Nigeria gained her independence in 1960 from the British. Since then there has been adoption of different economic policies & decision and transitioning of political dispensations which she is currently at her fourth republic.
Nigeria is endowed with natural and human resources that is a prerequisite for any form of development. Nigeria is a nation that has the basic requirement for development which could be termed raw material.
Evaluating down the line, since we decided to control our resources and rule ourselves without any external interference as a sovereign state, is there any improvement on our standard of living? Is there infrastructural development? is there any attainment of national goals or objectives? Is there even anything such as national objective and goals aside party manifestos? In my opinion, I think the answer to all these questions is definite NO. So, it has become a national problem because stagnation is never a feat to pursue, rather a hurdle to be taken off the wheels of growth.
Nigeria has relied so much on failing oil as a major source of revenue and as such should be tired of being a mono-economy. The pathetic aspect of it, is that we have no control over the price of the sole dependent resource, connoting we are at the mercies of the factors fixing the price of our flagship product. In time to come, the factors fixing the price might decide to make it a free commodity. Then what can we do? EMPHATIC NOTHING. The oil price fluctuations are signpost deciding factors are using to tell us they are about to make crude oil free for everyone. Meaning prepare or you perish or become a beggar. Some may tag the woes Nigeria undergoes as leadership deficiencies or blame external factors. This is not the time for blame apportionment rather all hands being on decks. Despite all, no hope is lost yet. Here are 2 ways we can prepare before crude oil becomes a global free commodity.
1. National Goal & Objective
Effective leadership is the bane of growth and development. Essence of leadership is to give the right direction in every sphere and ramification. Lead in the way, the reason for its name leadership.
First and foremost, there must be a holistic national goal and objective collectively set up across political, ethnic and religious line. This should be in a manner that every Nigerian can pinpoint the goals of Nigeria at any moment. United Nations have goals and effectively pursing it. It gives direction and abhors distraction. One of the problems of Nigeria is that, no political party, ethnicity or religion supports the course set up by the other. (PDP says no to APC agenda, vice-versa. Tribal and religious disagreement and war). And with such attitude, there will be no progress because we sabotage each other just to make one look ineffective and a failure all because we are not the brain behind it. Now, how can this be done?
Based on the national challenges, we set up 20 or any number of goals. Each major party, tribe and religion shall draft some number of goals and all will be incorporated as the national goal. Party manifestos will now be strategies of attaining these goals, no longer goals to be adopted for the nation. The positive effect of it is that, any political party, religion or tribe that comes into power, already has a template to work with and as such any evaluation on the performance of any Govt must be on the attainment of this goals. There will be true continuity in Govt reflecting on the execution and completion of projects by different governments. No project will have a tribal, religious or party tag. All will be national projects. As a guidance, it will be difficult for any govt to go off track. There will be one spirit of unity as all are working in the direction of attaining the goals.
2. Human Capital Development
In Nigeria, we mainly talk about Agricultural diversification. Well, that’s great. Agricultural diversification is great but the market is limited. African foods are not whites’ foods. We must think global. You tend to rake in more from global markets than local. Nigeria can generate huge revenue by human capital development. India generated $181 Billion in 2018 from IT through human capacity development. The same year Nigeria total revenue from crude oil was $24 Billion.
The fact is that until we adopt and focus on technological & Digital development well will not become sustain-ably self-sufficient and rich. That is the trendy sector and will remain forever as I don’t see going back to manual means of activities as alternative or option rather improvement on the current. Harness and develop our strength (Population, ingenuity) which is human capital development. Diversifying from resources below the feet (crude oil, solid minerals) to above the feet (technology & Digitization, technical know-how, innovation which comes from brain; knowledge), the world is our global market.
Sundar Pichai (CEO Google)
Rajeev Suri (CEO Nokia)
Ajaypay Singh Banga (CEO Mastercard)
Satya Nadella (CEO Microsoft)
Narayen (CEO Adobe)
These are all Indians. Definitely India gains a lot through the expertise of these guys. Notably, they are serving these global firms. Meaning they earn from the global market.
How can Nigeria achieve this?
If Nigeria cannot develop its people locally to global standard, that does not amount to no solution. We have the wherewithal to send people out to gain this knowledge and skills. Not just the usual manner of sending people out to learn. Develop a vision that in 5 years, we shall develop 10,000 Nigerian youths in science, technological and digital skills from outside. Have an MOU with the trainers outside to develop them to global standard. Not just MOU to come and execute projects in Nigeria or borrow money to us. The candidates will be selected in every state letting them understand with clarity that it’s not just personal or family benefit. They are now national assets.
After the training, they will be back to impact and develop others in their various states. With consistent pursuance of this, Nigeria will be self-sufficient in technological and digital development and will be among major players in the technological global market just like India and China which will amount to greater revenue generation.
What are your thoughts and suggestions?
please, make them known in the comment section
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