I've been away from here for some time now - it's nothing but some other work I've had to pay attention to. It's good to have you back there.
Here now, I like you to consider with me one of the main issues of our time in Nigeria - the VISION 20-2020. For those who don't know, what that means is that Nigeria would be one of the 20 largest economies in the world by the year 2020.
Did I hear someone say it's impossible? From a vantage point I dare say that it's possible. My only concern is that it's not going to be possible if we still do business as usual. Like Zig Ziglar said, the height of insanity is to do what you've always done and expect different results. But that's what we're doing in Nigeria. Or how do you explain the fact that we keep recycling the same old hands - whose "deeds" or "misdeeds" brought us to where we are today - in leadership. No wonder ministers have to resign on allegation of corruption - just about 1 year in office. Na wa o!
Have you ever wondered what the source of the whole 20-2020 "visioneering" is? It came as a fallout of the Goldman Sachs Report in 2006 which suggested that Nigeria would grow to become one of the 20 leading economies in the world by the year 2020. The government of the day - then led by President Olusegun Obasanjo - caught that and sold it to the public through the brilliant Frank Nweke, Jr. Not surprisingly, the somewhat "directionless" government of Yar'adua just imported it into its "development agenda". This was so convenient to do for a President who did not even have a clear idea of what to do with his presidency.
What our "champions" did not notice - or maybe they know but are not admitting it - is the fact that the same report noted that the predication will only be valid IF THE NIGERIAN ECONOMY CONTINUES TO GROW STEADILY at a certain rate. That rate has not changed and rather than moving towards it, we are actually drifting away. For instance, for a nation to develop industrially, its manufacturing industries MUST contribute at least 25% to its GDP annually. I ask, is that the case here? Furthermore, the economy has to grow at an annual rate above 9%. The highest we have attained in recent times is around 7%.
Besides, the report made it clear that it also assumed that the countries which are presently above Nigeria on the development ladder remain where they are. For God's sake how is that possible? While it is true that some might actually fall or remain stagnant, it is also true that some will rise beyond their present levels too! In fact, independent analyses have shown that Nigeria has many countries to topple for the prediction to hold true. One of such analyses by Professor Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka and co showed that we have about 50 countries to topple for that prediction to happen. You might like to know that those countries include South Korea, India, China, Malaysia, Israel, Brazil and South Africa.
The foregoing clearly shows that the dream is a VERY tall one. But I said I believe it is possible. Ask me how and I'll just point you to a 2020 that I know. In the second part of 2 Chronicles 20:20 we read "Believe the LORD and you will be ESTABLISHED; believe His prophets and you will PROSPER." Without being unnecessarily optimistic, I dare say that if we, at least, the so-called CHILDREN OF GOD make this our own REAL 2020, we will be contributing in no small measure towards making our Nigeria realise her 20-2020 vision. I must let you know that we hold the key to convincing - by example - our leaders that the real 2020 is not what we are presently amplifying, it's in our turining to God and taking His words seriously.
To be continued
Here now, I like you to consider with me one of the main issues of our time in Nigeria - the VISION 20-2020. For those who don't know, what that means is that Nigeria would be one of the 20 largest economies in the world by the year 2020.
Did I hear someone say it's impossible? From a vantage point I dare say that it's possible. My only concern is that it's not going to be possible if we still do business as usual. Like Zig Ziglar said, the height of insanity is to do what you've always done and expect different results. But that's what we're doing in Nigeria. Or how do you explain the fact that we keep recycling the same old hands - whose "deeds" or "misdeeds" brought us to where we are today - in leadership. No wonder ministers have to resign on allegation of corruption - just about 1 year in office. Na wa o!
Have you ever wondered what the source of the whole 20-2020 "visioneering" is? It came as a fallout of the Goldman Sachs Report in 2006 which suggested that Nigeria would grow to become one of the 20 leading economies in the world by the year 2020. The government of the day - then led by President Olusegun Obasanjo - caught that and sold it to the public through the brilliant Frank Nweke, Jr. Not surprisingly, the somewhat "directionless" government of Yar'adua just imported it into its "development agenda". This was so convenient to do for a President who did not even have a clear idea of what to do with his presidency.
What our "champions" did not notice - or maybe they know but are not admitting it - is the fact that the same report noted that the predication will only be valid IF THE NIGERIAN ECONOMY CONTINUES TO GROW STEADILY at a certain rate. That rate has not changed and rather than moving towards it, we are actually drifting away. For instance, for a nation to develop industrially, its manufacturing industries MUST contribute at least 25% to its GDP annually. I ask, is that the case here? Furthermore, the economy has to grow at an annual rate above 9%. The highest we have attained in recent times is around 7%.
Besides, the report made it clear that it also assumed that the countries which are presently above Nigeria on the development ladder remain where they are. For God's sake how is that possible? While it is true that some might actually fall or remain stagnant, it is also true that some will rise beyond their present levels too! In fact, independent analyses have shown that Nigeria has many countries to topple for the prediction to hold true. One of such analyses by Professor Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka and co showed that we have about 50 countries to topple for that prediction to happen. You might like to know that those countries include South Korea, India, China, Malaysia, Israel, Brazil and South Africa.
The foregoing clearly shows that the dream is a VERY tall one. But I said I believe it is possible. Ask me how and I'll just point you to a 2020 that I know. In the second part of 2 Chronicles 20:20 we read "Believe the LORD and you will be ESTABLISHED; believe His prophets and you will PROSPER." Without being unnecessarily optimistic, I dare say that if we, at least, the so-called CHILDREN OF GOD make this our own REAL 2020, we will be contributing in no small measure towards making our Nigeria realise her 20-2020 vision. I must let you know that we hold the key to convincing - by example - our leaders that the real 2020 is not what we are presently amplifying, it's in our turining to God and taking His words seriously.
To be continued
