Esimonism: The Antidote for Sub-Saharan Underdevelopment Crisis (A Case Study of Unizik)

_By Joshua Nicholas_

Sub Sahara Africa is one of the most economic retrogressive regions in the world; the development progress in the region has continually experienced a 'near-zero' growth level and has affected the productivity of the region in many areas.

The 2018 World Bank Report Facing Forward: Schooling for Learning in Africa begins by arguing that Sub Saharan Africa is ‘behind’ other regions of the world in developing its knowledge capital; the ability of individuals and nations to fully realise their talents and potential. Number one, we have a poor literacy level.

Also, in November 2018, the World Bank published another report, 'Shared Prosperity: Piecing Together the Poverty Puzzle'.

The report documents the remarkable progress the world has achieved towards ending extreme poverty by documenting it's decline from 1990 to 2015. In 1990, 36 percent of the world's people lived in poverty - defined as an income of less than $1.90 a day in 2011 purchase power parity; and by 2015, only 10 percent of the world's people lived in poverty.

However, in Sub-Sahara Africa, much slower fight against poverty has been unable to match the progress of these other regions. According to the report, people living in poverty in the region grew from 278 million in 1990 to 413 million in 2015.

As of 2015, most of the global poor live in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The average poverty rate for Sub-Saharan Africa stands about 41 percent, and of the world's 28 poorest countries, 27 are in Sub-Sahara Africa, and may keep countries from ending extreme poverty by 2030.

The aim of this piece is not to bore you with facts and figures about the poverty rate in this region, but to seek for solutions.

What is now the solution?

Esimonism is a term coined by Joshua Nicholas meaning - A competent leader and visionary, who attack problems with extraordinary solutions in a bid to beat the status quo, using little available resources.

From all Indices and logarithms proved and shown thus far, you will agree with me that an ordinary leader without an 'Esimonism' ideology is not fit to rule in this region where the problems outweighs the people.

The Esimonism phenomenon is gotten from a leader in the Nigerian tertiary Education sector. Prof. Charles O. Esimone is the 6th substantive Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Nigeria.

Esimone became a professor at the age of 37, emerging as the youngest professor in the University and first professor of Pharmaceutical Microbiology in Southeastern Nigeria. He has been nominated as the 18th most published scholar in Nigeria and a recipient of several awards from Germany, USA, South Africa, China, India, etc.

He was the State campus coordinator for Deeper Life Campus Fellowship, Anambra State; happily married and blessed with three boys and two girls.

However, Esimonism was not coined because of his intimidating academic profile but his outstanding, remarkable and 'not-seen-anywhere' performance in 5 months as the Vice Chancellor of the University.

Esimone came on board with a vision he has held dear to his heart, placed in high esteem and has thus worked tirelessly to acheive the #project200.

Prof. Esimone is the bearer of the #Project200, a vision to make his varsity rank in the top 200 of World's University Rankings and has been putting all facilities on ground for the accomplishments of this glorious project.

In 5 months in office, he has been able to:

* Rehabilitate and renovate the varsity's male and female hostels,

* Conducted the first electronic students Union Election in the varsity

* Channelling resources to end all forms of analogue operations; the Varsity witnessed her first biometric finger/face capturing technology for all forms of attendance amongst staff and students

* Partnered with the Anambra State Government on their mission to train 5,000 Youths on Entrepreneurship and gift them with start up capital and mentorship.

* Strengthening the e-Database of all records in the varsity

* WiFi and internet connections undergoing installations in the campuses to be utilized by all students and staff.

* Commissioning of an ultra modern Engineering Laboratory and Workshop

* Creating a responsive (Government) that is closer to the citizens (students) which is the bedrock of every democratic setting; where the opinion of every single student and staff counts (a new feature made available in the varsity's App where complaints can be made directly to the school management and releasing his phone numbers to call if there be any challenge encountered by anyone in the school).

* Carrying all staff along in his dream and motivatonal management administrative style; this was seen in the recent funeral rite of the late Pro-Chancellor of the varsity, Prof. Azeez Oladotun Bello, where almost every department and unit of the varsity was represented.

* Organizing trainings, leadership/capacity building seminars, etc for technologists, heads of units, coordinators and deans which is the first time it's happening in the varsity

* Creating a unit to look into management and maintenance of properties, infrastructures and equipments; poor maintenance has been the bane of the African society which is also responsible for the retrogressive growths in the region.

* His unrelenting commitments towards Academic excellence, development of manpower and infrastructure

* Several academic works of staff been approved in international journals and complete funding of the varsity of any journal from a staff

* Five industries already in the University including a phone technology company, an electronic company, etc all operational in the Varsity to be operated and staffed by students of the varsity which will make them self-reliant and skilled. Operations to begin soon.

* Renovation of staff offices and lecture halls ongoing to meet up global standard.

His achievements in five months is indeed mind blowing and a lesson to every leader in Africa who feels he or she can't do anything with the available resources.

His five key strategies are: Administrative reform, Community development, Research, Academic excellence and Innovation.

Sub-Saharan Africa, it's time for us to rise and use the Esimonism ideology to tackle our problems and come out victorious with results that cannot be hidden.

Integrity would speak for your leadership, it would stand in the day of crisis. There is no other time than now, when we need competent leadership in Africa.

Esimonism is the solution to problems in Sub-Saharan Africa.

If we can maximize our resources, develop our manpower and major on our strengths, every bad lights been associated with these region, will fade out in no long time.

God bless Prof Charles O. Esimone for showing the world that Africa can still have extraordinary leadership; and we believe the revolution will flow from the educational sector down to every strata and institutions of our public life, economy, politics, health, sports, etc

#AriseAfrica

#Esimonism

#Project200

#Uniziktotheworld