Let me make some comments on economic reforms. I teach a business environment course that focuses on the economic, political, and social environment of business. These days, we also include legal/regulatory, technology, and global environments.
On Thursday August 8, 2024, I discussed four country case studies on economic reforms on social media-Singapore, India, China and Britain under various leaders-Lee Kwan Yew in Singapore, multiple Indian leaders including Indira and Rajiv Ghandi, Manmohan Singh and Narasimha Rao, Deng Xiaoping of China, and Britain’s Margaret Thatcher. Read More
I start this review of Nigerian economy and policy at this critical time by highlighting the difference between strategy and tactics. Strategy encompasses a long-term, comprehensive, “strategic” aspiration or direction for the firm or nation, and decisions and actions directed thereat while tactics are short-term, isolated actions taken as components of the “strategy”. While strategy, right strategy is critical, tactics matter, especially in relation to implementation-a viable strategy may be enhanced or subverted by poor tactics! My hypothesis is that while the evident strategic aspiration of current policy towards a market-driven economic policy is desirable or even compelling, some tactical implementation approaches may be questionable or at least debatable.
Opening Thoughts
His Excellency Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN former Governor of Lagos State from 2007-2015 and Federal Minister of Works, Housing (and for four years, Power) from 2015-2023 has written a very insightful book. The theme of the book, titled “NIGERIAN PUBLIC DISCOURSE: THE INTERPLAY OF EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE AND HYPERBOLE” is to draw attention to the penchant for many Nigerians in public conversations to speak without empirical evidence (data) and consequently to engage in hyperbolic claims, i.e., grand exaggerations, often misleading the public.
By Ifelanwa Osundolire
Book Review By Opeyemi Agbaje
Friday January 12, 2024
When I received the message and then had a phone conversation with Funlola Fowowe-Jeje on Monday, January 8, 2024, that I was required to do this book review today January 12, 2024, all I could think to say was, “How do I get the book? When? How soon?”. On reflection, that conversation was a throw-back to our days in Guaranty Trust Bank. The only thought on my mind was the deadline! And how I was not willing to accept the embarrassment of defaulting on it! Funlola on the other hand, had no doubt that I would accept and fulfil the obligation she was thrusting on me, at such short notice!
Can you put in context how Nigeria fared under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari?
I think the performance of the previous government should not be a matter of controversy since we all lived in Nigeria. I don’t expect any argument over the assertion that the economy has been suboptimal over the last nine years. I stretched it to nine years because the last year of President Goodluck Jonathan was also a period of downward economic performance. Subsequently, we witnessed suboptimal economic performance during the eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari. Indeed, the administration started with a vacuum in policy. Read More
There are some things that you never imagine is possible-I never thought it possible that my dear sister, Morenikeji Oludotun Adepoju nee Agbaje would ever not be with us. ‘Keji as she insisted we call her, when everyone called their egbons ‘Sister’ or ‘Aunty’ was there when I was born and I assumed she would be there whenever I would leave this wicked world. She was my big sister, my only sister from our parents, the only female amongst us and fortunately, the oldest in our household. Read More
When Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared “Emilokan” (“It is my Turn) in Abeokuta in June 2022, it was an act of defiance and determination, as he perceived that those who benefitted from his political franchise in 2015 and 2019, might be seeking to deny him his lifelong ambition for Nigeria’s presidency. It had emerged that the so-called “cabal” around President Muhammadu Buhari, Read More
I See Stella
Four decades, two years hence
I See Stella
Gently walking but stridently to class
Soft strides, stellar looks
Sober smiles, gentle beauty
Her burden, a test
In terms of policy orientation, we characterize Tinubu as “market/welfarist”, Atiku as “market/capitalist”, Obi as “market/entrepreneurial” and Kwankwaso as “statist”.
