Opinion

Panorama: Nigeria and Untapped Potential to Lead Fight Against Cancer and Cognition Associated Diseases

Published

4 years ago

August 13, 2021

Eric

By Sani Sa’idu Baba

My dear country men and women, this week I am taking us on a journey to demonstrate some issues that are important to the development of our dear country Nigeria, especially in the areas of research and health where I professionally have a comparative advantage. But before I go into that, let me briefly explain what has drawn my attention to a topic of this nature, generally considered a less talk about issue in the media and scientific spaces in our country. I believe my readers today. irrespective of their professional backgrounds, will be convinced that we are living in starvation in the midst of plenty, especially in the inseparable areas of research and health. These two go hand in glove, such that research outcomes are translated into modality or therapeutics, and the therapy outcome also give rise to several hypothesis and speculations that eventually requires further research.

Earlier in the week, I received a call from my Professor and academic mentor, Prof. Isyaku Umar Yarube, a Professor of Human Physiology and Neuroscience, equally the Head of Neuroscience and Pathophysiology unit, Bayero University Kano, asking me to participate in a symposium and launching of Biomedical Research Training (BioRTC) center organized by Dr Mahmoud Maina, on a mission to facilitate research and training of Nigerian scientists, using modern methods that will enable them to contribute to solving local and global biomedical science problems through scientific research. The first of its kind-centre is located inside the Yobe State University, Nigeria. Let me recommend that this centre be replicated in other areas of the country, especially in our universities and teaching hospitals. Lack of state-of-the-art research instruments in our country is perhaps the reason neuroscience and other biomedical researchers in Nigeria choose oversees for postgraduate studies, especially those that could afford, but certainly not due to lack of the best brains that can handle advanced research in Nigeria. Let me confess at this point that Nigeria is blessed with the needed human resources and brains that can turn around situation of things in this country. More often than not, people are of the view that Nigeria is not well equipped with the technical know-how and skills in the field of traditional research, not knowing that the only thing sadly lacking is the key to unlocking such potentials.

Nigeria has a population of over 200 million people, the largest in Africa. Among the West African countries, it has the second highest density of medical doctors, which is, however, still very low compared to the actual figure that will meet the need of our population. Government expenditure on health is considerably slimmer than what comes from private contributions, differing by over two thousand billion naira. About 3.8 percent of Nigeria’s GDP is invested in the health sector. In OECD countries, the average percentage of GDP spent on healthcare was 8.8 percent. Also, OECD member countries are mostly high-income countries, whereas Nigeria is an emerging economy and belongs to countries with lower middle-incomes. Nigerians usually have to pay for medicine out of their own pocket. Often the medicine is very expensive and difficult to afford.

Though our population is very high, we still have potential that if appropriately and adequately explored will place us in the forefront in the fight against diseases bedeviling the situation in our country today. For a proper understanding of the current health situation in Nigeria, it is important to state briefly the evolution of its healthcare system and within that framework examine some of the factors that led to our sorry state. Prior to the coming of Europeans to Nigeria, the indigenous peoples that make up the country relied entirely on indigenous herbal and fauna knowledge to resolve various health conditions. The healthcare system was based on the quality knowledge of practitioners as well as defined ways of apprenticeship to qualify as a healthcare provider. The medical student was expected to go through years of training both in herbal knowledge, therapeutic processes, and psycho-social relations. The underlying principle of traditional medical system was a sacred calling toward the preservation of lives and to serve as a cohesive element in the society, rendering services for peanuts or even free. However, with the coming of Europeans from the fifteenth century and the subsequent introduction of Western medicine, healthcare services became monetized so that health services were rendered for a standard fee. Although the colonial government did not overtly introduce Western medicine to rural folks, the importation of Western-trained medical doctors as well as Western medicine coupled with the influx of missionaries that used Western drugs as a means of evangelism, the seeds of drastic change in traditional medicine were sown. One key factor that led to the undermining of traditional medicine and its subsequent neglect was the missionaries’ association of traditional medicine with witchcraft, Satanism, and evil.

Let me comeback to one of the backbones of my article today. During that symposium paper presentations, Professor Isa Hussaini Marte of University of Maiduguri and the current Chief of Staff to Borno State Governor presented a very mind blowing paper on cancer and the potentials of some of our medicinal plants largely found in the North-central of Nigeria in the therapy of cancer. These plants has been thoroughly researched in its laboratory and their anti-tumor effect been proved. Not only was that, but a woman who was referred to him with a very large tumor was significantly improved and tumor shrank after being treated with the extract of the plants. This marvelous development occurred in our dear country. So, it was clear to me that despite the popular claim of the absence of definite cure for cancer, Nigeria still has the potentials to drive the world in this regard. However, the setback still remains lack of the modern state-of-the-art and cutting edge instruments and inadequate government commitment towards funding the research. Though, the professor has acknowledged some support given to him in the establishment of his multi-million naira laboratory, but that was just not enough. The financial implication in establishing this type of laboratory is largely beyond an individual capacity or small organization. For example, the demand for absolute constant and uninterrupted electricity for the lab to function, not to talk of the expensive reagents and other gadgets needed in the lab. Success in this type of anti-cancer research, especially in a resource constraint settings like in Nigeria will go a long way to provide alternative to the most expensive cancer management strategy like the chemotherapy and radiotherapy that has been in use, though with minimal success. Besides, there are only two working cancer radiotherapy centers in Nigeria, one in National Hospital Abuja, and the other in Lagos. Let us reflect on our population and the prevalence of the disease in our environment here! Interestingly, the success story of cancer management lies in the use of traditional medicines, which is quite in abundance in our environment.

Furthermore, apart from cancer that has been considered a top killer disease not only in Nigeria but globally, another disease that is affecting a large chunk of Nigeria population is cognitive impairment, hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease and stroke among other chronic diseases. Although these diseases affects largely the elderly population in Nigeria, but the burden associated with them on the government especially vis-à-vis reduced productivity, increase dependency and reduced quality of life of the affected people is very alarming. For instance, the cost of stroke management was estimated to be 173.8 billion naira in 2011, excluding nursing care for stroke victims per annum in Nigeria. This is quite huge for an average citizen who lives on per capital income of less than $2 per day. That was in 2011 when the Naira was relatively stable. What can we now guess as the situation with the current devaluation of Naira? That is quite enough as a burden. In line with this, Professor Isyaku Umar Yarube of Bayero University Kano has took a giant stride towards utilizing research to understanding the root cause and interconnections of these chronic diseases, and most importantly proposes some recommendations that will go a long way to address issues and reduce the burden that comes with it not only on our government but generally population in our dear country. He has joined many international professors from US, UK and Germany to present a very interesting novel findings that stimulated many researchers and clinicians present during the symposium. Of particular interest is that his research showcases the potentials of some blood markers in early diagnosis of these diseases especially in resource constraint settings to by-pass the very expensive ways that majority could not even afford. Such contribution is worth supporting by the government, research bodies and other authorities.

More so, the comment made by Sir Richard Roberts, a novel Laureate winner, about the capacity and quality of Nigeria’s scientist was also very heart touching. It gave me hope and indication that even the world has already identified with Nigeria and the problems affecting us not going on the same page in areas of research with the rest of the world. He stated categorically that if we have the adequate laboratories and needed instruments, we can even produce our own covid-19 vaccine in our own country. Lack of enough laboratories in Nigeria has affected not only medical research, but even the covid-19 testing. Very negligible number of Nigerians were tested till today, not to talk of producing our own vaccines. He also warned that the issue of biomedical research in Nigeria should not in any way be politicized because it is one of the yet to be explored area that will be key to our development. This is enough to tell us how qualitative and dogged Nigerian scientist are on the eyes of the world. Nigerians are doing greatly wherever they find themselves in the world. More often than not, celebrated journalist, Chief Dr Dele Momodu, reports the success story of Nigerians doing great things in one country or another. Perhaps in almost every sector, Nigerians has taken the lead. Very encouraging!

Another key issue that stimulated my discussion today is about the need for social and financial risk protection for poor and vulnerable populations as a major developmental policy to achieving adequate healthcare coverage. In the context of health, social protection refers to programs and measures aimed at removing financial barriers preventing access to health care services and protecting poor and vulnerable populations from the impoverishing effects of medical expenditures. Financial risk protection is a key component of universal health coverage (UHC) and the health system goal of ensuring access to quality health care services without suffering financial hardship. But before then, let me briefly highlight the underpinning philosophy of the First Republic, and that was to ensure that Western styled healthcare delivery became the primary source of health service in the country, and in order to achieve this, the government invested heavily awarding scholarships to indigenous students to study medicine, nursing, and other allied professions abroad. At the same time, the government of the day was also building hospitals (orthopedic, specialist, and general hospitals) both in capital cities in the states and in key urban centers. Equipping hospitals with personnel and consumables became the priority of the government. On their return from overseas, the early trained medical doctors were placed in key positions in the health sector, while the public was encouraged by the government to patronize public hospitals and Western pharmaceuticals that were provided free or heavily subsidized by the government. This welfare orientation of Nigeria’s First Republic, incidentally, could not be sustained for long due to the downturn in oil price and the increasing corruption in political circles. The consequences of this development were scarcity of hospital equipment, epileptic payment of salaries of health workers became the order of the day, and a deteriorating condition of service precipitated the mass exodus of medical personnel out of the country. Let us not be carried away by the saying of the minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige that the numerical strength of health workers in Nigeria is enough. He probably must has forgotten!

However, in the last decades, there were high maternal and children mortality rate in Nigeria perhaps due to lack of affordability of what the health system entails nowadays. Things has significantly changed for the worst in most cases. It is no longer about the patient in many places, it is rather about what I have accumulated for the government so that I will be recognized for further appointment. Sometimes it is not even the fault of the government because it has been misinformed about the true state of the situation. Patients mostly comeback on their appointment date without been able to buy the just N500 drugs they were prescribed before. I will never forget the story by the former emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi of the woman carrying a baby that he sighted on CCTV camera from his library. She came and joined a queue inside the palace where people usually come to collect some palliatives. He quickly asked someone to go and check, and he found that she was requesting for N3000 because the doctors in a hospital near the palace could not attend to her severely ill child by virtue of the money she doesn’t had. She was given immediately but unfortunately, before she left the palace for the hospital, the baby died. This is too heart touching and even the emir fell in tears when the news of the death was broke to him. Even though the governor of the state is one of the best performing governor in terms of health, but his effort might have been sabotaged due to the corruption that has engulfed most of the managerial sectors in Nigeria.

As of now, there are several schemes put in place by the government to ensure adequate access to health. These include the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), National Immunisation Coverage Scheme (NICS), Midwives Service Scheme (MSS), Nigerian Pay for Performance scheme (P4P). So it is not a matter of absence, but willingness and efficiency. I believe not every Nigerian incuding the working class were able to benefit from these schemes. In fact, it has been alledged that something fishy is going on there especially in the NHIS. The removal of its former Executive secretary, prof Yusuf Usman who is known to be just and honest had generated a lot of questions, this by the way. However, despite its launch in 2005, NHIS covers less than 10% of the Nigerian population leaving the most vulnerable populations at the mercy of health care services that are not affordable. This means the most vulnerable populations in Nigeria are not provided with social and financial risk protection. Poor people constitutes about 70% of the Nigerian population. They lack access to basic health services, which social and financial risk protection should provide, because they cannot afford it.

Nigeria is yet to adopt innovative ways to protect the poor and vulnerable populations against financial risk of ill health. Social and financial risk protection can be provided through programmes and measures that are rooted in legislation. Lack of social and financial risk protection leads to high levels of poverty, vulnerability and inequality in health. When the majority of a country’s population encounters the aforementioned problems, governments have to be responsive and design programmes that are rooted in legislation. So far, states such as Kano, Osun, Niger, Kaduna, Ekiti, Lagos, Ondo, Enugu and Jigawa are known to have provided some free health policies at one point or another since the return of democracy in 1999. So government should ensure every citizen irrespective of status can access quality health, and should also support medical research. GOD bless our dear country Nigeria.

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

Opinion

The Synergy Imperative: Integrating Transformative Leadership and Strategic Management for Africa’s Ascent

Published

24 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Eric

By Tolulope A. Adegoke, PhD

“The bridge from Africa’s potential to its preeminence is built with the twin pillars of visionary leadership, which dares to imagine the impossible, and disciplined management, which masters the possible” – Tolulope A. Adegoke, PhD

Africa’s journey from a continent brimming with untapped potential to a unified global powerhouse is arguably the defining narrative of our century. This transformation, however, hinges on a critical catalyst: a new paradigm of leadership. To dismantle the persistent architecture of poverty and transcend the historical cycle of mediocrity, African nations require more than administrators; they need visionary architects and master builders. This necessitates a powerful fusion of transformative leadership—which sets the daring direction—and strategic, execution-focused management—which paves the road to get there. The synergy between these two forces is non-negotiable for unlocking the innovative capacity needed to deliver tangible possibilities for Africa’s people, its dynamic corporations, and its sovereign nations.

I. The Essence of Transformative Leadership: Architecting a New Continental Consciousness

True transformative leadership moves beyond maintaining the status quo. It is an audacious practice of reimagining futures, challenging deeply embedded narratives, and mobilizing collective will toward a shared, audacious horizon.

1. Crafting a Unifying and Aspirational Narrative: The transformative leader’s first task is to be a master storyteller for the future. This involves articulating a vision that moves past diagnoses of poverty to paint a vivid, compelling picture of continental success—a Africa renowned for its innovation, quality, and strategic influence. This narrative must replace a mindset of scarcity with one of boundless opportunity, fostering a new identity where “Made in Africa” signifies excellence, reliability, and cutting-edge solutions. It is about making the idea of a continental giant not a distant dream, but an inevitable destination in the public imagination.

2. Demonstrating Unshakeable Ethical Fortitude: The battle against mediocrity is fundamentally a battle for integrity. Transformative leaders must embody and enforce an ironclad commitment to governance that is transparent, accountable, and institutionally robust. This requires the political courage to depersonalize state institutions, empowering independent judiciary, audit authorities, and anti-corruption commissions not just on paper but in practice. By becoming the chief guardian of institutional integrity, a leader builds the essential currency of trust—without which long-term investment and social cohesion are impossible.

3. Championing Radical Inclusivity: No single entity holds a monopoly on innovative ideas. Transformative leaders actively dismantle top-down governance silos to create participatory ecosystems. They facilitate sustained dialogues that bring together the pragmatic insights of the private sector, the grassroots realities understood by civil society, the foresight of academia, and the voices of marginalized communities. This inclusive approach does more than improve policy; it fosters a profound sense of collective ownership over the continent’s destiny, building a resilient coalition for sustained change.

II. The Discipline of Strategic Management: Building the Engine of Execution

A vision without a rigorous mechanism for implementation remains a mere hallucination. Transformative leadership must be operationalized through management systems characterized by precision, adaptability, and results.

1. Engineering a Performance-Obsessed Public Sector: The public administration must be fundamentally redesigned into a lean, data-driven delivery machine. This demands:

o Integrated Outcome Frameworks: Adopting systems like the Balanced Scorecard to cascade the national vision into clear departmental objectives, measurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and individual accountability metrics for civil servants.

o Evidence-Based Policy Orchestration: Investing in robust data analytics units and real-time monitoring dashboards. Resource allocation and program adjustments must be driven by hard evidence of what works, moving policymaking from political intuition to strategic science.

o Relentless Process Innovation: Launching comprehensive digital governance initiatives to automate and streamline bureaucratic processes—from business licensing to customs clearance. This eliminates friction, reduces opportunities for graft, and dramatically improves the user experience for citizens and investors alike.

2. Cultivating Dynamic Innovation Ecosystems: Management’s role is to create the fertile ground where creativity and enterprise can flourish. This is a deliberate, managerial function:

o Establishing Agile Policy Laboratories: Creating regulatory sandboxes in key sectors like fintech, renewable energy, and logistics allows startups to test breakthrough ideas in a controlled environment with temporary regulatory relief, fostering innovation without compromising systemic stability.

o Orchestrating Strategic Alliances: Building structured platforms for public-private-research collaboration. Government can de-risk pioneering R&D in areas like vaccine manufacturing or artificial intelligence for agriculture, with clear pathways for commercialization led by the private sector and fueled by academic research.

o Safeguarding Intellectual Creation: Modernizing and rigorously enforcing intellectual property regimes managed by efficient, trustworthy institutions. This protects African innovators, attracts R&D investment, and ensures that breakthroughs conceived on the continent yield prosperity for its people.

3. Mastering Capital: Human and Financial:

o Strategic Human Capital Development: Aligning national education and vocational training curricula with the future skills demanded by the continental transformation agenda requires active management through a permanent skills council, ensuring a seamless pipeline of talent for the industries of tomorrow.

o Pioneering Financial Architecture: Beyond domestic revenue mobilization, management excellence is key to structuring and accessing innovative finance. This includes developing bankable project pipelines for green bonds, diaspora investment instruments, and blended finance models to fund the massive infrastructure required for integration, all while maintaining impeccable sovereign debt management.

III. The Tangible Dividend: Delivering Expanded Possibilities for All

The ultimate metric for this leadership-management model is the tangible impact on the ground.

· For Africa’s Citizens: The outcome is expanded human agency and dignity. This manifests as access to meaningful, future-oriented employment; quality, affordable healthcare and education delivered efficiently; and social protections that empower rather than create dependency. Citizens experience a state that is a capable partner in their aspirations.

· For Africa’s Enterprises: The outcome is a predictable, enabling, and competitive operating environment. Corporations and entrepreneurs benefit from reliable infrastructure, seamless administrative processes, access to capital, and a fair, transparent market. This enables them to scale, innovate, and compete confidently on regional and global stages.

· For Africa’s Nations and Continental Body: The outcome is sovereign capability and collective strategic influence. Individually, nations evolve into resilient, adaptive economies. Collectively, a strategically managed and integrated Africa transforms into a formidable negotiating bloc, capable of shaping global rules on trade, climate, and digital governance, and moving from being a subject of global dynamics to a definitive shaper of the world order.

Conclusion: The Imperative of Synergy

The path from poverty to preeminence is paved by the dual forces of transformative leadership and strategic management. Leaders must provide the spark of vision, the moral compass, and the political will to embark on an audacious journey. The management apparatus must provide the meticulous map, the engine, and the metrics to navigate it successfully. When these elements align in harmony—when the architect’s dream is matched by the engineer’s precision—Africa will ignite a self-sustaining cycle of innovation, inclusive growth, and shared prosperity. This is the pathway that turns the latent potential within its people, the ambition of its corporations, and the sovereignty of its nations into a manifested reality. It is how the continent will cease to be perpetually “rising” and will firmly stand, a realized giant, shaping the century ahead.

Dr. Tolulope Adeseye Adegoke is a distinguished scholar-practitioner specializing in the intersection of African security, governance, strategic leadership and effective management. His expertise is built on a robust academic foundation—with a PhD, MA, and BA in History and International Studies focused on West African conflicts, terrorism, and regional diplomacy—complemented by high-level professional credentials as a Distinguished Fellow Certified Management Consultant and a Fellow Certified Human Resource Management Professional.

Opinion

A Marriage That Changed History: Celebrating Mobolaji and Dele Momodu at 33

Published

1 day ago

December 20, 2025

Eric

By Dr. Sani Sa’idu Baba

Some marriages are sustained by time, a few are tested by trials, but only the rarest are forged by destiny and proven by history. The union of Chief Dele Momodu and Chief Mobolaji Aderamaja Momodu belongs firmly in this extraordinary class, a marriage where love speaks with courage, partnership walks with purpose, and devotion quietly reshapes lives and legacies.

As Chief Dele and his remarkable wife Mobolaji Momodu mark 33 years of marital union, I am compelled to pause, not just to celebrate longevity, but to honour a love story that has survived trials, triumphed over tyranny, and blossomed into a partnership that continues to inspire generations.

I have always known them as love birds. It is almost impossible to engage Chief Dele Momodu in any meaningful conversation without the affectionate and respectful mention of his wife. He speaks of her not as an appendage to his success, but as its backbone, his confidant, his compass, and proudly, his “prayer warrior.” That alone speaks volumes in a world where gratitude within marriage is often whispered, if acknowledged at all.

Chief Mobolaji is kindness personified. Whenever I am privileged to be their guest whether at their warm Ikoyi home in Lagos or at public functions, her concern is constant and sincere. She will not sit comfortably until she is certain that everyone around her, especially her guests, is fine. That gentle strength, that instinctive compassion, defines her essence.

Yet, beyond her kindness lies courage. History will forever remember one defining moment on 25th July 1995 during the dark, oppressive days of General Sani Abacha’s dictatorship, a very heart-touching story. Strange, faceless men had come looking for Dele Momodu at their home. At the time, he was away in Ogun State. Without hesitation, His wife Mobolaji immediately sensed the danger coming when she suspected that those men could have been Abacha’s attack dogs. Highly cerebral young woman she was, she acted smartly by sneaking to trace the road the knew her husband was likely following to come back home. Luckily enough, she stopped him and raised the alarm. That single, decisive action changed the course of history.

Dele Momodu had already tasted detention for his pro-democracy stance where he was detained in Alagbon close. Now, he was being hunted again, this time in connection with the underground Radio Freedom, later renamed Radio Kudirat, in honour of the murdered activist Kudirat Abiola. Acting swiftly on his wife’s intuition and bravery, he disguised himself as a farmer and fled through the Seme border into Cotonou, Benin Republic. That escape marked the beginning of a three years exile in London, but also the preservation of a voice Nigeria could not afford to lose. That moment was not just the act of a wife, it was the intervention of destiny, executed through love.

In making that daring escape, Dele Momodu paid an enormous personal price. He left behind his only child in the care of his devoted wife and also his elderly mother in Ile-Ife, stepping into the uncertainty of exile with nothing but faith, conviction, and hope. That three years journey away from home would later prove transformative, culminating in the birth of Ovation International Magazine in London in April 1996, a global brand that would redefine African storytelling and project Nigerian excellence to the world. How Ovation emanated from Momodu’s rare bravery and risk taking is a another interesting story for another day.

Chief Dele Momodu has often shared that his earliest ambition was simple: to become a teacher, marry a teacher, and live happily thereafter . Fate, however, had grander plans. Their story began during their university days at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), where Dele earned a degree in Yoruba in 1982 and later a Master’s degree in English Literature in 1988. From humble beginnings in Ile-Ife, they embarked on a journey that would take them across mountains and valleys.

On their 30th wedding anniversary, Chief Dele Momodu described his wife as a “combination of brains and beauty”, a woman with whom he has “climbed mountains and descended valleys together.” Few statements capture the depth of partnership more profoundly.

Their marriage in December 1992, graciously bankrolled by the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, Dele Momodu’s adopted father was not merely a union of two souls, but the convergence of purpose, principle, and providence.

After 33 years today, their union stands as a testament to what marriage should be: friendship strengthened by faith, love fortified by sacrifice, and partnership tested, and proven by history.

Beyond the public milestones and historic moments lies a quieter but equally profound achievement, the family they built together. Blessed with four sons whom I refer to as “the Momodu’s 4 effects”, Chief Dele Momodu and Chief Mobolaji Momodu have raised a generation that reflects the values of discipline, faith, and excellence that define their home.

As they celebrate this remarkable milestone, Nigeria celebrates with them. Their story reminds us that behind every courageous man is often a discerning, fearless woman, and behind every lasting marriage is mutual respect, unwavering loyalty, and shared vision.

Happy 33rd Wedding Anniversary to Chief Dele Momodu and Chief Mobolaji Aderamaja Momodu, a couple whose love did not merely survive time, but shaped it.

May the years ahead be gentler, brighter, and filled with the same grace that has defined the journey so far, in good health, wealth, happiness, fulfillment and massive blessings.

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

Opinion

Rebuilding the Pillars: A Comprehensive Blueprint for Overcoming Nigeria’s Leadership Deficit

Published

1 week ago

December 13, 2025

Eric

By Tolulope A. Adegoke, PhD

Systemic governance reform as the critical foundation for unlocking sustainable development and restoring national promise. “Nations are not built on resources, but on systems. Nigeria’s future rests not on changing leaders, but on transforming the very structures that create them” – Tolulope A. Adegoke, PhD

Introduction: The Leadership Imperative

Nigeria, often described as the “Giant of Africa,” stands at a pivotal moment in its historical trajectory. Possessing unparalleled human capital, vast natural resources, and a dynamic, youthful population, the nation’s potential remains paradoxically constrained by deeply embedded structural deficiencies within its leadership architecture. These systemic flaws—evident across political, corporate, and civic institutions—have created profound cracks that undermine public trust, stifle economic innovation, and impede the delivery of fundamental social goods. This leadership deficit is not merely a political inconvenience; it is the central bottleneck to national progress.

Addressing this challenge requires moving beyond cyclical criticism of individuals and towards a deliberate, strategic reconstruction of the systems that produce, empower, and hold leaders accountable. This blog post presents a holistic, actionable blueprint designed to seal these cracks permanently. It offers a pathway to cultivate a leadership ecosystem that is transparent, accountable, performance-driven, and ethically grounded, thereby delivering tangible possibilities for Nigeria’s people, empowering its corporate sector, and restoring its stature on the global stage.

Section 1: Diagnosing the Structural Cracks—A Multilayered Analysis

A precise diagnosis is essential for effective treatment. Nigeria’s leadership challenges are multifaceted and mutually reinforcing, stemming from three core structural failures.

1. The Governance Architecture Failure

The current system suffers from a fundamental contradiction: a hyper-centralized federal model that stifles local innovation and accountability. Critical institutions, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the judiciary, and the civil service, frequently operate with compromised autonomy, inadequate technical capacity, and vulnerability to political interference. Furthermore, the intended checks and balances among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches have weakened, creating avenues for impunity and concentrated power that deviate from democratic principles.

2. The Leadership Pipeline Collapse

The mechanisms for recruiting and developing leaders are fundamentally broken. Political party structures too often prioritize patronage, loyalty, and financial muscle over competence, vision, and ethical fortitude. There exists no systematic, nationwide program for identifying, nurturing, and mentoring successive generations of public servants. This results in a recurring leadership vacuum and a deficiency of cognitive diversity at decision-making tables, limiting the range of solutions for national challenges.

3. The Integrity Infrastructure Erosion

Perhaps the most damaging crack is the erosion of public trust, fueled by opacity and impunity. Decision-making processes and public resource allocations are frequently shrouded in secrecy, while accountability mechanisms are rendered ineffective. The consistent weakness in enforcing ethical codes across sectors has allowed a culture of corruption to persist, which acts as a regressive tax on development, scuttles investor confidence, and demoralizes the citizenry.

Section 2: A Tripartite Framework for Sustainable Transformation

Lasting reform necessitates concurrent, mutually reinforcing interventions across three interconnected pillars.

Pillar I: Constitutional and Institutional Reformation

Implementing True Cooperative Federalism: It is imperative to undertake a constitutional review that clearly delineates responsibilities and revenue-generating authorities among federal, state, and local governments. This empowers subnational entities to become laboratories of development, tailored to local contexts, while fostering healthy competition in providing public services. Fiscal autonomy must be matched with enhanced capacity-building initiatives at the state and local government levels.

Fortifying Independent Institutions: Key democratic institutions require constitutional protection from executive and legislative overreach. This includes guaranteeing transparent, first-line funding from the Consolidated Revenue Fund and establishing rigorous, meritocratic panels for appointing their leadership. Strengthening bodies like the Code of Conduct Bureau and the Public Complaints Commission is equally vital.

Professionalizing the Political Space: Electoral reform must introduce systems like ranked-choice voting to encourage more issue-based, inclusive campaigning. Legislation should mandate demonstrable internal democracy within political parties, including transparent primaries and audited financial disclosures, to reduce the capture of parties by narrow interests.

Pillar II: Cultivating a Leadership Development Ecosystem

Establishing a Premier National School of Governance (NSG): Modeled on institutions like the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, a Nigerian NSG would serve as the apex institution for executive leadership training. Attendance for all senior civil servants, political appointees, and legislators should be mandatory, with curricula focused on strategic public administration, ethical leadership, complex project management, and national policy analysis.

Catalyzing a Corporate Governance Revolution: The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) must enforce stricter codes requiring diverse, independent, and technically competent boards. The private sector should be incentivized—through tax credits or preferential procurement status—to establish leadership fellowship programs that place high-potential private-sector executives into public sector roles for fixed terms, fostering cross-pollination of skills and perspectives.

Instituting a Presidential Leadership Fellowship (PLF): This highly selective, merit-based program would identify Nigeria’s most promising young talents (aged 25-35) from all fields—technology, agriculture, law, the arts—and place them in intensive two-year rotations across critical government agencies, private sector giants, and civil society organizations. This creates a nurtured cohort of future leaders with a national network and a deep understanding of systemic interconnections.

Pillar III: Architecting Robust Accountability & Performance Systems

Deploying a Digital Transparency Platform: A mandatory, open-access National Integrated Governance Portal (NIGP) should display in real-time the status, budget, and contractor details of every major public project. Strategic use of blockchain technology can create immutable records for procurement contracts and resource distribution, significantly reducing opportunities for diversion.

Empowering Oversight and Consequence: Anti-corruption agencies require not only independence but also enhanced forensic capacity and international collaboration. Performance tracking must extend to the judiciary and legislature; publishing annual scorecards on case clearance rates, legislative productivity, and constituency impact can drive public accountability.

Embedding a Culture of Results: All government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) must operate under a National Key Results Framework (NKRF). This performance contract system would define clear, measurable quarterly deliverables tied to national development plans. Autonomy and discretionary funding should be increased for MDAs that consistently meet targets, while underperformance triggers mandatory restructuring and leadership review.

Section 3: The Indispensable Cultural Reorientation

Technocratic fixes will fail without a parallel cultural shift that venerates service and integrity.

Embedding Ethics from Foundation: A redesigned national curriculum, from primary through tertiary education, must integrate civic ethics, critical thinking, and Nigeria’s constitutional history to build an informed citizenry that values good governance.

Launching a “Service Nation” Campaign: A sustained, multi-platform national campaign, developed in partnership with respected cultural, religious, and traditional institutions, should celebrate role models of ethical leadership and reframe public service as the nation’s highest calling.

Enacting Ironclad Whistleblower Protections: Comprehensive legislation must be passed to protect whistleblowers from all forms of retaliation, including provisions for anonymous reporting, physical protection, and financial rewards, aligning with global best practices to encourage exposure of malfeasance.

Section 4: A Practical, Phased Implementation Roadmap (2025-2035)

Phase 1: The Foundation Phase (Years 1-3)

Convene a National Constitutional Dialogue involving all tiers of government, civil society, and professional bodies.

· Establish the Nigerian School of Governance (NSG) and inaugurate the first cohort of the Presidential Leadership Fellowship (PLF).

· Pilot the National Integrated Governance Portal (NIGP) in the Ministries of Health, Education, and Works.

Phase 2: The Integration & Scaling Phase (Years 4-7)

· Enact and begin implementation of the new constitutional framework on fiscal federalism.

· Graduate the first NSG cohorts and embed training as a prerequisite for promotions.

· Roll out the NKRF performance contracts across all federal MDAs and willing pilot states.

Phase 3: The Consolidation & Maturation Phase (Years 8-12)

· Conduct a comprehensive national review, assessing improvements in governance indices, citizen trust metrics, and economic competitiveness.

· Establish Nigeria as a regional hub for leadership training, offering NSG programmes to other African nations.

· Institutionalize a self-sustaining cycle where performance culture and ethical leadership are the unquestioned norms.

Conclusion: Forging a New Path of Leadership

The task of sealing the cracks in Nigeria’s leadership foundation is undeniably monumental, yet it is the most critical work of this generation. It demands a departure from transactional politics and short-term thinking toward a covenant of nation-building. The integrated blueprint outlined here—combining institutional redesign, leadership cultivation, technological accountability, and cultural renewal—provides a viable pathway.

This is not a call for perfection, but for systematic progress. By committing to this journey, Nigeria can transform its governance from its greatest liability into its most powerful asset. The outcome will be a nation where trust is restored, innovation flourishes, and every citizen has a fair opportunity to thrive. The resources, the intellect, and the spirit exist within Nigeria; it is now a matter of courageously building the structures to set them free.

Dr. Tolulope Adeseye Adegoke is a distinguished scholar-practitioner specializing in the intersection of African security, governance, and strategic leadership. His expertise is built on a robust academic foundation—with a PhD, MA, and BA in History and International Studies focused on West African conflicts, terrorism, and regional diplomacy—complemented by high-level professional credentials as a Distinguished Fellow Certified Management Consultant and a Fellow Certified Human Resource Management Professional.

A recognized thought leader, he is a Distinguished Ambassador for World Peace (AMBP-UN) and has been honoured with the African Leadership Par Excellence Award (2024) and the Nigerian Role Models Award (2024), alongside inclusion in the prestigious national compendium “Nigeria @65: Leaders of Distinction.”

Dr. Adegoke’s unique value lies in synthesizing deep historical analysis with practical management frameworks to diagnose systemic institutional failures and design actionable reforms. His work is dedicated to advancing ethical governance, strategic human capital development, and sustainable nation-building in Africa and the globe. He can be reached via: tolulopeadegoke01@gmail.com & globalstageimpacts@gmail.com