In a captivating reflection on his recent two-week visit to Nigeria, Sierra Leonean political economist Dr. Yusuf Bangura unveiled surprising trends reshaping the country’s landscape. After a 14-year absence, Bangura observed profound transformations in food processing, financial technology, and cultural dominance, as detailed in his widely shared article titled Three Surprises from Our Two-Week Visit to Nigeria.
A Thriving Local Food Industry
Dr. Bangura described Nigeria’s burgeoning food processing sector as “a great transformation,” noting its significant contributions to the economy. He observed that local foods, which were once limited to informal markets, are now widely available in supermarkets, well-packaged, and ready for consumption. From tamarind candies to instant-mix Nigerian soups, Bangura described the variety as striking.
“It was clear to us that Nigeria is making important strides in upgrading and expanding its food industry, adding real value to its economy,” he wrote. The food and beverage industry, valued at approximately $20 billion, contributes 22.5% of manufacturing output and employs half of the country’s manufacturing workforce.
However, Bangura lamented the decline of authentic pounded yam, noting that its substitute, “poundo,” lacks the traditional texture and flavour. Despite this, he urged researchers to explore the food sector, calling it a critical phase in Nigeria’s industrialisation journey.
Cashlessness
Another revelation was Nigeria’s rapid adoption of digital payment systems. Bangura noted the ubiquity of Point of Sale (POS) machines and debit card transactions across the country. “From our observation, POS machine payments in Nigeria are just as seamless as in Europe,” he remarked.
He explained that while the transition was partly driven by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s 2023 currency redesign, it has fuelled a cashless revolution. POS devices in the country reportedly reached 3.04 million by mid-2024, a 32% increase from the previous year. However, Bangura highlighted a challenge: Nigeria’s POS ecosystem favours local debit cards, leaving foreign visitors struggling to make transactions.
This development underscores Nigeria’s growing self-reliance, with Bangura describing the system as a “major advancement in growing its national market.” It might also be a response to isolation by the big global financial technology systems.
Afrobeats is Powerful and Ubiquitous
Perhaps most striking to the visitor who once lived in Nigeria from 1980 to 1988 was the overwhelming dominance of Afrobeats in Nigeria’s public spaces. Bangura recounted how Western music, once a staple of Nigerian nightlife, has been almost entirely replaced by local tunes.
“Afrobeats has almost squeezed out Western—indeed, most foreign—music from public spaces,” he observed, attributing this to Nigeria’s immense talent and competitive music scene. He compared the phenomenon to the closed music markets of the US and UK, emphasising that Afrobeats has created a distinct cultural identity within Nigeria and across Africa.
Nigeria is Redefining Itself
Despite challenges such as road insecurity and political dysfunction, Bangura’s reflections painted a picture of a nation forging ahead through private enterprise and cultural innovation. His insights underline how local industries are creating a more interconnected and self-reliant Nigeria.
As he concluded, “Private industrialists and artists are making great efforts to connect Nigeria and create a home market, despite the insecurities in some domains and much dysfunction at the political level.” This sounds like what he told an online newspaper, Intervention, about where he was born. “The Sierra Leone of my youth was a place of opportunity,” he recalled.
About Bangura
Born in Sierra Leone in 1950, Bangura grew up in a country where public institutions, though limited in reach, functioned effectively. His early years were shaped by an education system that rewarded merit, exemplified by the National Scholarship programme, which allowed students with exceptional grades to study at prestigious universities abroad. Bangura’s academic journey took him to the London School of Economics (LSE), where he specialised in international political economy. His doctoral research explored the decline of the British pound sterling as a global currency and the political economy of African decolonisation.
After completing his PhD, Bangura began a career that would bridge academia and international development. He first taught political science at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Nigeria, during the tumultuous 1980s. His tenure coincided with Nigeria’s economic downturn and the imposition of structural adjustment programmes.
“Nigeria is Another Home for Me.”
Despite these challenges, Bangura immersed himself in Nigeria’s vibrant intellectual and activist communities. “Nigeria is another home for me,” he says, reflecting on the country’s robust civil society and its radical traditions in trade unions, academia, and professional associations.
In 1990, Bangura joined the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) in Geneva, where he worked for 22 years. His landmark contribution was coordinating the 2010 report Combating Poverty and Inequality: Structural Change, Social Policy, and Politics. This comprehensive document underscored the need for transformative social policies to address systemic inequalities globally.
Bangura is now based in Nyon, Switzerland.
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