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Nigeria Lags in DHL Global Connectedness Index
DHL released the fifth edition of the DHL Global Connectedness Index (GCI) this week – a detailed analysis of globalization, measured by international flows of trade, capital, information and people.
Mauritius emerges sub-Saharan Africa’s most connected country; Mozambique named as one of the countries where international flows most exceed expectations.
The new GCI report represents the first comprehensive assessment of developments in globalization across 169 countries and territories since the Brexit referendum in the United Kingdom and the 2016 presidential election in the United States.
In Sub Saharan Africa, the highest ranking country was Mauritius, which featured in 40th position, while South Africa was named the highest ranking country on the African continent itself, with an overall ranking of 56th place.
“As the world continues to globalize, there are still many opportunities for intercontinental & intra regional trade, particularly for emerging economies in Sub Saharan Africa,” says Hennie Heymans, CEO of DHL Express Sub Saharan Africa. “Globalization is a key driver for growth and fiscal security, which is evident in countries that have embraced it. We are confident about continued further growth in the region with new trade agreements coming into effect, to support regional collaboration.”
“Surprisingly, even after globalization’s recent gains, the world is still less connected than most people think it is,” commented GCI co-author Steven A. Altman, Senior Research Scholar at the NYU Stern School of Business and Executive Director of NYU Stern’s Center for the Globalization of Education and Management.
“This is important because, when people overestimate international flows, they tend to worry more about them. The facts in our report can help calm such fears and focus attention on real solutions to societal concerns about globalization.”
At the global level, the GCI shows, for example, that just about 20% of economic output around the world is exported, roughly 7% of phone call minutes (including calls over the internet) are international, and only 3% of people live outside the countries where they were born. The report also debunks the belief that distance is becoming irrelevant. Most countries are much more connected to their neighbors than to distant nations.
The GCI continues to reveal vast differences between levels of globalization in advanced versus emerging economies. Emerging economies trade almost as intensively as advanced economies, but advanced economies are more than three times as deeply integrated into international capital flows, five times for people flows, and almost nine times with respect to information flows.
Additionally, while leaders from large emerging markets have become major supporters of globalization on the world stage, emerging economies’ progress catching up in terms of global connectedness has stalled.
Mozambique beats expectations
Mozambique was named as one of the five countries where international flows exceed expectations the most. This is positive news for the region, because deeper global connectedness can help accelerate countries’ economic growth.
One cause for optimism regarding further growth potential for Sub Saharan Africa, is the signing of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), signed by 49 countries in March 2018. According to a study by the UN Economic Commission for Africa, full implementation of the AfCFTA could double intra-African trade and boost the whole continent’s global connectedness.
In spite of growing anti-globalization tensions in many countries, connectedness reached an all-time high in 2017, as the flows of trade, capital, information and people across national borders all intensified significantly for the first time since 2007. Strong economic growth boosted international flows while key policy changes such as US tariff increases had not yet been implemented.
The 2018 index measures the current state of globalization, as well as individual rankings for each country, based on the depth (intensity of international flows) and breadth (geographical distribution of flows) of countries’ international connections.
The world’s top five most globally connected countries in 2017 were the Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland, Belgium and the United Arab Emirates. Eight of the top 10 most connected countries are located in Europe, helping make it the world’s most connected region, in particular for trade and people flows.
North America, the leader in capital and information flows, ranked second among world regions, followed by the Middle East and North Africa in third place.
Federal Government has revealed that N8.8 billion has been spent to repair and restore power transmission towers across Nigeria that were destroyed by vandals and bandits.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engr. Suleiman Ahmed Abdulaziz, during the Quarterly Power Sector Working Group meeting in Abuja.
Engr. Abdulaziz, represented by the Executive Director of Transmission Service Provider (TSO), Engr. Olugbenga Emmanuel Ajiboye, disclosed that 128 transmission towers have been destroyed since January 13, 2024. He lamented the recurrence of vandalism despite the arrests of perpetrators, citing ineffective prosecution as a significant challenge.
“Till date, we have spent about N8.8 billion, by our estimation, to put them back to full and functional use,” Abdulaziz said. “It is so sad that each time the vandals were caught and taken to police for prosecution, police would incident them for theft instead of vandalism, and they will be bailed. If they are charged for vandalism, they cannot be bailed, but this is where we are.”
Highlighting the severity of the situation, Abdulaziz noted the challenges faced during the restoration of the Shiroro-Mando-Kaduna transmission towers. “We had to get full military escorts for our contractors to restore the transmission lines and towers.
“In some cases, they would only allow us to work for two hours a day, and at times, they declared the area unsafe for operations.
“How can we deliver electricity to Nigerians under these terrible circumstances?”
The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, represented by his Chief Technical Adviser, Mr. Adedayo Olowoniyi, outlined the government’s plans to collaborate with international partners to improve electricity access.
He revealed ongoing efforts with the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) to provide electricity to 50 million Nigerians by 2030 as part of the larger “Mission 300” initiative, which aims to bring electricity to 300 million Africans.
“Nigeria has a large population that is without electricity, and this is a great opportunity for us to be part of this process,” Adelabu said.
He added that the government’s strategy involves public and private sector partnerships focusing on solar systems, mini and micro grids, and grid extensions.
The Minister also announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to sign the Compact document for the Mission 300 project in Tanzania in January 2025. “The most important thing is that we have to drive the process by ourselves,” he emphasized.
The Nigerian power sector continues to grapple with numerous challenges, including vandalism, banditry, and insufficient infrastructure. The Federal Government has also faced criticism for inadequate security measures around critical power assets.
Dr. John O. Asein, the Director-General, Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has again stressed the need for every University to have an Intellectual Property (IP) Policy so as to maximize their innovative and creative potentials.
Dr. Asein made this point while formally presenting the revised Model Intellectual Property (IP) Policy to the General Assembly of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU) in Abuja on 30th October 2024.
According to him, the Model Policy, which was developed by the Commission in collaboration with the CVCNU in 2021 was reissued as part of the Commission’s renewed effort to promote its adoption and implementation.
The Director-General thanked the immediate past Secretary General of CVCNU Prof. Yakubu Ochefu for supporting the initiative and working with the Commission to promote the sustainable use and effective management of IP in Nigerian universities.
Dr. Asein also called on tertiary institutions, as centres of learning and research, to introduce their faculties and students to the subject of intellectual property in line with global trends and to make Nigerian universities globally competitive.
To this end he assured Vice-Chancellors of the Commission’s readiness to help in the development and implementation of their policy.
“The Commission will work with other agencies, including the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to begin the intellectual property ranking of universities and celebrate those that excel in the respect, generation, use and commercilaisation of IP”, the Director-General assured.
Speaking on the WIPO Distance Learning (DL) courses on IP, the Director-General urged universities to infuse the WIPO DL 101 course, which is available online for free, into the General Studies course to give students basic knowledge of IP and equip them in their respective courses of study.
Receiving the copies on behalf of Nigerian Vice-Chcnellors, the Chairman CVCNU, Prof. Lilian Salami (Vice-Chancellor, University of Benin) commended the collaborative efforts of the Commission and AVCNU in developing the Model IP Policy and assured the Director-General of CVCNU’s continued commitment to working with the Commission, particularly in promoting better IP culture in universities.
The Model IP Policy was developed with the help of a team of Nigerian experts and with the support of the Nigerian University Commission (NUC), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the National Office of Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP).
A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Bwari area council, Abuja has ordered the arrest of Dr Bright Echefu, chief executive of Briech Intelligence Fusion Limited, a security company, over an allegation of $651, 280 fraud.
Echefu is said to have allegedly defrauded BCG NEEDS Company of the said amount under the pretence of supplying drones and accessories.
The court ordered Disu Olatunji, commissioner of Police, federal capital territory (FCT) to arrest Echefu and his company.
Echefu is also the managing director and chief executive officer of Telecom Satellite Television, according to Leadership Newspaper.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had earlier arraigned the businessman at the federal high court over allegations of tax evasion, money laundering, and advanced fee fraud.
Okechikwu John Akweke, presiding judge, ordered Echefu’s arrest after the motion was moved by John Paul Eze Esq. of O. J. Law Consult.
Akweke said the order is to compel Echefu and his company appearances before the court in line with Section 113 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.
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