Majoring in the minor” is a phrase often used to describe the act of focusing on insignificant details rather than the larger, more important issues at hand. It can refer to situations where people become overly concerned with minor details or trivial matters while neglecting the broader, more significant aspects of a subject or task. Of course, this can often lead to inefficiency, distraction, and a lack of progress on more important matters.
As a continent, Africa thrives in prioritizing less significant aspects of a situation, rather than addressing the more important or central issues. As leaders and followers, our constant attraction to misallocation of attention and resources, where we become overly concerned with minor details at the expense of the bigger picture or main objectives deserves some analysis. If only this dedication of an excessive amount of our time, attention, or energy to relatively insignificant or trivial matters can be applied to the more pressing issues of governance, security, healthcare and education. If we commit to prioritizing and focusing on what truly matters to achieve meaningful progresss, perhaps then we will be on the path to the African renaissance.
Admittedly, the continent is incredibly diverse, with a wide range of cultures, economies, and social structures. Thus, it is essential to take into cognizance the complexities of the challenges such as poverty, inequality, political instability, and lack of access to education and healthcare. In these contexts, efforts to address seemingly minor issues may sometimes be a reflection of limited resources or capacity rather than a misplaced sense of priority.
That said, there are certainly instances where misplaced priorities or inefficient allocation of resources may contribute to challenges in African societies. In these cases, it’s important for leaders, policymakers, and citizens to critically evaluate their priorities and work toward addressing the root causes of issues in a strategic and sustainable manner.
Fool Me Once, Shame On You
Every week, we are inundated by media narratives including those from the government that generate enough frenzy to keep us busy. Even when these are newsworthy items to be celebrated, we must never lose sight of the goal – good governance and accountability. But not all the distractions are minor, some are as serious as can be, but the goal is the same – to buy time.
In The Gambia, the news about the possible repeal of a law banning female genital mutilation (FGM) has been sustained in the media for more than one month – eight years after the government took a bold step to eradicate the harmful practice. The repeal is a move that is set to roll back years of progress on girl’s and women’s health and safety from one of the most barbaric forms of gender-based violence. All these against the backdrop of a bleak economic and political outlook according to the African Development Bank.
Earlier, the Ghanaian Parliament passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, a proposed law that would introduce wide-ranging restrictions on LGBT + rights on 28 February 2024 with bipartisan support and will only come into effect if signed into law by the President. Remember that Ghana is also facing its fair share of economic and political woes with real GDP growth slowed down, rising inflation coupled with fiscal and monetary challenges and a negative outlook by the AfDB.
Senegal seems to have overcome its own fair share of sensationalism with the positive outcomes of the elections and put behind propaganda on arrests of political opponents, imprisonment and ban of opponents. Here in Nigeria, one can choose from the a la carte of the arrest, prosecution and detention of a famous cross dresser, the shenanigans of a controversial prophet in London or the cat and mouse game between a former governor who’s a self acclaimed “white lion” and law enforcement agents. For the giant of Africa, the challenges range from insecurity to sky rocketing inflation and corruption.
Sadly, the only group of people who currently mine this penchant for focusing on minor issues to their advantage are the political class. They continually feed our hunger for temporary dopamine while distracting us from the weightier issues of governance and accountability. While the political class may have us fooled once, we have no excuse to remain ignorant.
Fool Me Twice, Shame on Me
While it is important to learn from our mistakes by not allowing ourselves to be fooled repeatedly, we are reminded to be vigilant and discerning in our interactions. As soon as some political consciousness begins to spring up among the populace, something sensational and controversial hits the media and the most potent ones usually bothers on social, religious, and cultural norms and more recently, the rule of law.
When it comes to national issues, Nigerians might be majoring in the minor by focusing excessively on relatively trivial matters while neglecting more pressing or fundamental issues facing the country. This could manifest in several ways including the most potent which is political distractions. Ever so often, we become preoccupied with minor political controversies, personality conflicts, or sensationalized news stories, diverting attention away from critical issues such as governance, economic development, or social welfare.
Similarly, priority may be placed on ethnic or religious differences over national unity and development leading to conflicts and tensions that detract from efforts to address broader challenges facing the country. While corruption and governance issues are significant challenges in Nigeria, sometimes the focus might be on individual cases or minor scandals rather than systemic reforms needed to combat corruption and improve governance at all levels.
Also, instead of focusing on long-term infrastructure development and sustainable economic growth, attention might be diverted to short-term projects or initiatives that do not address the root causes of underdevelopment. Lastly, while security is a critical issue in Nigeria, sometimes the emphasis may be on specific incidents or conflicts rather than addressing the underlying factors contributing to insecurity, such as poverty, unemployment, and inequality. Addressing these issues requires a shift in focus towards tackling systemic challenges, promoting national unity, and fostering sustainable development. It requires prioritizing the major issues that affect the well-being and prosperity of all Nigerians, rather than getting bogged down by minor distractions or divisions.
Eyes on The Ball
So, while we temporarily distract ourselves from the myriad of challenges on the continent for our mental health, we also need to keep our eyes on the ball to avoid losing focus for too long. There is still much to be done to address historical injustices, failures in governance, and missed opportunities for development. There must be sustained advocacy to government to implement reforms and policies aimed at addressing underlying issues and preventing similar mistakes from occurring in the future.
At all levels, we must demand that government encourages innovation and creativity to find new solutions to old problems through investing in research and development, supporting entrepreneurship, or harnessing new technologies. At the same time, we must demand strong and transparent institutions which are essential for promoting accountability, upholding the rule of law, and ensuring equitable access to resources and opportunities.
For now, let us enjoy a victory for all Africans by a remarkable Nigerian of the Chess in Slums fame who has just achieved a record 60 hours of non-stop chess in New York over the weekend aiming for the GWR. Now that is a worthy media hype!
“The people that succeed the most at what they do are not the best” – Tunde Onakoya.
