Nation-building requires heroes. A nation without documented heroes or comprehensive documentation of the lives and times of their heroes and heroines, will not succeed in positively impacting as many young ones as are needed to berth a great country. So, essentially, a good number of the world’s most successful countries are endowed by the nourishment and talents of their diverse population which ultimately produces heroes. Heroes have always played a crucial role in binding societies, offering courage, sacrifice, leadership, and moral integrity narratives. Whether real or mythical, these individuals provide nations with a sense of history, identity, unity, and shared…
Author: Richard Odusanya
On April 15, 1912, the RMS Titanic sank in the North Atlantic Ocean. The world’s largest and most luxurious ship, the Titanic was also one of the most technologically advanced. The ship had 16 watertight compartments designed to keep it afloat if damaged. This led to the belief that the ship was unsinkable. However, only four days into its maiden voyage, the Titanic struck an iceberg near Newfoundland, Canada. Her sinking two hours and forty minutes later at 02:20 ship’s time (05:18 GMT) on 15 April, resulted in the deaths of more than 1,500 people, making it one of the…
Happy posthumous 77th birthday to the great African leader, PAPA J. Jerry John Rawlings, a Ghanaian Air force Officer, aviator and politician who led the country for a brief period in 1979, and again from 1981 to 2001. He led a military junta until 1992, and then served two terms as the democratically elected President of Ghana. Gone but not forgotten, Rawlings’ enduring legacy remains indelible on his 77th posthumous Birthday. As an African patriot, I call us to remember our wakanda warrior, JJR. Rawlings is remembered for his efforts to combat corruption and promote social justice during his time…
It is important for us to seize the opportunity of the celebration of Eid Mubarak, “Blessed Feast/festival” to reflect on how the ideals and virtues of peace, harmony, brotherly love, selflessness, tolerance, honesty, fairness, justice and equity, taught by Islam and other religions, can be more extensively harnessed and deployed in addressing the developmental challenges and economic crises confronting our beloved country Nigeria. It is impossible to separate the present from the past to appreciate the extent to which mistakes of the past are affecting everyday life today. Albert Einstein once wisely said: “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge…
As we mark the 31st anniversary of June 12, my mind strayed to the past as I recall the events of that fateful day and most significantly the years after the day. Please permit me to share with you the profound words of Lyndon Baines Johnson, often referred to by his initials LBJ, an American politician who served as the 36th president of the United States from 1963 to 1969. He became president after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, under whom he had served as the 37th vice president from 1961 to 1963. Johnson emotionally posted: “our time we…
Let me share an example with the profound words of Theodore Roosevelt Jr. An American politician, statesman, conservationist, naturalist, and writer who served as the 26th president of the United States from 1901 to 1909. Teddy profoundly posited: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. Teddy continued: “The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again…
Yahaya Bello is a chicken hiding under the costume of a Lion. ‘Chicken Hearted Man’ pretending to be a Lion. The story of Yahaya Bello is laced with controversies. The phrase “the chickens are coming home to roost” is well-known and often attributed to African American, anti-imperialist, revolutionary leader Malcolm X following the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963. This refers, of course, to mean that the wrongs committed by an individual or political entity will likewise have a boomerang effect and come back to punish the wrongdoing party in a similar vein. First, Yahaya Bello is a PhD…
Let’s begin with the profound words of Bishop Mathew Kukah, Convener of the National Peace Committee. Bishop Kukah expressed his disappointment with the performance of Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, stating that the ex-governor has been a “poor advertisement” for what young people can achieve. Mathew Kukah eloquently posited: “I feel very sad because Kogi has been on the front burner and Yahaya Bello, the governor, prided himself on being the youngest governor and being a representation of what the youths of this country can do if they are given the opportunity,” Sadly, Bishop Kukah continued: “I think he’s been…
To move beyond our collective pain to a place of healing, we must begin by addressing the mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of Nigerians just as urgently as we put in place strategies for civic and economic renewal. As such, Federal and state support is vital. But because we are a nation divided and federal action has been slow in coming, comprehensive actions at the local and state levels show the greatest promise to save lives and promote widespread healing. Interestingly, we had a semblance of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), a body assembled in South Africa in…
Looking at Africa’s future through the lens of progress, evidence, foresight, and optimism – although It’s difficult to predict the future with certainty, several African countries have shown great potential for development. Countries like Ethiopia, Rwanda, Ghana, and Botswana have made significant strides in economic growth, infrastructure development, and social progress. Remarkably, Egypt, South Africa, and Nigeria are the top most powerful countries in Africa, according to US News and World Report’s 2019 power ranking. Several African countries, including Mauritius, Botswana, Cape Verde, Seychelles, and Rwanda, are known for good governance. These countries have made significant progress in political stability,…
Nigeria is blessed with vast natural resources and rich environments. It is generously endowed with productive land and valuable natural resources, which include renewable resources (such as water, forestry, and fisheries) and non-renewable resources (minerals, coal, gas, and oil). Natural resources dominate many national economies and are central to the livelihoods of the poor rural majority. These resources are the basis of income and subsistence for large segments of Nigeria’s population and constitute a principal source of public revenue and national wealth. Nigeria’s “Oil Curse” is a phenomenon called the ‘Resource Curse’. This is sometimes rendered as ‘The Paradox of…
Leadership anywhere should be about serving humanity (the people). To put it bluntly, a lack of self-control, discipline, and foresight is the crux of leadership challenges in our contemporary African society. In highlighting the political and economic governance challenges and opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa (the focus of this contribution, and the point of reference when using the term Africa), engaging in some form of generalization becomes inevitable. Essentially, ‘generalization’ is done with great caution, understanding that country-specific nuance should always trump monolithic narratives, and without implying that all African countries face the same issues. For example, Nigeria is a country…
Let us begin with the profound words of Chief Obafemi Jeremiah Oyeniyi Awolowo, a Nigerian nationalist and statesman who played a key role in Nigeria’s independence movement (1957–1960). Awolowo, in his book, “Voice of Courage” Awo, remarked as follows: Africa’s Dependence on Former Colonial Masters “Today, Africa is a continent of COMPETING BEGGAR-NATIONs. “We vie with one another for favors from our former colonial masters; and we deliberately fall over one another to invite neo- colonialists to come over to our different territories to preside over our economic fortunes…Unless a beggar resolutely shakes off and irrevocably turns his back on,…
Nationalism and patriotism can be thought of as consequences of national identity that represent positive evaluations of one’s group but imply different social goals. In the golden words of Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle, a French army officer and statesman who led the Free French Forces against Nazi Germany in World War II and chaired the Provisional Government of the French Republic from 1944 to 1946 to restore a republic in France. The former French President Charles de Gaulle summed it up best when he said: “Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; nationalism when hate…
Religion is a social phenomenon. It is a religion that is confusing, not God. Man-made religions. God did not! God is merciful and not difficult to please. Therefore, the biblical phrase “Do for others as you would have them do for you.” Be kind, be caring, and be loving. Treat everyone with respect and understanding. Do not harm and do as your father teaches you inside your heart. Does he tell you that you should say mean things? If so, that is not god. That is religion. The mere fact that there are so many religions in existence boggles my…
In our highly pluralistic society, superstition is not easy to define. One person’s superstition may be another person’s religion. But for the sake of discussion, let’s say that superstition is characterized by techniques and expectations that are not scientifically provable (or falsifiable) and apt to be regarded by many as irrational. Let’s add that a superstition is a human attempt to control the uncontrollable, to manipulate chaos, and produce a favorable outcome. Superstition is born of ignorance and, fear, and thrives the most when reason is asleep. This is similar to the words of Oluseun Anikulapo Kuti, a Nigerian musician,…
Hopelessness, recklessness, corruption, and leadership paralysis defined the current state of our beloved country Nigeria after 63 years of independence. For the record, greed, and inefficiency are the twin evils and veritable grounds for corruption. At age 37 Betta Chimaobim Edu represented a vocal section of youths in this era. This generation is critically and sufficiently arrogant, with wishful expectations of the emergence of good leadership in the country. Being the most active and most dominant, demographically in this country, this wish would remain a pipe dream if they remain in their uncoordinated laissez-faire state. My observation leads to this…
The lesson of history and recent political events sweeping democratic strongholds around the world reflect a deep loss of faith in government. Citizens perceive their institutions to be captured by elites who are disconnected from the needs of their constituents or complicit in schemes that benefit the powerful at the expense of ordinary citizens. Therefore, it is remarkable to find an African President in the example of Zambia’s President. President Hakainde Hichilema, a Zambian businessman, farmer, and politician who is the seventh and current president of Zambia since 24 August 2021. After having contested five previous elections in 2006, 2008,…
So what is truth, that it should have such gravity and such a central place in people’s lives? Truth is the aim of belief; falsity is a fault. People need the truth about the world to thrive. Truth is important. Believing what is not true is apt to spoil people’s plans and may even cost them their lives. Telling what is not true may result in legal and social penalties. Conversely, a dedicated pursuit of truth characterizes the good scientist, the good historian, and the good detective – ultimately, truth to ourselves and truth to power. Sadly, the state of…
The genuine true Christians, particularly those folks in Acts of Apostles, were called Christ-like because those who saw them up and close at Antioch, who obviously didn’t even know Christ since Christ never went close *to* the place, heard about Christ and saw what they heard in those folks. Sadly, these days, many of those who are supposed to be successors in title to that name, tag, style and heritage don’t even bother to impersonate let alone imitate Christ – they are notorious for the opposite of what Christ represent; egregious, materialistic, self-righteous and untrustworthy. The book of Isaiah 55…
Courtesy of the blunders and mismanagement of Godwin Emefiele, the then Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Meffy, crippled the economy and left the nation on the brink of collapse. This is in contrast to the words of John Stuart Mill, which goes thus: “It is part of the irony of life that the strongest feelings of devoted gratitude of which human nature seems to be susceptible, are called forth in human beings towards those who, having the power entirely to crush their earthly existence, voluntarily refrain from using that power.” Emefiele, ‘Meffy’ suspended as head of the central…
Let’s begin with the profound words of Charles Grandison Finney, an American Presbyterian minister and leader in the Second Great Awakening in the United States. Finney remarked as follows: “If immorality prevails in the land, the fault is ours in a great degree. If there is decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the church is degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it.” Religion is a set of beliefs and rituals that you follow. Godliness is having your moral character conformed to God’s moral character. Following His commandments counts as religion, but it’s also possible…
“Life is like the oil within a lamp. It can be measured, but the pace at which it burns depends on how the dial is turned day by day, and how bright and fierce the flame is. And there is no predicting whether the lamp might be knocked to the ground and shatter when it could have blazed on a great while longer. Such is the unpredictability of life.” – Margaret Rogerson. Life is indeed unpredictable, which means that it can be full of surprises, both good and bad. The unpredictability of life is what makes it worth living. Overall,…
“The ballot is stronger than the bullet.” – Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States of America. Quite a profound statement it is, and also a timeless truth. From whichever we may wish to look at it, there can’t be any doubt that the option of a Democratic System of Government is far more profitable for any people and nation than any other system we may think of. Certainly, it is infinitely more productive and rewarding for the country than the option of autocratic Military Governments. Nigeria has mercifully outgrown that sad phase of our history. Lest I forget,…
“‘Under my leadership, these elections were organized with a promise to the Liberian people – a promise of fairness, transparency, and credibility. I am proud to say that, for the most part, we have fulfilled that promise. The Liberian people have spoken, and their choice will be honored and obeyed.’ “At this juncture, I would like to congratulate the National Elections Commission for a job well done. You have earned the respect of all Liberians, our foreign partners, international observers, and the world at large for completing this difficult task to the satisfaction of all stakeholders, including the contesting parties,”…
What does not kill you makes you stronger, if you master it. The most horrendous times in my life have always had the final result of my becoming wiser, more patient, less frightened, and over-all a better problem-solver. But then I have the irrational belief of a un-seen ‘helpers’. Yes, a psychologist with spirituality. Certainly better to trust my holy spirit than to trust drugs or alcohol or ‘white knights.’ I now always say ‘thanks’ for whatever trouble is sent my way as I know I will grow from the experience. In the golden words of Chief Jeremiah Oyeniyi Obafemi…
The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) – the coming together of physical, digital and biological spheres – promises to revolutionise fields such as manufacturing and engineering, but one sector of the economy has some catching up to do on adoption of new technologies. For the records, this contribution focuses on the Oil and Gas Downstream Sector, particularly the Refineries. Importantly, it identifies key drivers that will spur the growth of the refining sector in Nigeria. The article also highlights refining asset economics and structural commercial considerations for investors and identifies the modular refinery, an off-the-shelf solution, as the cost effective supply…
Following the recent declaration of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) at the World Oil Outlook in Saudi Arabia that Nigeria is set to witness the set-up of some modular refineries with a capacity of 20,000 barrels per day, Gasoline Associates International Limited (GAIL) has concluded plans to begin the construction of a 100,000 barrels-per-day (BPD) capacity refinery in November 2023. Recently licensed by the Federal Government of Nigeria for 100,000 BPD production, Gasoline Associates International Limited (GAIL) will construct a 100,000 BPD refinery and petrochemical plant in Ipokia, a local government area bordering the Republic of Benin, in…
Let’s begin with discussion on the homily of Matthew Hassan Kukah, the current bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto. A tireless advocate for justice, democracy, and human development. Bishop Kukah, had posited: “We Pray Too Much In Nigeria, It’s Time To Embrace Science And Technology. After independence, in order to build a great nation, each country went to work. But in Nigeria, after independence, our people went to pray and fast. So, while we were praying, Malaysia came here and took our palm seedlings and build a great factory of it. “While we were praying, India went into…
Nigeria could have been a rich country where no one lives in poverty and millions are living in hunger. Economic inequality in Nigeria has reached extreme levels, despite being the largest economy in Africa. The country has an expanding economy with abundant human capital and the economic potential to lift millions out of poverty. But this is not happening. In fact, despite Nigeria’s richness in solid minerals, oil and arable land, it is still poor. What a Paradox! Interestingly, in 1956, Nigeria discovered its oil resources. In the subsequent years, Nigeria started to exploit its oil by opening it up…
