Nigeria and the Challenges of Good Governance and Sustainable Development in the 21st Century: The Role of the Creative Writer
Publication Date: 08/01/2019
Author(s): Tarhemba Akaana Emmanuel (Ph.D), Gladys Bulus, Emmanuel Agbu Envoh.
Volume/Issue: Volume 1 , Issue 1 (2019)
Abstract:
Nigeria has remained a developing nation for over fifty-eight years of independence despite her abundant natural and human resources. Lack of good governance had been her greatest challenge. An analysis of Nigeria’s myriad leaders revealed selfish, mediocre, opportunistic and tribal leaders. From Tafawa Balewa 1960 till date the story has been the same. This is evident in all sectors of her national life: rising unemployment profile, poverty, corruption, agitations, insecurity and the like. This situation has compelled us to find out what has actually gone wrong and to proffer the way forward for the entrenchment of good governance in Nigeria. To put in proper perspectives, the paper highlighted a brief historical and political evolution of Nigerian state and her challenges to sustainable development. The paper revealed that, leadership failure remains Nigeria’s major development challenge right from the founding fathers. Based on this fact, the paper recommended that, to achieve the desired leadership and sustainable development, Nigeria needs to have visionary, patriotic, transparent, God-fearing and accountable leaders at all levels of governance and that creative writers have a strategic role to play in institutionalizing good governance which is a panacea for development.
