Former Nigerian Finance Minister Usman Presents Groundbreaking Book on Governance in Emotional Kano Homecoming
By Mukhtar Yahya Usman | Kano, Nigeria
A Scholar Returns to His Roots
In what many attendees described as a profoundly moving homecoming, Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman, Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance and internationally respected economist, presented his latest book Public Policy and Agent Interest: Perspectives from the Emerging World at Bayero University Kano (BUK) this past Saturday. The event marked the northern Nigeria debut of a work already making waves in policy circles since its Abuja launch earlier this year.
Why choose Kano for this milestone? For Dr. Usman, the answer was deeply personal. “This is more than a presentation,” he told the packed auditorium. “It’s my way of returning home—not just with memories, but with ideas that can serve our people.” The sentiment resonated powerfully in the city where his journey began—from Garangamawa quarters to the highest echelons of global finance.
Diagnosing Nigeria’s Governance Crisis
Drawing from his extensive experience—from Federal Ministry leadership to World Bank engagements—Dr. Usman delivered a stark analysis of Nigeria’s development stagnation. At its core, he argued, lies a fundamental betrayal of public trust through what economists call the “principal-agent problem.”
“In Hausa, we call this rashin rikon amana—the failure to keep trust,” he explained. “When those appointed to serve the people (agents) begin serving themselves instead, the true owners of the nation (the principals) become disillusioned.” This dynamic, he contends, explains much of Nigeria’s governance failures.
Case Study: The Sovereign Wealth Fund Battle
The former minister shared revealing anecdotes from his time in government, particularly the contentious establishment of Nigeria’s Sovereign Wealth Fund. Designed to safeguard oil revenues for future generations, the initiative faced fierce political opposition.
“That fight wasn’t just about economics,” he recalled. “It was a values clash—national interest versus personal interest.” Such conflicts between policy ideals and political realities form the book’s central theme.
The Human Cost of Failed Governance
Dr. Usman made clear these aren’t abstract concepts. In Kano—once northern Nigeria’s thriving commercial hub—the consequences are visible daily:
- Alarming out-of-school children rates
- Crumbling urban infrastructure
- Eroding trust in public institutions
“When youth see a system rewarding connections over competence,” he warned, “they don’t just lose faith—they lose direction.” This generational disillusionment may be the most damaging legacy of governance failures.
A Blueprint for Reform
The book, co-authored with prominent thinkers including former Central Bank Governor Emir Sanusi II, proposes a four-point “development bargain”:
- Transparency demands: Citizens must insist on open data and spending accountability
- Challenging vested interests: Society must defend honest leaders while confronting corruption
- Rebuilding social contracts: Reciprocal civic engagement between citizens and government
- Active participation: Everyone must act, speak, or at minimum reject injustice internally
Citing Islamic teachings, Dr. Usman quoted the Prophet Muhammad: “If you see evil, change it with your hand. If not, speak out. If not, reject it in your heart—that is the weakest of faith.”
Building the Future: The Usman Foundation
The event also unveiled the Shamsuddeen Usman Foundation, established by his family to advance education, healthcare, and technology access. “We can’t just critique the past,” he emphasized. “We must build the future by equipping our youth to lead.”
More Than Theory—A Civic Manual
Closing with a rousing call to action, Dr. Usman framed the book as practical toolkit rather than academic exercise: “This is your guide to demand the accountability every Nigerian deserves. Together, we can mend this broken promise.”
As applause filled BUK’s halls, the message was clear: Nigeria’s future depends not on its current powerholders, but on its people reclaiming their role as the nation’s true owners.
Full credit to the original publisher: Kano Focus – Source link