Rural Tourism is the Best Option for Nigeria

Gompil

Mr. Semshak Gompil is a professional in the area of tourism. He got his background by virtue of his training from the Plateau State and Kaduna Polytechnics. After backing a Higher National Diploma in the field of tourism from the Kaduna Polytechnic, he worked with the Plateau State Tourism Corporation for seven years before retiring to private practice. While in private practice he has also added a Postgraduate Diploma in the same field. He runs the Fair Trade Network in Jos Plateau State, Nigeria.

In view of his rare resourcefulness in the area of tourism, the News Tower Magazine sought to know from him the prospect that tourism holds for Plateau State and Nigeria at large, the progress so far and what challenges lay ahead if we must fully develop the industry to a level where we can be fully classified among the tourist destinations around the world.

From Gompil, we have been able to gather that the greatest prospect for tourism in Nigeria as a whole is in the area of material culture which is found mainly in the rural areas. This is because our target tourists are from the developed nations. By virtue of their rapid technological advancements, these nations have moved far away from nature. Thus, most tourists from there set out, looking for hand-made crafts that are organic and natural. The extensive cultural diversity of Nigeria with an ethnic population of about 350 translates to so much distinct material culture and a huge prospect.

 

Hence rural tourism is the area where Nigeria has the comparative advantage to create a niche and attract tourists enough to bring about the economic and social development of our rural areas there by ending a steady rural to urban migration of youths looking for scarce white-collar jobs.

In the course of his studies, Gompil has had to carry out a research to find out what contribution tourism can make to the economic emancipation of the rural areas. The aim is to boost the efforts of those working towards the prospect of rural transformation through sustainable approaches. He says the prospects are enormous.

The benefits of tourism to Plateau State presently come largely from the export of this material culture. Hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to Gompil, come from the export which his organization does three times a year. The tourists are also coming and buying some of these items directly. It is just that their number is not encouraging enough for us to feel that we have finally reached the end of the road as far as tourism development is concerned.

According to Gompil, the benefits of the sale of these crafts to the rural area would have been far greater if the local population can be encouraged to buy them, taking into consideration our population and the fact that Nigerians have the money.

The sad news however is that we may never develop the industry early enough to benefit from the huge promise the industry has for the nation. This is due to the modest role governments often play towards the attainment of the goal. Successive governments often pride themselves as having the monopoly of knowledge by refusing to bring in professionals who are imperative in the planning of policies and the legislations needed to accelerate the growth of the industry. Even in the area of urban planning, it is always wise to involve professional to avoid situations where the tourist needs of city master plans are not overlooked. It is experts that are in a position to inform the authorities that the towns have nothing to offer. They are also the ones to inform the government that the emphasis now is on the encouragement of green rooms for which we have an advantage. The experts alone can help to plan well by taking into consideration our strength and our weaknesses. In Plateau State, Gompil says, we have the highest number of tourist experts in Nigeria by the virtue of the fact that the Plateau state Polytechnic undertakes training in the field and the enrolment policy of the institution ensures that 90% of students come from within the state. These experts are not been utilized, he says and all these mistakes are slowing down the speed of progress towards the development of the industry.

The best option for tourism is not in the concentration efforts in the cities but rather to redirect these efforts towards improving tourist resorts in the rural areas and also basic needs such as water supply and shelter. In the area of security he says that Plateau State is quite okay despite the ethnic problems we have experienced recently. This is because tourists travel to parts of the world where the security situation is worst. With the exception of the Niger Delta, security elsewhere in Nigeria is quite okay.

There is also the need to train tourist guides. Tourist guides should be trained to know the locations of the tourist resources and the history of these resources in case tourists need information regarding them.

Gompil also noted that the sale of tourism online or through conventional print media is the sale of an illusion and emphasized the need for Nigerian tourism promoters to guard against exaggeration to avoid situations where tourists turn deaf ears to promotions of Nigerian tourism

The Falling Popularity of Isa Yuguda

The name Isa Yuguda first came to public attention during the Obasanjo administration when Yuguda was made the Minister of Aviation. We eventually came to understand that Isa Yuguda comes from Bauchi State and is a member of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

Isa Yuguda is a man or was a man with a mammoth popularity in Bauchi State. Those who never knew how popular the man was learnt it when he expressed his intention to become the successor of Adamu Muazu as Governor of Bauchi State. He was quickly accepted by the people of Bauchi State.

In contemporary times it is difficult to tell a Nigerian political story without touching the area of reckless financial dealings by serving politicians. The ordinary man in Bauchi however, saw Yuguda as a rare politician that comes from a wealthy background, so wealthy that he will not be interested in the public resources. All that mattered to him was the well being of every day people in the state.

As 2007, the year of election approached however, it became obvious that Governor Mu’azu had another candidate beside Isa Yuguda. Mallam Isa Yuguda failed to secure the endorsement of Mu’azu under the PDP. It was then the popularity of Isa Yuguda was demonstrated. The people advised him to decamp from the PDP and contest on the podium of the All Nigeria’s People Party, ANPP. So it was.

In the state of Kano four years earlier, a new voter strategy was successfully put to test. The Hausas describe it as a kasa, a tsare, a raka, meaning ‘cast, protect and follow up.’ It was used when the Kano people decided they were fed up with the administration of Mallam Rabiu Kwankwaso. One of his commissioners, Ibrahim Shekarau, was advised to decamp to the ANPP to contest against his boss in the next election. It worked and Shekarau is now enjoying the second tenure as Governor of Kano State. A kasa, a tsare, a raka, was put to test in Bauchi state in 2007 and was successful as Isa Yuguda became the fourth democratically elected Governor of Bauchi State. The popularity of Isa Yuguda was further demonstrated when the people decided to punish Mu’azu for daring to deny them their wish by ensuring that the Muazu lost his contest for the Senate. It was described as a major upset. This is despite the fact that Mu’azu was one of the best Governors within the period 1999 to 2007.

Two years after Isa Yuguda became the Governor of Bauchi State; his popularity seems to be on the fall. It started when Isa Yuguda decided to stab the ANPP on the back by decamping back to the PDP. Prior to decamping to the PDP was his wedding to a daughter of President Umaru Yar’adua. A lot of people see adding of an additional wife as a frivolous issue for a Governor that already has a wife even when his religion allows him freedom to have more than one. The fundamental reason for grudges among the citizens of Bauchi State centers around the delivery of the administration in its two years. The people are now beginning to see the worth of Mu azu.

When people begin to lose faith in an administration, the atmosphere also becomes rife for wild rumours. One of the rumours linked to Isa Yuguda now, has to do with the presidency. It goes that there is a good chance that Yar’adua may not go for a second tenure, except there is an assurance that he has fully overcome his health problem. Should that happen, the President would be adequately compensated with his daughter as the First Lady of the Federation. In other words, Isa Yuguda wishes to become the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The second rumour is in connection with the shortcomings of the administration of Isa Yuguda in Bauchi State. It goes that Yuguda believes that Muazu, during his time, saturated Bauchi State with developments such that there is nothing left to develop. Thus Yuguda has decided to use the opportunity to enrich his friends.

Mu’azu is now emerging as the real hero of Bauchi State.

Fulanis in Wase: The Truth About their Relocation by Plateau Government



Adamu Idris

 The latest security-related news coming from Plateau State Nigeria is the story of the evacuation of Fulani herdsmen out of Bashar town in Wase Local Government Area of the State by the state government. The Fulanis have always been part of nearly every state in the north of Nigeria including Plateau State. Thus the story of Plateau State evacuating people that have been there for more than forty years to dump them elsewhere looks extremely odd.

 The story looks so odd that this reporter decided to embark on a journey of three hours from Jos, the capital of the state to find out the truth. His host was the Emir of Bashar himself, Alhaji Adamu Idris.

The indigenous tribes of Bashar town, according to the Emir, are the Basharawas, who are actually Hausas, Jukun, Fulani and Tarok people also found in Langtang North and South but also in Kanam. The Emir corroborated what the ‘Okada’ man had told the reporter along the way to Bashar that the affected Fulanis are actually recent migrants that came to the town in March this year, four months after the latest crisis in the state. They came from Katsina, Bauchi and Zamfara States in the north of the country. The Emir was quick to add that these migrants however, have relatives in Bashar. The new settlers did not pay him a courtesy visit but on hearing about their arrival, he sent his aides to find out who they were and why they had come to his domain. The report that came was that they were from the mentioned states and have been driven by desertification. They have consequently come to find new farm and grazing fields for their herds.

Mallam Idris said he was not apprehensive of their presence because he did not see signs portraying them as the warriors they have been touted to be. This is because they came with their most valued possessions: families and cattle. A person coming to war comes only with arms and they will have preferred to lay ambush from the borders of their own states such as Toro in Bauchi that is actually 15 minutes away from Jos rather than to move down to Bashar about two and half hours further south.

The Plateau State Commissioner of Information and Communication, Gregory Yenlong said that the action of the state government was the result of security information from the locals who became apprehensive by the unusually large volume of visitors, about five trucks, in just three months. They send their report to the local government headquarters from where it was relayed to the State Government House in Rayfield. Yenlong said that if they were indeed driven by the desire to find grazing and farm lands, then there ought to be a formal discussion at the governmental level prior to their movement to Plateau State. There is also the issue of the farming and grazing lands they intend to use. How will this problem be sorted out between them and their hosts?

Since 2001, Plateau had become the scene of frequent clashes that border on ethnicity, land ownership and religion. The 2001 crisis actually spread to other parts of the state where it refused to abate until the declaration of a State of Emergency by the Federal Government of Olusegun Obasanjo in May 2004. Wase Local Government Area itself became notorious for cattle stealing as a result of the chaotic situation the crisis engendered. Following local elections in Jos-North Local Government Area of the state in November last year, fighting broke out in some parts of the local government leading to the death of about 250 persons with a remarkable lost of properties. While the state government was making efforts to ensure lasting peace, some 26 armed militants were arrested in Jos on the first day of January barely a month after. They were from Bauchi State. The State Government cut curfew hours imposed as a result of the disturbance just two weeks ago. A period like this seems very odd for such an anomalous migration for the sake of grazing and farm lands, resources that have been responsible for some of the most deadly wars in Africa.

Global Economic Meltdown and Attitudinal Change

Posted By Yiro Abari on August 5

The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies Kuru in Jos Plateau State hosted a four-day workshop organized by the National Orientation Agency in collaboration with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) recently. The workshop which was titled “Global Economic Meltdown and Attitudinal Change” was meant to educate Nigerians administrators drawn from various government establishments across the nation on the causes of the global economic meltdown and on ways to minimize its effect on organizations within the country.

The significance of the workshop was underscored by the aptness of the topics chosen and the quality of the seven resource persons that delivered the seven papers during the workshop. By-and-large, the workshop observed that the cause of an economic crisis such as the one currently witnessed around the world could be as a result of weaknesses in the economic policies. It could also be as a result of failure of persons to adhere to the guidelines needed for impeccable implementation of an economic policy. It was concluded that the causes of the present crisis was a result of fiscal indiscipline by way of disregard to standard statutory procedures towards financial management resulting in the present global economic chaos that has affected income generation negatively resulting in shortfalls in budgets of many countries around the world including Nigeria.

A workshop drawing such resource persons could not be complete without suggesting ways of avoiding or minimizing the effect of the crisis to the nation. Details of the content and outcome of the workshop are contained in a communiqué issued at the end of what was a fierce intellectual exercise.

COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT A 3-DAY NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON GLOBAL ECONOMIC MELTDOWN AND ATTITUDINAL CHANGE HELD AT NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR POLICY AND STRATEGIC STUDIES (NIPSS), KURU, PLATEAU STATE, FROM JULY 27TH – 30TH, 2009

PREAMBLE

In keeping with its mandate of promoting value re-orientation, attitudinal change and national consciousness and aware of the strategic importance of attaining the 7-Point Agenda and Vision 2020 for the economic transformation of Nigeria, the National Orientation Agency (NOA), in collaboration with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Jos District, organized a 3-Day National Workshop on Global Economic Meltdown and Attitudinal Change from 27th – 30th July, 2009.

The workshop, which was held at the National Institute for Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State, was declared open by the Executive Governor of the State, His Excellency, Da Jonah David Jang, represented by Nde Samson Dimka, Secretary to the State Government. To set the tone for the workshop, Professor Sunny Tyoden, Vice Chancellor, University of Jos, represented by Professor Gray Goziem Ejikeme, Dean Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Jos, presented the keynote address, While Mr Toyin Adepate, Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria represented by Dr (Mrs) Jat Rauta Bitrus, Chairperson Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Jos District, chaired the opening ceremony.

The Plateau State Executive Council was represented by the Commissioner for Education, Dr (Mrs) Angela Miri, Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mrs Rifkatu Durfa, Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Gregory Nyelong, Commissioner of Women Affairs, Mrs Sarah Yusuf, Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Alhaji Ibrahim Saleh and Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr Daniel Ajik.

In attendance also were the Chairman Governing Board of the National Orientation Agency Alhaji Yusuf Yakubu, the Director-General, National Orientation Agency, Alhaji Idi Mohammed Farouk, the Acting Director-General, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Dr Abubakar Sokoto, Members of Board, Executive Directors and Directors of the Agency. Other dignitaries included the Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Professor Celestine O.E. Onwuliri, the Rector, Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, Prof. O.P. Fapetu and Professor Mohammed Mainoma, Dean Faculty of Administration, Nassarawa State University. Other Participants at the workshop were Finance experts, Accountants, Bankers, Auditors, Administrators and other stakeholders.

OBJECTIVES:

The main aim of the workshop was to create awareness of the challenges of the current economic crises, proffer solutions that will assist managers of the economy, and establish parameters necessary for prudent management of public expenditure and budgetary discipline. Other specific objectives of the workshop were to:

 Sensitize finance administrators on the challenges posed by the global economic meltdown;

 Emphasize the need for prudence in public expenditure and management;

 Underscore the role of attitudinal re-orientation in the management of national economy;

 Emphasize the essence of value for money budget implementation; and

 Proffer solutions to role conflict and leakages in management of national economy.

PAPER PRESENTATIONS:

A total of seven (7) papers were presented at the workshop as follows.

 The Global Economic Meltdown and Attitudinal Change in Nigeria - Professor G. G. Ejikeme

 Global Financial Crises: Manifestations, Socio-Psychological Implications and Lessons in Nigeria – Prof. Etannibi Alemika.

 Statutory Provisions for Effective Finance Management and Productivity – Paul M. Bdiya, PhD.

 E-Payment Policy: The Advantages and Challenges- Ibrahim H. Dankwambo.

 The Place of Values and Attitudes in Revenue Generation, Budget Implementation and Monitoring for National Development – Barr. Amos Madaki.

 Transparency, Accountability and Value for Money Audit Towards Good Governance – Toyin Popoola

 Prevention of Leakages and Role Conflict Through Effective Separation of Power in Budget Implementation and Monitoring – Prof. Shedrach Best

OBSERVATIONS

After frank and exhaustive deliberations, the workshop noted and observed as follows:

1. That the current global economic meltdown is a reality which has clearly manifested in the areas of drastic reductions in oil revenue, exchange rate depreciation and sharp decline in foreign reserve, foreign direct investment and values of stocks.

2. That the failure of the financial system in the United States of America (USA) and other European countries which led to the current economic crises, is an indication that there is no one economic model that is perfect. This therefore calls to question the wisdom in the wholesome adoption of such western economic models by developing countries, including Nigeria.

3. That corruption and fiscal indiscipline are some of the major causes of the current global economic meltdown. Accordingly, the workshop condemned all acts of corruption and fiscal irresponsibility that impinge adversely on the national economy. The workshop further condemned the heroic applause given to those who have stolen billions and millions of naira from the national treasury.

4. That in dealing with the issue of the global economic meltdown, policy makers should not only address the finance side of it, but also consider the socio-political and infrastructural dimensions. This is because sound economic policies cannot be effective without the support of infrastructure and appropriate socio-political framework.

5. That the critical importance of attitude and value re-orientation in dealing with the issues of the global economic meltdown should be taken seriously because the desire to effect a change in the financial crises must be practically demonstrated in the behaviour of the people, particularly the leadership

6. That national response to the current global economic crises differs from country to country. This is because countries of the world have different levels of scientific and technological development, different attitudes and behavioural patterns.

7. That negative attitude towards public resources could jeopardize the efforts of finance administrators and managers of our national economy. Thus, there is need to ingrain in accounting professionals the philosophy and culture of professional ethics as the foundation of business practices.

8. That the current amnesty initiative of the federal government should be commended as a right step in the right direction in bringing about peace and security in the Niger Delta Region and Nigeria at large.

9. That the penchant for foreign products by Nigerians and heavy dependence of the economy on import has further aggravated the impact of the financial crises on the Nigerian economy.

10. That there is persistent violation of rules and regulations thereby making it impossible for our system to work

RECOMMENDATIONS

1 That the economic crises besetting the nation call for concerted efforts by the three tiers of government and the civil society to, as a matter of urgency, adopt a well coordinated and pragmatic attitudinal change.

2 That the various institutions set up by legislation should be allowed to operate unfettered at all levels of governance. These institutions should also be adequately empowered and supported to fight corruption decisively and holistically.

3 That the on-going public enlightenment, advocacy and mobilization of Nigerians to shun social vices such as corruption, indiscipline and other related misdemeanors should be sustained.

4 That the productivity of each preceding year should be assessed as basis for considering the appropriation and other fiscal measures for the succeeding year.

5 That a well-structured e-payment regime, with regulatory provisions for curbing e-crime and ensuring a comprehensive interconnectivity among all the banks should be put in place.

6 That the stimulus package announced for the textile industries in 2007 should be implemented and similar gestures extended to the collapsed capital market and other ailing sectors of the nation economy without further delay. This will reduce the attendant social and psychological problems prevalent in the country today

7 That the energy sector should be genuinely classified as an emergency and experts assembled to work out realistic and plausible energy solutions at ‘regional’ and national levels. This will save the country from further capital flights and stimulate economic growth and development.

8 That Nigerians should be encouraged to elect leaders that are proactive, focused, visionary, innovative and transformational to achieve rapid economic well being, technological advancement, functional health care delivery system and a stable socio-political culture as encapsulated in the 7-Point Agenda.

9 That all Nigerians should appreciate the reality of the economic meltdown and therefore work towards mitigating its effects through modest life styles, prudent management of public and individual resources, transparency and fiscal discipline.

10 That Nigeria as a country should be more innovative in developing economic models that take cognizance of her culture, values, resource endowments, socio-political framework and infrastructure.

11 That Nigerians, more than ever before, should begin to question and reject those who steal public funds rather than praise and eulogize them, and that in fighting corruption they should consider it a patriotic responsibility to expose corruption and corrupt Nigerians.

12 That efforts should be made to diversify the Nigerian economy in the non-oil sectors, and improve the productive capacity of the nation.

13 That in the spirit of the rule of law, all Nigerians and institutions are enjoined to adhere strictly to due process in the transaction of government business, and where there are willful violations appropriate sanctions should be meted out to serve as deterrent.

14 That there should be a sustained awareness and reorientation to encourage Nigerians to patronize locally produced goods. This will propel growth of the manufacturing sector and enhance the nation’s productive capacity.

15 That the National Orientation Agency should establish a platform for networking and synergy with relevant financial institutions in restoring public confidence in the capital market given its strategic importance in any economic recovery effort.

CONCLUSION

The workshop participants, the National Orientation Agency and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Jos District, expressed their profound gratitude and appreciation to the government and good people of Plateau State and the management of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, for their warm reception and hospitality.

COMMUNIQUÉ COMMITTEE.

1. Prof. O.P. Fapetu Chairman

2. Prof. Mohammed Mainoma Member

3. Mr David M. Dogo “

4. Mr Musa Chantu “

5. Mr Vincent Mwankwon “

6. Mr Isaac M. Onukwube Secretary

Ibrahim Babangida and the Blazing Jos North

Former military President General Ibrahim Babangida better known as IBB in Nigeria was supposed to appear before the Justice Bola Ajibola’s Commission of Enquiry investigating the November 2008 disturbance in Jos North, the commercial capital of Plateau State Nigeria. He was instead represented by his attorney. IBB is wanted by the commission to respond to a memorandum submitted by someone saying that the manner in which Jos North was created during his administration as President is responsible for the religious and ethnic mayhem that threatens to become the hallmark of politics in the area.

When Jos South was created out of the then Jos Local Government Area, it was many observed the weird nature of the demarcation that ensured that the northern half is unusually diminutive while the size of south is in multiples of it. The demarcation follows the Bauchi Ring Road through Tinner Junction to come out at British American Junction. It continues along Murtala Mohammed Way to Dogon Karfe passing it to Secretariat Junction. From there is goes along the road to the Federal Secretariat from where it burst into the Tudun Wada Ring Road to meet Domkat Bali Way to end at the boundary of Bassa Local Government by going along Miango Road. By the way it was created, people felt it was done to give the Hausa community an undue political influence in the area.

While the military era lasted, there was no problem in Jos North. two years into the civilian regime when real politics began however, the first consequences of what many saw as a biased creation was recorded during which close to a thousand lives where lost. Then the problem spread to rural areas with another crescendo recorded in Yelwa in May 2004. Just when people thought that piece has finally come, crisis resurfaced again in November 2008.

Creation of political administrative units is aimed at administrative convenience leading to rapid development. As it is now, the reverse is the case in Jos North. It was during the IBB administration that Nigeria witnessed the Zagon Kataf mayhem in Kaduna State over the same issue of dispute over ownership and control of a town.

Even kindergarten kids are aware that leadership is aimed at bringing about love, peace and prosperity. The temptation for prejudice and nepotism is a problem of every ordinary ignorant human being. Leaders are however expected to be the extraordinary ones from amongst us who should be able to overcome such temptations. We ought to be able to take rational steps at such an early stage in the history of our nation. Decisions that should compelled the people to integrate with another rather than one that will separate them further.

The candid opinion here is that if the creation of the local government has turned out to be retrogressive, a reverse outcome of what was intended. It that is so, the two areas could be merged again or the boundary readjusted to be fair enough.

Mobile Phones and Socio-Economic Development in Nigeria

Technology no doubt changes the way we do things. Mobile phone communication is without doubt one thing that has brought about an amazing social and economic revolution in the country since its advent in 2000. The success of mobile phone communication has been made possible by its affordability. In Nigeria the competition between mobile phone service providers such as MTN, Zain, Globacom, Etisalat, Multilinks, Zoom and Vodafone has further worked to make mobile phone affordability a reality.

The ability of mobile phones to boost business activities and improve the economy is the area that easily comes to mind when the benefits of mobile phones is a subject. However mobile phones have improved social live in so many ways. Its affordability is such that even primary school children own phones with which they communicate with parents, telling them to come and pick them after school hours. It is easier to appreciate what mobile phone communication has done to our lives when one compares the period preceding the arrival of the new information era and the period before its reign. Just imagine the difficulty involved in announcing the wedding of a a family member to other relations across the country and even beyond as it was during the era of incommunicado. One had to send letters or travel across the country with all the hazards. The other option is to sponsor an announcement in a national newspaper. Not all can afford this however. Mobile phones solved this problem through direct calls or by sending multiple sms even simultaneously.

The more than a dozen mobile phone service providers in Nigeria have directly provided jobs to thousands of Nigerians. They did not only provided jobs but some of the best jobs in the country as their staff are undoubtedly among the happiest in the country. Indirectly, the companies are responsible for importation opportunities they have provided to persons supplying phones and their accessories. There are also people who are involved in the retailing of these products. This excludes persons who have found jobs as operators of phone boots and retailers of recharge cards. Nigeria is a developing country where people use phones way ahead of their live spans. Thus some people have found jobs as technicians fixing faulty mobile phones sets.

The benefits of social development that mobile phones have brought are not just in terms of the social networking but also in terms of the corporate social responsibility of the service providers to the communities they serve. We never knew how conservative corporate organizations were in Nigeria until the arrival of mobile phone companies. The companies understand that there is the need to give back generously to people who have provided them with such a vast market. Along this line, they have competed to sponsor major events in the country. They have come to be associated with the sponsorship of major national and continental sporting tournaments, cultural events and so on. There are also charities and raffle draws that have changed the lives of many across the nation. Mobile phone companies have been known to hire lands for the erection of their communication masts for upwards of N500 000 (about $3500) per annum thereby ensuring a steady income for the land owners.

The activities of mobile phone companies have challenged other organizations to wake up to their corporate responsibilities to their respective host communities. Thus the economic and social revolution brought about by mobile phone companies is manifold, comprehensive and literarily unprecedented in the history of Africa’s most populous and influential nation.

The Paradox of Nigeria’s Nollywood

Posted by Yiro Abari, September 5, 2009

The global status of Nollywood, Nigeria’s movie industry oscillates between the second and the third most watched. During this year’s Africa Movie Academy Awards however, Kenyan, South African and Nigerian directors scooped most of the awards leaving many to wonder why then Nollywood is rated among the best three in the world, the others being American Hollywood and Indian Bollywood. The Sino movie industry is not even mentioned.

My understanding of Nigerian movies is that they tell the story but give little concentration towards making the scenes look very real. Some will also say that even the story lines are analogous and sometimes boring as result of compromise in creativity. On a whole these shortcomings comprise the quality of Nollywood movies.

When one considers that Nollywood movies take at most a fortnight to shoot compared to months or even years in Holly and Bolly woods, then the shortcomings are unavoidable. Further more, the industry appears to overlook the implication of the more than 140 million people in Nigeria by depending on just a few individuals as actors. This is better played up when a man of Zack Orji’s age has to constantly put on skimpy wears to play the role of a house boy or a school boy. One would have expected the directors of Nollywood to take advantage of our population which is comparable to the sand of the shores to fish out as many young talents as possible. When enough talents are discovered, complacency gives way and competition sets in, resulting in improved performance and high quality as far as the actor’s roles are concerned.

The financiers of Nollywood movies are largely conservative traders with modest education and who are found around the Onitsha axis. They consider themselves traders who are out for the money and nothing else. The money is coming and so damn your suggestions as to how to improve the industry. Their high-handedness is responsible for dump movie titles such as my private part, pay as you go, I need a husband, oil village and so on.

Against all these limitations however, Nollywood is generally and truly a successful industry. Shoot is an annual training course for film makers usually held at the Nigerian film institute in Jos Nigeria. The instructors are world class pros drawn from Europe and America. During this year’s edition of Shoot, a film expert from Europe noted that the workshop is one endeavour that will contribute to ending the exclusive watch of Nollywood movies by the Diaspora. It is true that the movies of Nollywood are watched mainly by Africans and people of African origin. In Africa we have the culture of people gathering under the moonlight to listen to stories told by the elderly. It might be the reason why Nollywood movies which hammer on story lines find favour among Africans. There is however, no doubt that the simplicity of Nollywood movies ensures movie lovers understand the theme of the movies easily unlike a situation where one watches for a long time without grabbing the story line. It makes little sense and you don’t want to watch again. The Diaspora, on the other hand, is driven by emotional attachment and the strong desire to understand adequately their roots.

What all these implies is that there is a huge room for improvement that can eventually help the industry to break the cultural barriers someday.

The options for Nollywood directors is either to continue to focus on just quick and relatively little revenues with perennial humiliations at AMAA or improve on quality and gain cross-cultural acceptability thereby boosting revenue and helping the movies to dominate AMAA awards and perhaps bigger global awards in the future.