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Articles by Fred Ohwahwa
Why Fintech Companies Are Closing Shop in Nigeria
Tech investors in Africa's No. 1 economy are doing a reset following the failure of many start-ups they thought would help open up opportunities in the continent. Business closing hanging sign. Share This Post: By Fred Ohwahwa What’s at stake: Tech investors who doled out what is beginning to look like ‘easy money’ to start-ups in Africa’s leading economy are discovering the enterprises need more than funds.
Tech is Redefining How Africa Works
Technology is fostering the creation of a new employment system in Africa for global enterprises and start-ups Share This Post: By Fred Ohwahwa What’s at stake? Africa’s economy was playing catch-up on the technology front before Covid-19 hit, forcing a change in how enterprises engage with employees and further accelerating digitalization efforts by governments and institutions.
Cryptocurrencies in Africa: Wary Regulators Struggle to Control Eager Adopters
Enthusiasm for cryptocurrencies in Africa is huge but overshadowed by regulatory concerns Share This Post: By Fred Ohwahwa What’s at stake? Many enterprises and private citizens in Africa were quick to embrace digital currencies but differences abound between governments and businesses on its legality and how it should be applied. The recent implosion of FXT in the US has only intensified the uncertainties around crypto currencies in the continent.
Britain to introduce King Charles stamps, banknotes gradually
Britain to introduce King Charles stamps, banknotes gradually The introduction of new British banknotes and stamps featuring King Charles III’s image will be implemented gradually.
The Queen goes home, By Fred Ohwahwa
Amazing.Astonishing. Brilliant. Excellent.Exceptional. Exciting.Extraordinary.Great. Inspiring. Historic. It is difficult to find the appropriate words to describe the transition of Queen Elizabeth II and its aftermath, culminating in her funeral on Monday, 19th September. The intimations of her imminent passing were brought upon us a few hours earlier.The Palace had issued a statement that the Queen was gravely ill. And themoment came in evening of Thursday, 8th September.
Investment Opportunities Abound in Africa’s Tech Communities
A new generation of ‘Afropreneurs’ is turning the continent into ‘the next digital growth frontier.’ Share This Post: By Fred Ohwahwa What’s at stake? A new report suggests that Africa’s digital economy is poised for a period of rapid growth that will positively impact GDP, job creation and overall economic outlook across the continent. This is great stuff. Let’s get started. Already have an account? Sign in.
And the Queen goes home
Amazing. Astonishing. Brilliant. Excellent. Exceptional. Exciting. Extraordinary. Great. Inspiring. Historic. It is difficult to find the appropriate words to describe the transition of Queen Elizabeth 11 and its aftermath, culminating in her funeral on Monday, September 19, 2022. The intimations of her imminent passing were brought upon us a few hours earlier. The palace had issued a statement that the Queen was gravely ill. And the moment came on the evening of Thursday, September 8, 2022.
Where is Akinwunmi Ambode?, By Fred Ohwahwa
Is the former Lagos state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, in Nigeria? If he is, what is he up to? He has been pretty quiet for some time now. That is since 2019, making it look as if he has run out of gas. For more than two years, the man has been under the radar. He became a one-term governor by virtue of the peculiar machinations of Nigerian politics. Before he took his exit from the stage, he was a star of sorts among his contemporaries.
Where is Akinwunmi Ambode?
Is the former Lagos state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, in Nigeria? If he is, what is he up to? He has been pretty quiet for some time now. That is since 2019, making it look as if he has run out of gas. For more than two years, the man has been under the radar. He became a one-term governor by virtue of the peculiar machinations of Nigerian politics. Before he took his exit from the stage, he was a star of sorts among his contemporaries.
Kadaria, Kagara and Abductors of Our Collective Intelligence, By Festus Adedayo
On sighting the headline of her piece entitled Nigerian Media: Let’s Stop Ethnic Profiling!, I initially thought well-respected media mogul, Kadaria Ahmed, was set to confront a media orthodoxy. Though it was plain, unambiguous and self-explanatory, in a moment, I imagined that that piece was about to collapse ancient established theses about the Nigerian media dominance and vain hold on power.
OPINION: Nigeria and the Buhari Problem, By Fred Ohwahwa
…when government is unable to push a positive narrative, it can result in dire consequences for the society. The Buhari administration has many good stories to tell. But it is hampered by its own negative narrative. Luckily, it still has at least two years to solve The Buhari Problem. It is its duty to do so, in order to guarantee a worthy legacy. As to be expected of men in the public domain, President Muhammadu Buhari has many admirers and inveterate critics.
The Buhari problem
As to be expected of men in the public domain, President Muhammadu Buhari has many admirers and inveterate critics. While some of his admirers are in the terrain of idolatry, some of his critics can justifiably be described as implacable haters and enemies. I think the only person in public life in Nigeria that generated such extreme emotions was the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Nigerians who are not just his political opponents but who hate him are not difficult to recognize.
Leveraging Technology Towards the Efficiency of Nigeria’s Electoral System, By Inyene Ibanga
The electronic voting system, also called e-voting, allows for the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) placed in polling stations to facilitate the process of ballot casting and counting. E-voting utilises either the remote or non-remote system and all tabulations of election results are automated. Technology as the most pervasive human phenomenon has disrupted and transformed our daily behaviour – how we play, communicate and conduct business transactions.
Nigeria: Striving Towards the Essence of the Free Market, By Olamide Eyinla
Time has shown us that the free market provides the best outcomes, with periodic interventions from the government to adjust the market, where need be, when acting as the “unseen hand”. If this hand is seen, it takes away the confidence that the market needs to show for more players to trust it. There has been an argument between those who support the ruling party or government and those who do not, about the competence of government.
Honouring Gender Affirmation In Nigeria, By Margaret Adeyi
For the very first time, concerted efforts were made by a government institution to increase the level of participation of women in politics in line with the declaration made at the fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, which advocated 30 per cent affirmative action.
Trump's Deep Character Flaw and Tragedy: Lessons For Nigeria, By Dakuku Peterside
The lesson for Nigeria is that we must build strong institutions that can survive any onslaught by radical political juggernauts or demagogues. Strong institutions make strong democracies. Imagine if one judge in a federal high court had issued a court injunction against the election, the drama and lies and subterfuge would have continued till date in the U.S. “Never has man reached his destination by persistence in deviation from the straight path.” – Mahatma Gandhi.
Arbitraging Our Way To Efficiency, By Uddin Ifeanyi
One solution to the ease with which these private entities appropriate government revenue is to move the public sector’s revenue collection machinery online… But then, I am reminded that what reforms that leverage digitisation and digitalisation achieve is to cut out these lower apparatchiks from the baksheesh value chain. Over the past four decades, “arbitrage” is easily implicated in any search for causes of Nigeria’s economic problems.
The Demystification of America, By Fred Ohwahwa
Picture credit: Jim Urquhart/REUTERS All that magnificent heritage was put at risk on January 6 by Donald Trump and his supporters of bandits and philistines. Because they lack a sense of history and are actually idiots and miscreants, they do not know the overarching symbolism of the Capitol in Washington D.C. Wednesday, January 6, 2021 will go down as a day of infamy in the history of the United States. It was day many Americans would not like to be reminded of.
The demystification of America
Wednesday November 6, 2021 will go down as a day of infamy in the history of the United States. It is a day many Americans would not like to be reminded of. Even millions of admirers of America across the world are equally embarrassed. When a mob of degenerates overrun your National Assembly, it is not a thing to be proud of. For sure, there will be recriminations for the next few weeks on what happened and why it happened.
Please Let's Live With Our Wives In Kindness, By Murtadha Gusau
In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon whom Allah sent as a mercy to the Worlds, Prophet Muhammad, upon his Family, his Companions and his Brothers till the Day of Resurrection. Dear brothers and sisters, in Islam, Allah Almighty instructs men to be nice to their wives and to treat them well to the best of their ability.
How To Restructure Nigeria (2), By Jibrin Ibrahim
The distortion of the 12-state structure by the multiplication of the states to 19, 21, 30 and 36 was done to appease new minority groups that emerged after state creation, to spread federal largesse more evenly and sometimes for selfish reasons. Today, Nigeria cannot sustain the 36-state structure due to its over-dependence on oil revenues that would continue to dwindle in the coming years.
El-Rufai: the Repulsive Misdeed of Correcting Injustice With Injustice (1), By Umar Yakubu
…in the absence of justice, an act of high misdeed like this should call for action from the State House of Assembly, because it is an impeachable offence. We should not forget that in 2008, the National Assembly declared El-Rufai unfit to hold any public office within a democracy. The surprise is how he was allowed to still pick the gubernatorial ticket of the All Progressives Congress despite the ban.
Let the Guilty Be Afraid, By Femi Falana
Mr. Joseph Nwaegbu/Pathfind Attorneys/MNBI and their shadowy minders and paymasters obviously think that the ICC is a forum for frivolities, especially of the type we have gotten accustomed to in Nigeria… They will sooner or later know that the ICC is not such a place. I welcome them to pursue their petition. I move around the world and I have easy and undisturbed passage. From December 12 to 14, 2015, a massacre of our compatriots took place in Kaduna.
Nigerian Youths: Slapped But Forbidden To Cry, By Oluwadele Bolutife
One of great aphorisms handed down through time says that, we do not beat a child and still prevent him/her from crying at the same time. From this principle, freezing the accounts of arrowheads of the peaceful #EndSARS protest remains a distasteful menu served on our impoverished table of governance. As much as some of our proverbs have become outdated, no thanks to Baba Suwe and his clownish dismissal of most of them, I always find them handy whenever I am drawn against the wall.
Trump Or Biden, It Will Be America First, By Majeed Dahiru
Whilst it is understandable that Nigerians are divided in their support for Republican President Donald Trump and his main Democratic Party challenger, Joe Biden for sundry reasons, it is important for our country’s people to understand that whether the White House turns Blue or remains Red, it will always be “America first” in Washington D.C. President Trump has not been the problem of Nigeria in the last four years and a President Biden will not be the solution in the next four years.
Thoughts on the American elections
What is the reason for our keen interest in the 2020 American elections? This is not too difficult to comprehend. It is because of the United States’ disproportionate influence in the world. For more than 70 years, America’s domineering influence in the world has been unmistakable. Though this is dwindling, the United States will continue to be a major global power for a long time to come. So, our deep interest in their elections is well-founded.
#EndSars: The Beginning of the End for the Old Nigerian Political Class, By Olufemi Akinfolarin
There is a need to engage folks at their respective levels to reach a collective agreement on how to seize power democratically at the next elections… The next election will not be won on the streets of Twitter. It will be won by the masses trooping out to vote their interests and rejecting the N2000 per vote buying offers. In one’s life, there are a limited number of events that are truly transformational and can be included amongst earth-shattering events. The #EndSars protests was one of them.
Is the U.S. Emboldening Authoritarian Behaviour In Nigeria?, By Chiedo Nwankwor & Elor Nkereuwem
Is the U.S. emboldening authoritarianism in Nigeria? Does the example set by the current U.S. administration normalise autocratic and quasi-autocratic politics across the world? …the fact remains that post-Cold War, the U.S. has relatively successfully used the spread of liberal democracy as a primary foreign policy tool. Therefore, it is not a stretch to conjecture a correlation when states exhibit behaviours that appear to mirror U.S. actions.
Nigerian Youths and the Psychology of the Dispossessed By Fred Ohwahwa
Many Nigerians surely had a taste of the recent protest by the youths in the country for a better Nigeria. Otherwise known as #ENDSARS, the protest which was initially meant to draw attention to the excesses of an arm of the Police, soon took on a life of its own. And with the organizers not recognizing when to sheath their swords and the government failing to be proactive, thugs, miscreants, idiots, etc. soon hijacked the whole process. And they tried to give a bad name to a laudable enterprise.
The Time for Citizens’ Action Is Now, By Jibrin Ibrahim
Nigerians should focus on organising citizens’ action for national re-generation. Civil society, the media, professional associations, socio-cultural groups, women, youth, students, and people living with disability must act in one accord as key catalysts for civic action, representing key voices that need to be amplified in mobilising citizens as a basis for compelling governments at all levels to act in the overall interest of the citizens.
The Lagos–Ibadan Horror Way, By Fred Ohwahwa - Premium Times Opinion
Premium Times October 8, 2020 The Lagos–Ibadan Horror Way, By Fred Ohwahwa2020-10-08T19:24:05+00:00 Columns, Opinion It is difficult to understand why the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is taking a thousand years to reconstruct. I travelled that road to and from Ibadan last weekend, and could not but wonder – for the umpteenth time – what is wrong with us as a people? Are we constructing a bridge across the Atlantic Ocean to link us to other continents? What is so difficult in reconstructing a road?
Renewable Energies in Sub-Saharan Africa
Energy needs in sub-Saharan Africa far outstrip the supply. In most of the countries, frequent power outages have become the norm in past decades. The population is growing every year, and the governments are hard-pressed to provide the necessary infrastructure to make life more comfortable for a vast majority of their citizens.
SPOKEN WORDS: Alas and Behold, Nigeria's Diamond Jubilee Told, By Hannatu Musawa
‘PEACE BE UPON YOU’ as I write a chronicled citation, Of the birth and the history of the Nigerian nation. First, The ‘Bantu,’ ‘Nok,’ ‘Opi Nsukka’ laid a foundation. Then came the ‘Borno Caliphate’ and ‘Ijaw kingdom’ creation. The existence of ‘13 farming families’ brought civilisation, Before Europeans made contact in the 1450 duration. By 1900, all present Nigeria was under the British Crown station. It gave way to the Protectorate of North and South formation.
Reflections On Nigeria At 60, By Fred Ohwahwa
Premium Times October 2, 2020 Reflections On Nigeria At 60, By Fred Ohwahwa2020-10-02T03:28:57+00:00 Columns, Opinion How do we build a sense of patriotism in the younger generation? Is there any incentive for them to be patriotic? What they see around is that it pays to game the system. The more brazen you are, the more likely that you will succeed and the more respect you are likely to get! In Nigeria, crime pays. Big time. We have to make corruption, in whatever form, very unattractive.
Reflections on Nigeria @ 60
Surely, 60 years is a significant number in the life of an individual and also that of a nation. It is therefore apposite that it is also a time for stock taking. A time to check how far we have come as a people: Are our people living well? Are our children in good schools? Can we feed ourselves? Is the generality of the people having adequate health care? Are our lives and property secure? Are we bequeathing a good future to our children and grandchildren?
Edo: What Happened?, By Azu Ishiekwene
Contestants would be more confident of a level playing field, whether or not their rivals have the backing of Aso Rock or the Government House. And in future, the lion that wishes to swallow the lizard whole, would be careful to ensure that the prey is indeed a lizard and not a porcupine. It was not supposed to end this way. Like the promo of a mismatch between David and Goliath, many believed, with reasons, that Governor Godwin Obaseki would be beaten to a pulp.
Edo Governorship Election: Winners and Losers, By Fred Ohwahwa
Premium Times September 24, 2020 Edo Governorship Election: Winners and Losers, By Fred Ohwahwa2020-09-24T10:34:10+00:00 Opinion The biggest winners of the election are the Edo people. They demonstrated their resolve to have a free and credible election. And that was what they had. This they were able to achieve by their eternal vigilance throughout the electoral process. We saw pictures and videos of ordinary citizens confronting those who wanted to subvert the will of the people.
Edo Grudge Match Reaches Final, By Azu Ishiekwene
Saturday would be another opportunity for voters to redeem lost time. If current trends in elections are anything to go by, though, the results after Saturday’s vote may not be final as our politicians have learnt not to accept defeat until the highest court had “cast” its own vote. It couldn’t get worse. Like many family feuds, offence festered as quickly as affection grew. In this case, though, there was some hope that the feuding parties had too much going for them to risk losing all.
The “Do or Die” Election In Edo State, By Fred Ohwahwa
Premium Times September 17, 2020 The “Do or Die” Election In Edo State, By Fred Ohwahwa2020-09-17T09:07:50+00:00 Opinion The false choice before the people of the State is pretty clear from the fact that between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), there are no distinct ideological differences. In fact, the man on the street does not know what they stand for.
COVID-19 and the Take-aways, By Fred Ohwahwa
Premium Times September 9, 2020 COVID-19 and the Take-aways, By Fred Ohwahwa2020-09-09T10:42:03+00:00 Columns, Opinion A lot of good things can also be taken from the pandemic. For example, many families have become more united as a result. Many children who seldom saw their parents for extended periods of time were happy to be with them during the lockdowns. It is not unusual that in a city like Lagos, some children wake to find that their parents have gone to work.
The Irreplaceable Loss of Professor Marliyya Sanusi Zayyan, By Hannatu Musawa
Aunty Marliyya leaves a legacy of unity, faith, love and concern to all who knew her and those who came in contact with her. During the course of her life, Aunty Marliyya never ceased to remind us that the greatest poverty of all is to live and to die unloved and unwanted. She demonstrated that love through her commitment to community, family, relationships and through her work as a doctor.
COVID-19 and the take-aways
The Coronavirus is still very much around. The damage it has done and is still doing is simply mind-boggling. Hundreds of thousands have died all over the world. Businesses have suffered great losses. Relationships have been negatively impacted. A lot of things we never planned for at the beginning 2020 have happened. Though we are still grappling with the harsh effects of COVID-19 on our lives, there are already plenty take-aways from this pandemic.
What are you reading?
For many years, the claim was liberally made that Nigerians don’t read. And that this has not been helped because of our culture that is more orally skewed. We prefer to talk than to write. Our forebears hardly kept records, save through the oral tradition. As a result, a lot of the things we ought to hold dear have been lost over the ages. But I don’t really think we can successfully make the argument anymore.Agreed the temptation to hold on to that position is very strong.
The Fate of Nigeria's Private Universities, By Toyin Falola
…if anything, private universities are the frontrunners in technological advancement, competing with tertiary institutions in developed countries and raising the standard for universities in Nigeria. This is mainly in an era of the mismanagement of public universities.
What Are You Reading?, By Fred Ohwahwa
Premium Times September 2, 2020 What Are You Reading?, By Fred Ohwahwa2020-09-02T14:01:34+00:00 Columns, Opinion The culture of only reading to pass examinations leaves us a barely functional society. It only enables us breed people who can barely think. And they are the ones who cede their thinking to their pastors, imams and politicians. And trust these categories of people – they take full advantage of this and turning their followers into zombies.
Nigeria: Government and the Limits of Constitutional Democracy, By Justine John Dyikuk
It is crucial to reiterate that we are in a constitutional democracy. As such, those in position of authority must remember that power belongs to the people. Therefore, any attempt to circumvent public trust by making laws that are irritable to a section of the country portends a grave danger for peace, stability and national unity.
What Are We Leaving For Our Children?, By Fred Ohwahwa
Premium Times August 26, 2020 What Are We Leaving For Our Children?, By Fred Ohwahwa2020-08-26T10:25:31+00:00 Columns, Opinion Should we leave to our children a virtually failed nation? Where security of lives and property are not guaranteed? Where roads are in a shameful state? Where electricity supply is abysmal? Where corruption is in our DNA? On Monday August 24, I had an encounter with one of my friends in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
Our lack of capacity is a major problem
It is very easy to point fingers at everybody else except ourselves on what or who are the problems of Nigeria. And we are very generous in doing this. The bulk of the blames, we assign to our leaders. And that is rightfully so. However, we forget that we are all leaders in our own little ways. Whether you are a mother, a father, a teacher, an employer of labour, a pastor, an imam, a housewife, a minister, a legislator or a governor, you are a leader.
Connecting Africa to the Global Digital Economy
Africa is leapfrogging the industrial age and moving into the digital era. The industrialization of the continent, which began in the 1970s, faltered in the 1980s and 1990s due to a combination of factors, chief among which was poor leadership in many African countries. The transition from agrarian society was thus halted, and many of its people remained mired in abject poverty occasioned by little access to quality education and the attendant corrosive impact of massive unemployment.
Lack Of Capacity: Nigeria's Major Problem, By Fred Ohwawha
Premium Times August 19, 2020 Lack Of Capacity: Nigeria’s Major Problem, By Fred Ohwawha2020-08-19T18:38:47+00:00 Opinion Everywhere you look, the story of decay is the story of our lack of capacity. Severely hit is our educational system in which you see supposed graduates who are struggling to write a complete sentence without making a mistake.
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