Feature/OPED
A Note to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria’s President-Elect
By Jerome-Mario Chijioke Utomi
With the 2023 general elections over and the intrigues that surrounded the electioneering rested, the incoming federal government, when inaugurated on May 29, 2023, shall, in the enlightened national interest, be faced with the task of delivering Nigeria and Nigerians from the snare of dangerous political and socio-economic delusions.
More specifically, the outcome of the Saturday, February 25, presidential election organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has made Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu the President-Elect.
But even as you (Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu) celebrate, it is equally an open secret that in the present circumstance, you are both lucky and unlucky.
Lucky, because Nigerians, via the election, subjected your political ambition to serious scrutiny and, going by the result as declared by INEC, the electoral umpire, the majority judged your motives as unsoiled by private ambitions but largely fired by burning desire to pursue the public good. This particular fact, in my view, explains your victory,
However, like every success that brings new problems, you are unlucky for the reason that the result has thrust yet another responsibility on you, an extremely important destiny; to complete a process of political and socioeconomic rejuvenation of the nation which we have spent far too long a time to do. In present-day Nigeria, more work needs to be done, and more reforms need to be made.
It is equally common knowledge that the election was shaped by fiscal, sociological, political and communal factors in the country; coupled with the pockets of ethnoreligious upheavals and misgivings from one region against another or powerful personalities against each other, it fractured our nation’s geography into polarised ethnosyncrasies and idiosyncrasies, all of which had led to agitations of different sorts and capacities that are not overtly expressed but covertly potent. These have disjointed the amalgams of the country and made the nation that was once called The Giant of Africa now viewed by the majority of the global community with derision, discontent and disrespect.
Despite this great disappointment and frustration, this piece believed and still believes that the nation Nigeria can surmount its present challenge as well as make appreciable advancement under your leadership when inaugurated if you religiously and vigorously, as promised, adhere to the content of your manifesto/renewed hope mantra shared with Nigerians during electioneering.
Adding context to the discourse, it is sometimes convenient for humans to forget and uncomfortable to remember, of which you are not an exception. It is equally a time-honoured belief that forgetting is perhaps one of the greatest gifts of nature. But under the present circumstance and political temperature in the country, I hold the opinion that your incoming administration must design and catalyze a thought process that considers the virtue of remembrance as an invaluable asset.
Among the basket of promises made to Nigerians, there is an urgent need to remember that you promised to improve security by decentralizing the policing of the country and creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs simultaneously. You promised to transform Nigeria into an enviable country and one where there will be justice, peace and prosperity for all, with a “robust economy”.
You accepted to achieve in the country “a vibrant and thriving democracy and a prosperous nation with a fast-growing industrial base, capable of producing the most basic needs of the people and exporting to other countries of the world a country with a robust economy, where prosperity is broadly shared by all irrespective of class, region, and religion. “A nation where its people enjoy all the basic needs, including a safe and secure environment, abundant food, affordable shelter, health care, and quality primary education for all. “A nation founded on justice, peace, and prosperity for all.”
On the nation’s economy, you agreed to build an economy that will make the nation’s Gross Development Product (GDP) grow quicker annually for the next four years while also providing jobs for millions of youths in the country. You promised Nigerians that your administration would build a new National Industrial Policy focused on special intervention to reinvigorate specific strategic industries. “I will focus on stimulating jobs, which will be my top priority as President. I will get Nigeria to work by launching a major public works programme, a significant and heavy investment in infrastructure, and value-adding manufacturing and agriculture”.
You also said that your administration will build an efficient, fast-growing, and well-diversified emerging economy with a real GDP growth averaging 12 per cent annually for the next four years, translating into millions of new jobs during this period, and in a related development promised to create six new Regional Economic Development Agencies, which will establish sub-regional industrial hubs to exploit each zone’s competitive advantage and optimize their potential for industrial growth.
You pledged to formulate a new National Policy on Agriculture to boost food production while promoting the establishment of new commodity exchange boards, strengthening the one in Lagos in order to guarantee minimum pricing for agricultural products such as cotton, cocoa, rice, soya beans, corn, palm kernel, and groundnuts.
On infrastructure, you promised to “Build A New Nigeria (BANN)” by developing a National Infrastructure plan, which will cover strategic roads, bridges, rail, water, power, seaports and airports spanning the length and breadth of the country, noting that your administration would combine government funding, borrowing, public-private partnership, private sector financing and concession to initiate a medium and long-term financial model for the BANN initiative.
You stated that your administration would target an electricity distribution goal of 15,000 megawatts across the country and ensure a sustainable 24/7 supply. “I will embark on a renewed action-oriented focus and take immediate and urgent action on resolving existing challenges of power generation plants, gas purchasing, pricing, transmission, and distribution. My administration’s critical goal is to have 15,000 megawatts distributable to all categories of consumers nationwide to ensure 24/7 sustainable supply within the next four years,” he added’’.
In the oil and gas sector, you said there would be no need for a subsidy because the market will be open and transparent. That Supply will come from local refineries, and the forces of demand and supply will determine the price of petroleum products. “My administration will establish a National Strategic Reserve for Petroleum Products to stabilize supply during unexpected shortages or surplus periods. This will eliminate any form of product shortages and prevent wild swings in prices.”
You promised to continue the free school feeding programme of the APC, feeding “millions of primary school children across the country, promising to increase the spending on education to 25 per cent of the nation’s budget.
Talking about tertiary education, you said that your administration would eradicate strikes by tertiary institution workers by encouraging the tertiary institutions to source funds through grants and corporate sponsorships, with all the institutions granted financial autonomy.
Just like education, you also assured to increase the funding for health care in the annual budget to 10 per cent. According to him, the National Health Insurance Scheme would be relaunched to grant health insurance cover to most Nigerians.
For me, building a united and prosperous Nigeria will, among other things, demand your recognition that “the first responsibility of a leader is to find the right people.” This is key to the success of your administration.
Aside from bringing the right people, the first opinion that is formed of a leader’s intelligence, according to Niccolo Machiavelli, is based on the quality of the men he has around him. When they are competent and loyal, he can always be considered wise because he has been able to recognize their competence and keep them loyal. But when they are otherwise, the ruler is always open to adverse criticism because his first mistake has been in the choice of his ministers.
More importantly, there is a need to base all appointments on the provisions of Paragraph 8(1)(b) of Part 1 of the third schedule of the 1999 constitution, which among other provisions, clearly stipulate that the Federal Character Commission must ensure the equitable distribution of all appointments and positions at the federal levels among the federating units.
Finally, if your administration can accomplish the promises made to Nigerians, it will be your most powerful accomplishment for earning new respect and emulation. And if you fail, it will equally go down the anal of history.
Utomi is the Program Coordinator (Media and Politics), Advocacy for Social and Economic Justice (SEJA), Lagos. He could be reached via 08032725374
By Kehinde Ogundare
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionising industries globally, and Nigeria is no exception to this trend. Businesses in Nigeria are increasingly exploring AI-driven automation to enhance efficiency, drive innovation, and remain competitive. However, AI adoption remains relatively low, as many businesses struggle to identify practical use cases that deliver measurable ROI.
A key emerging trend addressing this challenge is Agentic AI–a more advanced form of AI that enables businesses to create autonomous digital agents capable of handling complex tasks, optimising workflows, and improving decision-making. Unlike traditional AI models that react to user inputs, Agentic AI proactively learns, makes decisions, and automates entire processes, making it a game-changer for businesses looking to scale productivity.
The Rise of Agentic AI in Business
Globally, AI adoption has grown, but many businesses still hesitate due to concerns over cost, implementation complexity, and lack of clear ROI. According to McKinsey & Company, organisations that have successfully integrated AI-driven automation report efficiency improvements ranging from 20–30%. The key to unlocking AI’s full potential lies in specialised AI models designed for specific business functions–precisely where Agentic AI excels.
For example, in customer service, AI-powered agents can automate repetitive tasks, resolve issues faster, and enhance customer satisfaction. Studies have shown that nearly 88% of Nigerian consumers consider customer experience critical to their purchasing decisions. Agentic AI can help businesses meet these expectations by providing instant, personalised support.
In sales, AI-driven Sales Development Representative (SDR) Agent can analyse customer interactions, identify sales opportunities, and suggest targeted outreach strategies. Research highlights that businesses using AI in sales automation experience increase conversion rates and higher sales productivity.
Similarly, Human Resources (HR) operations are being transformed by AI-powered automation. Tasks such as leave management, employee onboarding, and performance tracking can be effectively handled by Agentic AI, allowing HR professionals to focus on strategic employment engagement. Deloitte indicates that AI-powered HR automation reduces administrative workload significantly, enhancing employee satisfaction and operational efficiency.
In IT operations, AI-powered Help Desk Agents streamline troubleshooting, diagnose issues, and execute quick fixes. This reduces downtime and significantly improves operational continuity and productivity.
How Zoho is Innovating with Agentic AI
At Zoho, we recognise the potential of Agentic AI and have developed Zia Agents for specific use cases within various products. Unlike generic AI models, Zia Agents provide contextual intelligence, real-time decision-making, and deep business-specific insights. Additionally, Zoho ensures that Zia agents operate within a secure infrastructure, fully compliant with various global privacy regulations, making it a trusted solution for businesses handling sensitive data.
We have also launched Agent Studio, an AI-powered platform that enables our customers, partners, and independent developers to create specialised agents for their specific needs. These can be hosted on Agent Marketplace, where they can be monetised. Nigerian businesses can utilise Agent Studio to build hyperlocal agents for various industries.
The Future of Business with Agentic AI
The shift towards Agentic AI is inevitable as businesses increasingly seek smarter, more autonomous systems to drive efficiency and growth. Organisations that embrace AI-driven today will be better positioned to compete in Nigeria’s evolving digital economy.
For Nigerian businesses looking to scale efficiently, Agentic AI offers a practical and results driven approach to automation. By leveraging Zoho’s Zia Agents, companies can achieve higher productivity, ensuring long-term success in a competitive marketplace.
Kehinde Ogundare is the Country Head for Zoho Nigeria
By Timi Olubiyi, PhD
Internet users are growing at an unprecedented rate, and in Nigeria, for instance, internet users have expressed concerns and frustration over the data price increase in recent times, with many feeling its negative impact on their budgets and mobile smartphone usage.
Major networks such as MTN, Airtel, and Glo have seen a close to 50 per cent increase in Nigerian mobile data prices, with no known alternative available. This shows the significance of data and internet usage, highlighting its role in the digital age and the rapid growth of data and content creation across Africa.
From mobile phone data and e-commerce activities to social media interactions and government services, vast amounts of information are being created daily, which is accessible through internet usage.
The economic and technological landscape of Africa has been undergoing significant evolution recently. The continent is inhabited by over 1.4 billion individuals, and a larger portion of them create, use, and feed on data— which is a digital transformation.
The convergence of rising mobile phone usage, enhanced internet accessibility, and a youthful, technologically adept demographic has positioned Africa at the forefront of global discussions around technology innovation and data generation.
Recently, the phrase “data is the new oil” has gained significant traction in discussions related to technology, business, and the digital economy. But it is public knowledge that when it comes to oil, its availability is limited to certain areas of the world.
On the other hand, tech giants like Google, Facebook, Netflix, Amazon, Microsoft, and Apple control most of the world’s data.
According to a study by Sandvine in 2021, these companies are responsible for about 57 per cent of global data flow, and they have all commodified data. The huge amount of data controlled by these mega-companies is bigger than most small businesses and corporations. But, anyway, this would be another story piece for another time.
In the view of the author, if we want to know if data is really the “new oil”, we need to first look at how it builds value. Data by itself is not useful, just like in the case of oil. Raw data, without any processing or analysis, is merely a collection of information that requires interpretation.
For instance, an online store might keep track of what customers do, like what links they click on, how long they stay on product pages, and what they bought in the past.
However, this data remains mostly useless until it undergoes processing, analysis, and transformation into actionable ideas. Business managers in Africa should follow this path and should adhere to a mindset of ‘facts superiority over opinion’.
As businesses expand, an increasing number of individuals express ideas regarding the actions to be undertaken. However, it is beneficial to employ a data-insight mentality. All company metrics can be tested, measured and improved upon.
It is important to note that business owners/managers must have real-time access to the most important data in their business. Understanding which Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) affect revenue and profit is significantly more crucial than the revenue and profit figures themselves.
When data is cleaned up and analysed, it becomes really useful. Similar to refining oil to produce petrol, diesel, and other products, processing data yields beneficial outcomes. This is where Google and Facebook shine. They have put a lot of money into technologies like machine learning and big data analytics that can turn huge amounts of raw data into personalised ads, recommendation engines, and models that can predict the future. In this way, they make money for both their users and their owners.
In Africa, the idea of “data as the new oil” is particularly appealing because it could help the continent skip ahead in the normal stages of economic growth. Mobile phones let African countries get around the need for landline infrastructure.
Similarly, data technologies could help African economies get past older, resource-heavy ways of growing, leading to new ideas and long-term growth in fresh ways. In agriculture, for instance, data analytics and satellite imaging can help farmers figure out how the weather will behave, get the most out of their crops, and make harvest supply lines work better. Data-driven solutions in healthcare, like electronic health records (EHRs) and predictive analytics, can help find diseases, control outbreaks, and make healthcare better.
In the same way, data-driven education platforms can give students personalised learning experiences and give teachers and managers useful information about how students are doing and what they need. More so, businesses could be data-driven by setting up special internal research units on data, where insights can be generated to improve on decision-making.
Looking ahead, there are evident similarities between data and oil; much like crude oil, data is valuable. Data is not a naturally occurring resource like oil; it is a by-product of human activity. Oil is a limited resource, whereas data is plentiful and perpetually increasing. Raw data must be processed and analysed to derive significant insights and facilitate informed decision-making.
This is where artificial intelligence (AI) is relevant. AI acts as the ultimate data refinery, enabling the conversion of extensive information into meaningful insights. In contrast to oil, which is extracted and processed by a limited number of firms, data is more extensively disseminated, including various stakeholders in its collection, analysis, and utilisation.
Anticipating the future, data will probably witness ongoing advancements in many domains because it is a strategic asset for business and economic growth. With it, people, organisations, and governments can make better decisions. Good luck!
How may you obtain advice or further information on the article?
Dr Timi Olubiyi is an entrepreneurship and business management expert with a PhD in Business Administration from Babcock University, Nigeria. He is a prolific investment coach, author, seasoned scholar, chartered member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI), and a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)-registered capital market operator. He can be reached on the Twitter handle @drtimiolubiyi and via email: drtimiolubiyi@gmail.com, for any questions, reactions, and comments.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, Dr Timi Olubiyi, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of others.
By Kenechukwu Aguolu
As the year 2027 draws closer, political manoeuvrings and calculations are already underway across Nigeria. The landscape is expected to shift, with new alliances and coalitions forming among political actors and parties. However, in my view, the chances of the current administration retaining power in 2027 remain high, and several compelling reasons support this assertion.
First and foremost, the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party currently in power, stands as the most formidable political force in the country. The APC boasts an unrivalled structure, a stable leadership, and the highest membership among all political parties. With the largest number of serving governors and National Assembly members, the party is firmly entrenched in all corners of the nation. These factors alone give the APC a significant advantage as it gears up for the 2027 presidential elections.
Under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, the current administration has displayed a deep sense of patriotism and a clear vision for Nigeria’s future. While the reforms introduced by the government came with initial challenges, these difficulties are gradually easing, and the results are becoming increasingly evident. Prices of goods and services are steadily dropping, and the Naira is beginning to show signs of recovery.
The government’s efforts to diversify the economy are also bearing fruit, with initiatives such as the revival of the Ajaokuta Steel Company and ongoing reforms in the mining sector. By 2027, the dividends of these economic reforms will be more apparent, and the public will be able to feel their positive impact. These successes will work in the administration’s favour and could solidify the APC’s hold on power.
Infrastructure and security have been at the forefront of the government’s priorities. Significant improvements in power generation have already been made, and efforts to tackle insecurity have begun to show positive results, albeit gradually. Furthermore, the government is investing heavily in road construction, including vital projects like the Lagos-Calabar Expressway.
These infrastructural developments are not just for show—they will stimulate economic activities across the country, create jobs, and enhance the living standards of Nigerians. If these trends continue, it will be hard for any political opponent to deny the progress made under the current administration.
Perhaps the most critical factor in the APC’s favour is the leadership of President Tinubu himself. With his personality, widespread followership, and experience, he stands as a political giant in Nigeria. His leadership has been marked by a strong sense of purpose and determination, and his vast network of supporters spans across different regions of the country.
While some may argue that time will tell who will emerge as a viable challenger to President Tinubu, it’s difficult to imagine any politician currently being touted as a credible candidate who could match his national appeal and charisma. The nature of Nigerian politics means that any potential challenger would need to command significant nationwide support to pose a real threat to the APC’s grip on power.
Looking ahead to the 2027 presidential election, I believe it will be much easier for President Tinubu to secure re-election than it was in 2023. His leadership performance, coupled with the robust support of the APC, places him in a strong position for victory. While unforeseen events may shape the political landscape over the next few years, the factors already in play suggest that the current administration is well-positioned to retain power.
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