Former Nigerian minister of finance and former chairman of the World Bank, Olusegun Aganga, said in his recently published book that his lifelong goal is for Nigeria to achieve its true potential and be one of the world’s greatest and most prosperous countries.
Aganga − who is also the former minister of industry, trade and investments under former President Goodluck Jonathan – stated this in the preface of his new book titled ‘Reclaiming the Jewel of Africa: A Blueprint for Taking Nigeria and Africa from Potential to Posterity’ published by Practical Inspiration Publishing.
The former minister confessed that he had no plans of writing a book, during or after leaving government, but anytime he responded to questions about Nigeria, Africa, or his time in government, he was advised to write a book.
He recalled that when he was the minister of industry, trade and investments, whenever he interacted with Nigerians – young or old, poor or rich, educated or uneducated – they all wanted a better and prosperous Nigeria where things worked.
“From the outside, before I left Goldman Sachs in London to serve in government, I felt, like everyone else, that Nigeria and Africa had great potential.
“When I got in and served first as minister of finance and later as minister of industry, trade and investments, I saw that Nigeria did in fact have all it takes to be a great nation and that there is a bright light at the end of the tunnel,” he stated.
In the 10-chapter, 298-page book, Aganga stated that when one is privileged to serve their country, they see and experience many things that many people are not privileged to see and know.
“One also sees the gaps and develops some thoughts on how those gaps can be filled,” he stated.
‘Reclaiming the Jewel of Africa’, according to Aganga, also examines the progress made to date in Africa, identifies the missing links, and proffers practical solutions using the largest economy in the continent, Nigeria, a case study.
He said in the introduction of the book that it is intended as a beginning to many conversations and discourses, which are necessary and urgent in the development of the country, adding “It is not and was not conceived to be a one-stop shop of solutions that drives progress in Nigeria or the continent.”
In the book, Aganga addressed issues bordering on the political and governance structure of Nigeria; the political, economic, and social sectors of the country; the civil service; people and resource management; poverty, unemployment, and insecurity; among others.
In the last chapter of the book titled ‘The road to reclamation: Africa yesterday, today, and tomorrow’, he lamented that Nigeria and Africa tend to find a way around problems and challenges rather than addressing them and sometimes wishes the problems would go away by divine intervention.
“There is no nation without challenges. The only difference is that the successful ones address their challenges as they arise, learn from them, and ensure that they never happen again, and if they do, there are mitigants and solutions already in place,” he stated.
He recommended, among other things, the urgent need to fix the political structure of the country; build a united nation based on common values; set up a reform council to supervise and implement a national reform agenda; build and sustain a professional, neutral, well-paid meritocratic civil service; and ensure adequate management of natural and human resources.
Aganga ended his book by stressing that the future of Nigeria is brighter than many people think and know, adding “The younger generation gives me hope and inspiration, that when, not if, the matters in this book are fully addressed, there will be no stopping Nigeria and Africa.”
