Utomi urges Nigerian leaders to put country first, restore Africa’s global standing

Economist and public intellectual Pat Utomi has urged Nigerian leaders to put the country first and to work toward reclaiming Africa’s leadership on the global stage, according to The Sun Nigeria.

As The Sun Nigeria reported, Utomi argued that Nigeria’s size, demographic weight and economic potential give it a particular responsibility to drive pan-African renewal, but that the country has often fallen short of that role. He called on leaders to focus on institution-building, policy consistency and long-term planning rather than short-term political considerations.

Utomi is one of Nigeria’s most recognisable public intellectuals. A professor of business administration, he founded and led the Lagos Business School, one of the country’s most prominent management institutions, and has written and spoken widely on economic reform and political accountability. He has also been involved in political movements and has previously sought the presidency, presenting himself as a critic of the prevailing political culture.

Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and its largest economy, and it has historically played a leading role in continental institutions including the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS. Nigerian governments have long argued that the country should shoulder a greater share of responsibility for African security, trade and development, though critics have questioned whether domestic governance has matched those ambitions.

Utomi framed the challenge as one of rebuilding credibility at home before Nigeria can credibly lead abroad, a recurring theme in his public commentary. His remarks come as African governments debate how to respond to shifting global alliances, economic pressures and questions about the continent’s representation in international forums.

Sources

This report was written from coverage published by the following news organisations. Follow the links for the original reporting.

• The Sun Nigeria — Utomi charges leaders to put Nigeria first, reclaim Africa’s leadership