By Afolabi Adeniyi
The African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) and partners—Government of Ekiti State, Premium Times Books, Yiaga Africa, Sahara Reporters, Oak TV, CDD, Enough is Enough, Nigeria, and TechHer—will publish a book of essays to mark Nigeria’s diamond jubilee.
The book, Remaking Nigeria: Sixty Years, Sixty Voices, with a foreword on “Federalism in Nigeria,” by Dr Kayode Fayemi, the governor of Ekiti State, is edited by Dr Chido Onumah, Coordinator of AFRICMIL.
“On October 1, 2020, Nigeria will celebrate her 60th year of political independence. After sixty years of independence, most Nigerians, particularly the youth, hold the view that the country has failed to work for them in a way that is satisfactory and enduring,” said Onumah.
“The aim of the book is to give voice to young Nigerians, the critical change agents, to help the country understand and sharpen its focus on those issues that hold the key to its collective survival.
“Clearly, the new decade will be a defining moment for Nigeria. Sixty years after independence, fifty years after a civil war, and at the beginning of a new decade, it is important that a new generation of citizens is challenged to reposition the country,” Onumah added.
“From interaction with young people and discussions on social media, there appears to be an information and knowledge gap among young people about the history and socio-political evolution of Nigeria. Beyond the lack of understanding of history, there is also a dearth of ideas on what needs to be done and how to get Nigeria out of its current situation. The book and the activities around it are supposed to address these problems.”
Contributors to the book are young Nigerians with fresh ideas on nationhood, democracy, and development.
The book focuses on issues such as federalism, elections and democracy, constitutionalism, environmental justice, data and ICT, the economy and social inclusion, media and press freedom, youth engagement, law and human rights, education and social services, religion and multiculturalism, leadership challenge and good governance, corruption and accountability, foreign policy and regional cooperation.
Contributors consist of academics, politicians, journalists, writers, youth activists and organisers, gender activists, human rights and civil society activists, etc., focusing on the many challenges confronting Nigeria from their experience, research, and advocacy.
The publication which is supported by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) and Ford Foundation is set for launch later in October.