NLI White Paper L&R.Cdr

The NLI White Papers Volume 1, May 2011 These White Papers address issues of leadership, values and nationhood. They demonstrate the urgent need for action and proffer practical suggestions on steps to be taken. The White Papers also support StandUP Naija, a video project by NLI which gives a voice to the issues faced by average Nigerians and their expectations of elected leaders. www.nli-global.org © 2011. Nigeria Leadership Initiative. This material may not be copied, reproduced, republished, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way without the express, advance, written consent of Nigeria Leadership Initiative. Designed by ennovateNIGERIA 1 | NLI White Papers FOREWORD BY DR. CHRISTOPHER KOLADE CON About NLI The Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI) is a platform for credible, accomplished and patriotic Nigerians to develop and express values- based leadership skills with the aim of assuming a transformative role in the development of Nigeria. Mr. Segun Aganga Dr. Christopher Kolade CON Honourable Minister of Finance, Nigeria Pro-Chancellor, Pan-African University, Nigeria Founder, NLI Founding Patron, NLI Established in January 2006, worldwide to collectively tackle we are an international non- the challenges that confront profit, non-partisan Nigeria. organisation registered as a Motivated by the vision of our charity in Nigeria, the United founders and the necessity of Kingdom and the United States nation-building, we are of America. blending the lines between citizenry and leadership to Through our Leadership enhance engagement, moving Seminars, Symposia, Projects Nigerians from “Thought to and Publications, we are Action…Success to mobilising the energy, talent Significance”. and resources of Nigerians To view a list of NLI fellows, please go to page 72 NLI White Papers | 2 I am certain there cannot be a These White Papers attempt to Foreword more crucial time —or place—to address many of these challenges, strengthen the principles of showing the need for urgent Dr. Christopher Kolade leadership and nationalism than action, deconstructing where (CON) is presently the Pro- in present-day Nigeria. possible root causes, and making Chancellor, Pan-African University, was Nigeria’s Africa's most populous nation practical suggestions on actions to former High Commissioner has just emerged from its be taken. NLI is putting forward to the United Kingdom. He has been, at different points general elections, with over 73 the learned views of accomplished of his career, million registered voters. About Nigerians at home and abroad Director - General of the Nigerian Broadcasting two-thirds of the country's with the aim of starting a dialogue Corporation, Chief Executive parliamentary leaders will not around critical issues pertinent to and Chairman of Cadbury Nigeria Plc, and Lecturer in be returning to office. Lesser- our nation's continued Corporate Governance and known political parties have also development. It is our humble Human Resources Management at the Lagos made an entrance at state and wish that these papers are not Business School. legislative levels of leadership. merely received, but also read and Beyond words improvised, acted upon. printed and voiced on the In concluding, Nigeria's elections campaign trail, beyond the place a great burden of trust on its pomp of swearing-in present crop of leaders. Crucially, ceremonies, the need to as we move forward on much prioritise fiscal, human and needed reforms, and as noted by leadership resources towards one of our contributors, we must development remains critical. be mindful that a reform process By 2030, estimates indicate that does not transcend the person Nigeria will be one of the few of the reformer or political leader countries in the world with is a failure: It cannot be young workers in plentiful sustainable. supply. However this may be If these papers contribute to against a backdrop of a mere leadership and electorate four percent (4%) budgetary decisions in some way, and lead to allocation going to healthcare, a a concerted effort at implementing 79% O-level failure rate, and our change, then some of our work is continuing to import food whilst done. utilising less than half of our Thank you. arable land; all exacerbated by periodic violent, often politically motivated, communal and religious clashes. Unless we do Dr. Christopher Kolade something about it. Founding Patron/Chairman Advisory Board Nigeria Leadership Initiative 3 | NLI White Papers NLI would like to thank the following individuals for their input to this publication. Folashade Adefisayo Jinmi Morgan Ruona Agbroko Meyer Dr. Abdul Raufu Mustapha Opeyemi Awoyemi Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli, MFR Dr. Titi Banjoko ’Tunde Olanrewaju Adaku Uche Ekpo Prof. Jacob K. Olupona Tony O. Elumelu, MFR Dr. Lola Oni, OBE Asue Ighodalo Subomi Plumptre Chude Jideonwo Gbenga Sesan Bunmi Lawson Lola Solebo Hauwa Magoro Maryam Uwais NLI White Papers | 4 CONTENTS 6 Government can, and should, Leveraging private sector learn from leading practices used by the private sector approaches in transforming government delivery Tony O. Elumelu, MFR 14 Strengthening and streamlining targeted policy Unleashing the power of the areas can be the key to Nigerian agricultural sector unlocking the potential of Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli, MFR agriculture 21 Our uniquely rich and Diversity as a platform varied heritage is an asset we are failing to exploit for progress Maryam Uwais 32 Pluralism and the role of Nigeria at the crossroads: religion in taking Nigeria forward should be explored Religion, education, and nation- building Prof. Jacob K. Olupona 40 Practical actions should be Tackling the sickle cell taken to transform our approach to managing the disease disease challenge in Nigeria Dr. Lola Oni, OBE 51 To get the maximum value from our investment in 79% failure is unacceptable: education, we must address A roadmap for the structural inhibitors education in Nigeria A collaborative essay 60 Our collective skills and experience, properly harnessed Adopting a holistic and integrated can drive sustainable growth approach to developing and development Nigeria's human capital Dr. Titi Banjoko 67 Agents of reform in Nigeria Reformers in government: operate in a unique context they must be mindful of The roles of blueprints, incentives and political will Dr. Abdul Raufu Mustapha 5 | NLI White Papers NLI Values NLI promotes 10 core values identified by Nigerians in an essay competition, as the values that are necessary to build a good Nigerian society. The values are: - Integrity - Industry - Compassion - Justice & Equity - Tolerance - Discipline - Family Values - Contentment - Spirituality - Patriotism Leveraging private sector approaches in transforming government delivery Government can, and should, learn from leading practices used by the private sector Tony O. Elumelu, MFR Governments play an obvious and Edison, the inventor of the light bulb, critical role in determining the quality of seems very appropriate: “Vision without life of the populace — through the execution is hallucination”. It is critical provision of critical infrastructure such we boost our public sector's ability to as roads and power, healthcare, social actually deliver promised security, education and law transformation, in the interest of enforcement, to name a few. It is clear Nigeria's people and our collective that in Nigeria today many of these basic future. services are simply not functioning, and in dire need of transformational change. Transformation Wide-ranging reform plans across most It's worth defining what is meant by services have been developed and Transformation – I would characterize it published, ostensibly laying out well as profound and radical change that intended paths for addressing current orientates an organization in a new gaps. However the execution of these direction and takes it to an entirely plans (or rather lack thereof) leaves different level of effectiveness. This much to be desired even when the will is implies a fundamental change of there, with efforts in Lagos State being character, resulting in a new model with one of the few positive notable potentially little or no resemblance with exceptions. A famous quote by Thomas the past configuration or structure. This 7 | NLI White Papers is about making a step change. Private multiple institutions’ cultures, systems sector leaders, due to constant market and customers. I daresay the public and competitive pressures, have to be sector would have struggled to comfortable and adept at transforming replicate this performance. Put their businesses. Such transformation together, these insights beg the could include effecting the necessary question: what can the public sector changes to launch a new product learn from the private sector about line/category, enter a new transformation and execution? market/geography, adjust their cost The private sector approach structure in response to a price Government, in wrestling with its war/economic downturn, capture many complex challenges, has synergies from an acquisition/merger, historically tried to leverage a private and many other examples. In these sector approach by creating situations many unfamiliar challenges competition and instilling the profit must be successfully navigated motive into public services. In other typically in a limited time window; words, it tries to create the same otherwise the enterprise will rapidly market and competitive dynamic that fall behind competitors and could drives the private sector. This has ultimately

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