Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called for deep reforms to Nigeria’s political system, warning that the nation cannot make meaningful development without institutional changes. He also appealed to both the government and the private sector to step up investments in homegrown technology ventures to generate jobs for the youth.
Speaking on Saturday as the chairman of the Herbert Macaulay Memorial Colloquium in Lagos, Jonathan described the country’s current democratic practices as opaque and amorphous, according to Galaxy Television. He argued that the system lacks the institutional clarity needed to foster sustainable growth and urged a return to core values like the rule of law, separation of powers, judicial independence, and popular participation.
The former president pointed out that leadership selection in Nigeria remains deeply flawed. He expressed concern that ethnicity, language, and religion still dominate political recruitment instead of character and competence. He warned that relying on such sentiments prevents qualified leaders from taking office and urged the country to abandon what he termed a primitive approach ahead of its independence centenary in 2060.
Jonathan also stressed the importance of improving functional education to boost innovation and research, noting that strong educational institutions are necessary to prepare young people for future economic challenges.
In a separate engagement on Saturday, Jonathan hosted the board and management of Zeetin Technologies, led by Azibaola Robert. The former president previously chaired the launch and commissioning of the firm’s factory in Idu, Abuja.
According to Punch, Jonathan called for deliberate policies and sustained funding to support local tech innovators, noting that such businesses will boost the economy and position Nigeria well in the global tech space. He commended Zeetin Technologies for its assembly plant, which manufactures cargo tricycles that aid small businesses and improve the transport of goods nationwide.
Jonathan served as Nigeria's president between 2010 and 2015, following the death of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua. Since conceding defeat in the 2015 presidential election, he has regularly represented international bodies on election monitoring missions across Africa while remaining an active voice on national governance.
