Kofo Obasanjo-Blackshire
Kofo Obasanjo-Blackshire is the author of Pillars of Statecraft, an exposition of essential ingredients for successful nation building. Premised on 6 pillars— Politics, Prosperity, Protection, Partnership, Population and the double-barrelled Prayer and pleasing God—these constitute the fundamental building blocks for excellence in statecraft.
Prior to writing this book, Kofo earned a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from King’s College London in 2004 and obtained a graduate diploma in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2020. She has spent nearly two decades in a range of senior management roles at an international company.
Born and bred in Lagos, Nigeria, Kofo lives in the United Kingdom with her husband and their two sons. A keen marathoner, in her spare time, she can be found pounding the pavement in pursuit of her favourite hobby. She has completed 13 marathons and is always in training for the next one.
In Pillars of Statecraft, Kofo Obasanjo-Blackshire presents a well-structured concept based on six foundational elements, as essential ingredients for successful state building. These concepts, Protection, Prosperity, Population, Politics, Partnership, and the double-barrelled P—prayer and pleasing God—present vital arguments that emphasise their importance as fundamental building blocks for excellence in statecraft and national development.
The outcome is an engaging, accessible and compelling treatise on what comprises a successful nation state, providing many interesting insights into the causes of threats and problems to human security and well-being and possible resolutions to create a fairer and safer world for all. The sincerity and compassion of the author shines through what is at times a challenging read, given the turbulence of contemporary global politics.
“This book, with a level of intellectual engagement that is only achieved with due diligence and depth of inquiry, points us in all the right directions.”
Kgalema Motlanthe, Former President, South Africa
My father and ‘supervisor’, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. Watch my interview with him here.