Development expert and political activist Dr. Otive Igbuzor has stated that Nigerian professionals, particularly in health systems across the United Kingdom and the United States, are crucial to the functioning of these countries' healthcare systems. He emphasized that if Nigerian doctors were removed from these systems, they would collapse. Igbuzor highlighted the significant impact of Nigerian citizens abroad, citing their world-class achievements in various fields.
Igbuzor pointed out that Nigerians consistently rise to lead global bodies across various international organizations, including multilateral institutions, labor, and medicine. He mentioned prominent figures such as Amina Mohammed in the United Nations, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina in the African Development Bank, Comrade Ayuba Wabba as the president of the International Confederation of Trade Unions, Dr. Osahon Enabulele as global president of the World Medical Association, and Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu as the President of the Union for International Cancer Control.
Despite the success of Nigerian professionals abroad, Igbuzor lamented that the country's domestic politics continues to attract poorly equipped actors. He stated that while Nigerians are making waves globally, their country's politics is dominated by individuals who are not democrats, and development is not on the agenda. Igbuzor emphasized that Nigeria's greatest challenge at 66 years is running a democracy without democrats.
Reflecting on Nigeria's 66-year journey, Igbuzor refuted the common notion that the nation has failed entirely. He argued that indicators such as the Human Development Index, education, and life expectancy demonstrate steady, albeit insufficient, progress. For instance, life expectancy in Nigeria was 44 years over ten years ago, but it has increased to 54 years today.
Igbuzor maintained that the lack of strategic development planning explains why social crises such as housing deficits, unsafe communities, and infrastructural decay persist across the country. He urged decent professionals, intellectuals, and young citizens to stop shying away from politics and participate to ensure credible, free, fair, and believable elections.
To fix the structural disconnect between Nigeria's brilliant talent pool and its poor political outcomes, Igbuzor called on good people and professionals to participate in politics and remove those who are not democrats. He referenced historical calls to action, citing Edmund Burke and Frantz Fanon, and stressed that combining right leadership with active citizenship and social consciousness will unlock the nation's true potential.
Igbuzor concluded that Nigeria's institutional capacity must match the global excellence displayed by its professionals abroad. He emphasized that with the right leadership and active citizenship, Nigeria can ensure that its institutional capacity matches the global excellence displayed by its professionals abroad, and that the country's progress will be sufficient to address its social crises.
Key points
- Nigerian professionals are crucial to the functioning of healthcare systems in the UK and US.
- The country's domestic politics continues to attract poorly equipped actors.
- Nigeria's institutional capacity must match the global excellence displayed by its professionals abroad.
