The Long Game: What Will Tinubu Leave Behind?
By Adeola Akinremi If there were credible national opinion polls in Nigeria, four months and nineteen days before the presidential election, we would have a clearer picture of where President
Four months and nineteen days before the Nigerian presidential election, the true measure of President Bola Tinubu's legacy begins to surface. In the absence of accurate polling, one must look to the record to gauge his impact. Tinubu's approach to governance appears driven more by a sense of mission than personal ambition, a distinction that carries weight.
His economic policies have been aggressive, understandable to those versed in macroeconomic necessities but potentially burdensome to those experiencing microeconomic hardships. Reform often comes at the cost of short-term comfort, making the gains less apparent to the populace, especially in a political landscape where opponents resort to illogical arguments.
The swift economic policy changes of Tinubu echo Singapore's journey under Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. Singapore's transformation, despite its small population, strategic port, robust state capacity, and consistency in economic policy, serves as a stark contrast to Nigeria's current challenges. Singapore tackled poverty, unemployment, and an uneducated workforce through deliberate industrialization, foreign investment, infrastructure development, and investment in human capital.
The result was a largely solved unemployment problem and a shift towards higher-skill, higher-technology industries by the early 1970s.
Tinubu's revolution, however, is subtle. It is a policy memo that has gained international attention due to Nigeria's growing appetite for technological solutions to increase productivity, open new possibilities, and raise the quality of produced goods. The paradox lies in the fact that while Tinubu's tech revolution remains underappreciated, it is not going unnoticed. The United States, in particular, is taking notice and aligning its interests.
In 2024, the U.S. Department of Commerce and Nigeria's Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment signed a Commercial and Investment Partnership focused on agriculture, the digital economy, and infrastructure. A joint statement on harnessing artificial intelligence was also released, highlighting collaboration between the U.S. Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy and Nigeria's Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy. The U.S. sees Nigeria as a market worth entering and is actively engaging with the nation.
Europe is also moving in the same direction. The EU has committed €290 million to Nigeria under its Global Gateway strategy, with €131 million dedicated to expanding fibre-optic networks to reach millions without stable internet. A separate €45 million Digital Economy Package targets secure connectivity, digital public infrastructure, e-governance, digital entrepreneurship, and advanced skills, aligning with Nigeria's 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program.
The EU's investment in Nigeria's digital and manufacturing potential is clear – it sees Nigeria as more than just an energy supplier, positioning it as a future digital and manufacturing hub for West Africa.
The United Kingdom, Canada, and other nations are also strengthening their engagement with Nigeria, focusing on economic cooperation, youth empowerment, digital skills, and technology and infrastructure. Nigeria's ICT market already leads Africa, accounting for 82 percent of the continent's ICT value and 29 percent of its internet usage.
Written by urgent.news from This Day's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
