Having recently subscribed to the NVS feed, I have read many insightful articles describing in great detail the multitude of problems that our beloved nation must overcome in order to be great once more. I thought it might be a good idea to not only depict some of those issues in a Cause and Effect diagram but to also suggest via another Cause and Effect diagram some potential solutions.

Disclaimers

1. Diagram 1: The issues shown or indeed the interrelationships between them is by no means meant to be exhaustive. This author is well aware that there are many more issues and that the diagram may indeed be an over-simplification of the predicament that Nigeria finds itself in. Nonetheless, it is hoped that the diagram captures a few key problems and perhaps highlights some cause and effect relationships that may not have been previously apparent to some readers.

2. Diagram 2: The second diagram is a humble attempt to depict the potential cause and effect relationships between a few proposed solutions to some of the issues shown in Diagram 1. This again is not meant to exhaustive nor does the author presume to suggest that the issues will be easy to resolve. The diagram is merely a representation of some of the author’s thoughts, in the hope that it might spark off something, anything in the minds of those whose job it is to lead our dear country.

Diagram 1

Diagram 2

Notes & Attribution

1. It is worth noting that unlike many others here at NVS, I do not believe that corruption is a high-priority issue to address in Nigeria currently, not because I do not deem it a problem worth solving urgently but because I believe that it is unrealistic to hope to solve it without first improving the economy. As Maslow taught us, higher needs and values like the need to be seen as selfless, incorrupt and respectful of the Rule of Law can only come after people’s basic needs have been met.

2. I attribute to Prof. Pat Utomi and indeed President Obama of the USA the idea of embarking on big infrastructural projects to boost employment and the economy.

3. Please feel free to critique and/or suggest changes to the diagram.

Robot  # 1 | 23.01.2009 03:28

Having recently subscribed to the Nigerian Village Square feed, I have read many insightful articles describing in great detail the multitude of problems that our beloved nation must overcome in order to be great once more. I thought it might be a good idea to not only depict some of those issues in a Cause and Effect diagram but to also suggest via another Cause and Effect diagram some potential solutions....Read the full article.

ikoyiesho1  # 2 | 23.01.2009 05:15

Dear Writter, Thanks for the lucid and innovative manner in which you have listed all the challenges of our dear nation with the right solutions proffered to them. I agree with you that as much as we need to tackle corruption head on, it should not our highest priority, we should ultimately focus on improving ease of doing business, we should provide clean and green means of power and energy, we should engage the private sector, encourage entrepreneurship, provide infrastructure, improve governance and promote transparency in government activities. Thanks again for recommending solutions instead of the stereotypical problem analysis, hope to see more of your systematic modus writeee in the village soon. I beg i dey come.....

Shoko Loko Bangoshe  # 3 | 23.01.2009 05:51

I like the fact that the author has not only attempted to capture the complexity of the problems facing Nigeria in an imaginative manner, but he has also shown how they are interrelated. I'll be back shortly to offer my comments.

Onowu1  # 4 | 23.01.2009 09:48

Thank you for giving our leaders direction. How can one ask for direction if he/she does not know where he/she is going. Please Nigerian political leaders alias PDP members, all the Kings, Queens, Mallams, Alhaji, Alhaja, Oba, Chief, Igwe even the modern day religious leaders need to have this diagram in their possesions. Our problem is complex and solution is not as easy as been local champion or king maker. What fundamental problem has our President, Vice President, Senators, national and State assembly men and women solved since 1999 without suffing their personal pockets or ego. Thank you and Nigerians like you who profering practical solutions and directions to our problems.

LA1  # 5 | 23.01.2009 19:37

This is all great stuff and obviously a platform used and accessed by concerned Nigerians that want to see a better Nigeria. The author/writer has provided a really good "starter for ten" re the issues and possible solutions. The next step in the activity cycle is really for readers and leaders (political, social & commercial) affiliated with this platform to initiate change programs that will start to address and enable the implementation of the solutions referred to in the respective diagrams - we need buy-in from those responsible citizens we have elected in order to effect and realise any sort of change.

Bode_Boluz  # 6 | 23.01.2009 20:46

Wow!!! Thank you for the insight and the prompt visual summation. You do justice to the creed that states "A picture is worth more than a thousand words".

onisojohnson  # 7 | 24.01.2009 15:07

=Bode_Boluz;317111>Wow!!! Thank you for the insight and the prompt visual summation. You do justice to the creed that states "A picture is worth more than a thousand words". What insight, Sir? All that is needed in Nigeria is the entrenchment of the full tenents of true federalism. Then different parts of the nation may develope at their own pace as dictated by their culture or religion. All these diagrams will not stop groups from stealing resources belonging to others and also slowing the progress of others. Thanks.

thekingsjester  # 8 | 24.01.2009 17:37

Thank you Louis for the illustration, you have made some insightful observations. I happen to enjoy working with diagrams so I found this quite exciting. I see the illustration as concise because some of the relationships could be further extended to form a more complex picture. I would suggest, rather than 'poor power supply', the term 'poor or lack of basic infrastructure' be used as this seems to be all encompassing. In addition, this 'lack of basic infrastructure' discourages not only foreign investment as you have identified but also local investment. I think you may also have overlooked the role of policy/legislation because government policies/legislation dictate the direction of the economy. For instance government policies could encourage investment in some economic sectors rather than others...government policies could also influence the nature of investments etc. Also I don't necessarily see only 'low intellectual capital' as a major and direct cause of 'more importation than exportation'. I would rather say inadequacy of/ high cost of factors of production. Low intellectual capital seems to address only the entrepreneurial factor of production. That's my take for now. I will be making more suggestions and observations when I find the time. By the way this will make a good piece for an academic research!

David Eboh  # 9 | 24.01.2009 17:40

Thanks for the brilliant diagrams. It says so much, and very importantly it highlights the fact that the problems which confronts us is a vicious circle. Not to priritise corruption is tantamount to ignoring the ways for protecting public fund and resources, which would inevitably sustain the lack of means of building up the economy, be it on foundation of electricity, foreign investment, healthcare and other public instructures. In my opinion, the defence of a credible constitution and the rule of law is the most formidable starting point. With that, the spirit of nationalism would supercede the sentiments of tribes, region, religion and the politics of greed which is championed by illiterates and educated idiots who take pride on vague foreign trips and their families benefiting from well developed institutions abroad. Generally, you spent time to do a great job with your illustration and I must commend your thoughtfulness. At least there are many Nigerians who are now thinking differently from those that have power but do not understand that its usefulness is in what it does to improve the society's living standards, empowerment of the people, infrastructural development and national image.

David Eboh  # 10 | 24.01.2009 17:51

Thanks for the brilliant diagrams. It says so much, and very importantly it highlights the fact that the problems which confronts us is a vicious circle. Not to priritise corruption is tantamount to ignoring the ways for protecting public fund and resources, which would inevitably sustain the lack of means of building up the economy, be it on foundation of electricity, foreign investment, healthcare and other public instructures. In my opinion, the defence of a credible constitution and the rule of law is the most formidable starting point. With that, the spirit of nationalism would supercede the sentiments of tribes, region, religion and the politics of greed which is championed by illiterates and educated idiots who take pride on vague foreign trips and their families benefiting from well developed institutions abroad. Generally, you spent time to do a great job with your illustration and I must commend your thoughtfulness. At least there are many Nigerians who are now thinking differently from those that have power but do not understand that its usefulness is in what it does to improve the society's living standards, empowerment of the people, infrastructural development and national image.

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