Audu Maikori Advocates for Structural Economic Policies Over Handout Culture in Nigerian Politics
Audu Maikori, the founder of Chocolate City Group, has issued a strong call to end what he describes as Nigeria's entrenched "handout culture" in politics. In a recent interview, the 50-year-old lawyer and entrepreneur, who is contesting for the Jaba/Zangon Kataf House of Representatives seat in Kaduna State, emphasized that electoral promises should shift from distributing bags of rice to focusing on long-term structural economic development.
Legislative Agenda Focused on Agriculture and Intellectual Property
Maikori outlined a comprehensive legislative agenda that prioritizes agriculture infrastructure, intellectual property reform, and enhanced gender representation. His constituency, predominantly agricultural, faces significant challenges in market access and technology adoption. He stated, "The average Southern Kaduna person is a farmer. But access to markets, the right fertiliser, and the right technology to grow and scale agriculture are missing."
He plans to leverage his relationships and experience to connect farmers to markets and boost production of key crops such as ginger, maize, and yams. Additionally, Maikori addressed Nigeria's creative economy, noting that despite the global success of Afrobeats, the creative industries contribute only about 0.33% to Nigeria's GDP. He attributed this to weak intellectual property protections, stating, "Intellectual property is closely linked to GDP growth, but in Nigeria, we have not been able to harness the IP regime."
MPAC Warns of Rising Islamophobia in Nigeria
In a related development, the Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) has raised concerns about the growing issue of Islamophobia in Nigeria. The organization urged government authorities, the media, and citizens to take deliberate steps to confront religious prejudice and discrimination. In a statement marking the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, MPAC highlighted that Muslims worldwide continue to face institutional discrimination and social exclusion.
Disu Kamor, Executive Chairman of MPAC, emphasized that Islamophobia must be recognized as a societal problem that threatens peace and coexistence. He noted, "Prejudice against Muslims threatens national unity and erodes trust among citizens," warning that such incidents are often disguised as matters of national security or ethnic tension in Nigeria's religiously diverse context.
