The Future Of Nigeria

Ever since the British created Nigeria in 1914 without regard to the cultural differences and incompatibility of the people in the northern and southern protectorates, the nation has been wracked by problems. The Nigerian civil war fought from 1967 to 1970 and the agitation for restructuring of the political system are just a few examples of the violence that has crippled the nation. With the Nigerian people issuing a sustained call for change, it’s clear that they are not satisfied with the current system of government. So far, leaders have not responded to the discontent, but they’d be well served by holding a referendum to decide what kind of political system to adopt. The referendum must be conducted if Nigeria has any chance of stepping away from the precipice. With a plebiscite, the government would not only make headway on overcoming the problems but regain the trust of its people under an acceptable system of government and reposition the country with clear direction. If Nigerians don’t continue to demand change – and if leaders don’t pay attention to them – the country will continue to be plagued by discontent, ethnicism, disunity, unpatriotism and nepotism, leading to balkanization of Nigeria. This book – an updated version of Nigeria on the Precipice – highlights topics such as: • how minerals and other natural resources across Nigeria can support federalism; • why leaders continue to seek ethnic gains at the expense of national interest; • why militancy, self-determination have emerged as a sign of discontent.

As the fourth industrial era evolves, the role of blockchain technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and machine learning in transforming national commerce cannot be overemphasized, especially with the expansion of e-commerce in Africa. In other words, technological advancement and innovation are becoming essential to many aspects of Nigerian businesses, thereby considerably enhancing trade and productivity. This book provides a primer on the role that digital technology may play in Nigeria’s trade flows, and the implications for enabling an economy-wide deployment of digitization in trade facilitation. This book analyzes the importance of STI’s contributions to the Nigerian economy, focusing on the transition to digital solutions and their potential to significantly increase trade and commerce. Since AfCFTA’s 2018 launch, academic and political responses to the automation of business have increased. Further, business promotion, aid-for-trade, regional integration and trade facilitation issues are at the forefront of business development policy and intellectual discourse in Nigeria. This book details Nigeria’s business opportunities, capacities and challenges with a special interest in sustainably enhancing the nation’s business ecosystem in the digital age. Through the examination of trade facilitation policies, programs, tools, models and technologies, this book demonstrates Nigeria’s need for strategic public-private partnership in digital trade to foster a more sustainable business future.

The Politics of Biafra is a reflection on the importance of history in addressing present realities and the future co-existence of Nigeria's multi ethnic society. It analyzes the ideological struggles and conflict in Biafra during the war with Nigeria from 1967-1970, the impact of the war and the relevance of those struggles to the current agitations for a new state of Biafra. In this historical and analytical work, the author observes that nearly fifty years after the end of the Nigeria-Biafra war in 1970, Nigeria remains confronted with the Biafra dilemma. No matter its pretensions, Nigeria will at some point have to reform its present pseudo federal arrangement to create a more inclusive, equitable and proper federal structure. If not, the country will continue to face epileptic developmental thrusts, militancy in the Niger Delta and a ruinous intensifying clamor for self-determination by disadvantaged ethnic groups, especially the Igbo. Appendix - Three part essay by Professor Chukwuma Soludo.

Our Continent, Our Future presents the emerging African perspective on this complex issue. The authors use as background their own extensive experience and a collection of 30 individual studies, 25 of which were from African economists, to summarize this African perspective and articulate a path for the future. They underscore the need to be sensitive to each country's unique history and current condition. They argue for a broader policy agenda and for a much more active role for the state within what is largely a market economy. Finally, they stress that Africa must, and can, compete in an increasingly globalized world and, perhaps most importantly, that Africans must assume the leading role in defining the continent's development agenda.

Seven short stories, beginning and ending with Adanna Olisa and her trip to Germany, provide glimpses of the culture and values of Nigeria.