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Navigating the Digital Age: Lessons for Economic Development and Sustainability in Global South Nations

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11 months ago

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In the dynamic landscape of the Global South Nations, navigating the complexities of the digital age requires a strategic approach that values resilience, wisdom, collaboration, and ethical decision-making. Drawing inspiration from the timeless lesson of the man and the cow, we can glean insights into how nations can drive economic development and sustainability by prioritising long-term goals, embracing digital innovation, fostering collaboration, and making value-based decisions. This piece explores the strategic integration of these principles within Global South Nations, offering a roadmap for navigating challenges and seizing opportunities in the ever-evolving global economy.

Digital transformation can revolutionise businesses’ operations, streamline processes, and enhance productivity. By investing in digital initiatives, companies in the Global South can optimise their operations, deliver superior products and services, and gain a competitive edge in the global marketplace.
Additionally, the digital age presents numerous opportunities for expanding market reach and tapping into new customer segments. With the rise of digital marketing channels, social media platforms, and e-commerce marketplaces, businesses in the Global South can easily access a global audience. Companies can position themselves internationally and attract a diverse customer base by developing effective digital marketing strategies, creating engaging online content, and leveraging social media for customer engagement.
Moreover, the digital age allows businesses in the Global South to drive innovation and foster collaboration through digital ecosystems. Participation in innovation hubs, tech incubators, and collaborative platforms enables companies to tap into a network of like-minded entrepreneurs, startups, and industry experts. This exchange of ideas and co-creation of solutions unlocks new business opportunities and fosters a culture of continuous learning and growth.
In essence, the digital age has transformed the economic development landscape in Global South nations, offering unparalleled opportunities for businesses to innovate, compete, and thrive. By embracing digital technologies, expanding market reach, and fostering collaboration, these companies can create a competitive edge that propels them toward sustained success and prosperity in the digital era.
Furthermore, in today’s global economic climate, the strategic integration of value additions plays a crucial role in driving growth and competitiveness within the Global South. As these nations navigate the challenges and opportunities an ever-changing economic environment presents, focusing on adding value to products, services, and processes becomes instrumental in enhancing their market position and driving sustainable development.
A key aspect of integrating value additions in the Global South is emphasising quality and differentiation. By improving the quality of products and services, adding unique features, and enhancing customer experiences, businesses can distinguish themselves from competitors and attract a loyal customer base. This focus on value creation drives customer satisfaction, increases demand, raises revenues, and enhances brand reputation, positioning these businesses for success in the global marketplace.
Additionally, the strategic integration of value additions enables companies in the Global South to tap into new market opportunities and expand their reach both regionally and internationally. By leveraging value-added propositions such as customization, innovation, and sustainability, businesses can cater to diverse customer needs, penetrate new market segments, and gain a competitive edge in an increasingly interconnected world. This strategic approach opens new avenues for growth and revenue generation while fostering economic diversification and resilience in global economic uncertainties.
Integrating value additions into the market landscape of Global South nations also contributes to overall economic development and sustainability. By incorporating sustainable practices, promoting ethical production methods, and prioritizing social responsibility, businesses can create long-term value for stakeholders, communities, and the environment. This commitment to sustainability helps mitigate environmental impacts and social inequalities, enhancing businesses’ reputation and long-term viability globally.
In summary, the strategic integration of value additions within the market landscape of Global South nations is vital for driving growth, competitiveness, and sustainability in the current global economic climate. By focusing on quality, differentiation, market expansion, and sustainability, businesses in these nations can unlock new opportunities, foster innovation, and position themselves for long-term success in an increasingly competitive and interconnected world.
As Global South nations navigate the complexities of economic development and sustainability, can an integrative approach—valuing essential functionalities—drive progress? Drawing parallels to the tale of a man milking a cow and the consequences of seeking revenge, we are reminded of the potential pitfalls of impulsive reactions in challenging situations. Individuals can create a more sustainable and harmonious path forward by choosing not to retaliate, embracing forgiveness, and prioritising what truly matters. Digital transformation can revolutionise businesses’ operations, streamline processes, and enhance productivity. By investing in digital initiatives, companies in the Global South can optimize their operations, deliver superior products and services, and gain a competitive edge in the global marketplace.
Additionally, the digital age presents numerous opportunities for expanding market reach and tapping into new customer segments. With the rise of digital marketing channels, social media platforms, and e-commerce marketplaces, businesses in the Global South can easily access a global audience. Companies can position themselves internationally and attract a diverse customer base by developing effective digital marketing strategies, creating engaging online content, and leveraging social media for customer engagement.
Moreover, the digital age allows businesses in the Global South to drive innovation and foster collaboration through digital ecosystems. Participation in innovation hubs, tech incubators, and collaborative platforms enables companies to tap into a network of like-minded entrepreneurs, startups, and industry experts. This exchange of ideas and co-creation of solutions unlocks new business opportunities and fosters a culture of continuous learning and growth.
In the synesthetic approach to driving economic development and sustainability in Global South Nations, the interplay of strategic integral functionalities is akin to the dynamics of a man milking a cow. When the man is kicked by the cow, the impulse for revenge may arise, tempting him to retaliate. However, retaliating could lead to unforeseen consequences, such as slipping and losing the bucket of milk he had painstakingly collected.
The allegory mirrors the concept that seeking revenge in any situation often results in more harm than good. Just as retaliating against the cow would have led to the loss of the milk, retaliatory actions in economic or social contexts can jeopardize hard-earned progress and achievements. Rather than succumbing to impulses of revenge, embracing wisdom, forgiveness, and resilience is crucial for moving forward and preserving valuable resources.
Similarly, in the pursuit of economic development and sustainability, Global South Nations face challenges and obstacles that may incite reactions of retaliation. Just as the cow represents adversities or provocations in this context, there will always be forces that seek to hinder progress and induce negative responses. However, the true essence of strategic integral functionalities lies in maintaining focus on overarching goals and values, despite external disruptions.
In essence, the synesthetic approach emphasizes the futility of revenge, highlighting its role as a zero-sum game that ultimately yields no winners. Instead, by embodying wisdom, resilience, and a forward-looking mindset, individuals and nations can safeguard their hard-earned achievements and navigate challenges with grace. Trusting in the equilibrium of life and channeling efforts towards meaningful pursuits fosters a sustainable path towards economic prosperity and societal well-being in the Global South Nations.
Could you permit me to ask? Can we translate the insights gleaned from this tale into robustly crafted lessons tailored for Global South nations, aligning with the demands of the digital age?
Lesson 1: Strategic Resilience in the Digital Age
– In the fast-paced digital age, Global South Nations must cultivate strategic resilience by prioritizing long-term goals over short-term retaliations against setbacks or provocations. Just as the man in the allegory chose to walk away from the cow’s kick to protect his milk, nations should focus on preserving their valuable resources and investments in the face of challenges.
– Implement crisis management strategies that emphasize adaptability, flexibility, and forward-thinking to navigate digital disruptions effectively and maintain economic stability and sustainability.
Lesson 2: Embracing Digital Wisdom
– Global South Nations can enhance their economic development by embracing digital wisdom, which entails making informed decisions based on data, trends, and analysis rather than reactionary impulses. Just as reacting impulsively to the cow’s kick led to losses for the man, knee-jerk responses to market fluctuations or technological advancements can jeopardize progress.
– Invest in digital literacy and technological innovation to leverage the power of digital tools and platforms for economic growth, efficiency, and competitiveness in the global market landscape.
Lesson 3: Collaborative Leadership and Innovation
– Foster a culture of collaborative leadership and innovation within Global South Nations to drive sustainable economic development in the digital age. Just as the man could have benefited from seeking assistance or alternative strategies instead of retaliating against the cow, nations should prioritize cooperation, knowledge-sharing, and collective problem-solving.
– Promote cross-sector partnerships, entrepreneurship, and research and development initiatives to harness the collective intelligence and creativity of diverse stakeholders in driving economic growth and resilience in the digital era.
Lesson 4: Value-Based Decision-Making
– Encourage value-based decision-making practices that prioritise sustainability, inclusivity, and ethical considerations in the strategic planning and implementation processes of Global South Nations. Just as revenge-driven actions can lead to unforeseen consequences and losses, decisions made without ethics or long-term vision can undermine progress and harm communities.
– Embrace principles of corporate social responsibility, environmental stewardship, and social equity to build a resilient and sustainable economy that benefits all stakeholders, not just in the present but for future generations in the digital age and beyond.
In conclusion, as Global South Nations stand at the threshold of the digital age, the lessons derived from the allegory of the man and the cow serve as a beacon of guidance for driving economic development and sustainability. By cultivating strategic resilience, embracing digital wisdom, fostering collaborative leadership and innovation, and prioritising value-based decision-making, nations can chart a course towards a prosperous and equitable future. In a world where revenge leads to losses and wisdom leads to growth, let us heed the call to forge a path of progress that transcends immediate gains and paves the way for lasting success in the global marketplace. Embracing these principles, Global South Nations can navigate the challenges of the digital age with confidence and purpose, unlocking their economies’ full potential and enriching their citizens’ lives for generations to come.

♦ Professor Ojo Emmanuel Ademola is a Nigerian Professor of Cyber Security and Information Technology Management, and holds a Chartered Manager Status, and by extension, Chartered Fellow (CMgr FCMI) by the highly Reputable Royal Chartered Management Institute. 

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Anthony Obi Ogbo

When Air Power Becomes a Christmas Performance: The Illusion of Success in Trump’s Nigerian Strike

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2 weeks ago

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December 28, 2025

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“Bombs alone do not defeat ideology. Precision without intelligence is noise.“ —Anthony Obi Ogbo

When President Trump announced his authorized United States air strike against ISIL (ISIS) fighters in northwest Nigeria on Christmas Day, there was an immediate burst of celebration on Nigerian social media. For a country exhausted by years of kidnappings, massacres, and territorial insecurity, the announcement sounded like long-awaited international support. Memes circulated, praise poured in, and some Nigerians hailed Trump as a decisive global sheriff finally willing to act where others hesitated.

But after the initial euphoria settled, a sobering assessment emerged: the strike appeared less like a strategic military intervention and more like a made-for-television spectacle designed to burnish Trump’s international strongman image.

This was not the first time the United States has launched air strikes in Africa or the Sahel under the banner of counterterrorism. From Libya to Somalia, from Syria to Yemen, U.S. “precision strikes” have often been announced with confidence and celebrated with press briefings—only for the targeted groups to regroup, mutate, and, in some cases, expand their reach. In Nigeria itself, years of foreign-backed security assistance have failed to decisively neutralize Boko Haram or its ISIS-affiliated offshoots. Instead, violence has fragmented, spread, and grown more complex.

No verifiable evidence has been produced to confirm high-value ISIS targets were eliminated

The Nigerian strike followed a familiar pattern. U.S. officials framed it as a blow against ISIS-West Africa Province (ISWAP), a group aligned with the global ISIS network. Trump’s language suggested a decisive intervention—an act of muscular diplomacy signaling that America still projects power where it chooses. Yet no verifiable evidence has been produced to confirm high-value ISIS targets were eliminated, leadership structures dismantled, or operational capacity degraded.

What followed was a digital smokescreen. Social media accounts, many anonymous and unverified, began circulating gruesome images of dead bodies and destroyed villages—photos long associated with banditry in Nigeria’s northwest. These images were quickly repurposed to “prove” the success of Trump’s strike. However, this is where the narrative falls apart under scrutiny.

Trump’s mission, as publicly stated, was to target ISIS. Not bandits. Not kidnappers. Not rural criminal gangs. ISIS is a transnational terrorist organization with ideological, financial, and operational links across continents. Bandits, by contrast, are primarily armed criminal groups—motivated by ransom, cattle theft, and territorial control, not global jihad. Conflating the two may be politically convenient, but it is analytically dishonest.

Killing or displacing bandits does not equate to dismantling ISIS. In fact, indiscriminate or poorly targeted air strikes often worsen the situation, pushing criminal groups to radicalize, splinter, or align with extremist factions for protection and legitimacy. This pattern has been observed repeatedly in conflict zones where military force substitutes for intelligence-driven strategy.

A truly successful counterterrorism raid is not measured by dramatic announcements or viral images. It is measured by clear, verifiable outcomes, including the confirmed elimination of high-ranking commanders, disruption of recruitment and financing networks, seizure of weapons caches, and—most importantly—sustained reductions in civilian attacks. None of these benchmarks has been credibly demonstrated in the aftermath of Trump’s Nigerian air strike.

Instead, Nigeria wakes up to the same grim reality: villages remain vulnerable, highways unsafe, and communities terrorized. The strike did not change the security equation. It did not empower Nigerian forces. It did not restore civilian confidence. And it certainly did not neutralize ISIS as a strategic threat.

This air strike offered Nigerians symbolism, not security.

In that sense, the air strike was not merely ineffective—it was a failure dressed in the language of strength, executed for optics, and amplified for political gain. It offered Nigerians symbolism, not security.

If the goal is truly to eliminate ISIS and its affiliates in West Africa, the path is neither theatrical nor unilateral. It requires robust intelligence sharing, sustained training, and real-time coordination with Nigerian and regional forces. It demands targeted arms assistance, logistical support, and investments in surveillance capabilities that allow local militaries to act decisively and lawfully. Above all, it requires a long-term commitment to strengthening state capacity—not fleeting air shows announced from afar.

Bombs alone do not defeat ideology. Precision without intelligence is noise. And celebration without results is self-deception. Trump’s Nigerian air strike may have produced headlines, but history will remember it for what it was: a failed mission masquerading as success.

♦ Publisher of the Guardian News, Professor Anthony Obi Ogbo, Ph.D., is on the Editorial Board of the West African Pilot News. He is the author of the Influence of Leadership (2015)  and the Maxims of Political Leadership (2019). Contact: anthony@guardiannews.us

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Trump’s Nigeria Strike: Bombs, Boasts, and the Illusion of Victory

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2 weeks ago

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December 26, 2025

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“With Obama, Al-Qaeda was not eliminated by noise; it was suffocated by intelligence.“ —Anthony Obi Ogbo

It has now been confirmed that the United States acted in collaboration with Nigeria in the recent strike on Islamic State elements in northwest Nigeria. That cooperation deserves recognition. Intelligence-sharing between Washington and Abuja is necessary, overdue, and welcome. Terrorism is transnational; defeating it requires allies, not isolation.

But let us be clear: bombs alone do not defeat terror. And Donald Trump’s strike—trumpeted loudly on social media before facts, casualties, or strategy were disclosed—was less a turning point than a performance.

Trump’s announcement was a classic spectacle: “powerful,” “deadly,” “perfect strikes.” No numbers. No clarity. No accountability. Just noise. It was the same choreography America has deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, Yemen, and Somalia—places where U.S. airpower landed hard, headlines screamed victory, and instability deepened afterward. Violence escalated. Militancy adapted. Civilians paid the price.

History is unkind to airstrikes sold as solutions.

Nigeria knows this better than anyone. Long before Trump’s tweet, the Nigerian military had already conducted multiple operations in the same terror corridor. At least five major strikes and offensives stand out:

  • First, Operation Hadarin Daji, launched to dismantle bandit and terror camps across Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto, involving sustained air and ground assaults.
  • Second, Operation Tsaftan Daji, which targeted terrorist hideouts in the Kamuku and Sububu forests—precisely the terrain now in the headlines.
  • Third, repeated Nigerian Air Force precision strikes in the Zurmi–Shinkafi axis, neutralizing commanders and destroying logistics hubs.
  • Fourth, joint operations with Nigerien forces, disrupting cross-border supply routes used by ISIS-linked groups.
  • Fifth, recent coordinated offensives involving intelligence-led raids, special forces insertions, and follow-up ground clearing in the northwest.

These were not symbolic gestures. They were Nigerian-led, Nigerian-funded, Nigerian-executed. And yet, there were no fireworks on social media. No flag-waving hysteria. No intoxicated praise of Nigerian commanders as saviors of civilization.

Why? Because there is a dangerous segment of Nigerians who suffer from what can only be called the American Wonder mentality—a colonial hangover that applauds anything louder simply because it comes from Washington. The same Nigerians who ignore their own soldiers dying in silence suddenly abandon Christmas meals to celebrate Trump’s tweets, typing incoherent praise, mangling grammar, and mistaking spectacle for substance.

It is embarrassing. And it is intellectually lazy.

Terrorism is not defeated by volume or virality. It is defeated by intelligence—quiet, patient, unglamorous work. The United States knows this. Barack Obama understood it. Al-Qaeda was not dismantled through social media theatrics or chest-thumping declarations. It was weakened through intelligence fusion, financial disruption, targeted operations, local partnerships, and relentless pressure on leadership networks—mostly without fanfare.

Obama did not tweet. He acted. So what actually works against groups like ISIS in Nigeria?

First, intelligence supremacy. Human intelligence from local communities, defectors, and infiltrators matters more than bombs. Terror groups survive on secrecy. Break that, and they collapse.

Second, financial and logistical strangulation. Terrorists run on money, fuel, arms, and food. Cut access to smuggling routes, illicit mining, ransom flows, and cross-border trade, and their operational capacity withers.

Third, community stabilization and governance. Terrorism thrives where the state is absent. Roads, schools, policing, and justice systems matter. People who trust the state do not shelter terrorists.

Fourth, regional coordination, not episodic strikes. Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Burkina Faso must sustain joint pressure, not reactive operations driven by headlines.

Airstrikes can support these strategies—but only as tools, never as substitutes.

Trump’s strike may have killed militants. It may have disrupted camps. That is commendable. But it is not a solution. It is a moment. And moments, without strategy, fade.

If Nigerians truly want terror defeated, they should stop worshiping foreign loudness and start demanding disciplined intelligence, consistent policy, and respect for the men and women already fighting on the ground.

Real victories are quiet. Real security is built, not tweeted.

♦ Publisher of the Guardian News, Professor Anthony Obi Ogbo, Ph.D., is on the Editorial Board of the West African Pilot News. He is the author of the Influence of Leadership (2015)  and the Maxims of Political Leadership (2019). Contact: anthony@guardiannews.us

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Texas’ 18th Congressional District Runoff: Amanda Edwards Deserves This Seat

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3 weeks ago

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December 18, 2025

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“Her persistence and long-term investment make a clear case: she has earned this opportunity.“ —Anthony Obi Ogbo

In the special election to fill Texas’s 18th Congressional District, no candidate won a majority on November 4, 2025, leading to a January 31, 2026, runoff between Democratic frontrunners Christian Menefee and Amanda Edwards. Menefee, Harris County Attorney, led the field with roughly 29% of the vote, while former Houston City Council member Edwards finished second with about 26%. Both are vying to represent a district left vacant after the death of U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner.

The 18th Congressional District is far more than a geographic area. Anchored in Houston’s historic Black communities, it is a political and cultural stronghold shaped by civil rights history, faith institutions, and grassroots activism. Sheila Jackson Lee represented this district for nearly three decades (1995–2024), becoming more than a legislator—she was a constant presence at churches, funerals, protests, and community milestones. For residents, her leadership carried spiritual weight, reflecting stewardship, protection, and a deep, almost pastoral guardianship of the district. Her tenure symbolized continuity, cultural pride, and a profound connection with the people she served.

Houstonians watched as Jackson Lee entered the 2023 Houston mayoral race, attempting to transition from Congress to city leadership. Despite high-profile endorsements, including outgoing Mayor Sylvester Turner and national Democratic figures, she lost the December 9, 2023, runoff to State Senator John Whitmire by a wide margin. Following that defeat, Jackson Lee filed to run for re-election to her U.S. House seat, even as Edwards—who had briefly joined the mayoral race before withdrawing—remained in the congressional primary.

At that time, Jackson Lee’s health was visibly declining, yet voters still supported her, honoring decades of service. She defeated Edwards in the 2024 Democratic primary before announcing her battle with pancreatic cancer. Her passing in July 2024 left the seat vacant.

Edwards, already a candidate, sought to fill the seat, but timing and party rules intervened. Because Jackson Lee died too late for a regular primary, Harris County Democratic Party precinct chairs selected a replacement nominee. Former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, a retired but widely respected figure, narrowly edged out Edwards for the nomination, effectively blocking her despite her prior campaigning efforts. Turner won the general election but died in March 2025, triggering a special election in 2025, in which Edwards advanced to a runoff.

The January 31, 2026, runoff will hinge on turnout, coalition-building, and key endorsements. Both candidates led a crowded November field but fell short of a majority, with Menefee narrowly ahead. Endorsements such as State Rep. Jolanda Jones’ support for Edwards could consolidate key Democratic blocs, particularly among Black women and progressive voters. In a heavily Democratic district where voter confusion and turnout patterns have been inconsistent, the candidate who best mobilizes supporters and unites constituencies is likely to prevail.

Amanda Edwards’ case is compelling. Although both candidates share similar values and qualifications, her claim rests on dedication, consistency, and timing that have been repeatedly denied. She pursued this seat with focus and purpose, maintaining a steady commitment to the district and its future. Her path was interrupted by the prolonged political ambitions of Jackson Lee and Turner—figures whose stature reshaped the race but delayed generational transition. Edwards did not step aside; she remained visible, engaged, and prepared. In a moment demanding both continuity and renewal, her persistence and long-term investment make a clear case: she has earned this opportunity.

This race comes down to trust, perseverance, and demonstrated commitment. Amanda Edwards has consistently shown up for the district, even when political circumstances repeatedly delayed her chance. Her dedication reflects readiness, respect for the electorate, and an unwavering commitment to service. Voting for Amanda Edwards is not only justified—it is the right choice for Houston’s 18th Congressional District.

♦Publisher of the Guardian News, Professor Anthony Obi Ogbo, Ph.D., is on the Editorial Board of the West African Pilot News. He is the author of the Influence of Leadership (2015)  and the Maxims of Political Leadership (2019). Contact: anthony@guardiannews.us

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