Nigeria Economy 2017. Satisfactory?

Are you satisfied with the present economy of the Nigerian nation?

Anyone with a right thinking mind looking at the economic indices of Nigeria in 2017 cannot give a positive response to the state of the Nigerian economy for now.

With the naira at 530 to a dollar and the economy in a recession, one cannot say that the economy is doing well. To the question of satisfaction, the government should do more particularly the National Economic Council led by the Vice President and other seasoned technocrats like the British trained Minister of Economy and Finance.

Government is aware that Nigerians are suffering under the weight of the economy with prices skyrocketing and wages remaining thesame or in some instances being cut because organisations cannot afford to pay salaries.

As a graduate with 3 years work experience in the non-for-profit sector, the call from the civil society and the government to my colleagues, young professionals is expand your reach and diversify to the informal sector and start your own business or learn a skill - barbing, bead making, farming etc. As for me, I cannot after (spending 10years of my life and time,) studying at the university level to go and turn and pick up a clipper to start barbing in the name of a skill. No sir. Thats not right. Not for me, nor for any well trained intellectual in Nigeria. This is not pride, this is simply decency and refusal to be abused or dispised. as I always say, we cannot be generals thinking strategically and be privates, thinking tactically and majors thinking operationally all at thesame time.

Generals need majors and privates to what they are, and in so doing, they can win the war.

After 10 years of learning to be an expert thinker, leader manager, and a new generation leader who has integrity and character and not just skill to go and become a barber, or a farmer (at a subsistence level) is outrightly demeaning both to myself and those who trained me at the higher instutition to be a problem solver and a solutions provider.

I may under no circumstance consider such a fact. seeing the economic potentials of these ideas, However, for the teaming young people probably with a WASSCE, NCE, NECO, OND, in terms of qualification and exposure I may permit but not to an intellectual at a university level.

For the sake of the youth in this present economic recession, lets say He has a very wealthy uncle who is willing to support him, how many wealthy uncles of legitimate means would give out a capital in a recession to a youth with no experience to run a barber shop, or setup a farmer, fishery or other Small Businesses/Agro -allied business.

ON TH E WAR FORWARD.

To address the teaming, over qualified youths, we, are not ignorant of the ernomosity of the task of governance in Nigeria and in general. However constrained, government must recognized that the people, the masses are also constrained. The people have no one else to turn to, but to government and in the cases where thy cannot, to crys to the Almighty.

Government owes a duty to the people to bring them out of the recession and assure them of security both of life and of wellbeing(welfare). 

Here are a few suggestions on the way forward

1. Strengthen agricultural cooperatives at the local government levels as well as the Ward/Area Councils in the Federal Capital for provision of loans, extension services, lands for farming and equipment to the youths - namley those with the qualifications named above.

2. Encourage mechanized agriculture and training/extension

3. Provide Fertilizers and other other chemicals for farmers.

4. Create markets and Quotas for Exports(collection Points) that is required from local governments each season to meet for export to other countries.

5. Build Local Government and State Owned and Massive Federal Owned Granaries, fed by the state andlocal government granaries for storage and meeting exportquotas

6. Encourage Small and medium scale enterprises.

These few actions can provide a level of cushion for Nigerians at such a time as this. Export can assist in re-ordering the Naira and creating a favorable balance of trade which has potential to lift the country out of the current recession.

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.