Thursday, 13 April 2017

REGISTER FOR LEADERSHIP AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

LEADERSHIP AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME


For Professionals and emerging leaders

How educated you are, is determined by how much you learn outside the classroom”
“A child educated only at school is an uneducated child” George Santayana

Life expectations and requirements evolves; you have to keep improving to catch up with life.


 Delivered by Millenium Prime Solution (MPS)
copyright reserved©2017
  
INTRODUCTION:

Recent Leadership literatures argue strongly that leaders are made not born, and if they are made, there has to be strategic effort to create them. Leaders are not necessarily the ones on top, but those who participate, make and shape organisations, institutions or societies. In modern world, those that influence a group of people to achieve certain objectives are the leaders. This underpins the relevance of every person in a group or community. Leadership is not peculiar or subjected to positions in organisations, institutions or society. Everybody can be a leader, but that depends on whether the person has what it takes to be that leader.

Professionals and Young people have mental and physical stamina and innovations to drive the required change in society, and that has to be complemented with strategic leadership and personal development training to make them better leaders. Acquiring education in school is not sufficient to make better leaders, they have to be trained and tracked beyond the classrooms. Life pose many evolving challenges that static school curriculum may not address or prepare the emerging leaders to face it.

The Leadership and Personal Development Programme is an initiative that fills development gaps and prepares professionals to be more effective, efficient and professionals in their places of work and social environment.  The programme is designed to help participants realise their strengths and weaknesses and enhance their leadership, professional and development skills.

The participants of the programme are mainly professionals that work in corporate organizations, businesses, institutions, academia, military, security, sports, social and public institutions, as well as entrepreneurs, graduates, students etc. We also encourage young people and emerging professionals to participate in the programme, as that will enhance their productivity, employability, responsibility, efficiency and patriotism.

At the end of the programme, participants will be much better and effective leaders and professionals in their environments. Some of the benefits they will get from the programme include but not limited to the followings:

  1. The participants will get to know themselves more, their own source and many other sources of inspirations, and to help them build life vision and focus. This entails strategic discovery of their personality, aptitude, and leadership class. They will also be familiar with inspiration boosters and killers.
  2. The participants will also be inspired to do and achieve more in their lives.
  3. They will realise strategies to apply in approaching everyday situations and in achieving their goals.
  4. They will build self-confidence and improve their expression and communication skills. They will improve their Attention To Detail skills too.
  5. They will improve their reading skills in terms of speed, spelling and comprehension.
  6. They will be able to get rid of fear in public speech and in leading or managing a large or diverse group. They will learn basics of public speech and identify speech mentors.
  7. They will be able to put into practice the learnt skills in public speech through practical speech for improvement.
  8. They will improve their professional writing skills especially in writing professional letters, emails, and SMS.
  9. They will build team work skills, and master how to become effective team leaders and in managing and adapting among diverse groups. They will be presented with the opportunity to practice the skills of effective team management.
  10. They will build the skills of peer sharing and confession to drive lessons and motivation for improvement.
  11. They will learn the skills of influencing and wining over people.
  12. They will enhance their civic education, and know more about their and other people’s constitutional rights and responsibilities.
  13. They will build the skills of strategic thinking and planning.
  14. They will build their professional conducts and manners especially in interpersonal approaches, appearance, tones, and other professional etiquettes.
  15. They will learn how to control emotions and temperaments.
  16. They will be presented with the opportunity to meet successful leaders from different sectors and backgrounds to hear, reflect and learn directly from their successes and failures.
  17. They will be taught how to develop their integrity, volunteerism and selflessness.
  18. They will advance their MS office skills especially advance skills in Word, Excel, and PowerPoints.
  19. They will learn the real causes of leadership failures and successes from real life examples, and they will practice the leadership roles in different circumstances to help them improve leadership skills.
  20. They will improve their entrepreneurship skills, and they will be exposed to many entrepreneurship opportunities. They will learn the business skills of planning and management.
  21. They will improve their employability skills. They will learn how to write a competitive CV and build job interview skills.
  22. They will meet with prospective employers to learn from and engage with them. The participants will then have a glimpse of what is required and expected for development in their chosen careers.
  23. They will build skills of financial discipline and time management.
  24. They will be assigned with highly influential and successful people for mentorship and guidance after the programme for a period of one month.
  25. They will be assessed through a quiz examination to help them evaluate the impact and their understandings of the modules they attended.

THE GAPS:

It was discovered that emerging leaders especially in Africa may lack certain global competitive skills required in the 21st century economic, social, and political spectrums. Young people are not necessary leaders of tomorrow but leaders of today, and they shape society and its future. Few of the gaps that are largely identified among professionals and emerging leaders in Africa include but not limited to the followings:

a.       Lack of expression and communication skills
b.      Low self-esteem, fear and lack of self confidence
c.       Lack of professionalism
d.      Lack of IT application and skills
e.       Poor team management
f.       Lack of resilience and maturity
g.       Lack of career and academic guidance and focus
h.      Egoism and inexperience
i.        Lack of adaptability
j.        Lack of big dreams and ambitions
k.      Poor preparation for job markets and uninformed perceptions
l.        Unemployment and dependency

Jeff Boss once said “The challenge of staying relevant in today’s fast-paced and hyper–connected world can be daunting if you don’t know when to move forward, when to stay put or when to adapt.” Young people in African must be willing to adopt and move forward to outcompete their counterparts in other continents. They must realise their weakness and be ready to improve.

OBJECTIVES:

Leaders shape the world in different spectrums, and there has to be strategic training programme to prepare them to be better and suitable for modern challenges. Emerging leaders are required to acquire necessary skills that help make them better leaders. These emerging leaders include young people whether currently in school or in professional careers. The leadership and personal development programme is a 7-days intensive or weekend intensive sessional programme that builds the capacity and capability of professionals and emerging leaders in various leadership skills and opportunities, which include but not limited to the followings:

1.      Public confidence and Communication (language, writing and speaking) skills
2.      Professionalism, team work and time management
3.      Inter personal relationships
4.      Self-esteem, Visions and self confidence
5.      Resilience and maturity
6.      Self-realisation and development
7.      Mentorship and guidance
8.      Appearance, manners, discipline and presentations
9.      Modern IT and software solutions applicable in various sectors
10.  Adequate preparation for job market, employability and self-employment opportunities
11.  Business/entrepreneurship skills
12.  Inspiration and network with real life leaders
13.  Analytical thinking, Professional ethics, and integrity

The programme also helps participants to understand:
i.                    The kind of leaders they are
ii.                  The scopes of their leadership skills (coverage, when, how and why they lead, types and level of their subjects)
iii.                Their adaptability to changing circumstances and environment
iv.                How to build up and bridge their leadership skills gap

It exposes the emerging leaders to real-life challenges faced by leaders from various sectors, to enhance their skills in solving complex life challenges and working under diverse groups.
It provides opportunities for the participants to meet leaders from different sectors to share personal and professional experiences.

SIGNIFICANCE:

In the 21st century’s civilisation, academic qualification is not sufficient to prepare and inspire emerging leaders; it must be complemented with strategic leadership development programmes. At the end of the programme, the participants will come out looking at the world from different and diverse perspectives, and they will be better leaders and be able to make differences in other people’s lives too. They will be more matured and resilient to face real life challenges, and their appetite to explore and learn beyond classrooms will be enhanced.

STEPS AND MODULES:

Diagnosis: to identify the disparity in personality, exposure and experience of the participants to help cluster them for strategic development in line with their strengths and weaknesses. This involves identifying the level of communication skills, IQ, team work skills, professionalism, personality, aptitude, resilience, past experiences, etc.

Leadership indicators will be set, and each participant will have to be assessed based on these indicators to enable the programme track the level improvement of the participants over time. These indicators are set around the identified objectives. This will help in identifying individual weakness and clustering them into proper groups and teams.

The Diagnosis stage will take a day to assess the participants for proper placement, and the result will identify the area of concentration for each participant. Each participant will be categorised according to the class of leaders he/she belongs at the end of the programme.

Preliminary sessions: this stage gives emphasis to participants that either do not have past leadership experience in business, organisations, institutions or society or were discovered to have more deficiencies in the diagnosis stage. The modules during the preliminary sessions are indicated in the programme schedule and must be attended by participants who scored below the required point in the diagnostic test.

Regular Courses: these are mandatory for all participants to attend. To be eligible for certificate, participants must have at least 70% attendance of the regular courses.
Induction and Graduation: Specific event will be organized for introduction and familiarization among participants, and they will be inducted to understand the purpose and expectations from them during and after the programme. Certificates will be presented during the Graduation ceremony, which will be on the last day of the programme.

Final Examination: Final examination will be conducted on the final day.

Mentorship and Tracking: Alumni of the programme will be attached with particular mentors for further mentorship or counseling for a period. The alumni will be updating the programme with progresses and successes they achieve after the course. This will help track the impact of the course.
Feedback: at the end of each session, feedback form will be filled by interested participants to received responses and suggestions for improvements.

MODULES:
The following will be some of the courses to be offered to the participants. These modules will continue to be updated to accommodate more innovations and strategic courses based on the specific demand or emerging gaps.

1.      Introduction 1: Introduction and Induction

This entails registrations, tag distribution, personal introduction of participants and ceremonial declaration of the programme.  The introduction of the programme will be presented by the Programme leader. The participants will become familiar with the courses to be administered and the expectations from them. They will get to know the programme team members. They will ask questions during the interactive session. This will last for maximum of two hours, depending on the designed programme for the day. A group picture will be arranged after the induction.

2.      Diagnosis 1: Diagnosis (Psychometrics): Personality and Aptitude Tests:

The Module aims:
i.                    To identify the strength and weaknesses of the participants and give them area of concentration for improvement
ii.                  To identify their level of experience particularly in leadership and personal development
iii.                To identify participants’ commitment to learning
iv.                To identify skills each participants needs to develop
v.                  To realise the kind of personality and leadership style they have.
vi.                To benchmark their leadership abilities
vii.              To test the level of English language proficiency in oral and writing.
viii.            Identify their IQ level

At the end of this module, participants are expected to leverage on their strength in character, vision, strategy, tactic, focus, persuasiveness, likeability, decision ability and team building.

3.      Realisation and Categorization 1: Self-Discovery and Grouping of Participants

At the end of the module, participants will reflect back on their new discovered strengths and weaknesses. They can be asked to mention it. They can then be asked to identify what sort of leaders they think they are. They will be able to also develop clear understanding of what they will work on to personally develop, and identify important next steps to personally develop. They will also be given recommendations on the areas they need to concentrate for further self-development. The participants will then be grouped according to the similarity of their leadership and personal development stages.
The module also helps participants to have an idea on:

i.    The kind of leaders they are.
ii.   The scopes of their leadership skills (coverage, when, how and why they lead, types and level of their subjects).
iii.  Their adaptability to changing circumstances and environment.
iv.  How to build up and bridge their leadership skills gap.

4.      Inspiration 1: Inspiration Boosters and Killers

The module aims to:
i.                    Equip participants with the understanding of inspiration and its various sources
ii.                  Educate participants on the major inspiration boosters and killers
iii.                Inform participants on how to maintain continuous life inspiration

At the end of the module, participants will be able to
-          Know the sources of inspirations
-          Identify the major killers and boosters of inspiration
-          Realise their strong source of motivations

5.      Inspiration 2: Inspirational and Motivational Talks

The module aims:
        i.            To inspire participants to believe in themselves and dream higher.
      ii.            To build urge in participants to achieve more in life.
    iii.            To build higher benchmark for life achievements.
    iv.            To help participants learn from other people’s lives.
      v.            To help participant identify their sources of inspiration and what motivates them.
    vi.            To motivate participants to give full attention to the program.

Expected outcome:
At the end of the class, participants will be:
-          Motivated and inspired
-          Inspired to open their minds and explore new ideas
-          Prepared and excited to chances and risks to succeed
-          Encouraged to work harder
-          Able to reaffirm faith in hard work and optimism

6.      Vision 1: Developing Ambitions and Targets
The aim of this module is to:
  1. Understand what is vision and what is not a vision
  2. Inspire participants to create visions and set targets for their lives
  3. To educate participants on how to build visions and the steps to achieving it
At the end of this module, participants will be able to:
-          Develop visions for the lives they want.
-          Be acquainted with the steps to building a vision.
-          Develop plans and goals to achieving their visions.
-          Get rid of unconscious fear in building a better future.
-          Detach themselves from their present conditions to set new visions for the future.
-          List down their visions and apply all the lessons they learn in this programme toward achieving it.

7.      Vision 2: Developing Ambitions and Targets

The same objectives and expected outcome as in “Vision 1” above.

8.      Reading 1: Improving Reading Skills (Speed, Spelling and Comprehension)

The Module aims:
        i.            To help participants improve their reading skills.
      ii.            To inspire the reading culture among the participants.
    iii.            To prepare participants to become effective and fast readers.
    iv.            To help participants improve their spelling and comprehension skills.

Expected outcome:
At the end of the module, participants will be able:
-          To build passion for reading.
-          To learn best practices to improve the speed of their reading skills.
-          To develop effective comprehension and spelling skills.

9.      Reading 2: Improving Attention to Detail Skills

The module aims:
        i.            To improve participants’ attention skills in reading and listening.
      ii.            To acquaint participants with certain exercise to improve attention.
    iii.            To identify the level of attention of each participant for the purpose of improvement.

At the end of the module, participants will be able:
-          To become meticulous and pay attention to detail.
-          To realise and learn effectively any learning opportunity through attention.
-          To improve their learning skills.
-          To identify their attention gaps and recognise the necessary steps to improve attention skills.
-          To enable participants to think outside the box to help in addressing problems.

10.  Expression 1: Pronunciations, Vocabulary and Grammar Development

The Module aims:
  1. To identify and address weaknesses or common mistakes in expression especially in English language.
  2. To improve efficiency and fluency in communication.
  3. To improve attentiveness in listening and writing in English language.
  4. To improve pronunciation of English words and grammar in English language.
  5. To identify easy techniques of improving communication in English language beyond text book.
At the end of the course, the participants will be able to:
-          Significantly improve his/her English Language communication skills.
-          Avoid common mistakes in English language communication.
-          Take up challenge to undergo independent tasks and studies to improve his/her English Language.
-          Build confidence in public communication as a result fluency in the language.
-          Improve his/her vocabulary.
-          Be trusted, efficient and earn respect in leaderships and representation roles.

11.  Expression 2: Getting rid of fear and building confidence in public speech

The Module aims to help Participants:
  1. Overcome fear in self-expression.
  2. To be effective and build confidence in public speeches.
  3. To help discover latent skills in public communication.
  4. To teach techniques and approaches for effective public communication to the participants.
  5. To inform participants of risks of fear.
  6. To unveil various fear syndrome and how to overcome it.
  7. To improve general self-confidence.
At the end of the course, the participants will be able to:
-          Be confident in public communication.
-          Understand fear and master how to get rid of it.
-          Live to their full potentials because fear is capable of holding people back.
-          Dream big and build hope to achieve success and greatness.
-          To be actors not only dreamers, and accept any opportunity presented them.
-          To face life challenges confidently and try any possible dream.

12.  Expression 3: The Basics of Public Speaking

The Module aims:
  1. To develop ethics and best practices in delivering public speeches.
  2. To discover basics of implementing effective public speeches.
  3. To identify steps in preparing for effective public speeches.
At the end of the course, the participants will be able to:
-          Learn how to be excellent speakers.
-          Adopt perfect tunes and engagement relevant to the audience, purpose, expectations and topic.
-          Structure speeches in an easily logical and clear pattern.
-          Make impressive and indelible memory of their speeches.
-          Be experts in retaining attentions of the audience and engage with them in public speeches.
-          Be able practice public speeches and discover weaknesses and strengths.
-          Make concise presentations within limited time

13.  Expression 4: Video presentation of good public speakers and selection of speech mentors

The Module aims:
  1. To showcase selected best public speeches to give participants feel and understanding of effective public speeches.
  2. To inspire participants from best public speeches.
  3. To enable participants to select their own speech mentors, from whom they will build their skills.
At the end of the course, the participants will be able to:
-          Understand what to expect in good public speeches, and how it looks like.
-          To practically identify the key components of good speeches.
-          To compare and contrast between various speeches to identify common features of good speeches.
-          To select their favourite public speaker and identify reasons why they chose them.
-          To ponder on a selected speech and revert to the team to share the qualities they found in the speech.
-          Learn the basic secrets of great speakers.
-          Watch great speeches.

14.  Expression 5: Reflection and lessons from selected speakers

The Module aims:
  1. To enable participants to outline basic qualities of speeches from their chosen speeches.
  2. To build image of a good speech.
  3. Improve listening attention to speeches to learn and discover qualities from them.
  4. To give the participants opportunity to learn and share among themselves basic skills they independently discovered from their speech mentors.
At the end of the course, the participants will be able to:
-          Discover diverse qualities that make great speeches.
-          Put those qualities into practice.
-          Analyse and evaluate any public speech.
-          Prepare themselves to be efficient communicators and great speakers.

15.  Expression 6: Practice through public presentations (topic to be chosen by participants)

The Module aims:
  1. To give the participants the experience of real life speech.
  2. To enable participants practice the good qualities they learned from their speech mentors.
  3. To encourage peer learning and inspiration in public speeches.
  4. To enable participants review each other’s speeches.
  5. To help participants improve on their specific weakness practically.
At the end of the course, the participants will be able to:
-          Will be able to deliver a public speech within the stipulated time and qualities.
-          Demonstrate their strengths and qualities in public speech.
-          Deliberately work on their weakness and receive feedback on their progress from their colleagues.
-          Experience how to identify filler words used in speeches and general evaluation of a speeches.
-          Identify the best speakers in the group.
-          To disclose their specific weaknesses so as to deliberately observe how they overcome it.

16.  Writing 1: Writing professional letters, emails, texts etc

The module aims to:
i.                    Enhance the participants’ professionalism in official and semi-official paper and online communications.
ii.                  Expose them to a more professional way of writing emails and letters.
iii.                Understand the ethics and manners in writing emails and letters.
iv.                Understand the different formats and approaches in official communications.

      At the end of the module, participants will be able to:
-          Write professional letters and emails in concise and correct format.
-          Reduce the grammatical errors and imprecision of official letters and emails.
-          Give good impression to readers of their emails and letters through politeness and adequate presentation and structure.
-          Adopt professional ethics in regular text messaging.

17.  Movies 1: Inspirational movies

The Module aims:
  1. To Inspire participants from world most inspirational short videos.
  2. To enable participants to draw lessons from each inspirational short videos.
  3. To inspire participants to take action and increase their morals.
At the end of the course, the participants will be able to:
-          Realise themselves and what they are meant to be and can achieve.
-          Take up life opportunities and become highly optimistic.
-          Boost their self-confidence and increase their hope for the future.
-          Expand their visions and goals in life.
-          Be ready to take action and overcome challenges.
-          Rate and note lessons from inspirational videos.
-          Narrate their experience and lessons learnt from the videos.

18.  Team 1: Team work development

The Module aims:
  1. To highlight the importance of teamwork.
  2. To develop a team spirit of participants.
  3. To prepare participants to understand the process of building teamwork.
At the end of the course, the participants will be able to:
-          Develop necessary skills in team building.
-          Work effectively in a team and achieve more success.
-          Inspire and help in the success of others.
-          To work effectively without caring about who takes the credit.

19.  Team 2: How to be a good team leader

The Module aims to:
i.                    Develop the participants’ leadership talents in a team
ii.                  Prepare Participants to become effective team leaders
iii.                Identify what make up a good team leader

At the end of the module, the participants will be able to:
-          Become effective team leaders
-          Lead by example
-          Master the art of delegation
-          To relate to their team members
-          To earn respect from their team members without demanding it

20.  Team 3: Peer sharing, motivation and confession

The module aims to:
i.                    Provide opportunity for participants to share their story.
ii.                  Inspire participants from the lessons of their colleagues’ stories.
iii.                Eliminate shyness and hiding of weaknesses.
iv.                Encourage confessing past and present mistakes or challenges and how they were (or to be) overcame.
v.                  Enhance peer inspiration.

At the end of the module, participants will be able to:
-          Freely express themselves and highlight their own identified challenges.
-          Listen to others’ stories and make them feel they are not alone.
-          Inspire them to be ready to take measures to overcome their challenges.
-          To learn from others’ struggles in overcoming challenges.

21.  Team 4: Adaptability and working among diverse groups

The module aims to:
i.                    Improve the expression abilities and confidence of participants among diverse groups, and help them adapt and become successful
ii.                  Help participants develop and build adaptation skills
iii.                Introduce the basic benefits of diversity
iv.                Help participants learn how to get along with individual or group from different background

At the end of the module, participants will be able to:
-          Freely converse and have confidence where ever they find themselves
-          Respect, learn and adapt to other people’s cultures and opinions
-          To overcome the challenges and fear of diversity
-          Be effective leaders even among diverse group

22.  Team 5: Practical Team Work

The module aims to:
i.                    Expose participants to real life experience of team work.
ii.                  Enhance the basic practical skills required in a team work.
iii.                Realize their strengths and weaknesses in team work.
iv.                Set targets for each participants and evaluate his/her performance in a team.

At the end of the module, participants will be able to:
-          Experience real team work and apply certain skills in the team.
-          Perform a specific role in a team and realize their abilities and specialties in team work.
-          Collectively deliver a mission within a specified timeframe to assess their effectiveness of their teamwork
-          Showcase various skills in achieving a mission and establish trust among team members for more efficiency.
-          Receive feedback on their performance within the group by their team members.

23.   Civic 1: Civic and Citizenship Education: Nigerian Constitution and Electoral Acts

The Module aims:
  1. To promote good and informed citizenry for unyielding patriotism
  2.  To promote civic consciousness and nationalism against extremism
  3. To explore the founding values of Nigeria
  4. To promote character and social cohesion
  5. To promote law and order
  6. To enlighten participants of their major constitutional rights and responsibilities in democracy
  7. To fill the gap of social and citizenship education in tertiary institutions
At the end of the course, the participants will:
-          Become aware of their rights and responsibilities as citizens
-          Be patriotic and law abiding citizens
-          Be willing to sacrifice and engage in civic participation
-          Be involved in public life and affairs
-          Be open to volunteer and become selfless in their socio-economic endeavours
-          Become responsible and become concern about other people’s welfare

24.  Thinking 1: Strategic Thinking Development and Planning

The module aims to:
i.                    Develop the skills of strategic thinking.
ii.                  Build the skills of strategic planning.
iii.                Build vision and the skills of thinking outside the box.
iv.                Build logical and creative minds.
v.                  Build the skills of strategic planning.

At the end of the module, the participants will be able to:
-          View issues from different perspectives.
-          Possess the skills of strategic planning.
-          Understand the steps of developing strategic thinking.
-          Adapt the habits of strategic thinkers.
-          Understand the key component of strategic plan.

25.  Manners 1: Professional approaches, appearance, manners, wining people, inspiring others

The Module aims:
  1.  To develop professional manners, approaches, and appearances.
  2. To improve the skills of socialization in a formal setting.
  3. To educate participants on the professional etiquettes and ethics.
At the end of the course, the participants will be able to:
-          Look and act professionally in a formal or professional environment.
-          Improve on formal communication skills and behaviours.
-          Earn respect, love and integrity among their colleagues.
-          Inspire others.

26.  Manners 2: Control of Emotion and Temperament

The Module aims to:
  1. Build skills for emotional and temperamental control.
  2. Equip participants with tactics to avoid negative thoughts and overreaction to circumstances.
  3. Build emotional intelligence of the participants.
At the end of the module, the participants will be able to
-          Control their anger and act nicely even at disappointing outcomes.
-          To understand the strategy to quench anger and build positive temperament.
-          To identify why and what make them angry.
-          To know their temperament and how to control it.
-          To improve their good health, emotional maturity and happiness.

27.  Face to Face 1: Meeting and Hearing (success and failures stories) from different Leaders of different styles and organizations

28.  Face to Face 2: Meeting and hearing (approaches to problems) from different Leaders of different styles and organizations.

29.  Face to Face 3:  Reflection on the lessons and discovery after meeting leaders

The modules (Face to Face 1 to 3) aim to:
  1. Connect participants to real life leaders
  2. To hear and lean from real life experiences
  3. Have primary contact with different types of leaders
  4. Hear and learn from success and failure stories of real life leaders
  5. Inspire participants and guide them in career choice
  6. Understand the different approaches to addressing problems
At the end of the module, the participants will be able to:
-          Understand the real life challenges and how to overcome it
-          Learn the qualities required for success from practical perspective
-          Identify the causes of failures in many sectors of life
-          Link up and create contacts with real life leaders for guidance
-          Hear directly from practical experience of successes and failures
-          Solve problems on their own
-          Understand the behind the scene of every success
-          Understand different leadership styles and approaches
-          Reflect on the lessons and discoveries learned from the leaders

30.  Manners 3: Integrity Development, Volunteerism and Selflessness

The module aims to:
  1. Maintain high ethical values in participants.
  2. Improve reliability and confidence on the participants.
  3. Improve the culture of selflessness and volunteerism.
At the end of the Module, participants will be able to:
-          Be honest and sincere in every circumstances.
-          To stand for the truth even if it displeases others.
-          Improve self-awareness and live to specific values.
-          Be selfless, volunteers and patriotic.
-          Widen their horizons.

31.  Advanced/Intermediate MS office skills 1: Advanced skills/application of MS office (Word, Excel, and PP)

The module aims to:
i.                    Assess and advance the skills of participants in MS office for word, excel, and PowerPoint.
ii.                  Identify the gaps in the MS office application skills and help fill them.
iii.                Improve the general proficiency in MS office

At the end of the module, participants will be able to:
-          Fill the MS office skills checklist to identify their strengths and weaknesses
-          Be able to confidently itemise and communicate their MS office skills
-          Know how to improve their proficiency and speed in MS office.

32.  Leaders 1: Causes of Leadership Failures and Successes with Examples

The aim of this module is to
  1. Broaden the participants’ leadership inspiration beyond local leaders to global leaders
  2. Explore other common traits of successful leaders
  3. Study theories and examples of successes and failures in various leadership spheres
At the end of the module, participants will be able:
-          To be inspired by global success and failure stories
-          To learn and adopt leadership traits from
-          Understand what differentiate successful and unsuccessful people in different sectors

33.  Practice 1: Learning from Real Leadership Challenges

The module aims to
  1. Give opportunity to participants to practice real leadership
  2. Allow participants implement the leadership skills they learnt
  3. Reveal the actual leadership approaches and creativity of the participants
  4. Be familiar with variety of real life leadership challenges and approaches to address them.
At the end of the Module, participants will be able to:
-          Have a real impression of facing and overcoming challenges
-          Practice leadership
-          Cope with both external and internal challenges
-          Employ strategies to cope with the challenges that leadership brings
-          Build sense of imagination of possible challenges in leadership

34.  Entrepreneurship 1: Training on Business Skills: Unveiling Business Ideas and Opportunities

35.  Entrepreneurship 2: Training on business skills: Business Plan and Management

The modules (Entrepreneurship 1 & 2) aim to:
  1. Equip participants with the required skills to be successful entrepreneurs.
  2. Unveil various business opportunities to participants.
  3. Train participants on business plan and management.
At the end of the Module, participants will be able to:
-          To become aware of new ideas and opportunities to be an entrepreneur.
-          To appreciate business ideas and how to implement it despite inadequate capital.
-          To plan and manage business.
-          To learn new business skills of sourcing capital, financial management and marketing.

36.  Job 1: Employability Skills, Preparing a Good CV and Interview Skills

The module aims to:
i.                    Enhance the participants’ employability skills.
ii.                  Help in discovering the participants’ interest and the kind of job that will be good for them.
iii.                Help in identifying the specific goals of the participants in their life.
iv.                Prepare participants to write a very good Curriculum Vitae.
v.                  Prepare the participants for successful job interview.

At the end of the module, participants will be able to:
-          Identify the missing skills they need to have for their dream job.
-          To discover their interest and concentrate in preparing for specific jobs.
-          Identify their life goals, and avoid distractions.
-          Write an impressive Curriculum Vitae.
-          Confidently prepare and pass any job interview.

37.  Job 2: Meet Prospective Employers. Meet, learn from and engage with employers to know what they really look for. Interview strategies.

The module aims to
                    i.            Expose participants to the real experience of work environment
                  ii.            Acquaint participants with the required skills in work place
                iii.            Connect participants with the employers of their dream careers
                iv.            Enhance the employability of the participants
                  v.            Help participants prepare for their careers adequately

At the end of the Module, participants will be able to:
-          Connect and engage with employers
-          Understand specific requirements for their chosen careers
-          Prepare for the labour market
-          Understand different career options in their field
-          Boost their confidence in their ability to interact with employers
-          Build their network
-          Develop their professional communication skills
-          Meet people with career paths that will inspire them
-          Get insider information on internship, mentorship & job opportunities

38.  Accountability and Time Management 1: Accountability, Financial Discipline, and Time Management

The module aims to:
i.                    Improve the financial discipline and management
ii.                  Prepare participants to effective and rationally manage their resources
iii.                Improve the participants’ integrity, accountability and financial prudence
iv.                Improve the participants’ skills in time management and task prioritization

At the end of the module, participants will be able to:
-          Apply different time management strategies
-          Be more productive and efficient
-          Be accountable and develop financial prudence and accountability
-          Know how to prioritize tasks, delegate tasks, and discard unimportant tasks
-          Monitor time spent for every activity

39.  Mentorship 1: Assign Mentors to Each Participant

The module aims to:
  1. Connect successful practitioners and professionals with emerging ones for guidance and support
  2. Build confidence of the participants and help them choose a specific and informed career path
  3. Build skills of consultations, Interpersonal relationships and learning from experts
  4. Identify specific development gaps and help fill them
  5.  Help participants set relevant goals for their vision
  6. Give opportunity for mentors to share knowledge and invest on the emerging professionals
  7. Pair and match mentors with the participants for two months after the programme.
At the end of the module, participants will be able to:
-          Have confidence and fill their development gaps
-          Receive feedback on their personality, strengths and weaknesses
-          Build a clear path to achieving their visions
-          Expand their networks for collaborations and supports
-          Break down barriers and creates opportunities for success
-          Develop cognitive skills in order to strengthen the mental process of discovering, analysing and solving problems to overcome obstacles.
-          Have mentors that will mentor them for two months after the programme

40.  Categorization 2: Final Discovery of Self-Strengths and Kind of Leadership Class Each Participant Belongs and Examination

The module aims to:
i.                    Enable participants to reflect back on their new discovered strengths and weaknesses.
ii.                  Identify the kind of leaders they are.
iii.                Enable participants to develop clear understanding of what they will work on to personally develop.
iv.                Receive recommendations on leadership and personal development beyond the programme.
v.                  Identify among the participants who they share common strengths and weaknesses for future collaboration or mutual support.
vi.                Give space for participants to share their experiences during the programme.

At the end of the module, participants will be able to:

-          Realise who they are and opportunities they have.
-          Develop clear vision on what their life goal is and areas they need to work on more.
-          Create network of friendship and partnership for future collaboration and development.
-          Receive strategic and relevant recommendations on how to personally develop.
-          Tell how much difference the leadership programme has made to them.








Calendar for the programme



Time
Day 1 
Day 2 
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
9:00-10:00
Introduction 1: Induction and Introduction
Reading 1: Improving Reading Skills (Speed, Spelling and Comprehension)
Expression 5: Reflection and lessons from selected speakers
Team 1: Team work development
Team 2: How to be a good team leader
Manners 1: Professional approaches, appearance, manners, wining people, inspiring others
Manners 2: Control of Emotion and Temperament
Advanced/Intermediate MS office skills 1: Advanced skills/application of MS office (Word, Excel, and PP)
Job 1: Employability Skills, Preparing a Good CV and Interview Skills
10:00-11:00
Diagnosis 1: Diagnosis (Psychometrics): Personality and Aptitude Tests:
Realisation and Categorization 1: Self-Discovery and Grouping of Participants
Reading 2: Improving Attention to Detail Skills
Expression 1: Pronunciations, Vocabulary and Grammar Development
Expression 6: Practice through public presentations (topic to be chosen by participants)
Team 3: Peer sharing, motivation and confession
Team 4: Adaptability and working among diverse groups


Face to Face 1: Meeting and Hearing (success and failures stories) from different Leaders of different styles and organizations
Face to Face 2: Meeting and hearing (approaches to problems) from different Leaders of different styles and organizations.
Leaders 1: Causes of Leadership Failures and Successes with Examples
Practice 1: Learning from Real Leadership Challenges

Job 2: Meet Prospectus Employers. Meet, learn from and engage with employers to know what they really look for. Interview strategies.
Break
11:00-11:15
Break
Break
Break
Break
Break
Break
Break
11.15-12:15
Inspirational 1: Inspiration Boosters and Killers
Inspirational 2: Inspirational and Motivational Talks
Expression 2: Getting rid of fear and building confidence in public speech
Expression 3:
The Basics of Public Speaking

Writing 1: Writing professional letters, emails, text
Team 5: Practical Team Work
Civic 1: Civic and Citizenship Education: Nigerian Constitution and Electoral Acts

Face to Face 3:  Reflection on the lessons and discovery after meeting leaders
Entrepreneurship 1: Training on Business Skills: Unveiling Business Ideas and Opportunities
Accountability, and Time Management 1: Accountability, Financial Discipline, and Time Management
Mentorship 1: Assign Mentors to Each Participant
12:15-13:15
Vision 1: Developing Ambitions and Targets
Vision 2: Developing Ambitions and Targets
Expression 4: Video presentation of good public speakers and selection of speech mentors
Movies 1: Inspirational movies
Thinking 1: Strategic Thinking Development and Planning
Manners 3: Integrity Development, Volunteerism and Selflessness
Entrepreneurship 2: Training on Business Skills: Business Plan and Management
Categorization 2: Final discovery of self-strengths and kind of leadership class each participant belongs and Examination


OPTIONAL PERIODS FOR THE PROROGRAMME:

1.      7-days Intensive: This runs from 9:00 to 13:15 daily for the continues period of 7 days. The programme sessions can take place anytime if at least 30 participants registered for the programme in a location.

2.      Weekend Session: This runs from 9:00 to 14:15 for only weekends for three weeks. The programme sessions can take place anytime if at least 30 participants registered for the programme in a location.

FEES AND ENROLMENT:

Cost estimation for each programme can be provided upon request, and will be based on the available opportunities, location and specific requirements. The costs will cover cost for course materials and instruments, facilitators, resource persons, certificates, venue, running cost, logistics and transport, etc. The minimum number of participants per session is 30, and maximum of 50. Participants are to sponsor themselves for the programme by paying a stipend that will cater for the running cost of the programme. However, philanthropists, organisations, government officials, academic institutions or individuals may wish to sponsor interested participants for the programme.

The fees is decided per state, and admitted participants will be advised on the fees in their admission letters.

To sign up for the programme, please fill the online registration form from the following link for free. Upon successful registration, participants will be informed of the period in which they are expected to make payment and provide evidence of that for them to enrol into the programme.

You can register online from this link: https://goo.gl/ichyGY

CONTACTS:

For more information about the programme, enrolments or timetable, you can contact:

Dr. Ahmed Adamu,
Programme Leader,
08188949144, 08034458189,

About the Programme Leader: 

Dr. Ahmed Adamu: First Ever Global Chairperson, Commonwealth Youth Council. He was elected on November 12, 2013 as the first Chairperson of the Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC), which is the largest youth-led organisation in the world, representing over 1.2 Billion young people from across the 53 Commonwealth nations worldwide. He represented his country in many international and commonwealth youth programmes, and was the pioneer Chief Whip of the Nigerian Youth Parliament. Dr. Ahmed was an International expert at United Nation’s Global Forum on Youth Policies; Member, Policy Strategy Group, United Nations’ World We Want; Member, International Panel of Judges for Youth Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition; Observer member, International Youth Task force for 2014 World Conference on Youth; Member, Advisory group panel on 50th Anniversary of the Commonwealth Secretariat. He was the Nigerian youth observer at the ECOWAS parliament, and the founder and pioneer president of the League for Democratic Youth. Dr. Ahmed was a member of the Katsina state executive council committee on youth development, he also served as the secretary of the Nigerian constitutional review consultation committee, and was the founder and president of Oil and Gas scholars club. He is the founder and president of Katsina Debate Club, publicity secretary of Civil Liberties organization, Katsina branch, secretary of integrity club. He was elected as the National Chairman (CTC) of the National Association of Katsina State Students (NAKATSS) National Body, he was also elected as the Financial Secretary of Students Union Government of Bayero University Kano, among so many other past leadership responsibilities and experiences.

He holds PhD in Oil and Gas Economics from Newcastle University, United Kingdom; He is a University Lecturer, also a member of many international and national professional organizations. He published and presented many international and national academic papers, and participated in several international and national academic conferences. He published a book titled “Comparative Assessment of Petroleum Sharing Contracts in Nigeria”.

He was honoured with many International prestigious awards which include; the Global Achievers Award by the Global Achievers Awards; Outstanding Service Award by the Commonwealth; Award of Excellence by the Commonwealth Youth Council; African Young Personality of the year (2015) award by African Youth Awards; and African Achiever of the year for 2014 by the African Achievers Awards. He is the winner of GPLUS Award, UK and he was named among the 100 most Influential Young Africans (2016). He was also ranked among the top 20 most Influential Young Nigerians in the list of 2016 100 most Influential Young Nigerians by Advance Media Africa. He is a recipient of Nationalist Beacon Award and Nigerian Dream Personality Honors. He was also honoured as an inspirational Nigerian by Those Who Inspire Ltd. He also received award of excellence from the League for Democratic Youth, and was awarded as the most influential student union leader by the National Economics Students Associations (NESA). Dr. Adamu is one of the most influential youth leaders in the world. Being the Pioneer Global Chairperson of the CYC, he met with many global leaders and travel wide; he has recorded numerous achievements under his leadership as the CYC Chairperson. He is a youth worker, mentor, motivator and inspirational speaker. He is blessed with a son and a wife.

Tuesday, 4 April 2017

Special Dinner in Honor of Dr. Ahmed Adamu

Dr. Ahmed Adamu making his speech during
 the dinner in his honor
On 16th March 2017, I was humbled by the unexpected recognition and honor given to me during a special dinner organised in my honor by the Nigerian Young Professionals Forum (NYPF). This came to me as a surprise, and I humbly accepted it because I did not ask or demand for it. I must commend the courage and sacrfice made by the National Chairman of NYPF, His Excellency, Moses Siasia for organising this reception in my honor. I want to appreciate the contribution and support of my friend the young Alhaji Jamil Sadauki and Hon Faruq M Yabo from Sokoto states for also making the event successful and colorful. I was amazed by the turnout at the dinner. I thank you all for coming and well wishes, you made me feel as if i am a groom again. I want to list down few of the attendees:
1. Samson Siasia (Former Super Eagle Coach)
2. Col. Abdulazeez Yar'adua (Junior Brother to Late President Umaru Musa Yar'adua)
3. Hon. Nasir Adhama (SSA to President on Youth and Students Matters)
4. Hon. Bashir Ahmed (SSA to President on New Media)
5. Alkasim Muhammad Zangina (Northern Chairman of NYPF)
6. Prince Kabir Ado Bayero (Manager at NERC)
7. Hon Ayodele (Speaker of Nigerian Youth Parliament
8. Clerk and honourable members of Nigerian Youth Parliament
9. Hon Udens (President of Ijaw Youth Council)
10. Mohammed Ibrahim (Chairman, Start up Arewa)
11. Engr Abubakar Murtala Malumfashi (SA to MD of FERMA)
12. Nazir Galadanchi
13. Maryam Laushi
14. Abu Aminu
15. Sadeea Jimeta
16. Wasila Abdul
17.The Impeccable Mohammed Tijjani Sabiu
18. Alhaji Abdulhameed Alhaji (The General)
19. Charles Olufeni (President, Re-Orientation Advocacy of Nigeria)
20. Hamza of Anti Corruption
21. Hon Oscar (SA to Senate President on Youth)
And many more important dignitaries that I cannot list all at a time. Thank you so much.
This has really encouraged me to do more.

The Press release from the NYPF

NYPF Boss, Moses Siasia presenting a gift to
Dr. Ahmed Adamu during the dinner
NYPF boss sues for excellence amongst young people
The Chairman, Nigerian Young Professionals Forum, (NYPF), Moses Siloko Siasia has called on Nigerians to depart from the practice of honouring corrupt individuals and embrace the culture of celebrating men and women of repute, who have distinguished themselves in various fields of endeavour.
Siasia said this during a dinner he hosted to honour the Pioneer Global Chairperson of Commonwealth Youth council, Dr Ahmed Adamu. While extolling the virtues of Dr Adamu, the NYPF Chairman said the Celebration is the organisation's way of saying "thank you" to Adamu for his selfless service as the Youth Council Global Chairperson at the Commonwealth.
He described him as someone who understands service to humanity, which he insisted remains the greatest work in life. He said "As an organisation, the Nigeria Young Professionals Forum looks at Young men and women of great character because our society is so porous with wicked and selfish people. But for the young people who have distinguished themselves, we always celebrate them. As a body, the NYPF always celebrate excellence" and it is our responsibility as young people to make a choice either to be victims and be defeated or be a victor and make history, he said.
"We live in a society where criminals are being celebrated every day. We are not part of that kind of generation. We celebrate only men and women who have added positive value to society and not corrupt individuals", the NYPF asserted.
He lauded Dr Adamu for his impeccable leadership record during the period he steered the ship of the Commonwealth Youth Council, saying such virtue is rear " in a generation where so many young persons have become terribly selfish"
Siasia said
“this gathering of professionals is to appreciate you for your selfless service while you, Dr. Ahmed Adamu served as the pioneer global chair of the Commonwealth Youth Council. You selflessly represented the collective interest of the over 1.2 Billion young people under your leadership with a lot of passion, integrity and credibility he concluded.
The NYPF Chairman also sued for unity among all tribes and religions in the country, stressing that the factors which bring Nigerians together should be focused on, rather than those which divide the nation.
"You can see someone from the South Southern part of the country and a Christian celebrating a Moslem from the North. That is what the country should be all about; What bring us together as a people is greater than those which tears us apart" he said.
While thanking the NYPF Chairman for the Special Dinner, Ahmed Adamu disclosed that the gesture was the first of its kind since he returned from his service at the Commonwealth. Adamu charged young Nigerians to aim at excellence in every field they find themselves, as that remains the only way they can contribute to nation building.
He commended NYPF for showing leadership in its efforts towards promoting youth involvement in wealth creation and great attainments.He said
"NYPF has shown genuine appreciation to me. I deeply appreciate this gesture. This Honour is genuine because I didn't give money to earn this".
At the Dinner, Hon. FarukYabo MFR was appreciated for his contributions towards the aspirations of young people. The event which took place at Al-Basha Palace in Maitama Abuja was attended by Alhaji Nasir Adhama Special Adviser to the President on Youths and Students, Alhaji Bashir AhmedSpecial Adviser to the President on New Media, Barr. Oscar Mac-Obi Special Adviser to the Senate President on Youths, Coach Samson Siasia Former Nigerian Head Coach, Prince Kabiru Ado-Bayaro, Hon GbengaElebeleye Former DG of National Sports Commission, Rt. Hon Ayodele John Obe, Speaker of the Nigerian Youth Parliament, AlhajiJamilu Ahmed Saduaki Senior Adviser of NYPF and a lot of young enterprising innovative Nigerians.
Signed:
OwomilereObe
Director Communications NYPF

Friday, 24 February 2017

Re: CBN’s Foreign Exchange Policies

CBN Headquarters in Abuja
By Dr. Ahmed Adamu

Yesterday, I was interviewed at Vision FM (Katsina) during the popular live programme “Babban Magana”, and we discussed on the new Central Bank Nigeria (CBN) policy on Foreign Currency Exchange. I thought I should share my points during the interview as follows:

We have seen series of policies and interventions by the central bank since the beginning of the economic crisis in Nigeria, but there is no significant change and stability in the foreign exchange market yet. Sometimes, short term positive impacts are noticed, but do not sustain. Then, I ask, would this new policy of increasing supply of dollar going to make any difference in the long term?

Just like before when dollar was subsidised and made available, this time around too, the increased supply will stimulate some latent demand for dollar and therefore not make any difference, as the increased supply of dollar will be surpassed by additional demand for dollar. Some Nigerians would have ordinarily travel abroad for shopping, holiday, luxury, healthcare or education, but they will not when dollar was not available, but when it is available, they will. So, additional supply will always create additional demand. So, this will mean the equilibrium value of Naira will shift to an upper position, leading to a weaker Naira despite the increase in dollar supply eventually. That is why many of the CBN policies do not achieve its objectives, and it is not surprising if this new policy of additional dollar supply to all commercial banks and creating new dollar exchange outlets will not have positive effects too in the long run.

When dealing with country like Nigeria, CBN’s policies cannot work without new strategies that will manage foreign currency demand, because the Nigerian demand for foreign currency is unlimited and its supply is limited. No matter how much dollar is made available, it always has its limit, and the demand will always catch up with it. Foreign currency demand side management must therefore complement any forex policy.

The culture of foreign products’ pride and poor local infrastructure especially in health and education sector will never let Naira stable. So, instead of subsiding the rich and middle class to meet their demand for foreign luxury, health and educational trips, the cost can be channelled toward improving infrastructure that can meet those demand locally not for the middle class alone but for the lower classes too. The government should let the Naira determine its value, but curb the demand for foreign currency.

No amount of dollar supply will meet Nigerian explicit and latent demand for dollar, so the only possible measure is the control of its demand. The best strategy is to identify the major causes of demand for foreign currencies and set targets and strategy for reducing them to the lowest possible level. Like in my previous article (X-raying the current Nigeria’s Economic Challenges: Prospects & Solutions), I listed down the major imported products that needs to be tracked and reduce its consumption, which included imported refined petroleum, vehicles, electronic equipment, machines and engines, healthcare, education, consumables and cloths.

Therefore, this currency instability can be a blessing, because it will compel us to produce and rely on our local products if we strategize well. The campaign for local products patronage especially in healthcare, education, tourism and other consumables should be emphasised. The government should not put a ban on any importation anyway, the best way to ban importation of a product is to create a competitive alternative for it locally. Creation of these best alternatives is the only solutions, so that Nigeria can prosper without foreign currency influence. And this is what can make Naira an international currency, because by then other countries will start importing Nigerian products.

Apart from instilling unyielding patriotism, basic infrastructures like stable electricity, railways, healthcare and education must be adequately provided to curb importation. I once advice for five-year suspension of government sponsored scholarships abroad, and use the savings to build a world class standard universities locally, that will not only meet Nigerians demand for high quality education, but those of foreigners. Generally, changing the people’s culture and improving local capacity is the way to go, because, the problem with the naira is not the naira itself but the people that spend the naira and the weak economy.  

Dr. Ahmed Adamu,
Petroleum Economist and Development Expert,
First-Ever Global President of Commonwealth Youth Council,
University Lecturer (Economics), Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina.
08034458189.




Thursday, 9 February 2017

Addressing Food Inflation in Nigeria

By Dr. Ahmed Adamu

I read on the news that the high level taskforce responsible for advising government on solutions to food inflation has recommended usage of railway wagons and labelled trucks to transport food items as means to curb food inflation. My take is that how many states are linked with railways, barely a few, and these railways connect to only few major cities in these few states. This will mean food inflation is only targeted in those cities. I still wonder if there are enough railway wagons to serve the entire nation. Though, it is not a bad idea, but it is not holistic as it is intended.  

The food inflation is not also triggered by delay in transportation. It is understandable the price of diesel has surged, which makes cost of transportation higher. The general inflation, currently at 18.3%, has reduced purchasing power of people’s income, and this is the major problem the country is facing, as Nigerian real GDP has lost billions of Naira. People now spend close to or more than 80% of their income on food alone, which would have been somewhere around 50%. This increased the poverty prevalence in the country. What I was expecting to come out from this high level taskforce were more of a pragmatic outlook and perspectives. Therefore, I would suggest the followings:

Inefficiencies in food supply chain has contributed in the food inflation, where poor or inefficient agricultural systems still dominate the sector. Improving the viability and agricultural yields will help, and this can be achieved through output optimisation, crop diversification and large scale production without necessary need for land expansion. This applies to animal rearing and transportation. There should be a holistic agricultural roadmaps indicating gaps and stipulated intermediate and long term targets. Immediate investment in agricultural optimisation is something to consider, if some intervention exists, then they are not impacting yet. Majority of farmers cannot access agricultural extension services or information or improved seeds and approaches to optimise output. Most farmers incur extra ordinary and unnecessary costs in crop production, and this affect the price. Mechanisms must be in place to actualise minimum cost of production, like adequate extension services, improved and mechanised system of farming for all.

I still don’t think the banning of rice importation through land borders is the right decision, it ended up in creating cartel, and over a year, the price has not come down to its potential level. Human beings are rational, if they can skip local rice for foreign rice, then there must be a reason for that. In a competitive market, you don’t distort the market, products are allowed to sell themselves. May be people prefer foreign rice because it is cheaper, available, and qualitative. So, if you want them to buy local rice, then you have to first make the local rice competitive by making it available, affordable or even cheaper, and qualitative, and at that time, people will make their own decision to buy local rice, without enforcement. Production subsidy in the agricultural sector can be an option too. Rice as a major food item is significant as demand of its best alternatives can be oversaturated when price of rice increased.

Cost of transport has contributed to the food inflation. The petroleum subsidy has to be revisited and perhaps reintroduced in some selected sectors and in different approach. Even when cost of subsidy was claimed to be overwhelming on government shoulders, there could have been a better review and reintroduction of it as emergency measure. I once suggested a comprehensive study on the pattern of petroleum consumption in the country, which will give information on how much in reality need to be spent on required petroleum consumption subsidy devoid of the corruption. Fuel consumption in agricultural distribution segment can be conveniently subsidised. Therefore, Limited Petroleum Subsidy on agricultural sector can be applied, where food wholesale and retail distribution are strategically subsidised.

Immediate development of agric-market database can be developed to document and disseminate accurate information about what was produced, traded and at what price. This will avoid exploitation and information asymmetry, and will set uniform prices, and track acute price hike and its cause for immediate redress.  

Any barrier in the market must be removed, as competition is the measure for ensuring market stability and lower prices, and this re-emphasize the need to expand competition scope in food supply sector. Any sort of cartel or possible collusion or distortion has to be traced and get rid of. It is important to note that the general inflation has caused agric suppliers to aim for higher profit to enable them afford other inflated goods and services. So, you cannot tackle food inflation in isolation, measures to address general inflation has to key in as well.

Food inflation can be a reflection of the general inflation, so in addressing food inflation, we have to consider measures to curb general inflation. The Central Bank may consider reducing interest rate, because most of the inflations are triggered by high average cost, not by saturation of demand.  Federal and State governments should lower taxes, but not increase wages yet (not as a first measure, maybe in the future). This will reduce cost of production for the suppliers and increase purchasing power of individual incomes. The government should spend more on infrastructures that ease production or direct investment subsidies.

 Instead of sharing stipends to individuals, investments can be made through targeted subsidy and improved power supply, which will enable these individuals to cheaply start productions or businesses. These stipends have low value now, and will not make difference in the lives of the beneficiaries due to the inflation. So, instead of quantitative interventions, we should go for qualitative ones. Though social welfare is good, but basic infrastructural development is paramount.

For us to have agric based economy, we have to begin fighting the agricultural apathy among the people, many latent energy and output are not harnessed due to the indifference and agrarian nature of the farming system. So, people must be sensitised to have pride for agro-allied ventures, because, if there is no motivation, all investments will not impact.

Finally, instead of setting “high level” taskforces, the government should be able to tap from the intelligence of others that are not on the “high level” table. Government must be able to see various perspectives to enable it make informed decisions, and this can be achieved through inclusive consultations and participations in governance. 

Dr. Ahmed Adamu,
Petroleum Economist and Development Expert,
First-Ever Global President of Commonwealth Youth Council,
University Lecturer (Economics), Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina.
08034458189.




,

Sunday, 5 February 2017

Inspirational Video: Life Vision With Dr. Ahmed Adamu

"Do you have a vision? A man without a vision is like a car without an engine".. Inspirational Video by Dr. Ahmed Adamu. Watch here:

Monday, 2 January 2017

Politics and Youth Participation By Dr. Ahmed Adamu

The following is an excerpt of my speech delivered yesterday in Katsina during a political youth movement consultative meeting (you can watch the video of the speech from the YouTube link below).
It is time to stop shying away from Politics. We do a lot of activities and tend to say “It is not political”, but it is time now to be bold, and talk and engage in politics.
Today, mark the new dawn of youth political awakening. I am here to spark thought and invigorate young people’s active participation in politics.
At the current stage of our democracy and civilisation, we are not matured for political party ideology. We must stick to the ideology of credible candidates across political parties. Political parties do not dictate governance presently, people elected into positions end up doing what they personally believe in. In many instances, political party leaders tend to be absolutely loyal to the elected leaders, and not willing to redirect them to party principles (if any). There could be party manifestos, but the leaders do not adhere to it strictly. Electorates vote not based on party manifesto, but the personality of the candidates. Then if it is about the personality, we should not care about the party. Political parties are like rooms; anybody can walk in and walk out of it.
Political parties are largely monopolised by few of its leaders, and if we stick to a party, we are by extension handing over the fate of our governance to the hands of these few. There are high possibility of buying these few party leaders by unqualified candidates, giving room for bad leaders to emerge and money to play role. If we stick to credible candidates, every party must then make sure they fill credible candidates at all cost, because they know that failure to fill credible candidates will lead to the party failure. So, we have to make parties compete for credibility in the primary elections. When all parties eventually fill all positions with credible candidates, then naturally parties will differ and compete fundamentally based on ideology/manifesto, and people can then choose the parties that suits their common ideology knowing that all candidates are credible to actualise the ideology.
Sticking to party ideology gives room for unqualified candidates to emerge, because they have god fathers or they have money or they are founding party members, not because they are qualified and not because they have the knowledge and capacity to implement the ideology of the party (if any). And then, no matter how qualified other party candidates are, they will never be elected, because it is about the party not competent candidates. Politicians in some instances are selfish, and they can do anything to achieve their short term objectives, without considering the long term effect of it on the governance and democracy. Brainwashing people intentionally (especially through the use of religion) to take away their right of choice to achieve personal objective is tantamount to breach of the ideal of constitutional democracy. Even in America, they started with the selection of credible candidates across parties, and then when it was obvious that all parties have credible candidates, it then became about which party has the best plan and strategy to greatness.
Professionals and experts must not shy away from politics, politics is essential in our lives. Whether we like it or not, politicians are the ones to lead us and make decisions that affect us now and in the future. And like Plato once said “One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors”. To make it easy for credible candidates, political parties must be forced to scout for credible candidates, and compel competence on their prospective candidates, not to ask for who can bargain more. We have seen parties asking candidates how much are they willing to drop in cash not how qualified and competent are they.
Unqualified politicians demanding to be elected are selfish, and it is prohibited especially in Islam. Prophet (SAW) once said “Allah has forbidden you to demand what you do not deserve”. So it is absolutely forbidden to demand to be elected knowing that you are not qualified or there are others who are more qualified. We have to take responsibility to correct our ills, and if we do not do so God will punish us. Prophet once said “Allah does not punish the individuals for the sins of the community until they see the evil spreading among them, and while they have the power to stop it, and do not do so”. Leadership is very important for us, and we have to fix our political ills to make it right. If our leaders are upright, we will be upright, and if they are corrupt, the people will be corrupt.
“Whoever aids an oppressor or taught him an argument to nullify the right of an ordinary, has drawn upon himself the anger of God” Abdullah ibn Mas’ood.
Using religion primarily to deceive people is wrong; to hide behind religion to get personal benefits is cheating too. And what about the decision to choose between believer of your religion and non-believer? To answer this question, Salah Issa said “Absolutely not. We can vote for non Muslim candidates. Actually I was studying fiqh ( Islamic jurisprudence) and our teacher raised the question. If you have two leaders one extremely religious but knows nothing about politics and economics and the other non religious but an expert in politics and economics, who do you select to lead the nation? The answer from the fiqh perspective is that you always vote for the non religious person. The reason is that the religious one might in his ignorance hurt the citizens, and protecting the livelihood of the people is more important than electing a religious person even if he would be a person with great character. What I shared above is well established Islamic thought /philosophy. As Muslims it is not a stretch for us to use the same logic to elect who will be better for the country regardless of his/her religious beliefs.” ……..Wallahu A’alam.
Young people must develop interest to participate in politics and must do that strategically. That is why we encourage young people to set up political movement that will transit them into the mainstream of governance and to make difference in societies. Young people have vast energies, innovations and idea and they are more qualified because they know the current challenges and opportunities. The future we clamour to build is the house the young people are likely to live in, and there is no way you can design and build the house without the owner. Some of the older generation must stop looking down on us. We have to do our part by stopping to be their unconditional loyalist; it is not bad to have guardian and mentor, but not to be stooges. Young people are already the propellers of the country, some of us are soldiers putting our lives on the line to protect and preserve the country, doctors, engineers, builders, teachers etc, if we can do these, then we must lead. Youth generation of the 1960s played role to send away the illegal invaders (who others wrongly refer to colonial masters), young people have ruled at ages of 30s and 20s before, why not now when they are more prepared and equipped?. It is not appropriate to always pick from the retired generation when they lost energy and appetite, while you have bunch of energies and interests among the young people.
Finally, young people must take leadership steps by touching lives and making differences in their communities. They should not wait until they are elected in to political positions to make difference. They must be united and stop the hatred and envy among themselves. They should not think voting is their only democratic rights, young people must be able to hold their leaders accountable, sponsor bills, write petitions, and contribute to strengthening governance in their societies. From today, from this meeting, before we leave here, we have to set the roadmap to establish that political movement that will bring us together irrespective of our affiliations to inculcate the ideology of credible leadership and making difference in society. This movement will transit us to the real political stage and make us the strongest gladiators in the arena of politics. We have to invest and help our teaming young people who are not focussed or struggling to be better or trying to achieve more. We have to tax ourselves to raise finances to implement our development projects without the need to beg politicians. We have to agree on this movement before we leave here. This should not be like other previous meetings.
Thank you.
Dr. Ahmed Adamu,
Petroleum Economist and Development Expert,
First Ever Global Chairperson of Commonwealth Youth Council,
University Lecturer (Economics), Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina.

Sunday, 25 December 2016

Is Nigerian Great Depression Looming?

Speech Delivered by Dr. Ahmed Adamu at the Katsina Forum held on 25th December 2016.

Dr. Ahmed Adamu speaking during the Katsina Forum
On 1st week of July, 2016, Nigeria was declared officially in Economic recession, a situation where economic activities or productions decline for two consecutive quarters i.e. six months in a row. These continue to decline up to October 2016, making it likely for the country to face the most prolong economic recession since 1980s recession. A mere decline in value of goods and services produced in a country may sound a mere technicality. Yes, it is technical, because a country can be in recession, but the micro-economies might be doing just ok, and micro-economies might sometimes not be ok, but the country’s GDP growth rate going positive. So, it is sometimes beyond those negative GDP growth rate, it is about some key indicators like inflation (18.84% from 9% on May last year), real per-capita income and wages, access to infrastructure, unemployment (13.3% from 8%), value of currency (N490 from 200) , interest rate (14% from 12%), Foreign Exchange Reserve ($25bn from $37bn) etc. Looking at these indicators, records have shown that, they have not been favourable. These are the indicators people can observe to quantify the magnitude of a recession. If these indicators continue to be unfavourable for a period of up to a year, we can say we are in a depression. Depression is an extreme form of recession.

Therefore, depression is when we have significant increase in unemployment, decrease in access to capital, reduction in output, reduction in trades, currency value fluctuations, large number of bankruptcies. A technical definition of depression is when GDP decline rate exceed 10%, in Nigeria it started declining by -0.36%, then declined by -2.06%, and then by -.2.24%. So, going by this definition, Nigeria is not in depression yet. Going by the recent trend, the decline increased by more than 400%, but later increased by 8%, which shows the recent decline has increased at a lower rate compare to the initial decline. So, we cannot assume substantial decline up to 10% in a near future. However, if this decline continues for a period of two years, Nigeria can fall into depression. So, there can never be depression without recession, but there could be a recession without depression. A prominent example of depression was the famous 1930 depression.  To joke about it, recession is when your neighbour loses his job, but depression is when you lose yours. Demand fall can cause depression (Keynesians), increased money supply can also cause depression (monetarist).

Having looked at theories and facts above, we can see Nigeria is not likely to be in technical depression, but in the economy of many people, Nigeria is already in depression. Sometimes, we have to close the books, and look at reality. When you see people dying from starvation or economic frustration, that’s depression. When you have to go out and beg for food, that’s depression. When you can’t buy dinner for your family, that’s depression. Of course, when you cannot pay for the health and school bills, that’s depression. Now, look at your own economy, and tell me if you are somehow depressed or not.

Well, I know the level and severity of depression differ among individuals, so, some may already be in depression and some may not. In one way or the other, we can all agree that the Nigerian economy is not on the right track going by the indicators. If allowed to continue, we can face the general great depression . However, we can start thinking of solutions to avoid the great depression in the country. First, we have to know the causes of the current economic crisis in the country. Some of the causes were as a result of circumstances, inactions and sometimes as a results of “mis-actions”.

One of the circumstantial causes include the drop in oil price, which drastically reduce the country’s income and its ability to curb the resultant recession. This apparently exposed how vulnerable the country is to a shock in a single sector. This shows that the economy has no shock absorbers, and this was as a result of inaction of not investing sufficiently in other sectors of the economy to prevent severe hit from a sudden shock in one sector. Some scholarly findings have indicated likely presence of resource curse in Nigeria, as a reduction in oil revenue has thrown the economy into a recession. This caused the country to rely heavily on importation of goods and services to meet local demands, because the weak industrial and manufacturing sector cannot meet the demands. This then exposed the country’s currency to foreign shocks and continues depreciation due to increasing currency supply. To shield citizens from this depreciation and currency value fluctuations, the government created the foreign exchange subsidy, making it very comfortable to keep importing into the country to a level that was no longer sustainable. It has reached the level that people and businesses heavily rely on government to fund every foreign investment expenditure.

This made government to remove or reduce currency exchange subsidies, shooting the cost of import high. In addition, due to the low oil revenue, the government removed the petroleum subsidy, and as a results of these actions, the inflation reached the highest level in a decade. It was largely observed that inflation is the major cause of current economic hardship in the country.

Actions or inaction of every government must definitely have short and long term effects, and it is the responsibility of policy makers to take responsibility of any current economic challenge by identifying what was responsible so as to know the genesis and solutions. Despite the rising inflation, investments and productions keep declining, which push us near stagflation (persistent inflation and unemployment). Even though, it is common that political transitions cause delay or suspension of investment decisions, but lacklustre economic policies and decisions can help compound the crisis. Investors want to see clear short term and long term economic plans and strategy, and it is upon this they make their decisions. Nigerian economic policy indicators are not easily predictable, a times they come as a surprise. This makes aggregate demand to fall, due to low investments. Withdrawal or slow flow of income within an economy causes leakages out of the circular flow, which causes continues fall in aggregate demand.

Economic problems are natural, the pattern of the economy is always up and down, there are periods of stability and periods of stagnation, but what’s more important are the fiscal and monetary policies set to sustain stability or curb downturns. We now have to look at other fiscal policies that the policy makers put in place to address the economic recession. Spending more especially in critical infrasture and social welfare are very important. Borrowing money may be an option, but it has to be strictly for funding infrastructure projects capable of  generating revenue that can be used to service and repay the debt. The decision to operate a single government account created traffic in the flow of income, causing sluggish growth of demand in the pace of fast economic downturn. Despite its economic advantages, the treasury single account ought to have been clustered by sectors or suspended till period of stability.

Fiscal policy has direct impact on the economy, as such it requires very careful study but very quick in period of stagnation. Being very protective and suspicious of generous policies will not help in getting out of the situation. Closing land borders against importation of rice and cars are two important fiscal policy that we have to talk about when assessing the economic recession in the country. In period of economic recession, the economy must be relaxed and let free relatively to revert to equilibrium. Banning these importation are tantamount to exacerbating inflation and unemployment, leading to severe depression. Importation of rice and cars will automatically be stopped when Nigeria produces its quality cars and rice. It is not true to say until when we have no option that we will produce what we need, if we have to be this so lazy, many would have fall into depression. Despite all the options, we have to set target and strategy to replace all imported products with local ones. This is time to support local and big businesses, not to discourage them.

The monetary policy on the other hand has been targeting the inflation by raising and sticking the interest rate at 14% (from 12%), and Cash reserve ratio to 22.5% (from 20%), which reduces access to finances to reduce willingness to spend. However, the fiscal policy is doing everything to increase the willingness to spend and access to finances. This shows inconsistency between the two policies. The CBN must be willing to reduce the interest rate and increase money supply. The inflation we experience is not demand pull inflation, and once productions are subsidised and average cost reduced through provision of infrastructures, competition will increase and prices will reduce too.

Despite the monetary and fiscal measures, individuals have to play their roles of being patriotic and selfless. Market abuse or rent seeking is instrumental in aggravating depression. Everyone has to pitch in and sacrifice to make life better. People take advantage of inflation and Naira devaluation to exploit consumers, and if this continue, the Fiscal and Monetary Policy will not be effective.

Another important factor in analysing the economic depression is Population, a proxy for labour. Great depression can be imminent if more than half of country’s population are inactive due to their gender or poor background, and this is in addition to large percentage of unskilled labour force. Nigerian productivity rate per hour is $3.24 per hour, while in USA is $64.1 per hour, applying the same amount of labour inputs in an hour, Americans will produce output worth $64.1, while Nigerians will produce output worth $3.24. adding more unproductive population amidst shrinking resources lead to great depression. Women empowerment, skills prioritization (not qualification), reward for innovations and dedications, access to quality education and infrastructure will help Improve efficiency and productivity, and until then, we cannot be proud of the size of our population.

Finally, over dozing economy will make it sick again, what is more important is to identify the linkages between every sector and implication of every policy. One variable can be controlled, and others have to be let free. That is why engaging and involving experts in decision making  is inevitable for effective economic policies. To avoid further depression, there should be consultations prior to implementation of new policy, and necessary indicators have to be  identified to measure success or otherwise of every policy. We have to be ready to take difficult and vigorous policies, not necessary the lazy options, but enduring and careful policies.

Thank You.