Country Profile

One of Africa’s most culturally and ethnically diverse as well as resource-rich countries, Nigeria’s very existence is in many ways an impressive accomplishment, testament to the ability of both its citizens and institutions to find ways – often unconventional – to balance the need for local empowerment and diversity with broader national unity. Political cohesion has not come without a price, and the country has long faced a variety of complex economic and security challenges at both local and federal levels. Nigeria has a dynamic multiparty political system, with 25 registered political parties of varying ideological stripes, however, the People’s Democratic Party has held the presidency and dominated the legislature since the first elections in 1999. The country is currently engaged in several important conflict resolution efforts, some of which have seen promising turns. This chapter contains interviews with President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan; Shri Salman Khurshid, Minister of External Affairs for India; Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Former President of Brazil and Honorary President, Lula Institute; and Mo Ibrahim, Founder and Chair, Ibrahim Foundation.