By Olajide Hamzat
No country has ever emerged from the darkness of poverty to the light of prosperity through palliatives, band-aides, and quick fixes to deep socio-economic crisis. China for instance lifted more than 700 million people out of the extreme poverty through deliberate, sound, and strategic economic policies – not wishful thinking or daydreaming.
However, China’s success story was neither accidental nor coincidental. It was the handiwork of thoughtful and aspirational leaders whose intentions and actions aligned and set the nation on economic stability, sustainability, and predictability.
In more than two decades, China rose from the ashes of penury to the specter of plenty. It rose from the bottom of hardship and suffering to the top of riches and affluence. China is a typical example of what a nation can become with the right leadership committed and devoted to doing the right thing at the right time for the people. In essence, China’s amazing story ought to inspire Africans to set their priorities right and focus on what truly matters. Interestingly, China is not alone in this seismic shift in social and economic transformation. Singapore, the nation that moved from third world country to one of the Asian Tigers. Singapore has a lot to teach in this regard. Landlocked and resource curse, Singapore moved from a nation hanging on the thin ice of Malaysia federation to one of economic vibrance. It moved from scarcity to abundance and carved an incredible niche for itself in all spheres.
Thanks to the visionary and transformational leadership of Lee Kuan Yee, the Southeast Asian country became a country of many firsts, instilling discipline in its citizens, and fostering growth across the city-state country while advancing the collective well-being and welfare of the people. Singapore’s story is its success: rag to riches, zero to hero, bottom to top, and impossible to possible. With no oil or gold, Singapore tapped its most precious and priceless resource: human beings, and turned them into wholesome assets that continue to drive positive change around the world. Lee, determined to set the country on the trajectory of economic transformation declared NO BEGGING BOWL APPROACH at the height of his transformational rule. As a matter of fact, NO BEGGING BOWL APPROACH not only rewired the mindset of the people but recalibrated the citizens to imbibe the spirit of self-sufficiency and dignity in their affairs.
Then Rwanda, under the authoritarian leadership of Paul Kagame, and despite its 1994 brutal civil war, Rwanda quickly left behind its horrible days and quietly embraced the beauty of its plurality and diversity. Additionally, it dumped the past full of regret and insanity and openly accepted the future of wonders, love, and compassion. In a way, Rwanda continued to change in ways that improved its people’s standard of living.
Over the past several years, Nigeria has gradually become a nation of palliative where quick fixes seem to matter to those in power than addressing the core of our challenges. Ultimately, the culture of palliative became deeply entrenched as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted the global economy while sending nations under lockdown. While the rest of the world has returned to the path of recovery, Nigeria is nowhere committed to ending the palliative pandemic for the good of the people: if it is not sharing rice today, it is doling out stipend to the poorest of the poor.
Like Lee Kuan Yee, Amofin Beulah Adeoye has the personal experience and professional expertise to advance the collective interests of the people in all ramifications. Well-read and globally informed, Amofin Beulah knows the significance of adopting NO BEGGING BOWL APPROACH not only as a personal philosophy but as a guiding principle. He recently told listeners during a radio program of his desire to look beyond the shore of our country and state in search of mileage to pressing challenges confronting our people. He has the requisite knowledge and the character to make a positive change happen. He has also repeatedly shown what stands him out of the pack and will continue to advance people’s interest with purest of intentions.
Olajide Hamzat writes about the various prospect and potential of Oyo state while projecting Amofin Beulah Adeoye as a solution provider, problem solver and creative, adaptive and innovative leader and thinker with compassion, courage, connection and conviction.
