iNigeria
It all started with this video https://youtu.be/fVhBOcUv4QY
“Hey, check this out… I found it enlightening”. That’s what Kelechi said when she sent me the video and boy, was it enlightening. It inspired this piece. To get adequate perspective, please start by watching the video above.
First, I want to point out that I don’t entirely agree with all the positions of Dr Umar Johnson in the video but I think he analysed some of the critical underlying factors behind the challenges of the African community in general. Here, I’ll relate it to the Nigerian struggle in particular.
In my previous article, I discussed some of the struggles of being Nigerian and there is an entire body of work, accessible through a simple Google search, that sufficiently chronicles this struggle. However, there are 2 key questions that I think need to be answered: “Why?” and “So What?”
Why?
Why do we Nigerians struggle so much? Why do we have such poor leadership? such deeply ingrained corruption? such disdain for our country, neighbors or even our family? such appalling selfishness & greed? Are we just dumb? uneducated? vile? No, I don’t think so. I think there is a more endemic problem at play here and it starts with pride. A lack of National pride. I’ll argue that the average Nigerian has an ingrained sense of worthlessness.
That’s why he wants to leave Nigeria ASAP; he is convinced that his goals cannot be achieved within the borders of this country. How else will you explain why over 90% of Nigerian youths will jump at the first opportunity they get to leave the country? or why a mortuary attendant (with all due respect) in the United States, as soon as he flaunts some USD upon returning for the Christmas celebration, is more respected than a Medical Doctor in Nigeria?
That’s why he seeks validation in wealth, status and material possessions. Listen to the mainstream music, all you hear is “30 billion for the account o”, “I want to l’ówo”, “my bank account na kpekem, my cheque no dey bounce”. Read the news, “Hushpuppi spends 11 million Naira in the club”, “Linda Ikeji flaunts her new Hermes Birkin bag”. Look at our politicians, after robbing the country dry, they send their kids to ivy league colleges in the US, purchase estates in London, gold in Dubai, expensive vacations to the Hawaiian islands and save the left over in Swiss banks. There is an almost primitive craving for status symbols and similar disdain for patronizing any Nigerian industry. Even a “Green card” is now a status symbol.
We just aren’t proud to be Nigerian. If anything, we are ashamed of it. Now, I know there are many experiences as a Nigerian that we can’t be proud of but what country doesn’t have it’s challenges? and how will they be fixed if everyone wants nothing to do with the country? Who will fix them if most want to leave and the ones who don’t are only seeking a way to enrich their pockets, even if at the detriment of the larger Nigerian society?
So What?
Although the first step towards solving a problem is effectively defining it, the definition is useless without clearly articulating what to do differently as a result. If you ask most, they’ll say a major mindset orientation is urgently needed, and they’ll be largely right. A change on a scale this large ultimately requires a significant mindset change. However, it doesn’t in 1 fell swoop; it needs to start with a series of small changes by individuals.
First, we need to come away from the fallacy we’re taught to model our lives after. The fallacy that we need vague degrees from poorly run universities with minimal real life application beyond “looking for a job”. To the realization that:
- Any knowledge without practical real life application is useless
- Any economic stability without transference ability is limited
- Most symbols & exercises of status (including charitable donations which are more often power displays rather than avenues for social change) only serve to mask our inherent “limited worth”
We need a better understanding of posterity. What matters 10, 20, 100, 1000 years from now? We make decisions too much for the here & now. Immediate recognition, status, wealth, pleasures, etc. without giving a thought to it’s longer term effect. After buying this Mercedes, have you saved up for your child’s college tuition? After embezzling all this money from the governments coffers to buy real estate in Europe, who manages it after you’re dead? How will you be remembered? What legacy will you leave for your children?
Finally, we use words such as “we”, “they”, “black people”, “Nigerians”, “government”, etc a lot. When we do this, we subconsciously absolve ourselves from the responsibility of looking in the mirror and being the change we seek. We, including me.
So, I won’t wait for the government, my parents, the community, Nigeria, Africans, black people, or anyone else. I’ll focus on necessities, posterity & systemic social & economic impact. I’ll also try to focus less on status symbols but let them come naturally when I truly have achieved the commensurate status. I’ll start where I am, as an I; and as I go along, I’ll find people to work together with for greater impact. However, even if I don’t find them, I’ll keep going. I won’t stop.
