2027 Kaduna North Senatorial Candidate Calls for Practical Economic Reforms, AI Innovation and Leadership Accountability
On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, I joined a distinguished gathering of Nigeria’s political, business and intellectual elite, alongside young Nigerians, at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, for the second edition of the Oxford Global Think Tank Leadership Conference.
Convened by Professor Arunma Oteh and co-chaired by His Highness Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II and Mr Atedo Peterside, with a keynote address from Dr Akinwumi Adesina, the conference focused on the theme: “Leadership for a Prosperous Future.”
The timing could not have been more critical.
Nigeria stands at a defining moment, where the official narrative of macroeconomic stabilisation increasingly clashes with the lived realities of ordinary citizens. As a candidate for the Senate representing Kaduna North at the National Assembly, I attended not merely to listen, but to interrogate the conversion mechanism: how leadership translates national potential into tangible delivery.
Nigeria's Economic Stabilisation and the Reality of Poverty
A major highlight of the conference was the launch of the Oxford Global Think Tank's artificial intelligence report and the AI Virtue Centre.
The discussions rightly emphasised resilience, innovation and economic dynamism. However, outside the conference hall, millions of Nigerians continue to struggle with poverty, rising living costs and declining purchasing power.
Official economic projections may point towards growth of approximately 4.4 per cent in 2026, but the figures must be considered alongside the realities confronting ordinary Nigerians.
The World Bank's Country Partnership Framework for Nigeria, covering 2026–2032, was cited in the discussions as highlighting the country's enormous poverty challenges, including an estimated 139 million people living below the national poverty line.
The concentration of poverty in northern Nigeria is particularly concerning.
How can an economy be considered on course when millions of citizens remain trapped in poverty, young people struggle to secure employment, and households increasingly find it difficult to meet basic needs?
Economic growth must ultimately translate into improved living conditions, employment opportunities, affordable energy and a better standard of living.
Without that conversion, stabilisation remains an incomplete achievement.
The Naira, Public Debt and the Burden on Nigerians
Nigeria's economic challenges cannot be separated from the depreciation of the naira, rising public debt and the increasing cost of living.
The exchange rate, which was significantly lower in previous years, has experienced substantial depreciation, affecting businesses, importers and households dependent on foreign goods and services.
Although recent improvements in certain economic indicators may offer some encouragement, the consequences of currency depreciation remain visible in the prices of food, transportation, education and other essential services.
The public debt profile is another major concern.
The debt figure of approximately ₦166.79 trillion cited in the conference commentary raises important questions about debt sustainability, public expenditure priorities and the capacity of government borrowing to generate meaningful economic returns.
The central question is not simply how much Nigeria owes, but whether borrowed resources are producing sufficient economic value to justify the obligations being transferred to future generations.
Every Nigerian deserves an economy where public borrowing supports productive investment, infrastructure, employment and measurable improvements in living standards.
Fuel Prices and the Question of Government Priorities
The removal of the fuel subsidy and exchange-rate liberalisation were presented as necessary economic reforms.
However, the consequences for ordinary Nigerians have been severe, particularly in transportation, food distribution and business operations.
The rising cost of petrol and alternative energy sources has placed additional pressure on households and small businesses.
At the same time, major infrastructure projects, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, have generated questions about government spending priorities, transparency and the direct benefits such investments will deliver to citizens.
Infrastructure development is important, but Nigerians must be able to see how public investments translate into lower transportation costs, economic opportunities and improved access to essential services.
The objective should be to build an economy where infrastructure serves the people rather than becoming an end in itself.
Naira Depreciation and the Impact on Muslim Families
To understand the consequences of currency depreciation, it is important to examine its impact on religious and cultural obligations that affect millions of Muslim families across Kaduna North and Nigeria.
Two particularly important examples are Zakat and Hajj.
Zakat and the Changing Value of Wealth
Zakat is an important pillar of Islam, and its obligation depends on meeting the applicable conditions, including the Nisab threshold and the relevant period of ownership.
The depreciation of the naira and rising prices have changed the monetary value of assets held by individuals and households.
The figures cited in my conference commentary illustrate how currency depreciation has affected the purchasing power of savings and the value of wealth measured in naira.
However, the monetary value of the Zakat Nisab is not a fixed amount that applies universally. It depends on the applicable gold or silver benchmark, the prevailing market price and the relevant religious guidance.
The broader concern remains that ordinary Nigerians have experienced significant changes in the real value of their savings.
Hajj Costs and the Financial Pressure on Families
The cost of performing Hajj has also increased substantially compared with previous years.
For many Muslim families, Hajj represents a lifelong spiritual aspiration requiring years of planning and savings.
When the cost rises from approximately ₦1 million to more than ₦7 million, as cited in my commentary, the financial implications become enormous.
These changes are not merely abstract economic statistics.
They affect families whose savings have lost purchasing power and whose ability to fulfil important religious obligations has become increasingly difficult.
Economic policy must therefore be assessed not only through exchange rates and GDP figures, but also through its impact on the everyday lives of citizens.
Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Leadership
During the AI Masterclass, I had the opportunity to ask a critical question:
How can we use artificial intelligence to reach more constituents and deliver the dividends of democracy more effectively?
The response emphasised AI-powered storytelling.
I found the answer particularly important because technology is not simply about innovation. It is also about agency, communication and the ability to connect leadership with the people it serves.
Artificial intelligence can help public institutions and elected representatives communicate more effectively, identify community concerns, improve access to information and support more responsive governance.
However, technology must be applied responsibly.
AI should not become another tool for political propaganda or misinformation. It should support transparency, civic engagement, accountability and practical problem-solving.
The challenge for Nigeria is to move from being primarily a consumer of artificial intelligence to becoming a creator and shaper of the technology.
This requires investment in digital skills, infrastructure, research, entrepreneurship and opportunities for young Nigerians to develop solutions to local problems.
Can Nigeria Provide Petrol at ₦200 Per Litre Without Subsidy?
The conference also raised an important economic question that I believe deserves serious national discussion.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has argued that Nigeria can provide petrol at approximately ₦200 per litre without reintroducing the subsidy system that existed in previous years.
My concern is that fuel subsidy arrangements, particularly where transparency and accountability are weak, have historically generated significant controversy and public distrust.
The question is whether Nigeria can achieve a substantially lower petrol price through structural reforms rather than through the reintroduction of a system that has faced allegations of fraud and inefficiency.
This requires a detailed examination of the petroleum value chain.
Relevant considerations include:
The cost of crude oil and its relationship to domestic petroleum pricing.
Refining capacity and the availability of locally refined petroleum products.
Transportation, distribution and other supply-chain costs.
Exchange-rate implications for petroleum-related transactions.
Competition, market transparency and regulatory oversight.
Alternative energy sources, including compressed natural gas.
The potential role of targeted assistance for vulnerable households.
A sustainable reduction in petrol prices must be based on measurable cost reductions, improved efficiency and a transparent pricing framework.
It cannot depend solely on political promises.
Unfortunately, the conference did not provide an opportunity for questions during the main sessions, and I could not present this question for further discussion with the experts.
Nevertheless, it remains an important issue that deserves attention from policymakers, economists, energy-sector professionals and the Nigerian public.
Four Recommendations for Future Oxford Global Think Tank Conferences
The Oxford Global Think Tank Leadership Conference was a successful gathering, and the organisers deserve commendation for bringing together influential voices from different sectors.
However, for future editions to move beyond discussions and generate measurable outcomes, I offer four recommendations.
1. Publish a Post-Conference Communiqué
The organisers should produce a formal document summarising the major discussions, conclusions and actionable recommendations.
The communiqué should identify specific policy proposals relevant to the Nigerian government, ministries, agencies and the National Assembly.
It should also establish clear priorities and provide a framework for monitoring the implementation of recommendations.
A conference should not end when participants leave the venue.
Its ideas should continue to influence public policy and institutional decision-making.
2. Introduce Structured Question-and-Answer Sessions
Future conferences should provide opportunities for participants to engage directly with speakers.
At least five questions per session could be considered, subject to the available time and programme structure.
This would allow participants to challenge assumptions, seek clarification and contribute practical perspectives.
My question about the SDP's proposed petrol price of ₦200 per litre would have enriched the energy-policy discussion.
Leadership conferences should encourage genuine dialogue rather than operate primarily as one-way presentations.
3. Establish a Policy Feedback Mechanism
The AI Virtue Centre should be connected to a practical platform where young Nigerians, entrepreneurs and small businesses can submit real-world problems for consideration.
The centre could identify promising ideas, facilitate research and connect innovators with relevant institutions.
Such a mechanism would help create a pipeline from intellectual discussion to practical solutions.
Artificial intelligence should not remain confined to conference presentations.
It should contribute to solving problems in education, agriculture, healthcare, transportation, public administration and business development.
4. Include Everyday Stakeholders
The conference featured prominent figures from business, government and public policy.
However, future editions would benefit from dedicated sessions involving small business owners, farmers, transport operators and technology entrepreneurs from outside Lagos and Abuja.
These stakeholders experience the consequences of economic policies directly.
Their contributions could provide valuable insights into the challenges of operating businesses, accessing finance, managing transportation costs and creating employment.
The question should be straightforward:
What does leadership mean to the ordinary Nigerian, and what practical changes would improve their daily lives?
Their answers deserve a place in national policy discussions.
Leadership Must Translate Prosperity Into Delivery
As I met with the Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank, Mr Abubakar Suleiman, and listened to the performances at the conference, I was reminded that Nigeria's greatest asset is its people.
Our country possesses enormous human and economic potential.
The challenge is to create the conditions that allow that potential to produce meaningful results.
For the next generation of leaders, whether in the Senate, government institutions or the private sector, the responsibility is to move beyond the language of prosperity and focus on the mechanics of delivery.
That means building institutions that work, creating opportunities for young people, supporting businesses, improving access to affordable energy and ensuring that public resources are used responsibly.
It also means listening to citizens and measuring success by the improvements they experience in their daily lives.
A Prosperous Future Must Be Felt by Ordinary Nigerians
The Oxford Global Think Tank Leadership Conference was a valuable day of learning, reflection and engagement.
The organisers deserve recognition for creating a platform where influential Nigerians could discuss leadership, innovation and the country's future.
However, for millions of Nigerians living below the poverty line, for Muslim families struggling with the rising cost of Hajj, for traders whose savings have lost purchasing power, and for transport operators facing expensive petrol and alternative energy costs, a successful conference is only the beginning.
They need policies that improve their lives.
They need economic opportunities, affordable transportation, access to education, reliable infrastructure and a government that responds to their concerns.
Nigeria's prosperity must not remain a promise discussed in conference halls.
It must become a reality experienced by ordinary citizens.
The future of leadership will be determined not by the number of conferences we organise, but by the lives we improve and the promises we deliver.
Adamu Rabiu is the Senatorial Seat Candidate for Kaduna North (Zone 1) in the 2027 general election. He writes from Kaduna.
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