Head, Africa office of MacArthur Foundation, Kole Shettima, has identified self-seeking on the parts of the Nigerian politicians as one of the fundamental factors hampering the attainment of socio-economic development in Nigeria.
Shettima observed the politicians need to move away from the prevailing culture of self-seeking and be prepared to working for the common good of all citizens if the nation is to attain much desire development.
He made this observation while featuring in this month (November) edition of the ‘Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series’ organised by Kano-based Centre for Information Technology and Development.
According to Shettima, the continuous focus of the Politicians on self-interest at the expense of development was responsible for the politics of exclusion which was fuelling the on-going outcries by some Nigerians for the restructuring of the country.
“As a society Nigerian politicians must develop attitude that they care for the people. There many people in the society that have been shut out of the opportunities to realize their potential that must be encouraged to make meaningful building inclusion.
“Nigerian politicians are too interested in being elected for people to serve them, rather than they serving the people. Serving is not until when people are elected into public office. People must start serving the society in their small ways” he stated.
The Yobe-born head of MacArthur mission in Africa also identified the separation of community from funding and ownership of public schools educational as one of the reasons for the near collapse of public schools across the country.
“In Northern part of the country schools are no longer owned by community, what is going on is that nobody seems to care about the children of the poor people that are attending these schools.
“Nigeria must come to term whether to return schools to the community or religious bodies as it was sometime in the past. Connecting with the community I believe can make the difference in our educational system,” he said.
Other reason which Shettima noted was contributing to conflict in the nation`s school system was the loss of what he described as ‘civic student association life on Nigerian campuses.
He said the loss of the civic student association life on campuses was contributing to polarization of the campuses along ethnic and religious line fuelling the degeneration of student union activities.
