Nigeria’s devlpt must be consciously designed – Gen Awali Kazir

Former Chief of Army Staff, Major General Awali Jauji Kazir (rtd) has called for Nigeria’s development through deliberate planning and design.

He spoke during the week at the public presentation of two books: “Readings in Art, Design and Culture” and “White Guava and War”, written by Professor Ashiedu Ogboli of the University of Maiduguri, Borno State at the National Universities Commission (NUC) headquarters in Abuja.

Gen Kazir, a former Military Administrator of Kwara State, insisted that development programmes must be crafted with all the rigours, planning and artistic efforts that put in producing works of art.

Examining the books, Gen Kazir said it was important to restructure our world and environment through aesthetics, “Through Guava and War, we are confronted with the fragility of that same world. We must appreciate that Arts and Designs are not only mere decorations. We must produce works backed by ideas and philosophies that help the people live better.”

On the book, “White Guava and War”, which is a reflection of the author’s shock at the destruction left behind by the Nigerian Civil War, Kazir said: “In wars, we do not just fight to win, we also fight to ensure that there is society left.

“During my military courses, we were meant to believe that we do not fight to promote war but to preserve peace.”

“Arts and Designs”, he further said “are not merely luxuries, they represent civilisations, they tell you who we are, where we have been to, they tell us about our evolution in a world that is rapidly changing.

“The author is challenging us to design our lives and families with the same rigours and creativity we apply to Arts. It draws our attention to our shared identity.

In his review, Obari called for renewed investment in Nigeria’s publishing industry warning that declining reading habits and weak distribution networks have continued to threaten literary development across Nigeria and the African continent.

Obari urged governments, investors, educational institutions and cultural stakeholders to strengthen support for publishing as a cornerstone of intellectual and national development.