Future of Work: 6 Must Have Skills for Researchers of the Future

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March 5, 2020

The future of work is changing. Whatever anyone engages in, there are new skills that need to be applied. When human resources experts talk about the future of work, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning usually dominate their thoughts. What this means is that an average human being is expected to be smarter and work more intelligently.

Being a university teacher is one of the most arduous tasks anyone can take up in the world. An average lecturer is also a researcher. He is expected to publish or perish. In a bid to advance far in the course of being a university teacher, the mantra is you either publish or perish. But now, the thinking is moving away from publishing alone. How a researcher does make impact in the society and address their empirical work to solve societal problems? Every university teacher understands their commitment is to three core areas – teaching, research and community service. So, how does one advance the course of knowledge and still be impactful? This is the main question the write up focuses on. The essence is to talk about those skills that the researcher of the future must possess. Thus, this is a review of an article generated for the purpose of calling the attention of the fourth industrial era researchers to those needed skills.

#Research Communication and Public Engagement. This is a necessary skill for every researcher who seeks audience beyond the academic circle. It is the ability or skill that enables a researcher to explain the outcomes of research to the layman audience without the academic jargons. If the essence of research is to solve societal problems, then research communication is a key skill that must be warehoused so that those on whose behalf studies are carried out appreciate and understand their importance. When next you are publishing a research article, think of the way to also communicate to the public and engage members of the public on it.

#Research Collaboration beyond the Academia. For the researcher of the future, collaboration is the keyword. Dubbed Town and Gown collaboration, it is meant to imply the extension of research beyond the network of the academics alone. Researches that are relevant to businesses and industry, government, non-governmental organizations, policy makers and other stakeholders require collaboration. So, as a researcher of the future, you are expected to create a network of collaborators beyond the four walls of the ivory towers. There are several ways to do this – seek external advice from them; interview them as part of your research; see how your research fits in with their product development or engage them through career events.

#Use of Digital Tools. Any researcher of this era should understand that many of the hitherto research processes done manually have now become digital. From data collection to analysis, there are open source and free software used to carry them out. Not only that, for wider dissemination and far reaching impact, a researcher of the future learns how to use the social media, academic blogs and even YouTube to call public attention to their latest scientific investigations. There are a number of other digital tools that are very useful.

#Open Research Practices. This is the latest trend in academic research. As opposed to a close research culture where researchers publish the outcomes of their research in subscription based journals where access is premised on the payment of certain amount, there is a focus on open research now where researches are shared openly and publicly. The open research practices come in different ways. It could be publishing in open access journals, sharing research outcomes on social media or even making the data collected available on designated repository. In whatever way, the aim is to be open and make research information available to those who need them.

#Media Relations Skills. A researcher of the future does not only know how to carry out valid research, they must understand the intricacies of communicating it with the public. One of the ways to do this is through relating with the media. This in PR terms is called media relations. This will involve writing press releases or statements and sharing such with the press. It may also include calling a press conference to disseminate the findings of your study. There are mainstream and online media outfits. The researcher of the future must learn how to relate with the media to publicize their findings.

#Popular Article Writing. These are different from the usual scientific article which could only make meaning to the people in the academia. It involves interpreting outcomes of research in a way that is understandable to the general public. It is a craft of using data to generate articles and it involves some skills. Writing popular article makes a researcher known in the field. It also makes a researcher a thought leader in both the academia and the industry. A researcher who has the ability to do this has successfully mastered the art of being a researcher that is impactful beyond in the two worlds.

Economic Development, Foreign Direct Investment, and the Rule of Law in Nigeria

By

Boluwatife Anjola

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March 4, 2020

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Nigeria is in a development crisis. The indices of national development suggest that the country is a barrel of disaster waiting to explode. With 69% of the population living below the poverty line, huge infrastructure deficit, ailing health sector and a failed public education system; the country is in dire need of an appropriate web of interventions. Indeed, recent efforts are yielding results – evidenced in the country’s improvement in the ease of doing business ranking. However, the country’s unenviable 158th position in the Human Development Index ranking, reveals that a lot still needs to be done.

One of the important elements for development in Nigeria is the attraction and retention of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). FDI is one of the most important contributors to economic growth. It augments domestic capital; creates jobs; enhances efficiency through the transfer of technology and expertise and stimulates the growth of domestic firms. In fact, on the 4th of February 2020, the President justified the country’s new Visa policy by emphasizing its potential to attract FDI into the country. Strategies like this and tax incentives reflect Nigeria’s standard approach to the attraction of FDI. However, the country seems to be missing an important factor – The Rule of Law

The Rule of Law – The missing link

Essentially, the supremacy of the law in any society, the indicators of the Rule of Law, according to the World Justice Project are Constraints on Government Powers, Absence of Corruption, Open Government, Fundamental Rights, Order & Security, Regulatory Enforcement, Civil Justice and Criminal Justice. The Rule of Law connotes equality before the law, legal certainty, avoidance of arbitrariness, and procedural and legal transparency.

In the 2017/2018 Global Investment Competitiveness Report, Political stability and a business-friendly regulatory environment were identified as the most important in investors’ decision making. In this report’s survey, 81 per cent of investors rate country legal protections as important or critically important in their investment decisions. This reveals a major gap in Nigeria’s development strategy and approach to FDI. In Nigeria, the availability of legal protection, guaranteed by a respected judicial mechanism is constantly undermined by the actions and words of the government and its agencies. Investors seek both strong legal protections and predictability and efficiency in implementing laws and regulations. Over 90 per cent of investors rate various types of legal protections, including the ability to transfer currency in and out of the country as well as legal protections against expropriation, against breach of contract, and against nontransparent or arbitrary government conduct as critical. All investors, regardless of sector, source country, or FDI motivation, find these guarantees of greatest value. These policies are bigger deal-breakers than investment incentives, preferential trade agreements, and bilateral investment treaties. Essentially, the presence or otherwise of the Rule of Law in a country is a deal-breaker for investors.

In Nigeria, the Rule of Law is all but absent, and ironically, the same government supposedly pursuing development objectives, consistently undermines the Rule of Law. As chronicled by the Punch Newspaper in September 2019, President Buhari has consistently disobeyed court orders. Mr Femi Falana SAN emphasized that there are about 50 cases where court orders have been disregarded by government agencies in Nigeria. In fact, President Muhammadu Buhari, exhibiting some economic naivety while addressing the general conference of the Nigerian Bar Association stated that the Rule of Law must be subject to the country’s security and interest. This confusion or ignorance on the relevance of the Rule of Law in National Development in government circles needs to be corrected. There is an apparent need to emphasize that the Rule of Law is, in fact, a pre-requisite for National Development and consequently, National Security. The relevance of the Rule of Law to Development is so trite that as far back as the eighteenth century, Adam Smith in his work – The Wealth of Nations emphasized that “Commerce and manufactures can seldom flourish long in any state which does not enjoy a regular administration of justice, in which the people do not feel themselves secure in the possession of their property, in which the faith of contracts is not supported by law, and in which the authority of the state is not supposed to be regularly employed in enforcing the payment of debts from all those who are able to pay. Commerce and manufactures, in short, can seldom flourish in any state in which there is not a certain degree of confidence in the justice of government”.

In 2012, The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution noting that the Rule of Law and development are strongly interrelated and mutually reinforcing and that the advancement of the rule of law at the national level is essential for sustained and inclusive economic growth, sustainable development, the eradication of poverty and hunger.

Two major billion-dollar arbitral awards currently hang over Nigeria due to the arbitrariness of government conduct and disregard of contracts. In 2003, the Nigerian Ministry of Power awarded a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) contract of the Mambilla hydropower project to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL). Three years later, the same project was awarded to a group of Chinese companies. In November 2012, a general project execution agreement (GPEA) was signed with SPTCL; while in 2017, the same ministry signed another engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with Sinohhydro Corporation of China and the initial Chinese companies to form a joint venture for the execution of the project — excluding SPTCL. SPTCL claims to have spent millions of dollars on financial and legal consultants in a bid to secure financing for the project and it has dragged the federal government and its Chinese partners before the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris, France, over an alleged breach of contract; an action which could lead to a 2.3 billion dollar award against Nigeria.

The second potential multi-billion dollar liability flows out of a similar set of facts characterized by a disregard for the Rule of Law. The P&ID case is one with several twists and turns as surreal as a movie plot. The undisputed facts, however, reveal that Nigeria flagrantly defaulted in its obligation under the contract to build a gas supply pipeline to a P&ID facility. Consequently, P&ID, which claims to have spent about $40 million on the project instituted arbitration proceedings against the country. This proceeding, sprinkled with the usual government disregard for institutions, has snowballed into a 9.6 billion dollars arbitral award against Nigeria.

Unsurprisingly, Nigeria currently ranks 106 in the 126 countries ranked in the Rule of Law index – evidence of regulatory bottlenecks, elusive justice and apparent disregard for existing frameworks for legal protection. This status represents risks to potential investors which continental trade agreements, new visa regimes and tax incentives cannot erase. Investors are simply averse to climates where contracts are not respected by the government and civil modes of redress in the event of disputes are disregarded by the same government.

The Panacea

Essentially, the Rule of law is necessary to create the conditions for private sector-led growth, job creation, and attracting foreign investment. Five of the eleven indicators used by the World Bank in its annual Doing Business report are related to the strength of legal institutions because, without strong, impartial legal institutions and respect for the rule of law, private sector actors – local and foreign, cannot make the investments needed to grow economies and create employment opportunities. Consequently, for sustainable development in Nigeria, the Rule of Law and the Independence of the Judiciary have to be strictly pursued, not simply as governance ends in themselves; but as key items in the development toolkit.

Foreign Education for ‘Repentant’ Boko Haram Insurgents: The Solution to Insurgency in Nigeria?

By

Ozioma Okey-Kalu

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March 4, 2020

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Nigeria Cameroon Nigeria — FILE - In his file image taken from video released late Friday evening, Oct. 31, 2014, by Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, centre, the leader of Nigeria's Islamic extremist group. Boko Haram fighters have shot or burned to death about 90 civilians and wounded 500 in ongoing fighting in a Cameroonian border town near Nigeria, officials in Cameroon said Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015. (AP Photo/Boko Haram,File)

The bill on sending ‘repentant’ Boko Haram insurgents on foreign education has raised a lot of eyebrows, dust and questions. Nigerians are not taking it lightly. They felt betrayed, used and abused. In fact, Nigerians felt cheated by the Nigerian Senate for contemplating setting up an agency that will see to this; and then funding both the agency and the foreign education with taxpayers’ money.

Nigerians and organisations within the country have asked several questions no one in authority seemed ready to answer. Some asked questions on the fate of those whose loved ones were killed and maimed, and their properties destroyed, by these insurgents if they (the insurgents) were to be ‘forgiven’ and sent on foreign ‘trip’. There are those who wondered if those in IDP camps will also be sent abroad as compensation for what the insurgents caused them, and of course, for not joining them. We have complaints raised by some organisations and individuals, who kicked against the plan of the government to take from the meagre resources in TETFUND and UBEC in funding this expedition. All in all, no one has come out to say that the bill is good, except for the senator who sponsored it in the first place.

According to this senator, Sen. Ibrahim Gaidam, the immediate past governor of Yobe State and incumbent senator representing Yobe East Senatorial Zone, the bill was proposed in order to entice these insurgents to lay down their weapons. This bill might look enticing but it may end up bringing disaster for the country.

Maybe, before this bill passes another reading, those in authority may truly want to answer some of the questions raised by Nigerians. Hopefully as they do so, they may truly find a way to modify this bill to avoid causing more problems in the future.

In addition to the questions asked by Nigerians, I have the following to add:

How can one tell who’s a repentant insurgent?

We all know that some criminals (yes, these people are actually criminals) are die hard. They are the ones that have crime embedded deep in their system. No matter what you do for and to them, they still go back to crime. So what’s the plan should any of these people pretend to repent because they want to enjoy the “enticement” and then go back to insurgency after receiving the education?

What are the Boko Haram insurgents agitating for?

The story behind western education doesn’t make sense because they wouldn’t have been killing Muslims if their only problem is with Christianity. So what are these people actually agitating for? What do they want? Did they say they were being marginalised (like the Niger-Delta militants claimed)? Until this is made clear, sending them abroad is a waste of resources. Besides, if they don’t want western education, why send them there?

What about other insurgents, criminals and terrorists?

We know that Boko Haram operates in the North-East, ‘Bandits” operate in the North-West and Fulani Herdsmen ‘manage’ the North-Central. So, if those in the North-East enjoy foreign trips and education, what is the fate of the others? Are more foreign education loading? Let our senators not start what we can’t finish.

What about those on death penalty?

We know that the punishment for committing murder in Nigeria is death. These insurgents have committed great murder but they are being pardoned for them. Wouldn’t it be double standards if they are pardoned after deliberately killing thousands, destroying properties and displacing people, while someone that killed a person in a fight faces death by hanging?

What if they are not Nigerians?

Claims have been made that most of these insurgents are not Nigerians. So how do our senators plan to have the nationality of these insurgents ascertained? Or are we going to use our scarce resources to ‘rehabilitate’ people from other countries?

What if there are many repentant insurgents?

If the combination of forces from the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Airforce and the Civilian Joint Task Force could not subdue these people, it means there are millions of them (isn’t it?). So, how does this bill plan to sponsor foreign education if, let’s say, a hundred thousand insurgents repent?

What is the plan for them when they return?

Yes, what is the FG planning to do with them when they return from their foreign ‘trip’? We know the Federal Character system will not allow all of them to be dumped into the Federal Civil Service, or the military as is claimed. And we also know that unemployment is one of the monsters Nigerians battle today. So, after these people have succeeded in going abroad to study (maybe from primary school since most of them likely haven’t been to any school before), what is the chances that they won’t go back to insurgency, where they will get ready jobs with heavy pay (after all these insurgents somehow buy sophisticated weapons with funds no one knows how they get).

What is wrong with them studying in Nigeria?

Let me rephrase this, what is wrong with Nigerian education? So our politicians knew that our education system is a mess that’s why they proposed foreign ones for the insurgents? If these people must be trained and educated with taxpayers’ money, it should be done in Nigeria. We mustn’t send away the little we have.

No one is saying these insurgents should be captured and sentenced to death (at least most people don’t support death penalty), but bringing up bills that will lead to waste of scarce resources isn’t the solution. These insurgents should be rehabilitated, agreed, but it doesn’t have to be abroad. Nigerian government should stop encouraging militancy in whichever way they do so.

Jumia Evolves – The Personal Lending Company

By

Ndubuisi Ekekwe

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March 4, 2020

1

Jumia begins a new playbook by offering loans to customers in an evolving double play strategy; it has been offering loans to merchants for months now. Consumer lending will help Jumia improve revenue via interests. Also, there is a possibility to bring new customers and boost overall GMV in the Jumia platforms. If the loan default rate stays low, that could fix a key paralysis Jumia has been battling for years: profitability.

How? If the loans bring more customers and also deliver good interest rates, from an expanding pool of about 6.1 million customers, the derivable marginal value could help this company. No matter how you see it, Jumia is now a fintech and when you discuss Carbon (old Paylater), you need to mention Jumia One. Beginning with 6.1 million customers, Jumia One should be one of the leading fintechs in the lending space.

Provided Jumia avoids the old demon of giving people loans – those with no means to pay back – just for the sake of boosting sales, Jumia should be fine. A few years ago, some Nigerian banks ravaged their vaults, giving crazy people loans to boost their market caps; the parties were great until the DJs fell asleep!. Jumia must avoid such.

E-commerce company Jumia is extending its lending service to consumers in a move that suggests it is seeking ways to rapidly shore up revenue. In January, its Kenyan arm announced plans to begin offering as services on its platform to help advertisers target niche buyers on its platform. Jumia Nigeria has begun offering its customers quick, small, digital, personal loans via its lifestyle app Jumia One. For now, only its Android OS users can access the loans which can go as high as ?100,000 or US$275. Jumia’s lending platform isn’t exactly new but was previously open to its merchants alone.

How To General Innovative Ideas from Employees

By

Enwushe Kelvin Buque

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March 3, 2020

0

We are told that we are always one innovation away from either getting wiped out or wiping out our competition. While this might have sounded as a fad two to three decades ago, it is the reality today. The truth is, innovation is the REAL deal, and even big companies who used to have the so-called ultimate trump card can be made to vanish now if they fail to innovate.

This means companies that desire sustainable competitive advantage must keep evolving by not only investing and creatively improving its current product/services or business model but also on new ways to cannibalize them.

But for innovation to happen, ideas must be generated. Unfortunately, most companies struggle to generate enough quality ideas.

Turning to employees is one of the most effective ways of generating ideas. Making idea generation a duty and responsibility every member of the organisation rather than limiting it to top management and the innovation (R&D) department alone can be essential in fostering the innovation potential of a company. Innovation problems/challenges should be made open by top management as well as the areas and priority of innovation needs. For example; sales, new product/process, business model etc.

Benefits of Employee Idea Generation

It creates a sense of ownership and makes employees feel part of the process (something bigger than themselves)
It builds a creative culture that results in entrepreneurial thinking and creative learning (form of learning that prioritises understanding over memorization).
Large quantities of ideas can be generated. While this may not necessarily mean more quality ideas, it however, increases the probability of equality ideas.

Steps to Generating Innovative Ideas from Employee

Collection

It is important to ensure that employees feel safe and know that they have the full support of the management.
Idea generation segment should be integrated into every weekly/monthly departmental meetings as deemed fit by the company.
Every member of each department must come to every meeting with ideas no matter how negligible. Alternatively, employees can be grouped and each given the opportunity to suggest an area to come up with ideas based on the company innovation current and future innovation plans

Evaluation

Companies should ensure that ideas are fairly evaluated by providing motivational feedback to employees whose ideas were selected. This is because research has shown that the more an employee ideas get accepted, the higher the probability that the next idea was also accepted
Efficient feedback should also be provided to employees whose ideas were rejected; stating why they were rejected and encouraged to keep coming up with more ideas
After collection, ideas which are small, valuable and feasible should be implemented at the department level and bigger ones (those that can significantly affect the company’s business objectives) escalated to top management

Implementation

Ensure that all successful ideas are adequately rewarded
Idea owners should sometimes but not often be involved in the implementation. This can help in developing the innovation capacities of employees because of the experience they will gain in the innovation process (idea through implementation)

Future of Work: 6 Must Have Skills for Researchers of the Future

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