Making Nigeria Great: Five Levers for the Next Generation

Nigeria has everything a great nation needs: more than 200 million people, one of the youngest populations in the world, abundant natural resources, entrepreneurial energy and a diaspora that excels across the globe. The task is to turn that potential into broad prosperity. I live and work between the United States and Nigeria, and I believe five levers matter most.

1. Educate every child

Too many Nigerian children are out of school, and too many in school are not learning enough. Foundational literacy and numeracy, trained and well-paid teachers, and access to technology in classrooms will decide the country's future more than any oil price.

2. Fix power

Reliable electricity is the foundation of manufacturing, healthcare, education and the digital economy. When we restored power to the Jattu Primary Health Centre after more than eight years, the whole community felt the difference. Multiply that across the country and the economic gain is enormous. Gas, renewables and distributed generation all have a role.

3. Strengthen institutions

Investors, local and foreign, need predictable rules, enforceable contracts and fair courts. Transparent regulation, such as competitive licensing rounds in the upstream sector, builds confidence. So does consistent enforcement against fraud and corruption. In debt recovery, I see daily how much faster capital flows when contracts are respected.

4. Back the digital economy

Nigeria's fintech sector is already one of the most dynamic in the world. Broadband, data protection, sensible regulation and access to capital can extend that success into healthcare, agriculture, logistics and education.

5. Harness the diaspora

Nigerians abroad send home billions of dollars every year and carry skills from every profession. Lower remittance costs, easier investment channels and programmes that bring diaspora expertise home can multiply that contribution.

What business leaders can do

• Invest in people: apprenticeships, graduate programmes and continuous training raise skills across the economy.
• Pay taxes and report transparently: strong public finances depend on a broad, compliant tax base.
• Buy local where quality allows: supply chains built in Nigeria create jobs and capability.
• Adopt good governance: credible boards and audited accounts attract investment.
• Mentor and give back: experience shared with young professionals compounds over a generation.

Measuring progress

Ambition needs measurement. Useful indicators include school completion and learning outcomes, hours of reliable electricity per day, the time and cost to start a business, the share of adults with financial accounts, foreign direct investment and diaspora remittances flowing into investment rather than only consumption. Tracking these publicly builds accountability.

Why I remain optimistic

Nigeria has the largest population in Africa, a young and entrepreneurial workforce, abundant energy resources and a vibrant creative and technology sector. Nigerian professionals lead companies across the world. The task is to connect that talent and those resources with stable institutions and reliable infrastructure. Progress will not come from a single policy or leader. It comes from millions of people doing their part well, every day.

A leader's view: start where you stand

Large national goals can feel distant from everyday work. Yet each lever depends on decisions made in companies, schools, communities and homes. A business owner who trains apprentices contributes to education and skills. A company that installs solar power and shares surplus with neighbours contributes to energy access. A professional who files taxes honestly and reports transparently strengthens institutions. A diaspora professional who mentors a young Nigerian or invests in a local business connects global experience with local opportunity.

Leaders can also influence policy constructively: participating in consultations, supporting industry associations, sharing data and offering practical solutions. Criticism is easy; contributing to solutions is harder and more valuable.

My own work spans debt recovery, upstream oil and gas, compliance technology and community projects in Nigeria. Each of these, in its own way, contributes to the levers described here: stronger financial institutions, energy development, better compliance and investment in people. Nigeria's progress will be the sum of many such contributions, made consistently over years. That is why I remain committed to building, investing and giving back.

Greatness is built daily

National greatness is not declared. It is built by millions of people doing their work with integrity: teachers, engineers, accountants, entrepreneurs and public servants. Each of us can contribute in our own field, starting now.

Common questions

What are the biggest drivers of growth for Nigeria?

Education and skills, reliable power, strong institutions, the digital economy and investment from the Nigerian diaspora.

How can the Nigerian diaspora contribute to growth?

Through investment, skills transfer, mentorship, trade links and channelling remittances into productive businesses and assets.