At Falola book launch, stakeholders push for national dialogue

Eminent Nigerians drawn across various fields of human endeavors have unanimously called on the various arms of government to prioritise national dialogue with the intent of harnessing the country’s immense potential towards development.

The call was made on Thursday, November 18, 2021, during the public presentation of Professor Toyin Falola’s book: ‘Understanding Modern Nigeria: Ethnicity, Democracy, and Development.’ The event which was held at Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, had academics, policymakers, media practitioners, students, and many others, in attendance.

In his address, the convener of the event, Professor Olutayo Adesina saluted Falola’s drive and patriotism. “Falola has put together a volume that will make us create a new country that will be for us all. I understand Falola’s passion for Nigeria. Nigeria can still be salvaged,” he said.

Guest speaker, Professor O.B.C. Nwolise argued that “In the last 20 years, Nigeria has not been a nation; it has not been a republic; it has not been a democracy; it has not been a federation. Ethnicity, purposely leadership, absence of values are Nigeria’s biggest problems. Education is not our priority. We started talking about economic diversification in the 60s and, in 2021 we are still talking about it. There is deception here. There is lack of respect for knowledge. There is the hatred of the educated elite. Until we respect research, knowledge, Nigeria is going nowhere. Our political leaders lack the culture of dialogue. The functions of the police are not in our constitution. We have no counter-culture for our youths. There are no programs for human resource development in Nigeria. Nepotism is the worst type of corruption. Nigeria has no national interest. There must be national dialogue to salvage Nigeria.”

For the Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos, Professor Olufunke Adeboye Falola’s book is “not a regular history book. It is borne out of Falola’s passion for Nigeria. He has written a lot on Nigeria. It is Falola’s contribution to the debate on the problems of Nigeria. The book is situated in historical context. He identified the ailments of Nigeria: political violence, corruption, among many others. Marginalisation of women in his book caught my attention. Policies to aid women emancipation must be encouraged. Until there are penalties, many issues affecting women will continue. The book also identified politicisation of religion, religious extremism, and fundamentalism. There must be strong governmental ethics. True federalism must be practiced. Integration of youths must be encouraged. Agriculture must be revived. There must be commercialisation of cultural icons.”

While engaging interventions were made on the issues of Nigeria’s ethnicity, democracy and development, the panelists variously lauded Falola’s passion towards the creation of a more egalitarian Nigeria. The panels paraded some of the best of Nigeria. Kunle Afolayan, filmmaker; Edmund Obilo, media personality; Oluwaseun Sanwo-Olu, student; Professor Adigun Agbaje, political scientist and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan; Remi Aiyede, professor of political institutions; Tunde Kelani, filmmaker; Michael Afolayan, independent scholar; Professor Tunde Babawale; Professor Akin Alao; Professor Francis Egbokhare; Segun Odegbami; Dr Festus Adedayo, newspaper columnist; Precious Ibeh, brand strategist; Nathaniel Danjibo, senior research fellow; Professor Isaac Albert; and Professor Olajumoke Yacob-Haliso.

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