Write an article suitable for publication on the way Nigeria can be better

On November 4, 2008, with the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States, not just America but the world entered an era that could be called the Obama era. The American President is widely admired and his mode of governance is impacting public policies throughout the length and breadth of the United States as well as in many nations. “Yes We Can” has become more than a slogan. The promise of the Obama era reflects ideals that most of us hold dear: mutual respect and understanding among peoples; economic growth and prosperity that is shared by all; and inclusion, transparency and accountability in the management of public affairs. We can also regard this promise as a challenge. President Obama is providing a model of how to be a reformist leader in today’s highly complex world: searching for policy solutions that maximize beneficial outcomes for the greatest number of people, and for the nation itself.

In responding to the challenge and opportunities of the Obama Era, Nigerian leaders in government, business, and many civic institutions can realize the long-frustrated promise of this nation to be a leader among nations in the world. On April 29, 2009, Ambassador Johnnie Carson, who has had several diplomatic postings in Africa, delivered a statement for his confirmation hearings to be U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Africa. Permit me to share with you some of the remarks made by Ambassador Carson on that occasion which are so pertinent to Nigeria and to our reflections today.

Ambassador Carson set forward an agenda for progress to be pursued by the United States in partnership with African governments and peoples: strengthening democratic institutions; preventing conflict; fostering sustained economic growth; and combating global threats. He identified the threats as health pandemics, climate change, food insecurity, narcotics trafficking, and maritime security. Several of his remarks resonate strongly in Nigeria: “Fifty years after most African states achieved their independence, the continent is still striving to realize its enormous potential and to play a more significant role on the world stage.” Other comments he made are equally pertinent: “Africa’s economic potential is vast and its importance as a trading partner will continue to grow…especially in the area of hydrocarbons”. “We must place renewed and sustained emphasis on Africa’s agriculture sector…” “To spur development, create jobs and end hunger, we must help Africa transform its farming sector to achieve a green agricultural revolution.” The only occasion in which Ambassador Carson specifically mentioned Nigeria in his statement was when he discussed the advances and setbacks in democratization in Africa. He then referred to the “deeply flawed elections in a number of countries, including Kenya, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe.”

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