For the past two weeks, the youth of Nigeria have been in the streets protesting the ruling order of a nation in crisis. Having seized on the theme of police brutality that inspired the massive demonstrations this year in the US, they are now challenging their government on a much broader range of...
Elections, free, fair and not-so-fair, at a time of economic crisis mark a deepening of democracy in a continent where Big Men once ruled with impunity. Power abhors a vacuum. In many parts of Africa, independence from European imperial powers was just a ceremonial transfer of power to local...
The free movement of people is about to begin in Africa even as Brexit buffets African economies, Nigeria falters and South Sudan faces disaster. In many parts of the world and Africa, church bells toll the knell of the passing of the first half of the year. This month has been eventful....
Nigeria's government could soon see itself fighting two insurgencies, one against Boko Haram in the north and one against Biafra in the east. Following a spate of attacks against oil pipelines in the Niger Delta, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to hold talks with local leaders...
Benin’s successful elections and peaceful transfer of power along with the ICC’s first conviction for rape as a war crime set new precedents for Africa. In times of crisis, two heads are usually better than one. It seems that leaders of the two largest African economies, Nigeria and South...
With many middle-class professionals in the diaspora, Nigeria should look to expats on how to combat Boko Haram. Terrorism is a global phenomenon, but the way it is manifested is regional, local and culturally specific. In Nigeria, Boko Haram has been most deadly in the Muslim north. For some...
The IMF predicts lower growth rates for Africa because of lower commodity prices and higher borrowing costs. Africa is the birthplace of humanity and the continent with the oldest history. Yet it is the youngest continent still seeking its tryst with destiny. Africa’s storied narrative is as...
African governments must provide a better level of social protection for their citizens. The African welfare state and how it distributes resources is an interesting point of analysis. While some people see an all-inclusive welfare state structure, others see a system that overwhelmingly...
Living in any society involves a curtailment of liberty, but citizens in each era have to make informed choices about which freedoms to give up and why. This week, the US Congress passed the USA FREEDOM Act or, to use its complete name, “Uniting and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights...
The multilateral deal the world’s great powers have cut with Iran is wise, courageous and the right thing to do. In a week blighted by tragedy and violence, there were two remarkably positive developments. First, the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany concluded a...
