Baroness Chalker Advocates Strong Institutions For Nigeria, Says Nigeria Doesn’t Need Strong Leaders

L-R: Senior Special Assistant to the President on foreign relations and diaspora affairs, Hon. Abike Dabiri – Erewa; Former United Kingdom Minister, Baroness Lynda Chalker; Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, Professor Olarenwaju Fagbohun at the An Afternoon with Baroness Lynda Chalker with the theme “Africa in a competitive world: Development and Business ” organised by the Lagos State University.

By Loveth Azodo, Lagos

Against the current dictatorial tendencies of the Federal Government in piloting the affairs of the country, a former United Kingdom Minister, Baroness Lynda Chalker, has differed from the government style of governance, saying that Nigeria does not need strong Leaders.

Baroness Chalker instead, advised the Nigerian leaders to focus attention and resources on building strong institutions and facilitating the evolving of wise and creative leaders who will be competitive in the global stage.

The former UK Minister spoke while delivering a lecture on “Africa in a competitive world: Development and Investment”, at an event “An afternoon with Baroness Lynda Chalker”, held at the Lagos State University (LASU).

According to Chalker, for the overall prosperity of Nigeria, “Nigeria does not need strong people. Rather, it needs strong institutions, wise and creative leaders to emerge itself on the plus scale in the competitive world.”

On revenue Generation, she cited a recent McKinsey report saying, in a rapidly developing economy, to make real progress, any developing country needs per annum a 10-15 percent increase in tax revenues.

She maintained that this is achievable in Nigeria just as she expressed hope that it would translate into an ability to double expenditures on health care or education which are urgently needed across Nigeria.
Further, while proffering solutions to the numerous socioeconomic challenges faced in Nigeria , Chalker advocated for human capacity development through educational /skill acquisition, creation of enabling and sustainable business environment and investment climate, physical infrastructure development among others.

However, she said: “The capacity to offer the Nigerian people greater opportunities and better living conditions will depend on how successful it is at increasing competitiveness, controlling corruption and smartening up its offer to both Nigerian and foreign investors.”

On his part and in Line with sustainable development, the Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, who played host to the UK Former Minister, said if the University is to champion the innovations and technology that will make Nigeria increase her share of global manufacture and embark on the path of sustainable development, produce graduates that the industry requires, investment in tertiary education is an urgent undertaking.

Speaking on increase migration of the Nigerian youths, the chairman of the event, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Relations and Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Abike Dabiri Arewa said “Awareness is the key, we have engaged with some of them if they knew what they would go through there they wouldn’t have engaged in such journey.

“Most of them are in a terrible condition out there but we are trying to get amnesty to bring them back. We are also patterning with other agencies to ensure there is massive awareness. It’s never greener out there

On making the country attractive to youths, she said: “Jobs needs to be created like what we are doing in LASU. LASU has an entrepreneurship program and I support that this needs to be adopted all over Nigeria. You find out that with N1,000,000 you can start up a business. Let’s make those opportunities available. So, I support entrepreneurship development as LASU is doing”.