Wishing Nigeria a very happy anniversary, Mr Egube introduced his topic. He pointed that as a nation, we do not pay enough attention to our human resources. Describing all the endowments we have as advantages on our side; he commented that Nigeria has a huge potential to become a global powerhouse. With a very young and diverse population, having over 65% of the population less than 25 years old, the 7^th largest population in the world, he called this an advantage. However, the challenge is how to convert this into value for Nigeria.

He compared South Korea’s and Singapore’s economy with Nigeria’s starting by tracing the history. With Singapore’s economy growing five times from 1990, South Korea grew by times fives and Nigeria only by times two at the same time.

In 1965, Singapore was a small market with high levels of unemployment, 70% lived in slums, 50% of the population illiterate. But in 2021, Singapore is now 4^th largest in the world comparing purchasing power parity, the 2^nd busiest seaport in the world, the 7^th largest airport in the world by opening themselves up as the hub for investment in Asia. In 1950, South Korea was the poorest in the world. With an agrarian economy, 22% literacy that depended on aid. South Korea is now the 4^th largest economy in Asia, the most innovative country in the world regarding technology with the fastest internet.

What is common to them?

The common factor to the development of these nations is e-participation, that is the participation of citizens in their economies. The citizens play a very germane role in the government of these nations. Why this has not been worked to an advantage for Nigeria, he said are based on many assumptions/fallacies. He talked about the fallacy around tribalism- the idea that people that belong to your tribe will aid you in performing in government. The second is the lack of accountability and transparency, i.e. that your enemies will attack you based on your transparency. The third fallacy that government knows best and that the citizens are dull and not to be involved in policing making and the economy.

Citing 3 past presidents as examples, President Buhari, Obasanjo and Good luck Jonathan, he debunked the role of tribalism as inconsequential once you are in the position of authority. He said relationships are value driven and it is what you bring to the table that drives relationships. Laying himself as an example, he laid out aspects of his life that he has emotional links with across the country – having lived across the country from the east to the north and now works in the west.

He mentioned the public liability companies employing transparency in their affairs yet displaying such level of accountability that promotes a favorable outcome in their affairs.

On voting and participation, he said it is citizens that are engaged that determine the outcome of the government. The process must be about national development not just in the act of voting at the ballot box. We must change our culture therefore to working with people through the campaigns, elections, and participation in government.

He mentioned the role of citizens and tax compliance to develop any nation.

Citing the UAE with over 70 tribes yet run as one. South Korea is known as a leading country in participation in governance.  It is not the resources any nation has; it is how the people participate in the country’s affairs. This is what results in national development.

He also mentioned that the minority must be inclusive in the government.

What did Singapore do? They developed their talents. If the most talented minds are excluded from the government, there will be no development. We also must get involved in trainings. What did South Korea do for citizen participation? They created an online platform for people to engage with government. Same thing Lagos is doing, putting even budgets to the involvement of the citizens. We must create effective public bureaucracies.

And, to run government with transparency and accountability because these will encourage enterprise performances. He iterated that partnership amongst the people and the government that produces development in the entire space.

He emphasized the attitude of partnership in our affairs as a country, with Lagos championing many of the sectors; to encourage the citizens to participate in national development. The future for Nigeria is very strong, we therefore must cultivate a lot of good.