Leadership and Economic Development of the Asian Tigers: What can Nigeria learn from Singapore?

Abstract

Economic development is identified as a function of effective leadership. In order to demonstrate this argument, the study examines the impact of leadership as an important variable that stimulates national development, which as a result engendered economic growth and prosperity amongst the countries of the Asian Tigers who were hitherto classified together with Nigeria as Third World Nations. Specific attention is given to Singapore considering the type of leadership provided by Lee Kuan Yew which turned around the fortune of the formerly poor Singaporean nation to a world class economy. In contrast Nigeria still struggle with the crisis of underdevelopment due to poor leadership. Structural Functionalist Theory of Political Development was used as the framework for the research. Secondary sources of data which were closely related to Nigeria’s political and economic reality were relied upon. It was discovered that the economic fortune of a country is highly dependent on its people; the quality of leadership provided by the ruling class and the existing institutions put in place. It was accordingly recommended that recruitment of leaders within the present democratic system in Nigeria should be based on ones character, integrity and passion for national development. Thus, citizens should be analytical and objective in their selection of people that govern, while the various political and social institutions should be strengthened in such a way that national interest will supersede personal gains.
Keywords: Leadership, Economic Development, Asian Tigers, Nigeria, Singapore.