Monoculturalism in Nigeria: A study of a giant economy that lacks leadership, 1957-2019

Abstract

Sustainable industrialisation has practically evaded Nigeria, the efforts towards that direction notwithstanding. There are obvious policies and programmes designed to encourage industrial-based economy in the country. Of course, if achieved, industrialisation would ensure diversification and the country could save itself from the stranglehold of economic monoculturism. Nonetheless, “oil money” appears to be a cog in the wheel of progress in that direction (in essence, the direction of economic diversification). Basically, a country would not be able to achieve industrialisation and economic diversification when the state craft is repeatedly piloted by leaders with monocultural mentality. A lot of literature may exist on the failures and inadequacies of Nigerian leaders as the cause of the country’s economic backwardness. Nonetheless, it appears that the searchlight has not been adequately beamed on the monocultural attitude and mentality of those who constitute the leaders over the years. As would be shown in this paper, the monocultural attitude of the leaders has a ripple effect on the economic milieu of the country. Considering this gap, this paper employs the eclectic method of analysis to examine the leadership factors which have been militating against economic policy implementation in a rather promising economy. The paper explicates the nature of Nigerian economy, showing its potentials and investigating on the factors impeding the identified potentials