Nigeria’s Future More Than Technological Advancement

By Aminu Bello Masari

It is with profound honour and a deep sense of responsibility that I stand as Chairman of the public presentation of SHADOWS: Protest Essays on Africa’s Most Consequential Country (1999–2023), authored by Eniola Bello, one amongst Nigeria’s most respected journalists, editors, columnists and public commentators.

The book is particularly significant because it brings together essays and commentaries written in response to issues and events as they unfolded. Viewed collectively, these reflections provide a unique window into Nigeria’s democratic experience over the past quarter-century. They capture not only the events themselves but also the debates, aspirations, anxieties and public sentiments that accompanied them. Such writings transcend the immediacy of newspaper pages; they become enduring reference materials for policymakers, scholars, historians, students and all who seek to understand the complexities of Nigeria’s democratic evolution.

Books such as this serve purposes far beyond literature. They preserve memory, provoke reflection, challenge assumptions and stimulate debate. More importantly, they enable nations to examine themselves honestly. A country that fails to document its journey deprives future generations of the opportunity to learn from both its triumphs and its mistakes.

Works such as this remind us that democracy is sustained not only through periodic elections but also through informed public discourse and active citizen engagement. Democracy flourishes when citizens think critically, ask difficult questions, defend institutions and remain committed to the ideals of justice, accountability and the rule of law. In that regard, writers, scholars, journalists and historians perform a vital public service by helping society understand where it has been, where it stands today and where it ought to be heading.

I therefore commend the foresight, discipline and professional courage of the author and other journalists of his generation who recognised the importance of documenting our national journey in real time.

The title, SHADOWS, is itself evocative. Every nation has moments of brilliance and moments of uncertainty. Shadows remind us not only of challenges overcome but also of lessons that must never be forgotten. They invite us to reflect with humility, to celebrate genuine progress without denying our shortcomings, and to draw wisdom from experience.

Nigeria’s democratic journey since 1999 has been one of resilience, progress, and sometimes setbacks and renewal. The return to constitutional rule was neither accidental nor inevitable. It was made possible through the sacrifices of countless Nigerians who, often at great personal cost, refused to abandon the dream of a democratic Nigeria. We owe them a debt of gratitude. Their courage reminds us that democracy is not a gift handed down by history; it is an achievement secured through sacrifice, defended through vigilance and sustained through collective commitment.

We must equally acknowledge those who, over the years, placed the stability of our Republic above anybody’s personal ambition and sectional interests. Their examples strengthened public confidence in our democratic experiment and deserve our enduring appreciation.

Today, nearly three decades after our return to democratic governance, we can point to significant achievements. We have witnessed successive constitutional transfers of power, the gradual strengthening of democratic institutions, an increasingly vibrant civic space and a growing democratic consciousness among our people. Yet we also recognise that democracy is not judged solely by its endurance, but by its capacity to improve the lives of citizens. Challenges relating to security, economic development, social justice, institutional effectiveness and public trust continue to demand our collective attention.

The responsibility for consolidating these gains rests not on governments alone but on all stakeholders — public institutions, civil society, the media and citizens alike. We must not allow the emergence of New Media that gave birth to citizens journalism and the spread of fake news to derail our democracy.

However constructive criticism as painful as it might be, remains indispensable to every democracy. Honest criticism, grounded on facts and offered in good faith, strengthens institutions rather than weakens them. It promotes accountability, enriches public policy and encourages continuous improvement in governance. This, I believe, is the enduring value of works such as SHADOWS. Whether one agrees with every conclusion reached by the author is secondary to the fact that the work stimulates reflection and encourages meaningful national conversation.

Nigeria will continue to need more authors, more researchers, more historians, more public intellectuals and more young people willing to interrogate issues with rigour, fairness and patriotism. The future of our country will depend not only on technological advancement or economic growth but also on the quality of thought, character and leadership that we nurture today.

History continues to unfold before us. We are not merely observers of history; each one of us, in our own way, is a participant in shaping it. Let us therefore strive to leave behind a nation with stronger institutions, a more enlightened citizenry and a democracy that future generations will cherish and improve upon.

•Excerpts from the opening remarks of the Right Hon. Aminu Bello Masari as Chairman of the public presentation of Eniola Bello’s SHADOWS:  Protest Essays on Africa’s Most Consequential Country (1999–2023). Masari, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and immediate past governor of Katsina State, is Chairman, Board of Trustees, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).