It is good to make a disclaimer at the start that I’m a freelance writer, an erudite business analyst, a student of economic analysis and a firm believer of greater Nigeria. I criticize governments or institutions where necessary and dole credence when deserved without partisanship instinct. My prognosis in this piece is for readers to see the future in the lens of today, prepare to take what belong to them from the pocket of yesterday and make Nigeria thrive to relevance among committee of nations.

Nigeria is in a state of economic despondency today with paralytic outlook for many reasons known to Nigerians but socio-economic prosperity is in the offing. There have been many years of democratic opportunity without economic dividends; there have been many years of perceived social liberality but impunity with exercise of greed is the power driving political platforms in Nigeria, It is as if the country is besieged by an army of looters without mercy or grace, it is like a war, a battle ground where one party controls and deprive the other party of complete supply and this is the war strategy, cut the supply and the opposition will surrender. Few people have cut supplies of different infrastructures, implementation of live giving policies, programs that will benefit the masses so that the majority can bow to their rein but the time has come that the people will resist the act of war, take fate by the horn and prime their ways to freedom.

There have been so many opportunities to rise to prominence since independence but there is no better time to be free economically than today. Today is the time for every Nigerian to make a decision, today is the day for our government to stop playing hide and seek politics and reform the nation, today is the moment our president should act as Deng Xiaoping of China did in 1978 after he announced and acted the emancipation China.

Interestingly, after the death of Mao Zedong in 1976, Deng became the paramount leader who at the Third Plenum of 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, held in December 1978 as focus-economic.com puts it, Deng announced the official lunch of the four modernizations-agriculture, defence, industry and science and technology-which marked the beginning of the reform and opening up policies. Deng Xiaoping became the father of a modern, industrialized and economically liberated China, leaders and leaders after him have built on the foundation that he laid until today, China came from No 9 largest economy in the world in 1978 to No 2 in 2015 transcending from a nominal GDP of USD214Billion in 1978 to USD9.2Trillion in 2015 and growing a high rate preparing to rule the world with positive balance in their current account and capital account, holding about USD4.0 Trillion in foreign reserves and a proactive balance of trade account. China has become an economic hub of the world just by a change in leadership control for a change that has staged a surprise for the world turning communism into a blend of capitalism.

Nigeria needs a leader with a ‘change action’ like the one Deng pioneered from December 1978 beyond making it a mantra. It is expedient that this government come out boldly to state focused agenda passionately without blabbing, it is ahead of corruption drum but a real actionable words that will pioneer a new Nigeria else a new generation of leaders will emerge from recessionary experience that will gong the change from 2019. It is imperative that Nigeria emulates the acts of China in the development attitude, plan for the future and open up the economy even Saudi Arabia is adapting a formula of sovereign bond to open up their economy since the energy revenue is changing rapidly hence the need to use China strategy to turn around their economy by attracting investors, liberalizing trade, promulgating enabling laws and propagating a new change that will reset their predicament and tend the economy towards growth.

Here is my prognosis which is based on the factors exposed by the economic recession currently faced by Nigerians. The factors include but not limited to: teaming youth demography, expanse agricultural and industrial land, growing technology knowledge or expertise and entrepreneurial spirit, large and growing population for business desirability etc. Nigeria will become a superpower by 2030 all things being equal and based on the aforementioned factors.

The recession is opening Nigerian eyes to opportunities within the country and developing entrepreneur spirit among the youth. The prognosis is not based on any exact mathematical or economic models but it is based on the reality of simple arithmetic and simple growth rate analysis without sentimental incursion. Nigeria has been labelled as a MINT country as popularized by Jim O’Neill and coined by Fidelity Investment, a Boston-based asset management company which stunt Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey as emerging powers. Nigeria has also featured prominently among the N-11 nations which are 11 countries as coined by Goldman Sachs Investment bank to mean countries having high potentials of becoming largest economies along with BRICS in the 21st century and any more nomenclature that are favourable to Nigeria becoming an economic hub of Africa and an investment destination for the world.

For 2030 to be a reality, the impressive youth population must shelve reliance on government, think inside-out and create product first for Africa, then to the rest of the world. Government must focus in developing infrastructure, policies and enabling environment for the populace. The potential is there, the resources are there but only willingness on the path of the citizen and uprightness on the path of government are needed to revolutionize Nigeria, return it to the path of growth and consolidate to enjoy sporadic changes until the economy has spread tentacles to the whole world by 2030.

Looking at the economies of the G20 countries with the exception of Europe which is a supra bloc as analysed above with the inclusion of Nigeria for the year 2015 except that the data quoted for India in the table is that of 2014, it is evident that Nigeria has the potential, the market population, the resources and all it takes to climb economic latter crossing USD1.0trillion GDP in 2030 which within the context of this study is referred to a super economy. Just as China transcended into a super economy today, Nigeria can become one of the first 10 largest economies in the world.

Nigeria being No 17 in a game of 20 can aspire to be among the first 10 by year 2030 if the head of government will behave like Deng Xiaoping and the people of Nigeria will believe like the Chinese. Believe it today, work out your own portion of the pie and change is the inevitable end.

‘Tope Oladele: +2347032045459:temioladele@gmail.com