An Upright Man? The Unexpected Fall of Nigeria's Buhari

Despite the current economic conditions, it remains that Nigeria was one of the poster nations of the ‘Africa Rising' narrative. The Africa Rising paradigm was based on expectations that the continent would capitalize on its fast-growing population size, emerging consuming middle class and rapid urbanization fuelled by a large youthful market. The McKinsey Global Initiative 2012 report, Rise of the African Consumer, was notable as a distinct voice on Africa, which, until then, had been looked upon as an economic wilderness. The report hailed rapid mobile penetration, highlighted improved banking cultures and noted the sprouting of locally relevant retail products and services as indicators that the continent was indeed experiencing remarkable growth.