Steps to nation building inNigeria- Lessons from Singapore
In this presentation, Victor Koh unfolds visionary and strategic steps towards nation building for Nigeria drawing useful lessons from the Singaporeran experience
A .FOUNDATION OF NATION BUILDING
“Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.” – Psalm 127 : 1
God is the Master Builder.
God’s people should pray for their nation to be built.
B. PROMISE OF HEALING FOR THE LAND
“If My people who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
– 2 Chronicles 7 : 14
BEGIN WITH A CLEAR VISION AND A SET OF SHARED VALUES
By 2040, we want Nigeria to become a Newly Industrialized Nation, a harmonious, peaceful, multi-ethnic, multi-religious, prosperous, middle-income, modern, corruption-free, clean, green, healthy, safe, social democratic society, based on integrity, justice, equality and meritocracy.
A nation led by leaders who are God-fearing, leaders of integrity, good stewards of our resources, patriotic and compassionate.
Employment for all.
Quality Affordable & Sustainable Public Housing for all.
Quality Education, Health Care and Infrastructure for all.
Justice for all.
KEY ECONOMIC INDICATORS & CHALLENGES FACING NIGERIA (2013):
POPULATION (2011): 167 million (NBS); 5.5 m (3.3%) added a year=> 2013 Pop =167+5.5+5.7 =178 m
POPULATION (2040) projected = 335 million
Number of Registered Voters (2011) = 67.7 million (NIEC).
GDP(PPP) = Intl $ 449 billion(29); GDP(Nominal) = US $ 262 billion* (WB: 37)
GDP Per Capita (PPP)= Intl$ 2,697; GDP Per Capita (Nominal)= US$ 1,555.
Labor Force (2011): 51 mil; Unemployment = 16.7 mli, 23% of 67.7 mil => many desperate people.
Nigeria 2040 Goal= GDP (N) PER CAPITA = USD 7,000 => GDP = GDP Per Capita x Pop. = US$7,000 x 335m = US$2,345 B* => Must Grow GDP 9 x (from 262 B -> 2,345B
D(1) #1 ECONOMIC PROBLEM FACING NIGERIA TODAY: UNEMPLOYMENT
a) Population(2011)= 167 m(NBS); add 6 m a yr, 2040 =335m
b) Registered Voters (2011) = 67.7 m (NIEC) http://inecnigeria.org
c) Labor Force (Formal + Informal) = 51 million (NBS).
d) # Employed in Formal Sector = 5.1 million = 10% (NBS).
e) # Employed in Informal Sector = 45.9 million = 90% (NBS)
f) # Unemployed (2011)= 16.7 million ( 67.7m – 51-m )
g) # of Unemployed Youths (2011) = over 67 million. (NDE)*
h) # of New People entering Job Market yearly = 2 million
i) # New Jobs created yearly = < 0.2 m => 1.8 m unemployed
# Unemployed 2040 = (1.8m x 28yr = 50.4m) + 16.7 = >67 m
SOLUTION: Create 70 million New Jobs by 2040 through 10 Special Economic Zones.
D(2) #1 SOCIAL PROBLEM FACING NIGERIA TODAY:
POVERTY
a) Population = 167 million (2011) / 355 m est. (2040)
b) 389 Ethnic groups.
c) Registered Voters (2011) = 67.7 million
d) GDP = PPP International $ 411 billion,; US$ 236 billion
e) Per Capita income = PPP Int. $ 2,532; US$ 1,452 -> US$ 7,000 (2040)
f) Poor = 45 % of Population live below poverty line (WB).
g) Economic Multiplier Effect of Housing = 7 to 9 times.
SOLUTION: Wealth Creation through compulsory Central Provident Fund (CPF) Contributions & 50 million Affordable and Sustainable Public Housing units.
IMPROVE KEY ECONOMIC INDICATORS & SOLVE PROBLEMS S FACING NIGERIA:
Ease of Doing Business (WB): Nigeria = 2006 -> 2014: 106->106->114->121->125->137->133->131->147 / 189, Ghana = 67, Togo = 157, Niger = 176, Chad = 189/189, Cameroon = 168, South Africa = 41, Botswana = 56, Namibia = 98, Kenya = 129, Rwanda = 32; Uganda = 132; Tanzania = 145;
Global Competitiveness (WEF): Nigeria = 120 (2014)<- 115/144 (2013); Ghana = 114 <-103, Botswana= 74<-79, Namibia= 90<-92, South Africa= 53<-52, Rwanda= 66<-63, Kenya= 96<-106;
Corruption Perception Index (TI): Nigeria = 143 / 182, Ghana = 69, Botswana = 32, Namibia = 57, South Africa = 64, Rwanda = 49; Kenya = 154;
Failed States Index 2012: Nigeria = 14; Somalia = 1, Congo DR =2, Sudan =3, Chad = 4, Zimbabwe = 5, Afghanistan = 6, Haiti = 7, Yemen = 8, Iraq = 9, Central African Republic = 10, Ivory Coast = 11, Guinea = 12, Pakistan = 13.
BUILD CAPACITY FOR THE NATION:
JOB CREATION: Industrialization – Special Economic Zones to attract massive Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) from MNCs & industrialists.
INFRASTRUCTURE: Energy (electricity), Clean Water, Sewerage, Drainage, Cooking Gas, Solid and Liquid Waste Disposal and Treatment, Land, Sea and Air Transport, Mass Rapid Transit System..
SOCIAL SERVICES: Education, Public Health, Clean and Healthy Environment.
SECURITY: a safe place to live, work and play, National Service
TRIPARTITISM: win-win-win for Government, business and Labor.
JUSTICE SYSTEM: Independent, non-corrupt Judiciary, Justic for all.
BUILD CAPACITY FOR THE PEOPLE:
WEALTH CREATION: Through Affordable and Sustainable Public Housing.
EDUCATION GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS:
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT FUND.
LOW PERSONAL INCOME TAX: No capital Gains and Death Tax..
CONTROL INFLATION:
WEALTH RE-DISTRIBUTION
COMPASSIONATE SOCIAL WELFARE
H) VISION & VALUES OF THE FOUNDING FATHERS OF SINGAPORE
Build a harmonious, peaceful, prosperous, multi-racial, multi-religious, social democratic society, based on justice, equality, integrity and meritocracy.
Go from Third World to First in one generation.
Leaders of Integrity: Corruption-free Society.
Disciplined, hard-working, highly skilled, well educated, highly productive society.
Delay Gratification: a society that saves.
National Self Reliance.
Clean, Green and Safe society.
Tripartitism: Government, Labor & Business.
Employment for all.
Affordable & Sustainable Housing for all.
Quality Education for all.
BUILD CAPACITY FOR THE NATION: Example of Singapore
Industrialization: Jurong Town Corp. (JTC)
Economic Development Board (EDB)
Trade Development Board (TDB)
Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)
Savings: Central Provident Fund (CPF)
Housing Development Board (HDB)
Port of Singapore Authority (PSA)
National Productivity Board (NPB)
National Wage Council (NWC)
Security: National Service (NS)
Integrity: Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau(CPIB)
World-class Infra-structure (MND)
E-Government: Infocom Development Authority
J) BUILD CAPACITY IN THE PEOPLE: Example of Singapore
Human Resource Investments: Education
Educational Subsidies & Merit Scholarships
Healthy, Clean, Green & Safe Environment
Strategic Housing Subsidies
Skills Development Fund (SDF)
Health Subsidies: A,B,C wards / CPF MediSave
Re-distribution of Wealth: Home ownership
Scouting for next generation Leaders
Sympathetic Social Welfare Department
Distribution of budget surplus into citizen’s CPF
Low Personal Income Tax & Low Inflation
Jobs for all Singaporeans
K) KEY ECONOMIC INDICATORS FOR SINGAPORE 2013 (Population: 5.3 million)
Rank
GDP (N) = US$277 B (IMF) 36/184; US$275 B (WB) 35 192
GDP (PPP)= Int$327 B (IMF) 38/182; Int$328 B (WB) 41 179
GDP (N) USA = US$ 16,244 B (IMF 1); US$ 15,685 B (WB 1)
GDP Per Capita(N)=US$52,052(IMF 9);US$51,709(WB)12 190
GDP Per Capita(PPP)=Int$60,799(IMF 3); I$61,803(WB) 4 180
GDP Per Capita(N) USA=$51,704 (IMF 10);US$49,965 (WB 14)
Ease of Doing Business (WB) 2013 (10 Factors) 1 185
Global Competitiveness Index (WEF 2012; 12 Factors) 2 152
Least Corrupt Country/Corruption Perception 5 175
Cooperation in Labor-Employer Relations 1 139
National Savings Rate (46% of GDP) 6 139
Country Credit Rating AAA
Life Expectancy (Av 80.6 years old) 10 198
Quality of Education System 1 139
Quality of Math and Science Education 1 139
L) KEY ECONOMIC INDICATORS FOR SINGAPORE 2013 (Population: 5.3 million) (CONT.)
Employment for all. Quality Housing for all.
Quality Education for all. Quality Health Care for all.
Justice for all. Quality Infrastructure for all.
#1 Port in the World. World Financial Center.
#1 Airport in the World. World Education Center.
#1 Airline in the World. World Communication Center.
#1 e-Government. World Medical Center.
#1 Most Desired Place in the World to Live & Work (2012) for MNCs.
Number of Visitors = 51.2 million (2012) => 140,274 daily.
M) CULTIVATE TRANSFORMING LEADERS:
Leaders of Integrity leading Societal Transformation
A) NEED 3 TYPES OF COMPETENCY LEADERS:
(EACH WITH A SERVANT-LEADER’S HEART, A SHEPHERD-LEADER’S HEART AND A STEWARD-LEADER’S HEART):
a) Visionary Leaders = “visioners/designers”
b) Development Leaders = “developers”
c) Management Leaders = “managers”
B) NEED COMMONALITY OF VISION & CORE VALUES:
a) Ideas have consequences
b) Goal: Improving Standard of Living of the People
N. HOW TO INCULCATE VALUES AND AN ETHICAL CULTURE OF INTEGRITY
A) NATIONAL LEADERS’ COMMITMENT TO NATIONAL CORE VALUES.
B) SOCIETAL CHANGE-AGENTS & LEADERS MOBILIZED: THE 7 DOMAINS OF SOCIETY-
1) GOVERNMENT LEADERS
2) BUSINESS LEADERS
3) EDUCATIONAL LEADERS (TEACHERS, PROFS, CIVIL SOCIETY)
4) MEDIA LEADERS (TV, RADIO, PRINT & SOCIAL MEDIA)
5) CELEBRITES (SPORTS & PERFORMING ARTS LEADERS)
6) RELIGIOUS LEADERS
7) FAMILY (PARENTS)
C) ROLE OF STATE CORPORATIONS ( e.g. TEMASEK HOLDINGS ) – raw materials may be bought.
3) Culture Can Change.
O) FROM VISION TO REALITY
VISION + STRATEGIC + TRANSFORMATIONAL
PLAN LEADERSHIP = REALITY
VISION – STRATEGIC – TRANSFORMATIONAL
PLAN LEADERSHIP = DREAM
Dr Koh made this presentation at the Nation Building Workshop held in Lagos, Nigeria on 22 March 2014