Bridging the Divide: Why we must see Nigerian talent beyond geography, by Tosin Adeoti
Yesterday, I shared the news of Farouk Gumel’s appointment as Chairman of the Botswana Sovereign Wealth Fund.
On my page, the reactions were measured, even celebratory. But on a platform I would not mention, it was another story. Many southerners were openly surprised that a core northerner, a man from Jigawa State, could be trusted with such a prestigious international role.
The irony is striking. If Gumel had been appointed to a Nigerian position, the same voices would likely have dismissed it as nepotism or northern favoritism. The assumption, sadly common, is that northerners do not earn recognition by merit.
This bias is not new. I remember when Tunde Onakoya, founder of Chess in Slums, shared a story about teaching kids in an IDP camp in Maiduguri. A southerner commented, “Aboki sef dey play chess.” Tunde’s response was simple and cutting: some of the quickest learners he had ever met came from those camps.
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It is a reminder that talent does not respect geography. Yet, many still behave as if brilliance is concentrated in select parts of the country.
Take Jelani Aliyu. Within Arewa circles, his name is well known. But many southerners have never heard of him, despite his brilliance as an automotive designer. His portfolio includes the 2004 Pontiac G6 and the 2010 Chevrolet Volt, celebrated innovations at General Motors. Why does his story remain invisible to half the country?
One of the most fulfilling things I have done in my adult life is teaming up with friends to provide scholarships for students with educational needs all across the country. Every month, the applications we receive move us deeply. Some stories break your heart, others lift it. The consistency is this: talent is everywhere, opportunity is not.
Whenever I see what northerners accomplish when given the right tools and platforms, I am reminded of this truth. Having worked with people across Nigeria in countless situations, I can say confidently: the potential of Nigerians, north and south, is breathtaking.
Thomas Sowell once said that most, if not all, poor countries already have within their borders the human capital to advance their nations’ economies. The problem is not the absence of talent but the absence of opportunity.
The North is no exception.
Talent is universal, opportunity is not.
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