Which Way Nigeria?


Book Description

Nearly four decades after Sunny Okosun posited, Which Way Nigeria? Victor Udo serves up a geopolitical literary gem that should be required reading for Nigerian students, policy makers, and civil servants. Which Way Nigeria? navigates post-colonial political and diplomatic conditions, class structure and economic organization, Nigerian culture and the diversity of its ethnic groups, and the environment. Writing from a place of unrelenting patriotism for his homeland, Udo outlines his framework Comprehensive Sustainable Development Planning and Implementation (CSDPI) praxis, through which Nigeria’s structural, leadership and development challenges can finally be overcome. Often referred to as the Giant of Africa, Nigeria is the most populous country on the continent and the seventh most populous country in the world. With more than 90 million of its population under the age of eighteen and the world's eighth largest oil producer, Nigeria is on the precipice of becoming a dominant force in the global economy. But its success has been undermined in recent decades by ethnic and religious conflict, political instability, rampant corruption and an ailing economy. Udo relies on his expertise as a foremost authority on climate change mitigation as a path towards global sustainability, thoughtfully scrutinizing the critical interdependence of politics, society, technology and the environment. A collective call to action for fellow patriots, Which Way Nigeria? illuminates the resilience of nearly 200 million Nigerian citizens with incredible unrealized potential. Masterfully examining the geopolitical context of a fragmented contemporary Nigeria, Udo offers solutions for a path forward that will elevate his homeland and establish it as a unified global force in which all citizens can prosper.




Nigeria, which Way Forward


Book Description




Memory and Peace


Book Description

The Latin adage “Si vis pacem, para bellum” (if you want peace, prepare for war) is usually interpreted as ‘peace through strength.’ It expresses the idea that being armed and ready to fight in order to defend oneself is a viable way of keeping the peace. However, the truism of the adage is expressed by the author who argues for peace and sustainable development of Africa at large in the light of the Nigerian/Biafra struggle. He intellectually equips readers with memories of the past lest the mistakes of history be repeated. The author uses the power of the pen as a weapon mightier than the sword, to discuss the structures of peace in the African context. He weighs in a balance, the need for restructuring and the right for self-determination; the way to freedom and collective effort towards development. This volume contains articles that propose potential and functional solutions to the perennial challenges presently facing Nigeria as a country. Interestingly, the reflections recommend steps towards cordial reconciliation and the liberating spirit that would catalyze the restoration of an emerging nation (the Republic of Biafra). The volume further expands the ongoing ideas and thoughts on a variety of issues that offer roadmaps to the contextual problems of the indigenous people as well as the Christian Mission and evangelical witness. Furthermore, the author goes on to demonstrate that when dialogue is employed, peace makes its way in the hearts of the citizens, which ushers in the flourishing of good governance and economic growth. Hence, justice, equity, peace, equal rights and opportunity become the bedrock upon which every nation-state is supposed to be founded.




There Was a Country


Book Description

From the legendary author of Things Fall Apart—a long-awaited memoir of coming of age in a fragile new nation, and its destruction in a tragic civil war For more than forty years, Chinua Achebe maintained a considered silence on the events of the Nigerian civil war, also known as the Biafran War, of 1967–1970, addressing them only obliquely through his poetry. Decades in the making, There Was a Country is a towering account of one of modern Africa’s most disastrous events, from a writer whose words and courage left an enduring stamp on world literature. A marriage of history and memoir, vivid firsthand observation and decades of research and reflection, There Was a Country is a work whose wisdom and compassion remind us of Chinua Achebe’s place as one of the great literary and moral voices of our age.




Nigeria and the Nation-State


Book Description

Nigeria, despite being the African country of greatest strategic importance to the U.S., remains poorly understood. John Campbell explains why Nigeria is so important to understand in a world of jihadi extremism, corruption, oil conflict, and communal violence. The revised edition provides updates through the recent presidential election.




Audacity of Automation


Book Description

Audacity of Automation By: Osei Badu-Nkansah The advancements in Technology, coupled with breakthrough in Telecommunication (referencing the latest Long-Term Evolution (LTE) 4G Wireless Broadband), have converged to open many doors for true Automation and Digitization. Having deployed these for many companies, author Osei Badu-Nkansah came to the realization that the benefits of true Automation can help advance the development of the third world countries, especially those in Africa. Having travelled and worked in many African countries (the bulk of the third world), the dreadful question he has is “How long can the third world and hence Africa remain behind in Technology? How long?” These and many more prompted the need for Osei to share the narratives in this book, assembled from many years of experience as a Certified IT Architect.




Oil Mortality in Post-Fossil Fuel Era Nigeria


Book Description

This book provides an insight into the complexities of weaning Nigeria from its fossil fuels addiction while growing the economy on low carbon trajectory. Nigeria faces a carbon catch 22 with the proliferation of renewable energy alternatives and scale-up of electric vehicles. The dilemma Nigeria is confronted with is to grow its fossil-led economy or face the challenge of its fossil infrastructure becoming stranded assets. It is a roadmap for plotting an environmentally benign path out of the country’s economic, social and environmental crises. This book is, therefore, a valuable resource for students, Civil Society Organizations, policymakers, academics and climate change adaptation practitioners who are interested in finding an environmentally sensitive path out of Nigeria’s economic cul-de-sac fostered by the decarbonization of the global energy economy. Findings of this study will trigger a national conversation on the looming exit from fossil fuels. In doing so, accelerate the integration of renewable energy into the Nigerian national development plan while building a carbon neutral society. Lessons learnt from the handling of Nigeria’s precarious circumstance will be of immense benefit to other oil prospecting, oil producing and non-producing nations who are interested in finding an equitable way of pursuing two inversely related goals of meeting their decarbonization commitments while simultaneously growing their economies in the post-Paris era.




A Wake-Up Call!


Book Description

A Wake-Up Call! was written by V. I. Umenyiora “because we have political problems in Nigeria and indeed Africa. My Heads of State from 1980 on made a public pronouncement inviting Nigerians home and abroad to submit solutions they consider will help solve some, if not all of the problems. I succeeded in this because they are using parts of the solutions I submitted in my previous books.” Following are some of the major solutions the author proposed: In his first publication, Nigeria – survival or disintegration! (ISBN 978-2335-28-2, 1988) you'll find: - Option A-4 taken verbatim from the pages; he recommended need for finger/ name-reader machines for use to simplify the exercise, which is in use now in Nigeria. He also proposed a need for a “National Orientation programme” for Nigeria to be installed in 1992; civil service reform or strengthening to serve the political parties irrespective of which one is in power in the country; the need for recapitalisation of banks to help business organisations raise adequate funding for their enterprises to cushion the effect of SAP, which not only debased the local currency but truncated all capital investments economically by the citizens! He also proposed the need to curb corruption, including an asset detection mechanism for Nigeria to help politicians/public servants in declaration of assets as required by the Constitution. It was pointed out there was a need for a “common-pool” approach in 1988-1989 and 1993, and in particular on the 4th June 2015 correspondence to the president against corruption. The author points out that banking reform, government corruption, affordable housing, infrastructure repair, and environmental concerns are only some of the problems being faced in Nigeria. This is the Challenge to What You Can Do for Your Country!




Perspectives on Nigeria's Economic Development Volume I


Book Description

In the chapters of this book which was first published in 1999, an attempt has been made to examine several aspects of the Nigerian banking and financial systems, capital market, economic development planning, budget and fiscal policy as well as the role of private sector in development. 32 chapters are included in seven parts which are entitled: The Way Forward; Planning and Economic Development; The Private Sector in Development; Issues on Budget and Fiscal Policy; The Nigerian Financial System; The Nigerian Banking System; and The Nigerian Capital Market.




To Close the "Shitholes" Africa Must Change


Book Description

To Close the "Shitholes" Africa Must Change By: Osei Badu-Nkansah When the “SHITHOLE” incidence showed up, many of us with African roots listened carefully to the anger expressed by the media, African leaders, the Africa Union (AU), politicians in the United States from both parties, and the world at large. What’s Up Africa received record transactions. Some of us stayed calm and began thinking about the whole incident. Then, after careful analysis, the gates opened for true self-checking—devoid of any emotions to be able to stay fair to both sides. Believe us, it was not easy to hear the negative characterization of the continent, but the Good Lord had His hands in control to calm things down and open our eyes as to allow us to turn a bad situation into a good one. The narratives in this book come out of true soul-searching, painful admissions of facts, and realistic analyses of prevailing conditions, concluding with challenging directions, so that we can turn the “SHITHOLES” into “GOLD HOLES.” Let us embrace our current situation and call a spade a spade. This is the only way we can move beyond the anger. Please, take deep breath and truthfully read on, so that you can also come to the same realization. Together we can contribute to the calling that we have so expressed in this book to save Africa from supervised impoverishment. We cannot and should not continue doing the same things over and over again. We need to open up our eyes to be able to see the truth, regardless of how painful, to get Mother Africa on the right path, so that the next generation will flourish. There will be sacrifices, some pains, and some hardships as we carefully navigate the dense cloud of issues facing Africa. But we believe that we can overcome—and we will overcome.