Nigeria’s Democracy at a Crossroads

Ramatu Ada Ochekliye, Founder of Shades of Us, and Yecenu Sasetu, anchor of the WADR Democracy and Governance Forum in Abuja

By Ramatu Ada Ochekliye

Nigeria’s electoral process has faced persistent questions about electoral credibility, public trust, and citizens’ confidence in the institutions responsible for conducting elections. Although electoral reforms, including the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), raised expectations for greater transparency, concerns surrounding the 2023 general elections left questions about the management of results and the accountability of electoral institutions. As the country approaches the 2027 general elections, these concerns intersect with growing voter apathy, political disillusionment, economic hardship, insecurity, and doubts about whether electoral participation translates into meaningful political representation.

Inflation and Job Losses in Nigeria

Photo by sheyi owolabi on Unsplash

by Yecenu Sasetu

Have you been out of a job before? I have. 

Ginger

Photo by Emma Ou on Unsplash

By Ramatu Ada Ochekliye

Shiana stirred her pot of stew as it simmered on the cooker. The stew wasn't as red as she loved it, but this would have to do. Her spoon flitted around the chunks of meat, noting the spaces where she used to have more. She took the spoon out, hit it on the edge of the pot to get most of the stew back in, then she carefully placed what was left in the middle of her palm. She raised her palm to her mouth and licked the stew off.

Gambling: The Loss Beyond Money

Photo by Sunday Abegunde on Unsplash

By Yecenu Sasetu

I tried my hand at gambling once, even though I grew up with the words “gambling is a sin” ringing in my ears. If you are a Christian, you don’t go near gambling, but I did. My friend convinced me to, and like many young Nigerians today, I wanted to hit and hit fast.

African Mothers Deserve Better

Photo by Melissa Askew on Unsplash

by Adetayo Adetokun

African women deserve better.

African women of reproductive age deserve better. 

African mothers deserve better.

What Does It Mean To Be Nigerian?

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels

By Ruth Ajawu

My parents in their benevolence kept me in a bubble: a bubble of perpetual provision and financial security. I had zero worries and big dreams. There was this picture in mind of what my life would look like: graduate from the university by 19, get a well-paying job that would cater to my expensive tastes immediately after, and make a meaningful impact in my community by funding sustainability projects. 

Food Insecurity in Nigeria

Photo by Overly Olu on Pexels

By Ruth Ajawu

One of the most pressing challenges facing Nigerians today is the skyrocketing prices of food. I went to the market the other day and a bag of rice was priced at ₦72,000. The minimum wage in Nigeria, in the States that pay minimum wage, is ₦30,000, which means the average Nigerian cannot afford a bag of rice. The general cost of food has surged, putting immense strain on household budgets and pushing many families into food insecurity and extreme poverty. 

Worsening Recession in Nigeria

Photo by Tope A. Asokere on Pexels

By Ramatu Ada Ochekliye

On September 8, 2016, I wrote about the state of the economy under the former President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari. It started with my bold statement, ‘There is a recession in Nigeria’. Today, I am writing on the same topic as we navigate the economy under our current President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Eight years after the fact, there is still a recession in Nigeria. 

PS: Most of what I said in the original letter will not change. So, let us get into it.

Combating Poverty Amidst Economic Challenges in Nigeria

Photo by Roman Nguyen on Unsplash

By Ruth Ajawu

If you continue to give temporary solution

To the poorest of the poor

One day the poor will become poorest

And the poorest will become the poorest of the pooresters

Let's have a rethink

Let's think about this again

And give the permanent solution to the poor

An Ode to Nigeria (For Country, For You and For Me)

Photo by Tope A. Asokere from Pexels

By Ojonugwa Yahaya.

 

When you continually tell even the most beautiful creature... hmm, maybe even more beautiful than Agbani Darego 🤔... that she is ugly, in no time she may start believing it and even start looking ugly... that is how dynamic nature and human psychology work.

Demographic Dividends Through Communication

Ramatu Ada Ochekliye presented this paper at the 7th Nigerian Annual Population Lecture Series that happened in Abuja in 2019. The theme of the series was ‘Nigeria’s Population Issues: Harnessing 21st Century Innovations to Achieve Demographic Dividends’.

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What Happened to Kainene?

Old woman looking out; expectantly.

Image: Nate Greno for Unsplash

I was sitting on the bus when a thought came into my head.

‘What happened to Kainene?’

How Can We Help Poor(er) Women?

A Page from Tom Paulson

I was heading home on November 6, 2018, when my sister called me to get her some juice. It was about 8:50pm and I was really tired. I told her I wouldn’t do it but when I got to my junction, I decided it wouldn’t hurt to get her the juice. 

Mob Justice

Armed African Mob
Image: Otago Daily Times

The news of a ‘7-year-old boy’ gruesomely tortured and burned to death for stealing Garri broke yesterday (November 16, 2016) when a user on Twitter, @Adeyanjudeji, tweeted pictures about it and Linda Ikeji carried it on her blog. In a matter of hours, a video had surfaced to join the pictures and though I didn’t watch it, the pictures were enough to show people standing by as this little boy was beaten up, draped with a tire, and set ablaze; all by a mob of men and women frothing at the mouth with supposedly righteous indignation. It was later discovered that he was a full-grown man as opposed to the little boy that was originally reported.

The Foreign Certificate Syndrome

Picture From: The Evolllution

Have you noticed that many companies in Nigeria today ask that prospective employees have at least a Masters Degree from a foreign institution?

What This Recession Means

Former President Muhammadu Buhari,
Nigeria's President
Credit: Nairametrics

There is a recession in Nigeria.

Fuel Subsidy Removal: Worsening Nigerian Lives

Photo by Engin Akyurt on Pexels

For a while now, I have deliberately ignored commenting on the happenings in our country because one cannot speak against this government without being labeled ‘pro-Jonathan’, ‘pro-PDP’ or ‘anti-Buhari’. I know that this government needs time to get its foot firmly planted but refusing to see anything wrong with some of her policies – or the lack of it – is just wrong.

BOKO HARAM: GUNNING FOR A RELIGIOUS WAR

Soldier with missiles.
Image: Reuters

The insurgency in the North Eastern part of Nigeria has left thousands dead and millions displaced from their homes. If you are reading this, you know that the punch you felt at the onset of the insurgency is sadly lacking today. This is because the reports of attacks are almost daily now, with Borno, Yobe and parts of Adamawa taking the brunt of the attacks. Yes, the attacks have spread from the North East to other states like Kano, Kaduna, Niger and Jos and even the capital city, Abuja, but none of these states have had to deal with the sheer loss of lives and displacement of people as the North Eastern states of Nigeria have.

Letter to President Buhari (II)

(To get acquainted with the first part of this piece, click here)

President Muhammadu Buhari in his office.

Dear Mr. President, the first part of my advice may have packed quite a punch but I hope you can look beyond that and see the issues raised within. I am calling this part of the advice the second phase. This requires that you meet with technocrats and stellar business minds to see what can be done to make this a reality. They are not less important than the first phase. If anything, they are equally important.

Letter to President Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Image: The Guardian

Mr. President – finally, I get to call you that – I would like to congratulate you for winning the elections and becoming the president of this nation. Congratulations again.

That being said, I want to get something out there; I really don't like you. I don't like some of your beliefs, some of your utterances and some of your (in)actions. This started just before the 2011 general elections and it didn't get better afterwards.