I was recently appointed Project Manager and assigned to implement change management for a UK based company that has a culture of being laid back in the way members of staff treat their most prized assets – their customers and the information on their databases.
I was informed that as part of the change the organisation was expecting me to implement, a new Management Information System was to be deployed so that the gathering of information about customers/clients will be done differently and across territories (around the country) so that its standard and follows best practice.
I am not able to give much more details about this project as I delivered it successfully and will be wrong to put all their information in my blog without permission from the company’s management.
However, as much as I was on top of things in terms of the change management strategy and how it was deployed, I learnt quite a few new things and each time I pick up something new, I kept thinking about businesses in Nigeria and governance of the country as a whole.
I thought about how the Nigerian government at the federal level has failed to plan for change from when we secured independence. How the various regimes never thought about the need to implement any kind of change to the orientation, attitude and governance inspite of the conspicuous need for a change when new government take over.
It is a known fact amongst practitioners in my line of business that the success of any project is subject to the willingness of the affected individuals to change their attitudes, their mindsets, and their work habits.
The key elements for making this happen will have Communication first on its agenda. What is each regime aspiring to achieve, how will they go about it, what will be the yardstick for measuring success at the end of their term in office, at what point are Nigerians able to assess consistency in the delivery of promises, at what point is the government able to come back to the nation to bolster the support given when buy-in was secured as a result of election into office.
Every government in Nigeria over the last 49 years failed us as a nation and as a people, we failed ourselves in not calling them to order and opting or even demanding a change that favours us and does the nation good.
I was truly privileged to have had a special interview with someone that has been described severally as the heart and conscience of the nation (The Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN). As far as I know, the live interview I had with him on Breakfast with Mr. Kay, broadcast live on EKO FM, was the last he had as a guest of any interactive radio show before he passed away. Because of the poor health and incredible passion when discussing Nigeria, he was advised by his Doctors not to grant any more interviews, but he made one exception and was with me live in the studio on the 47th Anniversary of Nigeria’s Independence.
He was glad he granted the interview because it was his opportunity to highlight the failure of our system, people in government and as he’s done all his adult life, diagnose and prescribe solutions to the malaise of the nation. It was also a joy to have so many people call into the show, not to discuss the 47th Independence anniversary, but rather pour accolades on Chief Fawehinmi for his tenacity, consistency and love for Nigeria.
OK, this is not a blog about Gani, it’s about our nation and what to expect when we reach the golden jubilee of independence. Let me get back to the first key to implementing the much needed change for our nation.
I am still waiting and I know thousands of Nigerians who are my friends on Facebook, Twitters, MySpace and read my Blog are waiting too to hear what the government of Alh Shehu Musa Yar’Adua want to do for Nigeria, because the Seven Point Agenda has become the most ridiculed agenda in the history of the nation. Some people have even asked that this government should just focus on One Point Agenda and make it work. That should be a case of taking up the campaign “LightUpNigeria” and improve power supply.
Let this government impart messages or information with specific and measurable goals on a single point agenda for change. Let the entire energy of the nation be channelled into implementing the change as campaigned for by “LightUpNigeria”. Let every newspaper begin to talk about strategies, costs, implications and so on of improving power supply.
I have had the unusual privilege of having lunch with two former Presidents of Nigeria on a one-to-one basis and their conclusion is that there are powerful people in Nigeria that continue to wreak havoc and cause mayhem by sabotaging efforts of government to manage the process of improving power supply to the nation. Out of respect for people older than me, I did not tell them pointedly that it sounded stupid, but I did state clearly during our conversation that it sounds weak and is unacceptable excuse.
I know that there is power in number and part of what I do as change agent in business environment is to secure more and more buy-ins so that the number of supporters become overwhelming for fifth columnists or saboteurs, unless of course there is no will to make the change happen, which is where I tend to place the government of Nigeria over the last 49years. They seem to have surrendered the will to implement change that will see any form of tangible and “value for money” kind of change.
There is so much to say about the essence and value of communication in changing the “sick Giant of Africa” into a power house with awesome investment opportunity for Nigerians at home and abroad, as well as foreign investors. I read the online edition of various Nigerian Newspapers regularly and I wonder every time, why are we not focusing of the things that matter? Why will the Nigerian media not leave “objectivity” aside and pursue sensible agenda that will help ensure the nation prospers as a whole and I am not talking about prosperity of a few that can afford private jets, yachts and mansions in Europe.
We do need to look at the other elements of implementing change management that will bring Nigeria to the 21st Century and prepare us for a worthy celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Independence come 1st October 2010.
The objectives of the government should be made clearer, every Nigerian has a right to know what this government is striving to achieve in terms of objectives. There should be a complete clarity on what they are, when they are scheduled to be achieved and whatever will not be achieved in the current term in office, what timescale is set for them so one knows.
Standards and Process form the other elements that we have completely removed from the dictionary in use by our leaders. Nothing happens by accident in life is often deemed a cliché, but to a large extent it is true.
Nigerians have to begin to look within ourselves individually even before government put processes and standards in place, why do we as a people accept less than we deserved or can get. Why do we see poor and shoddy things being done and simply take our eyes off the ball because it seems like that is normal in Nigeria.
We need to begin to challenge ourselves to demand more, expect more and deliver more in every area of our lives both individually and corporately as a nation. The change “President Barack Obama” that hit United States of America did not happen by accident. Status Quo was challenged, boats were rocked, glass ceilings came crashing down, “attitudes, mindsets and work habits” had to change for that change to be manifest.
Let’s “LightUpNigeria” as a starting point, rid the nation of rogues, thiefs and saboteurs depriving us of the opportunity to not live in darkness in a nation that could afford to be the beacon of Africa.
I am not through with this yet, so this is only first instalment of a three-part blog. More to come in due course. I am hoping that as you have read this, you will be looking and aspiring to become a change agent for Nigeria and Nigerians.
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