The New Nigeria

The first 1st of October in the history of the country – Nigeria – was in 1960. That day, a new country was borne. Statements were declared uniting the several castes in the nation. It was the first time that we had agreed to one term of living and of governance without chauvinism. A new life was created; new people, new nation, new Nigeria. The atmosphere was alive and we were relieved of the colonial masters. That day, our destiny was placed in our hands for the first time but under one singular fact that "we shall remain one single nation – Nigeria".

Then, the new Nigeria was defined by the several cultures of her constituting tribes, the form of government, the population strength, the geographical location, its seasons & weathers, and most importantly, its resources (both natural and human alike). It was the Agricultural and Industrial Ages together, and the new country had both advantages of man power accordingly to fit into the industrial class, and the perfect varying weather conditions supported by a vast fertile landscape endowed with rich natural plantations to fit into the agricultural class. Africans looked westward for a prospective young giant to lead the continent through the ages. The focal point became Nigeria, the land of plenty.

1976 marked the beginning of another Nigeria. An exodus of the workforce from the farms into our industries soon defined a new Nigeria driven by the economic impact of the most lucrative Oil & Gas industry. The agricultural age soon died a painful death (in the country). Our farm lands were being taken over by thick forests while the Industrial age was entering a new level of advancement. The era of the Oil boom channeled a new course for the labour force. The Industrial age replaced the agricultural age.

All the while, the west was marshaling into a new age - the Information age. Information and its dissemination (i.e. communication) were major challenges and several tools were developed to launch a global revolution in the new age, so was the tool, Information Technology. Global political and economic powers were soon closely attributed to those nations with immense IT values, and those people with the required skills manned the gates to the new world. They set the new rules of the game. They led the revolution.

However, it is most unfortunate that the Information Age is over two decades and Nigeria remains in the doldrums of the new world. While India has been able to create both political and economic leverages with the Oil-powered economies of the world through the adoption of IT, Nigeria, the one-time focal point for Africa’s Reformation, is drifted away by the wind of corruption and an overwhelming sense of greed through the acquisition of wealth while the youths’ potentials and future are being jeopardized; the resultant factor being the loss of a national sense of commitment among growing youths to render selfless services to their father-land. Every opportunity to man a public or political office thus becomes one to an endless greed to enrich the insatiable desire for crazy wealth. I wonder how many Nigerians wake up daily to bless the country like an American would do. We, subconsciously, hate the present Nigeria!

This disheartening phenomenon is almost becoming a communal norm that has been rooted into our thinking. A typical Nigerian youth sees the advent of the e-world as an open gate to a new world of cyber crimes. Several millions of dollars are spent occasionally by the governments of the world to ensure that these gates to the e-world filter hacks and secure our vital information to its constituting data, but as this campaign increases, youths found other entries into the world of crimes through scams (in its various types). By this means, several individuals, even governments of the world, have lost millions to these little opened holes. People are cajoled daily in the pretence of "friendship" and have lost fortunes to these cheap concealed relationships. This is the present Nigeria we have found ourselves.

In it also, we know giants without might, thinkers without thoughts, dreamers without vision, achievers without labour, leaders without purpose and directions, and youths without dreams and visions. A community governed in chaos by unscrupulous leaders and their rash policies rather than one governed by fundamental laws and principles.

In my opinion, birthing a new Nigeria essentially will involve birthing a new set of people; people who have embraced a new set of values and virtues, people with radical opposition to corruption and people with unwavering commitments towards the socio-economical and political growth of the country. The evolution of a new Nigeria requires an internal change i.e. a change in the mentality of the people. It requires a shift of paradigm. Possible ways of doing this involve orientation and re-orientation of the present people to birth new people, youth empowerment through capacity building, and setting up programs & structures that will give the people a sense of future security.

The foundation brick to these structures thus becomes ceaseless and massive youth orientation to transform our youths into more productive and patriotic citizens of the country. Nigeria will only come alive again if, for everyone, there is a bright future coupled with equal opportunities and healthy environments for constructive competitions. The future of Nigeria is the newness of our individual beings and the readiness of everyone to put a hand in nation-building. Once this is achieved, we shall begin to live in a new secured society governed by fundamental laws and principles. One that is conscious of her entire citizenry. Then, we shall live in a country we all love with passion, a new Nigeria.



ODUSOTE, Ayodeji Y.