BOKO HARAM AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR

Chizitera Njoku urges the private sector to help the North-east to get back on its feet

It is undeniable that the private sector has an important and urgent role to play in the Boko Haram conflict. Its capacity to provide employment opportunities, develop skills, improve local infrastructure and help revitalise the North East should be harnessed with urgency. In 2014 alone the private sector created approximately 91% of jobs in the country. It has often been repeated that the lack of employment opportunities and high rate of poverty were amongst the main reasons for the rise of the Boko Haram group. This highlights the fact that the private sector is best placed to prevent more people from joining Boko Haram. The crucial role that the private sector can play in this deadly conflict has astonishingly been taken for granted for far too long. Across the world, businesses have played a huge role in places like Kosovo and Sierra Leone in helping the country to get back on its feet. The North-east is undoubtedly a place marred by conflict but more importantly it is a place of great potential. Companies based in Nigeria should wait no longer to play their part; they should quickly decide how they want history to judge them.

Irrespective of what companies can offer the region, it is not expected that the private sector will want to invest in a conflict area for solely noble reasons. There must understandably, be some financial incentive for them. Those eager to invest in the North-east will be able to gain from first mover advantage. They will be able to establish a presence and build a loyal consumer base before the coming of other companies at the end of the conflict, which will undoubtedly come to an end. They will also be able to profit from the resources that states such as Borno can offer. These include natural resources such as clay, potash, salt, iron ore and uranium, to name a few. More importantly, however is that companies that invest in the North-east now are very likely to receive a substantial amount of support from the federal government. This is for a number of reasons. Firstly, the government will support any effort that can reduce the number of those joining Boko Haram and as a result reduces the number of lives lost. Secondly, an increase in private sector involvement will indicate to the world that the country is now more stable. This will help to increase foreign direct investment in the country and will help bolster the failing economy. Moreover, the private sector involvement in the North-east will help the government achieve some of its main priorities such as ending the Boko Haram conflict and reducing youth unemployment.

However, as corporations get involved in the North-east they must take care to be sensitive and attentive to the needs of the local population. There is much to be gained by partnering with and consulting those who have been affected by the conflict. This is because they have an understanding of what is most likely to succeed, businesswise in that area. Consequently, listening and understanding what their needs are, is key to flourishing in such an environment. Nevertheless, to ensure that the local population is not exploited and marginalised by the actions of the private sector, there needs to be investment in the capacity of the local people. Organisations such as Unilever, Zenith Bank and British American Tobacco understand this. They have made efforts to improve the capacity of the local populations in certain parts of Nigeria. However, similar efforts must now be made in the North-east. There should be a focus on providing vocational training, life skills, internships, essential accounting and bookkeeping courses, and so forth. Companies may find that providing these courses and training schemes to the local population may be costly in the short run. Nonetheless, it makes for a win-win situation. This is because the local populations gain necessary skills and companies in the long run gain returns on their investments as they would have developed a capable and skilful local labour market which they can easily tap into.

While embracing the local population the private sector should make efforts to integrate previously marginalised groups. Women for example have been marginalised in many aspects of life in the North. This includes but not limited to the educational sector where just under 20% and land ownership where only five to 15% of women own land. This marginalisation has a devastating blow on the economy and is demonstrated by the fact that every year, $12 trillion is lost globally as a result of women’s relegation and exclusion from the workforce. In spite of this situation, women play numerous, varied and fundamental roles as peacemakers, facilitators and even perpetuators in the Boko Haram conflict. As a result, it is important that attention is also given to them and that their abilities are put to the best profitable use. The involvement of these marginalised groups in the work of companies shows the private sector off as being agents of change and peace. To be able to involve these marginalised and local populations the private sector, which traditionally has been more flexible and innovative than government partners, must be open-minded and bold. Only then will they be able to make the best out of the present situation.

The government on their part, beyond prioritising kinetic military force, should ensure that they are providing incentives for companies to invest in the North-east. This could be in the form of tax breaks, subsidies or whatever measure the government deems fit and within its ability. It is crucial that they do this as it will help reduce the number of operational challenges and uncertainty that businesses will face. It should for the most part assist in creating an enabling environment for companies.

The private sector must acknowledge its importance and role in our society as it stands to gain both financially and morally.