Nigeria’s Well-being

Nigeria’s Well-being

By Kede Aihie

Nigeria has the largest economy in Africa, vast natural resources, large population, vibrant and entrepreneurial people. A couple years back (2010), a 53 country Gallup poll, rated Nigeria at 70 points for optimism, adjudged as the world’s most optimistic people. With its myriad of challenges, happiness and optimism, which Nigerians are known for, seem to be fast fading.

The World Happiness Report, a landmark survey of the state of global happiness, ranked Nigeria, 95 in its 2017 report.  The rankings were based on six factors, per capita gross domestic product, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, social support and absence of corruption in government or business.

The 2017 report, the fifth, since 2012, is gaining global recognition as governments, organizations and civil society increasingly use happiness indicators (including analysis of happiness in the work place) to inform their policy-making decisions. A couple of issues resonate, correlation between wellbeing and happiness, role of policy makers.

In the absence of government studies, Boston Consulting Group has come up with a diagnostic tool called Sustainable Economic Development Assessment (SEDA). SEDA is designed to provide government leaders with a perspective on the well-being of citizens, including how effective their counties convert wealth, as measured by income levels, into well-being.

Government should focus on education, health and infrastructure. These sectors will not only transform Nigeria, it will have profound effects on the well-being of its citizens. On education, what is required, is smart well thought out policies that reward high quality schools and teachers? Additionally, education reforms should have a national based curriculum for public and private schools, harness use of information technology, engage the private sector by tapping into their expertise. Multi-nationals like Samsung and Siemens, local firms (Dangote) are engaged in some form of technical and vocational training.

As the saying goes in Edo, ‘Egbe ranmwen or’efe’ (health is wealth), what is required, is an effective and efficient health service, especially the primary healthcare eco system. Focusing on clean water, sanitation and other preventative measures will go a long way in reducing, non-communicable diseases.  

Nigerians spend billions of dollars annually on medical care abroad, in the United Kingdom, United States, and India and lately Dubai, so getting it right will significantly reduce pressure on foreign exchange. Most importantly, it will save lives, attract medical tourism to Nigeria; create opportunities for investment in specialised healthcare service.

With crumbling infrastructure, whether it’s the road, bridges, rail, ports, water, power, the challenges are numerous and surmountable. The key and most critical, is improving power supply, effective gas supply power, transmission lines and power distribution.

CEO of Air Peace in his CNN interview with Richard Quest, summed up reasons why 40 airlines have so far failed to make their in Nigeria, saying ‘we are victims of poor infrastructure in this country’

Nigeria should take a cue from the UAE on aligning its policies with effective implementation. The Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has implemented Happiness Meter Initiative to interactively measure the happiness of Dubai’s citizens, residents and visitors especially when they interact with Dubai Government services. "Happiness Meter" makes Dubai the first city in the world to measure its visitors' & residents’ happiness interactively.

The potentials of Nigeria have been touted for too long, that it ought to be a source of embarrassment to both government and its citizen. Given Nigeria’s resources, inclusive of human, there is no reason for the country to lag behind its peers.

Making it happen

There is a huge disconnection between federal and state governments in policy implementation, translating ideas into real outcome for the benefit of its citizens. The real restructuring required in this regard is a change of mind set