For sub-Saharan Africa, the Informal sector is nothing new.  Indeed the types of activities carried out in this sector has existed even prior to colonialism.  Later, independence brought in the distinction between informal Vs. formal activities as countries around the region sought to formalize or “modernize” their economies.  The focus then (and indeed to some degree today) was rapid industrialization for much of the region.  If is the informal sector – not the formal sector – that is the growth engine.  It should be noted that around the world, about two-thirds of all employees work in the informal sector.  Thus how government treat the informal sector has profound impacts on employment, growth, equity and sustainability.

World Bank, 2009

The Informal sector is the part of the economy that is not taxed, organized, through legal but not monitored by the government or included in the GNP.  The informal economy was recognized in 1972, when the International Labour Organization (ILO) began its pioneering work on informality in the African economy with the Kenyan Multi-disciplinary employment missions.  ILO definitions include:

            “… the non-structured sector that has emerged in the urban centres as a result of the modern sector’s inability to absorb new entrants…”

International Labour Organization (1972).

            “… private unincorporated enterprises which produce at least some of their goods and services for sale or barter, has less than 5 paid employees, are not registered, and are engaged in non-agricultural activities including professional or technical services.

International Labour Organization (2002).

            The informal sector is characterized by a larger number of small-scale production and service activities that are individually or family-oriented and use simple labour-intensive technology.  The usually self-employed workers in this sector, have less formal education, are generally unskilled, and lack access to financial capital.  As a result, workers productivity and income tend to be lower in the informal sector than the formal sector.

            Nonetheless, some generalizations can be made about the causes of the informal sector’s growth in recent years include:

·         Bias by African leaders, international development agencies, international financial institutions to execute and support projects in urban areas, create laws and pursue development policies at the detriment of rural areas.

·         Recent migrants from rural areas who are unable to find employment in the formal sector.

·         Structural adjustment policies

·         Difficulty in establishing new firms.

·         Peace and the demobilization of military.

Their motivation is often to obtain sufficient income for survival, relying on their own indigenous resources to create work.  As many household are involved in the income-generating activities, including women and children, and they often work very long hours.  They generally lack public service such as electricity, water, drainage, transportation and educational and health services.  Others are less unfortunate, homeless, living on pavements, work temporarily as day labourers and hawkers under unhealthy weather condition.

            With the unprecedented growth rate of the urban population in developing countries, expected to continue and with the increasing failure of the rural and urban formal sectors to absorb additions to the labour force, more attention is devoted to the role of informal sector in serving as a panacea for the growing unemployment problem.

            The persistence and depth of poverty in Africa, and especially in the sub-Saharan region, appears to be strongly related to both the structure of employment and the very low level of productivity.  It is estimated by the ILO in Geneva, that 48 percent of non-agricultural employment in North Africa, is in the informal economy, and 72 percent in sub-Saharan region.  In rural areas some estimate are that the informal sector accounts for as much as 90 percent of non-agricultural employment.

            “Indeed informal sector employment in Uganda and Kenya now exceeds employment in the formal sector and nearly 90% of the labour force in Ghana comes from the informal sector.  Also many countries have not even collected data on the informal sector.”

African Union, 2008

            All the way from Lagos-Nigeria, to Moncef Bey – Tunisia, el hamiz – Algiers, Harare – Zimbabwe and the famous Derb Ghalef and Derb Omar Markets in Casablanca-Morocco.  Africans have resorted to the opportunities therein in the informal market, which makes breaking out seem to be a major development challenge.

            Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Nigeria have more than half their economies in the informal sector, while South Africa have just 28.4 percent (below the 41 percent average for developing countries world wide, but still more than the 18 percent in developed countries).

            The informal sector entails a loss in budget revenue by reducing taxes and social security contributions paid and therefore the availability of funds to improve infrastructure and other public goods and services.  This invariably leads to a high tax burden on registered labour, and of which the tax burden would be further pushed to consumers in form of high prices of goods and services.

            Finally, if economic growth is not associated with a movement into better employment opportunities or an improvement in the condition of employment in informal activities, the impact on poverty will be minimal.  This issue is central to realizing decent work, as a goal and for all workers, - to achieving the millennium development goals, and to promoting a fair globalization.  Please stay connected for more amazing insights…  Only Africans can save Africa.  Peace!

Obele Gospel Jesuite

CRO – Project Change Initiative

A 21^st Century Leadership, Organizational and Economic Development Strategist

For comments, please visit Obele Jesuite on facebook, @OBELEObele on twitter, gospel_obele@yahoo.com for email: or contact 08130070991.

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Columnist: Iyeomoan Emmanuel

At a time like this when it seems like “the center can no longer hold” as the glue that bonds us together as a people is loosing its grip and “things are falling apart”, many a political thinkers believe that a National Conference is never too late a time like this.  History is rich with meetings of this magnitude, not in the caliber of prominent public figures that acted on the stage, but in the errors and blunders of past conglomeration of ideas on the national table.

In this first edition of the series on the National Confab, Polity Police observe with clarity of purpose, some salient issues to be addressed; challenges to be faced and anticipated credits to be gained from a national conference of this nature. For content’s sake, let’s concentrate our energies on the salient issues that will draw the collective attention of Nigerians, in the course of the national conference.

SALIENT ISSUES ON THE NATIONAL TABLE

It’ll be nonchalance on our paths to shut our eyes to realities, and negate the wind of change that is about to blow the Nation to its near-eldorado. Before we envision reaping the fruits of a national get-together, conscience-searching questions geared towards placing us on the right direction of change must be asked. Progressively, answers to these questions must be offered with respect to: where we were before; where we are now; and where we intend to be after the conference? Having conducted an online poll on the social media, Facebook to be precise, the afore-stated “conscience-searching questions” are presented in no particular order here-under as follows:

• What were the results of past conferences of this nature?
• What were the demands of citizens of the country at those times and what are their demands now?
• Would a national conference procure curative measures to the maladies eating the nation’s health? Has it ever resolved issues in the past?
• What are the costs and benefits to society of this national conference?
• Why should it be a national conference, and not a sovereign national conference?
• What happens to Nigeria if a breakdown occurs in the process of national conferencing?

The Polity Police as well as other public affairs analysts anticipate probable success on this matter that has, and is still trailing the polity (National Confab). We expect partial success outcomes on the basis of a negation of salient issues of national interests. These issues must, and should be tackled headlong before the ship of a successful national conference is set to sail. They include, and yet are not limited to:

• Deteriorated state of the education sector
• Heated polity ahead of a pregnant 2015 general election
• Poverty in the midst of resource-surplus
• Unemployment in the presence of massive capital flight
• Population issues and its surrounding problems

Deteriorated state of the education sector: Aggrieved quarters (undergraduate and lecturers) sneer at the drama of a proposed national conference by the Jonathan-led administration, tagging it a “dance of shame”. If we are objective enough in our judgments, we can’t but agree that the education sector has reached its boiling point. Our institutions of higher learning which were initially set-up for research and development, have been reduced to a state akin to livestock-pens; laboratories are as empty as caskets, without basic facilities and chemicals necessary for experiments; lecture theaters are like town-halls, that you could count the few available seats; students hang on windows like bus-conductors, just to receive lectures that sometimes span for hours. Furthermore, our libraries are archaic and hive a crop of outdated intellectual properties; hostels are unavailable or insufficient, and where they are available, are worse than Nigerian prisons (you know how our prisons look). Ultimately and most painfully, the academic calendar is stylishly truncated by incessant and concurrent seizures in the form of labour strikes- courtesy of government insincerity in meeting up her obligations.

Heated polity ahead of a pregnant 2015 general election: Many wonder why the polity is unnecessarily heated by power-hungry and greedy politicians, when the 2015 general election is still pregnant; though, we can predict what the outcomes will be.  It is unsurprising to expect that most of our elder statesmen who are expected too act as glue to uniting the diverse interests of Nigerians, are at the forefront of this shameful act. Isn’t it needful to repair these broken edges of our walls before thinking of a national conference? Why don’t we organize a conference of elder statesmen to settle their differences before lowering this boat called “National Confab”?

Poverty in the midst of resource-surplus: How can we be talking of a national conference when the stomach of the common man is empty? Are they going to seat on the national table of resolution with hungry-looking eyes? Or, probably, they will be cut out of the scheme of things by inequitable representation. Their interests will be represented, or better still, misrepresented by the over-satisfied few, who do not know how it feels to be hungry. It’s an irony that the gap between the haves and have-nots widens with successive increase in the GDP- this is not funny at all!

Unemployment in the presence of massive capital flight: Many employers of labour argue that the problem of unemployment in the country isn’t unavailability of jobs, but unemployability of job seekers. I fail to accept that cheap claim owing to the fact that present day youths and prospective job-seekers are more intelligent than those of the 60s, 70s and 80s (the youthful times of our fathers) respectively. It amazes me that most of the big government employees, who preach “unemployability of this generation” are half baked intellectuals. The media can support my claim with many incidences of multiple errors in communication and lack-lustre presentation of ideas by the so-called government big-boys (the public servants). For instance, the “oga at the top saga” on Channels TV is still fresh on our minds; the grammatical blunders of the president’s wife, who was at one time the controversial head of service of Bayelsa State; the most recent is the Anambra governorship debates aired by African Independent Television (AIT) on 31^st October 2013, and the Abia national conference forum, where working-class citizens couldn’t communicate their ideas to the public without reading unending manuscripts, even when time was allotted to them on that regard. Or is it in Edo state, where a government employed head-teacher couldn’t spell her name in the presence of the Comrade-Governor? Let’s tell ourselves the truth and stop living in deceit. With this revelation, what are the reasons for high unemployment statistics, if not bad government policies as well as capital flight? Money that would have been invested here in the country are transported to foreign lands and imprisoned in their banks. Our leaders should tell themselves the truth- that they are the cause of our problems and not the harmless youths who are out there to better their lots. We complain of unemployment, yet public officials buy private jets, armored cars, and build sophisticated houses. Come to think of it, majority of the masses have no rooftops to hide their baldness, yet all governors have private lodges in Abuja; they are virtually 35 governors lodge in the FCT. What message are they sending to the youths? Why won’t they (the frustrated youths) take to crime to better their lot, when our fathers (the politicians) disappoint them with their reckless spending? Much is left for another day.

Population issues and other surrounding problems: Last month, the NPC’s boss resigned from service after some months of his appointment without any important reason. It was a true test of integrity and is rather un-nigerian to remove one’s tongue from a honey-pot, but he did and posterity must remember Francis Odimegwu for that. After analyzing the circumstances surrounding is resignation, I gathered that population issues are more political than I envisaged. The 2006 national census was marred by irregularities in the figures, which alone was enough to break the country. Many states had their figures over-stated, with expectation of higher shares from the national treasury. How can we grow in the midst of these insincerities?

The polity police have sufficiently touched some of the salient issues that must be put before the cart, for an effective national conference. We continue this series next time by treating challenges to be faced. Watch out for part 2!

© IYEOMOAN EMMANUEL,

UNIVERSITY OF BENIN, NIGERIA.

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Columnist: Iyeomoan Emmanuel

In this maiden edition of the “POLITY POLICE”, let us together address some contemporary political issues that affect the economy and bring to light the forces of darkness militating against sustainable development in third world countries; Nigeria in particular. “For every aspiring-to-thrive nation, marriage between the economy and the polity must be blissful; a divorce of opinions between these two would mean a disintegration of growth-interests”. Any “aspiring to grow economy” can do so only in a system of administration and distribution having appropriate checks and balances.
The economic “big wigs” in this epoch of information; the US, Great Britain, France, Switzerland, and a few others, are at the fore-front due to the watchful eyes and critical minds of the populace. Thus, our contribution to political cum economic discourse determines the pace with which the economy grows. The growth of every modern economy like Singapore, Malaysia, Brazil, to mention but a few,  are evident from the contributions of individual Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs); Corporate bodies (the private sector) and the government (in terms of creating the enabling environment). I observed that the contribution of the government is infinitesimal relative to the private sector. That notwithstanding, provision of basic amenities like electricity, water and housing by the government, are the motivators to economic vibrancy of the public sector; Nigeria should borrow a leaf from that. On that respect, “policing the polity is the surest-bet to securing economic harmony” in a country with divergent interest groups with diversified demands. Painstakingly, this article is tagged “irresponsive polity in a responsive economy”, as I bring to bare the nonchalant behaviour of actors in the polity that repel economic growth.
REDUNDANT HEALTH IN THE FACE OF ABUNDANT WEALTH
Third World countries will continue to grow retrogressively even in the face of “myriads of natural and human resources”, so long as there exist barricades to economic growth. I call problems- barricades, because I believe that they are propellants to growth. These “barricades to economic growth” are multifarious in nature and ubiquitous in our socio-political and economic terrain; vis-à-vis:
• Information secrecy: Many a public analysts will agree with me that the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill is a camouflage; and illusion from reality. How many political officials openly declare their financial worth, on assumption of office? Can an ordinary Nigerian walk into the Chief Statisticians office, or the Auditor-general’s, to gather information pertaining to the real state of the economy? All we see are media propaganda that gives a wrong impression on the health of the economy.
• Socio-political cum economic illiteracy: It is no news that Nigerians are becoming aware of happenings in the political sphere. Conversely, if you conduct a referendum, you’ll be shocked to know that majority of the youths (“would-be leaders” of tomorrow, which never comes) are ignorant of the devices of government mal-administrators and policy makers. During the “subsidy protest” in Lagos, I asked a handful of youths clustered around the Oshodi area of Lagos if they know the meaning of “subsidies or deregulation” and to my displeasure, I got a “no we don’t” answer for a reply. What a pity!
• Bureaucratic Insincerity: Due to the prevailing level of information secrecy, government officials pervert their political offices and get away with it; only those who refuse to play to the gallery of the “shadow godfathers” are probed and found wanting; James Ibori, the former Governor of Delta State is a case-study. For instance, we can remember the not too long cases of persons robbing the government and bailing themselves by settling an arm of the government; the judiciary to be precise. The bureaucratic nature of the civil service is another pain in the neck, as insincerity is brought to the fore on a daily basis. For example, a lump-sum meant to be distributed to some quarters, say, the local councils, pensioners and contractors, may loose the value of its zeros as it is transferred from one location to another. What can we say to all of these?
The Nigeria we are in today is just a mere delusion; a proper makeshift and a deviation from the master-plan of our founding fathers, who acted true federalism on the stage of economic abundance as we still have it today. Our resources are normally distributed, though there are some random disturbances to our growth model, which can be traced and treated with care.
Presently, the economy is caught in a web and the future looks bleak due to weak political and economic institutions and untreated issues of national concern; namely:
• Insecurity: Insecurity is a direct foe of investment and an indirect enemy of economic growth; it affects the GDP on a negative scale. The alarming state of insecurity in Nigeria is a topic on its own that this article is insufficient to expedite action on; that’s a topic for another day.
• Unstable supply of basic amenities:  The economy stagnates due to the insensitivity and insincerity of government to providing basic and essential amenities, which have a direct effect on economic growth. Thanks to the September 30 handover of ownership and distribution of electricity to the private sector; though, with unpaid remuneration of “to be laid-off staff” of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), which is an issue that may shake the foundations of the polity sooner than expected. Like every Oliver Twist and as the “oracle of the masses”, I say- ‘it is not enough to deregulate the power-sector without creating alternative jobs to laid-off workers”. Other sectors like the Petroleum sector still need then ever-ready helping hands of the private sector (deregulate at least, the downstream sub-sector of the petroleum industry). The reason why government would grin at deregulation of the petroleum sector boils down to greed. One the fastest means of lifting an economy from the dungeons of poverty is by government provision of essential amenities to the masses. The cost of doing business in Nigeria is fueling a generator, which is capital intensive. How can we grow in the face of these easy to be solved problems? Is the provision of basic amenities the citizens’ rights, or are they privileges enjoyed relative to their paid loyalty to the government of the day in terms of votes during elections? We all know the truth; let’s not shy away from it.
• Inconsistency of government policies: Since there is no friend in business and no permanent friend or enemy in Nigeria politics, policies are bound to change with each change in government. Uncompleted projects of previous governments will remain so with the inauguration of a new administration. We all know that the Yaradua’s 7-point agenda was replaced by the transformation agenda of the present administration. The next administration’s “agenda” is like a pregnant woman- we don’t know the name and form it will take; it may be a “national-restructuring agenda”. The government is dexterous when it comes to conning audibly-appealing acronyms and names for an agenda. How “sure” is “SURE-P” (Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme? The shocking thing is that policies are changed, even when the same political party still controls power. What an ambiguity!
THE WAY FORWARD
Since the problem of the country is multi-faceted and thus, can’t be treated with a single blow, I make this clarion call to all Nigerians to stock themselves with information necessary to improving their lots in particular, and the nation én-large. The only way out of this cobweb-trap is personal capacity development. We can’t be waiting for an irresponsive government to put food on our tables. The Bible and Qu'ran posit that, “whatsoever your find your hands to do, do it with all thy might…” lets stop waiting for the government to tar the roads, build the bridges or give us pipe borne water, when we are uncultured. A defunct governor of Edo-state, Samuel Ogbemudia puts it this way; ‘if the government tar the roads and fail to tamed the persons that will ply the roads, the roads will be destroyed in a short-time, but if the government train the minds of the masses, they may end up building the roads themselves’. What a powerful quote! You all will agree with him.

Polity Police is your economic-watchdog of the polity and unravels the hidden secrets of government which are anti-growth. Remember, Nigeria was not built in a day and cannott be destroyed effortlessly. Together, we shall collectively build a virile economy, a steady polity and a better Nigeria anchored on sincerity of purpose and truth. In this regard, your comments and suggestions are anticipated and will be treated with umpteen confidentiality, if you so desire.
Thanks for your shared time.

© IYEOMOAN EMMANUEL EHIZOGIE
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS,
UNIVERSITY OF BENIN, NIGERIA.

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Africa has more than 900 million consumers. Despite the challenges, every day they need to eat. They need clean water. They need shelter, Clothing and medicine. They want cell phones, bicycles, companies, automobiles and education for their children. Businesses are already seizing these opportunities to build markets across Africa.

New York Times, May 2006.

We are in a time and age where we are dealing with Nations that are major competitors for emerging economies that lack wisdom and many developing countries that have not articulated their own position of what they are seeking for. The resources of our Nation have been placed in our Nation, for the prosperity and upliftment of our people.

          Unfortunately, Africa though covering about 15% of the earth surface and two third of the world population with an estimate of 900million consumers, may be slipping into another brand of colonialism with its growing bilateral ties with china, dominating presence of European and American companies, increasing incursion of Indian firms and host of others. Trade between china and Africa is reputed to have increased more than six-fold during the past decade, rising to a record of $120bn in 2011.

The Chinese have not hidden their interest in Africa’s natural resources and seem to be putting their money where their mouth is by investing huge sums in Africa’s infrastructure. Roads and bridges are being built by Chinese firms at a good pace across the continent. From Liberia to Zimbabwe, Ethiopia to Sudan, Nigeria to Niger and Egypt. The Chinese have entered into business partnerships to increase their stand in Africa. Surprisingly, a substantial part of the manpower and material used for the project are imported from china. Beijing’s penchant for maintaining strict business relationships has endeared them to most Africa’s remaining dictators.

“It is clear to us that any global firm interested in growth must see Africa as an essential part of its portfolio”. 

E. Neville Isdell,

 Chairman and CEO , The Cola Cola Company USA.

Other companies are stepping up their presence in Africa. Unilever, facing increased competition and declining profits in the united states and Europe (where sales growth fell from 5 percent in 1998 to 0.7 percent in 2004), announced plans to step up its business in the developing world, including Africa, where it is already firmly established. Nestle caught between forecasts of growth of only 1.5 percent annually in developed market and its target of 5 percent to 6 percent organic growth, announced plans in 2006 to step up operations in west Africa and other developing markets to make up the difference

The Coca–Cola company which has been in Africa since 1928, has seen its business on the continent increase steadily over the past two decades, despite the ups and downs of individual countries. The company now sells 93 million servings of its beverages every day across Africa, generating about $4 - $5billion in system revenues for the company. As a sign of its development, in June 2007, Coca-Cola relocated its African headquarters from Windsor, United Kingdom to Johannesburg, South Africa.

“I believe that our business in Africa should be managed locally, by Coca-Cola associates who live and breathe the continent. Johannesburg is an ideal location for our new office since it has excellent business infrastructure network with the rest of the continent.”  

Muhtar kent

President and Chief Operating Officer, Coca-Cola Company

                                                                  

“On a per-unit basis, Africa is the third most profitable market in the world.

The African market is quite attractive for the company and for most multinationals if they look at it with the right lens. Most people only see the negatives of Africa. You have to get beyond the perception to see the opportunities. We estimate that 350 million to 500 million people would potentially be market for our products. That’s a lot of people. The returns in Africa are as good as, or better than, they are in a lot of BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) in the medium and short term. And the African market is not as competitive as BRIC countries. We have a significant opportunity to shape beverages in Africa and see the results.”

Alex Cummings

 President, Africa Group of the Coca-Cola company.

I leave us this week with a question. Can only Africans save Africa? Cheers!

Obele Gospel Jesuite

CRO- Project Change Initiative 

          A 21^st century leadership, organizational and economic development strategist.

For comment, please visit Obele Jesuite on facebook, @OBELEObele, on twitter to Gospel _ obele@yahoo.com, or contact  08130070991. 

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Happy Independence Nigeria! I begin this week by telling us a story.

On a certain day, a friend and I visited a teaching hospital. As we approached the maternity ward, we met a young woman, whom the nurse told us could not be discharged due to inability to pay her hospital bill. As if that was not enough,  we saw her new born baby, lying on an old carton on the ground with the woman’s wrapper spread beside the baby serving as her “mattress.” Looking at this experience and thinking through, tears filled my eyes, as only the creator knows who that baby is destined to be. By privilege, we had to do the little we could to help the situation

Further findings have revealed that:

·         About 2500 children under age 5 in Africa die on a daily basis due to malaria

·         By estimates, 250 deaths out of 1000 birth are recorded due to poor maternal health.

·         Over 70% of Nigerians live below the poverty line.

·         Economic growth in Nigeria has not translated to improved standard  of living but rather increasing costs of living, unstable macroeconomic environment, unfavorable discretionary policies, bad political and socio-economic structures, poor educational system, business failures, unemployment and youth restiveness, etc has been the order of the day. Obviously, what we see and experience are not consistent with the core values of development (sustenance, self esteem and freedom from servitude) and the objectives of development (to increase the ability and widen the distribution of basic life sustaining goods, to raise standard of living and to expand the range of economic and social choices).

The big question is where and how do we change the game plan?.

              “What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are little matters compared with what lies within us”

                                                                        Oliver Wendell Holmes.

“The eyes that look are many, but the eyes that see are few”

The spot for change lies in our hearts, and this can only be possible when we begin to see (with the eyes of our heart) and  create the Nigeria of our dream.

“The creation of a new Nigeria must begin with a New vision”

                                                                                                Sam Adeyemi

The moment we begin to see and hold consistently, the new Nigeria dream in our hearts, it would

·         become the basis for which  internal motivation comes  for personal and national transformation.

·         become the basis for socio-economic, and political decisions making process.

·          aid clear individual and National direction.

·         It would aid cultural revolution .

“Every generation has problems and challenges, which makes that generation specially assigned to solve its problems. Refusal to solve or being ignorant about these problems would rob generations to come, the privilege they should enjoy”.

                                                                                      Obele Gospel Jesuite.

The challenges inherent in our societies are opportunities  for us to innovate and make our marks in history. Think about it!

I encourage you to please find your place in the nation. You were designed to solve a problem. You have abilities that you have not discovered and you can do more than you think.  It’s our season of change. Change agents are known for;

v  Having a good sense of purpose

v  Deploying their talents

v  A genuine passion for change.

v  They are full of insight

v  Being Good communicators

v  Success

Let’s come together and work towards a new Nigeria, where 

v  The core value and objectives of development would be natural to our system.

v  The average citizen would not have to worry about what to eat even if he or she is temporarily out of work.

v  Where there will be quality of health care, sound education system, uninterrupted power supply.

v  Strong and lasting political and socio-economic structure etc.

Lastly, I urge us to please visit for more on the Nigeria dream. Together, we will succeed!

                                                      Obele Gospel Jesuite

CRO-Project Change Initiative

A 21^st Century Leadership

Organizational and economic development strategist

For comment, please visit Obele Jesuite on Facebook or @Obeleobele on twitter and contact how at Gospel_obele@yahoo.com, on 08130070991.

Happy independence and have a great week ahead!

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INTRODUCTION: THE GENESIS

It was a redefining moment in the history of the World and Africa in particular. Our noble heroes had fought gallantly and freed their own great nation from the hands of White colonialists and imperialists. The era of exploitation was over and there was a tumultuous herald of a new dawn. Men and Women took to the streets, dancing and singing. The youngest of babies were not left out of the celebration and the most glorious speeches in history were delivered. It was October 1, 1960 and Nigeria had been officially declared an independent state. The course of history was changed as nations heralded the arrival of the black hope.

We took off on a good note as a nation with our own people now in charge of our affairs. Expectations and hopes were high. The people at the helm of affairs were focused and committed to nation-building and commendations were coming from far and near. In fact, as Federal Minister of Mines and Power in the first Republic, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule recalls that there was an International Development Review Report released during the period which stated that in 15 to 20 years, three developing countries would join the league of industrialized nations (The Guardian, July 27, 2013). These countries were Brazil, India and Nigeria. This as the report observed, was as a result of the quality leadership delivery in these countries. Nigeria was the world's blue- eyed boy and Africa's emerging economy and almost every country wanted to associate with us.

THE NATIONAL DRIFT

Unfortunately, the atmosphere of blissful hope was to last only a while as the rudder of the Nigerian ship suddenly began to drift. Issues that were not in our original national agenda began to manifest. Personal and tribal interests began to replace national interest. Nepotism started creeping in. Bribery and corruption was fast raising its ugly head and our national values and ideals were fast being eroded. Conflicts and controversies began to rise from everywhere slowing efforts at developing the country.

NIGERIA: STILL A LAND OF OPPORTUNITIES

In spite of all our mistakes in the past, I still see Nigeria as a land of opportunities as every indicator points to this fact. For example, despite the tension created by insecurity in the country, Nigeria has for the second time in two years retained its position as Africa’s number one destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), according to the global FDI report released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (The Punch, June 27, 2013). In the same vein,  a recent report undertaken by KPMG rated Nigeria as one of the countries sought for by foreign investors as a result of the consistent improvement in investment yields, which are also attributed to a cocktail of reforms put in place in recent times (Thisday, March 17, 2013). The ranking by one of the world’s foremost audit, financial and tax advisory firms, KPMG, placed Nigeria among the four major investment destinations and growth areas in the world following the disappointing returns by most of the emerging global economic powerhouses of Brazil, Russia, India and China.

There must be something that these foreigners are seeing that Nigerians themselves are not seeing and that is the fact that Nigeria is a land of immense opportunities which we must take advantage of to build a prosperous society.

WAY FORWARD

For Nigeria to actualize its full potentials, the following suggestions should be considered.

A CASE FOR NATIONAL RECLAMATION

There must be a way forward for Nigeria. First, we must shun pretence and admit that we are still far away from our hopes and aspirations as a people. Then, we can make deliberate efforts to set this country on the path of honour. We can begin by redefining the nationhood of this country. In doing this, Nigerians must have unity of purpose. We must abandon our primordial attachments for a new Nigerian relationship. We must seek unity and discourage anything that promotes disunity. We must break down every dichotomy that has held us down as a people. Our diversity should be no cog in the wheels of progress of this country; rather, it should be harnessed to lubricate our state machinery and give us leverage over other nations. What we need now is the unity of marriage; such unity that brings differences together to bring forth increase (Ojukwu, 1989). Until the Nigerian polity is completely reconciled with itself, the quest for national rebirth may remain a daydream.

RESOLVING THE LEADERSHIP DEBACLE

Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in quality leadership. We must re-conceptualize leadership to emphasize on development rather than chaotic politics and allow for a system that will enable us put our best foot forward. This, of course will come to bear when we elevate meritocracy over ethnicity.

In the same vein, the current notion of leadership as the most lucrative 'business' in Nigeria should be expunged. In fact, we should start making efforts to make leadership less attractive. The business of leadership is a serious one and should be left to only serious-minded people. When this is done, it will see to the emergence of leaders that will be ready to build for posterity and not breathlessly scouting for personal gains.

THE ROLE OF THE CITIZENRY

The problem with Nigeria has not all been about failed leadership but also of bad followership. In fact, it is said that bad followers make a bad leader. Nigerians should recognize that the task of building a great nation is a collective responsibility and should not be left to any one individual or group. The usual posture of 'looking the other way round' adopted by most Nigerians on issues bordering on the advancement of this country should be dispelled. It is the thundering followers that constitute the power of the masquerade.

THE CATALYTIC ROLE OF YOUTHS IN NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION

Not much progress can be made in the quest for nation-building if the youths are not integrated into the scheme and this is where citizen-based groups like the Project Change Initiative (PCI) come in. PCI is an initiative pioneered by my friend, Obele Gospel and I and other like-minded young people that is heavily involved in advocacy and sensitisation of the Nigerian youth (from secondary schools to tertiary institutions) to be concerned with 21^st century cultural thinking of value creation by locating and utilizing opportunities and maximizing talents than becoming infested with the get-rich-quick syndrome in society. The basis of this advocacy is that amassing wealth only satisfies an individual’s self-interest but value creation is the 21^st century cultural pattern that does not only guarantee wealth but most importantly enhances the life of other individuals, organisations, nations and the World in the manner that Bill Gates has done with Microsoft Inc. and Larry Page with Google Inc. 

REVIVING OUR VALUE SYSTEM

 We must resuscitate our value system which is anchored on integrity, hardwork and enterprise. In this regard, I suggest that this should be entrenched as a constitutional role of our traditional institution. This would be a sure way out of the menace of corruption and general inefficiency.

We thank God for the new wave of awareness and enthusiasm that is being created in the mind of Nigerians at the moment by agencies including the National Orientation Agency (NOA). We urge the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to join the NOA to do more in this regard. This is quite strategic for us as it is said that the recognition of a problem is a basic step in solving such a problem.

CONCLUSION: NIGERIA - THE WORLD POWER-IN-WAITING

We should not dissipate so much energy on the past because we cannot buy it back. We should forgive ourselves and redirect our attention to build a new Nigeria.  The quest for national development is not a sprint but a marathon. In the quest to move forward as a people, we must be ready to endure many twists and turns and be ready to make individual sacrifices for this country. It was President John Fitzgerald Kennedy who said 'ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.' As stakeholders in the Nigerian project, each of us should carve out our own small piece of Nigeria in our workplace, home, church, mosque and make it the ideal of our dreams. By doing this, the sum of our individual efforts will add up to the Nigeria of our dreams. Yes, we can! Day by day, everything I see around me makes me believe Nigeria is the World power in-waiting. When a man decides to embark on a worthy venture, the gods would necessarily back him up.

Daniel Chimezie is a student, Author, Social Commentator and Co-Pilot, Project Change Initiative (PCI).

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Last week, we examined briefly the challenge facing the African student in an ever changing world. Before I start up, it is important to note that:

• The expected budgetary allocation by developing countries for education is a minimum of 26% as prescribed by UNESCO but countries in Africa  e.g. Cote D’Ivoire currently allocate 14% while Nigeria still struggles to attain 8.7% annually.

• In the 1970s and 1980s, the classroom used to be at par with the workplace. That is, academic curricula were enough to meet workplace demands.  This was before the fall of the Berlin wall, but currently the workplace stands far above what the classroom offers.

• 93% of girls in the north do not have access to secondary education.

A research showed that four hundred hiring executives of major Corporations were asked “Are students graduating from school ready for work?”. The executives collectively answered – “Not Really”

The study showed that students graduating from Secondary Schools, Technical Colleges and Universities are solely lacking in some basic skills and a large number of applied skills such as;

- Oral and written Communication -      Applying technology

- Critical thinking and problem -      Leadership and project management

- Professionalism and work ethics

- Teamwork and collaboration

- Working in diverse teams

These reports confirm that the “21st Century Skill Gap” is costing businesses a great deal of money. Some estimate that well over $200 billion a year is spent worldwide in funding and hiring scarce, highly skilled talent, and in bringing new employees up to required skilled levels through costly training programs. As budgets tighten further in tough economic times, companies need high competent employees, ready to hit the ground running without extra training and development costs.

The competitiveness and wealth of corporation and countries is completely dependent on having a well-educated workforce. Improving a country’s literacy rate by a small amount can have huge positive economic impact.

Educating the girl child, is a major solution to most developmental problems faced by third world countries.

- United Nations.

Education and human Capital development primarily play important roles on Society’s’ evolving stage.

• It empowers us to develop or personal characters, talents and skills.

• To build stronger families, healthier societies, which add up incredibly to sustained growth and development.

• Contribute to work and fulfillment of civic responsibilities.

• Carry our moral and cultural values forward.

As much as we are critically challenged with the African Educational System and the emotional and mental well being of most students, we must kick the change we desire for the sake our future families, society, work life and economy.

African Youths (students) must rise above this current state of mediocrity around us, above what lecturers, ministers, and the world at large has called us. Please take the bull by the horn, because our generation must pay the sacrifice for change. We must grow beyond the restrictive walls of the University system, develop ourselves with the requisite skills and tool sets for change and invest aggressively in our up growth to become globally competitive.

Education starts outside the classrooms.

Let’s get back to the drawing board and change the game plan.

You will succeed!!!

Obele Gospel Jesuite is the Chief Responsibility Officer- Project Change Initiative (PCI), and a proud 21st century development economist. He can be reached at 08130070991, Gospel_obele@yahoo.com

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London Stock Exchange

(Bloomberg)

The U.K. economy is heading for its fastest expansion since the onset of the financial crisis, economists said as they upgraded their forecasts for growth through 2015.
Gross domestic product will rise 1.3 percent this year and 2 percent in 2014, compared with predictions of 1 percent and 1.7 percent previously, according to the median of 48 economists in a monthly survey by Bloomberg News.

That pace of growth for next year would be the fastest since 2007, before the start of a slump that has left output more than 3 percent below its peak.
For Bank of England Governor Mark Carney, the question is how quickly this recovery can lower the country’s unemployment rate after he introduced forward guidance last month and linked the jobless rate directly to the policy stance.

That measure hasn’t yet been effective, according to more than two thirds of economists in a separate survey.
“The consensus forecast has moved a long way very, very quickly,” said Jens Larsen, an economist at RBC Capital Markets in London and a former BOE official.

“If you get a very powerful recovery, the arguments for guidance, for the extended period of low rates, just look so much weaker. It’s a bit of a communication challenge.”
The economists in the Bloomberg survey see GDP growth accelerating to 2.4 percent in 2015.

Consumer spending will rise 1.6 percent this year and in 2014, while exports will increase 1.8 percent and 4.7 percent.
Guidance Framework
Bloomberg reports that under its so-called forward guidance, the nine-member Monetary Policy Committee has said it won’t consider raising the benchmark interest rate from a record-low 0.5 percent until unemployment falls to 7 percent, which they don’t see happening until late 2016.
That projection is being challenged by recent data, and economists are more optimistic, with 19 of 31 forecasting that it will fall below the threshold before 2016.
Data this week showed the unemployment rate fell to 7.7 percent in the three months through July from 7.8 percent in the second quarter.

The labor-market report also showed that jobless claims in the past two months have fallen by the most since 1997.
Government figures today showed construction output, which accounts for 6.3 percent of the economy, climbed 2.2 percent in July.

In the second quarter, new building orders surged almost 20 percent from the previous three months, boosted by demand for homes as well as wind turbines and solar farms. Overall housing orders between April and June were the strongest since the fourth quarter of 2007.
Difference of Opinion
BOE policy makers say productivity will pick up as the economy recovers, meaning companies will get more output from their existing workers, which will limit the pace of hiring.

Carney said yesterday that a difference of opinion between the central bank and other forecasters is “natural.”
“The market had a more positive view of the rate at which unemployment will come down and a more pessimistic view of productivity,” he said at a hearing of the Treasury Committee, a panel of lawmakers that scrutinizes the BOE.
Economists’ more positive outlook for the U.K. follows economic growth of 0.7 percent in the three months through June as well as a continued strengthening of services and manufacturing this quarter.
- Thisdaylive

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Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh

Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, has called for the disbandment of the national body of the Academic Staff Union of University.

He described the methods adopted by ASUU as immoral and self-enrichment.

Okoh spoke in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Thursday, during the Standing Committee Meeting of the Bishops Conference of the church.

He   said, “The government should find a way either to privatise the universities or get ASUU to be limited to individual universities such that there will be no national ASUU body mandating even institutions without grievances to go on strike.

“There is no such body anywhere in the world. Challenges facing any institution should be treated locally without involving others.

“While the ASUU strike lasts, university lecturers are busy teaching in private universities (most of which lack lecturers) and earning money and when the strike is over, they will still be paid for the period of the strike.

“This is highly immoral and must be discouraged.”

He commended the strides of President Goodluck Jonathan in the areas of road network, turn around maintenance of airports, railways and power supply.

As a short term measure, Okoh urged government to accede to the demands of ASUU, describing the academic, moral and social implications of the strike as enormous.

He cautioned politicians about working for external detractors who had earlier predicted the disintegration of Nigeria in 2015.

He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure honesty and transparency while discharging its responsibility to the nation.

“INEC should rise above regional, ethnic, religious partisanship and deliver to Nigerians, the truth, the whole truth and nothing short of that,” Okoh said.

The cleric insisted that despite the ongoing power-play, leaders must maintain the unity of the country.

He appealed to the youths to avoid violence and other political vices while taking part in politics ahead of 2015.

Okoh said, “We make a sincere appeal to politicians as they plan, disagree, challenge one another and engage in high political maneuvering, to ensure that the entity called Nigeria is spared from harm.

“We should not walk into the traps of our external detractors who had already predicted a break-up of the country in 2015.”

“We appeal to our youths to take part in politics but steer clear of political thuggery. You should not allow yourselves to be used for assassination, arson, kidnapping, maiming, looting, intimidation of opponents.

“Don’t die for any political party or any candidate because Nigeria needs you tomorrow.”

- The Punch

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