Menu

Bosun Tijani may be a cultural misfit in government. So what? 18 Aug 2024

The appointment of skilled technocrats to key ministerial positions is often seen as a beacon of hope for transformative governance. However, the reality is that the culture of the political party in power can significantly determine the success or failure of such technocrats. This dynamic might have been the root-cause of the recent data breach scandal in Nigeria, which now somewhat taints the current tenure of the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani.

The scandal

A year into the tenure of Dr. Tijani as minister, it was discovered that websites including XpressVerify and AnyVerify were selling sensitive personal information of Nigerians. This includes National Identity Numbers (NINs), Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs), drivers licenses, international passports, phone numbers, contact addresses, photographs, and other data being sold for as little as N200.00. The data breach was considerable; it exposed the personal details of millions of Nigerians, including government officials, indicating significant vulnerabilities in the country’s data protection.

Tijani has, rightly, faced sharp criticism over the incident. This is given his position of not only high responsibility but also of public accountability. But much of the backlash would be unfair if it limits the questions to the personal competence of the honourable minister.

Stellar profile

Born on 20 July 1977, Olatunbosun Tijani is a Nigerian-British entrepreneur who assumed his ministerial position in August 2023. Prior to this, his career was marked by stellar contributions to the tech sector. He co-founded and led initiatives such as the Co-creation Hub (CcHUB), iHub, Truppr, and STEM café, all noted for fostering innovation and social impact.

His academic background is also impressive. Tijani holds a PhD in innovation and economic development from the University of Leicester (2023), focusing on organising practical innovation in developing countries. His professional experience includes leadership roles at the International Trade Centre. Dr. Tijani’s work significantly contributed to the rise of Lagos as a tech hub.

In light of this academic and professional background before coming into his senior government role, it would be necessary for any explanation of the data breach and racketeering in the personal information of Nigerians under his watch to be more nuanced. So, what, really, went wrong?

Cultural misfit

One explanation is the contextual or cultural misfit phenomenon. This, for instance, refers to where individuals accustomed to the high-performance culture of the private sector struggle to adapt to the poxy environment, and red-tapism, in the Nigerian public sector. This misalignment often leads to the underperformance of otherwise competent individuals.

More generally, transitioning from a successful private sector career to a leadership role in the public sector can be fraught with challenges, not least because of the expansive scope and complexity of public sector responsibilities. While private sector success often revolves around focused goals like profitability and market dominance, public sector leadership requires navigating a vast array of stakeholders and interests.

Leaders from the private sector can easily overlook crucial angles when functioning in public sector roles. The transition exposes them to unfamiliar dynamics and complexities that demand contextual understanding of public policy, community needs, and the ability to collaborate effectively in an environment where success metrics differ significantly from those of the private sector.

Therefore, while private sector experience brings valuable skills such as strategic vision and operational efficiency, navigating the expansive landscape of public sector leadership requires a steep learning curve and, above all, a sense of nuance. It necessitates not only adapting to broader mandates but also developing a deep understanding of governance, public service delivery, and the intricate interplay of political and societal factors. Without these insights, even accomplished private sector leaders can find themselves struggling to address the multifaceted challenges inherent in public sector leadership roles.

This phenomenon is not unique to Nigeria. Across the world, private sector leaders often face similar challenges when they transition into public service roles. For example, Megan Smith, a former Google executive, faced significant hurdles when she became the US Chief Technology Officer. The contrast between Silicon Valley's agile, innovation-driven culture and the bureaucratic, risk-averse nature of government operations became stark to her. Alex Azar’s tenure as the US Secretary of Health and Human Services highlighted the challenges of moving from a corporate environment to a public health role. The profit-driven, results-oriented private sector mindset often clashes with the regulatory and accountability-focused public sector.

Also, professionals transitioning from the private sector to organisations like the United Nations often struggle with the slow pace and complex bureaucratic processes, where a need for consensus-building and multilateral diplomacy contrasts sharply with the efficiency-driven private sector.

Taking proactive steps

Nevertheless, Minister Tijani should have anticipated the systemic challenges he has faced. He, therefore, bears some responsibility for not taking adequate proactive steps to mitigate the impact of the predictable cultural and structural mismatches. Contextual misfit, as a concept, has gained significant attention in management science. Some of the steps he could have taken include development of a strategic framework to ease his transition, implementation of a robust plan to navigate the bureaucratic landscape, building alliances within the civil service, and prioritising quick wins to build momentum.

Tijani’s appointment was greeted with high expectations. But the discovery of the data breach a year into his tenure was, indeed, quite damaging. Given the magnitude of the breach and the egregiousness of selling citizens’ personal data so openly, it is fair to say the minister did not give enough attention to strengthening national data security. Instead, he has been engrossed with launching a national artificial intelligence (AI) project. In today’s reality, such a project has its merits, which are but long-term in outlook. Enhancing national cybersecurity is, on the other hand, a pressing need.

Nevertheless, the most committed and advanced jurisdictions in cybersecurity still experience breaches. Effective communication – disclosure of enough information to engender public understanding of efforts to counter incident of data breaches, and not too much information so as not to compromise the recovery from the malicious attack – can be helpful in dealing with successful cyberattacks. I would argue that the communication response to the Nigeria data breach was insufficient and, therefore, ineffective.

Steadfast principles vs practical realities

When Bosun Tijani was nominated for minister, he faced calls from fellow active citizens to decline the ministerial position. He was going to serve under a president whose antecedent was anything but ethically assuring. Tijani possibly experienced a dilemma, but he probably made a right decision by embracing the concept of pragmatic idealism in governance. This applies where competent professionals navigate the complexities of serving under unpopular or seemingly incompetent governments.

Pragmatic idealism advocates for balancing steadfast principles with practical realities. Tijani's decision to accept the ministerial role may not have aligned with popular sentiment, but it provided an opportunity to mitigate the harm of having complete misfits populate the top positions in government. What’s more, the potential to positively impact the lives of millions of Nigerians, even with incremental policy success, outweighs the risk of a slightly tarnished reputation of a first-rate technocrat who responded to the call of public service.

In evaluating the decision-making process of private sector professionals like Bosun Tijani in accepting governmental roles under unpopular administrations, it is essential to juxtapose indignant emotions with the potential magnitude of positive impact on millions of lives. While criticisms often highlight ethical and reputational risks, these concerns must be weighed against the scale of positive influence that can be exerted.

The worthiness of major decisions should be measured not just by immediate reactions but by their enduring impact on society. Ultimately, the imperative lies in prioritising the welfare and progress of the populace over personal sentiments, recognising that decisions affecting millions demand a tempered, pragmatic assessment of their long-term benefits.

It's crucial to note that advocating against the participation of competent and ethical leaders in public service, which leaves the space for incompetent and unethical individuals, based on sheer emotional dissatisfaction yields no benefits. Instead, having sound individuals participate can mitigate the potential harm of unpopular governments, ensuring better outcomes for the country as a whole.

Address cyber insecurity

Mitigating Nigeria’s cyber insecurity is essential, and the country can learn from other developing or emerging market nations. Some countries of the so-called ‘Global South’ have adopted pragmatic policy directions that balance technological advancement with immediate national needs. The Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) in South Africa ensures that personal data is processed responsibly and securely. India also has the Digital India initiative, which prioritises digital infrastructure, digital literacy, and digital services, with significant investments in cybersecurity.

The Huduma Namba project in Kenya aims to create a single source of personal information for citizens and residents, streamlining government services. The project includes stringent data protection measures to ensure the security of personal information. Nigeria needs such a balanced approach that addresses immediate cybersecurity concerns while promoting technological advancement.

Nigeria should enact and enforce comprehensive data protection legislation similar to South Africa’s POPIA. This would involve stringent penalties for data breaches and ensure that personal data is processed responsibly and securely. Immediate investment in cybersecurity infrastructure is crucial. This includes upgrading existing systems, employing advanced encryption technologies, and training cybersecurity professionals to protect national data assets.

Cheta Nwanze is Lead Partner at SBM Intelligence.