CONCEPT NOTE: THE VOLTRON FORCE (“THE FORCE”)
Nigeria Needs Modern Heroes, Not Celebrities]
“The children of the Poor you failed to train, will never let your children have peace” — Obafemi Awolowo.
NIGERIA IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF HEROES
Someone said, “Nigeria had liberation fathers and not founding fathers”. True or not, we cannot fold our arms, lament, or work in silos. Those men who fought for our independence were young people and this generation needs to pledge not to let anyone look down on it because it is young, but should become an example in: Leadership, followership and nation-building.
Nigeria is getting worse! We know the issues and there is no need to re-iterate. The saddest thing is there is no clear hope in the horizon especially when you see the sort of candidates being touted for 2023 General Elections — the old guard is re-grouping and plotting to continue to rule. According to a popular saying, “The best way to predict the future, is to create it”. This is a clarion call to the Millennials and good-hearted members of Generation X and Z — to arise and change Nigeria’s trajectory.
This is not a private promotional campaign or personal brand-building attempt or group of peoples’ fantasies to become national celebrities, which usually is a motive for Nation-building projects. This will be a faceless, technology-driven collaboration of busy young professionals, willing to lay aside private ambitions and work together on a “single potential silver bullet” for Nigeria.
The strategy is to invest over the next 15 years (2020–2035), in the next generation — so that our children will have peace or at least have a country to call home and not be second class citizens or refugees in North America and Europe.
Nigeria’s problems are quite innumerable. However, one single challenge everyone will agree with: is the lack of leadership. Since this is a focal point for all, the mission of this The Force therefore should be to create the followership that will change or appoint the desired leadership. This will require resources and deliberate focus on a single purpose that has the potential to dent “Nigeria’s problem” and eventually destroy it. There is an emphasis on focus to avoid divided attention and misallocation of very limited resources and support.
It is based on this premise; this potential silver bullet is proposed to be — Education. As noble as this may initially sound to some and confusing to others, it is believed to be the most strategic step to consider now, and a proven tool used by other nations including Germany and Japan — which were wastelands after World War II but rose to become global powers in less than 40 years. Other countries such as Singapore and South Korea, that started with Nigeria have left it behind because of their political decisions and investment in education among other things. Even Medieval Europe (5th — 15th Century AD), which was a caste system, driven by superstitious values; become transformed through enlightenment.
We are not talking about the current quality of the educational system across public and private schools but one we will create and use as a tool to change the mindsets of our children, putting them at par with their peers globally. We will leverage the education of the future so that Nigeria can have a seat at the table.
According to the United Nations, Nigeria has the highest population of out of school children, estimated to be over 13 million, a rise from 10.5 million. This is a population larger than that of Belgium (with a GDP larger than Nigeria’s). This is an endless recruitment pool for Boko Haram, Kidnappers, Political Tugs, Area Boys, and an endless permutation of “evil”. This does not include another staggering population of children receiving poor education in rural and urban centers that cannot read, write, or apply themselves.
We are hoping that when we are in 40s, 50s, and 60s, we can at least enjoy a bit of Nigeria, that we would have helped create in our lifetime and leave a legacy for our children and the next generation.
As the population saying goes, “the best time to plant a tree is today”. This is an invitation to all who care about Nigeria; an invitation to change the world.
The Force
The Force is a group of Generation X, Y & Z — coming together to facilitate and fund the education of all Nigerian children over the next 15 years. These children will be employable and capable of self-employment — locally or globally.
Why Education?
1. It is powerful in its ability to change mindsets and values and can be executed harmlessly without the influence of the “powers that be”. There is a potential long-term impact on elections and other civic aspects of citizen-life including the application of critical thinking against corruption.
2. It has a potential multiplier effect on various issues including lack of skills, which partly leads to unemployment and poverty, health and hygiene, care for the environmental, girl-child marriage, high-irresponsible reproduction, and the economy as a whole.
3. We believe it will be the easiest thing we can do now and less threatening to our current lives, families, and careers. It is an attempt to do something little, even as we feel helpless and hopeless or wait for “the messiah” to come. And if the messiah eventually comes, he/she will have an enlightened generation to work with.
HOW WILL THIS WORK?
1.1 Strategic Intent
Let’s re-iterate the Strategic Intent:
- Mission: “To create a platform for a New Nigeria in 15 years”. [I.e. we hope this will build the platform for political, economic, and social investments that will be made now and, in the future,].
- Vision: “Establish an Education fund that identifies those who cannot afford (part or full) to educate their children and further ensure every child in Nigeria gets educated, using globally accepted standards for quality and relevant education.”
- Strategic Objectives:
o Create “The Nigerian Education Fund 2035” (“The Fund”), that will be fully governed by a well-known custodian, audited by one of the Big4 and powered by the services of professionals — to ensure competent execution and sustainability.
o The Fund will target by the end of its first year, a monthly balance of N10 billion (N120 billion annually). This is projecting to mobilize 10 million ordinary citizens, to give a donation of N1,000 monthly. [Why 10million? Those were once the voting numbers of a Big Brother Campaign.]
o The fund will be driven by technology for decision making, fund mobilization, advocacy, monitoring, and evaluation. From biometric registration to tracking attendance using Google Earth, to access to continuous assessment learning dashboards, etc.; full transparency will be employed to institutionalize donor trust.
o Through the activities of the fund, and Education ecosystem will be created to power schools, teacher training, and employment, school resources, school feeding, parent counseling etc. This is projected to create an “education economy”, just like the creative industry that has thrived without Government support.
1.2 Target Donors
Professionals across Generation X, Y (Millennials), and Z — home and abroad, who are concerned about Nigeria but are unable to do much and can part with a minimum of N1, 000 monthly without thinking about it.
1.3 Fund Set-up Process
1.3.1 Legal Set-up — Appointment of Trustees [Proposed Consideration]
1. Appointment Criteria
a. No member should be born earlier than 1970. Those born can only be allowed to be donors or endorsers of the fund.
b. Interested or nominated individuals would be voted by donors using technology. These individuals must have demonstrated shared values for Nigeria and a proven track-record for love of Country — in their work and vocations.
c. Prospects will submit profile and “hero-like” achievements (sacrifice of resources and use of expertise for the country) and commitment not to use this platform to promote a personal or corporate brand but to contribute their competence to Nation building.
d. Proposed number — maximum of 12 members, that will be governed by a constitution. Why 12? To allow for a one-month rotational board chairing system. Chairman of the month will also donate time to oversee broad strategic execution activities of the Fund and evaluate the performance of engaged companies. Decisions will be made through voting.
e. Trustees at all levels will not receive any compensation, allowance, or direct benefit. Even meeting costs will be borne by the Trustees.
2. Appointment process:
a. To be elected within the first year of the fund by donors using technology. This will be an open window, where prospective members with credentials below, will be nominated (either by self or 3rd parties) to become trustees.
b. The fund manager will design criteria and the due diligence process for nominees.
c. Nominees will submit profiles and share nation-building track record for donor members to cast votes. The election will be electronic, using technology and the highest voters appointed. Great candidates who don’t get elected to Founding Trustees' status will be appointed into functional and regional leadership positions to drive implementation of various initiatives in the respective states of the Federation. These are strategic positions that arguably will be equally important to the success of the fund.
3. Performance Management System for Trustees:
a. Members of the board must be willing to submit to a performance appraisal system that evaluates their contributions and one-month chairmanship activities.
b. Tenure of Trustees should be for the duration of Fund — 15 years.
1.3.2 Operational Set-up
1. Complete concept note and use to engage various stakeholders.
2. Develop an initial constitution for trustees and register the fund.
3. Appoint custodian and auditor — current considerations include FBN Trustees.
4. Appoint a fund manager — an entity that will design strategy, operational plan, recruit service providers, and design monitoring and evaluation system. Options include PWC, KPMG, etc.
a. Fund management will be outsourced to a reputable professional services firm — to drive the successful execution of the mission. The fund manager will drive transparency, ensure the best service providers are selected, and promote trust among donors.
b. Fund manager selection process:
i. The Big-4 will be approached by the founding trustees and the most innovative, interested party, willing to provide service at a “fairly discounted” value, will be made an offer.
ii. The management contract should run for the life of the fund.
c. Compensation of Fund manager: a globally accepted percentage of the value of funds mobilized. This will also be used to pay for professional services, such as media, and publicity, etc.
1.1 Execution of Mission — how will N120 billion be spent annually?
1.1.1 Educate Children
Under the capabilities of the Fund manager and global auditors, the fund will seek to achieve the following:
1. Appoint Schools — Pre-qualify and identify private schools and negotiate the cost of educating a child per year and pay for the education of a number of children allocated to the schools. Only schools that are willing to open their books for audit will be selected. Most private schools have capacities to take up additional students. In some instances, some old schools with old proprietors will be bought or merged and managed under a central school management board.
These guaranteed fees from allotted students will support host schools in building and renovating infrastructure, acquiring globally accepted learning resources, paying teachers attractive salaries, investing in training teachers, and equipping them with state-of-the-art technology.
For remote schools in the rural areas of states, with security threats, additional funds will be deployed for 24-hours armed security. Same used by the elite in the respective state. Any resistance to this will be fought through advocacy.
2. Pre-qualify and Select Children: We will deploy a robust evaluation and selection process that will include biometric registration (for child and parent/guardian), guardian source of income verification. School fees will be sent directly to the Schools to cover tuition, school uniform, two nutritious square meals, books, after school care, and a stipend to some parents (not all) as incentive to keep children in school. This critical if the child is a breadwinner. Children will stay behind for sports, vocational training, and homework — keeping them away from the vices of their poor communities and ensuring they have a “semblance of childhood”.
1.1.2 Sustain Fund
1. Mobilize donors — use very creative media and communications to attract and convert donors. Also, engage influencers (willing to volunteer) across all works of live-giving them a customized platform to promote the Fund. The communication strategy must take into consideration the psychology of Nigerians and design scientifically-proven ways of driving adoption across all levels.
2. Pay for Fund management and all professional services required to deliver competent services. Service providers will be subject to research, audit, monitoring, and evaluation.
[Trustees will not be entitled to any compensation; even physical meetings should be held at the Fund managers’ office or virtually].
LEVELS OF PARTICIPATION
1. Trustees:
a. Founding Trustees — A set of 12 Founding Trustees. Two nominations have been received [Nelson Okwonna, Emmanuel Tarfa].
b. Regional and Functional Trustees — Trustees appointed for specific functions, projects, initiatives or regions (states) to execute specific objectives. There is no limit to this number.
2. Donors:
a. Individuals — 10m + Individuals donating at least N1, 000 monthly.
b. Institutions — Non-involved Companies and Organisations donating cash and kind (professional services).
3. Service Providers:
Fund Manager, Auditors, Education Advisory companies, Technology companies, payment companies, Schools, etc. This will be appointed by the Trustees and managed by the Fund Manager and will be required to provide best class services within fair rates. Additional considerations for service providers:
a. Service providers will be rotated where applicable or shared among companies.
b. Service providers that participate at this conceptual stage and agree to delay compensation till the fund is set-up, demonstrate competence, and will be given automatic 2-year exclusivity for specific service.
PROJECTIONS AND ROLL OUT
Donations can be made to state, regional national specific. i.e. donors will be given the option to select where their funds should be deployed. For non-specified funds, the roll-out table below will be used.
Adoption rates are strictly projections of guardians/parents to accept to Educate their children. The fund will pursue full adoption but will roll out in the phases above.
SUSTAINABILITY PLAN
1. Use a reputable Fund manager, auditor, and custodian.
2. Pay for service and get quality and competence.
3. Remove incentives for leadership and democratize decision making.
4. Leverage technology for operations.
5. Leverage crowdfunding to raise funding.
6. Invest in creative media and communication and the adoption of influencers. Effectively, communicating monitoring and evaluation efforts.
7. Invest in the re-orientation of parents and guardians and work with other stakeholders to drive adoption.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE?
Applications are opened for the following:
1. Trustees — Process to be completed last.
2. Donors — Initial legal process to be completed by end of October 2020 and account opened for funding.
3. Service Providers (to be selected by the Fund manager, except if donating services at inception):
a. Fund manager
b. Legal advisers
c. Fund Auditor
d. Technology companies
e. Payment companies
f. Education advisory companies
g. Research and development organizations with a focus on education
All expressions of interest for any of the above should be sent: to naijaforce2035@gamil.com [For donors, the donation platform will be launched October 31st.
