Oluyomi Ola-David Insights

Nations, hear this: 🇳🇬The redemption of Nigeria is so near, so keep a careful eye on Nigeria! 🇳🇬The scattered nation will become united again! 🇳🇬Nigeria will be well-led like a sheepfold! 🇳🇬Nigeria will be freed from the grip of  Babylonian bullies! 🇳🇬Nigeria will safely climb up the slopes of development with shouts of joy! 🇳🇬The faces of Nigeria will beam with bounty!  🇳🇬Nigeria will become like a refreshing and well-watered garden, full of fruitful trees! 🇳🇬Formerly languishing streets will laugh lavishly! 🇳🇬Joy and comfort will invade the poor! 🇳🇬The Most High Himself will fully satisfy the soul of the needy ones! Amen: This decree is established.

Decoupling rapid growth in goods from increasing environmental bads is the current challenge of development managers. A stream of innovation that can reduce the resource-intensity of production activity in all economic units is imperative.  Strategic thinking and thought leadership moves beyond SWOT analysis. It processes the conversion of threats into opportunities and weaknesses into unique selling points. #innovation #leadership #strategy #finance #transformation #Policy #planet #economy #peace #Sustainability ... Photo credit:  Oluyomi Ola-David 

A steady stream of wholesome #voices advocating #partnerships and #capacity building, #peace and #security, #inclusion and shared prosperity and urgent #climateaction is good for #sustainable development and #SDGs. #WorldRadioDay #ClimateActionNow #Savetheplanet  #Circulareconomy

They all display Brilliant ideas Just up until  We vote them in They all speak  Truth Just up until We unmask the masquerade They all do Right Just up until We balance the scale They all hawk Goods Just up until  We unwrap inedible bads They all know Everything Just up until We ask a question They all claim Innocence Just up until We use a test kit They all see Clearly Just up until We have distant placards They all like Prosperity Just up until We have problems to solve They all hate Mediocrity Just up until We raise the standards They all play Well Just up until We kick a lone start They all work Hard Just up until We tune into the roadshow They all have Faith Just up until We need to feed a crowd ... Photo credit: Oluyomi Ola-David

What is education Without enlightenment Vain is knowledge  That darkens the mind What is education Without conscience  Vain is perspective That hardens the heart What is education Without culture Vain is tradition That clogs the wheel What is education Without virtue Vain is lesson That corrupts the mind What is education  Without audience Vain is stage That omits the crowd What is education  Without principle Vain is means That negates the end What is education  Without thought Vain is practice That enslaves the mind What is education  Without history Vain is parrot That ignores the past What is education  Without wealth Vain is tutelage That impoverishes the rich What is education  Without boundary Vain is nurture That deifies the mind What is education  Without faith Vain is subject That weakens the strong What is education  Without ancestry Vain is process That excludes the source ... Photo credit: Oluyomi Ola-David

You listen But you do not hear You hear But you scarcely grasp You look But you do not see You see But you scarcely discern You read But you do not know You know But you scarcely have You toil But you do not find You find But you scarcely keep You lead  But you do not follow You follow But you scarcely heed  You crawl But you do not walk You walk  But you scarcely run You grab But you do not get You get But you scarcely give You move But you do not go You go But you scarcely fly You talk But you do not think You think But you scarcely act You like But you do not love You love But you scarcely hate You ask But you do not receive You receive But you scarcely rejoice You cook But you do not eat You eat But you scarcely grow ... Photo credit: Oluyomi Ola-David

Where there is  Corruption We will need a new Breed without greed Where there is  No dream We will need new Architects without walls Where there is  Mediocrity We will need new Teachers void of ignorance Where there is  Hatred We will need a new Nation without prejudice  Where there is no  Knowledge We will need new Thinkers without masters Where there is  Injustice  We will need new Judges without bias Where there is Error We will need new Speakers without guile Where there is no Safety We will need new Soldiers without interests Where there is Collapse We will need new Engineers without fault Where there is Hunger We will need new Grainfields without boundary Where there is  No vision We will need new Leaders without myopia Where there is Time We will need new Agents without ceasing ... Photo credit: Oluyomi Ola-David

In an economy full of events Some occasional  Others regular Comperes are in demand Do you supply? In a world full of sickness Some occasional Others regular Health is in demand Do you supply? In an economy full of hunger Some occasional Others regular Groceries are in demand Do you supply? In a world full of darkness Some occasional Others regular Light energy is in demand Do you supply? In an economy full of unemployment Some occasional Others regular Employers are in demand Do you supply? In a world full of despair Some occasional  Others regular Hope is in demand Do you supply? In an economy full of bads Some occasional Others regular Goods are in demand Do you supply? In a world full of distractions Some occasional Others regular Focus is in demand Do you supply? In an economy full of speed Some occasional  Others regular Brake pedals are in demand Do you supply? In a world full of prejudice Some occasional Others regular Justice is in demand Do you supply? In an economy full of s

This week I was delighted to sit in, listen and observe, as my work Department played host to one of its brainy alumna, in an academia-industry (otherwise called town-gown interaction) seminar. The first-class graduate of Economics had gone on to carve out a social impact niche in education for children of the poor. While theories seek to explain economic and social behaviour as well as provide some yardsticks for predictability, carefully crafted stories rather seek to appeal to the soul, reason, will and emotions of economic agents. Overall, the  Speaker sought to convince her audience, using case stories, that finding purpose should precede the quest to fill one's purse with ready gains. First-rate graduates who hail from middle-class families, which naturally value education and the pursuit of a steady career path, often find it challenging to convince their investing parents and guardians, that following a silver spoon-to-grassroots pathway to fulfilment is a worthy cause. Sti

Sometimes, I may move into open air spaces, classroom spaces, and street park seats whenever the workspace provided for me becomes unbearable. The openness of a workspace to air may supply fresh stimulants for creative thought and observation. Oftentimes well meaning colleagues, who sight me working out of an open classroom or space, stop to check on me. Why would you leave the comfort of a cosy cubicle to cleave to the exposure and potential disturbance posed by such a busy intersection? Whenever the questioner is patient enough to receive an answer, I simply retort that my office is not conducive. Otherwise, all that a quizzically looking passerby may get is a signature smile. Truth be told, working from a relatively poorly-lit and poorly-ventilated cubicle, with trapped air simply processed by air conditioning units may not be ideal for an idea generator. In addition to recycled air, scents and odours, noise and chatter are trapped in such office spaces. Reacting to the need for utm

It is indeed a pessimistic fact that Africa may have 90% of the world's poor by 2030. However, lessons from history point to an optimistic future. Our colonial masters thought out a system of education that churns out experts and managers for established business systems, political order, and constricted economic structures. Here is our 21st century outcome: a teeming population of entitled 'educated unemployed' people with nothing more than certificates to brandish. Moreover, with Africa's ever growing population and relatively stagnant absorptive and industrial capacity, our rising unemployment and poverty rates should not be surprising.  My stance is that Africa and its development thinkers can forge and institute sustainable systems of re-orientation, critical and creative thought, and balanced education that can release empowered nation-builders and wealth creators.  Africa has all the creative, human, and natural resources it needs to minimise its incidence of pov

One of the things I was delighted to experience during my graduate internship at the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) was the practicality of united diversity. If my memory serves me right, behind my desk was an European and by my right was a Cameroonian, while on the left was an Asian who did not compromise weekly karate classes. In front of my desk there was a row of Africans and Latinos.  Outside of my workspace, I worked closely with a uniquely meticulous Ugandan in furtherance of my assigned projects. The Indian lady down one hallway could graciously adorn her signature sari and forehead dot, and a Kenyan consultant looked ever so gorgeous in her native attires and beaded accessories.   Everyone could just be present to add value to the broad unifying objectives of the workplace community. Here is my bottom line: the United Nations system presents a model of what is plausible when people with varied ethnic nationalities, native penchant, and skills cooperate to achieve un

This week, while looking through shelves to pick out some pre-searched books in development economics and macroeconomics from a University Library, I came by a title on the role of religious organisations in African development. At that instant, I was reminded that I had once thought out the inevitable role of piety in the development of religious Africa. In order to design appropriate and effective interventions for Africa, it is necessary to study the culture and structure of the average African personality. In recent history, economic agents, who seek to take advantage of the fearful, insecure and superstitious African, have been observed to design appropriate media messages, methods, and materials that perpetrate their trade. Using fundamental brainwashing tactics, religious extremists reck a lot of havoc on the minds and perspectives of adherents. The monumental damages to human lives and infrastructure, engineered by such religious devotees can be observed throughout Africa. Furt

Deep within Nigeria's and Africa's inundating socio-economic problems lay streams of opportunities and potential for socio-economic strengthening. However, more often than not, a considerable majority of indigenous populations, who may be without visionary perspectives, merely bemoan the numerous challenges. Thankfully, the inflow of human capital and financial capital from oversea territories increasingly serve to jolt local sleeping giants to action. For instance, soon after a stream of foreign-owned firms expanded the output of the Nigerian telecommunications sector at the turn of the century, an indigenous telecommunications firm emerged to claim part of the market share. Moreover, several cases of knowledge spillovers from 'foreign presence' in various industries are apparent in the recent development history of Rwanda, Madagascar, and Kenya amongst others. In the light of these, foreign direct investment as well as portfolio inflows to Africa's largely untappe

This weekend, I am reminded of one of the soulful speeches of a founding father of the American heritage, Patrick Henry: The famous "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" Declaration. The speeches and actions of the founding fathers of African hope and independence from perceived oppression, were equally daring, patriotic, and visionary. They all knew that true liberty is about taking absolute responsibility for the outcome of one's decisions and actions. Yet they all lived very long enough to pen the kind of constitutions and build institutions that could guarantee the fulfilment of the dreams they envisaged. The sustainable future of generations yet unborn lie subject to our collective and unselfish commitment to building nations and societies that work for all. We can all work to promote peace and security, people development, shared prosperity, protect planetary boundaries and build partnerships that save the planet. We are better working together for a sustainable future

Amidst a billion voices on the planet, those of a child's parent stand out. Apparently, parents are principal lifelong educators. Global governance institutions observe and understand the primary role of parents and families in the unselfish care, nurture, and protection of children.  More important for manpower planning, as global migration trends indicate, countries with family-friendly systems and structures are more likely to attract global talent. To this end, enterprise management systems and policy interventions that esteem household governance and agency are critical. In the Finnish model of formal education, where schooling begins at the age of seven, parents have ample opportunities to guide early psychosocial, intellectual, and educational development of children. Also, principles of cooperation, not competition, aid the training of children for the real world of community life and work. In order to create a global society of wholesome people who work for peace and share

Where there is conflict, we need people who work for unity-in-diversity. Where there is negativism, we need people who work to relentlessly infuse optimism. Where there is widespread poverty, we need people who work to create enterprise. Where there is confusion, we need people who work to shine the light. Where there is ignorance, we need people who work to provide wholesome enlightenment. Where there is needless war, we need people who work for #peace and still the violence. Today and always, I salute the courage and resilience of every peacekeeper (past, present and future) in the global space! Since peacekeeping is a global partnership, let us ALL work for the five 5Ps of sustainable development (#Peace, #Sharedprosperity, #People #Partnerships, #Planet) everywhere we are found. Yes we can! #internationaldayofpeacekeeping  United Nations  #savetheplanet #peacekeeping  #peace #prosperity #partnerships #businessclimate  #people #planet Photo credit: UN Peacekeeping

The paradox of simplicities and complexities in the universal human nature requires effectively woven socio-economic and political systems to be satiated. For this reason, right and good governance advocacy should be in 5-dimensions, FIHGG: 1. Individual governance 2. Household governance 3. Firm governance 4. Government governance 5. Global governance Clearly, individual and household governance performance ratings influence all other dimensions.  It is thus imperative that we become more basic yet complex in the design, implementation and evaluation of all development interventions. What are your thoughts on good governance dimensions? Please feel free to share your thoughts in comments section below. Thank you! Photo credit: Canstock photo

In the thoughtfulness of the United Nations, 2021 was christened the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables (IYFV2021). In this post, I will like to advocate that IYFV2021 does not end as a cliche, it should permeate our daily lives and culture. Two aspects of consumption are vital to the health, sustainable development and prosperity of individuals, as distinct economic agents - foods consumption and words consumption. By words consumption, I refer to the pace, pattern and content (PPC) of the human learning experience. To my mind, the PPC determines the pace and pattern of human development. Learning is multifaceted, so it may involve observation as well as reception of words communicated through a variety of media.  Whenever the human mind keeps learning, it tends to stay agile, creative, and productive. On the other hand, at whatever point in the continuum of life when we choose to stop learning, a subscription to the gradual depletion of our mental resources is activated.  Ju

Business practices that brought damages to our humanity, shared prosperity and environment cannot sustain our development. Governance systems and social systems that continually widen the gap between the poor and rich, cannot sustain global peace and partnerships. When I speak of good governance, it is not an analysis limited to  national and global considerations only. Good governance parameters should, of optimal necessity be in five (5) dimensions:   ■ Good self governance ■ Good household governance ■ Good corporate governance ■ Good state governance ■ Good global governance Let us rethink to reconstruct all limiting culture, structure, infrastructure and intrastructure in our governance systems, thereby save the planet. What are your thoughts on governance and governance systems? Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below. Thank you! Photo credit: owsposters.org