Nigeria Must Focus On Human Capital Development – Sanusi Lamido

Ex Emir of Kano and one-time Managing Director of First Bank, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has come out to say that Nigeria’s economy has not been diversified over 60 years after the discovery of oil in Nigeria.

Sanusi revealed this on the second day of the Kaduna Economic and Investment summit (KADINVEST).

According to him, even if the economy is growing, diversification has led to a high rate of poverty and a high level of inequality in the country.

He added that Africa has failed in not leveraging on the underlying infrastructure—towers and undersea cables—to catalyze the development of other and new industries.

His words, “The major difference is that they have moved on but we have not.”

“Africa’s failure has been in not leveraging on the underlying infrastructure—towers and undersea cables—to catalyse the development of other and new industries.”

“If you use your smart phone which is made in China and order shoes from France and they are delivered to you at home, what have you actually gained? You are just a consumer.”

What do you think?

Muhammadu Sanusi II (Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; born 31 July 1961) was the 14th Emir of Kano from the Fulani Sullubawa clan. He ascended the throne on 8 June 2014, following the death of his grand uncle Ado Bayero. He was dethroned on 9 March 2020 by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

Sanusi was born on 31 July 1961 in Kano to a ruling class Fulani family of the Sullubawa clan. His father, Aminu Sanusi, was a career diplomat who served as the Nigerian Ambassador to Belgium, China and Canada, and later served as the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was also the Chiroma of Kano and son of Muhammadu Sanusi I, who was the 11th Emir of Kano from 1953 to 1963, when he was deposed by his cousin Sir Ahmadu Bello.

Sanusi has spoken at a number of international events, including the 2013 World Economic Forum. He has travelled in his official capacity as Emir of Kano to several engagements including a recent visit to Norway to the Svalbard seed vault as part of a United Nations delegation.