By Lamide Adenuga
I strongly believe that when it comes to what is wrong with this country, when it comes to why things are not really in order, when it comes to why the system is not functioning effectively and appropriately, when it comes to why the different sectors are not maximally optimizing their productivity, I believe that the Nigerian people are not the problem, but rather, the Nigerian people are the solution to the problem. It depends on which direction we choose to look at it from, but either way, we can reclaim the “Nigeria” dream. It’s not impossible!
I have spoken to a lot of young people in different cities of the country, and one of the most Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q) they throw at me is; “how can we make our Nation better? What can we do? How do we make a difference?” And the answer I always give them is; “You should be an agent of positive change”.
A lot of people know what is wrong with our country; they know all the problems we are faced with; an epileptic power supply, an health system that needs health itself, an educational sector that needs to be educated with the fundamentals of real education, and a host of other challenges that bedevil our Nigeria. But more than talk about these problems, I keep telling people that we’ve got to figure out the solutions; what is the way out? How do we solve the sums? It’s not impossible!
Anybody and everybody can talk, but you know as well as I do that talking about a problem doesn’t solve the problem. A lot of people have been talking for years but that hasn’t changed anything. I believe we’ve got to start making changes by asking real questions and providing real answers, followed by an “organized game plan” as to how we can reclaim the ‘Nigeria’ dream.
We need to ask questions like; how do we repair the enormous damage of these dismal years and recapture that sense of common purpose that has seen us through our darkest moments? How do we charge our darling Nigeria towards the direction of the ideals that were inscribed on the hearts and minds of our founding fathers? How can we begin living in the reality of the motto of our Nation – Unity, Faith, Peace and Progress? We have so many things to deal with and we need to talk straight up!
This time around, we need real changes. We need to do this one way, one style, because we have one end in view, we want to reclaim the ‘Nigeria’ dream. Whatever part of the country you are from, whatever tribe or ethnic nationality you come from, so far you are a Nigerian; let us see ourselves as brothers and not as two distant strangers. It should not be an issue of North versus South, Hausas versus igbos, or Yorubas versus the South-south.
The real issue we face right now is bigger than that; the issue is about the past versus the future. It is about where we are coming from versus where we are going to. Let us move forward with a common purpose, a common drive, and a common end in view. There are so many better things for us to see; things to be in the future. Our history is full of tragedy and misery, so we need to leave it where it belongs – the past, and then move forward to see how we can reclaim the ‘Nigeria’ dream. It’s not impossible.
Whatever will become of our lives, whatever will become of our nation, it’s on us to do what we have to do. That is the factor behind my claim that the Nigerian people are the solution to the Nigerian problems, the solution begins with you and me. We all know that people make up our society, and societies make up the nation, so if we can affect people positively, we will affect the society, and invariably we will affect the nation positively. Let us organize; we need to start taking care of our home. We need to start somewhere and we need to start here and now.
Lastly, we should note that the positive changes we desire will not happen without us having a new spirit of service. Let us all summon a new spirit of patriotism and responsibility. I may not completely be sure of anything else, but this one thing I am completely sure of; we can reclaim the ‘Nigeria’ dream. Let them recognize worldwide that we run things here in Nigeria. It’s not impossible. Forget about Nigeria’s past 50 years, what matters now are the next 40 – 50 – 60 years.
Like I tell people wherever I find them, I want to tell you as well; you should be an agent of positive change. Where do you go from here? That’s a choice I leave to you.
Lamide Adenuga is an author and an International Conference Speaker who believes that the right mentality can power anyone to success; an ideas man who is out to transform people and places he comes in contact with.
He is a Business Development Consultant/Business Management Consultant, a well sought out for motivational and inspirational Speaker, and a Business Coach to entrepreneurs, aspiring entrepreneurs, business owners and business starters. He is also an Angel of strategy and organization and has featured on Radio and Television shows severally.
Lamide is a Public Relations Specialist and has written articles in various newspapers, journals and magazines. He is a Personal Effectiveness columnist in OVATION International Magazine. He is also a Television host with his Motivational telecast, “MAKING THINGS HAPPEN” on WAP TV.
Facebook page – Lamide Adenuga Speaks. Twitter – LammyMotivates
You can reach him on +234-8032454647
BONUS VIDEO…
Our Independence is here again, watch this 3 minutes video and be inspired…”RECLAIMING THE NIGERIA DREAM”.
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