Opinion

Voice of Emancipation: How Much is Nigeria Worth?

Published

5 years ago

May 28, 2021

Eric

By Kayode Emola

There have been so many speculations around how much Britain paid to acquire Nigeria circa 1900. The first Governor-General of the amalgamated Nigeria, Lord Lugard, stated on page 48 of his 1919 Amalgamation Report that, on a liberal calculation, Nigeria was acquired for a sum not exceeding £4.7 million (equivalent to £169 million today). He stated further that this amount was less than that which Britain had spent in building the railway network in Uganda. However, the most shocking of all was his revelation that, as Nigeria had already incurred £1 million of this cost, and pledged to pay £6 million of Britain’s war debt, it will be seen that “this vast country which affords an increasing market for British industry and commerce has been acquired at no cost whatever to the British taxpayer.” In a business sense, it is fair to say that Britain acquired Nigeria for free.

To calculate Nigeria’s worth today, we could look at several factors, however the aspect that most would consider first, and would deem the most useful, would be the amount that it is able to generate in revenue and taxes. In the formative years of Nigeria, majority of her revenue was generated from the export of raw materials. In time, industries began to spring up, balancing the trade deficit from excessive importation of finished goods. Whilst this phenomenon of exporting most of our raw materials has still not changed over the last 100 years since our amalgamation, our industrial sector has not kept pace, and in fact many of our industries have now dwindled to the point of collapse. It is therefore not surprising to learn that in May 2018 Nigeria overtook India as the poverty capital of the world with more than half of its vast population living below $2 a day.

With a population of around 210 million people and vast mineral resources buried under our soil, one would have thought we should have been a major manufacturing country in the world. Even countries with significantly smaller populations than our own generally produce most of what they consume, thereby increasing the earning potential of their country. The majority of the advanced countries in the world have built their wealth on the back of multiple industries which drive their economy, thereby driving the economic worth of their country upwards.

As an example, if we were to compare the annual income generated by the UK with that generated by Nigeria, Nigeria appears to be far from what people might have expected. Whilst Britain, with a population of around 68 million people (approximately a third of Nigeria’s population), generates around £600bn a year in taxes and revenue; Nigeria, on the other hand, despite her vast human and natural resources, generates around £6bn a year. Considering that the British population is far smaller than that of Nigeria, extrapolation of these data would create an expectation that Nigeria ought to be generating revenue three times that of Britain.

The paltry revenue actually generated by Nigeria is one of the many reasons for her economic and security woes. Despite this, the political class, rather than attempting to better the lot of the downtrodden, they have continued to milk the country dry for their own gain alone. In their eyes, Nigeria is worth everything and they would do anything within their powers to maintain the status quo. In contrast, I watched a video last week of one young girl who was lamenting that she was promised a job for ₦30,000 per calendar month – equivalent to £50 ($70) pcm. She was visibly angry because, despite the promise, she had not even been offered the job, but instead was going to be placed on a reserve list. For her, this was more than she can stomach. She felt that the country had let her down and is no longer worth anything anymore, and so her solution was to leave Nigeria, never to return again. Considering the several hundreds of millions of people trapped below the poverty line in Nigeria, I believe it is not surprising that most of them share her view.

I do not believe that it is right to build a country that provides worth to a minority political elite, who contribute nothing to the economy. Instead the focus should be the building of a country that provides worth to everyone. The people must realise that it is these politicians who carry the responsibility of improving life for the populace, and yet have continued to fail in these responsibilities time and again. The Yoruba people must realise that the time is now to seek alternatives, and the only way we can escape this cycle of economic sabotage by the Nigerian government is to break free from its grip. We must, as a matter of urgency, sit down and ask ourselves critical questions about how we got into this mess in the first place. If we understood how these calamities have befallen our people, only then will we stand a chance of getting ourselves out on the other side.

We must not be naïve enough to believe that, even if we get our own independent Yoruba nation today, the many problems that have bedevilled Nigeria will suddenly disappear overnight. However, it will afford us the opportunity to begin to turn the tides of our misfortune. Were Yorubaland to become an independent nation today, it would have a population of at least 50-60 million people, strong enough to drive any economic development. One of the factors that the new nation must consider is how to identify consumers’ tastes in terms of product consumption. Once this is done, we must strive to create the industries that will produce these products on our soil. This will ensure that we are not merely exporting our raw resources, simply to import them again as the finished product for a much greater cost; but rather to give ourselves the opportunity to become a viable country worth something to all her people and not just the political few.

On the other hand, if we allow Nigeria to continue on its current trajectory, with the way it is being run presently there is no prospect that her fortunes will turn around in the near future. The long-term future, too, is not looking good, as the country is on a fast track to economic disaster, with the enormous burden of debt it currently finds itself bearing. Nigeria prints money monthly in an attempt to shore up its enormous deficit, rather than focusing on creating the necessary industries to drive her economic growth. When the newly printed money no longer bears worth to meet these debts, Nigeria resorts to taking loans from any country willing to dole out their reserve. As the population of Nigeria grows exponentially, Nigeria cannot continue to pretend that all is well. The country is unable to meet either her domestic or international obligations. It cannot even provide international passport for her citizens as many are on a long waiting queue for almost a year and other necessary basics that provides a decent standard of living. The security of lives and property are no longer guaranteed as thousands are killed every week for no fault of their own through banditry and home grown terrorism.

The Yoruba people and other nationalities in Nigeria who have found themselves in a contraption since 1914 against their will need now to consider what Nigeria is worth to them. What metric defines the worth of the country? Whatever metric is used, it seems that Nigeria falls short in every domain. The value of a country is not just in the size of its population or the amount of mineral resources it possesses; it lies in the value that it places in the majority of its population. We need to strive for a country that acknowledges and provides value for all its people, regardless of class, status or position. As Nigeria cannot deliver this, it is time to build a Yoruba nation outside of Nigeria that can and will provide the necessary worth we all aspire to.

Opinion

How Dr. Fatima Ibrahim Hamza (PT, mNSP) Became Kano’s Healthcare Star and a Model for African Women in Leadership

Published

2 days ago

December 6, 2025

Eric

By Dr. Sani Sa’idu Baba

My dear country men and women, over the years, I have been opportune to watch numerous speeches delivered by outstanding women shaping the global health sector especially those within Africa. Back home, I have also listened to towering figures like Dr. Hadiza Galadanci, the renowned O&G consultant whose passion for healthcare reform continues to inspire many. Even more closer home, there is Dr. Fatima Ibrahim Hamza, my classmate and colleague. Anyone who knew her from the beginning would remember a hardworking young woman who left no stone unturned in her pursuit of excellence. Today, she stands tall as one of the most powerful illustrations of what African women in leadership can achieve when brilliance, discipline, and integrity are brought together.

Before I dwell into the main business for this week, let me make this serious confession. If you are a regular traveler within Nigeria like myself, especially in the last two years, you will agree that no state currently matches Kano in healthcare delivery and institutional sophistication. This transformation is not accidental. It is the result of a coordinated, disciplined, and visionary ecosystem of leadership enabled by Kano State Governor, Engr Abba Kabir Yusuf. From the strategic drive of the Hospitals Management Board under the meticulous leadership of Dr. Mansur Nagoda, to the policy direction and oversight provided by the Ministry of Health led by the ever committed Dr. Abubakar Labaran, and the groundbreaking reforms championed by the Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board under the highly cerebral Professor Salisu Ahmed Ibrahim, the former Private Health Institution Management Agency (PHIMA) boss, a man who embodies competence, hard work, honesty, and principle, the progress of Kano’s health sector becomes easy to understand. With such a strong leadership backbone, it is no surprise that individuals like Dr. Fatima Ibrahim Hamza is thriving and redefining what effective healthcare leadership looks like in Nigeria.

Across the world, from top medical institutions to global leadership arenas, one truth echoes unmistakably: when women lead with vision, systems transform. Their leadership is rarely about theatrics or force; it is about empathy, innovation, discipline, and a capacity to drive change from the inside out. Kano State has, in recent years, witnessed this truth firsthand through the extraordinary work of Dr. Fatima at Sheikh Muhammad Jidda General Hospital.

In less than 2 years, Dr. Fatima has emerged as a phenomenon within Kano’s healthcare landscape. As the youngest hospital director in the state, she has demonstrated a style of leadership that mirrors the excellence seen in celebrated female leaders worldwide, women who inspire not by occupying space, but by redefining it. Her performance has earned her two high level commendations. First, a recognition by the Head of Service following a rigorous independent assessment of her achievements, and more recently, a formal commendation letter from the Hospitals Management Board acknowledging her professionalism, discipline, and transformative impact.

These acknowledgements are far more than administrative gestures, they place her in the company of women leaders whose influence reshaped nations: New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern with her empathy driven governance, Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf with her courageous reforms, and Germany’s Angela Merkel with her disciplined, steady leadership. Dr. Fatima belongs to this esteemed lineage of women who do not wait for change, they create it.

What sets her apart is her ability to merge vision with structure, compassion with competence, and humility with bold ambition. Staff members describe her as firm yet accessible, warm yet uncompromising on standards, traits that embody the modern leadership model the world is steadily embracing. Under her stewardship, Sheikh Jidda General Hospital has transformed from a routine public facility into an institution of possibility, demonstrating what happens when a capable woman is given the opportunity to lead without constraint.

The recent commendation letter from the Hospitals Management Board captures this evolution clearly: “Dr. Fatima has strengthened administrative coordination, improved patient care, elevated professional standards, and fostered a hospital environment where excellence has become the norm rather than the exception”. These outcomes are remarkable in a system that often battles bureaucratic bottlenecks and infrastructural limitations. Her work is proof that effective leadership especially in health must be visionary, intentional, and rooted in integrity.

In a period when global discourse places increasing emphasis on the importance of women in leadership particularly in healthcare, Dr. Fatima stands as a living testament to what is possible. She has demonstrated that leadership is never about gender, but capacity, clarity of purpose, and the willingness to serve with unwavering commitment.

Her rise sends a powerful message to young girls across Nigeria and Africa: that excellence has no gender boundaries. It is a call to institutions to trust and empower competent women. And it is a reminder to society that progress accelerates when leadership is guided by competence rather than stereotypes.

As Kano continues its journey toward comprehensive healthcare reform, Dr. Fatima represents a new chapter, one where leadership is defined not by age or gender, but by impact, innovation, and measurable progress. She is, without question, one of the most compelling examples of modern African women in leadership today.

May her story continue to enlighten, inspire, and redefine what African women can, and will achieve when given the opportunity to lead.

Dr. Baba writes from Kano, and can be reached via drssbaba@yahoo.com

Opinion

Book Review: Against the Odds by Dozy Mmobuosi

Published

4 days ago

December 4, 2025

Eric

By Sola Ojewusi

Against the Odds is an ambitious, deeply personal, and unflinchingly honest memoir that traces the remarkable rise of Dozy Mmobuosi, one of Nigeria’s most dynamic and controversial entrepreneurs. In this sweeping narrative, Mmobuosi reveals not just the public milestones of his career, but the intimate struggles, internal battles, and defining moments that shaped his identity and worldview.

The book is both a personal testimony and a broader commentary on leadership, innovation, and Africa’s future—and it succeeds in balancing these worlds with surprising emotional clarity.

A Candid Portrait of Beginnings

Mmobuosi’s story begins in the bustling, unpredictable ecosystem of Lagos, where early challenges served as the furnace that forged his ambitions. The memoir details the circumstances of his upbringing, the value systems passed down from family, and the early encounters that sparked his desire to build solutions at scale.

These foundational chapters do important work: they humanize the protagonist. Readers meet a young Dozy not as a business figurehead, but as a Nigerian navigating complex social, financial, and personal realities—realities that millions of Africans will find familiar.

The Making of an Entrepreneur

As the narrative progresses, the memoir transitions into the defining phase of Mmobuosi’s business evolution. Here, he walks readers through the origins of his earliest ventures and the relentless curiosity that led him to operate across multiple industries—fintech, agri-tech, telecoms, AI, healthcare, consumer goods, and beyond.

What is striking is the pattern of calculated risk-taking. Mmobuosi positions himself as someone unafraid to venture into uncharted territory, even when the cost of failure is steep. His explanations offer readers valuable insights into:
• market intuition
• the psychology of entrepreneurship
• the sacrifices required to build at scale
• the emotional and operational toll of high-growth ventures

These passages make the book not only readable but instructive—especially for emerging

African entrepreneurs.

Triumphs, Crises, and Public Scrutiny
One of the book’s most compelling strengths is its willingness to confront controversy head-on.

Mmobuosi addresses periods of intense scrutiny, institutional pressure, and personal trials.

Instead of glossing over these chapters, he uses them to illustrate the complexities of building businesses in emerging markets and navigating public perception.

The tone is reflective rather than defensive, inviting readers to consider the thin line between innovation and misunderstanding in environments where the rules are still being written.

This vulnerability is where the memoir finds its emotional resonance.

A Vision for Africa

Beyond personal history, Against the Odds expands into a passionate manifesto for African transformation. Mmobuosi articulates a vision of a continent whose young population, natural resources, and intellectual capital position it not as a follower, but a potential leader in global innovation.

He challenges outdated narratives about Africa’s dependency, instead advocating for
homegrown technology, supply chain sovereignty, inclusive economic systems, and investment in human capital.

For development strategists, policymakers, and visionaries, these sections elevate the work from memoir to thought leadership.

The Writing: Accessible, Engaging, and Purposeful

Stylistically, the memoir is direct and approachable. Mmobuosi writes with clarity and intention, blending storytelling with reflection in a way that keeps the momentum steady. The pacing is effective: the book moves seamlessly from personal anecdotes to business lessons, from introspection to bold declarations.

Despite its business-heavy subject matter, the prose remains accessible to everyday readers.

The emotional honesty, in particular, will appeal to those who appreciate memoirs that feel lived rather than curated.

Why This Book Matters

Against the Odds arrives at a critical moment for Africa’s socioeconomic trajectory. As global attention shifts toward African innovation, the need for authentic narratives from those building within the system becomes essential.

Mmobuosi’s memoir offers:
• a case study in resilience
• an insider’s perspective on entrepreneurship in frontier markets
• a meditation on reputation, legacy, and leadership
• a rallying cry for African ambition

For readers like Sola Ojewusi, whose work intersects with media, policy, leadership, and social development, this book offers profound insight into the human stories driving Africa’s new generation of builders.

Final Verdict

Against the Odds is more than a success story—it is a layered, introspective, and timely work that captures the pressures and possibilities of modern African enterprise. It challenges stereotypes, raises important questions about leadership and impact, and ultimately delivers a narrative of persistence that audiences across the world will find relatable.

It is an essential read for anyone interested in the future of African innovation, the personal realities behind public leadership, and the enduring power of vision and resilience

Opinion

Redefining Self-leadership: Henry Ukazu As a Model

Published

5 days ago

December 3, 2025

Eric

By Abdulakeem Sodeeq SULYMAN

In a world filled with talents and unique gifts, nurturing oneself for an impact-filled living becomes one of the potent metrics for assuming how one’s life would unfold – either in the nearest or far future. I am sure the question you may be curious to ask is ‘what is the important quality that has shaped the life of every individual who has unleashed their ingenuity?’ Apparently, our society is filled with numerous people, who missed the track of their life. Their iniquity is boiled down to one thing – failure to lead oneself.

Realising how important it is to be your own leader has been the springboard for every transformative life. Notably, this also becomes the premise for appreciating and celebrating Henry Ukazu for setting the pace and modeling self-leadership in this era, where self-leadership is under-appreciated by our people. Self-leadership itself engineers purposeful and impactful living, turning individuals to sources of hope to others.

This is exactly what Henry Ukazu symbolises. The name Henry Ukazu is akin to many great things such as ‘Unleashing One’s Destiny,’ ‘Finding One’s Purpose’ and ‘Triumphant Living.’ Regardless of the impression one have formed about Henry Ukazu, one thing you cannot deny is his ability to be pure to nature and committed to his cause. Henry Ukazu is one of the rare people who still believed in the values of the human worth and has committed every penny of his to ensure that every human deserves to live the best life.

The trajectory of Henry Ukazu’s life is convincing enough to be choosing as an icon by anyone who chooses to climb the ladder of self-leadership. Oftentimes, Henry Ukazu always narrate how he faced the storms of life when birthing his purpose. He takes honour in his struggles, knowing full well that every stumbling blocks life throws at him helped in building himself. If not for self-leadership, he will not found honours in his struggles, let alone challenging himself to be an example of purposeful living to others.

Without mincing words, Henry Ukazu’s life has been blessed with the presence of many people, with some filling his life with disappointments, while some blessing him with immeasurable transformations. Surprisingly, Henry Ukazu has never chosen to be treating people negatively; rather he would only choose the path of honour by avoiding drama and let common sense prevail. That’s one of the height of simplicity!

Dear readers, do you know why today is important for celebrating Henry Ukazu? Today, 3rd December, is his birthday and with all sincerity, Henry Ukazu deserves to be celebrated because he has chosen the noble path, one filled with honours and recognitions for being an icon of inspiration and transformation to the mankind. As Henry Ukazu marks another year today, may the good Lord continue shielding him from all evils and guiding him in right directions, where posterity will feel his role and impacts!

Many happy returns, Sir!