TOWARDS A BETTER NIGERIA

I have been very worried about certain issues as it relates to the future of our dear country. As I sat to put something together for the purpose of this publication, these same issues dominated my thoughts. I don’t think it is a subject I should put aside and worry about later; putting my head in the sand does not show responsibility or genuine concern for this country.

Like we all know, every change begins in bits. Nothing automatically changes in whole. I believe each of us is a bit of the whole called Nigeria. Common sense therefore tells us that if the whole looks unattractive; it is the result of the individual actions or inactions of the bits. A failure never believes he is at fault, even for his personal failures. As a people, we are in the habit of blaming anything, apart from us. The challenges our nation currently faces are results of our individual actions and inactions. EVERY Nigerian shares in this blame. For a moment, let’s look at few areas and issues we had had thought never mattered. In my opinion, we really need to do something about them, urgently. Truth is, each of us is directly or indirectly involved with them in one way or the other. I believe with my little exposé, you will appreciate this fact and the reality that every Nigerian is a decision maker as it relates to the future of this country. All the powers are not resident in Abuja; you too have some at your disposal and it is you choice to do something meaningful with it.

For obvious reasons, the first area I want us to look at is: Our religious organizations! The solution to most of our problems rest in the hands of our religious leaders. The truth is, everybody in Nigeria is religious. You may ask, what then is religion? Religion is the submission to a set of belief that regulates the moral, social and ritualistic behaviour of an individual. Christians, Buddhists, Muslims, Atheists, Tradition worshippers; we all submit to a belief system of some sort.

Nonetheless, as a people, we show much reverence for religious leaders, than for any law or constituted authority; each person believes his religious leader is the ‘god’ he sees. However, with respect comes responsibility.

For this reason, EVERY religious leader has a huge role to play in the development of this country; they are the ones majority of the people will rather imitate and listen to. They must be visible and effective voices of social change. The fact is, actions make more impact than words. When you draw close to hear what some religious leaders say and do; you could perceive their lack of faith in Nigeria. They even have several wrong ideologies to support their un-patriotic and un-jingoistic attitudes. To my mind, nothing is more dangerous than a destructive ideology sustained and validated by a theology. What makes a religion valuable to a nation? It is the help and answers it provides! It must contribute its own quota to making life meaningful for the people. You may ask, are religious centres charity organizations?” My response would be: “are they supposed to be adversaries of the people?” I don’t believe the duties of any religious leader ends with talking and praying. When religion is not solving problems, it becomes an enemy of the masses; it must have a human face.

With Nigeria’s present challenges; there is more each of us can do. Our religious leaders must start leading by examples; doing the best they can to make things change around here; they must live what they preach; fight and defend the principles they believe in; put back into working order whatever they can (it could be roads, street lights, taps etc); and they must equally KEEP AN EYE on their followers in various leadership positions. It’s time to stop the fence-sitting. In addition, whatever we do must be driven by genuine love & patriotism, not just for mere publicity! We have repeatedly some religious organizations who spend millions publicizing their contributions to charity. Most times, the money spent on the ‘publicity’ is twice that of the charity. One then wonders what the motive is. All this selfish show of love should stop; I think we need to be genuine in the love we show to our fellow humans. I do not believe that God almighty makes public what he blesses us with. Instead, we are the public announcement of His wonders. Let the good you do speak for you, not you speaking for it.

Secondly: The media! The media was originally intended to be a medium through which we are educated, enlightened and entertained; unfortunately, it is now being used as a tool in destroying the moral fibre of our young ones – via the uncensored lyrical and pictorial contents aired indiscriminately; without any caution or restriction. Drugs, crime, illicit sex and other expressions of moral paucity are directly and indirectly celebrated by the media, the young ones are getting confused on which path to follow...

Every musical [including those in the gospel genre] celebrates one form of nudity or the other. With the present-day morally bankrupt contents of most Nigerian TV stations; the minds of our young ones are open to all kinds of pollution and they are constantly given perverted analysis of certain fundamentals of life. Should this be allowed to continue, the safety of the future of the next generation of leaders cannot be guaranteed, their brains are daily being loaded with various immoral and unpatriotic contents. Going pseudo western hasn’t helped us one bit. It is apparent that we are now our own greatest enemy.

I do believe for anything meaningful to happen, we must stand up to salvage the future of this country. One reality we must all face is that at the end of our lives on earth, every Nigerian will face his maker and answer the question: “what did you do for and with Nigeria in your lifetime?”

Thirdly: Our mouths! I strongly believe Nigeria’s problem is more with the cursers than the looters. Our mouths are capable of producing lots of good on this land, if only we make conscious effort to use it properly. Everything on earth is a product of words; we are made and destroyed by our words. It is alarming how the average Nigerian continually says several evil things about this country daily: the refineries will never work, all politicians are thieves, democracy can never work here, celebrating independence is a waste of time, NEPA will never be effective etc. So much more!

Maybe you have forgotten; words are seeds and they germinate very fast! We are what we have repeatedly said. American author, Robert Schuler, advices: “if you [can] sow a prayer, you will reap an idea.” We must start using our mouths to sow good seeds on the soil of Nigeria’s progress. If we keep sowing curses on Nigeria, its effects will come back to us.

Pay attention to King Solomon’s counsel: “Upright citizens bless a city and do everything they can to make it prosper but the talk of the wicked tears it apart. If we really believe in this country, we must also learn to put our faith to action.

Fellow Nigerians, wherever it is you are, anything you know that’s not right, make efforts to fix it. If we all start fixing problems in our various units, things will change in this country. Speak positive and match your words with positive actions!

Finally, the youths! Our youths must stop blaming government or society for the issues and challenges they face. How long will you waste the future worrying about the past? A preacher once said: “your morning doesn’t begin at 6am or 8am; it starts when you wake up” My advice to each Nigerian youth? Choose to take responsibility for your life, if not, circumstances around you will consciously refuse to change and success will positively avoid you.

Money is only a reward for solving problems; stop begging for money, start looking for problems.

The average Nigerian youth is intelligent, creative, gifted, resourceful, dogged and very passionate about anything he wants to do; he can make anything work... We just need to tell ourselves the truth: where there are no jobs, create one for yourself!

In today’s world, entrepreneurship is the way to go. I think what our youths lack is direction and knowledge of the right information. The existing university make-up produces unemployable graduates and there are even no companies to employ the very few employable ones. The current university curriculum gives little or no space for entrepreneurial skills development...

I think it’s high time we started teaching our young ones how to generate/develop business ideas and how to put together business plans, for so long we’ve been teaching them how to write or submit CV’s! Let’s plot out ways of getting them addicted to resources on entrepreneurial skills development because that’s where the future of Nigeria is hidden. We must do everything within our powers to project and encourage entrepreneurship and entrepreneurs!

Truth is, the success of any nation is dependent on her entrepreneurial strength; Nigeria hungers for a new generation of entrepreneurs - it cannot grow without new businesses.

I strongly believe our day of shining is close by. Nigerians are beginning to wake-up. I join my faith with the likes of Sam Adeyemi, Fela Durotoye and other visionaries who have persistently told all who cared to listen that by 2025, Nigeria will be the most desirable nation to live on planet earth. This is far more than a wish; it is God-inspired vision.

We must individually start fixing the ‘little’ problems we notice in our localities and use our tongue rightly. Truth is, whether you like it or yes, this dream of Nigeria's enviable tomorrow must come to reality. But, what you do now is what will determine if you will be part of the happening.

May JEHOVAH NIGERIA bless you!

© Sule Emmanuel, adapted from Publisher’s Preface,

KnowEdge NIGERIA, Issue #2.

ARTICLE LINKS

National Development

• How did we get here?
• Towards a better Nigeria
• Why we must all be interested in October 1st

Business Growth and Entrepreneurial Development

• Effective customer relationships
• Customer value is everything

Success Motivation

• Face your fight
• Bring something to the table
• In the face of challenges
• Do Something
• The SUPPORT Language

Relationship

• Who said I must be like you?