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PHILOSOPHY, POVERTY AND THE RE-MAKING OF THE NIGERIA NATION

Owere A. Ejidje ILIARO, PhD.
Directorate of General Studies

Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Delta State.
iliaro.owere@fupre.edu.ng

ABSTRACT

Philosophy is a discipline that has to do with critical reflective thinking. This kind of thinking is 
important for the development of any human society. By producing theories engendered from 
critical thinking, Philosophy provides us with useful tools for the emancipation of the poor and 
the overturning of exploitative political systems. Nigeria as a nation is in dire need of economic 
progress. However, this cannot be achieved without the input of critical minds. Thus to re-make 
Nigeria as a nation, the thought process and pattern of her citizens are to be redirected in the 
appropriate direction in order to make progress. It is a lack in this regard that largely accounts for 
her low level of development in spite of her abundant human and natural resources. This paper is 
an attempt to resolving this problem, through sustained critical reflections on the sources and 
causes of poverty and how best to address the needs of the disadvantaged. The paper concludes 
that to endorse Philosophy is to be on the side of freedom and creativity; which is economic 
progress.

Keywords: Philosophy, poverty, development, exploitation, political systems, Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION

Nigeria is a nation richly blessed with mineral resources and a fair weather. Amidst all these 
advantages she still suffers economic, development and political crisis. It can be identified that 
Nigeria does not regard disciplines which are not oil or medically related; this is because she feels 
it is only through oil or the medical related disciplines that her economy can progress. So rather 
than achieving progress even with these myopic and ideology system, she has only succeeded in 
endangering and injuring her economy and this has led to various economic setbacks which she 
has faced in years past, even till this time. Nigeria's political system is one filled with corruption 
and all forms of irregularities; both among the leaders and citizens alike, and this have been 
degrading for Nigeria. She is referred to as the 'Giant of Africa' but what can be pragmatically 
identified is nothing short of developmental, leadership and economic dwarf. On its own part, 
Philosophy as a discipline is considered by many Nigerians as one of the most irrelevant in 
Nigeria today. Ironically, the progress and development of any society is fundamentally 
dependent on the level of reflective and critical thinking adopted and implemented. The thrust of 
this piece is to address the shortcomings facing the Nigerian economy and politics which has 
hindered proficiency in development; while establishing the place of Philosophy as a tool for 
redirecting the hearts of Nigerians into good politics, developmental and economic progress.

PHILOSOPHY: THE MOTHER OF ALL DISCIPLINES

No discipline is self sufficient to cater for all the affairs of a nation or state. This is the reason why 
we have several disciplines in the sciences and arts among other hosts of disciplines. Each is 
expected to bring out the dynamic ideas of their field to work, in other to produce proficiency and 
efficiency in that section of affairs. This basically shows why a medical doctor cannot be in 
charge of a construction project but would rather be proficient in his medical or clinical field; 

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while the construction engineer takes care of the construction affairs. In the real sense of it, no 
discipline is unnecessary or irreplaceable. Thomas Flynn as quoted in MacDonald (2013, 63) 
characterizes philosophy as targeting the establishment of basic truths about human nature and 
the cosmos.

The term philosophy is derived from the Greek words, 'Philos' and 'Sophia' which means 'love' 
and 'wisdom' respectively. Philosophy therefore means the love of wisdom. Definitely, it is 
concerned etymologically with attaining knowledge and its applicability (wisdom). This 
knowledge is multifaceted and translates or is broken down into microcosms which become 
different disciplines. It is in this regard that Philosophy becomes the 'mother of all disciplines'. 
Philosophy is understood to be a discipline that encompasses all other disciplines, though a 
discipline like every other discipline but still a discipline which has a command over all 
disciplines (Ogbujah, 2006, 2). This command over all disciplines does not insinuate the disposal 
or irrelevance of others, but reflects the fundamental and foundational role it plays as the mother 
of all other disciplines. Similarly, Philosophy is a watch dog which guides and interrogates all 
disciplines. Could this be the reason for having a philosophy of every discipline? 

In the words of Onwuama, philosophy is:

[A] critical, reflective and unbiased investigation on development 
aimed at providing principles, theories for development. 
Philosophical issues for development refer to those areas and 
problems of development that are reserved exclusively for 
philosophical clarifications and hermeneutics. (2011, 167)

This is achieved through various theories which are propounded to settle individuals and group 
cases (in context and content). Nnamdi (2011, 85) views philosophy as “a method of 
distinguishing fact from fallacies, sifting truth as sacrosanct… it is a method of securitizing our 
otherwise unexamined beliefs and practices in order to purge them of falsehood and error.” This 
shows that philosophy is concerned with trying to identify truth in things through procedures and 
processes which are unbiased and strategic. What have been considered truth in today's world are 
parchments of fallacies which have tried to fit in into people longings as such are adopted as truth. 
All these philosophy aims to rectify.

NIGERIA'S QUAGMIRED ECONOMY AND POLITICS

An average Nigerian, when confronted with issues bearing on Nigeria economy, politics and 
general development, will surely speak from the negative perspective. Several Nigerians have 
lost hope in their country; this is because the country in itself has contributed nothing to their 
existence or future. Nigeria is a high respected and known African country, gifted with mineral 
resources and the most favourable climatic conditions. Yet, the positive effects of these gifts do 
not reflect in the country. The problems facing Nigeria cannot be said to bear on just one sector 
but on all sectors. Basically, the level of development when viewed from the economic and 
political spectrum is nothing to write about.

As Ohuawunwa (2022, 37) observes, “a collapsed economy is a collapsed nation.” 
Unfortunately, Nigeria's economy over the years has suffered from mismanagement of funds, 
lack of proper accountability, corruption and lack of expertise and this has landed her economy 
into shambles; it is so porous that it favours foreigners more than citizens. This has triggered 
many of the first world countries to pocket the Nigerian economy as Nigeria only does their 
bidding in the name of partnership. Every new government who takes over power is either 
borrowing from other nations, World Bank or other international organization to get funds they 
would use to carryout projects. Nigeria runs to them as the only hope and they enslave the 

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Nigerian economy even more in the pretence of wanting to assist. Some even go to the extent of 
offering the nations property as collateral and even selling off some to get funds. As such, Nigeria 
continues to owe debts that are in the real sense of it, unnecessary to have been incurred in the first 
place. It is appalling that the majority of the goods consumed in Nigeria are imported and from 
these same 'First World' countries. Paradoxically, many of these countries are not even as blessed 
as the Nigerian society but they have been able to critically use the available judiciously, while 
Nigeria has only managed to invite and increase poverty among her citizens. When foreign 
companies are interested in exploitation, the Nigerian soil becomes the perfect site. Nigerians are 
being employed and paid peanuts which are not in tandem with the level of labour exerted into 
work (another form of slavery). 

Also, when one looks at the budget approved by the senate, one would think that the country 
actually cares for her citizens. But this is not the case. Instead, Nigerians do not see the impact on 
the society as there is always an ulterior motive behind the budget. Contracts are given to thieves 
clothed as contractors who would only use substandard materials, mismanage and siphon a huge 
amount of the funds given to them to carry out a task. In fact, approval of bills has now become 
another means of stealing from the Nigeria economy. This is one of the most outstanding reasons 
why there is next to no development in Nigeria. Public sectors are erected in weak structures and 
poverty even though huge sums of money are allotted to them in the budget. It is not that there are 
no cases of poverty in other countries of the world but it is most pronounced in Nigeria. As it 
stands, many Nigerian have lost hope in the economy of their country.

Quite sarcastically, Bierce (2023) defined Politics as the “strife of interests masquerading as a 
contest of principles.” This is the kind of politics that can be found in Nigeria. Nigeria cannot be 
said not to have engaged in healthy politics. This is because the act of politiquing has been greatly 
misunderstood in the Nigerian milieu. Politics is seen as a “do or die affair”, where politicians 
make use of whatsoever means at their disposal to win elections for positions they are not 
qualified for. This is why election period becomes an avenue for reckless killings and kidnapping. 
Those who have held political offices are not in any way interested in the well being of the people 
but in their own pockets. A man who has nothing enters into office and when he is to leave the 
office, he has already acquired what a full community can be sustained with. People no longer 
bother to ask how and where he made his fortune even with the declaration of property/assets 
before entering into office. These politicians are not bothered about being investigated even after 
leaving office because they can always lobby around it. Achebe opined that:

The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of 
leadership. There is nothing basically wrong with the Nigerian 
Land or climate or water or air or anything else. The Nigerian 
problem is the unwillingness or inability of its leaders to rise up to 
the responsibility, to the challenge of personal example which is 
the hallmarks of true leadership. (1998, 1)

Campaigns grounds have become deceptive avenues to lie to Nigerians while discreetly 
distributing illicit funds to bribe citizens to vote them in. On election days, thugs are sent out with 
weapons to disrupt the electoral process thereby bridging a democratic activity. However, 
outgoing leaders now decide who would replace them in office, as if the position is a family or 
personal property. The intention for a political arena that is party structured is to ascertain a level 
of competency and diplomacy, in other to achieve a good candidacy for the supposed service in 
the office. But this is not actually the case when closely interrogated into. 

Okolo supports Achebe's line of thought when he said that “Nigeria has a problem with leadership 
and insists that there can be no serious change in the country unless it occurs in the leadership” 
(Okolo, 1994, 16). The true purpose for party politics has been killed and buried as what we have 

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Owere A. Ejidje Iliaro                          Philosophy, Poverty And The Re-making Of The Nigeria Nation



now is a 'god-fatherism' oriented political system. The so-called god-fathers decide who becomes 
and who does not, as such though not physically in office but indirectly controlling the seat of 
power. In this way, the affairs of Nigeria has been piloted by leaders whose personal interest 
stands as the epicenter of governance (Ugwu, 2020, vii).

Moreso—even though the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria emphasizes the 
autonomy of each of the arms of Government—when the Nigeria political system is examined 
critically one might be tempted to ask: are the arms of government still three or one? This is 
because the arms of government in Nigeria are obviously being controlled by the Executive. 
Justice dies day by day and laws are enacted or regulated in a manner as though to please the 
executive. There have been countless cases of the executive ignoring the verdicts of the judiciary 
and the legislative. The legislative and Judiciary are seen as slaves of the executive because they 
only do the biding of the executive. So in the real sense of it, the Executive is the only arm of 
government that is active in Nigeria, though beclouded in corruption.

All these deceptions have impacted negatively upon the mindset of the children and juveniles as 
they have been misoriented to believe that political leadership over the people is all about stealing 
and causing violence. Now when a child is asked why he or she intends to be leader in the future 
one will be shocked to hear things like: I want to make steal my own money and be rich. What 
most persons refer to as national cake. This cancerous menace has eaten enormously into the 
hearts of many Nigerian citizens. This therefore portrays the sources and causes of the economic 
and political state of a quagmired Nigerian situation.

ADDRESSING NIGERIA'S POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC CHALLENGES 
THROUGH THE INSTRUMENTALITY OF PHILOSOPHY

Succinctly put, philosophy is focused on giving an interpretative understanding of reality; a goal 
and liberation oriented discipline from the bonds of ignorance for developmental sustainability 
(Onwuama, 2011, 49). The progressive affairs of a nation are reflective of the critical minds and 
implementations. Embracing philosophy is the direction for and towards Nigeria economic 
progress. Philosophy as a field of study can directly help Nigeria's economy by encouraging 
critical and reflective thinking; considering what is right and wrong, and exploring big questions. 
It helps to ask and address questions like: What have been the shortcomings in the Nigerian 
economy? What are the factors responsible for these shortcomings? How can these shortcomings 
be resolved? What are the impact on the citizens and its long time benefits?

While philosophy itself does not directly create economic growth, it can provide a basis for 
developing and implementing policies and strategies that support progress. Philosophy can help 
structure guidelines for economic activities that are fair and responsible. It has always been the 
case that majority of the economist who have held Nigerian offices have not seen the need to 
reflect adequately on the long time benefit (the futuristic), they have only focused on the present 
and this has greatly affected the Nigerian economy. By thinking about different ideas of what is 
right and wrong, policymakers, business leaders, and economists can make informed decisions 
that focus on long-term sustainability, fairness, and overall economic growth. Philosophy 
promotes skills like: thinking carefully, reasoning logically, and analyzing information. These 
skills are important for identifying economic problems, evaluating different options, and coming 
up with new solutions. By using careful thinking and analysis to tackle economic challenges, 
policymakers can make smart choices that drive sustainable growth and address social and 
economic issues. By thinking about these ideas, policymakers can design economic policies that 
are inclusive, promote fairness, and create an environment where businesses can succeed and 
thrive.

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Furthermore, challenged with the breakdown of order and gross marginalization of people in the 
society through politics, philosophy is obliged to not only confront these social-political ills, but 
to seek for justifiable grounds in which humanity can return back to the track of civilizing 
process. Philosophy is instrumental to the political sphere or system; this is because it asks 
question like: Who should rule? With what and how the society should be governed? It 
establishes what is fair, and the role of the government. These fundamental questions are 
necessary for any political or leadership system which intends to grow or develop. In the Nigeria 
context, philosophy will help in establishing the fact that those who intend to hold public offices 
should first acquire adequate knowledge of what they seek to be admitted into. This will help the 
leaders recognize the need for an ethos, because a leader is expected to be one whom others can 
aspire to be like. It will equally bring to mind that consciously and unconsciously there are other 
learning from every footstep he or she makes as a leader; so they would strive to obey the law as 
no one is above it. 

Secondly, Philosophy will help present and future leaders be it in the Judiciary, Legislative and 
Executive to recognize the fact that they are first citizens like any other Nigerian out there. 
Nwekeaku (2014, 26-35) averred that “Nigeria's constitution provides for fundamental rights of 
the citizens and roles for every level of government, thus it is not the lack of good laws that 
troubles Nigeria but the lack of good governance that seeks to twist these laws to its own curves.” 
As such, there is a need for an integral participation in trying to lead and govern the people 
accordingly; since it takes one from the people to understand the plight of the people. Philosophy 
through its reflective capacity will establish into leaders the fact that they are servants chosen by 
the people to service and not to be lords over them. Every position or office is not held for eternity 
but for a period of time, this philosophy through critical thinking will help the leaders recognize 
and understand, so there will be no attachments in all of their dealings while in office. It will help 
them develop a sense of community (altruism) rather than the self (egoism or greed).This way 
element of corruption and loquacious spending would be curbed intrinsically.

Pragmatically therefore, there is a need to appoint and give offices to individuals who are 
experienced in the required field. Many offices in Nigeria are given to people who have little to no 
experience in that field, so they occupy the seats and turn their position into avenues to learn 
rather than act. It is porous to note that even though Nigeria is blessed with countless numbers of 
philosophers, the leaders have not seen the need to incorporate them into committees and offices 
which requires critical minds inputs. In Nigeria universities students studying philosophy are 
seen as wasting their time because philosophy is not valued and has been greatly reduced to 
nothing. One can hardly see a politician in Nigeria who is a philosopher but this is what has 
engineered the sporadic increase in foreign nation's successes. Little wonder; there approach to 
philosophy as a discipline is not the same in Nigeria. There is therefore that need to incorporate 
philosophers into the system as the importance of philosophers in predictive analytics, public 
policy making, political analysis, peace and conflict management or resolution cannot be 
underestimated.

CONCLUSION

To Buttress, the economic retrogression and political mishmash in the Nigeria society has led to 
poverty and lack of development. These, in turn, have continuously affected the citizens and the 
proper way of thinking from generation to generation. Such situation has been sustained for long 
because philosophy and philosophers help has not been sorted. Philosophy therefore can play a 
role in shaping policies that encourage critical thinking, creativity, and curiosity. By emphasizing 
philosophy in institutions, Nigeria can develop a new generation of thinkers who are equipped to 
handle complex economic challenges, come up with new ideas, and contribute to innovation, 

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Owere A. Ejidje Iliaro                          Philosophy, Poverty And The Re-making Of The Nigeria Nation



entrepreneurship, and economic growth. It can inspire policies that reduce corruption, increase 
transparency, and ensure a level playing field for everyone in the economy. Lastly, by integrating 
philosophical insights into economic policies and strategies, Nigeria can create an environment 
that supports sustainable economic growth, social development, and overall progress. This 
fundamentally becomes a re-orientation and reconstruction of the minds of the citizens and 
leaders to achieve an economic and politically progressive nation which is necessary for 
development.

REFERENCES

Achebe, C. (1998). The Trouble with Nigeria. Enugu: Fourth Dimension Publishing Co-Ltd.

Bierce, A. “About Politics” Retrieved from http://www.australianpolitics.com/democracy/what-is-

politics.shtml on 29th June, 2023.

James, P., Magee, L., Scerri, A., and Steger, M. (2015). Urban Sustainability in Theory and 
Practice: Circles of Sustainability. London: Routledge.

MacDonald, G. (2013). The role of philosophy in national development.  Ibadan: TK 
Publishing Press.

Nnamdi, B. S. (2011). Selected Themes in Logic and Philosophy. Port Harcourt: University of 
Port Harcourt Press.

Nwekeaku, C. (2014). “The Rule of Law, Democracy and Good Governance in Nigeria” 
Global Journal of Political Science and Administration, 2(1), 26-35.

Ogbujah, C. N. (2006). Philosophy: A Thematic Introduction. Owerri: Barloz Publishing 
Limited, 2006.

Ohuawunwa, A. C. (2002). A Reconceptualization of Leadership and Governance as Service 
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Okolo, B. (1994). Squandermania Mentality: Reflection on Nigerian Culture. Nsukka: 
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Onwuama, E. (2011). “Understanding philosophy” In J. Oloidi (Ed.) Fundamentals of 
Philosophy, Logic and Issues in Human Existence. Enugu: Kriscento Publishers.

Ugwu, M. O. (2020). Nigerian Democracy: A disguised leverage of criminality. Markudi: 
Eagle Prints.

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                                            Aquino Journal of Philosophy, Vol 4 Issue 3, December 2024.
ISSN: 2786-9792

http://www.australianpolitics.com/democracy/what-is-politics.shtml
http://www.australianpolitics.com/democracy/what-is-politics.shtml

