By Franklyn Ginger-Eke

As Nigeria marks her 64th Independence Anniversary in October 2024, the celebratory mood across the nation is juxtaposed with an undeniable reality: the country is in the throes of a profound economic crisis. Under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, inflation has skyrocketed to 25.8%, unemployment remains intractably high at 33%, and the value of the naira continues to plummet. In households across Nigeria, many citizens grapple with rising food prices, increased taxes, and a shortage of opportunities that has led to a growing sense of desperation and disillusionment.
The deepening hardship signals one clear truth: the need for purposeful, responsive, and selfless leadership has never been greater.
For decades, leadership in Nigeria has been synonymous with patronage, corruption, and a disconnect from the everyday struggles of the average citizen. This leadership deficit has compounded economic challenges, resulting in sluggish reforms and inadequate public infrastructure. Today, the nation sits precariously at the crossroads of immense potential and escalating hardship.
But economic failure is not just about policies or markets; it is a reflection of governance. It mirrors the quality of decisions made by leaders who either lack the courage or the will to tackle deep-rooted problems. It is, at its core, a crisis of leadership.
In these challenging times, it is imperative to call for a renaissance of leadership across all sectors—politics, business, and civil society. Nigeria does not need leaders who merely occupy offices; it needs leaders who will.
True leadership is service, not dominance. Our leaders must shift from the “big man” syndrome to a model where serving the people is paramount. In times of hardship, leaders must be the first to make sacrifices, showing empathy and prioritizing the needs of the populace above personal gain.
Engage in Data-Driven Decision Making: Leadership in the 21st century must be informed by data, not sentiment. The ongoing economic challenges demand evidence-based solutions, not populism. Leaders must rigorously analyze socio-economic indicators—like unemployment rates, inflation, and poverty levels—before rolling out policies that impact millions of lives.
Nigerian leaders must rise above the corruption scandals and nepotism that have marred governance for decades. Leadership with integrity—free from self-serving agendas—is the bedrock of national transformation.

The economic landscape is rapidly evolving, requiring leaders who are not only responsive to the immediate needs of the people but are also agile enough to adapt their policies to changing realities. As poverty deepens, citizens expect leaders who understand their plight and can provide immediate relief through targeted interventions such as social safety nets, subsidies for essential goods, and job creation initiatives.
Countries that have successfully navigated economic crises are often those that had leaders who led with purpose and clarity. In Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew’s transformative leadership demonstrated how a focus on pragmatic governance, zero tolerance for corruption, and a clear vision for development can catapult a struggling nation to prosperity. Similarly, post-apartheid South Africa saw Nelson Mandela exemplify sacrificial leadership, uniting a deeply divided country while laying the foundation for inclusive governance.
Nigeria, with its vast resources and entrepreneurial population, can similarly chart a new path—if only it adopts a leadership paradigm that is purposeful, pragmatic, and people-centred.
The Role of Leaders Across All Strata
While the government bears the bulk of the responsibility, leadership is required across every facet of Nigerian society. Business leaders must lead ethically, rejecting exploitative practices that burden the consumer. Civil society leaders must act as watchdogs, holding those in power accountable while proposing viable solutions to national challenges. Community leaders must serve as pillars of integrity, fostering unity and a shared sense of purpose.
A Call to Action: Time to Reinvent Leadership
It is time for Nigeria’s leaders, at all levels, to re-invent themselves. They must rise to the occasion and provide the transformative leadership that this moment demands.

For Nigeria to realize her potential, leaders must:
Listen to the People.

Policy must align with the reality on the ground. The rise in fuel prices, taxes, and unemployment means leaders must prioritize the voice of the citizens, especially the most vulnerable.

Leaders must work to build trust, a commodity that has been lost due to years of unfulfilled promises and opaque governance practices. In the digital age, transparency and accountability are non-negotiable.

No single institution can solve Nigeria’s problems. Political, business, and civil society leaders must work in concert to forge solutions to the complex challenges we face, from economic recovery to social cohesion.

As Nigeria steps into her 64th year of independence, the case for purposeful leadership cannot be overemphasized. The economic challenges are daunting, and the road to recovery will be long and difficult. But with a leadership class that is willing to sacrifice, to serve with dignity, and to put the people first, there is hope for a better tomorrow.
The time for excuses is over. Now is the time for leaders who can rise above narrow interests and lead Nigeria into an era of prosperity, unity, and purpose.
The Nigerian people are watching. History will judge our leaders not by their intentions but by their actions. Let this anniversary be the moment we look back on as the turning point—when Nigeria’s leaders finally rose to the challenge and led with purpose.
At The Rainbow Strategy, we stand as partners in shaping a better narrative for Nigeria. Through strategic communication, stakeholder engagement, and public affairs, we are committed to working with leaders across sectors to forge a path that reflects the true potential of our great nation. Together, we can chart a course for a Nigeria where leadership is defined by service, and where every citizen is empowered to thrive.
Happy Independence, Nigeria! May the road ahead be one of renewal, transformation, and lasting change.

* Franklyn Ginger-Eke, a public affairs and strategic communication expert. writes from Abuja.

By,

Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, Executive Director, Nigerian Law Society (NLS), Abuja, FCT.

On this 5th day of October 2024, I am taking time out to write a tribute to Mrs. Euphemia Eremieofori, my biological mother for being my first teacher and best teacher (besides Almighty God and Jesus Christ).

My mother began her professional teaching career at the primary school at Taaba, Ogoniland, Rivers State in the year 1977 and retired as a Director at the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Commission, in the year 2014.

There are many lessons that my mother taught me. She taught me Bible lessons at home, and she was responsible for teaching me how to read and write.

As a secondary school teacher in a government school, on a monthly salary of ₦100 per month, my mother made the sacrifice of enrolling me in a private school where the school fees was ₦90 per term. Attendance at this Montessori school gave me a very solid educational foundation because we were taught music, playing musical instruments, amongst other mind-broadening curriculum. This private school was charging the the highest school fees at the time.

The good educational foundation at this primary school spilled into my secondary school, wherein I graduated as one of the three best students.

Apart from academics, my mother as a good teacher taught me some life skills such as cooking and cleaning the house.

She also taught me typewriting using the old manual typewriter. She also taught me shorthand, this is because my mother herself was a graduate of those old stenography schools. I earned pocket money during holidays by typing handouts for college of education lecturers because we resided on the campus of a school that served as learning centre of the College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti.

My mother taught me how to exercise self-discipline and save money for rainy days and for major projects such as building a house.

It was my mother that taught me by her example, the value of diligence, resourceful and entrepreneurship. In addition to her full-time job as a classroom teacher, my mother at different points in time, supplemented her income by private home tuition, private clerical and secretarial services and even hairdressing.

I considered myself blessed by Almighty God to have a wonderful mother whose hardworking nature has ensured that her years as a pensioner are not burdensome on her children and has ensured that she is so healthy with very minimal requirement for hospital treatment.

By Sonny Aragba-Akpore

Apart from the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) which has put in place some ground rules in the deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning(ML),and the International Standard Organisation (ISO),which has also put together semblance of ethics for AI ,there are ongoing advocacies for entrenchment of ethics to minimize abuse of the use of AI across global communities.
AI ethics are the moral principles that companies and individuals use to guide responsible and fair development and use of AI.
Although there’s currently no wide-scale governing body to write and enforce these rules, many technology companies have adopted their own version of AI ethics or an AI code of conduct.
AI ethics are the set of guiding principles that stakeholders (from engineers to government officials) use to ensure artificial intelligence technology is developed and used responsibly. This means taking a safe, secure, humane, and environmentally friendly approach to AI.
A strong AI code of ethics can include avoiding bias, ensuring privacy of users and their data, and mitigating environmental risks. Codes of ethics in companies and government-led regulatory frameworks are two main ways that AI ethics can be implemented. By covering global and national ethical AI issues, and laying the policy groundwork for ethical AI in companies, both approaches help regulate AI technology.
Only last week the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) declared its readiness to deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI) to fight corruption in Nigeria.
The ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Aliyu (SAN), was quoted as saying on the sideline of the National Anti-Corruption Coalition (NACC) Members Hybrid Interactive Forum in Abuja on Thursday, September 19, 2024.
Aliyu said the ICPC would deploy technological measures, especially AI, to unravel corrupt practices easily.
The ICPC boss disclosed that within the last 24 hours, the commission recovered about N4 billion stolen by public officeholders.
He said “I want to underscore the potential of technological solutions in promoting accountability and good governance.
Without sounding immodest, we hope the ICPC,s boss is not dwelling on rhetorics or grandstanding as AI implementation has its dangers and booby traps for practitioners especially when it comes to matters of ethics and standards.
Does the anti corruption body have enough hands on training for its officials to drive AI in combating crimes in the country?
The ICPC explained that “It is alarming to see how much money is being misappropriated, and some individuals have billions of naira in their possession for personal gain.
“It is a shocking reality that people are hoarding public funds, instead of using them for the benefit of the nation.
“As a commission, we are utilising technology and management systems to restore confidence in the fight against corruption.
“We are committed to ensuring transparency in this endeavour.”
The ICPC boss further stated that there were systemic flaws in the country, especially on public spending.
He said there was a need to invest in technology that could help minimise the challenges of corruption, particularly in public procurement.
“By implementing tech-driven processes, we can reduce practices like contract inflation.”
“Using technologies like blockchain can help eliminate manipulation and ensure the integrity of public procurement.”
“Data analytics are also crucial. According to him, the data ICPC relies on is often outdated or inaccurate, which causes inefficiency.
But “technology can work wonders because it is not biased like humans. It can help us tackle challenges if we use it properly and effectively.”
“This technology, as I have mentioned, has the capability to address numerous issues.
“We know there are digital platforms that sometimes, unfortunately, contribute to corruption
ICPC claimed it recovered N4 billion of public funds, which were diverted into private accounts within 24 hours,he boasted.
But this remains work in progress.
Last week too,a clear perspective on the dangers of AI was revealed by knowledgeable experts.
The future will see large parts of our lives influenced by Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. Machines can execute repetitive tasks with complete precision, and with recent advances in AI, machines are gaining the ability to learn, improve and make calculated decisions in ways that will enable them to perform tasks previously thought to rely on human experience, creativity, and ingenuity.
AI innovation will be central to the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by capitalizing on the unprecedented quantities of data now being generated on sentiment behavior, human health, commerce, communications, migration and more.
ITU said it will provide a neutral platform for government, industry and academia to build a common understanding of the capabilities of emerging AI technologies and consequent needs for technical standardization and policy guidance.
“Countries must put in conscious efforts to mitigate the dangers of deployment if they want to achieve positive results.” ITU said.
Speaking during a digital press briefing on the review of the: “Global Inclusivity and AI-Africa Conference” as well as its responsible use, last week,Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, Joy Basu, was quoted by reports saying that while it was great to grab the opportunities provided by the use of AI, the world must also learn to reduce its negative impact.
“Many of us know the risks that are both applicable in Africa but also in the United States. There’s a lot of humility we have about understanding that none of us can control these risks alone and that it will really be a global conversation.
“You also have a number of risks particularly around elections. This is a year where so many countries are voting, including our own, and we all have to be aware of those risks.
“Regardless of the ways in which the risks manifest, one key mitigating solution that was discussed is ensuring that our populations are AI-equipped and are AI-ready and that they have not only the skills to take advantage of an AI workforce, but they have the critical thinking skills to be able to assess truth from fiction and disinformation and understand what those risks are and the way that they interact with AI,” Basu said.
She added that there was also a robust conversation throughout the conference about these various concerns as well as about the lack of certain kinds of data and languages and making sure these AI models are built in ways that are inclusive.
Acting Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology, Dr Seth Center, also said the US was partnering Africa on an approach to global inclusivity and artificial intelligence to make sure that the new technology is developed in ways that are safe, secure, and trustworthy.
He explained that it was also important to ensure that the US and Africa mitigate the risks and seize the opportunities together that come with AI.
Center stated that the goal was to make sure to develop the AI governance frameworks necessary to enable access to its use and to continue to support initiatives that expand access to AI tools and education in Nigeria, the region, and across the continent.
Center described AI as a unique global technology, pointing out that the world was in the midst of an intense period of focus already being driven by innovators – the private sector start-ups and researchers.
“And we now have this question of, what are we going to do together to shape the AI future to benefit our societies and strengthen our respective democracies and increase prosperity?
“And I think all of us recognise that this inflection point has two pieces to it.
“The first is a recognition that fundamentally, whether at a regional level or a global level, we are not on track to achieve what all of us believe are the most important components of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and we have an opportunity to use this new technology to accelerate many of the goals – perhaps up to 80 per cent.
What the US hopes to do something fundamentally in bringing together a regional conversation,make sure of connecting those start-ups and entrepreneurs to a larger ecosystem of private sector actors who can really provide launchpads.
“And then to take the governance conversation to the next level. What’s significant is many of the countries in Africa are developing their own respective national AI strategies right now.
“There’s an intense focus at the continental level now that there’s an AU AI strategy to try and create interoperable frameworks, aligned governance frameworks that will allow us to innovate,” Center added.
AI for Economic Development in Nigeria says “Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been identified as a potentially less costly and far-reaching tool in the work to eradicate poverty and achieve the UN
Sustainable Development Goals. However, a great deal of work needs to be done in and by developing countries to take advantage of the opportunities
provided by AI and close the inequality gap.

AI will introduce innovations that can address some of the development
challenges (such as increasing rates of poverty, high maternal mortality
rates, low levels of energy access and decaying physical infrastructure)
faced by the country; and identifies areas of opportunity driven by the rapid
population growth, large potential labor force, and high youth population.

The document talks about ethical framework to guide the development and
deployment of AI technologies in a sustainable and inclusive manner.
In Nigeria, AI can provide sustainable and scalable innovations in key sectors
including in:
Agriculture by providing smallholder farmers with the tools to engage in high-yield, large-scale farming.

Healthcare by providing digital healthcare services for diagnosis, pub-
lic health monitoring and disease management.
It will provide Energy by providing technologies for the generation, distribution, stor-
age, and disposal of energy and power.

Difficulties in developing and deploying local AI solutions are driven by a
poor public education system with little emphasis on technical and entre-
preneurial skills; the absence of an adequate data ecosystem; and low
broadband penetration in the country, despite the high rate of mobile phone
penetration. To resolve these issues the Nigerian Government should:
Invest heavily in the education system by embedding ICT infrastructure
into primary and secondary education to encourage digital literacy and
an interest in STEM disciplines from an early age. There should also be
investment at the tertiary level in research and engineering laborato-
ries that can create solutions to pressing social and economic issues.

Expand the broadband network through partnerships with local and
international companies able to provide low-cost access across the
country.

Improve the employability of the youth among others.
When the ITU hosted the yearly Global Seminar for Regulators(GSR),in Kampala,Uganda,in early in July 2024,Secretary General,Maureen Bogdan-Martin told the regulators that “With change being the only certainty facing regulators and policymakers, we must work together to pursue regulatory approaches to leverage transformative technologies such as AI, promote the space economy, encourage innovation, and support climate action and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
The regulators who met in Kampala,Uganda endorsed a set of guidelines to maximize the benefits of transformative information and communication technologies (ICTs) at the Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR-24) which closed July 4 .
GSR 24 highlighted Africa’s National Broadband Mapping Systems project, supported by the European Commission, to help establish broadband mapping systems to foster investment and digital transformation in Africa. With a budget of EUR 15 million over four years, the project will initially benefit 11 countries: Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The “GSR-24 Best Practice Guidelines​” agreed by ICT regulators include a series of considerations for balancing innovation with regulation to create a positive impact on societies and economies from emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).

Prior to the opening of GSR-24, the Regional Regulatory Associations (RA) and Digital Regulation Network (DRN) meeting shared experiences and knowledge as well as areas for collaboration.

The meeting also featured the achievements of the successful first year of the DRN, focusing on capacity building, thought leadership, and regulatory experimentation and innovation.

Key activities presented include knowledge sharing through the ITU Academy, the broadband mapping project, capacity building activities, contributions to ITU-D Study Groups, RA participation in interactive workshops and engaging on twinning experiences to learn from other Regional Regulatory Associations.

Also ahead of GSR-24, the Industry Advisory Group on Development Issues and Private Sector Chief Regulatory Officers (IAGDI-CRO) convened industry and private sector thought leaders to share experiences and proposals with regulators to address the complex regulatory and business landscape of digital ecosystems.

Apart from digital infrastructure development, implementation of regulatory ”sandboxes,” strategies to enable high-speed connectivity, participants discussed regulation of the future, including new domains such as AI, and technologies for the future.