I encourage every African to watch this captivating and insightful dialogue, “The West’s Unspoken Fear: China as the First Non-white Superpower”, from the perspective of African nation-building. It captures an essential point I usually communicate to Africans, namely that Africa cannot reach its developmental potential through the Western liberal democratic system.
Many Africans, especially the educated ones, have difficulties thinking outside this system and have become so mentally restricted that they can only see African progress through the lens of Western models. They are so “in the box” they cannot fathom other possibilities exist outside of it. The Western model is good for the West, but Africans need something different! Even the US did not just copy the British system, but formed something new for themselves. The Africans who champion copying the Western system like to argue and say “then what model should Africa use?”
In this question is both the problem and the answer. The subconscious admission in this question is, “We do not know how to think for ourselves and form an original developmental model that works for us as Africans, based on our unique heritage, so we need to rely on existing ready-made models from others to copy!” And in this attitude the iron gavel pounds in judgment!
In this thought is also the lack of faith and conviction in one’s own capacity to form something original that can hold its own and be equally successful in its own right. It is mental weakness finding comfort in the familiar that is neatly dressed up as “progress”. Wake up my people!
I say to you: the path to African nation-building and genuine progress lies in building new models of governance and development from the African spirit, that aligns with our heritage, culture, and nature. No matter how uncomfortable it feels, copying will not bring us to the Promised Land but only to a realm of pseudo progress.
China is showing the world it is a different people, so it needs a different system to grow. Even in the same family, each child needs a different path to reach its potential. Races are children born in the same human family. We have differences and need different frameworks to reach our potential! Once we accept this, we will find the strength and creativity to originally build for ourselves instead of copying from others. And this will earn us self-respect and pride in our indigenous capacity!
Anyone who aspires or proposes to be an African nation-builder, but who is only willing to strictly follow the adopted Western liberal model and is not committed to forming a new paradigm is a “person of concern” and cannot be a genuine African nation-builder.
The right African nation-builder will be willing or ready to creatively form a new paradigm, governing framework, and developmental model that works for the African people and enables them to reach their potential in their own way. As Africans we can draw lessons from China’s ascent, but not copy. Our path to progress will look different. It is through creative originality applied to national development that true sovereignty is gained!
Onward & Upward!
~Dr. Ikenna A. Ezealah, JD, PhD, MBA Builder of the African Future
The Framing Nigerian and African leaders, set politics aside and think strategically about the long-term lessons you can draw from the bellicose tweet that Trump recently sent, which can be applied to develop your people and protect your country from potential future geopolitical intrusions. Think like visionary nation-builders! I will help in this, so let us examine the words!
In response to claims of Christian deaths in Nigeria, Trump tweeted the following. I have bracketed words for logical emphasis: “IF the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, [THEN] the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that …. Country ‘guns-a-blazing’…”
In this essay I will not be addressing the claim of Christian deaths in Nigeria, but rather will focus on the broader principles to be drawn for African nation-building.
The Mechanisms: The claim of the antecedent IF is followed by the threat of the three-part enforcement mechanisms of THEN: aid, assistance, military. Therefore, your task as nation-builders is to form a long-term national developmental strategy that builds domestic institutions which would immunize you from these foreign mechanisms through self-sufficient productivity.
About Aid & Assistance You have been repeatedly warned that so-called foreign aid and assistance is often a cleverly orchestrated reconquest and control of national infrastructure through dependency. It is given to establish leverage, yet you carelessly overlook this and fall into the trap. So, when enforcement time comes, you are in a weak position. Your fault.
Action? List the different sectors of aid: Health, Humanitarian assistance, Security, Economic Development, Loans, Education etc. Next, form strategic action plans to develop domestic institutions that will make you self-sufficient in each of these sectors of US aid!
Health Assistance: Take health. Nigerians are everywhere in the US healthcare system and even drive innovations. Therefore, it is sheer leadership incompetence and wretchedness that Nigeria does not have one of—if not the best—healthcare industries on earth! Your task is to develop a strategy that will harness all the specialized medical skills and experiences of the Nigerian Diaspora to build a formidable and world-leading medical sector in Nigeria! Any Nigerian leader whose vision is not this big and ambitious for nation-building needs to resign and leave office forevermore.
Money/Loans: Think of money. Often you politicians carelessly get loans denominated in USD, embezzle it, then park the funds and assets in the US and Europe. You yoke your people to a foreign power, rob what little crumbs they receive from loans, then reinvest these stolen funds back to the foreign power. Such foolishness is incomprehensible. How are such human beings even a position of leadership? The US government sees all your monies and assets, where they are invested in their economy, so when these geopolitical situations arise, they can use this leverage to sanction and enforce their will against you. Again, it is carelessness of Nigerian leadership, for you have not created a safe economic environment domestically where assets can be protected, so you do not trust the country that you manage, meaning you do not trust yourselves. And this distrust is a proof and admittance of your own incompetence and failure. It is time to make this good.
Therefore, your task is to create the right regulatory environment that is uncompromisingly fair, devoid of corruption, and safe for the storage and protection assets. But this implies you must be absolutely ruthless and govern under the penalty of capital punishment against measures of corruption. Draconian severity is needed to purify governance. You must place the advancement of your country above everything but the Creator! Above tribe, family, children, above everything. Still fulfilling personal responsibilities, but nothing on earth should mean more to you than the fulfillment of duty to advance your people! Absolutely nothing! Such must be the honor cross of those who wish to serve the cause of African nation-building with their life!
About Military Intervention Foreign powers talk big about democracy, but they do not believe in it, they believe in control and force. They respect democracy to the degree it aligns with their national interests, and when it does not then their military is ready to violate territorial integrity for economic and geopolitical purposes under the banner of a moral cause. You must understand this, for history and current events bear witness to this truth. Therefore, let me ask you: which country in Africa has a robust defense industry? Institutions that develop original defense research and innovations, and then manufactures weapons for national and continental self-defense? Answer: NONE. Therefore, your task is clear as nation-builders: make Nigeria the first African country to develop a robust domestic defense industry that produces research and technologies, manufactures them and exports them throughout Africa.
Once you become self-sufficient through these institutions and can supply what you need, no foreign country will think of “invading at will”, because the cost would potentially be too heavy through high precision “missiles-a-blazing”. Additionally, you would have the capability to overwhelm all domestic terrorists and ensure the security of your people, and the peace and territorial integrity of your country. But today you are weak and cannot defend yourself, and that is why foreign countries easily threaten to invade you at will. Do you understand that your “friendship” with them is conditional on you bowing to their will? And if do not, the economic and military enforcement mechanism are unleashed. So you must counteract this through institution-building!
Concluding Message In summary, your response to Trump’s message should be quiet note-taking on the long-term lessons you can draw for national development. Your resolve should be to develop institutions and mechanisms that will make you nationally self-sufficient, so you remove the leverage that a foreign power has to enforce their will against you. Such should be your focus: developing strategies for aggressive African nation-building for indigenous self-sufficiency!
Despite the great opportunity for progress, you leaders have strayed so far away from the African Cause, have betrayed your people, pillaged resources, become foreign dependent, and even stifled visionary leaders from rising because it was not convenient for your tribalistic and selfish personal interests. But now this must change, because global geopolitics is becoming increasingly unpredictable and any country that lacks self-sufficiency is vulnerable for exploitation and control. A country that cannot feed and defend itself is useless and has no right to expect global respect. Friendly foreign gestures during times of “peace” cannot be trusted to hold during times of differences, for then the leverage they have will be used against you. It is your task to eliminate these leverages and become strong through long-term development planning.
The Call: African leaders, focus on long-term institution building that will make your people grow strong, stand tall, and become self-reliant. Develop enough pride for Africa and love for the people that will enable you to work unceasingly to build institutions and systems for their progress, which will free them from foreign control and make them partners of equal value. Become helpers and guardians of the welfare and further development of the African people. Protect and uplift them and future generations.
African leaders, stand up for your people and build institutions!
Onward & Upward!
~Dr. Ikenna A. Ezealah, Ph.D, MBA J.D. Candidate ’25 Builder of the African Future
News and discussions are circulating about China’s intention to negotiate and sign a new economic pact with Africa that will remove tariffs on 53 African countries (Eswathini not included). Many people are excitedly touting the great opportunities for Africa, including access to China’s sizable domestic market.
However, if you are an African nation-builder who lives in a perpetual state of envisioning and strategic thinking of African interests, seeing beyond the surface and assessing every global geopolitical action from the strategic position of its potential 100-year effect on African development… you will not be moved one bit by such news. Rather you would be cautious, ask objective questions, and even be prompted to conceive and enact safeguarding measures for the welfare of the African people.
There is much value in this proposal for Africa. However, one of my objective concerns is that, considering the disunity and lack of collective strategic cooperation among African leaders, the zero tariff measure is a potential trojan horse for China to capture the benefits that the AfCFTA was supposed to provide Africa.
I will briefly highlight a few points of many others:
The AfCFTA is meant to promote inter-African trade through zero-tariffs, so Africa becomes one marketplace. Increased production and increased supply and demand will increase purchasing power by increasing the rotation of African currencies within Africa. However, by removing tariffs for African countries China has now shrewdly pulled the carpet from under Africa and taken power from the AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Agreement)… without many noticing it. How?
China is a master of processes, logistics and efficiency. While that is one of Africa’s weakest points, and African countries have not yet developed the efficient systems and logistics required to fully harness the AfCFTA.
Now China is deeply embedded in African countries today, so with this zero-tariff measure they will just use their established presence and pipeline to make it easier and more efficient for African goods to go to China INSTEAD of another African country. Thereby intercepting the AfCFTA! This is not nefarious on China’s part, just shrewd business!
And once again, African leadership is in disarray and found sleeping! And of course, the African Union as usual will remain in the ineffective shadows, comatose.
When I look at Africa, my mind is seriously always blown by the chaotic and terrible state of its leadership (few exceptions). I search my soul, and I find no understanding for the poor and embarrassing display of statesmanship that I see from African leaders today. The people are so talented and accomplished, but its leadership…! Let me stop now before my blood pressure rises and I get a headache.
In short, African leadership needs leadership.
~Dr. Ikenna A. Ezealah, Ph.D., MBA Builder of the African Future
President Bola Tinubu has written to the National Assembly requesting approval for loans totaling N40.5 trillion ($28.93billion USD) for 2025-2026. The borrowing plan is a multi-currency facility which amounts to: -USD $21.5 billion -EUR €2.2 billion -JAP ¥15BN -EUR €65 million in grants
N40.5 trillion at 1,400/$1 = $28.93billion USD
This comes after he signed the N54.99 trillion 2025 Appropriation Bill into law to become the 2025 National budget, which kept increasing as follows: —Initial proposal: ₦49.7 trillion (Appropriation bill by Tinubu) —Increase by Tinubu: ₦4.5 trillion —Revised proposal: ₦54.2 trillion (by Tinubu) —Increase by National Assembly: ₦750 billion —Final Approved Budget: ₦54.99 trillion
But it goes further! All this follows a set of six major World Bank loans requested by the Tinubu government which was approved for Nigeria in 2024, totaling $4.25 billion: 1) June 2024: $2.25 billion —Nigeria Reforms for Economic Stabilization to Enable Transformation (RESET) Development Policy Financing – $1.5 billion; —Accelerating Resource Mobilization Reforms (ARMOR) Program-for-Results – $750 million. 2) September 2024: $1.57 billion —Primary Healthcare Provision Strengthening Program (HOPE-PHC) – $500 million; —HOPE Governance Project (HOPE-GOV) – $500 million —Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria Project (SPIN) – $500 million 3) December 2024: $500 million —Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project – Scale Up (RAAMP-SU)
So the Tinubu Administration is requesting a loan total almost three-quarters of the 2025 national budget (N40.5 trillion/N54.99trillion = 0.737; 73.7%)? And almost seven times the World Bank loans given in 2024 ($28.93b/$4.25b= 6.81).
My collection of two of every animal is almost complete!
Questions: —Has any regular Nigerian felt the benefits of all these loan monies besides soaring prices and decreasing supplies? —Do you think Nigerian politicians will use this money to “serve and uplift” or “pack and eat”? —Is this governance or stockpiling for the 2027 elections? —Details matter, for example Tinubu getting ₦10 billion ($6.25m) for solar power at his Presidential Villa. Why not invest money to provide power for the people to ease their affliction? —Why is the Nigerian government so wasteful and greedy?
Maybe Nigerians should lobby the Trump Administration to defund the World Bank just like USAID. To then force the Nigerian government and other African countries to live within their means… or internally collapse. With the tap of milk and honey dwindling, it would then make it easier for true leaders and revolutionaries to take full possession of government and start building a brighter future.
Nigeria has become a jungleocracy with an ineffective National Assembly (few exceptions) that is practically useless. It is a government ran mostly by marauders. People whose idea of public service is to make the public their servants and for public money to be at their service.
A lavish feast is being organized and Nigerian citizens are not invited. The younger generation must brace up to eventually pay back all these loans. Potentially even at the cost of building their own futures. What a high price to pay for allowing vandals today to rob your tomorrow.
What will it take to move Nigeria forward? The answer to this question and what is burning in the spirit cannot be discussed on LinkedIn and WhatsApp. But only in an underground bunker you need a secret password to enter conveyed only by a messenger pigeon. In a dimly lit room encircled by candles with incense burning in the background. And from a dark corner a group of hooded monks chanting cryptic Gregorian hymns just to elevate the spook. Hatching clandestine plans at the beginning of whose execution heavenly trumpets starts blowing from the Eastern cosmos. For Nigeria needs miracles, magic, and exorcisms to progress.
Dramatic yes. Point is a reckoning is coming, because something has to give. And it will. For clearly these people in office are not serious about nation-building.
For me, continuous reading, experience, and reflection are essential for professional development and thus for constantly refining the tools necessary for effective African nation-building.
In line with this objective, I finished reading and reflecting on the book “Bad Samaritans: The Myth of Free Trade and the Secret History of Capitalism” by Ha-Joon Chang —a work I highly recommend! And not being too dramatic but, given the rich content, it should have been titled “The Gospel of Economic Development According to Chang”.
The range of topics, the sharpness of his analysis, and his dynamic use of humor made the examination of economic development both insightful and engaging. His work has enhanced my perspective and sharpened my African nation-building toolkit!
Summary: Using wit, an engagingly personal style, and a battery of examples, Chang blasts holes in the orthodoxy of Thomas Friedman and other liberal economists who argue that only unfettered capitalism and wide-open international trade can lift struggling countries out of poverty. On the contrary, Chang shows that today’s economic superpowers-from the U.S. to Britain to his native Korea–all attained prosperity by shameless protectionism and government intervention in industry.
He argues that the alliance of advanced countries (acting as ‘Bad Samaritans’) have conveniently forgotten this fact, telling the world a fairy tale about the magic of free trade led by the US and mediated by the ‘Unholy Trinity’ of international economic organizations that they largely control—World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and World Trade Organization; ramming policies that suit them down the throat of the developing world.
Unlike typical economists who construct models of how the marketplace should work, Chang examines the past: what has actually happened. His pungently contrarian history demolishes one pillar after another of free-market mythology. We treat patents and copyrights as sacrosanct―but developed our own industries by studiously copying others’ technologies. We insist that centrally planned economies stifle growth―but many developing countries had higher GDP growth before they were pressured into deregulating their economies. Both justice and common sense, Chang argues, demand that we reevaluate the policies we force on nations that are struggling to follow in our footsteps.
Three Previously Completed Books: ✅ Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity , and Poverty – Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson. ✅ Dead Aid: Why Aid Is Not Working and How There Is a Better Way for Africa – Dambisa Moyo ✅ Africa Unchained; The Blueprint for Africa’s Future – George Ayittey
Onward & Upward!
~Dr. Ikenna Ezealah “Builder of the African Future”
Just for fun, I asked ChatGPT to compare the current GDPs of African countries with Elon Musk’s net worth (estimated at $248 billion). While the figures should be verified, the preliminary result is:
Elon Musk is the 5th largest economy in Africa, with a net worth greater than 50 African countries. Here’s the numerical breakdown.
Top 10 African GDPs v. Elon Musk Net Worth (2024)
1. South Africa – $373 billion -Musk’s net worth is 66.5% of South Africa’s GDP -Difference: South Africa’s GDP exceeds Musk by $125 billion 2. Egypt – $347 billion -Musk’s net worth is 71.5% of Egypt’s GDP -Difference: Egypt’s GDP exceeds Musk by $99 billion 3. Algeria – $266 billion -Musk’s net worth is 93.2% of Algeria’s GDP -Difference: Algeria’s GDP exceeds Musk by $18 billion 4. Nigeria – $252 billion -Musk’s net worth is 98.4% of Nigeria’s GDP -Difference: Nigeria’s GDP is only larger by $4 billion 5. Ethiopia – $205 billion -Musk’s net worth is 121% of Ethiopia’s GDP -Difference: Musk’s net worth exceeds Ethiopia’s GDP by $43 billion 6. Morocco – $152 billion -Musk’s net worth is 163% of Morocco’s GDP -Difference: Musk’s net worth exceeds Morocco’s GDP by $96 billion 7. Kenya – $104 billion -Musk’s net worth is 238% of Kenya’s GDP -Difference: Musk’s net worth exceeds Kenya’s GDP by $144 billion 8. Angola – $92 billion -Musk’s net worth is 270% of Angola’s GDP -Difference: Musk’s net worth exceeds Angola’s GDP by $156 billion 9. Cote D’Ivoire – $86 billion -Musk’s net worth is 288% of Cote D’Ivoire’s GDP -Difference: Musk’s net worth exceeds Cote D’Ivoire’s GDP by $162 billion 10. Tanzania – $79 billion -Musk’s net worth is 314% of Tanzania’s GDP -Difference: Musk’s net worth exceeds Tanzania’s GDP by $169 billion
Imagine if we added large Western multinational firms to the comparison? The result would be disastrous. African people please listen to me… if you do not make big changes soon (starting with your “leadership”) then in the next 10years you will be completely swallowed by the global economy. Already now you are mashed up at the edge of the throat. One “throat-thrust” and you will fall headlong in the stomach to be digested.
There is but one way out…to heed the clarion call for vigorous nation-building!
Observing this Chinese Political Scientist speak, do you see how much pride he feels when he authoritatively speaks of China’s development and rise from an agrarian society to an economic behemoth? And how this commands silence from other professionals?
Who among the global African people can boast the same of Africa today? We must struggle today for the burning pride of realized growth as a people! The pride of facing centuries of setbacks and oppression and still soaring to luminous developmental heights like a phoenix!
Africans cannot fully gain that unflinching pride and confidence as a people unless they build something indigenously unique in Africa today, whose beauty and refinement matches and even exceeds foreign developments! Until then, there will always be a lingering doubt in the intuition of the African that needs to either look back to ancient glories to justify itself or look overseas at Africans doing big things in foreign countries! The latter deserves recognition, but it only reinforces the notion that you could only achieve greatness through foreign systems and societies… not yours!
China also boasted of a rich ancient history! But the world mocked: “If you were so great in ancient times, then prove yourself in the modern era!” Under Deng Xiaoping, who became paramount leader in 1978, China responded by initiating revolutionary economic reforms that catalyzed their transformation into the behemoth we see today! The ancient dragon of China resurrected and silenced all doubt!
Now Africa, the world smirks and mocks you as being a developmental pariah! What is your response? Debates of slavery and colonization are losing their luster! Valorizing ancient African glories has value, but those were achievements of our ancestors, we in the modern era must prove ourselves! The Law of Universal Movement demands continual proof of capacity through constant progress and development! Onwards, ever onwards must be the forward drive to prove ourselves ever anew!
Only applied potential and realized capacity that brings a new standard of excellence through ennobled indigenous developments will empower African people with radiant pride and confidence, and also silence the mocking and doubts! Only deeds and original accomplishments as a people will do this!
Builders of the African Future, there is absolutely no other way to achieve this but through diligently harnessing the immense talents and capacity of the global African peoples, then strategically applying its unified power in the organized framework of a developmental vision that unleashes Africa’s modern potential and gives the world a marvel to behold! No matter how daunting the challenge, let us stand up courageously and brace ourselves to meet it as a united force for the transformative good! For Africa can and must rise!
Nation Upbuilding 