Samuel Gbue, Southwark (2025)

31/07/2025

Two Arrivals, One World Apart: Leo and Zanzan.

Leo just touched down in Lagos, Nigeria. He’s got a backpack, a MacBook, and no real plans to go back home. Barely scraped through college with a 2.4 GPA in Gender Studies, he took a LinkedIn course on “Business Strategy” and he’s then labeled an expat, a remote worker, a global citizen. He gets a $10,000/month job as a “business development expert”, Moves into a luxury serviced flat in an upscale Ikoyi neighborhood and edit his social media bio to include “Empowering Africa’s economic future.”.

Now meet Zanzan, arriving from Makurdi, Nigeria to Milan, Italy.

He is enrolled in a PhD program in Renewable Energy at the University of Milan and also Invited to help develop Italy’s next wave of sustainable energy projects. But before he even steps out of the airport, he’s stopped:

“Why are you here?”
“Are you really expected?”
“Do you have proof you can support yourself?”
“Where did you learn to speak English like that?”
“Why didn’t you stay back home to help your country?”

Meanwhile, security dogs comb through his luggage like he’s smuggling contraband.
His label? Immigrant.

Zanzan's Reality:
His accent scrutinized and told he’s “not the right cultural fit”
His rentals/ apartments suddenly become “taken” after landlords meet him.
Constantly accused of “stealing local jobs” even when he’s more qualified.

Leo’s Experience:
• Seen as an innovator bringing in “global ideas”
• Applauded for his “boldness”
• Gets paid 5 times more than locals for the same work
• He can claim to “Discover” cultures, rivers, communities and ideas that have always existed

Same visa process. Same paperwork. Completely different narratives.

The bias in their realities shapes perception:

Expat = trailblazer
Immigrant = burden
Expat = adds value
Immigrant = lowers the bar

Selective respect, dressed up in flattering language.

If Leo’s a global citizen, so is Zanzan. Let’s stop letting bias hide behind buzzwords & sentiments.

29/07/2025

In a significant development, China has opened its doors to 53 African nations, granting them duty-free access to export goods into the Chinese market. The only exception is Eswatini, which remains excluded due to its non-recognition of the One-China policy.

This announcement was made during a high-level forum between China and African leaders, focusing on enhancing trade cooperation and outlining the frameworks for implementing this landmark agreement.

Trade between China and Africa continues to surge. In 2024, bilateral trade reached $295.6 billion, and the first quarter of 2025 has already recorded $72.6 billion, marking a 2.7% increase year-on-year.

African Union

26/07/2025

Foreign investors poured nearly $100 billion into last year thanks to improved business environments that attracted . alone attracted over $46.6 billion, Africa's top destination, almost half (48%) the continent total, driven by the $35 billion Ras El-Hekma magadeal and wide-ranging economic reforms. ranks among high performers and posted an eye-popping +1340% growth, while Côte d'Ivoire, Mozambique, and Guinea, all seeing solid double-digit.

However, low performers such as 's plunged to $1.08 billion, down📉 from $1.87 billion in 2023 (-42%), while South Africa, , and also recorded sharp drops. Many countries have implemented economic reforms, streamlined regulatory processes, and reduced barriers to entry for foreign investors. Africa's 220M premium consumers, $600B informal retail economy and, 40% private wealth growth by 2031 offer strong and low-risk investment potential. 21.07.25. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eaWYVC4G

25/07/2025

I am honored to share that I have officially joined the Private School Tutors Union of Nigeria (PRISCTUN) and have been appointed as the Head of Digital Governance, Research, Policy Advisory & Special Duties for the Benue State Chapter.

As I step into this leadership role, I’m fully aware of the critical challenges our union faces, including:
• Lack of digital infrastructure for member engagement and professional development
• Limited access to policy research and data for informed decisionmaking.
• Gaps in intergovernmental collaboration for tutor recognition and capacity support.
• Low digital literacy among many educators in private education.

As a digital entrepreneur, ed-tech advocate, and founder of Zanzan Academy, I am committed to:
• Launching digital training & capacity building programs for PRISCTUN members
• Driving the development of a unified membership portal for registration, dues, and access to learning.
• Leading the formulation of research-backed digital policies for tutor support and education innovation.
• Building national and international partnerships to raise the visibility and credibility of our union.

I believe it’s time we move from manual to modern, from disconnected to data driven.

If you’re a private school tutor or an ally in the education ecosystem, now is the time to collaborate. Let’s shape a stronger, smarter future for our profession. 📚💻🤝

22/07/2025

A good percentage of the tech startups in Nigeria aren’t really tackling genuine issues. Sure, you’ll find all kinds of apps and platforms, but do they actually improve life for the everyday Nigerian? I’m skeptical.

Let’s call it what it is: too many founders are in this game purely for profit. And while there’s nothing inherently wrong with making money, a business that’s designed solely around extracting value rather than creating it: what does that really achieve?

We’ve fallen into the trap of chasing whatever trends like fintech, crypto, web3 and BNPL without ever stopping to consider if these solutions serve long term societal challenges. We talk about “disruption,” but more often than not, we’re just echoing successes that happened elsewhere.

Everyone’s eager to dive into the fintech frenzy because that’s where the investors are and that’s where the buzz lives. But meanwhile, critical challenges remain unaddressed: our healthcare system, our schools, transportation, power supply, waste disposal. These aren’t rosy sectors, but they’re crying out for innovation and they’re fertile ground for lasting ventures.

21/07/2025

BRIDGING THE GAP: RETHINKING NIGERIA’S GLOBAL TRADE STRATEGY

It’s alarming that, in the face of global challenges, our trade promotion bodies aren’t seizing the chance to broaden our exports.
At China’s recent import expo and consumer festival, entrepreneurs from African countries like Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia and Rwanda showcased products like cocoa, coffee, tea and fashion while Nigeria, the continent’s heavyweight with its wealth of products was completely absent.

Pause on that for a moment.

Understand that as neighboring nations clinched distribution agreements, inked trade pacts, and courted countless Chinese buyers at this high-profile event, Nigeria was nowhere to be found at what was arguably the world’s preeminent trade forum.

This omission transcends a single missed festival.
It reflects a hole in our export blueprint, a misalignment in our diplomatic outreach, and a lack of readiness among our business owners to compete on the global stage.

How is it that a country blessed with shea, ginger, leather, hibiscus, palm oil, latex, cocoa, grains, tropical root crops, cutting-edge fashion and even tech innovators with prospective startups fails to make an appearance in the world’s fastest-expanding consumer market?
We must stop celebrating domestically while remaining invisible internationally.

To realign our trade and diplomatic efforts, we urgently need a National Export-Asia Desk housed within the Ministry of Trade, working hand-in-glove with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to spearhead our entry into China and other Asian markets.
The Nigeria Export Promotion Commission should launch a targeted drive to digitize export pathways for SMEs, enabling farmers in Benue and craftsmen in Aba to access overseas buyers. NEPC must embrace a tech-driven onboarding process that reaches beyond just Lagos and Abuja into every state of our federation.

Simultaneously, the Foreign Affairs Ministry must energize cultural-trade diplomacy across our embassies transforming them from passive outposts into dynamic hubs that host product showcases, build B2B connections, and place “Naija Taste & Craft” firmly on China’s radar, just as Rwanda and Ethiopia have achieved.

If you care about Nigeria beyond the Naira, join me in urging these ministries and agencies to wake up to the reality that global markets won’t wait for us and remind them that China’s doors are open, competitors are moving fast, and we’re still stuck running export seminars without tangible results.
It’s time we showed up strategically, boldly, without delay.
Let’s stop being the absentee that everyone wonders about.

15/07/2025

Only 15 % of Africa’s trade happens within our own borders but imagine what could happen if we flipped that statistic. Today, too many goods/ raw materials leave the continent only to return as finished products while small businesses struggle under the weight of tariffs, tangled customs procedures and unreliable roads/ports. While the AfCFTA is tearing down barriers like excessive duties, digital single-window systems are simplifying cross-border clearance and rules of origin are being relaxed so more of what we manufacture is traded within the continent.
For entrepreneurs, that means selling on Pan-African e-commerce platforms and accepting payments through gateways like Flutterwave or M-Pesa and teaming up with distributors next door to share warehousing and delivery costs. If we have visa-free travel for business, our founders can become the face of “Made in Africa” without jumping through hoops just to cross a border. It’s time for us to trade first with ourselves, build our own value chains, and prove that when Africa does business with Africa, everyone wins.

14/07/2025

Africa Trades More with Outsiders than with Itself

I recently stumbled on a fact that made me pause:
Only 15% of Africa’s total trade happens within the continent.

In simple terms, out of every ₦100 worth of trade, just ₦15 stays within Africa — while the remaining ₦85 goes to countries outside the continent.

Now compare this with other regions:
• In Asia, 60% of trade is among Asian countries.
• In Europe, that number jumps to 70%.

Think about the strength that comes from that kind of internal trade — nations buying from and selling to each other, building wealth, industries, and jobs right at home.

I like to picture it like this:
It’s as if siblings living in the same house refuse to share food or clothes with each other — instead, they constantly run to the neighbor’s house to buy what their own brother or sister already has.

This reflects a deeper challenge: Africa is missing out on tremendous growth potential from within.

More trade between African nations means:
• More jobs created locally
• Stronger economies that are less dependent on outsiders
• Lower costs on goods due to reduced import expenses
• Integrated regional value chains that can compete globally

It’s time to rethink the way we do business on this continent.
The path to prosperity for Africa lies not just in what we export to the world — but in how we trade with each other.

Do you have an idea that can help boost intra-African trade? Share below.

12/07/2025

The non-refundable Schengen visa fee, particularly for applicants from low-income countries like Nigeria and Kenya, is a regressive policy that exacerbates global inequities and must be challenged and changed.

In 2024 alone, Nigerian ($5) and Kenyan ($2), in total, applicants lost $7 million to rejected visas, funds that represent significant financial sacrifices for families in nations where average incomes are a fraction of European standards.

While the policy’s defenders argue the fee covers administrative costs, but this rationale ignore obvious issue of high rejection rates or discriminatory fees for African applicants (often exceeding 30-40%) meaning the fee functions as a de facto tax on hope, disproportionately penalizing poorer populations.

More so, while there is limited effort in educating applicants on application process, at the same time, there is little clarity on how visa fees are calculated or reinvested, raising suspicions of profit-making from rejection revenues.

In fact, it is asserted that visa denials often stem from subjective assessments of applicants’ economic status or “immigration risk,” reflecting systemic biases against citizens of Global South countries.

Therefore, by refusing refunds, the Schengen system effectively commodifies exclusion, undermining claims of fostering global mobility and cooperation.

These atrocities must not be allowed to continue to occur unchallenged in Africa. Interestingly, in response to this discriminatory policy, in 2022, India introduced reciprocal visa fees and restrictions targeting European nationals in response to the Schengen zone’s high, non-refundable visa fees and disproportionate rejection rates for Indian applicants.

For example, India raised visa fees for Schengen nationals from €80 to €90, mirroring the Schengen fee for Indian applicants. This was framed as a matter of “diplomatic parity” and fairness.

India prioritized visa processing for countries offering smoother access to Indian travelers, indirectly pressuring the EU to reconsider its policies. India leveraged its growing geopolitical and economic clout to demand reforms, warning that visa inequities could strain broader trade and security partnerships with the EU.

While the EU did not abolish non-refundable fees, India’s assertive stance forced dialogue on fee structures and spurred some member states (e.g., Germany) to streamline processes for students and professionals. The move also amplified global scrutiny of visa fee inequities, demonstrating how targeted reciprocity and diplomatic pressure can challenge entrenched systems.

While the EU claims fees deter frivolous applications, reforms like income-tiered pricing or conditional refunds (e.g., returning 50% if rejection cites non-fraud reasons) could balance administrative costs with equity.

For instance, Spain recently waived fees for Senegalese students, proving adjustability.

11/07/2025

Last month, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu granted a full posthumous pardon to Ken Saro-Wiwa and his fellow Ogoni activists during his address to the National Assembly on June 12, marking Democracy Day.
Nearly three decades after his ex*****on under the military regime of General Sani Abacha, Saro-Wiwa has now been posthumously awarded the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).

This long-overdue recognition comes at a pivotal moment for the global movement for environmental justice, particularly across many developing nations m. Ken Saro-Wiwa was more than an activist, he was a visionary who understood that environmental degradation and human rights violations are deeply intertwined.

On November 10, 1995, Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni leaders were executed. This drew global condemnation as his death became a turning point, echoing a message that remains urgent today. Every community has the right to a clean, safe, and healthy environment where powerful corporations must be held accountable for the environmental harm they cause.

Saro-Wiwa not only spearheaded a non-violent campaign against the environmental destruction caused by oil extraction in Nigeria’s Niger Delta, He was also a writer, television producer, and the leader of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) whose leadership gave voice to the Ogoni people’s suffering and challenged corporate impunity at a time when it was dangerous to do so.

As the 30th anniversary of his ex*****on approaches this November, this presidential pardon serves not just as a symbolic act of justice but as a reaffirmation of the rights of environmental defenders. It is a long-overdue acknowledgment that those who protect our planet deserve protection, not persecution.

But symbolism must lead to substance. Nigeria should seize this moment by establishing a Saro-Wiwa institution for research, advocacy, and policy reform rooted in his ideals so as to craft bold recommendations for the country’s environmental future. Ken Saro-Wiwa’s legacy lives on not only in Nigeria, but wherever people fight for environmental justice worldwide.

The struggle for environmental sustainability is not just about treaties or policies. It’s about the lived realities of communities, people whose lands, waters, and futures are threatened by exploitation. Saro-Wiwa understood that truth deeply.

Now it is our responsibility to carry his vision forward. Let us honor Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa (10 October 1941 – 10 November 1995), a martyr for justice, a prophet of environmental dignity.

May he rest in power.

09/07/2025

Why Does Israel Thrive While Nigeria Struggles?

Both Israel and Nigeria are influential nations with immense potential. Yet, when it comes to innovation and industrial growth, their trajectories are strikingly different.

Israel — a small country of just 9 million people and no crude oil — has become a global leader in technology and innovation.

In contrast, Nigeria — with over 220 million people and abundant natural resources — still struggles to industrialize and fully harness its potential.

Why the gap?

At Labour Business School (LBS), our analysis reveals a 55% performance gap in innovation between the two nations.

Israel has about 1 startup for every 1,400 people which is one of the highest number of startups per capita in the world. This didn’t happen by chance. It’s the result of deliberate, strategic policies and cultural practices, such as:
• 💡 Compulsory Military Service: Units like the IDF’s Unit 8200 train young people in cybersecurity, leadership, and problem-solving — skills that feed directly into startup success.
• 💡 Massive Investment in R&D: Israel invests over 4% of its GDP in research and development — among the highest in the world.
• 💡 Government-Backed Innovation Support: Institutions like the Israel Innovation Authority provide funding, mentorship, and infrastructure for emerging tech companies.
• 💡 Cultural Mindset: Israelis are known for embracing risk, learning from failure, and relentlessly pursuing solutions.
• 💡 Strong University-Industry Collaboration: Schools like Technion and Hebrew University actively partner with startups and global tech firms.
• 💡 Global Access to Venture Capital: Israel attracts billions in VC funding each year, thanks to its strong track record in tech.

These are replicable principles, not mysteries. With the right vision, policies, and mindset, Nigeria can become a Startup Nation too.

Let this be a conversation starter. I’ve shared my perspective — now it’s your turn. Tag someone, drop your thoughts, and let’s build a startup ecosystem in Nigeria together.

I’ll be reading comments. 👇

08/07/2025

About 70% of the African Union's $650m budget is funded by foreigners. "You call them colonizers but when they give us money, they're partners," Sudanese billionaire Mo Ibrahim said.

"This is a farce, either you're serious or you forget it," he told former AU Commission boss Moussa Faki.

What happened to "African solutions for African problems?"

Samuel Gbue