(Isstories Editorial):- Port Harcourt, Rivers Mar 23, 2026 – As the global economy plans to shift away from fossil fuels, a critical question is emerging for resource-dependent regions: what comes next?
In a new TEDx Talk, Nigerian foresight practitioner Ebenezar Wikina argues that the answer will not come from short-term policy decisions, but from long-term thinking shaped by citizens themselves.
Watch the full TEDx Talk here:
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Wikina, the Founder of Policy Shapers and Convener of the Rivers 2050 Vision, is placing regions like Nigeria’s Niger Delta at the centre of a global conversation on post-oil futures. His work explores how oil-dependent economies can transition to more resilient, diversified, and prepared systems for the decades ahead.
Designing Post-Oil Futures
For decades, regions like Rivers State have relied heavily on oil revenues. But as energy systems evolve, Wikina believes the real challenge is not just replacing fossil fuels. It is redesigning entire economic and governance systems for a different future.
Through the Rivers 2050 Vision, a 25-year citizen-led foresight initiative, Wikina is working with citizens, young professionals, and experts to co-create long-term development pathways. The initiative focuses on economic diversification, climate resilience, and institutional reform in one of Africa’s most resource-rich regions.
The Limits of Short-Term Governance
Wikina’s work points to a broader structural issue. While challenges such as climate change, population growth, and economic transition unfold over decades, most political systems still operate within short cycles.
“The biggest failure in governance today is not a lack of ideas. It is short-term thinking,” he says. “If we want resilient societies, we need institutions that can think beyond election cycles.”
His TEDx Talk introduces strategic foresight as a practical approach to long-term planning. It encourages governments and communities to anticipate change, explore different scenarios, and make more informed decisions over time.
At the centre of Wikina’s approach is a shift in how development is imagined. Rather than treating citizens as passive recipients of policy, he argues that they should be involved in shaping long-term visions.
“The future should not be something governments announce to citizens. It should be something citizens help design,” he says.
This idea is gaining relevance in emerging regions, where rapid population growth and environmental pressures are forcing difficult choices about infrastructure, energy, and economic direction. With fewer legacy constraints, these regions also have an opportunity to build more adaptive and future-ready systems.
Wikina sees Africa not only as a place facing development challenges, but also as a space where new models of governance can emerge. This includes citizen-led foresight and new approaches to post-oil economic transformation.
A Global Conversation on the Future of Emerging Economies
As countries around the world confront the realities of energy transition, Wikina’s work raises a broader question: which regions will lead in designing what comes next?
His ideas are increasingly contributing to international conversations on climate resilience, governance, and long-term development, positioning emerging economies not just as participants but as innovators in shaping the future
About Ebenezar Wikina
Ebenezar Wikina is a Nigerian foresight practitioner, civic strategist, and public policy analyst working at the intersection of governance, climate resilience, and post-oil economic futures. He is the Founder of Policy Shapers and Convener of the Rivers 2050 Vision, a 25-year citizen-led foresight initiative focused on economic diversification, democratic renewal, and sustainable development.
He is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Expert Network and Next Generation Foresight Fellow at the School of International Futures (SOIF).
Contact & Media Links
For media inquiries, interviews, or speaking engagements, please contact:
Email: [email protected]
Website: about.me/ebenezarwikina
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ebenezar-wikina/
Social Media: @EbenezarWikina (X/Instagram) | @wikinaebenezar (Facebook)
