Development

    Identity Politics versus National Development

    Some thought leaders and well-meaning Nigerians are of the opinion that identity politics is the bane of our polity and development, and I agree. By identity politics, I mean a societal culture whereby the political, social, environmental, and economic dynamics are influenced and/ or determined by racism, tribalism, ethnic jingoism, religious extremism, chauvinism, and other forms of bigotry and parochialism. However, Nigeria and indeed any other Country or society will be better if they are able to overcome parochialism, ethnic jingoism, and other forms of identity politics.

     Global Perspective

    Identity politics has been part and parcel of the political evolution of the entire world. It is part of global sociology. Interestingly, rather than diminishing, identity politics is becoming a more prominent global reality. Certainly, identity politics has always been driving global, national, and subnational politics and socio-economic power dynamics from time immemorial, but more so in the past 60 years. Even though it is being hypocritically downplayed, we witness and experience it everywhere in public and private sectors, including our workplaces and communities. Like other parts of the world, identity politics is part of African culture. The current and historical political dynamics in almost all African countries are the stark reality of the global socio-political situation, which are the indications that national and global geopolitics will continue to be run along the lines of nationalism and protectionism rather than globalization, which in my view are other forms of identity politics.

     Accordingly, globally, we are seeing a reversal of the achievements made in the past 60 years of trying to break down the barriers of race, religion, ethnicity, prejudice, etc. We are witnessing what is happening in Gaza for the past over 50 years between the Israel and Palestine and the position taken by the global superpowers, especially the western powers, and even the middle-east power blocs, who play the ostrich when it comes to those interests that satisfy their strategic objectives, regardless of how inhumane and how horrible the situation is for the less fortunate countries, states, communities and/ or people. The same scenario is playing out in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, South Sudan, Myanmar, etc. These hypocrisies in conversations and actions are amongst the reasons why I believe that the politics of identity will continue to drive political systems and the emergence of political leaders in societies and nations, including “democratic” societies/Countries.

     Identity politics hinders or destroys societies or national development, fosters polarization, disunity, inequality, and injustice, with the attendant negative consequences.  It narrows the view and progress of any nation or society. Therefore, in my view, in trying to address the issue of identity politics, from a strategic perspective, it is for us to see how we can bring what I call a “balance”, rather than trying to eliminate it or trying to pretend that it is the only problem, or trying to think that some people can actually just stop it. This is because politics of identity is part and parcel of our moral and societal fabric across the world, regardless of race, religion, and regardless of how old or how deep the so-called “democratic tenets” are. The politics of identity remains a key element, leverage or driver of political campaigns and the determinant of electoral victory, or attainment of political power even in the United States of America, United Kingdom, Germany, France, China, etc.

     Consequently, if it is something we cannot do away with, then why shouldn’t we have a system that will manage the process for all of us? Even within the boundaries of countries of the superpowers or the top economies of the world, the politics of identity is what is driving those countries, whether they are at war or they are at peace. From the United States of America to the United Kingdom to Europe to the Middle East to the Far East, Africa, or anywhere else. The re-emergence and growing popularity of the right-wing political parties and power blocks sweeping elections across Europe is key evidence of the prominence of identity politics in the global scheme. Hence, the politics of identity is a key factor that determines the political direction of the entire world. Additionally, the return of President Donald Trump as the President of the United States of America (Trump 2.0) will further clear the doubts of those who think that identity politics is growing in prominence.

     Nigeria and the 2027 Elections

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    Identity politics in Nigeria is so strong that it cannot be overshadowed even by the power of incumbency at the subnational, state, or national level. It guides our political awareness, determines our political, social, and economic directions. A classic example is the fact that even though Nigerians are aware of the failures of political leaders at the federal and subnational levels. But because of identity politics, we ignore the mistakes or failures of our political leaders at our own peril. For instance, during the tenure of President Goodluck Jonathan, and the tenure President Muhammadu Buhari, or the incumbent President Bola Tinubu, citizens will mostly to be sentimental and never complain or criticize the President, if he comes from their region, state, tribe or religion, even if they are eating from the dustbin or dying in droves. Conversely, citizens are also reluctant to celebrate or commend the President or Governor, even if he is performing well, if he is not of their region, state, tribe, or religion. It is even worse at the state levels, because in the States; the most of the people that are suffering the most are the people that are defending the state governors, no matter how poorly they perform. That is what is identity politics does to a society.

     The politics of identity is a topic of discussion in any political forum and any democratic process. The only difference is that in the more advanced democracies, it is done more sublimely/ hypocritically than in a country like Nigeria. So, to contextualize this perspective, to the buildup to the 2027 general elections, as we approach the mid-term of President Tinubu, I wonder if should we could easily de-emphasize or wish away identity politics. In fact, in my view identity politics will play a huge role in the 2027 general elections, more than ever before.

     It is highly likely that in the 2027 general elections, we will witness how identity politics may tip the dynamics even more than population. While population has been driving and determining political directions and electoral victories, whether it is in terms of official census numbers, which some citizens challenge its veracity or in reality where the numbers are actually true; political permutations and manipulations will ensure that identity politics will be a critical success factor for the incumbent or for those that want to upstage the incumbent in Nigeria at Presidential, State government, and even local government levels.

     Most times, for strategic or diplomatic reasons, we outwardly downplay the politics of identity only so as to give a sense of “unity and/ or “fairness” or maybe a sense of “justice. But the identity politics always manifests, especially buildup to and during elections, as it has been from time, only more so as the political evolution of Nigeria is becoming more and more complex rather than simplistic due to the failure of successive administrations to deliver the crucial political reforms and socio-economic development.

     Moreover, the politicians have recognized identity politics as a very important tool for electoral success, and political control, not just in Nigeria but in many countries across the world.

     Meanwhile, it is worthy of note that some countries like Singapore, Switzerland, etc., have achieved some level of political balance based on ideals like unity in diversity, properly domesticated political systems and structures, meritocracy, etc. Such achievements were also not without costly sacrifices that have remained indelible scars in their histories and evolution. While political idealism is more in the realm of theory; countries like Singapore and Rwanda has demonstrated that societies and countries can overcome identity politics and succeed. Therefore, it is essential that well-meaning and forward-thinking Nigerians should continue advocating for inclusivity, unity in diversity, proper domestication of political systems and structures that will suit our national peculiarities, meritocracy, etc., as the possible best ways forward.

     Way forward for Nigeria

    Change the Political system with a significant reduction of power from the center

    One of the best ways to dilute or neutralize the politics of identity in Nigeria is to change the political system and structure of the Country. Even though changing the political system and structure may not immediately eliminate identity politics, but it will certainly downplay it in the mid to long term, and will provide some level of balance in restructuring the political system of Nigeria from the current presidential system. This is because identity politics is even more pronounced at the local levels, and that is why thinking that we can wish away identity politics at the national level is only wishful thinking.

     In subsequent episodes of this Column, I will continue to espouse more with my views about identity politics, especially with regards to the 2027 general elections in Nigeria and some of the best ways to significantly downplay identity politics in Nigeria.

  • FG tasks procurement professionals to drive national development

    FG tasks procurement professionals to drive national development

    The Federal Government has called on procurement professionals to play a pivotal role in addressing Nigeria’s national challenges, particularly in the areas of procurement and logistics.

    Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), made this appeal at a seminar organised by the Nigeria Branch of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS). The seminar aimed to identify challenges and propose solutions to enhance Nigeria’s position as a global logistics hub.

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    Adedokun urged procurement professionals to contribute to the development of a comprehensive National Procurement Strategy for Nigeria. Additionally, he encouraged them to provide insights on improving the country’s logistics framework and developing effective supplier/vendor management strategies.

  • Leveraging cooperatives for national development

    Leveraging cooperatives for national development

    By Nurudeen Aderinto

    In November 2023, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), declared 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives, marking a significant recognition of the vital role cooperatives play in social and economic development. The resolution urged member states to provide necessary support to cooperatives in their respective domains in order to ensure that cooperative enterprises are more successful in their objectives.

    This decision follows the success of the first International Year of Cooperatives in 2012, which helped raise global awareness about the importance of cooperatives in promoting sustainable development.

    The objectives of the International Year of Cooperatives include promotion of cooperatives’ contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), support for legislative environment and global awareness on collaboration, amongst others.

    The International Cooperative Alliance has posited that cooperative members represent 12% of humanity and the three million cooperative enterprises on earth act together to build a better world. According to the World Cooperative Monitor (WCM) in its 2023 report, the top 300 cooperative enterprises had a turnover of USD2.409 trillion in the year 2021. None of these top 300 cooperatives is in Nigeria; the only one in Africa is in Kenya. This speaks volumes to Nigeria’s acclaimed status as the Giant of Africa and the need for us to do things differently in order to tap into the humongous potentials of cooperatives in various aspects of our national life.

    Can we, as a people, leverage democratic economy, as it is done in the United Kingdom that made an income of £87.9billion from that economy in 2023 from 9,113 Independent Businesses, 411,634 people working in the economy and over 74 million members? Or in the Republic of Korea where Nonghyup (National Agricultural Cooperative Federation – NACF) had a turnover of $61.17 billion in 2021?

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    Why we need to go this route is that the significance of cooperative enterprises (aka democratic economy) has been established for economic empowerment through poverty alleviation, job creation, access to capital; social development through community development, education and training, equality and inclusion; agricultural advancement through improved agricultural practices, market access; governance and sustainability through democratic governance, sustainability; infrastructure development through rural development, energy and utility; policy and advocacy through policy influence and capacity building.

    Thus, the Cooperative Movement can play crucial roles in Nigeria’s development by empowering individuals economically, fostering social inclusion, advancing agriculture, ensuring good governance, developing infrastructure, and influencing policy. This collective approach to addressing common needs and goals can significantly contribute to the nation’s sustainable development and socio-economic progress.

    Recognizing the importance of the Cooperative Movement to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Renewed Hope administration is, therefore, urged to take advantage of the UNGA resolution declaring the year 2025 as the International Year of Cooperative to use the various apparatus of the state to support far-reaching sustainable reforms of Cooperative Movement in Nigeria. This could include, but not limited to, overarching legislative framework for effective and sustainable regulation of the cooperative enterprises in Nigeria; appropriate positioning of various executive departments/agencies charged with the development of the Cooperative Movement in Nigeria; robustly reliable identity management system and analytics for the cooperative enterprises and the co-operators; development of a fit-for-purpose, home-grown, National Cooperative Development Fund (NCDF) that will enhance access to capital for the co-operators; sustainable inclusion of the underserved communities, such as differently-abled people, women and young people into the Cooperative Movement for economic and social development.

    These communities of people should be encouraged to leverage Cooperative Movement to build self-help groups with the philosophy of “One for All” and “All for One”. The philosophy of “One for All and All for One” is a timeless principle that advocates for unity, mutual support, and shared responsibility. This emphasizes the importance of working together and looking out for one another, creating a foundation for strong and resilient communities. This will further entrench inclusive communities where peace and harmony prevail. There is no gainsaying the fact that many of our compatriots are going through trying times at the moment. The philosophy of “One for All” and “One for All”, if properly leveraged, will provide the required succour to our people. So, the philosophy is advised to be sustainably leveraged by keying into the program of the International Year of Cooperative.

    As the UN launches a-year-long International Year of Cooperatives under the theme “Cooperatives Build A Better World” at the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) Conference in New Delhi on November 25, the Renewed Hope administration is respectfully urged to activate various responsible organs of the administration to key into this initiative and comply with UNGA resolution on the declaration of the year 2025 as the International Year of Cooperative.

    The Federal Ministry of Youth Development has a huge role to play in this in organizing the young people into sustainably picking interest in leveraging the Cooperative Movement for their development as well as the growth of their communities. There is a need to organize various targeted programs that will address the various interest groups of the young people.

    There is also a need to put the necessary legislative machinery in motion to provide the necessary legislative support for the Cooperative Movement in Nigeria. One of these is the possibility of upgrading the Federal Department of Cooperatives (FDC) into a stand-alone commission, or at least, reassigning it, so that it will come under the supervision of the federal ministry in charge of industries, trade and investment.

    Reassigning the FDC to the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment would be a strategic decision that aligns with Nigeria’s economic development goals. It will provide the opportunity to leverage the full potential of cooperatives across all sectors, enhance access to markets and investments, and provide the necessary support for sustainable growth. This move will drive economic diversification, job creation, and overall national prosperity, ensuring that cooperatives contribute more effectively to Nigeria’s economic transformation in the Renewed Hope Agenda of this administration.

    This strategic move should be made during the UNGA-declared International Year of Cooperative in 2025. Doing this will make Nigeria join the league of nations on this best practice because, globally, many countries have recognized the benefits of aligning cooperative development with industry, trade, and investment ministries. Examples of these countries include Canada, Germany, India,  Kenya, South Africa, United Kingdom, just to name a few. In these countries, cooperative development is often supported by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, particularly through initiatives aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the broader industrial sector.

    Earlier, UNGA had adopted resolution 76/135 on “Cooperatives in Social Development” through which the Assembly drew the attention of governments to “the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General to focus support on cooperatives as sustainable and successful business enterprises that contribute directly to decent employment generation, poverty and hunger eradication, education, social protection, including universal health coverage, financial inclusion and the creation of affordable housing options across a variety of economic sectors in urban and rural areas and to review existing legislation and regulations to make the national legal and regulatory environment more conducive to the creation and growth of cooperatives by improving existing laws and regulations and/or by establishing new ones, especially in the areas of access to capital, autonomy, competitiveness and fair taxation.”

    It further invites “Governments, in collaboration with the cooperative movement, to develop programmes aimed at enhancing the capacity-building of cooperatives, including by strengthening the organizational, management and financial skills of their members, while respecting the principles of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, and to introduce and support programmes to improve the access of cooperatives to new technologies.”

    Let us leverage the Cooperative Movement to build a better world.

    •Aderinto a social technologist writes from Abuja.

  • Sustainable procurement key to national development, says don

    Sustainable procurement key to national development, says don

    A lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, Dr. Biobele Arimie, has canvassed sustainable procurement saying it is key to national development. 

    Arimie spoke in Port Harcourt, while presenting a lecture at the 2024 conference of the Rivers State chapter of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (CIPSMN).

    The scholar, who spoke on the topic, Green Logistics Management, Climate Change and National Development, said that while there were challenges and barriers to the adoption of sustainable procurement, the benefits made it a worthwhile pursuit.

    He said: “Sustainable procurement has the potential to contribute significantly to national development in Nigeria if properly planned and integrated. While there are challenges and barriers to it’s adoption, sustainable procurement makes it a worthwhile pursuit. 

    “The alignment of procurement strategies with sustainable development goals (SDGs), also facilitates the achievement of broader environmental, social and governance objectives, which, fundamentally drives goals, sustainable consumption and production and business/corporate, social responsibility, which collectively adds to sustainable national development.”

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    In his paper, a Senior Lecturer in the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Prof. Gladson Nwokah, said national development encompassed economic, social, environmental and governance dimensions to improve the well-being of a country’s population.

     CIPSMN National President, Alhaji Sikiru Balogun, commended the Rivers State chapter of the institute for taking the bold step to come up with the conference.

    CIPSMN Chairperson in the state, Mrs. Alaba Karibi-Botoye, expressed the hope that the conference would assist members of the institute and practitioners in carrying out their duties.