Author: Gboyega Adedeji

Former President of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA and acclaimed pro-democracy activist Dr Olisa Agbakoba tells of the magic wand that will pull the country out of the economic woods by the middle of 2017. The maritime lawyer, who is also a graduate of the London School of Economics, speaks on those who caused the downturn among other economic and sundry issues. Excerpts: What is your personal diagnosis of the nation’s slump into economic recession? We have this complicated, endemic, malignant, metabolic economic recession. To understand that, and proffer solutions to it; the single biggest culprit in our present predicament…

In this interview, Professor of Political Economy and Management expert, Pat Utomi, shares his thoughts on the state of the country’s economy, politics and other issues. There were speculations that you were going to be a Minister or at least be on the economic team of President Muhammadu Buhari. Were you not reached out to or you were simply uninterested? First of all, I think there is too much emphasis on form rather than content in our context as a people. I think what is always important is our ability to work together as a people to change the…

The mantra “Change Begins With Me” is not the problem of Nigeria and Nigerians deserves the right to vent their dissatisfaction with the current status of the economy of Nigeria. Sometime in 2015, I submitted an article on Witicles.com titled: “The Folly Of Electioneering in Nigeria: We Either Change or Perish”; the article was later published on Fridayposts.com. I submitted very strongly on the possible consequence of the choice Nigerians were to make; and their attitude. At that time, Naira was hardly used to compel people to vote; many politicians changed their minds on who to support based on the quantum of dollars…

It has been said that people do what people see; and that explains the situation of Nigeria and the relationship between the President of Nigeria and Nigerians. While the Federal Government expects people to do what they say; ultimately, what people do is what people see the FG doing. If you take a careful look at the picture above; you would see the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria talking and laughing while reading the newspaper. If you take a walk outside your workplace or house and move through the streets; you will see Nigerians that ought to be producing…

It has been said that talk is cheap; and if I may, I would compare men and women that only talk to the situation where it is said that if wishes were horses; beggars would ride. It is one thing to say something, and another is to do something; the vast majority of us do not have problem saying things (maybe because we all have our own share of mouth); but the aspect of doing become cumbersome for even the most active men and women. It is possible for you to lay yourself on a nice textured bed, while you…

Undoubtedly, there is a shortage of relevant resources on the earth today. Many families, cities, states and nations are short of needed resources for survival, growth and development; which in a way have created a sense of scarcity in many people, corporations and countries. Many people have settled for less, accepting whatever comes there way as their own fortune or their own fate. This sense of claim, which has made countless people across nations to possess substances as their own; has equally made many to experience scarcity in their lives. While these sense of scarcity and sense of claim have…

The economy of any body or nation can be described in a form as money in the pocket, food on the table, money in the bank (safe). That description seems simple though; however, it covers quite a number of things that defines everyone or country’s economic condition. The areas covered include: Money in the pocket – Aggregate spending; Food on the table – Aggregate production; Money in the bank –  Aggregate Income (Reserve). It has been said that everyone’s today was his or her tomorrow; and everyone’s present was his or her future. The implication of that is very simple;…

Governance is simply the action or manner of governing a state, organization, etc. To govern basically mean to rule or control. In the face of the reality of governance, which is anything done with the intent of exercising rule or control over or among a people; we must examine our corporate experience in Nigeria and compare it with the ideal. In my own opinion; governance is premised on the foundation of order, access and provision. The people, organization of nation is governed for the primary purpose of providing order and access. People, organization or nation require access from the government (leadership);…

Nigeria is a great nation of great people. Diverse in culture and equally diverse in natural endowments. There is beauty in diversity they say, but most Nigerians hardly find this “spoken beauty” in their lives; except during inter-cultural festivals. For a while now, Nigeria has been plagued with chronic corruption from the “trusted” political elites, which has brought the economy to a state of “technical recession”. The aggregate production of the country is at a very low level; and the purchasing power of the people daily develops wings and flew away. All that has culminated in a situation where fewer…

Marriage is called a necessary evil by many ignorant folks; men and women who cannot understand, nor accept the basic principles of marriage, but enjoy the reality of its operations. If you have studied the book of Genesis 1 and 2, which chronicles the creation of heaven, the earth and its inhabitants. You would have noticed that after every creation of God, there was a standard appraisal by God on the product (creation). And in all instances, God said good! In fact, after man was created, God gave very good status on man. However, in chapter 2 of Genesis, verse…