Nollywood should recognize that Oscar’s Academy Award is in the business
of promoting Hollywood and swelling the bank account of its people.
Nollywood has been phenomenal, within a span of ten years it has replaced
Hollywood as the second largest movie producers, while Bollywood of India
continued to take the first place. Nollywood is gradually but steadily
becoming a business competitor to Hollywood in Africa, if not beyond.

In profitability and superb organizational structure, Hollywood runs
supreme. As noted by Slate: In 2004, “the six major studios—Disney, Fox,
Warner Bros., Paramount, Universal, Sony, and their subsidiaries—had total
revenues of $7.4 billion from world box-office sales, $20.9 billion from
world video sales, and $17.7 billion from world television licensing.”
Hollywood is very profitable and entertaiment industry gives United States
its second largest foreign revenue. And Hollywod cultural influence, as a
leverage for soft power cannot be overemphasised.

In comparison, “Nigeria’s Nollywood is the third largest film industry
worldwide right behind Hollywood in the US and India’s Bollywood. Its
filmmakers have mastered the art of producing entertaining popular media
with low production costs and high revenue gains. According to Black
Enterprise, Nollywood produces more than 2000 moves each year and brings
in $250 million in profit.” as Charlotte Young wrote in Madamenoire.
Nollywood has the potential to be a global juggernut akin to Hollywood but
more work must done in establishing legal frameworks and entertaiment
infrastructures including copy write laws, protection of intellectual
property and adequate distribution centers.

First of all, it makes sense to explain how foreign movies are nominated
for Oscar awards. The first thing to do is to submit a movie or movies for
nominations. Secondly, lobby the Academy Board for selection and when
nominated go further and intensify the lobbying to get the voters to
support the movie. The later may require hiring a Hollywood agent in order
to make it possible.

Without any inquiry and probing, I have the hunch that energetic
Nollywood film makers will definitely submit movies for consideration.
For now that is good enough for Nollywood for only time will take care of
being part of the nominations and winners.

Nollywood film will never be selected or win Oscar award unless it has a
Hollywood connection and by this I mean financial or monetary interest.
Nollywood has not even recognized how powerful she is becoming, for
Nollywood poses a business threat to Hollywood especially in Africa and
developing nations. What Nollywood did in Africa and beyond was to
displace Hollywood by telling the stories average Africans can identify
with and not some tinseltown stories that are quite far away from African
experience and cultural make-up.

Nollywood has captured the spirit and soul of Africa on a motion picture.
The Nollywood is antithetical to the Hollywood early movies that make
mockery of Africa by distorting her humanity with comical and disparaging
projections. The Nollywood experience is a resourceful mouthpiece for the
old and new Africa – the good, bad, rich, poor, and of course the
authentic Africa which is rooted on African perspective. Nollywood stands
for something beyond just making movies but a movement that illustrates,
defines and captures Africa’s sense and sensibility without seeking for
permission or apology unlike African polity.

The introduction of the category for Oscar nomination for Best Foreign
Language Film started in 1956. The much older and established Bollywood
has been submitting their movies from 1957 to the present day. With all
the movies submitted, Bollywood has only been nominated for three movies
and none has ever won.

Nollywood has every attribute just like Hollywood to give it an
international acceptance. Nollywood have the glitz, gossip, brains and
beauty; and Nollywood stars are gaining name recognition in the world. The
works of and faces like Genevieve Nnaji, Nkem Owoh are gaining a growing
acceptance in the film world. In nearest future many Nollywood stars will
be invited to become part of Hollywood because of the enormous talents,
moreover there is money to be make in Nollywood’s Nigeria and Africa. It
is already happening in the music industry, you have many American
musicians collaborating with P Square and D’Banji.

With Africa’s exploding population and purchasing power, time is on the
side of Nollywood. The time is not distant away when Hollywood will
beckons Nollywood for collaboration and partnership. Nollywood must be
persistence and must not relent on her quest to entertain the world.

Emeka Chiakwelu, Principal Policy Strategist at Afripol. Africa Political
& Economic Strategic Center (AFRIPOL) is foremost a public policy center
whose fundamental objective is to broaden the parameters of public policy
debates in Africa. To advocate, promote and encourage free enterprise,
democracy, sustainable green environment, human rights, conflict
resolutions, transparency and probity in Africa. www.afripol.org
info@afripol.org

Minister of Finance - Okonjo-Iweala

In case of Nigeria there is no way one can isolate or divorce politics from the economy. The growth and sustainability of the country’s GDP is rooted on political stability or lack of it. While the economy is making some gains, the politics can be likening to the second law of thermodynamics, which is characterized by increasing disorder and instability. Nigeria’s economy in spite of its gain was still derailed by the state of the politics. The instability and rumblings in the country especially in northern Nigeria; where senseless and continuous bombings by
the strange religious group Boko Haram have proven that these actions are not conducive for vibrant and sustainable economic growth.

According to the numbers coming from The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the country’s Gross Domestic product (GDP) was impressive at estimated annual growth of over six percent. The problem with the statistics of NBS is that many financial and economic leaders are back peddling in the endorsement of the numbers from NBS. Notwithstanding, there is a threshold of evidence to justify the stipulated economic growth especially the consumer spending and confidence. Just like any other thing
in Nigeria the so called empirical tabulations coming from NBS may not be backed with authentic scientific procedure and verifiable methodology.

By any standard the above six percent economic growth is not bad at all especially when compare to the weak global growth that stood at less than 3 percent. Even Obama’s United States has seen one of its weakest GDP growths that barely rise to 2 percent. Therefore Nigeria’s economy is hovering and cruising at a bullish rate.

The major problem with Nigeria’s phenomenal growth is its inability to create jobs for millions of Nigerians, who are without jobs. Majority of the population are being swallowed by serious poverty and abject poverty that is steadily creeping into many homes in Nigeria. Those that have it worst are the youths who have the most recorded unemployment number in the
country. The national unemployment number given by The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) cannot be accepted, due to incoherent collection of date especially in the rural areas where vast majority of Nigerians dwell.

According to Vanguard, “The percentage of labour force that is without job is alarming while the army of the underemployed youths is frightening. Apart from the figures released early this year by the National Bureau of Statistics, which puts unemployment rate in 2011 at 29.3 per cent, the situation has over the years grown from bad to worse. From 2006 until
2011, the unemployment rate averaged 14.60 per cent, reaching an all time high of 23.90 per cent in December of 2011 representing about 20.3 million Nigerians who are currently jobless.

The situation which was put at about 71 per cent early this year would have rocketed to over 75 per cent, throwing even some of the hitherto employed out of jobs. The matter is compounded daily as higher institutions churn out fresh graduates to add to the already saturated labour market.”

Another major change coming to Nigeria’s economy is the rebasing with new methodology of calculation that will catapult the economy up to 40-60 percent. At the moment Nigeria nominal GDP stood at $247 billion as for 2011 according data from IMF. But with the rebasing the economy will be
reaching up to $395.2, this will put Nigeria on the path of overtaking South Africa’s $422 billion economy in near future as the largest economy in Africa. This is a cosmetic change without any direct effect on the populace. But the new image will probably make Nigeria more noticeably and may even attract investments.

The new rebased economy will move Nigeria from the 40th largest economy to a 30th position. But even with that Nigeria will not make it to the twenty largest economies by 2020 as it envisioned and planned with its 2020 vision. The plan to become among the twenty largest economies by the year
2020 was poorly strategized and feebly implemented. The instability, not-so-well macroeconomic fundamentals and poor infrastructures are the barriers to the lofty goal.

Nigeria must put her attention and energy on solving the real issues of poverty and unemployment in the country not on make-believe adventures that she is not ready or equipped for.

Even you are hiding under a cave, almost most everybody has heard about Ph.D Nigerians who were applying for a truck driver positions at Dangote Group of Companies. The number of joblessness which can even be higher as stated above, is an alarming number and should serve as a clarion call to
policy makers and politicians that all is not well in the house of
Nigeria. This is not the time to point fingers of blame to higher academic institutions for turning out graduates. After all education is the key for industrial development of a nation. Therefore it is not prudent and productive to blame the victims and academic institutions for doing their jobs. In Adam Smith’s Wealth of a Nation, he propounded the theory of division of labor. Adam Smith stipulated and argued, if not drive the
point home that each sector and department of an institution must involve in co-dependency for a productive outcome.

Coming back again to political economy, in the relationship between politics and economy, no nation can thrive in economic stability with majority of its youths without jobs. The overflowing energy and restive state of the energetic youths cannot be managed without jobs for them. The problem of bombings, terrorism and kidnappings can be significantly
reduced with gainful employments of the youths.

The macroeconomic policy and its implementation may be said to be fairly stable. The application of the monetary policy and the outcome from Central Bank of Nigeria has been stable for a while. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under leadership of Sanusi has failed to deliver as they promised to keep inflation rate under less than 10 percent. The yearly inflation rate was above 12 percent. At the fourth quarter of 2012 inflation rate ended at 12.3 percent in December from previously 11.3 percent in October.

Sanusi’s Central Bank of Nigeria by now has hit a roadblock with
tightening of monetary tool to mop liquidity in order to checkmate inflation. But that has not been really successful and application of monetary policy as a tool to combat inflation has appeared to be waning. The benchmark interest rate as of fourth quarter of 2012 stood at 12 percent. CBN was instructed by IMF to cool off its aggressive application of monetary tool by steadily jacking up interest rate.

Apart from the devastating impact of the flood in 2012 that destroyed properties, displaced inhabitants and killed many people: The weakness of the relationship between monetary and fiscal policies cannot be overemphasized, which made the fight to lower inflationary activity much complex. There should be an effective coordination between the fiscal policy coming from the executive and monetary policy coming from the
Federal Reserve Bank. Taxation and incentives can be used as tools to attract capital and consolidate economic growth.

Nigeria is gradually but steadily accumulating foreign debts by
increasingly borrowing from international financial institutions. It is paramount that the accumulated loans are invested in the areas of the economy that needs to be improved for further wealth creation. The building of infrastructures including modern roads, bridges and provision of clean drinking water and steady electricity are necessary infrastructures for economic development and elevation of the nation’s
wellbeing. The wealth of a nation endures and flourishes with the provision of the existential necessitates for optimum living and productivity.

Nigerian government has an important role to play in the development of her nation. The path to economic development, sustainable growth and stability are paved with discipline, hard work and 2020 vision. Government does not necessarily create jobs but must be an enabler for economic growth by protecting life and property. This implies that there must be a
credible roadmap to maintaining stability. The social and physical infrastructures must be present for development to make any headway and to be sustainable.

Electricity, roads, railways, and security infrastructures are tools for upward economic growth and development. Government must do more beyond being an impartial referee and tax collector.

Emeka Chiakwelu, Principal Policy Strategist at Afripol. Africa Political & Economic Strategic Center (AFRIPOL) is foremost a public policy center whose fundamental objective is to broaden the parameters of public policy debates in Africa. To advocate, promote and encourage free enterprise, democracy, sustainable green environment, human rights, conflict resolutions, transparency and probity in Africa. www.afripol.org
info@afripol.org

Fareed Zakari

By Emeka Chiakwelu| NNP | Dec. 21, 2012 - Fareed Zakaria belongs to a class

of public figures that needs no introduction in this increasingly smaller global village. But for those
who are hiding under a rock and in caves, Fareed Zakaria is the United
States television personality and newspaper columnist. Zakaria is the host
of CNN worldwide programme, Fareed Zakaria GPS. Zakaria is an Indian
immigrant to United States with a PH.D from Harvard University. He is
astute and intelligent commentator on political economy.

Zakaria was in Nigeria on a invitation from Airte, a Nigerian based
business entity to speak on the company’s so called “Night of influence”.
Zakaria presentation was on Africa’s political economy with concentrated
emphasis on Nigeria, the country of his host. Say anything about Fareed
Zakaria but you cannot accuse him of being timid or beat around the bush,
he does not hold back because he is intellectually honest and calls it the
way he sees it. Zakaria does Nigeria good when he told Nigerians that
time has come to embark on developing a new economy based on human capital
and not on natural resources. Now he is talking about the economy of 21st
century.

Zakaria without a doubt is a brilliant man and his writings are superb
especially in his understanding of global political economy. But when he
was accused of plagiarism, I knew that Zakaria would survive because he is
real and does not suffer foolish pride.  But sometimes I do pathway from
his logic; for example during the United States 2012 super bowl, he
mentioned most of the countries that their citizens were playing in the
bowl, but for some reason he skipped Nigeria. Was it intentional or maybe
I am reading too much meaning to that?

Again in one of his numerous commentaries, Zakaria was thrilled that
Eurozone Central Banker Mario Draghi, who is President of Europe Central
Bank was mimicking his American counterpart Ben Bernake’s monetary policy
with over flowing liquidity to the credit crunch European capital market,
without putting into account that such a sudden flood of liquidity may
induce inflation, even double dip recession.

Well enough of the interlude, let’s return to Zakaria paper presentation
in Nigeria.

In his presentation in Nigeria, Zakaria spoke with vim and intellectual
clarity that he was accustomed to with these words: “There is so much
human talent in Africa and in Nigeria. These talents need to be unlocked
through education. It is an irony that countries experiencing high GDP
growth are countries without natural resources. Look at Taiwan. What they
have is typhoon… they do not have any natural resources; yet, they have
managed to emerge as one of the countries with the highest GDP growth
rate.”

These words are loaded because he did his home work very well on Nigeria
and understood quite well that Nigeria shaky economic foundation is rooted
on soft blocks of impaired vision and misappropriation of priorities. The
country that was endowed with doyen human capital more than its natural
resources has failed to take advantage of her human capital: invest,
develop and leverage it to create wealth and uplift herself with a bigger
national cake and larger GDP. Instead Nigeria has bucked down on export of
crude oil and squandered its returns on depreciating materials. Zakaria
reminded Nigeria what she ought to be doing, particularly in education of
her masses and getting them ready and intellectually equipped to compete
in the economy of 21st century.

The economy of 21st century will not be powered by natural resources
rather by human capital that is sufficiently and effective trained to
create wealth and attract capital. The understanding of modern technology
and its application is the bedrock of economic development in 21st
century. When a nation educates her people, she has progressively lifted
her people from ignorance and apathy that are antithetical to freedom and
enlightenment that are needed for massive wealth creation. The
investments in public and social infrastructures are major pillars of
progress in the match to win the future. Construction of modern roads and
bridges, provision of security infrastructure are basis for protection of
life and property which in return create the conducive environment for
attraction of capital and sustainable of the created wealth.

Many has called Nigeria problem an “oil curse” but Nigeria is more or less
can be liken to a spoiled brat that frivolously throw away his seed money,
and without planting any seed, there will be no harvest. Nigeria suppose
to leverage her revenue from oil to develop her country but she chooses to
party away her resources and time, due to paucity of vision, intellectual
laziness and overriding corruption.

The greatest path to a country’s greatness is through education. By
investing in your people, training and educating them in the jobs and
technology of 21st century, a future can be won. When a country
understands that creation of sustainable wealth starts by investing and
developing its human resources into a marketable and superior human
capital that enable creation of wealth to be leveraged and sustainable.
Instead Nigeria has a distain for educating her people and making
investment on her people secondary while making the exploitation of her
natural resources primary. This buttressed that Nigeria has her priority
upside down.

Nigerian leadership is quick to give excuse by saying that the country is
a young nation and its democracy is still in the incubation, therefore
Nigeria must not be compared to developed nations like USA, Japan or
Germany. But take a look at South Korea, Malaysia, Tawian – these are
nations that Fareed Zakaria rightly reminded Nigerians that without
quantifiable natural resources these nations have become the center of
action with massive wealth creation and soaring GDP. These nations without
natural resources but with well developed human resources are gradually
creeping into the first world with their intimidating GDPs and high export
orientated economies.

What are lessons for Nigeria to learn? Nigeria must be willing to do the
right thing. Build an educated work force that can compete with any part
of the world. Nigeria must work on the provision of reliable energy
principally electricity and petrol. With developed human resources and
available natural resources, Nigeria will stand up and be counted.

Dr. Fareed Zakaria was right on the money with his counsel to Nigeria. But
are they willing to listen? The continuous relying on oil export is
quickly becoming outdated, and with United States about to join the league
of oil exporting nations as the largest oil producer even more than Saudi
Arabia, it is time for Nigeria to choose the path to a victorious future.
A word is enough for a wise.

Emeka Chiakwelu, Principal Policy Strategist at Afripol. Africa
Political & Economic Strategic Center (AFRIPOL) is foremost a public
policy center whose fundamental objective is to broaden the parameters
of public policy debates in Africa. To advocate, promote and encourage
free enterprise, democracy, sustainable green environment, human rights,
conflict resolutions, transparency and probity in Africa.
www.afripol.org info@afripol.org

By Emeka Chiakwelu | NNP | Sept. 15, 2012 -

We all wake up one bright morning; the next thing we heard was that
Sanusi’s Central bank of Nigeria (CBN) will introduce a 5,000 naira
banknote in the circulation in nearest future. The most perplexing
question that begs for an answer is when and why CBN arrive to this
decision to print such a large denomination without adequate consultation
and research analysis. Although CBN is an autonomous institution, it
still own certain explanation to Nigerians on the strategic importance
and impacts of its decision and on how the country can benefit from it.

Sanusi’s CBN have for a while been worried about the increasing
inflationary trend in the economy. To that effect the country’s reserve
bank has gone about it by raising the interest to more 12 percent to
combat rising inflation. Now in a split of second they chose to rubbish
their good work with this incoherent policy decision. By printing a large
denomination of naira notes, the value of the naira will nosedive while
inflation will gain momentum and that can be disastrous to the economy.

Sometimes, our policy makers especially those of them that are making
important financial decisions act like those that do not grasp the
fundamentals of monetary and macro economic theories. One cannot quench
a burning fire by throwing kerosene into it. How can you tame inflation
by application of tools that will make it worse than before? I am totally
disappointed with Central Bank of Nigeria.

Zimbabwe Effect
Does Nigeria desire to make naira become worthless akin to Zimbabwe
currency that is miserably worthless? Is Nigeria policymakers ever ‘chill
out’ and think critically on how their decisions may destroy the house
they are trying to build. These impulsive financial and monetary decisions
were what wrecked the economy of Zimbabwe. Nigeria is tilting to the path
of Zimbabwe economic gulag where hyperinflation and incoherent economic
decision will doom the nation’s economy.

It may be incredulous to believe but it was in a record that Zimbabwe
printed the largest banknote denomination of 1oo trillion dollar bill.
Zimbabwe with its fool’s decision demolished their agricultural based
economy with massive inflation. And restore to printing large banknotes to
control inflation which made worst of the situation.

Nigeria has everything going for it in terms of steady influx of foreign
exchange it derived from the continuous sale of oil. Even with that
phenomena naira is still soft and malleable when compared to other similar
economies of Nigeria’s standard. Most of country‘s problems from their
quick and unsound decisions that comes from their political and policy
makers come from the country’s supposedly best and brightest who should
have known better.

Nigeria has produced capable men and women that can affirmatively
transform their countries. Yet Nigeria is obsessed from getting counsel
from international bodies that are not working on the interest of the
country. No one is implying or accusing any international body of making
Nigeria to print large bank notes, but one thing for sure, self doubt and
self negation made Nigeria to sort advice from outsiders whom they
believed that are more intellectually superior to them.

There are perilous cultural and economic ramifications that may likely
come from the printing and introduction of 5,000 naira note into the
circulation. First and foremost it will be an inducement for Nigeria to
progressively print larger banknotes, today it is 5,000 and next time it
will be 10,000 naira note until naira become worthless.

The cultural implication is quite enormous; already Nigeria has a problem
with corruption, money laundering and bribery. The large banknotes will
be a powerful facilitator for bribery and corruption and that is not the
intended purpose of CBN. It will not make it easier for the fight against
corruption to see the light of the day.

Finally, the so-called cashless society that CBN is gearing up to
implement may not materialise by printing more currency with large
denominations. It is illogical to be printing such a large note, while
simultaneously setting up a cashless system, for that is an apex of
irrationality.

Emeka Chiakwelu, Analyst and Principal Policy Strategist at Afripol
Organization.Africa Political and Economic Strategic Center (Afripol) is
foremost a public policy center whose fundamental objective is to broaden
the parameters of public policy debates in Africa. To advocate, promote
and encourage free enterprise, democracy, sustainable green environment,
human rights, conflict resolutions, transparency and probity in Africa.
<http://afripol.org.strategist@afripol.org>

By Emeka Chiakwelu | NNP | Sept. 3, 2012 -

Femi Otedola has taken Zenon Petroleum and Gas to its greater heights in
the area of petroleum products marketing and distribution. As the
president and chief executive officer, he has accomplished tremendous task
of making Zenon a household name in Nigeria and beyond.

The global respected capitalistic and flagship journals including Forbes
magazine and Wall Street Journal have noted the growth and stellar
achievements of Zenon Petroleum & Gas Limited. And Mr. Otedola has been
recognized and noted as among the new crop of business executives in the
global emerging economies. Otedola was not alone in this recognition, many
of African business executives including Aliko Dangote, Nicky Oppenheimer
and many others are also in that category.

Zenon Petroleum & Gas can play a vital role in oil and gas industry
especially in the areas necessary for Nigeria’s economic growth. Beyond
its primary role of marketing and distribution of petroleum products,
Zenon can get involved in exploration and refining of oil and gas in
Nigeria. With the level of expertise and technology Zenon has acquired
over the years, it should be a leap forward for the company to diverse
into oil refining.

Zenon has what it takes to make a strategic move in exploration and
refining of oil and gas in Nigeria. There are many opportunities in the
energy industry especially in oil refining at this point in time. Lately,
Nigeria has been having problems with oil subsidy issue with deepening
subsidy scandal. All these would have been averted with functioning
ingenious oil refineries. The country’s state of affairs can be
attributed to the poor and under performances of local oil refineries.
With increasing refined oil importation, precious and needed foreign
exchanges in billions of dollars are transferred abroad, simultaneously
breeding corruption, scandal and cronyism.

Nigeria must encourage local companies to take advantage of the
opportunities in the energy industry especially in petroleum refining. It
is important that private industries in Nigeria to participate in this
industry for needed energy availability. First and foremost, it will bring
jobs to our unemployed and underemployed work force. Private industries
are more efficient than government in operating business entities due to
lack of crony capitalism, in addition massive inefficiency is associated
with government run companies.

One can successful argue that if the Kaduna and Port Harcourt refineries
were private owned, they would have been more efficiently managed and even
profitable. This is why that it is important that local companies like
Zenon should step in with its expertise in sound management and show how
it is done.

Nigeria‘s answer to the shortage of refined petroleum is to increase the
number of indigenous refineries. Zenon can diverse in the energy industry
and get into oil refinery. It will be natural path to be taken when it
decides to take advantage of the strategic opportunities in oil refinery.

Femi Otedola has already shown his business capability and acumen in the
way he took Zenon and made it a trusted, prompt and reliable entity.
Otedole is a strategic asset because he understood oil and gas industry
and he is a globally recognized top manager. His expertise and experience
can be a powerful check on the underlying risk of oil refinery and
exploration.

Refinery and exploration of petroleum are high capital intensive
especially in Africa, where sources of finance are limited.
Notwithstanding, the environment for raising capital are progressively
getting better. Many foreign entities and financial institutions can
partner with local companies that are promising. Therefore Zenon can
breakthrough because it a globally recognized entity that has shown good
prospect and positive balance sheet.

Another major source of raising money is to go public and Nigeria Stock
Exchange is becoming a meaningful capital market for raising capital for
company’s growth. Otedola’s Zenon should take the advantage in oil
exploration and refinery as a diversification pathway for strategic growth
and development.

Emeka Chiakwelu, Analyst and Principal Policy Strategist at Afripol
Organization. Africa Political and Economic Strategic Center (Afripol) is
foremost a public policy center whose fundamental objective is to broaden
the parameters of public policy debates in Africa. To advocate, promote
and encourage free enterprise, democracy, sustainable green environment,
human rights, conflict resolutions, transparency and probity in Africa.
http:// afripol.org.strategist@afripol.org

By Emeka Chiakwelu | NNP | August 4, 2012 -

Big talks can be consequential and when managed properly with necessary
implementation it can bear fruit. Henry Kissinger’s big talks pioneered
the policy on Détente with fruitful results on SALT (strategic arms
limitation talks) and the Helsinki Accords. It even gave birth to the
President Nixon’s opening of China and Henry Kissinger as the United
States Secretary of States and the chief facilitating strategist.

It is important to give these instances to buttress that words can have
consequential meaning when executed properly and given the opportunity to
germinate on a fertile ground.

Nigeria is in a delicate trajectory point but has not reached what
physicist calls an “Escape velocity” which literally means a point of no
return. Not yet! Nigeria can be salvaged even make whole again when
patriots and lovers of stability vow to restore the country to her lost
glory of 1970s and early 80s.

The former leaders of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida may
be up to something that maybe the beginning of the solution to the
eradication of the ills of insecurity and terrorism engulfing Nigeria.
But only time will measure the efficacy and effectiveness of their
commitments to their words.

Words are powerful and initiation of any viable project starts with words
and in this case “big talk” that could produce big result. The joint
statement highlighted an important statement below that cannot be divorced
from a nation in quest for progress and development:

“We need to reiterate that no meaningful development can ever occur in an
atmosphere of violence and hatred. History has shown that any society that
is built on the structures of violence and intolerance cannot prosper. We
need to appreciate that, God in His infinite mercy, has blessed our
country with abundant resources and talents, but we need peace and harmony
to harness them not just for our own well being but also that of our
children and grandchildren. We owe this future generations of Nigerians
this much.”

This is the truth about nature and on the progress of a nation: without
peace and stability no nation can rise to become a developed entity.
Without doubt, Nigeria is resources rich including natural and human
capitals but without stability her quest of joining the family of
industrial nations will become a mirage.

Truth must be told, the most important function of government is the
protection of life and property and when those are found wanting the
potential of a nation cannot be realized.

Nigeria has formed the habit of begging foreign investors to send their
capitals especially in the non-oil sector of the economy. Inspite of the
public relation and campaigning which is anchored on rebranding by Federal
government of Nigeria, investors do their feasibility studies before
sending their precious capital to the country.

Nigeria must deal with this perception that the country is unstable, for
it is not good for business. Nigeria is losing billions of dollars to
tourists who have the desire to visit Nigeria but are deter by the
insecurity and fear that is checkmating the country’s progress and
development.

Obsanjo and Babangida are right on the money to re-engage citizens of
Nigeria on this emerging trend: “A deeply worrying trend that is emerging
from this terrible situation is that a pervasive cynicism is beginning to
set in, so much so that millions of true Nigerian patriots are starting to
question the platform upon which the unity of this country rests. This is
simply untenable. The people of this country must not allow whatever sense
of frustration, fear and despair we are experiencing now to supersede our
hopes for a collective destiny which lies in our continued existence as a
nation. For us, and we believe for millions of other Nigerians, the
continued unity of this nation is not only priceless but non-negotiable.”

Nigerians as citizens should and be able to live in any part of country
without fear of being look as an intruder and unacceptable. When we lose
that bond and glue that hold us together the saltiness will lose its
taste.

It is imperative that men and women of goodwill must come together and
take a stand on the state of the nation. By this joint statement, former
presidents Obsanjo and Babangida have started the “big talk” and the rest
is on Nigerians to listen without being cynical and produce affirmative
results.

Emeka Chiakwelu is the Principal Policy Strategist at Afripol
Organization. Africa Political and Economic Strategic Center (Afripol) is
foremost a public policy center whose fundamental objective is to broaden
the parameters of public policy debates in Africa. To advocate, promote
and encourage free enterprise, democracy, sustainable green environment,
human rights, conflict resolutions, transparency and probity in Africa.
http://afripol.org. strategist@afripol.org

Minister of Finance - Okonjo-Iweala

By Emeka Chiakwelu | NNP | April 6, 2012 -

It will be simply splendid! Splendid indeed  to have a Nigerian woman
become the president of the World Bank.  Three frontline nations and
economic powerhouse in Africa – South Africa, Angola and of course Nigeria
have endorsed her for this important post. Nigeria has even gone further
and has managed to get the African Union to stand by her. To buttress how
serious the country of her birth is committed to Ngozi Okonjo-Iweal,
Nigerian diplomatic mission in Washington DC has started lobbying other
foreign diplomats to support her.

The truth is that Nigeria’s Okonjo-Iweal has strong competitors to the
position and it will take more than qualification and credentials to
topple those two other gentlemen. To be frank, the most compelling
competitor is Dr. Jim Yong Kim, a Korean American nominated by President
Barrack Obama. The other gentleman Mr. Jose Antonio Ocampo, is a Columbian
who can be called a Latin American candidate. Jose Antonio Ocampo is also
a good candidate; he is a college professor and a former finance minister
in Columbia. The Latin American candidate, Jose Antonio Ocampo is in the
process but we all have a feeling that he will not get the
position,because United States has an upper hand in the hemisphere.

Without mincing words, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is the most qualify to be
president of the World Bank. She has the resume, the requisitive education
and experience to head the Brentwood institution. To top it all, she has
worked for the World Bank for 25 years and she has hands on experience.
She understands  the philosophy, architecture and the nature of the job.
She did not need anybody on the first day of her job to show her the
cafeteria, conference room, library and the rest of the building.
Okonjo-Iweala already knows the names of the most of the senior staff
working in the building.

But it takes more than resume and experience to get the position. This is
a political position that requires more than having a doctorate in
economics from Ivy League college. United States needs the position to be
able to pilot her international affairs with regards to democratic
dispensation and capitalism. It would have been better if President Obama
has nominated Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. But Nigeria as a nation has poor
branding, despite being an oil-rich nation and Nigerian constituency in
America have not yet started flexing their voting and political muscle.

You are beginning to get the idea: Yes, few months ago Okonjo-Iweala was
the managing director of World Bank before she returned home to become the
minister of finance and economic coordinator for President Jonathan’s
administration. Before that she has been vice-president and corporate
secretary at World Bank. Her stiff competitor Dr. Jim Yong Kim, the
American nominee does not have a vast and ample experience like her in
global economics and granulated management.

Yong Kim, who is currently the president of Dartmouth College, is a
medical doctor by training and does not enjoy adequate sophistication on
international economics and finance, unlike Dr. Okonjo-Iweala who has her
doctorate and experience in the field.

Jim Yong Kim has couple of things going for him; he is from a minority
population group in United States, Korean community. That will help for
America to counteract the argument that a candidate from emerging nation
is needed. Jim Yong Kim was born in South Korea before he migrated to
America for his advance and post graduate studies. He is an American
citizen who was born in a developing nation and economically emerging
market of South Korea. Moreover, at World Health Organization (WHO), he
has been known to be generous with his care giving and dedication to the
health of developing nations especially AIDS patients.

United States candidate has upper hand because since the inception of the
two Brentwood institutions: World Bank and IMF, United States has always
produced leaders of the World Bank while Europe takes over the leadership
of International Monetary Fund (IMF) leadership. The United States has the
most number of votes at the World Bank and together with its allies in
Europe, Japan and Saudi Arabia; it will have its way.

But “let not your heart be troubled”, hope is not all lost.  Nigeria’s
Okonjo-Iweal can still take it and win the position. It is possible but
Nigeria has to up her game and take the issue direct to United States and
Europeans. Nigeria must make her point direct and precise why it is
necessary for an African woman to land the World Bank apex job.

Nigeria and Okonjo-Iweala have made the point that the time has come for a
candidate from an emerging nation to lead the World Bank. The point must
be clearly established that Jim Yong Kim having been born in South Korea,
will not be equated as being acceptable to developing world.  For Yong Kim
is now representing the developed nations.

Nigeria’s Okonjo-Iweala might also made the argument that the time has
come to give a woman the opportunity to participate in global leadership.
And by electing her as president of World Bank can prove to the entire
world that women are to be taken serious, not just in talk but in action.
By having a woman from Europe as the head of International Monetary Fund
(IMF) and another woman from Africa as head of World Bank is the right
thing to do and reassure the global community that equality is here to
stay.

Good luck to Nigeria and Okonjo-Iweala!

Emeka Chiakwelu is the Principal Policy Strategist at Afripol
Organization. Africa Political and Economic Strategic Center (Afripol) is
foremost a public policy center whose fundamental objective is to broaden
the parameters of public policy debates in Africa. To advocate, promote
and encourage free enterprise, democracy, sustainable green environment,
human rights, conflict resolutions, transparency and probity in Africa.
http://afripol.org. strategist@afripol.org

Minister of Finance - Okonjo-Iweala

By Emeka Chiakwelu  | NNP  | April 1  | 2012    Nigeria finally got herself her very own Iron lady, Minister of Finance
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.  A lady with vim and enduring conviction that
believes that Nigeria’s greatness is attainable.

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is a patriot with nerve of steel and to her
Nigeria’s potential can be harnessed for the country’s greatness. 
Okonjo-Iweala plays an important and critical role in President Jonathan’s
economic team; she is the co-coordinator of the administration’s economic
team. Therefore as the issue of fuel removal subsidy and subsequent
agitation gained momentum, it became a normal occurrence to mention the
name of the minister of finance in everything to do with the subsidy
removal. To an alien from another planet without the knowledge of Nigerian
politics, it might conclude that she is the one running the country or she
is the godmother of Nigerian politics, but the reality is she’s neither.
She is only serving under the privilege of President Goodluck Jonathan,
who employed her to work for his administration.  Why then are they
jumping on her business and pointing the accusing finger to her?  The
answer to this question might be a tricky one.  There are many layers that
must be understood and dissected to properly answer the question.

Many do not understand the complexities and workings of international
finance and banking institutions in the global economy. The average
Nigerian may not distinguish or contrast the difference between IMF and
World Bank. Therefore knowing that Dr. Okonjo-Iweala came from the World
Bank they attribute so much power to her without knowing that her scope of
control and influence in the global finance and economics are quite
limited. Nigerians, having lived under the austerity measures of IMF in
1980s and 1990s, are skeptical of the powerful IMF and they believe that
Okonjo-Iweala is working together with IMF to implement neo-liberal
economic policies including price fuel deregulation which entails the
subsequent fuel subsidy removal. Nigerians have resorted to exaggerated
perspectives when discussing and talking about Okonjo-Iweala.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is academically brilliant, hardworking and ambitious.
Yes, she is ambitious.  You cannot attend the most powerful centers of
learning – Harvard, MIT and ends up being the managing director of the
World Bank in the absence of ambition. Nigerians are used to seeing
pretenders and pseudo-intellectuals who acquired advance degrees as tools
to exploit the nation and those who bought the degrees for showmanship.
Nigeria has few intellectual giants that are recognized all over the world
and that can stand on the international stage with the best.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala a committed citizen and patriot believe strongly in the
economic redemption of Nigeria. She has proven herself on how she goes
about her business especially in making sure that the Nigerian government
runs on transparency and probity. The work she did in the days of Paris
Club of Creditors’ payment was remarkable. Many of us might not see the
need for a poor country to transfer such enormous wealth to rich and first
world nations but we cannot deny her the enormous contribution she made in
paying off the debt and economic reforms she carried out for her country.
Iron lady Mindset
One of the most powerful British politicians and leaders was Margaret
Thatcher, the former prime minister of Britain. In the recent released
movie, Hollywood super star Meryl Streep, an academy award winner, played
the role of Margaret Thatcher. The movie once again reminded us again why
Margaret Thatcher was an indispensable prime minister who saved the
declining nation. She cut down on the social programs and trimmed down the
welfare British society.  She encouraged and supported free enterprise by
slashing tax rates, pay down debts and slow down trade deficits. All these
moves made by Lady Thatcher earned her the iron lady title.

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala although not a prime minster is following the
footsteps of Thatcher’s – love of country and the commitment to transform
a corrupt and a troubling nation. Okonjo-Iweala was given the task of
removing Nigeria from the Paris Club entanglement in 2006 by former
President Obasanjo and she did it well. This led to her becoming the first
iron lady of Nigeria.

Vulnerabilities
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala failed to define herself on Nigerian political
scene but allowed the current political situation and opposition to define
her.  Without doubt Nigeria is convincingly corrupt and some Nigerians
hold the perception that she is casting her lot with out-of-touch
leadership and masterly IMF. But that is not the truth, Okonjo-Iweala
stands with the poor masses of Nigeria but her perceived aloofness and
clueless colored the peoples judgment. And against the prevailing view not
all Nigerian leaders are corrupt.

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala a technocrat without much street adherence will
probably make her vulnerable to the Nigerian vindictive politics. Being a
technocrat is not the only requirement needed to transform a nation and a
people; understanding the politics and intricacies of a society is also an
advantage. The ability to convince the poor masses to trust programs and
personalities running the formulated agenda is quite essential to
accomplish the targeted goal. Okonjo-Iweala needs an effective
communication infrastructure in order to win the battle of public relation
against those that are committed to distort her image and her commitment
to her country.

Due to her visibility, outspokenness and co-ordination of the economic
team, most critics are blaming her for the sudden decision to remove the
fuel subsidy. But that is far from the truth because she does not own the
process nor is she the “de facto prime minister” as they choose to
describe her. Okonjo-Iweala is one of the ministers in the administration
and her power or sphere of influence is limited. She does not call the
shots and she does not make the final decisions for the administration.
Therefore she cannot be blamed for the removal of the fuel subsidy and the
unfavorable situation aftermath.
Emeka Chiakwelu is the Principal Policy Strategist at Afripol
Organization. Africa Political and Economic Strategic Center (Afripol) is
foremost a public policy center whose fundamental objective is to broaden
the parameters of public policy debates in Africa. To advocate, promote
and encourage free enterprise, democracy, sustainable green environment,
human rights, conflict resolutions, transparency and probity in Africa.
http://afripol.org.  strategist@afripol.org

Dr. Reuben Abati, Presidential Media Advisor

By Emeka Chiakwelu, NNP, Jan 18, 2012 -

the
presidency to convey his vision of Nigeria to the global village. The
presidency has a number of good spokespersons and public relation
practitioners at Aso but more must be done to bring in more handlers that
have global outlook. Global citizens of Nigerian heritage that can speak
the international language of diplomacy that can be easily be comprehended
by the entire world. Needed are those with touch of local inputs and
trappings; simultaneously transmitting global significance.

As an emerging and a frontline African nation, Nigeria has become an
active part of the economic-scio global village. The strategic importance
of Nigeria has grown tremendously that she must be prepared and become
seasoned on how she go about doing her business; especially on how she
reacts to events and the mechanism on the effective communication to the
rest of the world. The presidency is the mouthpiece of the country and any
utterances coming from Aso Rock are analyzed by the rest of the world
especially investors and diplomats. It is important that the spokesperson
and those in the affairs of communication in the presidency understand
crystal clear that the rest of the world hangs to every inch and breath of
words they said and every press release they issued. The consequences of
the words and press releases are numerous; they have monetary and
quantifiable ramifications. These can radically affect the image of
nation, the strength of naira in the exchange market and determine the
rate of influx of foreign investors. The bottom line is that words and
press releases have great meanings and cannot be taken lightly. The
process and procedure, the method and mechanism that a nation handles
events show how sophisticated and grown a nation has become. That in turn
will determine on how much trust that other nations and investors repose
on the nation. Take for instance the issue of Chinua Achebe rejection of
the national award was not properly handled. And that was a big talk that
needed to be given the highest priority.

Chinua Achebe’s Award debacle: A learning experience and teachable moment

Professor Chinua Achebe, the most influential African writer, a citizen of
the world and a respected voice in the world, rejected an award from
Nigeria. The issue is not so much that he turns down the national award
but on how Nigerian government handled the whole issue. First and
foremost, Professor Chinua Achebe is entitle to turn down any award
whether from Nigeria or from Nobel Prize committee. That is ‘no-brainer’
as Americans like to say but crust of the matter was in the handling of
the said award. The Federal government of Nigeria principally the minister
of foreign affairs in consultation with the presidency would have
dispatched the Nigerian Ambassador to United States and he would have
visited Honorable Achebe at his residence in America and talk to him about
Nigeria’s intention of honoring him.

In the private session Professor Achebe will be diligently explained on
how far the country has improved since the last time he rejected the
national award. At the moment the country with a new leadership of
President Goodluck Jonathan and many world respected technocrats including
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Lamido Sanusi and Professor Nnaji are steering
the country in a new and affirmative direction. If he insisted that he
must not accept the award then it will all end there and no another ear
will hear it, in that case the government will not put his name out there
and be embarrassed.

It will be a good thing and strategic victory for the government of
President Jonathan to convinced Professor Achebe to accept a national
award for it will give credibility and restores integrity to the national
award which in the eyes of many Nigerians has become an unmerited award
for well connected contractors, politicians and elites. On the
international scene the voice and the prestige of Chinua Achebe is simply
big, his acceptance of the Nigerian Award will return a level of goodwill
that it is badly needed by the country. At the moment the administration
and country are confronted with myriad of challenges including internal
insecurity and poor image; it needs any encourage it can garnish from
anywhere especially from this son of Africa Professor Achebe. The
assurance and support from Achebe can assure some quarters in the global
community.

Even when the federal government did not do its homework and things went
the way it did and Professor Chinua Achebe rejected the national award.
The handlers of public relation and communication in Aso Rock would have
geared into more sophisticated mode of repairing damage and damage control
not sending out brainy Dr. Ruben Abati to sound defensive. The more
effective defense to the debacle is to go into more humble communication
and acknowledged that Chinua Achebe is right on his assertion but the new
assertive government of President Goodluck Jonathan is on top of it. More
to it the handlers should have communicate more effective how passionate
the current administration is on solving the gigantic problems of the
country by giving example with the most viable and free election that was
conducted by the administration. The handlers must emphasis that the
election was accepted by both local and international observers as the
freest election ever conducted in the country.
Federal government of Nigeria should have said that the administration may
have been slipped-off in effective communication of their actions, agenda
and achievements but there was no laxity in their actions to right the
wrongs of the country.

Handling the threat of Boko Haram via effective communication

Apart from the security infrastructures set up by the administration to
defeat and bring to an end to this ugly situation (DESTRUCTION OF LIFE AND
PROPERTY) spurred by Boko Haram, effective communication and public
relation are quite essential condiments in victory over Boko-Haram-ism. It
is important that the government should effectively convey to the citizens
what the administration is doing inorder to arrest the ugly situation of
bombing that cheapen lives and destroy properties. When the people becomes
more confident on the apparatus and methodology employed by the government
they become co-partners in the battle by projecting confidence and
lowering the fear of the Boko Haram, which is the main intention of the
group in the first place. The most aggressive tool employed by Boko Haram
is fear and which impel the citizens to lose confidence in the government
to protect them.

The global community particularly the trading partners, diplomats and
investors must be reassured by the government that Nigeria is safe for
investment by constantly communicating to them through media and other
outlets . The economic growth of the country can be hampered when
investors are shaded from the progress made by the government and they
might recall back capital and investments. Therefore the government
spokesperson will constantly if not daily engaged in the business of
confidence-building and assurance.

The handlers and spokespersons at Aso Rock must be willing at all time to
reassure Nigerians and the world that Nigerian government is on top of the
situation. The more the people hear it, the more it boosts their trust in
the government. That in turn will stimulate the government’s sensibility
and the leadership becomes more encouraged that the people is behind them
and Boko Haram days will be numbered. Handling and managing crisis
commenced with effective communication by keeping people in the light and
never allow the opposing force to win the battle of instilling fear to the
masses.

Emeka Chiakwelu is the Principal Policy Strategist at Afripol
Organization. Africa Political and Economic Strategic Center (Afripol) is
foremost a public policy center whose fundamental objective is to broaden
the parameters of public policy debates in Africa. To advocate, promote
and encourage free enterprise, democracy, sustainable green environment,
human rights, conflict resolutions, transparency and probity in Africa.
http://afripol.org

By Emeka Chiakwelu, NNP- Jan. 6, 2012 -

The constructive criticism of the government of Obi cannot be perceived
by his administration as bitterness towards the governor. When mishaps,
bad policy and poor workings of the government are shaded from the light
of the day everyone becomes complicit to the process. And that is not
healthy for the emerging democracy in the state and in Nigeria. That is
why it is necessary to give kudos to the governor on his recent move to
restore the schools to the original owners.

Vanguard newspaper reported that, “The N6 billion will be shared among
the Catholic Church, Anglican Church and remaining government schools in
four installments. In the first installment, the Catholic Church, which
owns a lion’s share of 453 schools, will receive over N762 milion, while
its Anglican counterpart will get over N498 million. The remaining public
schools not taken from the churches will share over N489 million out of a
total of N1.75 billion. The second and third installments will gulp N1.25
billion each, while the fourth and last installment will cost the
government N1.75 billion.”

Majority of the schools were owned by religious institutions notably the
Catholic and Anglican Churches. The remaining schools were owned by
non-profit organization and private organizations. At the end of Nigerian
civil war the then government of East Central State in the cloak of the
implementation of the Universal free Education took over schools owned by
private and religious institutions.

Since the takeover of the schools by the government the management was
below the standard benchmark. The high benchmark quality set by
Christian’s administration and management was relegated to poor quality
and poor results. The worst of the all is the emergence of social
breakdown and social ills epitomized by gangs, hazing, criminality and
nefarious activities. The former schools of notably high morality, decency
and uprightness later decomposed and metamorphosed to den of robbers,
prostitutions and moral delinquency.

As those schools became government owned the teaching and upholding of
Christian mores, values and customs were abandoned. The saturation of
student’s minds with worldly and mundane values subsequently brought the
total breakdown of the requisites values needed to sustain a decent and
law abiding societies. The government was not interested in improving the
moral integrity of the pupils and students and the large segment of the
student body became wayward and criminals. In religious settings the
study of Christology was richly emphasized that became the basis to build
an orderly society.

Comrade Micheal Alogba Olukoya, President of National Executive Council,
National Union of Teachers (NUT) criticized the handover and said: “It is
a parody and travesty of governance that as the world moves progressively
toward mass education through public funding, the Governor of Anambra
State is all out to returning education to elitist project, undeserving
for the children of the poor masses.” But that is not necessarily the
prevailing case.

It must be noted that Christian schools had a history of taking care of
the poor and will not abandon the children of poor masses but rather help
to direct them in better direction for a successful lives.

Also, there were naysayers and cynical individuals that believed Governor
Obi did not turn over the schools for benevolent reasons. They were
adamant that the Governor Obi could not pay the new lawful approved
minimum wages; therefore he transferred the responsibilities to the
private sector.

But in supposedly federal system of government, decentralization enables
the state government to make the best possible decisions without
interference from outside. Anambra state has decided to give back schools
to the original owners and that is their prerogative and that’s how
federalism works. The government has been in the control of these schools
for over forty years and has not improved the moral integrity and
wellbeing of the poor masses. Let’s give the private sector the chance to
try something new and creatively original that may have better answers to
the societal problems.

Governor Peter Obi turning over the schools is justifiable in a democratic
society that needs the growth and development of a strong private sector.
The reality is that he handed the schools to the original owners and he
deserved the kudos for his thoughtful act.

Emeka Chiakwelu is the Principal Policy Strategist at Afripol
Organization. Africa Political and Economic Strategic Center (Afripol) is
foremost a public policy center whose fundamental objective is to broaden
the parameters of public policy debates in Africa. To advocate, promote
and encourage free enterprise, democracy, sustainable green environment,
human rights, conflict resolutions, transparency and probity in Africa.
http://afripol.org/    strategist@afripol.org