I finally carved out time to immerse myself in the profound speeches delivered by Professor Patrice Lumumba, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the ever-insightful Tony Enemelu at the recent Delta State economic summit. Sincerely, I was captivated. Their collective wisdom rendered a frontal attack on the status quo unnecessary, as they had already dissected our challenges with surgical precision.
The thematic thrust was unmistakable: focus. “Take three crops and concentrate,” they urged, redirecting our gaze to the vast potential of the Blue Economy. However, we must recalibrate our understanding. Dominating the Blue Economy is not merely about allowing foreign ships to dock at our coastlines. As Okonjo-Iweala rightly emphasised, it is about activating our potentially viable seaports and, crucially, fishing by ourselves, for ourselves. It is a clarion call for self-sufficiency in resource exploitation.
Central to the discourse was the imperative of jobs for our teeming youth. Patrice and Ngozi were unanimous: economic growth without job creation is a hollow victory. But how do we create these jobs? Patrice and Enemelu provided the stark answer: power. The chilling reminder that Nigeria generates a paltry 5,000 MW while China operates at 3 million MW underscores the direct impact on our cost of production. The implication is severe. Governor Oborevwori must understand that the true meaning of an enabling environment lies in solving this energy quagmire, not in erecting bridges in dead areas, as President Tinubu has aptly noted.
Prof Lumumba was particularly detailed about the 4th and 5th Industrial Revolutions, and his questions left me deeply unsettled. I don’t know about you, but I cannot imagine a world without Artificial Intelligence. Yet, he asked a piercing question: who controls the AI we are consuming? Just like the social media platforms that can be switched off or algorithmically manipulated in the blink of an eye, our dependence on foreign-controlled technology is a vulnerability we cannot afford. Our universities must be at the forefront of this new narrative, not mere consumers but developers of indigenous technological solutions.
He also reset the summit’s focus with a sobering reminder about our inferiority complex, sending a clear message to the governor. Development must not come from the USA, UK, or China but from Africa. For me, this must start with Delta first, then Nigeria, and then Africa. If the rest of the world chooses to be part of it, why not? But the blueprint must be ours, the execution must be ours, and the rewards must first benefit our people.
The summit was grand, and the recognition of dignitaries—royal fathers, the Vice President, and others—was apt. However, my ears remained perked for a critical omission: the Vice Chancellors. Our universities are our think-tanks, the reservoirs of research and innovation. Their absence from the recognition list suggests they were not consulted, prompting a disturbing question: how much local research, how much indigenous data, actually preceded this gathering?
Delta State boasts twelve universities, endowed with vast land and enormous human and natural resources. Deltans must be the architects of this vision, and our ivory towers should have been the starting point. Today, on my show, I will underscore the pivotal role of Nigerian universities in propelling us into the league of the G7. Ultimately, it is all about the economy.
In all fairness, the summit was worth the gathering, and the organisers deserve commendation. However, this is merely the beginning. We have assembled the leaders; now we need the plan, a blueprint that should have preceded the summit. I acknowledge the emphasis on the Free Trade Zone, but we must pivot. It is time for a tour of our universities, exploiting our unique production capabilities and research outputs for the world to see. We must harmonise academic intellect with industrial policy.
God bless the Governor and the resilient people of Delta State. The journey has started, but the road map is yet to be drawn.
Ogbevire Christian Ashaiku (AKA Daddy Kris)
Human Rights Activist
PhD Law Research Fellow
Middlesex University, London
DELTA’S ECONOMIC CROSSROADS: A Call for University-Driven Economic Revolution
PhD Law Research Fellow
Middlesex University, London
