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From Felix Ikem, Nsukka
The 2024 Nobel Prize winner in Economic Sciences, Prof James Robinson, has urged African leaders to build strong and accountable national institutions that are capable of unlocking immense human and economic potentials on the continent.
Robinson, a British-American economist, author, and political scientist, said this in Nsukka on Tuesday while speaking during a reception organized in his honour by Prof Damian Opata, who retired from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) at his community, Lejja in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The Nobel Laureate said that nations fail due to a lack of institutional foundations for national prosperity, which, according to him, requires inclusive governance, strong institutions, accountability, and visionary leadership to drive sustainable development.
Robinson, who is a United Nations Consultant, emphasised the relevance of principles that would help Africa’s growth and transformation.
“I encourage leaders, policy-makers, scholars and citizens in Africa to join hands in building institutions capable of unlocking the continent’s immense human and economic potential,” he said.
The Nobel Laureate expressed deep appreciation to Opata’s family for hosting him in their country home, which he said shows the volume of love and regard they have for him.
Robinson has significantly contributed to African development through his institutional theory of prosperity and extensive field research across the continent. His core frameworks emphasize inclusive political and economic institutions, localized authority, and the concept of “wealth in people”.
Earlier in an address while receiving the Nobel Laureate, Prof Opata said that he was pleased by Prof Robinson’s visit to his family compound, describing the Nobel Laureate as one who has received the highest academic recognition through his research and creative work.
“I am extremely pleased to be honoured by the visit of Prof James Robinson, Nobel Laureate, to the Opata family compound, Egueru Umuoda, Nsukka Local Government, Enugu State, Nigeria.
“I thank him immensely for honouring our invitation. He is the 2024 Nobel Laureate in Economics. Prof. Chima Korieh, his astute scholar friend, and I daresay his brother, will tell us more about him.
“One cannot hear about the famous book: Why Nations Fail, without mentioning James Robinson,” he said.
Opata, an Emeritus Professor of African Literature/English and Literary Studies at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, explained that a Nobel Laureate is a scholar whose research or creative work has earned him or her the highest academic recognition in his or her field of study or in writing.
“There is also a Nobel Prize for Peace. The Nobel Prize was instituted by Alfred Nobel in 1895; the prize is not just awarded for mere academic brilliance, but also on account of the product’s greatest benefit to humanity. ” This is the real Impact Factor, not the type that is just about citations.”
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen here present, to enable us to understand the significance of what is happening here today, let it be known that between 1901 and 2025, when the Nobel Prize award started, only one Nigerian, Professor Wole Soyinka, has won the prize.
“Only seventeen (17 ) Africans have won the prize, ten (10) being Nobel Prize for Peace, and only seven (7) for academic, and throughout the world one thousand four (1004) persons have received the prize; this tells you more about the person we are honouring here today,” he said.
“The Opata family heartily congratulates Prof Robinson; we celebrate and felicitate with him today, as he has afforded us the privilege of doing so today. The Opata family wishes him more years of health, more profound research, and greater achievements in life, achievements that would continue to benefit humanity.
“Very importantly, I seize this opportunity to let you know that any willing person can institute a prize or award that can be of immense benefit to humanity; indeed, prizes and awards can be instituted in all areas of life.
“Prof. Robinson has shown how this is the case, even beyond the country/continent where the awardee comes from.
“Robinson has continued to support the Institute of African Studies, UNN, in conferences and research on ethnographic studies, especially on the Igbo Salvage Ethnography Project, since 2022,” he said.
Opata thanked the Nobel Laureate for giving the Opata family the opportunity of being with him, and wishes him a safe stay and safe journey whenever he returns to the United States of America.
“We thank all those who have joined us today to celebrate the Nobel Laureate; may the Almighty God bless you all as you return to your families. May we all be able to do things that are for the greatest benefit to humanity,” Prof Opata added
Some guests present at the reception, in their separate comments, described the remarks by Robinson as enlightening, thought-provoking, educating, and highly relevant towards solving the challenges facing African nations now.
Our correspondent reports that the event attracted intellectuals, political leaders, captains of industry, professionals, traditional rulers, community stakeholders, among others.
Chief Vita Abba, Prof. Apex Apeh, Hon. Dom Attah, Hon Onyema Idoko, members of the Nsukka TAC Team for Tinubu 2027 were among those present.
