Reclaiming the Jewel of Africa
A blueprint for taking Nigeria and Africa from potential to posterity
Olusegun Aganga
Description
‘A living manual for the renaissance of an eminent African country!’ Thabo Mbeki President of South Africa, 1999–2008
A practical roadmap for transforming the largest economy in Africa.
Reclaiming the Jewel of Africa is an insider’s account of how to take Nigeria and Africa from potential to prosperity.
Drawing on long experience in both the private sector and government, Olusegun Aganga provides practical and pragmatic insights that all Nigerians, and anyone concerned about the broader economic future of Africa, should consider.
Reviews
If you aren’t from Africa but still want to know the socio-economic status of the continent, read this book. It is perfect for anyone who wants to know more about Africa and can even be used by Africans to know more about the political-economical state of their continent. It is exceptionally written and is a great insight into the continent that many don’t know much about.
Netgalley
Endorsements
The last Chapter of this encyclopaedic book discusses our Continent, Africa. Among other things the author, Olusegun Aganga, says: “African leaders must embrace and embark on major government reforms as most governments have remained vulnerable to “major malfunctions,” very high cost of governance, weak political, economic and social institutions, weak economies, high levels of poverty, unemployment, insecurity, waste, predictable failures, flaws in the governance structure and so on…(This) requires and calls for authentic, values-based leadership. It requires courage, vision and commitment to improving the well-being of the people we serve.” These frank and honest words apply as much to Africa in general as they do to virtually all its constituent member States, including the author’s beloved Nigeria which is the focus of this book. The author translates his broad conclusions into a studied and detailed panoply of specific diagnoses and remedies. It is very fortunate that our sage in this instance, Segun Aganga, is a highly competent practitioner in both the private and public spheres. As Pan Africanists we share his hopes that all Nigeria will listen to his highly educated plea that Nigeria can and must position herself as the jewel of Africa by extricating herself from her many major malfunctions, and thus set Africa an invaluable example to emulate. What a great day it would be for all of us as Africans if the sister people of Nigeria were to use this work of love and deep thought, Reclaiming the Jewel of Africa, as a Living Manual for the Renaissance of an Eminent African Country!
Thabo Mbeki, Former President of South Africa
‘…essential reading both for Nigeria’s leaders and Africa’s rulers if the continent shall regain its direction and achieve its potential. They have no time to waste to pick it up and absorb its lessons and messages.’ Nick Kochan, British-based author and journalist and global economic expert
Contents
BIOGRAPHY
FOREWORD
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER ONE: LEADERSHIP: POLITICAL AND GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE
CHAPTER TWO: THE FUNDAMENTALS – POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS
CHAPTER THREE: THE BACKBONE OF GOVERNMENT: CIVIL SERVICE
CHAPTER FOUR: FOCUS ON NUMBER 1: THE ECONOMY
CHAPTER FIVE: INVESTMENTS: MAKING NIGERIA THE TOP DESTINATION AGAIN
CHAPTER SIX: MANAGING OUR RESOURCES BETTER: ELIMINATING LEAKAGES AND WASTE
CHAPTER SEVEN: OUR BIGGEST AND MOST IMPORTANT ASSET – OUR PEOPLE
CHAPTER EIGHT: THE TRIPLE THREAT – POVERTY, UNEMPLOYMENT AND INSECURITY
CHAPTER NINE: THE ROAD TO RECLAMATION – AFRICA YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW
Editions
FORMAT / ISBN / PUBLICATION DATE / RRP
Paperback / 9781788604499 / June 6, 2023 / £19.99
Hardback / 9781788604925 / June 6, 2023 / £29.99
Ebook / 9781788604512 / June 5, 2023 / £9.99
Paperback and eBook Bundle / £22.49
Author
Olusegun Aganga
Olusegun Aganga CON is a Chartered Accountant with a professional career extending over four decades in the financial services industry and in the public service.
He is the Chairman of a number of companies. He also advises a number of boards including Times Partners and the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust in the UK where he serves on the advisory board. He was at Goldman Sachs, London for many years where he was a Managing Director and prior to that, he was a Senior Director at Ernst & Young London where he had various leadership roles.
Within the public sector, he served first as Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Chairman of the Economic Management Team and then as its Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments. He has been widely acclaimed as being responsible for many transformational milestones in Nigeria including establishing the country’s sovereign wealth fund, issuing the Nation’s first Euro bond, structuring and funding the first standard gauge rail in the country and as a major contributor to making Nigeria the premier destination for investments in Africa. He was the Chairman of the Joint Board of Governors of World Bank and IMF in 2010 and in 2011, he chaired the 8th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation in Geneva, making him the first African to chair these two organisations.
He is the founder of the Nigerian Leadership Initiative (NLI), an organization that provides a platform for highly accomplished and credible Nigerians in Nigeria and the diaspora to develop and express their values-based leadership skills and to assume a transformative role in the future development of Nigeria.
He also serves on the Board of TechnoServe, a US NGO that provides business solutions to rural poverty.
Olusegun Aganga is a recipient of one of the highest national awards in Nigeria, the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
