In its determination and resolve to foster a new mindset among Nigerians, the Mindshift Advocacy for Development Initiative has unveiled a new blueprint to get Nigerians to think differently, believe differently and act differently, so as to generate a mindset geared towards development.
The event, which was attended by dignitaries and the media, held on Thursday at the prestigious Benue Hall of the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
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In his address, founder and board of trustees’ member of the Mindshift Advocacy for Development Initiative, Joko Okupe said: “The bane of Nigeria and by extension Africa’s problems is the mindset of Africans as individuals, communities and nations, about themselves and the mindset of the rest of the world about Africa.
“The wrong mindset of Nigerians and Africans in general which influences the way we do things, has created problems such as lack of visionary and purposeful leadership, bad governance standards, erosion and loss of good value systems, corruption, poor understanding of global issues and how it impacts their lives; unprecedented never-ending poverty, heavy debt burdens, over-dependence on international aids, endless conflicts, inadequate education etc.”
According to him, the initiative was incorporated on November 28, 2016 as a non-partisan, non-governmental organisation aimed at re-directing citizens’ mindsets from negative mindsets in private lives, societies and nations to positive mindsets that foster meaningful holistic personal, social and national development.
The initiative also seeks to activate a radical and positive change in the mindset of the Nigerian youth – and by extension, African youth.
According to Mr Okupe, Mindshift Advocacy is focused on shifting mindsets from negative to positive.
He stressed that every effort geared at re-orientating the citizens with a view to making them develop positive and progressive mindsets as individuals, society and at national levels, would put the nation on the road to meaningful and effective transformation of the continent for sustainable growth and development.
He cited the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, who once said that Africa’s transformational change would first happen at the level of mindsets before it is translated into concrete actions.
Okupe firmly believes that Africa’s journey of transformation starts with changing how people think. “It is vital for citizens of all ages and social classes to have the right mindset because they are the ones who would be actively involved in the day-to-day actions that bring about sustainable transformation,” he said.
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In order to achieve these, the initiative has in place well-articulated key focus areas toward its agenda. These areas are family and society, government and politics, education, business and economy, media, arts and entertainment, innovation and technology, religion, culture, and health and wellness. Additionally, it will approach this systematically through social research, targeted issues campaigns, action-oriented initiatives, knowledge sharing, events, and public discourse platforms.
Earlier in her welcome address, a core member of the Mindshift Advocacy for development Initiative, Debo Onabowale said: “Mindshift Advocacy for Development Initiative is set to do a new thing in Nigeria by approaching the Nigerian problem from a different perspective. We believe that Nigerians, both leaders and followers, rich and poor, young and old need a different orientation to be able to chart a new direction and behaviour to propel peace and development.”
