By Sonny Aragba-Akpore.

At a time global information and communications technology (ICT)players are increasingly tinkering with the rules and templates for Artificial Intelligence (AI),Nigerian born Dr.Chris Uwaje has released a comprehensive playbook book to domesticate AI for African Children.

Uwaje who became very popular in 1999 by virtue of his exploits and expertise in the transition of computer systems from two digits numerals to four and code named Y2K,standing for Year 2000,explained that the new book made up of African folktales will bring the story of AI up to date.

Uwaje ,aged 74 years, was christened as Nigeria,s Oracle of IT in 1999 because of the puzzles he dismantled around the Y2K transition and he says his new book “AI Playbook for African Children “is designed for AI Conquerors from where the continent’s position on the outskirts of globalization will transform to the rank of major global players via AI because AI started from science fiction.
“Once upon a time,”the book begins “Africa showed and thought the world how to think, create, innovate, and use technology. The purpose of this AFRICA AI FAMILY Story is to invite African children to anticipate, appreciate and engage in the emerging knowledge conversation woven around the relationships between, Emotional Intelligence (EI), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Synthetic Biology (SB). The context of the conversation aims to explore the critical role of STEM in the body of human knowledge, digital innovation, disruptions, and transformation.” With AI, Africa has a rare opportunity to rebuild the continent – from ashes to monument!

The story lines attempt to capture, set-free, and recondition the minds and thinking faculties of African Children from the age of zero to 12! It is a motivational tool, centred on the audacity to fearlessly face and conquer the world of AI and emerging technologies. This attempt is to ensure that they grow up – armed with distinctive technology and knowledge-consciousness. Master design-thinking abilities, and logic-based capabilities to embrace creativity and innovation as they confront and conquer the challenges presented by the digital promise in the new world.
The book says “We now face a new digital challenge – powerfully energized by AI. And African children must be consciously aware of the emergence of a digital Tsunami “

The digital version of Text-to-Voice-to-graph-imaging and animation took three and a half months studio work to complete.

Twenty three months were spent researching, crafting, working with the publishers and seven studio production Team to deliver the AI PLAYBOOK for African Children.
Created in three phases .
Phase one promotes the digital format as a strategy to navigate the market where the work can be pre-loaded into Tablets, Mobile phones and iPads for mass-distribution.

While Phase two comes up with a multilingual version in five major Nigerian languages, it is Followed by translation into 20 African languages.

Phase three which is still in the works will port into a Humanoid Robot for mass distribution of at least one million units into schools all over Africa.

Prof. Charles Uwadia Of Computer Sciences Department.the University of Lagos. in his review describes the book “as a massive satirical and comical piece of work. Am sure it has copyright protection. It will be nice to have a French version, and versions of some selected indigenous African languages similar to what you have for D. O. Fugunwa’s books.”

Mike Olajide (Co-Founder SIDMARK Co. Ltd.
sees The AI-Playbook for African Children as an outstanding resource for learning. “While designed with African children in mind, its clear and globally accessible language makes it valuable for any child.

The use of illustrations and diagrams further enhances comprehension, making complex concepts easier to grasp. It is highly recommended for adoption by relevant educational agencies as a vital learning tool.”

The book says “Conventional wisdom reveals that the World and our collective existence is a story. An unending story, full of many shades of colours of knowledge and intelligence. It presents enormous and complex challenges to reimagine our amazing world – the Planet Earth. Indeed, Climate Change has become an audacious story to save mankind. As technologies evolve, we make mistakes, gain better insight on their functionalities, and build new knowledge-disruptive systems. This is why African children must compete for global AI-knowledge inclusiveness.”

“Stories lead us into an illuminative domain of life, intelligence, and colours of hope with infinite multi-dimensional possibilities that hold us in awe! Stories compel us to act, and search for more strategic solutions to minimise embedded risks and unravel the intertwined complexities of life in our universe –world without end!”

AI stories for the African Child are essential. They constitute the powerful building blocks and strategic tools to navigate the biological , Science and Technology landscapes of existence. By extension, stories are the foundation of how we explore, embrace, and navigate the essence and importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Afterall, teaching is a professional construct of storytelling!

Stories can help in supercharging AI and emerging technologies awareness for Children in many amazing ways. Today, Tech-stories have become the playground and centre of learning gravity for children. Indeed, Tech-stories have become a preferred oxygen of existence for Children worldwide. Stories have taken the front burner as dynamic playmate and influencer. They foster the illumination and acceleration of the adoption of the technology processes, functionalities, by children .
Therefore, the African Child must not be left out of this strategic gift of life and harmony because African Children need Tech-oxygen to breathe.

Uwaje believes that today
“ Tech-Stories constitute the core haymaker in Children’s-play toys, digital games, and act as the gateway to adaptive learning software. With powerful Algorithms ,Children are held eye-and-brain, captivated, and directed to engage in colourful and interactive digital experiences, in form of games, videos, photos, and background music as stimulants.”

“Finally, this African AI Story invites governments, educational institutions, Corporate Enterprises, and Teachers to consciously support our children to dream new Moonshot dreams and stimulate their minds to fearlessly face and conquer the world of AI and Emerging Technologies. Africa must become a force to be reckoned with in the global arena.”

The book states that “available research records and sources from several Internet resources show that Africa has the world’s oldest record of human technological achievement. For example, the oldest stone tools in the world have been found in countries like Tanzania in East Africa. Also, there are other evidence/s for tool production by humans’ hominin ancestors found across West, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa.”

“And verifiable records further reveal that African civilization stands out as the origin of Technology to the world.” Great achievements in science and technology were first developed in ancient Africa.

They include concepts of Mathematics, Counting methods,
Astronomy, Metallurgy and tools, Architecture, Engineering, Medicine, Navigation, and many more. Today, the miracle of the Pyramid of Egypt still stands magnificently tall as one of the wonders of the world.

“The above records of human intelligence are valid testimonies of the fact that technology is an evolutionary process.

It constitutes a fundamental wave of knowledge with the ability to fuss and form stronger waves and spread beyond the shaws of its origin. Also, the demand of its products and values continue to spur innovation and disruptions of human civilisation.”
Uwaje thinks Africa must catch up because “time is running out”.

BY BOLAJI AFOLABI

Globally, with an estimated number of about 2 billion, which represents about 25 percent of the entire world population, youths command strategic position. Given their huge numbers, energies, and strength, they play a special role in every development initiative across the world. As drivers of change and development, imbued with multifaceted dynamism, youths are involved in clear-cut actions and activities that impact positively on varied strata of the society. Over the years, globally, youths are engaged in efforts geared towards achieving sustainable development and democracy. These include using their knowledge and skills in achieving, preserving, and sustaining democratic processes; canvassing and promoting inter-generational equity; driving resourceful innovative initiatives towards political stability, and socio-economic development; pioneering realistic and achievable solutions in addressing developmental challenges in local, and vulnerable communities.

Realizing the importance of youths in growth and development, many countries make deliberate efforts, and take specific decisions by involving them in every way possible. The United States of America, United Kingdom, China, Japan, United Arab Emirates and few other countries are daily, making humongous discoveries, and breaking new grounds in various fields as a result of conscious and deliberate investments in their respective youth population. These countries and others across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Caribbeans have emplaced policies and programmes that provide necessary platforms for youth’s participation in development processes. Strategies evolved in enhancing youth participation include harnessing information technology; inclusion in decision-making and higher responsibilities; collaboration and inter-connection; quality training and education; access to financial services, grants, and scholarship.

Indeed, some African countries are taking useful tips, and progressive-driven cues from the positive narratives in nations earlier discussed. From reports, Morocco, Rwanda, Namibia, and a few others; registering meaningful development, and attracting global recognition have youths as the pillars of their respective feats. From digital technologies to agriculture and tourism. Not forgetting engineering, innovations, health, and other massive revenue yielding enterprises. More importantly, there are reports that youths are engaged in policy ideation, and programme execution at different stages of governance. Little wonder, human movements, across the world to some of these countries increases on a regular basis.

Perhaps it is pertinent to ask, what is our story? Sadly, there is no data about the factual population and percentage of youths in Nigeria. However, there seems to be a unanimity of opinion that about 40 percent of the county’s population is made up of youths. So, how well have we deployed the significant number towards achieving sustainable development? Have we been fair to the youths? How far has Nigeria helped in re-positioning their gifts and talents for physical development and nation building? Are there laid-down regulations towards helping youths discover, nurture, and deepen their thoughts? Has the government (federal and state) provided the enabling environment for the youths to thrive? What are the measures taken by the government (past and present) towards self-actualization of the dreams of our youths?

Somehow, since the birth of the Fourth Republic in 1999, there has been consistent talk about the place of youths in every national developmental stage. From Olusegun Obasanjo to the late Umaru Musa Yar’adua, Goodluck Jonathan, Muhammadu Buhari, (and now) Bola Tinubu, every administration, at inauguration, impress Nigerians about their “brilliant” plans for the youths. A school of thought argues that such talks should not be taken seriously because politicians speak in prose and perform in poetry. Another school of thought likened all promises to sweet melodies merely rolled out to titillate and amuse everyone. Yet, a third school of thought strongly believe that, government has never taken the issues of youth development seriously. Some people concluded that embarking on honest, and focussed youth development will translate to not making them readily available “foot soldiers” and “groundsmen” for greedy, power-hungry, and selfish politicians during electioneering campaigns.

From 1999 to 2023, there were no consistent, conscious, and deliberate investments into realistic youth development. Though few lofty plans and ideas were enunciated but, like many things in Nigeria, they ended up at the “dump sites” of history with the emplacement of a new administration. For instance, while Obasanjo had the credit of establishing a full-fledged Youth Ministry, successive administrations; who perhaps had other ideas, and thoughts merged it with sports. Another noticeable flaw was that many of those who served as Ministers were not versed with the language, nuances, and dispositions required for the office. With no prior records of youth activism, and generational experience, interconnectedness was almost non-existent.

However, in spite of the glaring faults in personnel appointments, few achievements were recorded. Between 1999 and 2007, the Obasanjo government developed the National Youth Policy; strengthened the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC); and embarked on education sector reform including the establishment of the Universal Basic Education Commission, (UBEC), and other agencies. The late Yar’adua established the National Youth Council of Nigeria, (NYCN); and launched the Youth Empowerment Scheme to support young entrepreneurs. Jonathan launched the Young Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria, (YOUWIN) programme, and developed the National Youth Employment Action Plan. Under Buhari, the National Social Investment Programme, (NSIP) was launched; which by the way was riddled with allegations of reckless profligacy and fundamental malfeasance.

Having espoused the flaws, failings, frailties, and positives of past administrations in the fourth Republic, the question is, has anything changed? Are Nigerian youths holding the bigger part of the stick? Are there hopes for youth inclusivity in the Tinubu administration? Will the present government imbibe the spirit of past administrations? Can the Tinubu administration break away from identified policy inconsistencies of those before it? Can Tinubu inspire confidence among the youths? Can Tinubu elicit measures of believability among Nigerian youths?

While he was Lagos state Governor between 1999 and 2007, Tinubu was serially recognized as the proverbial “fisher of men.” Always eulogized, and almost venerated for his masterful attributes in talent discovery, he had an admixture of old and youthful; as well as experienced and dynamic appointees in his government. Fact is, the likes of Babatunde Raji Fashola, (SAN); Senator Opeyemi Bamidele; Senator Solomon Adeola; Dr. Kayode Opeifa; and many others were young but vibrant, and dynamic men and women who had the opportunity to serve under Tinubu. He was noted, and celebrated as a politician who gives, and provides opportunities for youths to excel in leadership and governance. With his towering credentials, and enviable track records, having emerged as the president, many youths were very expectant. Leaders and members of many youth-based civil society groups looked forward to significant shifts as compared to earlier positioning.

The writer recalls that Tinubu, speaking at one of the youth-based town halls in Lagos during the 2023 electioneering campaigns, was direct and precise in his promise to his enthusiastic audience. His pledge of youth inclusion in appointments, and robust youth development initiatives was well acknowledged by many people who attended the function. Tinubu fulfilled the first leg of his promise when, few months after his inauguration, almost-ten young Nigerians were listed, and took office as Ministers. They included Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Bosun Tijani; Jamila Bio-Ibrahim; Ayodele Olawande; Betta Edu; Hannatu Musa-Musawa. They were deployed to the Interior, Digital Economy, Humanitarian Affairs & Disaster Management, and Creative Economy Ministries. With these appointments, Tinubu did not just fulfill his promise but also deployed the youths in his cabinet to top-notch, and strategic ministries. That he has subsequently appointed more of this generation thereafter into various positions in MDAs clearly underscores his commitment towards youth inclusion in governance and leadership.

Perhaps the most poignant proof of Tinubu’s passion for youth development are encapsulated in the “Renewed Hope” agenda. The components of the youth development initiatives which focuses on education, employment, entrepreneurship, and housing are geared towards self-reliance, empowerment and skills development of Nigerian youths. The choice of Minister to superintendent youth development was deliberate. Unlike his four predecessors, Tinubu settled for someone who ticks all boxes in terms of age, experience, capacity, capability, competence, and dynamism. Cognisant of the need to have someone with strong background in youth development; strategic involvement in innovation and entrepreneurship, Tinubu’s choice elicited widespread commendation by stakeholders in the youth sector.

When Ayodele Olawande was appointed member of Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council, (FEC) on October 16, 2023; first as Minister of State, Youth, and subsequently the substantive Minister, some Nigerians didn’t know him. But for the youth population, particularly those involved in advocacy and activism, he was a perfect inclusion to Tinubu’s cabinet. Young entrepreneurs; many of whom had positive encounters with him while he functioned as aide to presidential adviser on Innovation, his elevation was described as round peg in round hole. For members of various youth wings of the All Progressives Congress, (APC); where he was the Ondo state Youth Leader, his appointment was described as a reward for hard work, consistency, reliability, and loyalty. Imbued by indomitable spirit, and “I-Can-Do-It” resolves, many stakeholders in the sector agree that the soft-spoken, resourceful, and humble Engineer turned politician has accomplished rare achievements under two years of being Nigeria’s 6th Youth Minister of the fourth Republic.

Conscious of the myriad of challenges facing Nigerian youths, Olawande has spearheaded numerous initiatives and intervention programmes that are not only addressing these issues but yielding positive results. These include facilitating the establishment of Youth House in Abuja, and Youth Centers in all the 36 states; facilitating the establishment of Green House in all 774 Local Government Areas in the country; delivery of CNG-powered Tricycle to about 2,000 informal youths, in partnership with the presidential initiative on CNG; launched the empowerment of about 6 million young people on agriculture through the Young Economic Intervention and De-Radicalization Programme, (YEIDEP). Other are training and employment of about 5,000 youths in the data protection and privacy sector in partnership with the National Data Protection Commission, (NDPC); Leading partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA) to train about 30 million young people in digital literacy; initiated a Youth Internship Programme for experience-gathering, and capacity building for employment opportunities post-national service scheme; initiated the Grassroots Youth Entrepreneurship Support Scheme, (G-YES) for skills, training, and fiscal support to youths in the local communities.

Given the unequivocal private and public commendations Olawande has received from critical stakeholders in the youth sector, one can conclude that his appointment as Tinubu’s anchor for meaningful youth development is well justified. Comrade Godknows Bright said, “since my university days, this is the only Minister that has shown sincere commitment towards addressing the problems of youths in Nigeria.” Abubakar Tanimu, a Kaduna based youth activist declared that, “Olawande operates an open door policy unlike others. He is very accessible, listens, and always open to criticisms.” Ms. Taibat Adebayo believes that, “after every interaction with him at events, he comes across as a true leader in all ramifications.” A staff of the Ministry who pleaded anonymity concluded, “if you go round, majority of staff have positive things to stay about him. Though quiet, easy going, and humble but his capacity for serious work is what many like. Also, he does not joke with staff welfare, and other benefits that will enhance productivity and service delivery.” No doubt, Olawande cannot achieve these milestones without the political will, and support of Tinubu. Also, given the working of government bureaucracy, some top functionaries in other MDAs may have supported Olawande in some ways. But he deserves the bigger encomium for being dogged, steadfast, resilient, resourceful, and focussed in his iron-cast determination to uplift the status of Nigerian youths. Finally, to help the youthful Minister surpass his objectives, the continued understanding and support of relevant MDAs, the legislature, and other stakeholders are necessary.

* BOLAJI AFOLABI, a Development Communications specialist was with the Office of Public Affairs, The Presidency, Abuja.

*By Tunde Olusunle*

I was initially going to predicate this piece on notable developmental milestones I’ve followed in recent weeks and months, in some states in Nigeria’s South.

Indeed, in two separate treatises, I’ve interrogated the endeavours of Chukwuma Soludo, Alex Otti and Umaru Bago of Anambra, Abia and Niger states. I’ve been enamoured by reports of advancements in sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, investment and security among others, coming from the nation’s global South. You often get this feeling of positive peer rivalry between some states especially those below the Niger and Benue rivers, as they strive to improve the lots of their constituents, while also etching their imprimatur on the sands of time. It became imperative, however, to restructure my thoughts in the wake of certain very contemporaneous happenings, especially in the North, and juxtapose them with news from the South.

In August 2024, I wrote a piece titled *The North of Nigeria after the Protests.* It was my reaction to the thoughtlessness and idiocy manifested in parts of the North during the 10-day “hunger protests.” Internet videos and visuals are replete with the mindlessness which characterised youth outings those few days of insanity. Multibillion naira public properties and private investments were wilfully attacked, looted and vandalised. Road infrastructure including concrete pallets laid over public drainages were chiselled with axes just to steal the steel meshes binding and solidifying the platters. About a dozen fatalities were recorded between Borno and Niger states, as security personnel attempted the containment of the ensuing mayhem. Elsewhere, the Nigerian Police received plaudits for its demonstrated professionalism in the management of the fracas, mitigating injuries and minimising casualties, even as swarms of brigands held sway those days of utter madness. You watched these jarring scenes on national and global television and couldn’t but ask yourself: What ends were such barbarity, such primitivity meant to serve?

The hunger protests were also observed in parts of the South. But there was greater circumspection and decorum than was witnessed in many theatres of bedlam in the North. Indeed, governments in many states in the South were proactive. Authorities cautioned before the dates scheduled for the protests, that lawlessness in the form of unruly and riotous protests and processions will not be condoned within their boundaries. The October 2020 *#EndSARS* protests which snowballed into shootings of the processions by the Nigerian Army, remain fresh in popular consciousness. *Amnesty International* reported at least a dozen deaths from that incident, despite rebuttals by the Lagos State Government and the military authorities.

The government of Kano State in its 2025 budget, has made provision for the conduct of mass weddings. The sum of N2.5 Billion has been earmarked for the quarterly mass wedding programme across the 44 local government areas of the state.

The administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, invested N854 million on the mass wedding of 1,800 couples in 2023. Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, recently committed N54 million on the wedding of 300 couples in his state. Budget and Economic Planning Minister, Atiku Bagudu who attended the programme, availed each couple N50,000 as “startup.” Mai Mala Buni, the governor of Yobe State, has also accommodated mass weddings as a major project in the 2025 budget of his state. Immediate past President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan who is also from Yobe State is also reputed to have sponsored mass weddings in his catchment area, ostensibly as part of his “constituency projects.”

Ahead of the Ramadan fast which began Saturday May 1, 2025, a number of state governments in the North, shut down educational institutions, especially primary and secondary schools. The closure is for a period of five weeks which is the duration of the fasting season. Beginning with Bauchi State in the North East, states in the North West including Kano, Katsina, Kebbi and Zamfara, have promptly followed suit. The various governments have proffered that the closures are to ensure focused and unimpeded observance of the Ramadan by the entire gamut of the peoples and populations of their various entities. These school closures have not taken into account the conveniences of non-Muslim students who are also students in these various states.

Before the wholesale mismanagement of Nigeria’s sociocultural diversities by particular leaderships, especially the eight-year regime of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerians had always been very adventurous. They quested socioeconomic opportunities beyond the perimeters of their traditional origins.

This has been said to have accounted for the flattening of Bola Tinubu in his home state of Lagos during the 2023 presidential election which brought him into office. Indeed, a specific settler-ethnicity in Lagos, was fingered for that near electoral humbling of the President. The academic calendars of many of the northern stares under discourse, have reportedly been tweaked to ensure the reopening of schools after the Ramadan-induced forced break.

While parts of the North are prioritising the observance of a religious obligation over and beyond every other consideration, the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, (NBS), reminds us that the core North has the highest numbers of out-of-school children. Urchins, more famously known as *almajiris* in tens of thousands are permanently resident on the streets of several northern towns and cities, clutching begging bowls.

The North is equally notorious for the high prevalence of child marriages, where clearly and visibly underage girls are married off to men old enough to be the age of their grandfathers. This accentuates the very high occurrence of Vesico-Vaginal Fistula, (VVF), among young northern females. Even if comprehensive health education were to be available for young girls, pervading illiteracy remains inimical to orientation and reorientation to stem the trend.

Nigeria’s core North remains averse to the trade and consumption of beverages of certain brands. Yet they desire the perpetuation of the fiscal allocation status quo, which privileges them higher dividends from national Value Added Tax, (VAT), than southern states which actually generate the chunkier taxes. Members of the *Hisbah* corps which enforces the *Shariah* are videoed regularly destroying huge consignment of alcoholic drinks, crippling the businesses of traders in such beverages.

This is just as Saudi Arabia the global exemplar of Islamic religion, has relaxed its laws on alcohol. Non-Muslim diplomats can now procure and savour alcohol stuff. This is a major shift from the total ban on alcohol, which has been in place since 1952. The original law against alcohol provided for the prosecution and incarceration of offenders, while foreigners were summarily deported.

Down South, many governors and governments are pursuing visionary projects to impact on the well-being of their people. Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos and Seyi Makinde are investing massively in agricultural development to ensure sustainable food sufficiency and security. Surpluses will be warehoused in silos and storages, while overflows will be sold.

Among other initiatives, Lagos State is partnering with the *Origin Tech Group,* to develop a five-year agricultural strategic plan. For starters, the partnership has initiated a *Food Logistics Hub* in Epe, Lagos State. Part of the plan is to gradually develop 4.2 million square metres of an agricultural village. A 60-kilometre network of roads are to be built in the settlement out of which about 30% is ready. It is a measure of the seriousness behind this plan, that a five-storey administrative block; a sprawling parking area capable of taking 1,500 trucks per day; a weighbridge, cold and dry storage areas, are already in place.

Makinde has revisited the hitherto moribund *Fashola Farms Estate* which used to be the epicentre of agricultural development in the primordial Western region. The luminous project which runs into several kilometres, sits between Oyo and Iseyin, Makinde has rechristened it the *Fashola Agricbusiness Industrial Hub.* Investors are expressing interest in cultivating a myriad of crops, notably cassava, maize, soybeans, cowpeas, tomatoes, banana and even dairy production. Well over N11 Billion has been committed to revamping the primordial farm with the provision of road infrastructure, factories and warehouses, among other structures. At least a dozen companies have already been established in the agribusiness zone, including *Friesland Campina West African Milk Company Ltd,* (WAMCO), and *Brown Hill Farms Ltd,* which is cultivating vegetables by deploying the *Green House* model.

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, has identified over 12,000 hectares of arable land in his state, out of which the cultivation of 200 hectares last year, returned exponential yields. Abiodun at the harvest of rice from the demonstration farm located at the *Magboro* rice farm in *Obafemi Owode* local government area, boasted that Ogun State could conveniently feed the whole country. The pilot project yielded 1400 metric tonnes of rice, equivalent to 20,000 bags of milled rice, capable of gifting farmers with returns of N1Billion naira every quarter of the year. A cargo airport has been developed by the Abiodun government and approval secured from President Tinubu for the physical area of the airport to serve as a *Special Agro-Cargo Processing Zone* and a *Free Trade Zone.* The project has the potential to create about 50,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Who will grow or provide on a sustainable basis, the food which will feed the newly weds in Kano, Katsina, Kebbi and elsewhere? Who will cater for the *almajiris,* *dan iskas* *and yan dabas* being bred like rabbits out there, who have unwittingly become human furniture on northern streets? Mass weddings, early marriages, school closures for the observance of religious rites, freewill breeding of children without a plan for their futures, are not the pathways to socioeconomic progress.

True, members of the elite like the senior parliamentarian representing *Doguwa/Tudun Wada* federal constituency in Kano, Ado Doguwa, may have four wives and 28 children. He is a fifth-term member of the legislature who has been Chief Whip and Majority Leader, respectively. Not everyone from his part of Nigeria, however, is as fiscally fortunate as he is.

As things stand today, the core North cannot aspire to catchup with, let alone overshoot the multisectoral mileages already attained by the South. It needs pursue immediate, intentional and conscientious rethinking, reorientation and recalibration, to get off the starting blocks.

*Tunde Olusunle, PhD, Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors, (FANA), is an Adjunct Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Abuja.*