Leading academics from Nigerian universities have emphasized the critical importance of identity, empowerment, and youth participation in revitalizing Nigeria’s political landscape.
These views were expressed over the weekend at the 2nd Annual Lecture of the Lawani Series on Decolonization (LCD) by the Uyi & Rachel Lawani Foundation, in collaboration with the West African Transitional Justice Centre, held at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Uyi Lawani, a prominent scholar and activist, stressed the need for Nigerians to first secure their own identity before effectively negotiating and shaping the political systems that govern them.
Speaking on the theme of the lecture series, which focused on “Decolonisation Political Thought and Action: Panacea for Nigeria’s Failure to Build Viable Political Movements,” Lawani argued that the lingering impacts of colonialism have made it challenging for Nigerians to fully separate themselves from the logic and structures inherited from the colonial era.
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He emphasized the importance of fostering self-awareness and community ownership, particularly among marginalized groups, to enable them to determine their own destiny through referendums and dialogues.
Lawani noted: “If you are not able to secure your identity first, you have no platform to negotiate. We have to be properly situated in our identity as Africans or Nigerians before we can fashion a political system that truly suits us.”
“The non-obvious impacts of colonization, such as the ‘colonized mind,’ are often the most dangerous and difficult to overcome. We must first educate and empower people to break free from the shackles of colonized thinking before they can actively participate in the process of decolonization.”
“We should ensure that this process is driven by the people themselves. Self-awareness is very important in these marginalized communities, and they must take ownership of determining their own destiny through referendums. That is why the decolonization aspect of our advocacy is important—people must control their own destiny.”
“This process must come through dialogue, which will give us insight into what people truly want. This doesn’t necessarily mean that everything people want will be realized, but the negotiating team will decide how to move forward as a nation, thereby reducing grievances.”
“Perhaps the most dangerous aspect of colonization is the non-obvious, which is not easy to perceive. You may not even be aware that the manifestations of a colonized mind are the root cause.”
“It is hard to expect someone who is colonized to begin the process of decolonization. We must first educate and empower them to break free from the shackles,” he said.
Another speaker, Dr. Philip Olayoku, highlighted the need to increase youth participation in governance, noting that while young people have often found their way into positions of power, traditional structures and cultures have sometimes excluded them from meaningful political engagement.
“We want people to understand their capabilities in political participation. The fight to orient and empower youth in the political arena is crucial for revitalizing Nigeria’s political landscape.”
The event served as a platform for leading academics to explore the complex challenges of decolonization and the imperative of fostering political movements that are truly grounded in the aspirations and identities of the Nigerian people.
Participants left the lecture with a renewed sense of urgency and a commitment to continue the dialogue and work towards a more equitable and inclusive political future for the nation.
