The Nation Newspaper

Tag: quest

  • NYSC and the quest for food security

    Youth obey the clarion call.  Let us lift our nation high. Under the sun or in the rain. With dedication and selflessness, Nigeria is ours, Nigeria we serve”. The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, anthem is still fresh in my memory, 20 years after completing my service to the nation. It is an anthem which every graduate is spiritually and physically committed to in the process of service to the nation.

    The NYSC scheme, a once in a lifetime experience which every young graduate yearns for, was established on May 22, 1973 by Decree 24  to promote unity and develop ethnic ties among youth in their various states of the federation.  The thrills, frills and funfair usually associated with the programme, most especially the orientation part of it, make it enjoyable and inspiring for participating graduates from all parts of the country.

    There have been divergent interests for the scheme among young graduates. While some see it as avenue to explore other people’s culture and tradition outside theirs, others see it as opportunity to recreate, catch fun and make some savings for future use. In fact the desperation of some young graduates concerning NYSC makes one wonders what is actually in it for them. There have been instances where some generate fake call-up letters while some others falsify their age just to be enlisted for the scheme.

    However, away from the glorious and storied past of the scheme, presently the programme is searching for relevance. It has actually deviated from the original purpose and intention it was meant to serve. It is now almost of little or no relevance to the economic aspirations of the country. Of late, the interests of corps members are not adequately protected, as it was in the past. Many public/private businesses enterprises that used to patronize the services of corps members have either closed business or downsized due to insecurity and general state of the nation’s economy.

    Whether the large turnout of fresh graduates are overwhelming or not, facilities for orientation are sometimes inadequate for the population this scheme caters for each year. Political and religious insecurity have equally exposed many corps members to needless death. There have been instances where some states had to send rescue team to bring back their indigenes during political or religious crisis. To this end, many parents have resisted posting of their wards to states on red alert.

    To say the scheme needs an overhaul or speedy review is like citing the obvious. Like most of our national projects, the scheme is fast declining in value and usefulness. It is no longer shocking that the scheme is broke with fund barely sufficient to cater for the young graduates presented for national service. Food/structural facilities, essential for the up keep of corps members are grossly deficient in some orientation camps.

    Against the glorious past of secured primary places of assignment, corps members now struggle with the problem of rejection. In desperate attempt to secure the few available ‘juicy’ placements, many now use personal influence such as letters from well connected ‘powerful’ individuals to secure favourable postings. It is, of course, sad to note that corps members that are to reconstruct and rebuild the nation’s economy are idle with unutilized potentials.

    Massive influence of posting to highly density places like Lagos, Ibadan, Port Harcourt and Abuja puts pressure on already saturated associated environment with accommodation problem of corps members, to the detriment of the scheme. So bad is the situation now that some people are calling for outright scrapping of the scheme, arguing that it has outlived its purpose and outgrown its usefulness. Must we then throw away the baby with the bathe water?

    With 923,768km land mass and over 80% of arable land, with less than 40% of its cultivation, tropical climate, lots of rainfall and aquatic splendour, nothing stops Nigeria from being the food basket of entire Africa, if serious attention is given to agriculture. In the years of regional government, Nigeria did not only feed herself from her rich and vast agricultural  interests, but also generated employment as well as earned enough foreign exchange for development of each region. Then, revenue from agriculture produce helped the federating units to develop in their own pace without depending on the centre for any bail out.

    The discovery of oil, however, has turned things upside down for us as the federating units now wholly depend on the centre for bail outs and handouts. Unsurprisingly, young graduates have equally developed job-seeking mentality. The youth that are supposed to drive agriculture with technology and renewed vigour would rather prefer to go job hunting for years, even when it is obvious that the jobs aren’t just there.

    United Nation statistics estimates Nigeria’s population for 2015 to be 178,841,235 with growth rate of 1.94%, making the population182, 307,178 by 2016, all things being equal. Yet, the population, especially of youth, did not reflect on the nation’s agricultural production. We import $4billion worth of rice annually to supplement domestic shortfall, despite the suitability of our land for local rice production. Nigeria tops the list of importing nations, growing other nations’ economy to the detriment of hers. With an annual bill of N1.3trillion, you may wonder where the money spent on importation of food comes from, in view of agricultural potentials of the nation.  Of course, proceeds from crude oil are used to settle the bill.

    Now that the price crude oil price has dropped in the international market coupled with the instability at the Niger Delta, there is dire need to look inward and diversify our economy. The time is the time to move away from a mono-economy. It is high time the government of Nigeria looked at the strength the nation has in her pool of labour, most especially in the manpower being released every year into the National Youth Service Corps programme.

    Each state of the federation has comparative advantage in specific areas of agriculture. The capacity of the various states to boost food production can be enhanced by the NYSC scheme with adequate structure and remuneration for corps members. The power, vigour, dynamism and adventurism of youth, the strength of the youth could be directed towards boosting the agriculture sector to address the twain issues of food security and unemployment.

    The clarion call today is for our nation to rekindle youth’s interest in agriculture. It is a call geared towards making the NYSC scheme become very relevant by transforming into a scheme that enhances food security in the country, thus supporting the growth of the national economy. It is a worthy call.

     

    • Odumade is of the Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

  • Nigerian youth and quest for change

    SIR: In Nigeria, there has been a change of government, but I submit quite sadly that there seems to be no change in the approach of government to youth affairs and welfare.   I have been in critical look out for the youth agenda of this government.  My constant watch has for the time being failed me yet I choose to live in the belief that the government means and would act well as it concerns the youth.  I submit that to give bite to the policy and governance bark of the current government, young Nigerians who have leveraged on current advances in Information, Communication Technology and education must be engaged to bring modern inputs to country’s advances. The old breed plus the young breed would ensure we don’t breed greed. Nigeria needs to make bold, decisive and critical steps geared towards handing the reins of leadership to the young and informed.  The solution to our years of long plagues lay in the hands of the energetic, revered, committed, consistent and creative class.

    There appears to be a promotion of entertainment and raw fun over intellectualism and innovation.  It is no longer fascinating to be brilliant and hard work is serially unrewarded. The federal and state governments are called upon to reverse this trend by rewarding hardworking, educated young Nigerians with job placements, funds, grants, and offer loud, attractive benefits to the youths who contribute to the change agenda and overall development of the country.

    The multinationals, telecom operators and country-based companies can do an instructive bit by making brilliant, innovative and exemplary young Nigerians their Brand Ambassadors thereby ensuring the creation of a new national order which would see to the setting of our country’s priorities in a right and sustainable way.

    The moment the youths as a collective observe, note, see and know that national premium is being placed on merit,   I posit that their focus would be geared towards positive directions and this would ensure a corresponding reduction in crime rates and other societal vices.

    Nigeria is blessed and can have young professors, young leaders and bright influencers pilot its affairs.   I send words to the Minister of Youths Development to ensure reform goes beyond the NYSC scheme by setting up engaging platforms for youth discussions and insightful programmes which would gain youthful attention.

    A sterling flag of commendation is raised in honour of the Nigerian youth who despite the near and total lack of institutional support have excelled in the academia and entertainment industry.  They have attained levels of excellence suo moto and this leaves other young Africans green with envy.

     

    I believe that the change agenda can leave the current form of verbal productions and become our reality. Nigeria is for all of us but it is the youths and those to come after them to inherit and grow the country.  Let’s get them involved.

     

    • Nwokolo Geoffrey Netochukwu,

    University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

  • ‘Why FBNQuest was unveiled’

    The Managing Director, FBN Capital, Kayode Akinkugbe, has said the introduction of FBNQuest, the new brand identity of FBN Holdings Plc, is to enable the group convey a more unified company vision to customers and build lasting relationships.

    At the 2015 annual FBN Quest Investor Conference, in Lagos, he said the FBNQuest include FBN Merchant Bank Limited, FBN Capital Limited, FBN Securities Limited, FBN Capital Asset Management Limited, FBN Trustees Limited, FBN Funds Limited and FBN Capital Partners Limited. They will now operate under one brand identity.

    “The new brand identity does not alter the existing ownership and governance structures of all the companies within the group. FBNQuest, allows us to offer our broad range of services to our clients in a simplified way. It also conveys a more unified company ethos and vision that seeks to create value-driven connections with clients and build lasting relationships,” Akinkugbe said.

    He said the conference, with  Re-inventing the Nigerian Economy: Beyond the Rhetoric as its theme, was quite topical at this time, particularly with the wind of change sweeping across the country.

    “We want to explore what initiatives and policies are necessary to unlock the inherent potential in the Nigerian market. We want to do more with less and boost revenue whilst instilling fiscal discipline; where we have examples of successful reforms; and how we unlock private sector funding sources,” he said.

  • Four emerge best in Knorr Taste Quest Season 3

    Four emerge best in Knorr Taste Quest Season 3

    • One evicted

    The quest to become a Master Chef took a new turn last week as the assessment of contestants in the Knorr Taste Quest was based on their culinary prowess, organisation of their works, tidiness as well as their presentation.

    With the aim of deepening market penetration and create observatory consumer experience of the Knorr cude, the contestants in that episode were tasked with preparing a three-course meal within one hour with compulsory ingredients: Lasagna sheets, Kidney and Lettuce for the Starter; Tomatoes, Plantain, Potatoes and Eggs for the Main Course while Couscous, Blueband Margarine and Knorr Chicken were essential for the Dessert.

    After the contestants were done, the judges were surprised at the outcome of the task: Balogun and Dapo who were on probation last week, impressed the judges with delicious dishes which triggered comments.

    The guest judge, Ozoz Sokoh, who is a food blogger, expressed satisfaction with what she experienced while tasting Dapo’s dishes.

    Following the judges’verdicts, Victor, Tunji, Dapo and Balogun emerged the best four while Aina, Hauwa and Davies were at the bottom three. Davies’ dishes was said to be over seasoned, while that of Hauwa and Aina didn’t meet the judge’s expectation.

    In a competition monitored by The Nation, Dapo emerged the winner of this week and was rewarded with N20,000 while Aina bid the show farewell as she was evicted.

    “As we approach the grand finale with six contestants standing, watch out for more thrills to discover who will wear the crown in Knorr Taste Quest Season 3 and earn the bragging right as Nigeria’s culinary best. The winner will be going home with a whooping N5million prize; kitchen equipment and loads of Knorr bouillon cubes. Also, prizes of N1million and N500, 000 will be given to the first and second runner,” the organisers said in a statement.

    “The show is proudly supported by TOTAL GAZ, reputed for affordable and safe-cooking gas as well as Shoprite, Nigeria’s leading one stop shop for food and household items at the lowest possible prices,” the statement added.

  • Final 14 emerge in Knorr Taste quest

    The final 14 “Masters”, who will compete to be the champion of the Knorr Taste Quest season 3 TV cooking show, have emerged.

    Last week, 22 contestants were tested on their knife skills. The task was to gut, fillet and dress a fish replicating this Season’s Key Visual, using ingredients such as cucumber, carrots, tomatoes and onions.

    At the end of the keenly-contested episode, the best 14 were selected.

    In the episode, the contestants were taught by the judges, Dr. Robert and Chef Fregz, how to sharpen knives, fillet fish, slice and dice ingredients, make muffins and flip eggs while frying. They also stressed the need for a good chef to pay attention to taste, smell and feel of their dishes. This was to prepare the contestants for greater tasks which they will be assigned to as the competition progresses.

    Davies, Lindsay and Yemisi were asked to fillet fish while Jeremy was tasked to slice onions, cucumber, tomatoes and carrots, using the appropriate knives for each ingredient as Chef Fregz had demonstrated. Dr. Roberts also put Aina and Yemisi to the test of baking banana muffins without having a measured recipe; a skill which professional cooks must possess. At the end of the tasks, all “students” were scored high by their tutors – the Judges.

    The final task for the day was to fry meat and Dr. Robert recommended cuts of “fillet mignon” be dipped into the frying pan without boiling as this will make it fluffy, juicy and tastier. It was apparent that   Hauwa, Chirinma and Lindsay delivered a scrumptious snack as other contestants who tasted it kept asking for more.

    Having excelled in all tasks for the day, the contestants were formally “admitted” into the master class.

    Knorr Taste Quest provides a unique platform where contestants showcase their culinary skills, as well as acquire new skills.

    The event will be viewed in many television stations.

     

  • Quest for renewable energy

    SIR: The world marches towards December United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP21) Paris Climate Summit to know what effort governments are taking on how to cut emissions for the post 2020 period. Ahead of the conference this year, Nigeria inaugurated a nine-man inter-ministerial committee to prepare the framework for its active participation. Nigeria’s commitment should go beyond attending alone but also ensure national implementation of the climate change policies with reference to its obligation under the climate change convention and also the development of national policy on climate change.

    Some countries have promised to cut their emission. EU for instance promised to cut theirs by 40% by 2030 and Switzerland has promised 50%. For now, Nigeria has not made any declaration on percentage reduction on its climate emission but awareness on the need to shift from fossil fuel to renewable energy is on to save lives and the nation’s economy. Nigeria cannot ignore the need to reduce harmful effects of climate change and the call for an end to human activities that contribute to it. Shifting from fossil fuel to renewable energy will directly contribute to poverty alleviation by providing the energy needed for businesses and employment. Renewable energy technologies can also make indirect contributions to alleviating poverty by providing energy for cooking, space heating, lighting and contributing to education by providing electricity to schools.

    Nigeria must begin to institutionalise its development of energy efficiency and renewable energy with appropriate goals and objectives to increase the use of renewable energy resources in areas where grid extension is too costly and where opportunities for the use of renewables is needed. Nigerian government does not need subsidies for fossil fuels as it impedes the pace of the transition to renewable energy use. Likewise, market transformation mechanisms similar to that adopted in the developed countries which will encourage more rapid development of its energy efficiency and renewable energy potential should be explored.

    Active participation of Nigeria in the global climate change deliberation to negotiate a better deal for Nigeria and Africa is therefore necessary. The suggestion that oil-producing countries should be compensated for their projected income losses in the event of their energy diversification should be vigorously argued and canvassed. Nigeria can only be sure that its interest is protected in the emergent global reduction strategy if it increases its level of participation in climate awareness.

    It is imperative that full attention be paid to ways through which the Nigerian economy can be diversified and steered away from fossil fuels both in terms of production and consumption. No oil spills, no climate change, no radiation danger, no nuclear waste – renewable energy is simply the energy we can trust. We can achieve a Nigeria with 100 per cent renewable energy.

    • Bakare Wale,

    Ilorin, Kwara State

  • Quest to replace oil as revenue source

    SIR: In the new drive, prompted by global dynamics, to replace oil as the major source of revenue in Nigeria, we must be careful to not throw away the baby with the bathwater. This danger is more glaring at the States and Local Government Area levels; where the governments have taken to increasing their Internally Generated Revenues (IGRs) by “any and all means possible” to the detriment of those they govern. This drive for increased IGR could be described as the unintended consequence of the global slump in oil price. How did we get here, and why were we caught so unprepared for such slump in oil price? Does it mean that we had no forecasting economic models that predict trend in oil price?

    Oil, a hydrocarbon fuel, that has driven economies and fueled wars in the past, has been a blessing to Nigeria, but our leaders have been so busy basking in the glut of oil wealth that they perpetually relegated to the background futuristic modeling that ought to have guided our preparation for today’s realities of declining oil prices. The closest we came, and as economically rudimentary as it is, was to come up with “The Excess Crude Account (ECA)”.  I call the ECA idea rudimentary because all it does, in principle, is to warehouse money which are intermittently withdrawn from and shared among the tiers of government in Nigeria. There are no long term uses of the ECA money despite the knowledge that “warehoused money” attracts attention of those in charge; fueling imprudent spending and white elephant projects.

    At the States and Local Government levels, the seeming fashionable outcome of the head-scratching and finger-wringing is multiple “Revenue Task Forces” that descend on hapless citizens extorting all kinds of levies. There are Revenue Collectors for “Business Permits; Tenement Rate; Business Premises, Sanitation, Environmental and Infrastructure Levies, etc”.  Often, these collectors collude with the police, engage unemployed youths and mount illegal roadblocks to collect the variety of taxes. Some make repeat visits to the same business premises wearing different uniforms to collect a different tax than the last one collected from that establishment.

    Usually, they are unkempt, rude, aggressive and intimidating. If they are not paid promptly, they would confiscate televisions, computers, furniture or any movable properties that they could find. The dangers of maiming and loss of lives are ever clear and present on every occasion when these Gestapo armies descend on business premises as fights often ensue with instances of injuries involving loss of blood, and in one case, induced labor in a pregnant woman. There is no gainsaying that this has become profitable gigs for criminal elements of all kinds. This craze is stifling sustenance businesses across Nigeria.

    My take is that legitimate taxes must be paid by all that ought to pay them. And all efforts must be made, within the ambits of the law, to collect taxes that are due from whomever to lubricate the wheels of governance. However, governments are better off thinking of tangible ways to expand business opportunities in their locales than depending on sweating and taxing barely surviving citizens to death. Insisting on forcefully extorting N500 or N1,000 from Recharge Card Sellers and neighborhood Provision Stores is not appreciable or sustainable ways to earn IGR for any government.

    Most regions in Nigeria are endowed with untapped mineral resources. There are so many possible small to medium scale agricultural, manufacturing and assembly plant opportunities in different locales; there are numerous natural wonders in this beautiful country of ours that provide ample opportunities for culture and tourism that could make so many states and local government areas holiday and fun destinations for local and international tourists.

    Secure environments and friendly government policies attract businesses to places where their bottom lines would be improved. In the process, they reduce unemployment, generate needed IGR and make our governments less dependent on oil as its use becomes less attractive. What is needed, in our quest for Change in Nigeria are different thinking and the right hands at the tills of governments.

     

    • Chibuzor O. Obiakor

    Ogidi, Idemili North,

    Anambra State.

  • Saraki’s quest for Senate top job

    The victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the 2015 polls has necessitated many permutations on the shape of government that will come into being as from May 29. One of the issues is what kind of therapy would the Buhari government be putting forward to address some of our pressing national problems. Gradually, the attention of Nigerians is shifting to the National Assembly which its current leaders will vacate their seats at the end of the Seventh Assembly in June. Given the majority status that the APC has now acquired in the two chambers of the National Assembly, the expectation and following the tradition, the party will produce both the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate President.

    Meanwhile, going by the mood of the nation, the issue of who becomes the next Senate President in June has generated concern and all kinds of calculations have appeared in the political circles and the media. Although the final shape of what would happen have not emerged, two names, among others, have featured prominently on the list of those aspiring to succeed David Mark from the North Central Zone. This piece is however concerned with the candidacy of Senator Bukola Saraki. While I agree that all ranking senators from the preferred geo-political zone are entitled to the seat, the thrust of this piece is on Saraki, a foremost candidate from the North Central Zone.

    He is a political giant in Kwara state where he has, in two elections and in spite of stiff opposition, led his political parties to victory in 2011 and 2015 and thus establishing himself as a strong political force in the state. I must confess that when he joined other PDP stalwarts to walk out of the PDP Convention in 2013 and later defected to APC, I was one of those who had expressed some reservations on how he could emerge from the crisis without losing some political mileage. But as events have shown, he did his calculations well before taking the political risk. The end of the two rounds of elections this year  has firmly established his total control over the politics of Kwara State as all the posts/seats contested for were won by the candidates of APC. What this means is that he has a solid home base and his position as a leader of APC cannot be contested. This naturally should qualify him for the post of Senate President.

    Shortly before the presidential election his sister, Gbemi Saraki, is already giving a good backing to her brother in consolidating the hold of Bukola Saraki on the politics of Kwara state. This represents a significant political statement and stronger support base for Dr. Bukola Saraki given Gbemi’s considerable influence in the Senate where she had served as a two-term Senator.

    Any one familiar with Yar’Adua presidency would recall the immense role the then Governor Saraki had played in stabilizing the regime. As a loyal friend of the late President and at a time when many had deserted the late President on account of his ill-health, he made some visits to Saudi Arabia and remained a friend to the President until he breathed his last. The import of this is that the President-elect as well as Asiwaju Bola Tinubu can rely on Senator Saraki to play even a greater role in stabilizing the in-coming Buhari government.

    The now famous Doctrine of Necessity that brought the second Acting President to power in the country in February 2010 was greatly facilitated by the Nigerian Governors Forum that was headed by the then Governor Bukola Saraki. The kind of crisis that later gripped the forum may not have happened if Saraki were still to be in the saddle based on his track record of always being lucky at resolving political conflicts. This trait still endears him to his peers, former governors who have memorable occasions to share on his ability to fix problems.

    One recalls that a coup of sort was hatched by some members of the Forum in 2010 apparently to humiliate Governor Saraki out of office on account of his presidential ambition. Surprisingly, both Adams Oshiomhole  and  Raji Fashola of the defunct ACN  resisted and spoke against the unorthodox way of changing the chairman of the forum  by rendering  the efforts of Governors Gabriel Suswan and Gbenga Daniel, the purported beneficiary of the conspiratorial effort, a nullity. He survived the premeditated attacks and retained his chair of the Governors Forum. Such a man that is adept at boardroom politics is needed at this point in time to build bridges across party lines for the smooth take-off of the Buhari government. He can be relied upon to work through complex political situations to arrive at a seamless consensus. No doubt, some challenges await the APC in managing its electoral successes and the kind of officiating personnel that are put forward will go a long way in giving Nigerians the needed succour and relief.

    As a Senator, he has been known to back popular causes. One of these is the lid that he blew open on the huge and largely unaccounted money that was being spent on oil subsidy. The disclosure especially the aspects dealing with budgetary provisions necessarily made him to enter into a political bad weather with the consequential inconveniences but he showed character and conviction. This made Senator Adefuye Adeyeye to commend him on the floor of the Senate for his bravery and he went ahead to draw a comparison between what Dr. Bukola Saraki did by raising alarm on the overshot of budgets on subsidy provisions and what his father, Dr. Olusola Saraki, had done under the Second Republic on the issue of missing oil money.

    To be sure, Dr. Saraki has a rich credential and the relevant experience to become the next Senate President. With his network of friends in the Senate and among the ranks of ex-governors who are increasingly finding the Senate more attractive coupled with the fact that he was one of the architects of the APC’s victory at the polls, he will add value to the party and be a good reference and rallying point for PDP’s members who defected into the APC. The new ruling party in the country has more to gain by giving the nod toDr. Saraki to fly its flag as the next Senate President.

    I am aware of the issue of shortcomings that some people have raised concerning the candidates that are in contention for the position. My position, however, is that the contest for the position of Senate Presidency is not all about shortcomings. Rather, it is about harnessing all potentials of our politicians for the greater interest of Nigeria.  It is in this regard that one argues that it was the potential that people saw in the current Senate President, David Mark that made him to be preferred for the job in 2007. The issue of Benue politics came up. Some others had complained about his elitist orientation borne out of his remarks on telephone users in the country.  Notwithstanding, on the aggregate, David Mark has made the North Central Zone and indeed, Nigeria proud by his sterling performance. Let the baton now pass on to Saraki to consolidate on the good performance of David Mark as Senate President.

    It is possible for Senator Saraki to impact on the office by bringing more substance and relevance to it. There is also a high chance that the broad mindedness that the office requires will rub positively on him in a manner that would change some aspects of his politics that are distasteful to the people. He deserves the support of all citizens especially people of the North Central geo-political zone, a part of the north that he had the rare privilege of serving as the chair of the Northern Governors’ Forum between 2003 and 2007.

     

    • Saliu, is of the Department of Political Science, University of Ilorin.

  • Quest for the knowledge worker

    In 1959, Peter Drucker, an Austrian-born American management consultant, educator, and author wrote that “the most valuable asset of a 21st-century institution, whether business or non-business, will be its knowledge workers and their productivity.” It is therefore not surprising that today’s world has so changed that catching up with change is proving a daunting challenge for nations, organizations and even individuals.  We are thus living in an era that makes mockery of previous eras. Making progress in an era like this requires skills that take time to acquire.

    Following the crash of oil price in the global market, there have been calls from many quarters for the diversification of the economy and the need to move away from our mono culture economic strategy. I am pleased with this development which is now forcing us to look inward and come up with strategies – immediate, short and long term – on how to survive in a terrain that is totally alien to us.

    The oil price crash opened up our flanks and showed how vulnerable we are. It has also brought into sharp focus the years of neglect of our varsities and polytechnics which are the incubators in which knowledge workers are produced. This crisis further shows that we already have our work cut out for us. How do we produce these knowledge workers with our dilapidated infrastructure? What do we do with the hundreds of thousands of half-baked graduates already churned out by our ill equipped institutions? We must grapple these and other tough and critical questions in 2015 and beyond.

    Knowledge workers are workers whose main capital is knowledge. They include scientists, engineers, academics, software engineers, doctors, architects, public accountants and lawyers. They are so referred because they “think” to earn their living. What differentiates knowledge work from other forms of work is its primary task of problem solving that requires a combination of convergent, divergent, and creative thinking.

    In the last two centuries, we’ve had two major industrial revolutions – the first and second industrial revolutions. The first Industrial Revolution was characterized by machines that extended, multiplied, and leveraged man’s physical capabilities. With these new machines, humans could manipulate objects for which muscles alone were inadequate and carry out physical tasks at previously unachievable speeds.

    On the other hand, the second industrial revolution is based on machines that extend, multiply, and leverage our mental abilities. A remarkable aspect of this new technology is that it uses almost no natural resources – a disadvantage to a raw material producing continent like Africa.

    Developed nations have already perfected Silicon chips which use small amounts of sand and other readily available materials. Indeed, software uses virtually no resources at all. The value of such technology lies primarily in the knowledge governing the design of the hardware, software, and databases that constitute our intelligent machines, and in the ability to continue advancing these designs.

    It is therefore not surprising that today a sector like manufacturing is dominated by its knowledge content, not by natural resources or labour. Modern factories now have delicately programmed robotic assemblers and material handlers to recognise the increasing dominance of knowledge as a cornerstone of wealth.

    This decreasing importance of material resources has allowed countries like Japan, South Korea and Singapore which lack natural resources but rich in knowledge and expertise, to prosper. While the first Industrial Revolution increased the demand for and the value of natural resources the second industrial revolution is doing the opposite.

    In my article last week, I made reference to McKinsey and Company forecast on the potentials of African economies – including Nigeria – and how they will grow by 2020. But the sad part is that the forecast has already started emanating, however, it is foreigners that are reaping the benefits. A classic example is the e-commerce platforms in the country which are dominated by Asians. I had a discussion with an Asian e-commerce entrepreneur and he told me they made a whopping N1 billion in sales during the “Black Friday” shopping spree last month!

    This was made possible because of the rapid global expansion of information-based transactions and interactions conducted via the Internet. As a result, there has been an ever-increasing demand for a workforce that is capable of performing these activities. In North America for example, knowledge workers are now estimated to outnumber all other workers by at least a four to one margin, this statistics is still growing.

    It is becoming clear that knowledge workers bring benefits to organizations in a variety of important ways. These include: analysing data to establish relationships, assessing input in order to evaluate complex or conflicting priorities, identifying, understanding and interpreting trends, making connections and understanding cause and effect.

    If the knowledge can be retained, knowledge worker contributions will serve to expand the knowledge assets of nations, organizations and individuals. While it may be difficult to measure, this increases the overall value of its intellectual capital. In cases where the knowledge assets have commercial or monetary value, companies have been known to create patents around their assets, at which point the material becomes restricted intellectual property. In these knowledge-intensive situations, knowledge workers play a direct, vital role in increasing the financial value of the company.

    It is a fact that the comprehensive nature of knowledge work in today’s connected workplace requires virtually all workers to obtain special skills at some level; these comes with obtaining degrees and proceeding on professional courses thereafter.

    To achieve this and lay a solid foundation, there’s the need to overhaul our education curricula to enable us to focus on lifelong learning to ensure students receive skills necessary to be productive knowledge workers in this 21st century.

    It is interesting to note some trends: raw materials now comprise about 20 percent of the value of musical instruments (down from about 60 percent a few years ago). This figure is rapidly declining as acoustic musical instrument technology is being replaced with digital electronic technology. Inventors are now transforming musical instruments from the 19th-century acoustic technology to the digital electronics of the late 20th century. This means that more than half of musical instrument industry revenues are now from electronic products. If we look at the typical electronic musical instrument (a digital home keyboard, for example), it is basically a computer with at least 90 percent of its value based on its knowledge content. By the end of this decade, it is estimated that more than 90 percent of all musical instrument industry revenues are expected to be based on this type of technology.

    It is also estimated that the cost of raw materials for automobiles is now down to 40 percent of total costs. Again, this figure will continue to decline with the increasing use of computers and electronics as well as the replacement of expensive and relatively simple body materials such as steel with inexpensive, yet relatively complex alternative materials such as new high-tech plastics.

    Other routine products as tables and chairs have a rapidly increasing knowledge content through the use of new materials and automated manufacturing methods that use little or no labour. Increasingly, the value of a manufactured product is its design and the software controlling its automated manufacturing process, all are driven by knowledge.

    As population grows, man is beginning to master the ability to grow crops without soil. This will offer the opportunity to build factories that can create in large volume anything that grows. Since it will be possible to easily control pests in such an environment, insecticides and other chemicals will not be needed. Bioengineering has been creating genetically modified foods for years now. The same techniques will create varieties that provide optimal nutrition, taste, and other desirable properties. The process of cultivation and harvesting will be, of course, fully automated.

    This bioengineering ‘landless revolution’ in agriculture has taken firm roots in the west. Man is now beginning to feel the impact of bioengineering, a technology of momentous potential – both promising and perilous. By tinkering with the fundamental structure of life, man has the ability to create new materials and new life forms that can cure (or cause) disease, enhance (or spoil) our environment, and otherwise transform our lives. This technology is clearly knowledge based and knowledge driven.

    The big question to ask is where are we in all these?

  • 2015: Jonathan’s quest for fresh mandate

    2015: Jonathan’s quest for fresh mandate

    President Goodluck Jonathan’s bid for a second term did not take Nigerians by surprise. But, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate has some hurdles to cross to secure a fresh mandate, writes Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI.

    After many months of drama and suspense, President Goodluck Jonathan has finally declared his intention to seek re-election  next year. This comes as no surprise to anyone. It is coming after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders have endorsed the President as the party’s sole candidate for the election and after over a year since groups like the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) have been holding rallies, putting up advertisements in print and electronic media, highlighting what they consider his achievements. Though the President had kept mum on his intention, his body language made it clear that he had made up his mind to run; because his well-orchestrated strategy to seek re-election has been unfolding daily.

    This eventuality was foreseen by political opponents within and outside the PDP and they tried but failed to intimidate him into jettisoning the idea. This was the underlining reason behind the subterranean crisis that rocked the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) electionlast year, which eventually led to the PDP crisis. None of the arrowheads of the crisis would admit it openly, but it was spearheaded by some northern aspirants in the party, who were nursing the ambition to challenge Jonathan for the ticket. At last, it led to the defection of five of the seven aggrieved governors to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The rest, as they say, is history.

    Now that the cat has been let out of the bag, the battle for next year’s election has just begun in earnest. With the coming of the APC, which has transformed the country into a two-party state, a competitive contest is in the offing. As a mega opposition party that has roots across the country, the APC would give the ruling party a run for its money. For the first time since 2003, the PDP is facing a genuine challenge of being defeated at the polls.  At the moment, events are still evolving. So, there is no telling the way the pendulum would swing. Regardless of the way the election goes, however, it would go down in history as a landmark contest.

    Since Jonathan is a sitting President contesting on the platform of the ruling party, the odds are stacked in his favour. The party has been in power in the last 15 and half years and has mastered the strategy of holding on to power. This includes a huge financial resource base and the utilisation of governance machinery, propaganda and coercive apparatuses. Besides, the party has a significant presence in all the 36 states and dominant control in over 21 states.

    One of the factors that played up during the 2011 elections, which is likely to resurface in the contest — albeit to a lesser extent — is the Jonathan factor. The PDP candidate appears to enjoy a passionate support in certain zones, based on his personal capacity, rather than party loyalty. Those who are rooting for him in these zones are not particularly concerned about his performance. They base their loyalty on the fact that he comes from a minority tribe in the Southsouth, where the country derives its oil revenue, but which has been marginalised by the ruling elite since independence in 1960.

    The President has doggedly pursued this second term ambition, in spite of repeated calls that he should not run; deftly muscling his way through all sorts of opposition. He displayed a similar single-mindedness when he ran in 2011. Opponents have the tendency to underrate Jonathan. They see him as someone who lacks the qualities to govern a complex nation like Nigeria. But, behind the facade of a meek and gentle personality lies a strong willed character. He has this mystique around him that has worked in his favour. His ascension to the Presidency is usually described as an accident. He came into limelight in 2007, when he was picked as a running mate to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua. Hitherto, he was content with the PDP’s governorship ticket for Bayelsa State, which he had in his kitty. But, circumstances threw him up. From there, the unexpected happened and he became President.

    From all indications, the battle for next year’s presidential elections would be fought in the North by the two dominant parties; there are a number of states in the region that could swing either way. With the exception of a few states in the South, which could also fall into the category of battleground states, the voting pattern in the region is already discernible. The Southsouth and Southeast states are likely to vote PDP, while APC governors in the Southwest are expected to deliver their states for whosoever wins the party’s presidential primaries.

    Incidentally, the North is likely to be the APC’s stronghold because one of the aspirants, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, has a cult following in the region. Buhari was able to garner 12.2 million votes from the 37.7 million valid votes cast in the 2011 presidential elections, when he contested on the platform of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), one of the three major parties that metamorphosed into the APC. The interesting aspect of it is that the votes were mostly from the North and that the CPC was barely four months old then. The party was registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in November 2010. Thus, under a bigger platform, Buhari is likely to do much better in the North and the South, if he emerges as the APC candidate. The other aspirants gunning for the APC ticket are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and publisher of Leadership newspapers, Sam Nda-Isaiah.

    What gives Jonathan an edge is that he is likely to have the sympathy of Northern minorities in the Northcentral geo-political zone, which have shown the tendency of not aligning with the core North in recent times.

    But, for him to make any appreciable impact during the election, President Jonathan would have to contend with a number of factors, which may constitute stumbling blocks to his aspiration. The PDP candidate is going to face some challenges.

    Dame Patience

    The meddlesomeness of the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, in the affairs of the PDP in  some states may constitute a stumbling block to the ambition of her husband. This was what allegedly led to the quarrel between the President and Rivers State Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. Besides, the Rivers State chapter of the party has been complaining for the umpteenth time about the determination to impose former Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, as the party’s flag bearer in next year’s governorship election. The First Lady is believed to be showing interest in the political developments in some PDP-controlled states.

    Sources in the Presidency said most leaders in the party, including some governors, are not happy with the way she has been meddling in the affairs of PDP and imposing of who should fly the flag of the party in different elective positions, especially in Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi and Kwara states. “What we don’t understand is why the President is allowing her to carry on the way she is doing. I have spoken to many elders in the party and they said they would not vote for President Jonathan because of his wife. So, expect among other things, protest votes against Jonathan by even PDP members,” said a PDP chieftain. Stakeholders in the Oyo State chapter have also warned Mrs. Jonathan to hands off what they consider to be their internal affairs. She had requested that the chapter should mend fences with former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, who is believed to be nursing a governorship ambition.

    Chibok girls

    Another source of headache to the Presidency is the growing insecurity in the country. The President continues to face criticisms and pressures over the deteriorating security situation, especially in the Northwest region, where the Boko Haram terrorist group has a strong presence. Many Nigerians had been sympathetic to the war effort, until the issue of the abduction of over 200 school girls from the Federal Government Girls’ College, Chibok, Borno State, took the centre stage. But, it was the government’s apparent lack of adequate concern over the fate of the girls that has reduced the image of the administration in public opinion. Almost 200 days after they were abducted, Nigerians do not know precisely the true situation.

    The reported ceasefire agreement brokered by the President of Chad and the prospects of the girls regaining their freedom had provided a glimmer of hope for the government that such breakthrough might reduce the negative impact of the development on Jonathan’s re-election bid, if the agreement is able to scale through. Even at that, it is already too late for some persons, who have already made up their minds.

    Corruption

    The dust raised by the Pension Fund scam, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s allegations, Otedola-Farouk saga and other corruption-related cases are yet to settle and they will count against him in 2015. His posture against the monster called ‘corruption’, which appears to be the root cause of many of the country’s woes, is not too impressive. That he, as an individual, is not stealing does not exculpate the growing army of plunderers in government – real or perceived. This has provided grounds for the opposition to take the administration to the cleaners.

    Indeed, Jonathan has a poor public image due to his failure to wage a spirited war against corruption, leakages in the oil industry, including pipeline vandalism. A long pile of records of his notable achievements may not be able to erase this negative perception before the election.

    One of the perceived weaknesses that have cast the Jonathan administration in bad light is the less than forceful Presidential presence and infective deployment and application of presidential power in calling people around him to order. This has to do with the President’s perceived inability to deal with mediocrity within his kitchen cabinet. His actions suggest that he accommodates mediocre elements within his inner circle and that he lacks the will to show them the door.

    Wrong signals

    Another source of irritation to many of those who voted for the President in 2011 is the perceived appropriation of Presidential advocacy space by exuberant partisans and fanatical supporters, who project a wrong image of the Presidency as a regional agenda. This situation tends to alienate moderate political forces across the country, whose sense of co-ownership of the Presidency appears diminished. With this kind of orientation, the President has not demonstrated loudly enough that he is the leader of the nation, irrespective of religious background, tribe and political persuasion.