Feature/OPED
Development: Africa Maybe Has a Colossal Originality Drought
By Nneka Okumazie
Some Africans often say that when some Africans go abroad, they act better than they do in Africa. Some others say some Africans excel abroad than when they are at home.
There is something obvious in these observations that is hardly stated, which is that those Africans are simply doing what others are doing wherever they are, having nothing original of themselves.
There are several things that have been adopted in Africa that are meaningful elsewhere but are meaningless in Africa because it was simply copied, then many others in the same era copied, and other generations too copied. So what became obtained were bad copies, far removed from what it should have been.
Education, for example, which should be a tool for transformation, is almost meaningless in Africa. There is no sector in Africa where educated Africans have themselves transformed. All progress continues to be those adopted. There are many Africans with some education who are no better than if they did not have an education.
Many of the so-called new things that proceed from many Africans, as some form of project or business, are derivations of new things elsewhere, lacking originality and capability to make any mass progress or change much beyond limited cases. There are so many contrasts that Africa presents in its own society that makes it plausible that without adopting some progress, Africa may miss nothing.
There are Africans, who complain about bad governance in their countries, saying also that government officials often send their children abroad.
Then some of these Africans often seek nothing else than to go abroad themselves, when they can, showing that Africans seem to want the same things, whether government officials or citizens.
But what is really elsewhere for Africans, better than what is back home? Can infrastructure be bad or education or health or food or water, if they are not made well, or the general users, after the things are made not misuse them? Is the problem in Africa a people problem, not a problem of things or just the government? What are the common outcomes for most of those who leave in terms of achievement? What does success or doing well mean to Africans, for those abroad or those at home? What do Africans really want because it appears not to be development?
All that seems to matter to most Africans is how similar they are to others or how much they can copy, especially a copy of a copy of millions of copies.
It may seem that Africans have forgotten that for a society to make great progress, each sector requires a good percentage of real and intense originality, seeking out new and different approaches so that if some are found, they change the existing paths and benefit society.
But what Africa seems to have is to copy within, then wait until others make progress, then copy, leading nothing, hardly learning and seeming incapable of transforming their own place.
The copying problem of Africa resulted in some being so sure they are right about some ways of life when what they claim to be right about is what they copied. Africans are also blinded to their copying problem, and it is no longer obvious that they are copying. Africans also fight themselves or sabotage each other, not for originality purposes or in originality, but to copy and in copying.
Africans may have gotten shaped by copying; many do not recognize what is original. There are things that were copied that modern society has made unnecessary, but there is persistence in doing them. Some countries in Africa are better at copying, helping them to move really slowly. Others do not even know what, when or how to copy, prompting others to show them.
Originality in Africa seems to exist in how badly the people treat themselves, as well as how indifferent many become to the unprecedented volume of human suffering of their own people.
What Africans should be asking themselves is, where did this originality famine come from? How can several places in modern-day Africa look like what it was centuries ago if a few things were removed?
There are external problems that were brought against Africans by foreigners and continuous exploitations of the people and continent to date. However, what does Africa lack that makes it seem vulnerable to these problems or makes other places seem better than theirs?
Ancient Africa did not make substantial progress in the standard of living. Most of the communities were similar in the way that things pervaded across all their activities, but there was no differential or exponential jump in quality. They had arts, were able to survive in some ways, and were creative in some spheres but failed to explore or transform themselves meaningfully.
Copying or lack of originality, or the ability for exponential transformation, may not even be a huge problem if there are no seeming character deficiencies, which others within see and seem to copy.
There is an absence of certain values that are evident in African societies that are more problematic than a lack of originality. Courage, fairness, selflessness, exploration for collective progress, sincerity, trust, etc. are so few—if at all they exist, that the dominance of the opposite and how people copy the opposite gave what Africa was and still is.
There are many efforts towards progress in Africa that have become corrupted by unyielding low attitudes, which many cannot seem to help. It is possible to guarantee that in Africa, no matter how wrong things are, some would choose those similar to them, tribes, etc. than to do what is right as part of the copying problem.
Other than pleasure, status, same this or that, nothing much is expected from Africans collectively, no matter what it seems has been adopted that brought progress to others.
Africa has an originality famine. This a problem with an old source that should be fought against thoroughly, assuming Africans are serious. The fight, too, should be original and the approach not a fake one or with the appearance of it, as part of the ways many Africans often do their things.
Many Africans are fine, so long things for them and their own people are fine. But if all that is fine for them are things that they copied, told or shown to be what it means to be fine, how are those Africans sure they are not being played or playing themselves?
Of course, there are nations and organizations in Africa who would say or try to show what they have done, but they are either measuring the wrong things or measuring the right things in the wrong units.
[Psalm 124:5, Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.]
By Luke Kyohere
The global payments landscape is undergoing a rapid transformation. New technologies coupled with the rising demand for seamless, secure, and efficient transactions has spurred on an exciting new era of innovation and growth. With 2025 fast approaching, here are important trends that will shape the future of payments:
1. The rise of real-time payments
Until recently, real-time payments have been used in Africa for cross-border mobile money payments, but less so for traditional payments. We are seeing companies like Mastercard investing in this area, as well as central banks in Africa putting focus on this.
2. Cashless payments will increase
In 2025, we will see the continued acceleration of cashless payments across Africa. B2B payments in particular will also increase. Digital payments began between individuals but are now becoming commonplace for larger corporate transactions.
3. Digital currency will hit mainstream
In the cryptocurrency space, we will see an increase in the use of stablecoins like United States Digital Currency (USDC) and Tether (USDT) which are linked to US dollars. These will come to replace traditional cryptocurrencies as their price point is more stable. This year, many countries will begin preparing for Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), government-backed digital currencies which use blockchain.
The increased uptake of digital currencies reflects the maturity of distributed ledger technology and improved API availability.
4. Increased government oversight
As adoption of digital currencies will increase, governments will also put more focus into monitoring these flows. In particular, this will centre on companies and banks rather than individuals. The goal of this will be to control and occasionally curb runaway foreign exchange (FX) rates.
5. Business leaders buy into AI technology
In 2025, we will see many business leaders buying into AI through respected providers relying on well-researched platforms and huge data sets. Most companies don’t have the budget to invest in their own research and development in AI, so many are now opting to ‘buy’ into the technology rather than ‘build’ it themselves. Moreover, many businesses are concerned about the risks associated with data ownership and accuracy so buying software is another way to avoid this risk.
6. Continued AI Adoption in Payments
In payments, the proliferation of AI will continue to improve user experience and increase security. To detect fraud, AI is used to track patterns and payment flows in real-time. If unusual activity is detected, the technology can be used to flag or even block payments which may be fraudulent.
When it comes to user experience, we will also see AI being used to improve the interface design of payment platforms. The technology will also increasingly be used for translation for international payment platforms.
7. Rise of Super Apps
To get more from their platforms, mobile network operators are building comprehensive service platforms, integrating multiple payment experiences into a single app. This reflects the shift of many users moving from text-based services to mobile apps. Rather than offering a single service, super apps are packing many other services into a single app. For example, apps which may have previously been used primarily for lending, now have options for saving and paying bills.
8. Business strategy shift
Recent major technological changes will force business leaders to focus on much shorter prediction and reaction cycles. Because the rate of change has been unprecedented in the past year, this will force decision-makers to adapt quickly, be decisive and nimble.
As the payments space evolves, businesses, banks, and governments must continually embrace innovation, collaboration, and prioritise customer needs. These efforts build a more inclusive, secure, and efficient payment system that supports local to global economic growth – enabling true financial inclusion across borders.
Luke Kyohere is the Group Chief Product and Innovation Officer at Onafriq
In a heartfelt statement released today, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has extended its warmest congratulations to Ghana’s President-Elect, emphasizing the importance of learning from Ghana’s recent electoral success as Nigeria gears up for its 2027 general elections.
In a statement signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade James Ezema, the CNPP highlighted the need for Nigeria to reclaim its status as a leader in democratic governance in Africa.
“The recent victory of Ghana’s President-Elect is a testament to the maturity and resilience of Ghana’s democracy,” the CNPP stated. “As we celebrate this achievement, we must reflect on the lessons that Nigeria can learn from our West African neighbour.”
The CNPP’s message underscored the significance of free, fair, and credible elections, a standard that Ghana has set and one that Nigeria has previously achieved under former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. “It is high time for Nigeria to reclaim its position as a beacon of democracy in Africa,” the CNPP asserted, calling for a renewed commitment to the electoral process.
Central to CNPP’s message is the insistence that “the will of the people must be supreme in Nigeria’s electoral processes.” The umbrella body of all registered political parties and political associations in Nigeria CNPP emphasized the necessity of an electoral system that genuinely reflects the wishes of the Nigerian populace. “We must strive to create an environment where elections are free from manipulation, violence, and intimidation,” the CNPP urged, calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take decisive action to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
The CNPP also expressed concern over premature declarations regarding the 2027 elections, stating, “It is disheartening to note that some individuals are already announcing that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock in 2027. This kind of statement not only undermines the democratic principles that our nation holds dear but also distracts from the pressing need for the current administration to earn the trust of the electorate.”
The CNPP viewed the upcoming elections as a pivotal moment for Nigeria. “The 2027 general elections present a unique opportunity for Nigeria to reclaim its position as a leader in democratic governance in Africa,” it remarked. The body called on all stakeholders — including the executive, legislature, judiciary, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and civil society organisations — to collaborate in ensuring that elections are transparent, credible, and reflective of the will of the Nigerian people.
As the most populous African country prepares for the 2027 elections, the CNPP urged all Nigerians to remain vigilant and committed to democratic principles. “We must work together to ensure that our elections are free from violence, intimidation, and manipulation,” the statement stated, reaffirming the CNPP’s commitment to promoting a peaceful and credible electoral process.
In conclusion, the CNPP congratulated the President-Elect of Ghana and the Ghanaian people on their remarkable achievements.
“We look forward to learning from their experience and working together to strengthen democracy in our region,” the CNPP concluded.
By Kenechukwu Aguolu
The proposed tax reform, involving four tax bills introduced by the Federal Government, has received significant criticism. Notably, it was rejected by the Governors’ Forum but was still forwarded to the National Assembly. Unlike the various bold economic decisions made by this government, concessions will likely need to be made on these tax reforms, which involve legislative amendments and therefore cannot be imposed by the executive. This article highlights the purposes of taxation, the qualities of a good tax system, and some of the implications of the proposed tax reforms.
One of the major purposes of taxation is to generate revenue for the government to finance its activities. A good tax system should raise sufficient revenue for the government to fund its operations, and support economic and infrastructural development. For any country to achieve meaningful progress, its tax-to-GDP ratio should be at least 15%. Currently, Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio is less than 11%. The proposed tax reforms aim to increase this ratio to 18% within the next three years.
A good tax system should also promote income redistribution and equality by implementing progressive tax policies. In line with this, the proposed tax reforms favour low-income earners. For example, individuals earning less than one million naira annually are exempted from personal income tax. Additionally, essential goods and services such as food, accommodation, and transportation, which constitute a significant portion of household consumption for low- and middle-income groups, are to be exempted from VAT.
In addition to equality, a good tax system should ensure equity and fairness, a key area of contention surrounding the proposed reforms. If implemented, the amendments to the Value Added Tax could lead to a significant reduction in the federal allocation for some states; impairing their ability to finance government operations and development projects. The VAT amendments should be holistically revisited to promote fairness and national unity.
The establishment of a single agency to collect government taxes, the Nigeria Revenue Service, could reduce loopholes that have previously resulted in revenue losses, provided proper controls are put in place. It is logically easier to monitor revenue collection by one agency than by multiple agencies. However, this is not a magical solution. With automation, revenue collection can be seamless whether it is managed by one agency or several, as long as monitoring and accountability measures are implemented effectively.
The proposed tax reforms by the Federal Government are well-intentioned. However, all concerns raised by Nigerians should be looked into, and concessions should be made where necessary. Policies are more effective when they are adapted to suit the unique characteristics of a nation, rather than adopted wholesale. A good tax system should aim to raise sufficient revenue, ensure equitable income distribution, and promote equality, equity, and fairness.
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