Buba Galadima, a prominent member of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), recently shared his thoughts on Nigeria’s current state and how things might have been different under a different leadership. He emphasized that Nigeria’s presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, would have performed better in office than the current president, Bola Tinubu. Galadima’s remarks came during an appearance on Channels TV’s Politics Today, where he reflected on the ongoing development challenges facing Nigeria and how other nations, like India, have transformed their economies through deliberate efforts.
Galadima began by lamenting the slow pace of Nigeria’s development, pointing out missed opportunities and mismanagement of resources. He drew a comparison between Nigeria and India, recalling a time when India was also a developing nation, grappling with poverty and struggling to build a strong foundation. He highlighted how India leveraged its diaspora for national growth, particularly in sectors such as technology and healthcare.
Galadima stated, “Rabiu Kwankwaso would have done better than Tinubu because we can even export Seun to CNN or Aljazeera to earn dollars.” This reference to exporting talent is a nod to India’s approach of training its citizens in critical sectors and sending them abroad to work. This has, in turn, led to significant foreign remittances which have fueled India’s development. He further explained, “All these Java that you people are shouting about, we will train Nigerians deliberately and send them out. This is what India did. When we were young, the then Federal government was employing Indians to come and teach.”
The strategy Galadima mentioned revolves around deliberately investing in human capital, much like India did in the past. In the early stages of its development, India sent many of its citizens abroad, particularly to work in fields such as information technology and medical sciences. As these skilled workers earned salaries overseas, they sent remittances back home. This inflow of foreign currency helped India build its infrastructure, including a strong IT sector that has become one of the largest in the world today.
Galadima recalled a time in Nigeria when foreign teachers were brought in from India to help with education. He remarked, “Sometimes, you find an Indian with masters degree but don’t know how to ride a bicycle.” Despite these modest backgrounds, these teachers played a vital role in shaping Nigeria’s early educational system. He further mentioned that India used these same remittances to strengthen their industries, especially in the areas of technology and medical sciences. He added, “It’s remittances from all over the world they used to develop IT, medical sciences, and today, of the conglomerates in the world, 70 per cent are Indians.”
Galadima’s reflection on India’s success story is a reminder of what is possible when a country prioritizes its human capital and looks beyond short-term gains. India’s model of sending skilled workers abroad to earn foreign exchange has significantly boosted their economy. Today, Indian-origin CEOs head many of the world’s largest corporations, including Google, Microsoft, and Adobe, demonstrating how a strong focus on education and skill development can yield long-term benefits.
However, Galadima expressed disappointment with Nigeria’s current situation, stating that leadership in the country seems more focused on personal enrichment rather than national development. “Nobody is interested in developing Nigeria, only interested in developing his pocket,” he said, suggesting that the focus of those in power has shifted from building the nation to benefiting from it personally. This accusation of corruption and self-interest in leadership is not new, but Galadima’s blunt assessment underscores the deep frustration many Nigerians feel about the state of governance.
Galadima did not stop at pointing out the problems; he also offered solutions. He believes that change is possible but will require a shift in mindset, particularly from leaders. “We can change this through mindset and show example as a leader,” he remarked, stressing that Nigeria needs leaders who are willing to lead by example. Galadima suggested that these leaders must go beyond the comfort of their offices and engage with people at the grassroots level. He pointed to Dangote’s Skills Acquisition Centre in Kano as a practical example of what can be done to empower ordinary Nigerians through skill development. “Come down to the grassroot, go to Kano and see how Dangote Skills Acquisition Centre is training people,” he said.
This call to focus on grassroots development highlights the importance of skill acquisition in tackling poverty and unemployment in Nigeria. With millions of unemployed youth in the country, programs that focus on training and equipping them with skills are vital. Such initiatives not only provide young people with the means to earn a living but also help create a more productive workforce that can contribute to the nation’s economic growth.
Galadima is advocating for a more people-centered approach to governance. Instead of focusing on immediate profits or personal gains, he believes leaders should invest in the long-term growth of the country by empowering its citizens. He sees human capital as Nigeria’s most valuable resource and believes that if harnessed properly, it could transform the country’s fortunes just as it has for India.
According to Galadima, Kwankwaso would have prioritized human capital development and set Nigeria on a path to sustainable growth. This stands in stark contrast to his view of the current leadership, which he criticizes for being shortsighted and self-serving.
