The Green

Image: Pinterest Nigerians are some of the most entrepreneurial folks on the planet, constantly braving the odds in a hostile environment to operate their businesses. Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are the real lifeblood of the Nigerian economy, powering over 80% of Nigeria’s workforce and contributing roughly 50% to the GDP. Understandably, it is a priority concern for administrations. But between 2014 and 2018, over $1 billion was likely misappropriated through the mismanagement of MSME programs; an amount surpassing capital expenditure on health and education combined within that same period. Imagine the shattered dreams. Hopefully, initiatives like the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) start-up facility for Africa will fare better and have a more lasting impact. Already launched in Nigeria, the timbuktoo initiative sponsored by the UNDP will harness $1 billion in public and private funds to catalyse business across Africa in the next ten years. Pla...

Image: Buzzfeed.com Another election season is upon us and a lot of folks aren’t even sure what to expect anymore. Many have given up on the system and its ability to deliver fair elections and others have trust issues with the candidates that have reared their heads. Who can blame them? Our dear country hobbles under the weight of long spells of vile leadership. Truth be told, it doesn’t appear as though there is much to look forward to, even as the usual suspects carry on with consultations and scurry for endorsements. Are we again expected to make compromises and settle for whatever drifts to the surface from the heap of recycled shaft? Or can we dare to hope for more this time around? Will the people have their champion? Whatever the case, we will have new leadership come 2023. But the road that leads to 2023 seems to be paved with mostly good intentions. Many want the best for this country but appear unable to get past their frustrations to be able to make their own contributi...

  All the kinds of news coming out of Nigeria today I believe is precisely why many Nigerians opted for a change in 2015. We were fed up with the constant news of unbridled corruption, kidnappings, bombings and deaths. Alas, things appear to have gotten only worse. It is still the same cycle of injustice, disregard for citizens’ rights and a very lethargic response to tackling institutional corruption. I must say, I truly believed the current administration would go about the task of fighting corruption with such veracity that government as we know it would become unattractive to the kind of folks it usually draws. It however seems like for every step the Buhari administration takes forward, it inadvertently takes two steps backwards. This administration has been a failure on practically every front that I criticized previous ones for. But more fundamentally, a government that is incapable of protecting its own people has failed in one of its most primary responsibilities. The ...

Image: Artsy.net An effortless indication of our sheer creative energy can be seen in our art; both ancient and contemporary. It is a delightfully vibrant, surrealistic exposition of beauty, craft and ingenuity. The fascinating history of our art dates as far back as 500 BC and perhaps the most famous representation of early Nigerian art are the many sculptures from the magnificent kingdoms of old. Some of the best examples of these exquisite works of art can be found in European museums, like the British Museum in London, the Louvre in Paris and Berlin's Ethnological Museum. They are displayed as trophies of a shameful era of exploitation and evil. The many arguments – all silly – as to why these historic gems remain with those that plundered them are still being peddled and it is mindboggling how this is okay even today. This kind of hypocrisy can also be seen in the ease and the scale at which Western governments park looted funds from Africa while labelling the continent ‘fan...

Image: @ayanfeolarinde There appears to be an awakening of sorts in Nigeria. It’s not that we have not had a keen sense of awareness but we are more ready - it seems - to take our collective destiny in our own hands. There is no stronger manifestation of this than the current agitation against police brutality, carried out by mostly young people.   Nigeria has and remains a nation of such great potential, with lots of amazingly brilliant and talented people. There’s no doubt that its people are its super power; what magic we would create, if we could only get out of our own way. This majestic nation with a rich history and abundant resources appears to be stuck in a rut. The curse of political leadership has the nation locked in a vicious cycle of malevolence and deficiency. We are nowhere near what we could be. But we seem to be gradually unlocking the power inherent in bringing our voices together in one accord, to clear away the blockades to our progress, so that we can then...