How did the Niger Delta, one of the most naturally endowed regions in Africa, become a symbol of economic despair and social dysfunction? With an average multidimensional poverty score of 63.4%, six out of every ten people in this region live in abject poverty. This is not just a statistic, it’s a reality. The levels of economic inactivity, desperation, and hopelessness far exceed what any data can capture. The signs are visible, the pain is palpable.

There is a common phrase, “na my papa work?”, which has unfortunately become a casual justification for workplace fraudulent practices and Nigeria’s systemic corruption, disregard for the rule of law and social order. It reflects a deep-seated mindset, particularly among civil servants, the police, customs and excise and others who treat public duty as trivial and can be abused. To begin the process of meaningful change in our social and economic outcomes, we must first change this mindset.