Opinion

Voice of Emancipation: Lessons from Nehemiah (Pt. 2)

Published

4 years ago

May 14, 2022

Eric

By Kayode Emola

Special Credit: Dr. Bethan Emola

It is exactly one year today since “Voice of Emancipation” began publication, and I would be remiss were I not to thank all those who have made this project the huge success that it has become. I want to especially thank Bob Dee for giving me this platform, where I can share with readers of the Boss Newspapers what enormous benefits an independent Yoruba nation can offer.

I also want to thank the Boss Newspaper’s editor, Eric Elezuo, for helping to develop the concept and the idea in the early stage. And I must not forget my beloved wife, Dr. Bethan Emola, who has helped proof-read and edit every single write-up since the column’s inception. Most importantly, I want to thank you, our readers, for your immense support, your positive feedback and constructive criticism when necessary, which have shaped “Voice of Emancipation” into what it is today.

Following the last two weeks’ break, I am returning to what lessons we can learn from the Biblical story of Nehemiah. Whether you believe this to be an accurate historical account or not, whether you are religious or not, I believe there is useful information from which we may extrapolate and apply to our own struggle for an independent Yoruba nation.

To recap for those who may have missed the first part (and if you want to go back and catch up, you can find the article here: https://thebossnewspapers.com/2022/04/22/voice-of-emancipation-lessons-from-nehemiah-part-i/) and are unfamiliar with the events recounted, Nehemiah was a prophet of Israel during the time of their exile under the Persian Empire. He ultimately returned to Jerusalem and organised the rebuilding of the walls, at the same time as his contemporary, Ezra, was rebuilding the Temple.

I believe that the account of Nehemiah has relevance to the Yoruba struggle today, as there are similarities between his situation and our own. He was in a land that was not his own country, under oppression from an external state, and he was seeking to bring his people back to their own sovereign nation. This has parallels with our position as a nation of people within a larger state, where we did not choose to be, where we do not want to be, where we are oppressed, and from where we are seeking to leave and return to self-governance.

Previously, we looked at Nehemiah’s concern for his people, his humility, prudence and diplomatic approach. Today we will continue, looking at his preparatory techniques.

As we covered in Part I, Nehemiah was not the sort of person who acted before thinking. Rather, he took time to consider and prepare before he even took the first step. He spoke to King Artaxerxes – the ruler of the Persian Empire – and asked him to write letters of safe passage for his journey, and for resources.

As we proceed on our journey towards self-determination, there will be people for whom the idea of an independent Yoruba nation is deeply concerning. These people have a vested interest in Nigeria continuing in the current arrangement, who stand to lose out if Yoruba secede. They are likely to try and hamper any progress, even going as far as to use military force to preserve the status quo. How are we, as a nation, preparing for this? We must anticipate who is likely to oppose us and by what means they may do so.

Then we must identify our allies. Who are the individuals sympathetic to our cause – among our peers, among the leaders, local and national, within Nigeria; among those in positions of influence in other countries? Which countries are likely to support us, at a diplomatic level such as the United Nations, or at a military level, should it come to it? Which countries are likely to bring us opposition? Which countries are currently ambivalent, and how can we sway them toward supporting us?

Many, indeed most if not all, countries seek their own self-interests above all else, even if few state it as explicitly as the previous President of the United States, Donald Trump, did with his “America First” campaign. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has become a stark demonstration of this, with NATO’s refusal to intervene to assist Ukraine, in a bid to avoid Russia declaring war against the NATO alliance. They are, to a greater or lesser extent, leaving Ukraine to fend for themselves in order to prevent Russia turning their attack to them.

So it will not be enough to appeal to a government’s sense of altruism or justice to encourage their support for our cause. If we seek to garner support from presently ambivalent countries, we need to present to them a case for why it will be beneficial for them to ally with us; or, at the very least, why it would be detrimental for them not to assist us. This is not to say that we should be threatening action or sanctions against those countries who are unwilling to assist; rather a simple and unprejudiced statement of fact of what the global consequences will be if the Fulani are permitted to continue as they are unchecked. Every Yoruba person who lives in a local authority can do this. Write to your local governor, senator, congressperson or member of parliament explaining the situation, why it is unsustainable and what destination the current trajectory is leading us to.

Nehemiah’s preparations did not end once his journey began. He continued to assess each situation that he encountered and to put in place contingencies for every step he took. Once he arrived in Jerusalem, he took three days to analyse the damage that the walls had sustained before he even raised the issue with the officials or nobles. He made sure that he had all the information before instigating action among others.

Not only this, but when he met with the officials, he didn’t just describe the problem in clear detail. He also presented solutions. The creation of a new sovereign state requires consideration of a myriad of sectors and infrastructures. Who will govern and how? On what principles will the new nation be founded? How will new laws be reviewed and enacted? How will national income be generated? How will the economy function – what currency will be used, will there be hard currency, how will any new currencies equate to those in current circulation? How will the banking systems run? How will the nation defend itself should we come under attack? Education, health, transport, housing, social care, manufacturing, communication networks, food, agriculture, administration of justice, granting of citizenship, production of energy, international relations and trade negotiations – these all require planning down to the minute detail before any attempt to break away is initiated.

This is not a project where an ad hoc approach will suffice, where one can improvise as you go along. This is a serious undertaking where the end must be known from the beginning, and every stage in between. Not that the plans must be fixed, rigid, and unchanging even if circumstances require an alternative approach; but one where every contingency is considered and planned for, and then adapted as the situation necessitates.

I would urge every Yoruba person to fully consider the questions posed above. Yoruba nation, in contrast to present-day Nigeria, is to be a country that honours and nurtures every one of its citizens, not just the privileged few. As such, every Yoruba individual should have the right to have their say in its formation. It is only by voicing one’s needs that they can be integrated into arrangements; and it is only by carefully considering the situation that one can determine what one’s needs are and how they could be met. This is not the time to sit back and be passive, leaving the responsibility of generating solutions to someone else. This is the time to stand up, speak out, and to make sure that your voice is heard.

Editor’s Note: Voice of Emancipation has brought a lot of positive vibes to The Boss Newspapers during this last one year, and readers have had to appreciate the commentative dexterity of Kayode. Not only that, his fluidity and ability to structure his ideas in chronological sequence are features that cannot be neglected. Congratulations sir!

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!