This is a continuation of the series examining a turnaround strategy called the “80-20 3 Level” concept, an alternative mode of “doing things in Nigeria”. The series is spurred by the need to move Nigeria forward, from what has been described as ‘persistent psychological paralysis‘ – a state of ineptness secondary to the failures of the Nigerian political class, and apathetic tendencies of the Nigerian people.
Part 1 of the series provides some background information and the framework of the “80-20 3 Level” concept, which can summarized as follows:
It is not necessary to have 100% participatory rate to initiate change; as little as 20% engagement rate is enough, according to the Pareto’s Principle (the 80-20 rule). Lets call this 20% the “change seekers“, they needed to be identified and mobilized to operate on three (3) specific levels within the Nigerian economic and sociopolitical spheres. It is expected that the activities of the social changers – direct and indirect – will bring about positive within their spheres of operation.
The key factor is being able to identify the change seekers, and mobilize them within the three levels of the Nigerian society, as listed below.
What does it mean to operate on three (3) levels? And what caliber of Nigerians are required?
Level 1 – The Public servants / Public Sector. Imagine people with the mindset of:
- Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala the former Finance Minister;
- Late Dr. Olikoye Ransome Kuti, the former Health Minister;
- Dr. Dora Aduyili of NAFDAC;
- Abike Dabiri, a member of Federal House of Representatives, and the sponsor of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill;
- Malam Nasir EL-Rufai, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
Common Traits: Public service, intellectual, technocrat, experience, passion.
Level 2 – Captains of Industry. Imagine the likes of:
- Oba Otudeko, the Chairman of Honeywell Group and a former President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange;
- Fola Adeola, the founder and chairman Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and FATE Foundation;
- Michael Ibru, head of the Ibru Organization, one of the largest conglomerates in Nigeria;
- Dr. Bart Nnaji of Geometric Power; an indigenous private-sector driven power solutions provider. It’s vision is be the premier power solutions provider in sub-Saharan Africa;
- Bode Akindele of Modandola. A self-made man entrepreneur and founder of the Aramed Medical Center;
Common Traits: Private sector, industry, wealth, business-savvy, self-starter, passion.
Level 3 – Social Activists, the “Town Criers”. Imagine the likes of:
- Wole Soyinka, the Nobel Laureate;
- Toyosi Akerele, founder of the Rise Networks, a youth empowerment organization;
- Omoyele Sowore, founder of the independent and investigative Nigerian news website, Sahara Reporters ;
- Femi Falana, social activist and lawyer;
- Gbegan Sesan; a newly inducted Ashoka Fellow and initiator of Ajegunle.Org, a collaborative venture designed to connect the youth population of largest slum with life-changing and wealth-creating opportunities.
Common Traits: radicalism, creativity, young blood, passion.
Enough of name dropping, but I hope you have a sense of the kind of personality each level requires. Be free to expand the list as you deem fit.
Why operate on three levels?
The usual modus operandi of governance is typically limited to the top; Level 1. Even when matters of national interest are discussed among the grassroots, it’s often done with reference to the top, the so-called “government”.
What differentiates the “80-20 3 Level” concept from other ideas is that it recognizes the multi-dimensional characteristic of initiating change, within the context of governance, and with the intent of bringing about a national renaissance. This is achieved by making allowance for the roles of the public sector (Level 1), the private sector (Level 2) and the social activist-community (Level 3), and not just focusing on Level 1, which just constitute a 1/3 of the system.
That we have identified elements for each level, the next question is: what is their mandate?
How would these personalities operate, work towards the goal of moving the nation forward, and by extension, motivate the Nigerian masses and energize them?
This will be discussed in Part 3 of the series, with specific examples as needed. Part 3 will address the role of social business within a capitalistic setting, and the relevance of social advocacy and grassroots engagement.
Thanks for shedding more light on this 80-20 3 Level concept, it is appears interesting and workable. What I seem unclear about is its implementation. Who will run it and ensure all the components are well integrated?
While I see how the folks on Level 3 operate and understand what they do, how would those on Levels 1 & 2 operate? I guess this goes back to the earlier question: who will tie all the strings together?
Cheers man!
October 14, 2008 at 9:50 am
Thanks Tayo.
What I have proposed is just a strategy for effecting change on national, state or local level. Although, the post was written with Nigeria in mind, so to answer your question, it must be run by a federal agency. I will be addressing this question fully in the next post, with some caveats. Thanks for bring it up.
Be well!
October 14, 2008 at 9:18 pm
My question is how will the ordinary common man with the right change mindset and with the determination to assist effect change, belong into the above 3 watertight (maybe not watertight) levels? Maybe we need more than three levels, or am I interpreting this concept wrong?
I will add Gani Fawehinmi, to the list at Level 3, and Donald Duke to Level 1 list. There is more to come, all in the right time.
October 23, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Omotaylor: I believe to effect change one has to operate with a clear agenda. The 3 levels have unique, broad agenda which I believe accommodate the basis activities of any change seeker.
By all means you can add to the levels, it just that the the list is inexhaustible.
Pardon me, I ought to have written the concluding sections of the series, will do so shortly.
October 24, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Thanks imnakoya for the response. Looking at level 1, yes anybody could belong to the public service sector but the examples given are indicative of well established and renowned public sector individuals. Hope in part 3, which I am eagerly awaiting, there will be an invitation to all not so known change agents to join in at any level of qualification.
Now about operating with a clear agenda; first looking at the Nigerian scene, no one individual can operate with any form of Agenda on a proactive high profile change level (which I believe is what Nigeria needs). But as you said, if individuals are accommodated or coopted into the different change levels, then a list of change factors could be compiled in priorities. The different change levels would I hope identify which is relevant to their areas of expertise, and heads could combine to draw out this “clear agenda”.
My next question is this: How do we go about changing the mindset of the average Nigerian? I have come to conclude from my years of fighting for and behalf of the masses, that these same masses are ever so difficult to deal with. No matter what good intentions one has, could easily be frustrated when the people are UNWILLING to change. Lagosians are a good example, followed by the police and so on. Still hope am making sense for I do not want to intepret your write up wrongly and I am interested in this topic and every little helps (i.e. me learning from the write up). Better than still cracking my head in vain as to how we can effect the Ghanian style change in Nigeria.
And yes it is time for the opportunities to superceed the nightmares.
October 25, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Omotaylor:
Your question: “How do we go about changing the mindset of the average Nigerian?”
Mindset as mentioned is a broad entity. The short answer to your question is performance. A performing government impacts lives. When the people can see how government policies and activities are bringing value to their lives, it becomes easier to ‘change mindset of the average Nigerian’. The foundation is performance and creating values. These conditions can only be achieved when the right people are in place. There is no silver bullet, the required elements must all be present, and applied to the situation as it presents itself.
Example: Mobile phones and electoral process in Nigeria.
The first step was having the right policy in place (Level 1).
Next is the business component (Level 2), which level 1 must oversee.
Level 3 can make use of the mobiles phone as a tool (video and image capture, providing updates at polling centers, etc) for advocacy or social justice, for example, as we saw in some areas during the last elections.
Now imagine what can be achieved during the next election, if there are strategies in place that empower and educate the some 50 million Nigerian cellphone subscribers on the relevance of the mobile phones during an electoral process.
Note: Those at Level 3 can’t do it alone without the involvement of Level 2. But it is Level 1 that started the process by putting the right policy in place. This is how the levels work. Do we need 100% participatory rate to make this happen, No.
October 27, 2008 at 12:28 am
Thanks for your response Imnakoya, am struggling to follow the analysis so I will take time to study your response and analyse it well for good understanding. Now about changing the mindset of the people, dont you think that education comes before performance? This same people will make performance so hard to achieve if not educated, and in severe cases forced to comply with a heavy hand. Fashola had some interesting encounters in Lagos, and in one case I think he had to resort to heavy penalties and fines (very severe) to show the people he meant business ( these are traffic related). Now the people as it applies to Nigeria so deeply believe they are above the law and they need to be educated and/or punished consistently to effect the change and make performance a reality. Anyway, I will await your concluding write up before asking any other question.
October 27, 2008 at 3:38 pm
@ Imnakoya
Just another analysis for understanding:
Is Fashola performing in Lagos State? – Yes
Is the mindset of the people changed? – No
Or is this because the Local Government Chairmen are not performing in Lagos State? – Dont know…
How do you educate people who refuse to be educated? How do you perform and rate well when your performance are thwarted by people who refuse to change?
October 27, 2008 at 3:45 pm
“education comes before performance”…This is debatable.
Your example of traffic control is a little too restricted but lets look at it deeper. Traffic tends to be chaotic anywhere there little control. People ‘behave’ when they know there is a consequence for their action. This is basic. However, don’t forget that in Lagos, there is simply too many cars/vehicles for the roads available. Many drivers lack proper training and law enforcement agencies often fail to do their jobs. This is a systemic problem that requires a systemic approach that only a ‘performing government’ can implement.
On Fashola, yes, he’s performing. The BRT is one measure, there are several others steps he needs to take like using the waterways and building more roads, and ensuring the traffic wardens are not just collecting bribes. All these must be put in place before any ‘education’ can work.
October 27, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Imnakoya, your response seems to agree with me that education comes before performance, and by education I mean training and educating people in areas that matter e.g.:
“ensuring the traffic wardens are not just collecting bribes”
“Many drivers lack proper training and law enforcement agencies often fail to do their jobs. This is a systemic problem that requires a systemic approach that only a ‘performing government’ can implement”.
These are examples of the education am talking about, not classroom literacy.
Lastly “People ‘behave’ when they know there is a consequence for their action” refers to the punishment I talked about, so you have sort of agreed with me.
Cheers
October 27, 2008 at 4:32 pm
October 27, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Thanks so much for broadening your analysis of this issue. Your breakdown makes sense but is raising a few questions in my head. I need to sleep on them so I can organize them properly.
Again, I thank you for taking the time to do this. Very illuminating.
October 28, 2008 at 8:18 am
It looks like Indian state. Its is like Bengal and Delhi. Last two months before here also land opportunities had made people crazy. That was the effort of government. I think it is the best news about the Nigeria land of opportunities.
Thanks
http://indiatraveling.wordpress.com/
November 23, 2008 at 11:56 pm