Growth is not too complex if we play by the rules in Nigeria

"The 21st century in one way at least, will be African. In  1990 sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 16% of the world's births. Because African birth rates are so much higher than elsewhere, the proportion has risen to 27% and is expected to hit 37% in 2050. About a decade later more babies will be born in sub-Saharan Africa than in the whole of Asia, including India and China"-The Economist. Photo: Uche Okeke

It's very possible to achieve growth and stability in Nigeria if we play by the rules, because politics and economics are interconnected. The current system works for 'the few' not for the whole, the power holders don't believe in growth for all. We must address the political system-expensive, wasteful, dictatorial, 'senseless acts of random violence', Good governance, equality, the big issue of corruption; both business corruption and political corruption, build strong institutions including the Independence of the judiciary and the legislature, strengthen the rule of law,  invest in growth policies-knowledge economy,  tech, infrastructure, better public services including education and healthcare, diversification, etc, women empowerment, free markets , global partnership. We must empower people not control . This population explosion presents both great opportunity and risk . The government we elected must be willing to guarantee individual rights and freedom; political and economic rights, eliminate political bias and favouritism to 'reinforce levels of generalised trust', and be willing to discharge its functions 'fairly and effectively'. The system must be inclusive, guarantee access to participation, open and transparent. If we continue to promote fragmentation, exclusion, wastes, corruption, selective justice, violently repressing civil liberties, use conquering techniques against some sections of the society including the 95%/05% development policy/public services policy, creating fear, terror, and uncertainty, the result will remain the same persistence of poverty, stagnation and instability. Everyone wins if we play by the rules. Citizens must be treated equally and their rights respected.

Find out more soon as we continue to research and communicate vital information which we hope could inspire action for the desired change.

Uche Okeke is a Statistician, Social Entrepreneur, the Founder of The LEAD Project Foundation, and the Author of Nigeria's Democracy And Its Crisis Deliberate, Avoidable-'Bribe & Bullet'. What Can Be Done About It.