Olukayode Oyeleye
Nigerians have been called upon to institutionalise ethics and nurture a culture of invention for the country’s greater social, political and economic benefits. Segun Oke, a financial analyst, social innovator and founder of the Bridgewaters Foundation, made this proclamation at the just concluded third National Invention Workshop, held at Oye-Ekiti.
The workshop, organised under the African National Invention Initiative (ANI), was a platform for inventors, innovators, academics, and leaders committed to advancing a culture of creativity, ethics, and self-reliance across Africa.
Oke, who wrote two literary books and two other books focusing on invention and social entrepreneurship within a single year, during a period when he faced a significant visual challenge, told a life story of a journey that stands as a testament to resilience, purpose, and the unstoppable power of conviction. According to him: “I have seen too much to stop seeing with my mind.”
His statement was a national call to action. It retains the polished tone suitable for top-tier media, donors, and thought leaders as the titles of his books suggest, namely: “The Audacity of Heritage and Unmasking the Inventor’s Path: From Spark to Success, From Idea to Impact. His account of The Audacity of Heritage is that of a deeply personal, yet national, reflection on integrity, legacy, and conscience — a call for a new generation of African leaders shaped by character rather than compromise.
Unmasking the Inventor’s Path, however, was devoted to the struggles and triumphs of Nigeria’s inventors and innovators, charting how local ingenuity can evolve into transformative national impact through a supportive ecosystem. His book launch at the invention workshop has given a boost to creative ideas that could drive Nigeria’s intellectual property-based economy in the future. He promised that all proceeds from two of those books will fund two national initiatives he has founded.
One of them, the Society for Ethics and Stewardship Fund, he said, was established to institutionalise ethics in public and private life. According to him, the fund provides financial aid, legal support, and employment or business referrals to individuals who uphold integrity in the face of systemic compromise. It also works to document and expose the societal cost of unethical practices while inspiring a new generation to see ethics as both courageous and rewarding.
The other, Segun Oke National Invention Assistance Programme, he said, is focusing on nurturing a culture of invention from the cradle. This programme, he disclosed, seeks to empower youth, rural innovators, and grassroots creators. It aims to establish inventor workshops and innovation hubs across communities, bridging creativity with impact.
Oke emphasised that “the fight for Nigeria’s future must go beyond politics — it must be ethical, inventive, and generational. Ethics without innovation is stagnant morality; innovation without ethics is chaos. Both must grow together.” He called on well-meaning institutions, home and abroad, including religious bodies and corporate Nigeria, to move beyond analysis, lamentation, and prayer, and commit tangible resources toward building an ethical system for national renewal. “If Nigeria’s greatest challenge has been identified as an ethical one, why do we continue to watch from the sidelines? Building systems that reward integrity and innovation is the most strategic investment any institution can make. It is the best investment corporate Nigeria can make. It is the best investment multinationals can make to strengthen the very consciousness of values, integrity, and creativity — if we are truly committed to lifting this nation for the good of all,” he asserted.
Dr. Olukayode Oyeleye, Business a.m.’s Editorial Advisor, who graduated in veterinary medicine from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, before establishing himself in science and public policy journalism and communication, also has a postgraduate diploma in public administration, and is a former special adviser to two former Nigerian ministers of agriculture. He specialises in development and policy issues in the areas of food, trade and competition, security, governance, environment and innovation, politics and emerging economies.
