From Soft Life to Soft Power

At independence in 1960, many observers both within and outside Nigeria expected Nigeria to become Africa’s first superpower. Businessman, Onye Kamanu, who attended the independence ceremony in October 1960 as a schoolboy, still remembers the resounding roar of triumph that went up from the crowd as the British Union Jack was lowered and the green-white-green Nigerian flag was hoisted in its stead. Shortly after witnessing this historic event, Kamanu travelled to America for his university education. He recalls telling his classmates ‘Nigeria is going to be a world power in the next few years’. His optimism was not misplaced. Nigeria had Africa’s largest population, a strong economy, formidable political and cultural influence and one of the best trained military forces on the continent. The reasons for Nigeria’s steep socioeconomic decline since then are as puzzling as they are obvious. A devastating civil war, military incursion into politics, mismanagement of oil wealth and endemic corruption all share the blame for Nigeria’s underdevelopment.