profile/5683FB_IMG_16533107021641748.jpg

News_Naija

What Nigeria Can Learn From Chinas Economic Transformation

China has transformed from an isolated, agrarian economy into the world’s second-largest economic powerhouse in just over four decades. What was once a country grappling with poverty, underdevelopment, and political instability is now a hub for infrastructure, innovation, and global trade. This transformation was not accidental—it resulted from deliberate policies, long-term vision, and strategic execution. As Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and one of its largest economies, struggles with underdevelopment, unemployment, and economic dependency, a critical question arises: Can Nigeria learn from China’s blueprint and chart a similar course of transformation? Exploring the key drivers behind China’s economic success—from industrial policy and foreign direct investment to education and innovation—and examining which strategies are adaptable to Nigeria’s unique context. It is not about copying and pasting a model but thoughtful adaptation, bold leadership, and a shared national vision. Nigeria can learn a treasure trove of lessons from the compelling story of a nation that understands the delicate balance between progress and preservation. “If you know your history, you will know where you are coming from.” Perhaps you would also know where you are going. But then, knowing your history is not enough. You must preserve and build on it. China deeply embeds its culture in every aspect of life. From food to architecture, from language to commerce, they carry their heritage with pride. Chinese culture highly regards heritage and is firmly committed to preserving history with a seamless blend of traditional and modern architecture. We must understand that our past is the foundation on which we build our future. Language is power. Language is unity. In China, everyone speaks Mandarin—not only as a means of communication but also as a declaration of identity. With Mandarin as the national language, the country has been able to bridge regional divides and create a sense of national unity. I believe the absence of a “local” common national language keeps Nigeria fragmented. A more unified linguistic approach can help us strengthen national cohesion. Walk into any Chinese store, and you will find products proudly made in China. There is a national consciousness to support homegrown businesses. Government policies favour local industries, ensuring they thrive before foreign brands are even considered. If we do not build and protect our own, no one else will. An average vendor in China accepts payments via Alipay or WeChat. The apps can even analyse your spending and show which sectors are taking more money than the others. China’s infrastructure tells a story of intentional leadership. Payment platforms, technology, roads, bridges, trains, and power supply are not luxuries there—they are fundamental rights. China has created an ecosystem that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship, and the government’s investments in its people ensure that a lack of infrastructure does not hinder productivity. China did not become the world’s manufacturing hub overnight. It took decades of meticulous planning, investment in technology, and a deep understanding of global market trends. Nigeria has vast human and natural resources, but it must think beyond quick wins. We must start playing the long-term game—investing in industries that can position us as global leaders in specific sectors. China’s success is largely built on its infrastructure—efficient transportation, stable electricity, and modern digital networks. These systems enable businesses to thrive and make daily life more convenient. Nigeria must prioritise infrastructure development in urban areas and across the country, ensuring accessibility and efficiency in commerce, communication, and mobility. One of China’s most fascinating strategies is building viable internal alternatives before restricting foreign platforms. They did not just ban Google; they had Baidu. They did not just block WhatsApp; they had WeChat. They did not just reject foreign e-commerce platforms; they had Alibaba. We must create, then compete—not the other way around. China understands the power of partnerships. The government collaborates with businesses, businesses collaborate among themselves, and regions within China collaborate to drive national growth. We must embrace the mindset that no sector thrives in isolation. From private enterprises to government initiatives, from north to south, collaboration should be the new normal. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about China is its discipline—discipline in governance, policy execution, and societal structure. We have some of the brightest minds in the world, but talent without discipline is wasted potential. It is not enough to have plans; we must follow through with ruthless efficiency. China is not perfect, and neither is Nigeria. But if we are to move forward, we must be willing to learn from those who have successfully walked the path of development. Celebrating our culture, preserving our heritage, prioritising collaborations, supporting indigenous businesses, uniting through language, and demanding more from leadership—these are not just lessons we can learn from developed countries; they are mandates. Nigeria is rich, powerful, and full of promise. But a promise alone does not build nations—strategy, execution, and a deep sense of identity do. We must invest in our human capital and build a workforce that can drive the nation’s growth. Progress is not a zero-sum game. China has an ageing population, but our young population is one of our greatest assets. We must equip them with the skills and knowledge required to compete in the 21st century. • Olaotan Fawehinmi writes from Lagos

dataDp/3575.jpeg

Futbol

Match Of The Day Top 10: Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer & Micah Richards Rank Premier League Midfielders

This article was first published on 18 March 2023 Kevin de Bruyne, widely regarded as one of the finest players of the Premier League era, has announced he will leave Manchester City at the end of the season. The 33-year-old has won the title six times since arriving at Etihad Stadium in 2015 - but where does he actually rank among the league's best-ever midfielders? In 2023, Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards picked their top 10 Premier League midfielders as part of their Match of the Day Top 10 series. Here's the list they came up with. All stats are correct as of 18 March 2023. De Bruyne to leave Man City at end of season Find out how Gary, Alan and Micah ranked their selections Watch Match of the Day Top 10 on BBC iPlayer Clubs: Chelsea (2011-14), Man City (2015-present) Premier League record: 226 appearances, 60 goals, 95 assists Signed by Manchester City in 2015 for a then club record fee of £55m. Kevin de Bruyne has enjoyed a stellar return to the Premier League and is currently ranked fifth in Premier League assists. He is also a back-to-back PFA Player's Player of the Year award winner (2019-20 and 2020-21) - just the third player in history to achieve this feat after Thierry Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo. The 2019-20 campaign in particular stood out as De Bruyne matched Henry's Premier League assist record of 20 and created the most chances from open play since records began (104). Clubs: Arsenal (2003-2011), Chelsea (2014-19) Premier League record: 350 appearances, 50 goals, 111 assists Fabregas joined Arsenal from Barcelona as a 16-year-old in 2003 and quickly developed into one of the world's best midfielders. Aged just 16 years and 177 days, he became the club's youngest first-team player when he made his debut in a League Cup tie against Rotherham, and broke another record later in December when he became the Gunners' youngest-ever goalscorer with his strike against Wolves. He was part of the Arsenal side that won the FA Cup in 2004/05. He would return to the Premier League with Chelsea from boyhood club Barcelona, finally adding that illusive Premier League title to his CV in 2014. He won another in the 2016/17 season, as well as adding another FA Cup to the trophy cabinet. Clubs: Liverpool (1998-2015) Premier League record: 504 appearances, 120 goals, 92 assists Steven Gerrard's capacity to drag his teammates along with him to achieve great things is perhaps best evidenced by his incredible record of having scored in the finals of the Champions League, UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup. His last-minute equaliser against West Ham United in the FA Cup final perhaps being the defining moment of an iconic career. Gerrard's momentous talent was acknowledged by his peers when he won PFA Young Player of the Year in 2000-01 and PFA Players' Player of the Year in 2005-06. Clubs: Leicester (2015-16), Chelsea (2016-2023) Premier League record: 222 appearances, 12 goals, 16 assists Unknown in England before his arrival at Leicester in 2015 (signed from Caen for £5.6m), Kante announced himself in style by playing a key role in the Foxes' legendary title-winning campaign that year. His performances resulted in a move to Chelsea the following season (£32m) where he subsequently repeated the trick, earning the PFA Player of the Year award along the way. Clubs: Nottingham Forest (1990-1993), Man Utd (1993-2005) Premier League record: 366 appearances, 39 goals, 33 assists Keane began his career in England with Nottingham Forest before joining Man Utd for a then record fee of £3.75m in the summer of 1993. Labelled the best player he ever worked with by Sir Alex Ferguson, few sportsmen have led from the front the way Keane did and it was his unwavering desire to succeed that underpinned the most successful spell in United's history. This culminated in the club's famous 1998-99 treble-winning season. Clubs: West Ham (1995-2001); Chelsea (2001-2014); Man City (2014-15) Premier League record: 609 appearances, 177 goals, 102 assists Frank Lampard's name will forever be front of mind during any conversation around goalscoring midfielders. He was signed by Chelsea from West Ham for £11m and quickly improved his all-around game. His goalscoring prowess saw him become Chelsea's all-time leading scorer (211) and fifth all time in the Premier League. Under manager Jose Mourinho, Lampard won back-to-back Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006, and was labelled 'the best in the world' by his manager. But, arguably, his greatest season came in 2009-10 when he helped Chelsea to a special league and cup double with a haul of 22 league goals - a personal best. Clubs: Man Utd (1994-2013) Premier League record: 499 appearances, 107 goals, 55 assists Local lad Paul Scholes was part of Manchester United's iconic class of '92 alongside David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and Gary and Phil Neville. A host of golden seasons at Old Trafford include 1995-96's double-winning campaign, in which he covered admirably during Eric Cantona's suspension, finishing second behind the Frenchman in the scoring charts with 14 goals. He was a cornerstone of 1999's treble winners, although suspension ruled him out of the Champions League final, and, in United's Premier League success in 2003, his 20-goal haul across all competitions (14 in the league) was vital. The most decorated player on this list with 11 league titles and two Champions League winners medals to his name. Clubs: Man City (2010-2020) Premier League record: 309 appearances, 60 goals, 93 assists Signed by Roberto Mancini from Valencia in 2010 for an undisclosed fee thought to be around £30m, David Silva was a permanent fixture in the Manchester City team for 10 years playing more than 400 games across all competitions for the Blues. El Mago (the magician) is one of the most decorated players in the club's history having won four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five EFL Cups, and two Community Shields with the club. He is in the top 10 provider of assists in the Premier League of all time. Clubs: Man City (2010-2018) Premier League record: 230 appearances, 62 goals, 32 assists Arriving at City from Barcelona in 2010 for a fee of £24m, Yaya Toure scored a series of important goals in the 2010-2011 season. Winning goals in the FA Cup semi-final - against Manchester United - and the final - against Stoke City - culminated in the end of a 35-year-wait for Manchester City for a major trophy and followed this up in 2011-12 by playing a key role in City ending their 44-year league title drought. Clubs: Arsenal (1996-2011), Man City (2009-11) Premier League record: 307 appearances, 31 goals, 34 assists Signed by Arsenal in 1996 for just £3.6m, Patrick Vieira was somewhat of an unknown. At 6ft4 the Frenchman was a rare blend of graft and craft that made the rigours of the Premier League a non issue. His qualities were clear as he played a vital role in the Gunners' two doubles in 1997-98 and 2001-02. The crowning glory of his Premier League career came when he captained Arsenal to the Premier League's only unbeaten season and another Premier League title in 2003-04. A career full of great memories in red and white ended when his final act as an Arsenal player was to score the final penalty in their 2004-05 FA Cup win over Manchester United.

dataDp/1032.jpeg

Worldnews

Kashmir Attack: Does Indias Indus Waters Treaty Freeze Threaten Pakistan?

Pakistan has deemed India’s suspension of the Indus Water Treaty following tourist attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam an ‘act of war’. In tit-for-tat moves this week, India and Pakistan have entered a strategic standoff following Tuesday’s attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of at least 26 people. On Wednesday, India downgraded ties with Pakistan, announcing a series of steps, the most important of which is a decision to suspend its participation in the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), which could seriously restrict Pakistan’s water supplies. India has also closed its main land border with Pakistan and given some Pakistani nationals currently in India a deadline to leave the country. On Thursday, Pakistan retaliated with similar steps against India, and also threatened to suspend its participation in all bilateral agreements between the two, including the 1972 Simla Agreement, a peace accord drawn up following their war the previous year that led to the creation of Bangladesh. Pakistan is particularly angered by the threat to the IWT and has warned India that any disruption to its water supply would be considered “an act of war”, adding that it was prepared to respond, “with full force across the complete spectrum of national power”. The IWT, a transboundary water agreement that allows the two countries to share water flowing from the Indus basin, has survived armed conflicts and near-constant tensions between India and Pakistan over the past 65 years. While India came close to suspending the treaty in 2019, it did not go through with it. An armed group called The Resistance Front (TRF), which demands independence for Kashmir, has claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s attack in Pahalgam, one of Indian-administered Kashmir’s most popular tourist destinations. Indian authorities have previously claimed that TRF is an offshoot of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, an armed group based in Pakistan. India has long held that Pakistan backs the armed rebellion in Kashmir, a charge Islamabad denies. On Wednesday, India claimed that the Pahalgam attack had “cross-border” linkages, blaming its western neighbour. During a special briefing by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had been called to discuss the attack in which men armed with rifles killed 25 Indian tourists and one Nepalese tourist, all men. “In the briefing to the CCS, the cross-border linkages of the terrorist attack were brought out,” Misri said. Misri added: “The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.” For a treaty to be in abeyance means that it is temporarily suspended or on hold. Earlier on Thursday, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India would identify, track and punish every “terrorist” and their backers. Signed in 1960, the origins of the IWT trace back to August 1947, when British colonial rule over the Indian subcontinent ended and India and Pakistan became two separate sovereign states. India is the upper riparian (located upstream) while Pakistan is the lower riparian, which means India has control over how the river flows. Because both countries rely on the water from the Indus basin’s six rivers for irrigation and agriculture, they signed an agreement called the Standstill Agreement to continue allowing the flow of water across the border. When the Standstill Agreement expired in 1948, India stopped the water flow towards Pakistan from its canals, prompting an urgent need for negotiations on water sharing. Following nine years of negotiations mediated by the World Bank, former Pakistani President Ayub Khan and former Indian PM Jawaharlal Nehru signed the IWT [PDF] in September 1960. The treaty gives India access to the waters of the three eastern rivers: the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. Pakistan, in turn, gets the waters of the three western rivers: the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab. India can use the western rivers to generate hydroelectric power and for some limited agriculture, but cannot build infrastructure that restricts the flow of water from those rivers into Pakistan or redirects that water. It represents a threat from India that it could, if and when it chooses to, restrict the flow of water from the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab into Pakistan. It does not mean that India plans to limit that flow immediately. Even if it wanted to, it is unlikely that India could immediately stop the flow of water even though it has suspended its participation from the treaty. This is because India has upstream reservoirs constructed on the western rivers, but their storage capacity cannot hold enough volumes of water to hold back water entirely from Pakistan. It is also high-flow season when ice from glaciers melts between May and September, keeping water levels high. “The western rivers allocated to Pakistan carry very high flows, especially between May and September. India does not currently have the infrastructure in place to store or divert those flows at scale,” Hassaan F Khan, assistant professor of urban and environmental policy and environmental studies at Tufts University in the United States, told Al Jazeera. However, if India were to try to stop – or cut – the water flow, Pakistan might feel the effects in seasons when water levels are lower. Pakistan relies heavily on the water from the western rivers for its agriculture and energy. Pakistan does not have alternative sources of water. Pakistan has a largely agrarian economy, with agriculture contributing 24 percent to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and 37.4 percent to employment, according to Pakistan’s most recent economic survey published in 2024. The country’s statistics bureau says that the majority of the population is directly or indirectly dependent on the agriculture sector. According to the World Bank, the country’s current population is about 247.5 million. While India has declared abeyance from the treaty, legal experts say that it cannot unilaterally suspend the treaty. “India has used the word abeyance and there is no such provision to ‘hold it in abeyance’ in the treaty,” Ahmer Bilal Soofi, a Pakistani lawyer, told Al Jazeera. The treaty can only be modified by mutual agreement between the parties. “It also violates customary international laws relating to upper and lower riparian where the upper riparian cannot stop the water promise for lower riparian,” Soofi said. Anuttama Banerji, a political analyst based in New Delhi, told Al Jazeera that the treaty might continue, but not in its present form. “Instead, it will be up for ‘revision’, ‘review’ and ‘modification’ – all three meaning different things – considering newer challenges such as groundwater depletion and climate change were not catered for in the original treaty,” Banerji said. “In principle, a unilateral suspension of a bilateral treaty can be challenged as a breach of international law,” Khan, the Tufts University assistant professor, told Al Jazeera. However, the enforcement of this is complicated, Khan added. “The Indus Waters Treaty is a bilateral agreement without a designated enforcement body. While the World Bank has a role in appointing neutral experts and arbitrators, it is not an enforcement authority.” Khan explained that if Pakistan wanted to pursue legal recourse, it would likely be through international forums such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ). “In practice, the main costs for India would be reputational and strategic: undermining its image as a rules-based actor, especially given its own status as a downstream riparian on other transboundary rivers.” Khan said that the broader strategic goal of the IWT suspension seems to be a renegotiation of the treaty. “India has been signalling its desire to revise or renegotiate the treaty for some time,” he said, explaining that India had asked to renegotiate the treaty in January 2023 and again in September 2024, citing climate change and implementation challenges. Pakistan has so far refused. “The recent announcement appears to be an attempt to apply pressure and force a renegotiation on terms more favourable to India. Whether this strategy succeeds remains to be seen, but it marks a significant departure from six decades of treaty stability.” Besides the abeyance of the IWT, Mirsi announced other steps, including: On Thursday, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called a high-level meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC). A statement released by Sharif’s office on Thursday said: “the Committee reviewed the Indian measures announced on 23 April 2025 and termed them unilateral, unjust, politically motivated, extremely irresponsible and devoid of legal merit”. The statement adds: “Pakistan vehemently rejects the Indian announcement to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance … Any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan as per the Indus Waters Treaty … will be considered as an Act of War and responded with full force. “Pakistan shall exercise the right to hold all bilateral agreements with India, including but not limited to Simla Agreement in abeyance, till India desists from its manifested behaviour of fomenting terrorism inside Pakistan; trans-national killings; and non-adherence to international law and UN Resolutions on Kashmir.” The Simla Agreement was a peace treaty signed between Pakistan and India in 1972, which emphasised resolving conflict between the two countries peacefully and through bilateral negotiations. On the same day, Pakistan also announced the closure of the Wagah border, suspended all visas under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) issued to Indian nationals and declared Indian army and navy advisers in Islamabad personae non gratae. Pakistan has also closed its airspace “with immediate effect” for all Indian owned or Indian operated airlines. It has also suspended all trade with India “including to and from any third country through Pakistan” – in effect saying that it won’t allow India to export to Afghanistan through its territory. In the past, Pakistani officials have warned that India’s interference in water flow to Pakistan would be deemed an act of war, prompting retaliation. In 2016, the then-chairman of Pakistan’s Senate, Raza Rabbani, said: “Interference with Pakistan’s water supply will be tantamount to an act of aggression and aggression will be met by aggression.” The suspension of the IWT is significant. While India has threatened to suspend it before, it has never actually gone through with its threat. In 2016, suspected rebel fighters killed 17 Indian soldiers in the Uri area in Indian-administered Kashmir. Four suspected rebels were also killed by the Indian army during this attack. In the aftermath of the Uri attack, Modi said: “blood and water can’t flow together” when discussing the IWT with government officials. However, the IWT was not suspended after this. In 2019, a suicide bomber killed 40 paramilitary police in Indian-administered Kashmir’s Pulwama. This attack was claimed by Jaish-e-Muhammad, an armed group based in Pakistan. In the aftermath, Indian Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari threatened to suspend the flow of water to Pakistan. However, this threat did not materialise. Hence, India’s recent suspension of the treaty is the biggest escalation of its kind in the hydropolitics of the Indus basin. Follow Al Jazeera English:...

profile/5377instablog.png.webp

Instablog9ja

Court Sentences Late Gospel Singer, Osinachis Husband, Peter Nwachukwu, To De@th