1.
Are we yet a
NATION?
Soft-Power as a Route to Nation Building
By Bolaji Okusaga

2.
THIS IS
NIGERIA

3.
BLACK NATION
LARGEST
On Earth

4.
The Route to Nationhood
NATIONHOOD
1914 – 2017
103
Years of being together
as a nation

5.
League of the greats
OF THE GREATS
600BC – 2017800AD – 20171707 – 2017 1776 – 2017
305 yrs 241 yrs 1,405 yrs 2,675 yrs
Great Britain USA France Japan

6.
What Have We Harvested?
Wrong Rewards
Wrong Ideas Wrong IdealsWrong Learning
Wrong ActionsWrong Decisions
Wrong Morals Wrong Values
Wrong Interpretation

7.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
WHERE IS NIGERIA
HEADED IN THE
COMITY OF NATIONS?
HOW DO WE BUILD
CONCENSUS?

8.
Are We Yet a Nation?
•A Nation is more than
a geographic location…

9.
Who is a Nigerian?
A nation with over 371 tribes, but with 3 major tribes.

10.
How Do Nigerians See
Nigeria?
The Identity Dilemma

11.
National Unity as a Preface to National Identity
Shared
Identity
•Do we have a
Common
Denominator?
Shared
Prosperity
•Are we aligned
on dreams,
hopes and
aspirations?

12.
How Do We get There?
Attaining the status of a cohesive
whole, having different Units all
agreeing to be together…

13.
Addressing the National Question?
Managing Diversity
• Recognizing differences and commonalities
Reaching a Consensus
• Agreeing terms of how we want to live, work and win together

14.
Reforming the Super-Structure
Sovereignty
Authority
Power
Allowing different
jurisdictions
Decongesting the
Exclusive Legislative List
Avoiding a fierce contest
for the Centre

15.
Addressing the Sub-Structure
The inequality question…
Inclusive Growth
Integrating Labour in Wealth
Creation
A focus on the People
Prioritizing Health and
Education

16.
Projecting our Strength…
Story Telling as Route to
Nation Building

17.
Herbert Macaulay
Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther
Lord Lugard Mary Scelssor Nnamdi Azikiwe Obafemi Awolowo Alhaji Ahmadu Bello
Tafawa Balewa Femi Anikulapo-Kuti Odumegwu Ojukwu Gani Fawehinmi
FATHERLAND TO AFRICA’s
GREATEST HEREOS

18.
Celebrating our
ACHIEVEMENTS

19.
IN AFRICA
Joseph Garba, Nigeria’s
Foreign Minister (1975-1978)
Nigeria-led ECOMOG Peacekeeping Mission in Sierra Leone
Emeka Anyaoku (l), Appointed 3rd Commonwealth Secretary-General in1989
DIPLOMACY

20.
PEOPLE & IDENTITIES
DIVERSE INFLUENCES

21.
Kwa Rapids, Cross Rivers Benin Sculpture
Olumo Rock, Abeokuta
Arugungu Fishing Festival, Kebbi
CULTURAL
TAPESTRY

22.
Eyo Festival
Yoruba Traditional Wedding
Woman with coral beads
TRADITIONAL
VALUES

23.
APARTHEID
FIGHT AGAINST

24.
Wole Soyinka, 1986 Nobel Literature Laureate
Philip EmegwaliChinua Achebe
INTELLECTUAL
CAPITAL

25.
Cement Factory Oil Production Rig
POWER HOUSE
AFRICAN ECONOMIC

26.
NIGERIA
ENTER THE NEW

27.
TECH REVOLUTION
RAISING THE UNICORNS

28.
D’banj wins EMTV 2012 Award Fela! on Broadway
Calabar Festival 2012
Kunle Afolayan. Film Producer
A NEW NATION
BIRTHING
9ja Renaissance

29.
MTV Base VJ, Cynthia Okpala
P Square & Akon duet “Chop My Money”
MODERN MOVEMENTS
AFROPOLITANS/

30.
Femi Odugbemi
Genevieve Nnaji
NOLLYWOOD
FILM / MOVIE / CINEMA

31.
AFROCOSMOS
FASHION

32.
Tiwa Savage Davido
Wiz Kid
Tu Baba
Shoki and Dab
MUSIC AND DANCE

33.
POP CULTURE
REALITY TV SHOWS

34.
SPORTS
CONQUERING THE WORLD

35.
QUINTESSENTIALLY
ARTS & CULTURE

36.
AND ACHIEVED A LOT
YES… WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY

37.
No Nation Became Great….
Through
Wishful Thinking

38.
Thank you