A Political Scientist, Dhikru Yagboyaju, says Nigeria can move from being described as a sleeping giant to a productive giant if it embraces rules, policing, leadership, and institutions.
Yagboyaju, a Professor of Public and Development Administration and Civil-Military Relations, University of Ibadan, stated this on Thursday while delivering the 595th inaugural lecture at the institution.
In his lecture titled ‘Big for Nothing? Nigeria’s Struggle with a Paradox’, he argued Nigeria’s underperformance was avoidable, arising from neglect of values essential for development.
“However, Nigeria has underperformed, in my opinion, because Nigerians have underperformed. Its condition is lamentable because the conditions of its people are lamentable.
“The situation is abnormal and undesirable because the people have not been acting normally,” he said.
According to him, big problems never start big. They grow from small issues that should matter but have been disregarded for long in Nigeria.
He called for a multidimensional approach to solve the country’s many challenges.
The first step, he said, is cultivating respect for laws and regulations, starting from the family, reinforced by communities, and upheld by the state.
He drew on the Yoruba ‘omoluabi’ ethos as an example of how social discipline can strengthen governance.
Yagboyaju added that Nigeria needs a more effective policing system, extending beyond uniformed officers to families, schools, communities, and worship centres.
He cited countries such as Singapore, Rwanda, and Turkey that rebuilt order through strong policing.
The don also emphasised the need for directional leadership — leaders who take responsibility and act decisively rather than seeking applause.
According to him, such leaders should emerge as a “critical mass” from communities, working collectively to redirect the nation towards productivity.
Yagboyaju stressed that strong institutions cannot emerge by chance but must be built around purposeful leadership.
“Nigeria of today should, preferably, emerge from various community levels and, as a cohort or critical mass, change directions for good with followers’ support.
“People drive development through concerted efforts of a critical mass.Everyone that matters has a role in shifting from a lifestyle of consumption to one of productivity and production,” he said.
He cited Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore and Mahathir Mohamad of Malaysia as leaders whose firm direction enabled institutional growth.
“The challenge is far too enormous for any one individual. Every Nigerian, from President to parent, must act decisively to make Nigeria not just a sleeping giant, but a productive one,” he said.
