“I would hope to serve alongside others to ensure that Niger becomes a thriving and stable democracy with structures in place to ensure good governance and the rule of law going forward.”

HE equally granted Western Africa Magazine (WAM) a brief interview when we paid a curtsey visit to his office: HE responded to the following questions:-

WAM: Sir, you set up the office of the Niger consulate to the United Kingdom. What were your challenges taking this task from ground zero?

HE: The major challenge in setting up the consulate here in the UK was in identifying and appointing those giants of men who were not only capable but willing to put themselves forward for the task of ensuring that Niger republic is given a voice here in the UK. These men and women are my special advisers and the consulate staff who have not only ensured that the Consulate was opened but have continued to strive to ensure that it serves the purpose for which it was set up. I would like to highlight the fact that my office been a consulate works closely with the Niger embassy in Paris.

WAM: Your office is now up and running; Sir, can you briefly describe the new relationship of Niger with the international community through your office?

HE: My office was set up to support the ongoing effort of the government of Niger to further build on its current relationship with the international community with more emphasis on the Anglophone countries of which Great Britain is one. Currently the office offers full consulate services in addition to visa application services.

WAM: According to the record of the UN, Niger is still far from maintaining adequate food supply. How is the UN and other international agencies working with you to bring the much needed assistance to the people of Niger?

HE: Unfortunately the republic of Niger is one of the many countries that has been particularly affected by the climate change phenomenon which combined with our long standing history of poor agricultural yield, rising population and inadequate infrastructure has meant severe famine on a humanitarian level. The UN and several other relief agencies alongside some individual nations have been active in ensuring that efforts are made to provide for the basic needs of our population through various donations.

WAM: What would you say is your greatest achievement so far as the Consul of Republic of Niger to the United Kingdom?

HE: We have made significant strides in our effort to improve the relationship between Niger and the international community as exemplified by the advances made so far to set up the All party Parliamentary group for Niger here in the UK. My office working closely with others has played a major role in highlighting to the world the effect of current national disasters on our economy.

WAM: Can you give us a brief picture of where you plan to take Niger in the next 5 years in terms of development and international relations?

HE: I would hope to serve alongside others to ensure that Niger becomes a thriving and stable democracy with structures in place to ensure good governance and the rule of law going forward.

WAM: How do you foresee the outcome of the Nigerian election considering the very tragic and dramatic experiences we have witnessed from political elections in Africa lately; speaking of Ivory Coast and Egypt for example?

HE: It is not in my place to comment or speculate on the outcome of the forthcoming Nigerian elections however, it is the wish of all Africans that Nigeria ensures a free and fair election and safe guard its democratic institutions.

WAM: How would you like to be remembered at the completion of your service to the people of Niger and Africa in general?

HE: I would like to be remembered for my great desire to serve the continent of my birth irrespective of race, creed or nationality.

WAM: Your Excellency, using this as a platform, what messages do you have for the people of Niger both here in the UK and mainland Africa?

HE: I would love all Nigerians wherever they may be to lend us their hands and support our efforts even as we seek to build up this great nation. WAM


Dr Igbokwe at the UN session in New York

AFRICA IN 2011

1. Africa is, and will continue to be, one of the fastest-growing economic regions in the world, thanks to surging demand both from abroad (from China and India in particular) and at home (fuelled by urbanization and consumerism), according Pratibha Thaker of The Economist magazine. Including Northern Africa, the continent’s star performers are expected to be South Africa, Egypt, Algeria, Botswana, Libya, Mauritius, Morocco and Tunisia. Collectively, these countries match the average GDP per head of the BRICS, according the Adrian Wooldridge of The Economist. Africa will grow by 4.8 percent—the highest rate of growth outside Asia, and higher than even the much-talked-about economies of Brazil, Russia, Mexico, and Eastern Europe, according to newly revised IMF estimates. The continent was one of only two regions—Asia being the other—where GDP rose during 2009’sglobal recession, according to a recent report by the McKinsey Global Institute.

2. Telecoms, banking, retailing, manufacturing and even agriculture will be the the region’s fastest growing sectors: Agriculture, an area where the continent has long lagged, is poised for takeoff. The continent is home to 60 percent of the world’s uncultivated arable land. The region will see an increase in the buying or leasing of cheap agricultural land by outsiders. Food-importing countries poor in land and water but rich in capital, such as the Gulf States, and countries with large populations and food security concerns, such as China, South Korea and India will be at the forefront.

3. Africa’s consumer market will account for the region’s largest growth. The continent’s burgeoning domestic market is the largest outside India and China. In 1980, just 28 percent of Africans lived in cities. Today, 40 percent of the continent’s 1 AFRICA IN THE GLOBAL MARKETPLACE AFRICA IN 2011 Ten Essential Market Trends for the Global Manager billion do, a portion close to China’s, larger than India’s, and likely to keep growing in the coming years. The number of households with discretionary income is projected to grow 50 percent over the next ten years to 128 million, according to Foreign Policy magazine. And consumer spending in Africa is growing two to three times faster than in the wealthy developed countries and could be worth $1.4 trillion in annual revenue within a decade. On a per capita basis, Africans are already richer than Indians, and a dozen African states have higher gross national income per capita than China, according to development expert Vijay Majahan, author of the 2009 book Africa Rising.

In the last four years, the surge in private consumption of goods and services has accounted for two thirds of Africa’s GDP growth. The rapidly emerging African middle class could number as many as 300 million, out of a total population of 1 billion. While few of them have the kind of disposable income found in Asia and the West, these accountants, teachers, maids, taxi drivers, even roadside street vendors, are driving up demand for goods and services like cell phones, bank accounts, upmarket foodstuffs, and real estate.

4. Rapidly expanding, Africa’s youthful workforce will be a key advantage. With more than 60 percent of the population below the age of 25, Africa has an advantage: it has a wealth of cheap labour, making it most inviting to businesses that are labourintensive. By 2040, the continent is expected to be home to 1.1-billion working-age people, more than either China or India, and is poised to become a serious engine of production and consumption. While African countries have abundant labour, however, much of it is unskilled. That said, pools of highly educated human resources are readily available, but they tend to lack practical management experience. Therefore, skills training and development is a critical area of need; as is the sourcing of trainers to transfer skills to local talent. Scarcity of jobs means that the sheer press of applicants can make identifying the right people difficult. Wal-Mart, the world’s biggest retailer, made a $4.6 billion (32 billion rand) offer on September 27th to acquire the South African retail chain, Massmart Holdings. If it goes through, the acquisition will represent the American retailer’s biggest acquisition in an emerging market and the first by a global retail chain in South Africa. Wal-Mart International CEO Doug McMillion recently announced that Wal-Mart is looking to expand internationally to supplement weakness in domestic sales. Massmart Holdings Ltd. is a South-African based management group that is the third largest distributor of consumer goods in Africa, a leading retailer of general merchandise and a wholesaler of basic foods.

5. Smart phones will be the fastest growing category of handsets, even in the poorer areas, where they often serve as a substitute for PCs. Mobile phone use is growing faster in Africa than anywhere else in the world. It is the only continent in the world where mobile phone revenues are higher than fixed line. Today, cellular phones are the continent’s lead form of communication. GSM service is pervasive and due to low costs, text messaging has become a medium of choice in both business and social communications.

6. M-commerce will flourish in 2010. The provision of financial services to ordinary people by way of mobile banking will thrive on the continent. The widespread availability of mobile phones on the African continent allows African entrepreneurs to sell their products and accept payments over the internet without a computer, a website, or even a bank account. Roughly, only 23 percent of Africans have access to banking services, but an estimated 8 million Africans use their cell phones for payments. Pan-African mobile operators are promoting free roaming services, making Africa the first region in the world to offer this innovative service. Since 2000, 316 million people have signed up for mobile phone services, more than the entire population of the United States. – McKinsey Quarterly, 2010

7. Africa is well positioned to profit from natural resources as global demand for commodities continues to rise. The region contains a disproportionate share of the world’s mineral wealth at a time when mineral prices are soaring. Nigeria is home to the tenth-largest oil reserves in the world. In other parts of the region, oil will drive growth in Angola, the region’s third largest economy, Congo-Brazzaville and, within a couple years, Uganda. Mineral producers, such as Mozambique, the
Democratic of Congo, Tanzania and Zambia, and strong agricultural economies, including Ethiopia, Kenya and Malawi, will benefit from rising demand and should achieve economic growth of 5% and above in 2011.The continent’s production of oil, gas, minerals, and other natural resources is projected to grow at 2 to 4 percent per year for the next 10 years. At current prices, this will raise the value of resource production to $540 billion by 2020—and possibly much higher depending how commodity prices rise.

8. Ghana is expected to become the sub-Saharan region’s fastest growing economy in 2011, with growth expected to reach double digits. As oil comes on stream in significant quantities (first official pumping began Dec. 15, 2010) for the first time, the influx of money will pose a difficult test of institutional accountability. Will Ghana use its new-found oil wealth more wisely than the others have done? Despite promises from the country’s leaders, this remains to be seen. Considering neighbouring countries, Ghana’s democratic record is still among the best in West Africa.

9. South Sudan is likely to become Africa’s newest country in a January 2011 referendum. Additionally, Africa’s democratic credentials will be tested during 2011, as several sub-Saharan states plan to hold elections. Nigeria—the region’s most populous country, largest oil producer and second-biggest economy after South Africa—elects a new president and legislature. Other sub-Saharan states that plan to hold elections include, in rough chronological order: Benin, Uganda, Chad, Madagascar, Zambia, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia and Gabon—and in January southern Sudan is due to hold a referendum on independence.

10.Rwanda is touted as East Africa’s best investment destination: The World Bank listed Rwanda as its champion pro-business reformer in 2010. According to a new report by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the World Bank, Rwanda is East Africa’s best destination for investment. The IFC – World Bank report, ‘Doing Business in the East African Community 2010’, highlighted that reforms make Rwanda one of the fastest places in the world to start a business, followed by Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi respectively. The nation’s leaders have announced aggressive plans to raise per capita GDP from $230 to $900 by 2020, using information technology to transform the nation into an “African Singapore.”

Rwanda is also leading Africa in the ICT Revolution: Rwanda is set to become sub-Saharan Africa’s hub for information and communications technology (ICT).Named East Africa’s number one ICT nation by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Rwanda has benefited from ICT-based investments by lucrative international players such as Microsoft, Nokia, and Terracom. New infrastructure connecting Africa to the rest of the world will boost bandwidth, cut costs and stimulate businesses that rely on technology. This includes the recent arrival of new submarine fibre-optic cables and satellites. Many high capacity international backbone network projects have been built to connect Africa to the rest of the world on an open access basis. Algeria, Botswana, Mauritius are also implementing projects to become ICT regional hubs.

According to the Economist magazine, the biggest concentration of overlooked markets is in Africa (which is in many ways an overlooked continent). Pockets of great risk and instability certainly remain, but the long-term trends look good. In 2011 an increasing number of companies, looking at the West’s flat markets, will decide that volatility is at least a sign of life. Companies that move first will enjoy lots of advantages. They will be able to forge deals with aggressive young companies: companies such as Angola’s Banco Africano de Investimentos, which is expanding in Europe and Brazil, and Egypt’s Orascom Telecom, which is expanding across the Middle East and beyond. They will be able to strike infrastructure deals with local governments. And they can shape the tastes of future consumers.

Companies that succeed in these neglected emerging markets are not only putting down roots in the world’s most fertile soil. They are giving themselves a chance to establish business habits for years to come. WAM

Columnist, Erika Amoako-Agyei, is an international business consultant and the owner and founder of a computer hardware and software consultancy that provides IT and business planning services to corporate clients in West Africa’s mining industry. She is based in the US and provides cross cultural management and communications training to global firms and expatriate professionals entering into Africa. She keeps a blog at www.AfricaBusinessReview.net and can be reached by email at: erikaagyei@gmail.com.

“Any society that survives on the rule of men rather than the rule of law falls victim and becomes captive to caprice and arbitrariness. It is a deterioration of such situation that finally replaces the will of the people with the will of one man, the dictator, who then proceeds to personalize the state.”
Justice Niki Tobi, 2005

On October 1 2010, our beloved Country, Nigeria marked her 50th year of Independence from colonial rule. Governments at all levels in the Country, and the nationals celebrated or commemorated this special Independence Anniversary, tagged the Golden Jubilee Independence Celebrations. However, this was marred by bomb blasts that claimed lives, maimed people and destroyed properties around Eagle Square where the ceremonies took place in Abuja, the Federal Capital of Nigeria.

It is imperative to note the difference between holding Elections and having a proper democratic experience. Since the amalgamation of the Country in 1914, elections had been held to elect Nigerians into political positions either into their regional assemblies to represent the interests of people of their regions or into the Parliament where our heroes past determined that the Country should be granted Independence from British rule. These had happened despite the fact that the Country was under a colonial government, which offered little or no democratic experiences for the emergent nation but which however laid a basic foundation for the form of governance the Country would strive towards. Yet, this was preparatory for the political class in Nigeria to push for the nation’s Independence from Britain. Indeed this was the platform needed for nationalism and the evolution of true democracy in the Country.

Some key words shall be defined which shall provide the framework for the examination of the impact of the democratic experience Nigeria has had since her Independence on 1 October 1960: 50 years ago. These
key words include: Nigeria, Democracy, and Jubilee.

The addition of the name of the nation as a keyword may raise a few eye brows. But then a deeper examination would reveal that besides the geographical situation, topography, peoples, languages, cultures among other indices that make up the Country, including her politics; some nationals, foreigners and other stakeholders have not yet come to term to what Nigeria means to them, or how it should be defined after 50 years of Independence.

For nationals of other countries the names of their country hold a deeper and almost fervent religious implication which sadly is not seen in some Nigerians about Nigeria, after 50 years of Independence. The question then is what does Nigeria represent to Nigerians? What were the dreams of the founding fathers? What were their hopes and aspirations for the generations yet unborn, and what foundations did they put in place to enable their visions, ideals, and aspirations to be achieved? The necessity of these questions if the proper answers are given would provide the prism through which Nigeria after 50 years of independence would be seen. Thus, the need to determine what Nigeria means to every Nigerians. Should we see Nigeria as the Country that belongs to all for which every one should be proud of? Or should the Country be seen from an insider-outsider position, where a large vacuum exists in which the people are criminally isolated from active participation in all she has, including the benefit of adequate employment, proper education, and solid infrastructural provision? These are fundamental to our need to define what the name Nigeria means to the nationals.

Secondly, is the word democracy? Without recourse to academic definitions of what democracy meant to ancient Greeks and other philosophers, or the recent implications of the meaning to modern countries such as Britain and The United States of America, it may connote a different meaning both in usage and practice in Nigeria. Ordinarily, democracy is defined as the government of the people, by the people and for the people. Yet, it would seem that such may not have been the same for Nigeria going by some of the recent experiences we are witnesses to. With the inception of the 4th Republic on May 29 1999 it became common to hear politicians of all hues and colours mouth the words, the dividends of democracy. Now, as these politicians did not define what they meant by democratic ‘dividends’, it gave an economic impression of profit making, trading, investments, securities and the like. However, whereas the practice of democracy with good governance would indeed yield positive returns in various forms to the people with whom ordinarily the power lies with, and when properly applied would provide succour in different forms: good governance, participatory politics, free and fair elections on the political front, on the socio-economic level, democracy should also yield an equitable distribution of the resources of the people among them at every level, and within the rural and urban areas, which would translate to employment, growth in agriculture, tourism, provision of an enabling environment for businesses to thrive and create an increase in the foreign reserves of the nation; such would also impact on the provision of adequate security, well maintained infrastructure, provision of affordable houses for all and sundry, and other social amenities, etc.

The last key word to examine is the word jubilee. Historically, jubilee arose from scripture (Leviticus 25). It is described as the fiftieth year of the nation of Israel which is hallowed, and V. 10a states: “And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof…” Scriptures went further to proclaim the jubilee as the year when the people should not sow or reap, nor gather the grapes, etc. That year is declared holy, while the people are expected to eat from the increase of the land. Though this may not seem practicable in modern times, yet a lot can be learnt from it. The year of jubilee is recognized as a period when it is not only plenty that is found in the land, there is also seen a developed judicial system, freedom and liberty in the land. This implies that with the passage of time, it is expected that a nation would have put in place structures to ensure that her people are provided for, while there would also be justice, equity, fairness and accountability to the people.

With this overview of the key words necessary for this discourse, it becomes important to examine how democracy has fared in the past 50 years since Independence.

With the formation of the NPC –NCNC led Government in 1960 which had Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the President, as head of State, and Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, Prime Minister and head of Government that took over from the colonial government. Nigeria witnessed a period of promising democratic rule, and which if it had not been truncated, would have probably provided the bedrock for a true Nigerian democracy which would have thrived and created a system that would probably entrench those ideals that have strengthen great democratic nations like Great Britain and the US. However that experience was truncated as a result of various factors which rather than uphold the ideals for a true Nigerian State, gave way to individual and other interests. The fall out of this was that Nigerians as a whole became the greatest losers and became alienated from the ruling classes. Further compromises were reached which impeded the democracy Nigerians craved for, which also eroded the tribal and socio-economic respect Nigerian people of different ethnicities had for one another.

With the instability witnessed in the nation after the elections of 1964, the military took over power, and while their initial stay which lasted for 13 years (1966 – 1979) could be described as a period to hold together the straps of the nationhood of Nigeria as a result of the Civil war that ravaged the Country in 30 months, and after which they had the duty to rebuild and reintegrate the different parts of the Country together. However, the discovery of oil in commercial quantities, created another dimension which besides governance should have added to the rebuilding process of the nation. Rather than the discovery increase positive prospects to ameliorate and strengthen democratic ideals in Nigeria, it became a reason to pursue other objectives which were inimical to the growth of the nation, and further threatened to destroy the fabrics of society. This has since become evident with the emergence of militancy, blowing up of oil installations, kidnapping and other like vices, in the Niger Delta region, and other parts of Nigeria.

It is pertinent to note that both the military and political classes in the Country, rather than use the crude oil resources for the betterment of Nigerians, engaged in activities that eroded what developmental aspirations and goals would have been achieved, or attained if democracy led by civilian governments had been allowed to thrive as there would have been checks and balances through the different tiers of government; with transparency, general participation and accountability in governance.

It is critical to note that there was an untainted and uninterrupted military rule of 15 years before civilians took over power in 1999. It lasted between the period the military ousted the civilian government led by Alhaji Shehu Shagari in 1984 till the General Abubakar Abdulsalam- led military government handed power over to the civilians in the 4th Republic after the fortuitous death of General Sanni Abacha. This period also witnessed changes in military governments through coups and counter coups which further destabilized the Country and created instability and tensions among the citizenry. The nation was returned to a democratic rule in a dysfunctional condition which required time to develop and strengthen the foundations of democratic structures. Fortunately, since 1999 till the present, civilians have ruled and strived to fashion out a democracy for the nation, and build on a tentative democratic platform. That is apart from the Westminster Parliamentary model of government led by the late Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa which lasted 6 years, and the Presidential model led by Alhaji Shehu Shagari with duration of 4 years and a few months that totalled 10 years, there was basically no democratic experience for civilians to draw from.

The deliberate attempt to examine political developments in Nigeria became necessary as a result of the consequences of Nigerians’ expectations of what democracy should be, or the results people expect to gain from this new form of governance. For now, a lot of positives may not be taken away from the experiment so far. Indeed with the pandemic corruption and other excesses of the political class, most Nigerians are disillusioned and disenchanted, and yet because of the dictatorial nature of military rule, that is not seen as a preferred option. It should be pointed out that the consequences of military rule are yet to fully dissipate even as democratic processes have become more solidified and entrenched. Bearing in mind that in times past, the military takes over at the drop of the hat, the political class, and indeed most Nigerians do not yet believe that the military has actually left politics, and that they have their destinies to mould by themselves. So, it becomes common sight to see members of the political class engage in crass corrupt practices to enrich themselves since at the back of their minds there is the fear that the military boys may soon take over power. Further, such fears gave rise to both the quality of politicians who render poor leadership in government, and the unwholesome practices most of them engage in which include money politics, thuggery, shallow and poor ability at governance and administration.

The question now is what is the way forward to ensure that democracy is firmly entrenched in the Country? Bearing in mind that the ideal framework on which democracy is built on include; participatory governance, power belonging to the people, accountability, the right to choose, free and fair elections, and representative government at all levels. It is imperative that these ideals be voluntarily and actively upheld at all level of governance at the federal, state and local government strata; while the media, civil society groups and other non-governmental groups should be allowed to participate in governance with the view to not only build society, but serve as a balance for governments at all levels.. Whereas a free press will greatly reduce the incidents of corruptive practices through the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill; an independent judicial system would ensure justice and equity for all, and there will be hope not only for the common man, but also for any aggrieved party in a conflict, political and otherwise. When such structures are built and solidified and become integral parts of the polity, it would naturally dovetail into Nigeria having a democratic system which can right her wrong, without pressure from the outside, or such an action seen as a political vendetta.

I humbly predict that when such exist in the polity, other sectors which hitherto had been ignored would witness growth and progress. Indeed, democracy in post-independent Nigeria is not only an option, it is yet the only viable option, and when it is firmly entrenched, it is my firm belief that other sectors of the Country which needs fixing shall be easily done, especially whereby seasoned and qualified leaders are allowed to create proactive policies, implement and execute the resultant actions. WAM

John Dara is a presidential aspirant on the platform of the National Transformation Party (NTP) in Nigeria. He can be reached on: [johndara55@hotmail.com]

As a culture and management consultant, I work in an advisory capacity with global managers and global firms expanding into Africa. Thus, the current conflict in the West African naon of Ivory Coast – the world’s largest producer of cocoa – is of parcular concern and one I feel warrants a deeper look from both a global and cultural perspecve.

A decade ago, the Ivory Coast was seen as a haven of peace and prosperity in the West Africa region. Today, however, the nation is suffering from chaos and confusion following a recent (Dec. 2010) disputed election which resulted in both of the main candidates –Laurent Gbagbo (incumbent president) and Alassane
Ouattara (opposition candidate) – being sworn in as president.

To the casual observer, the election looks like a classic case of an African incumbent refusing to step down after losing an election. There is little doubt, however, that in this election, the spectre of ‘tribalism’ (a common misnomer for ethnic identity or ethnic nationalism) has raised its head once again as one of the major complicating factors in the nation’s politics.

RIVAL PRESIDENTS

THE UN TROOPS IN IVORY COAST

Western explanations of local issues in African countries frequently ignore the influence of cultural or traditional ethnic structures. By disregarding the influence of ethnic institutions and systems, international organizations weaken their dialogue in diplomatic negotiations, businesses weaken their potential financially, and even teachers weaken their effect academically, and the list goes on. Even today, it is not out of the ordinary for an African to identify more closely as a member of a given ethnic or linguistic group than as a member of the nation in which they were born and hold citizenship. For instance, a Zulu is more of a Zulu than he or she is a citizen of South Africa; and, on paper, a citizen of Rwanda may be Rwandese, but their identity is still primarily determined by Hutu or Tutsi. These present day attitudes have more to do with prior histories of national governments.

A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

In the 19th century, when colonial powers scrambled for domination in Africa, they partitioned the continent without any regard for ethnic, cultural or religious considerations. As a result, European-drawn borders created “artificial” states within arbitrary and illogical boundaries. Placing ethnic groups with a history of mutual hostilities together in a single country (as in Chad or Sudan), contributed to years of civil war and deep-rooted ethnic sentiments that linger on today.

Because colonialism squashed ethnic groups into large countries or divided them across borders, there has always been a natural tendency for people of ethnic groups to seek self-actualization and self-determination, often to preserve of their own social and traditional structures. The Ashanti people of Ghana, for example, have maintained the institution of the Asantehene (King), their paramount chief and historical monarch. In Western societies, the struggle for self-determination or national identity would be described as nationalism. In Africa and other non-Western societies, the same desire is ominously referred to as “tribalism”.

Prior to independence, the colonial power was the common enemy. After independence, however, when the Europeans took leave, ethnic groups in many African states were forced to confront one another for leadership roles. With ethnic allegiance far surpassing national identity in many African nations, dishonest leaders seeking to exploit audiences for personal and political gain, have often played up their ‘ethnic card’ to garner support, trust and ultimately, to win votes.

THE PROBLEM

This brings us back to the situation in Ivory Coast, where many observers see this as the case today. Incumbent president, Laurent Gbagbo has been in power since 2000 and had already overstayed his mandate by five years when the long-delayed presidential election was finally held in October. The vote was intended to help reunify the country, which was divided by the 2002-2003 civil war between a rebel-controlled north and a loyalist south.

“With the backing of the military and some southern ethnic groups and elites, Mr. Gbagbo is using the country’s Constitutional Council, to cling to power,” writes journalist Kofi Akosah-Sarpong . This is in spite of the fact that he was defeated by the opposition candidate, Mr. Alassane Ouattara, on December 2, 2010. The Constitutional Council, headed by a Gbagbo ally, agreed and annulled the votes from the north, leaving Mr. Gbagbo with a slender overall majority.

POLL RESULTS

Constitutional Council: Laurent Gbagbo 51%, Alassane Ouattara 49%, annulled results in seven northern regions Electoral Commission: Laurent Gbagbo 46%, Alassane Ouattara 5%.

Under the surface, Ivory Coast has long been deeply divided along ethnic, religious and economic lines. Laurent Gbagbo is from the Bete ethnic group. Alassane Ouattara is from the Dioula ethnic group. Gbagbo and his associates from the south see Ouattara and his group from the north as “foreigners” or immigrants in their midst.

The nation’s thriving cocoa industry has created one of the highest living standards in the West African region, so people from neighboring countries, such as Mali and Burkina Faso, migrated there to earn their living and benefit from the thriving economy. Some of these people shared ethnic ties to those living in northern Ivory Coast and like them were mostly Muslim. Some southerners, encouraged by populist politicians, began to resent the influx and demanded action to protect the country’s “Ivoirite (Ivorian-ness)”.

After being portrayed as not being real Ivoirians, northerners started to complain that they were being discriminated against. Mr. Ouattara, a Muslim, who was a former Prime Minister, is a prime example. He was banned from standing for president in previous elections because it was said his parents came from Burkina Faso. Similarly, many northerners said they were being refused national identity cards and the right to vote. Laurent Gbagbo, 65, looks down on the likes of Ouattara, 68, whom he and others see as less of an Ivoirian because of his ethnic background.

Africans are no different from other national groups in owing their primary allegiances to those who share their own language, religion and culture. But 50 years after achieving independence from European colonial powers, Africans can no longer afford to live in the past. This warped mentality of ethnic discrimination, based on the belief that one group is superior to another, is not only self-destructive, but self-defeating. And the legacy can only be wars, genocide and other systems of structured hate.

IVORY COAST

• World’s largest cocoa producer
• Once hailed as a model of stability, slipped into internal strife several
  years after death of first President Felix Houphouet-Boigny in 1993
• An armed rebellion in 2002 split the country between rebel north
  and government south
• A power-sharing government took over in 2007 with the ex-rebel
  leader as prime minister
• 2010: First presidential elections in 10 years -culmination of the
  peace process

THE WAY FORWARD: A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE

Ultimately, Africa’s future rests in the hands of Africans. With recovery in Western economies still looking fragile from the global economic crisis, there is a growing appetite to invest in Africa. To off-set weak returns in Western domestic markets, global economies are increasingly looking to Africa for economic growth and investment opportunities. African economies could potentially have the upper hand. An implosion, however, in any African state could be detrimental and have far reaching effects and dire consequences for attracting international trading partners and private-sector investments. To avoid this, African leaders have to set the example by being less tolerant of internal strife based on age-old differences, which only stifle development, and redirect national efforts toward paving the way for sustained economic growth, job creation, and infrastructural development. The time is now for Africans to set the rules of engagement with the rest of the world and take full advantage of the huge, untapped market they collectively represent. WAM

Columnist, Erika Amoako-Agyei, is an international business consultant and the owner and founder of a computer hardware and software consultancy that provides IT and business planning services to corporate clients in West Africa’s mining industry. She is based in the US and provides cross cultural management and communications training to global firms and expatriate professionals entering into Africa. She keeps a blog at www.AfricaBusinessReview.net . She can be reached by email at: erikaagyei@gmail.com.

“We have made significant strides in our effort to
improve the relationship between Niger and the
international community as exemplified by the
advances made so far to set up the All party
Parliamentary group for Niger here in the UK.”

Republic of Niger is a landlocked country, situated in the Sahara, northern part of Africa. It has a land mass of 1.267 million sq km, bounded by Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Libya, Mali and Nigeria and has a population of 15,306,252 million 9 July 2009 est.) Republic of Niger has its capital in Niamey. Niger’s colonial history and development follows that of other French West African Territories. Niger became an autonomous state within the French community in December 4, 1958 after the establishment of the fifth French Republic and assumed full independence on August 3, 1960.

Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking near last of the United Nations Development Fund (UNDF) index of human development, whose economy centres’ on subsistence crops, livestock and some of the worlds largest uranium deposits. Nearly half of the government’s budget is derived from foreign donor resources.

About 4 years ago the government of Niger lunched a massive campaign to attract investment from the Western community especially the English speaking economies of which they had so little relationship with till then; the purpose for this quest in aimed at harnessing her vast supply of mineral resources namely Uranium, Gold and even Oil. To accomplish this task, Niger needed a Foreign Mission in the United Kingdom to serve as the gateway to Europe; the English speaking economies.

The onerous task of packaging and projecting Republic of Niger – a resource rich but poor country to Europe required an internationally reputable personality; a business tycoon with a good grasp of economics, with tenacity and a good understanding of international diplomacy, was given to His Excellency Dr Chuma Igbokwe.

HE Dr Igbokwe is a UK trained specialist medical practitioner who built up a successful business group in the UK ranging from Health Care, Real Estate, mining and Maritime Security. His track record earned him a nomination for a UK award in 2005.

HE is one of the most successful black businessmen in UK: He assumed the office accordingly and in no time set up the Niger Consul Office in UK and within a year the Consul website became the premier web representation of the country to the world. In addition to this, he also embarked on a massive media campaign to showcase Niger as a potential tourist resort, which led to a tremendous increase in the number of tourist visiting Niger in the last 2 years. Dr Igbokwe has also worked tirelessly to finalise agreements on the setting up of an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Niger in the UK which is currently in ratification.

In his capacity as one of the official delegates of Niger; Dr Igbokwe attended a number of international conferences and meetings. HE attended the 64th United Nations General Conference held in New York; HE attended the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2010; and participated in a number of parliamentary sessions. HE had also been part of Niger’s official delegation to Aso Rock Abuja the office of the president of Nigeria for bilateral talks.

HE Dr Chuma Igbokwe was born in Lagos, Nigeria to Mr and Mrs Olekanma Igbokwe who both hail from Umuahia in Abia State. He had his early primary and secondary education in Lagos having attended the famous Baptist Boys Academy, Obanikoro Lagos from where he proceeded to the University of Ife Medical School, Ile Ife. Upon graduation HE proceeded to the UK where he bagged the prestigious Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrist, Fellowship of the Royal Society of Medicine UK, Diplomat of the Royal College of surgeons and Physicians of Ireland. He also holds a post graduate management qualification from the University of Surrey, Guildford as well as been a member of the Institute of Directors (IOD), UK.

HE, Dr Chuma Igbokwe is no doubt utilizing his vast experience in international diplomacy to attract Western investments to Niger and to position the country for growth and development. We appreciate and celebrate his commitment to the need and aspirations of the country.

“If you want one year of prosperity, grow grain. If you want ten years of prosperity, grow trees. If you want 100 years of prosperity, grow people.” – Chinese Proverb

In today’s era of globalisation, conducting business internationally requires culturalawareness and effective cross cultural communication skills. Yet, many executives, volunteers, and expatriates are often sent into foreign markets with little or no understanding of their host culture. For the Western traveller, there are few destinations on earth that present more cultural differences than sub-Saharan Africa. What might be acceptable in Europe or North America may be frowned upon in Africa. Many of the goals may be the same, but the business styles and ways of communication differ greatly.

For example, the Western need to produce quick and tangible results can clash head on with the African slower pace and long-term outlook. Consider the case of a Western negotiator presenting a business proposal to a team of African executives. Following the presentation, the African team may respond, “We will study the matter.” Finding the answer too vague, the Westerner may press for something more specific: “How soon do you think you can get back to me? In one or two weeks? In a month?” This only makes the African team uneasy as they dislike being pressed to act prematurely. The lack of patience on the Westerner’s side can undermine his negotiation efforts and create anxiety and distrust among the African team. By ignoring how culture impacts local business practices, the visiting executive may inadvertently lengthen the consideration stage of the proposal or, worse, risk losing the interest of the other side altogether.

The African approach to decision-making does not mean that local businesspeople are unable to make quick decisions or get things done individually. Rather, it represents the cultural significance of consensus and consultation, which tends to guide the decision-making process in Africa’s group-oriented cultures. Conversely, in the time-driven cultures of North America and many parts of Europe, people pride themselves on conducting business at lightning speed and favour a quick and individual approach to decision-making. Operating from this perspective, the Westerner who resorts to the ‘hard sell’, by applying pressure to influence decision-making, will not only break the lines of communication, but could potentially cause irreparable damage and costly mistakes.

For Western operations to compete successfully in Africa, Western business leaders must understand the role culture plays on business development and relationship building.

…For Western operations
to compete successfully
in Africa, Western
business leaders must
understand the role
culture plays on business
development and
relationship building.. .

In a forthcoming book, titled Business and Social Etiquette in Africa: A Guide to Understanding Culture and Business Practices, I focus on providing readers with deep insights into the intricacies of managing and communicating effectively across cultures. As a former expatriate manager for the IBM Corporation in West Africa and a current consultant for global companies operating in Africa, I draw from my years of experience and research to illustrate why the global marketplace is still largely dependent on the human element—the way people communicate, how they make decisions, what motivates them to act and how they build trust, credibility and lasting relationships. When international associates are motivated by a different set of cultural values— when they judge situations from different perspectives— communication breaks down, walls go up, and deals fall apart. By zeroing in on the people dimension of doing business in sub- Saharan Africa, Business and Social Etiquette in Africa departs from the common practice of drilling readers on the do’s and don’ts of doing business in African cultural environments. Instead, the material focuses on familiarising people with the basic values, belief systems and biases that inform the business styles of African people.

Though technology has connected us to almost everywhere in the world, the effectiveness of these connections depends greatly on creating a common perspective. Technology alone cannot handle the complex task of interfacing with people of different cultures. A corporation’s website cannot give you insight to the way decisions are being made on the other side of the world. This is only possible when we understand the people with whom we are dealing. And in order to understand people we need to understand the cultural context in which they are operating. In order to bring home contracts that lead to mutual benefit and sustainable business growth, expatriate personnel have to become skilled cross-cultural negotiators, managers, and team builders.

Over the next two decades, Africa is primed to become a leading destination for the growing global market in offshoring and outsourcing services. But for a global enterprise to compete successfully in Africa, a customer service representative in Ghana has to be able to communicate effectively with counterparts in the United States. Factory managers in Kenya’s textile mills have to be able to respon accurately to the requests of European clothing buyers. And marketing people in London must be able to negotiate with Nigerian distributors in Lagos. In short, a culturally competent expatriate can save themselves and their companies the cost of expensive mistakes simply by embracing cross-cultural skills as part of a broad strategic focus.

It is important to note, however, that there is no ‘one’ African culture or society. With over 900 million people spread across 54 nations, the continent is culturally complex. Even in the sub- Saharan region, commonly referred to as “black” Africa, differences exist not only among countries, but within countries as well. Ghana is not Angola and Angola is not Tanzania. Still, there are some common beliefs and core cultural values that transcend national boundaries, languages and ethnicities and form a fundamental cultural unit.

By placing special emphasis on the sub-Saharan region of Africa, my goal is to give people insight into the deeply embedded social customs of the region, many of which are implicitly understood, but have no explicitly stated rules for social conduct. Examples include African hospitality, speech patterns, social reciprocity, decision-making, boss-subordinate interactions, relationship building and the social fabric of community. These deeper cultural values are rooted in the subconscious and are, therefore, difficult to identify in other people. However, these customs provide the framework for the social expectations of interpersonal interactions.

In Business and Social Etiquette in Africa, readers will gain from practical strategies on how to recognize, respect, and effectively manage cultural differences at both the interpersonal and organisational levels. Opening the book is a foreword by Dr. Olufemi Babarinde, a leading authority on the African region and a post-graduate professor from the Thunderbird School of Global Management (ranked No. 1 in the world for International Business). WAM

The Spirit of the early Greek political philosophers must be basking away in their eternity so far, noting that what they pioneered as “Democracy” in Greece is assuming increasingly wider acceptance and applicability, even in Africa.

And West Africa is apparently the exhibition theater for experimenting these political concepts – including DEMOCRACY. By the last count, nearly all sovereign states, pan Africa; have romanced with several regimes, curiously but helplessly swinging from civilian to military, back and forth. African Spirit must be a very resilient one, with the determination to survive equaled to a case found nowhere else the world over; waxing strong whether in the face of maximum military authoritarianism or disproportionate, fragile constitutional democracy, each both with ill-informed political activists.

Nigeria had been wallowing in the euphoria of her independence from British Colonial rule, since October 1st 1960,till January 1966 when the first team of ‘uniformed rascals’ toppled the peaceful civil rule. That coup that was to be followed by several other such martial disruptions changed the political landscape in Nigeria, and, seemingly, set the stage for other African states to copy. Today, Nigeria, like her Ghanaian forerunner, seems to have settled finally for a constitutional Democracy. Since May 29, 1999, when the Military, under the leadership of the Military gentleman’, Army General Abdulsalaam Abubakar, handed over to an elected government, Nigeria has had no incidence of military intervention in politics, for more than a decade now. Thanks to the military pedigree of a two-time- president {military Head of State, prisoner, then elected President) Olusegun Obasanjo.

The rebirth of Democracy in Nigeria brought to an end {or probably placed on hold!} the militarization of political structures in Africa’s single most populous country. The uneasy calm was regularized and reinvigorated by the people’s resolve and Çode- of-Will as enunciated in and by the 1999 Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria. The main features of this constitution, like all such others of its kind, include the fact that it is written, and rigid; with commitment to a Presidential Democracy, characterized by separation of power, Bicameral Legislature, and the peoples sovereignty, which outlaws or bans any form of government other than what is prescribed in and by the constitution. The constitutionally prescribed process of statecraft, as explained above, clears the playing field for an exclusively civilian, capricious team of actors (called politicians) with a penchant for falsehood, immorality, violence, vindictiveness, sycophantic treachery, and exploitation of the gullible masses. These are the ugly other side of the dirty coin of military “at-once” mentality in statecraft and diplomacy.

In the last ten years, quite a lot have happened to show democracy has come to stay in Nigeria, Africa. At least twice, democratic maturity came under fire when, after every time-block of four calendar years, an incumbent civil regime was to be succeeded by another civil democracy. The polity survived the challenge and civilians succeeded civilians. Nigeria’s constitutional democracy is a dazzling testimony of African constitutional democratic civilization and political tolerance.

On the Southern boarder of Nigeria is the Republic of Niger with a rather chilling experience of failed democracy. The 10 years democratic rule was recently truncated by Prsident Tandja himself as he dissolved the country’s parliament and the constitutional court following the rejection of both institutions of his bid to extend his tenure of presidency for the third consecutive term, which is contrary to the country’s constitution of a maximum of two five- year terms in office for any president.

President Mamadou Tandja was first elected as president in 1999 for his first term, and re-elected for a second term in 2004. But late last year with months before the completion of his ten year tenure, he moved to amend the constitution to allow him a third term in office; a move the opposition describes as “coup d’etat” and vehemently opposed by the international community is dragging the country into civil war.
In a statement the US says “Niger’s President Mamadou Tandja has undermined a decade of good government in his attempt to stay in power beyond the legal limit”. The White House voiced concern over Mr Tandja’s attempts to “rule by ordinance and decree and to dissolve the National Assembly and the Constitutional Court”. “These decisions undermine Niger’s efforts over the last 10 years to advance good governance and the rule of law,” the statement said.
A former French colony; French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said the tension caused by the prsident’s actions were “dangerous. He urged the 71 year-old leader to “respect the constitutional order”.
The West African regional bloc ECOWAS suspended Niger’s membership when he refused to postpone parliamentary elections in the face of an opposition boycott. Mr Tandja’s party won 76 of the 113 seats in the National Assembly on 20 October 2009, while allies won 25 and independents picked up the rest.
Individual reactions from the non-governmental levels have equally been condemning the development in Republic of Niger from both home and the Diaspora. Your comments:
This decision is a path to dictatorship in the country. The national assembly is going to accuse the President of felony and impeach him. This is going to put the country into political turmoil after a decade of political stability. (Abdou, Niamey, Niger)
This move by the president of Niger is nothing short of a coup d’etat. The African Union should not just stand by and watch this unfolding drama proceed to its logical end, for it is a recipe for chaos. I think it should intervene and call Mr Tanja to order. The AU should not only condemn coups carried out by the military, but should also condemn these “wolf in sheep clothings democrats” we have in Africa. (Numvi, London)
Dissolving parliament in a desperate attempt to get an unconstitutional and controversial third term is a transparent mark of political immaturity from a man of 70 who is operating with the 1970s African leaders’ mentality. Tandja should make a trip to Malawi and listen to Bakili Muluzi. (Augustine, Arusha, Tanzania)
I thought the example set by Ghana recently will encourage leaders in Africa to reason and realize that they are not divine rulers and that the country they lead is not their personal property. Tandja should do the honorable thing just as Rawlings and Kuffour in Ghana did and are now enjoying their private lives. (Daniel, Accra, Ghana)
Niger suffered austere military rule for much of its post-independence history. Not until 1993, 33 years after independence from France, did Niger hold its first free and open elections. A 1995 peace accord ended a five-year revolt by Tuareg tribes, who accused the government of failing to deliver on promised economic aid. Coups in 1996 and 1999 were followed by the creation of a National Reconciliation Council that effected a transition to civilian rule of President Mamadou Tandja in December 1999.

In the same West African Region, Guinea has not been quite that lucky. In population, and geographic size, another francophone, Guinea is on the other end of the continuum with Nigeria. Unlike Nigeria that regained her democratic course in May 1999 and has remained doggedly on that course since then; Guinea, who detoured into the inglorious status of a military state in the last quarter of 2008, could not hold out its military might beyond that quarter, due to inordinate individual ambition within the echelon of its military ranks. The animosity was so frantic that the “most senior aide” reportedly shot and wounded the military president and leader of the junta on the head. Captain Moussa “Daddis” Camara, the military strongman of Guinea who received “minor” injuries on the head, is said to be responding to the treatment given him by a mobilized team of physicians in Morocco. Guinea’s case is further compounded by the stiff, arrogant resistance to any form of “help” from outside to buffer its apparent national confusion and restiveness.

The hospitalized president would not tolerate any external incursion, of any sort. All statesmen must not fold their hands and play ‘optimal ignorance’ till Guinea has destroyed and counter-destroyed its citizenry. The time to act is now. Guinea and the Republic of Niger are losing where Nigeria, their Big Brother, was gaining. These two West African nations need help; by diplomatic persuasion or military confrontation. Africa, at home and in Diaspora, must not forget or ignore the Africa proverbial kins felling and togetherness. What aches Guinea and the Republic of Niger, pains Africa,
Africa, our Africa! So, help us, O God

When on October 10, 20mally commenced flight operations on October 30, 2006, it was tagged “baby airline” Solely because of its emergence as a fresher in the Nigerian Aviation Industry. 06 Arik Air was officially inaugurated to commence operations in Nigeria by then Aviation Minister, Babalola Aborishade, no one could imagine that in no distant future this airline would spring into a household name in just a blink of an eye.
Looking at the highly Competitive Aviation Industry emerging particularly in Nigeria and Africa in general, Arik Air has distinguished its self in many ways and has indisputably secured herself a position in the industry as she engaged other existing competitors in a superiority fight and even emerged tops. At the start of its operations three years ago, the company started with brand new CRJ 200 Banbardier and a 900Jet aircraft unlike the usual fairly used aircrafts imported into the country by other operators.

This is the first of its kind in the over thirty years of aviation business in Nigeria. As if that is not enough, it went on to acquire the B737-300 and soon followed with many B737 – 700 in quick succession to expand its domestic and international operations which expanded across the West African regional routes. Presently, Arik Air boost of 28 brand new aircrafts in her fleet, making her the largest indigenous airline carrier in Nigeria and third in Africa after Ethiopia and South Africa airlines respectively.

The projection of the company to expand its operations is not in doubt. Many industry watchers believedAriks’ continuous acquisition of modern aircrafts is an integral part of its strategy to position her in the forefront of the industry. Already, in just a short period of its existence, Arik Air makes 120 flights daily, which makes her the largest domestic flight carrier in Nigeria today. It is believed, around aviation circles that the emergence of Airk Air has completely changed the industry giving Nigeria the hope of achieving the category status that will permit her airlines to fly to the US and other top European countries as Nigeria soared through the international civil aviation audit.

This is true as quoted in their annual report: “ In December 2008 , we successfully launched our initial intercontinental operation from Lagos to London  Heathrow. We currently fly daily from London Heathrow Terminal 4 with our newly acquired airbus A340-500, which offers the highest degree of operational flexibility and unmatched passenger comfort. The aircraft offers 36 Premier Class and 201 Economy Class seats. Premier Class passengers enjoy ‘super flat’ beds equipped with 17 inch monitors and a new generation inbuilt massage system. It also has a communal area which comprises a bar lounge, sofas and a seat-free space for socialising.

“Our inaugural flight to London is perhaps the best thing to happen to passengers on the London-Lagos route since the service first started. It’s a bold statement, but as a frequent flyer on the London to Lagos route I know that for far too long, we have been paying far too much, for far too little in value. This is probably one of the highest priced routes in the world, yet somehow comfort and service currently seem to be an afterthought, rather than a priority” said Dr Michael Arumemi-Ikhide, CEO, Arik Air International Ltd .

“Our Company was created by a man with a very clear vision; to deliver a world class service to every passenger on every route. We have realised that vision domestically, we have realised it in the West African region and now it is time to offer it internationally. Moreover by taking up position in the heart of London, we are blessed with one of the most desirable international gateways from which to spread Arik’s unique West African message . “Our aim now is to exceed our passengers expectations internationally, become the carrier of choice to the West African region and demonstrate our credentials as the flagship airline for Nigeria and the gateway to West Africa.” Arik Air’s ambition does not stop with London. We are now taking our world class airline to the rest of the world and have secured the rights to fly to Johannesburg, New York, Houston, Paris, Beijing, and many other international destinations. To fly these new routes we have over US$6.1 billion of new aircraft on order to be delivered over ten years. These include Boeing B777s, B787s and Airbus A340s, all fitted out in the most luxurious style, in keeping with our world class standards.

On Sunday, 29 November 2009, ArikAir, Nigeria’s largest commercial airline launched their non-stop flights between Lagos and New York (JFK), the new route is their third international service outside of the West Africa region, following the commencement of daily flights to London Heathrow in December 2008 and to Johannesburg, South Africa, in June 2009.

The new Lagos – New York (JFK) services operates three times per week; with outbound flights departing Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, while inbound flights departs New York’s John F. Kenned y International Airport (Terminal 4) Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

In announcing the new international service, Arik Air’s Managing Director, Mr Jason Holt said: “Arik Air’s new non-stop flights between Lagos and New York will be the airline’s first transatlantic service. They will also be the first direct flights between Nigeria and the United States to be operated by a developed a maintenance culture
that will see all aircrafts in its fleet undergo routine checks on their return from every trip. In doing this the company has gone into agreement with Lufthansa Technik. Which will on a regular basis conduct routine check on its aircrafts? These checks are categorized ; they are the unscheduled and the scheduled. The scheduled maintenance checks are planned checks by the company. These are checks which focus on a particular work to be carried out on an aircraft while the unscheduled its operation. “Our customers are our focus. We try as much as possible to pay special attention for the desire of customers; this is the view of the highly competitive aviation industry where quality service determines the productivity of a company. This is no doubt the ever increasing scope of our passenger base, leading to increases in the number of flight destination in Nigeria, Western Africa and Europe. We have embarked on a series of training to enable our staff cope with the prevailing challenges of our Nigerian airline in the last decade. This is of great historical significance for Nigeria and a source of great pride for Arik Air.”

Knowing fully well the most important demand in air travel business is safety and considering the alarming increase in air travel accidents, the newly appointed managing Director of the Company Mr Jason Holt told Western Africa Magazine that the company has checks are those carried out to enhance the airworthiness of the aircrafts by servicing all notable problems.

The business of Arik Air is to be a world class airline carrier whose special focus is meeting the satisfaction of its customers and to achieve this Arik Air embarked on the training and retraining of its personnel to boost the effectiveness and efficiency of expansion, says Mr. Sundaram Suraj, Ariks general Manager Sales and marketing.

Arguably the largest airline in Nigeria, Arik Air has maintained a policy of giving its clients special treatment on board Arik Air not minding ticket class as preparation are in top gear to launch flight schedule to all possible destinations. Arik Air is a wholly-owned Nigerian airline with a commitment to the people of Nigeria to deliver new standards in aviation. Founded in 2002, it was the vision of Sir Arumemi-Ikhide, a leading and well-respected Nigerian businessman who understood that if business was to succeed, there needed to be efficiency and quality of service. He had spent many years traveling throughout Nigeria without the satisfaction of knowing that he could depend on the existing choice of air transport services available to him and to the good people of Nigeria. He also recognised the importance of healthy market competition in achieving efficiency. A plan for change was soon conceived and later set in motion in 2, with the demise of Nigeria Airways the national airline going into liquidation.  Arik Air took over the facilty of former Nigeria Airways Limited in Lagos and major reconstruction work commenced to transform it into a modern office complex for a modern airline with the aim to compete.

Arik Air was incorporated with the goal of becoming an airline that ‘Nigeria and the rest of the world would be proud to fly’ (Sir Arumemi-Ikhide)

Sir Arumemi-Ikhide brings together experienced airline start-up team and sources the best aircrafts to launch an airline that will set new standards and change the face of the aviation industry in Nigeria

Arik Air’s new headquarters and maintenance facility were inaugurated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, represented by the then Aviation Minister, Professor Babalola  Aborishade

following the completion of successful ‘proving’ flights, Arik Air welcomes passengers on board its brand new Bombardier CRJ 900 aircraft, the first new commercial aircraft to operate in Nigeria for over 20 years

domestic services were expanded second hub of Abuja. The airline invests circa $US 3.7 billion in an order for new medium and long haul aircraft , the airline commences its first African regional service, to Accra (Ghana) , commercial operations commenced on the airline’s first international long haul route with a daily nonstop service between Lagos and London Heathrow , Arik Air had welcomed more than 2.5 millions guests on board its domestic, regional and international services since launch.

Following the socking demise of Nigeria Airways the National Carrier of Nigeria the largest and richest country in sub-Saharan Africa, the Nigerian air route was opened to fiendish battle amongst the foreign operators who used all gimmicks to control the demand of the Nigerian air travelers; an attempts was made by virgin airline in collaboration with few Nigerian businessmen to clone a near subchristened, virgin- Nigeria in the bid to recapture Nigerian travelers to replace Nigeria Airways – the national carrier, but all to no avail.

Arik Air emerged to the greatest surprise of many critics to foot that bill and boy have they done a marvelous job that majority of the aviation industry watchers have been commending their successes with the awards of all classes of accolades on the airline. A Nigerian national daily This day Newspaper, Lagos, Nigeria, awarded Arik Air the Airline of the year in January 2007 and 2009 respectively. In May 2008, Arik Airline received the ’International Quality Summit Award, Gold Category, New York, USA. These sums up like the adage that goes “Who the Cap fits; let him wear it”.

“Arik Air’s huge investment in the nation’s aviation sector has been applauded by the Federal government. The Minister of State for Air Transportation, Mr. Felix Hyat, gave the commendation on Tuesday, July 29, 2008, on the occasion of the signing ceremony of a N35 billion loan syndication agreement between Arik Air and a consortium of six financial institutions for the acquisition of five brand new Boeing 777 300ER aircraft. The six financial institutions include Zenith Bank, Union Bank, Intercontinental Bank, Skye Bank, First Inland bank and Afribank. Hyat said government would not sacrifice the interest of Nigeria to any foreign economy even a s he promised that government would not turn its face when there was foul play by any of the foreign carriers.

Air is doing in restoring the confidence of the whole world in Nigerian aviation industry which had received a lot of bashing in the past”. “We want to use the airline to promote our culture to the world. Airline business is the way to showcase the country to the world and we at Arik will do just that”, Sir Arumemi-Johnson Arik Air Chairman stated in his speech during the loan syndication signing ceremony.

We at Western Africa Magazine equally join in the felicitation of Arik Air for their monumental achievement in taking charge of the Nigerian Aviation Industry after the long period of rat race following the demise of Nigeria Airways the National Carrier. We are therefore committing to promote the young and prosperous airline through our network throughout the continent of Africa and the world. To the Nigerian traveling public we equally wish you the very best as you encourage Arik Air to invest in the future of the Nigerian Aviation Industry.

In today’s capitalist market everyone protests their own interest. And if you don’t do it; no one else will do it for you. That is the nature of the beast out there. So watch out! – Enjoy your flights cause you are in the safe hands of Wings of Nigeria!