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Adding Value: A New Nigeria is Still Possible by Henry Ukazu

Published

3 years ago

October 2, 2021

Eric

Dear Destiny Friends,

I will like to begin this article with a plea to my dear friends who are not Nigerians: please bear with me.

To those who don’t know my origin; I’m originally Nigerian before I became a United States Citizen.

To those of you who don’t know about October 1, 2021; Nigeria celebrated her 61st independence anniversary on that day.

It is pertinent to note that Nigeria was colonized by the British until she was ready to govern herself. But the question we need to ask ourselves is, is Nigeria truly independent?

Independence means different things to different people. Depending on the rubric that is used. To some, it means freedom to decide what one wants. It can also mean financial independence. One can even appreciate independence from a master-mentee point of view where the later by begins his/her entrepreneurial journey.

Nigeria became a British protectorate in 1901 and since then, we have had four republics. The first republic started from 1960 -1979, the second republic started from 1979-1983, the third republic started from 1992-1993, while the fourth republic started from 1999- date (2021). It’s my personal hope and desire that Nigerians will not experience a fifth republic by getting a good leader who will see Nigeria as one regardless of where one comes from. We truly need a leader who can unite the country and not one who will disintegrate it because that’s the feelings of most Nigerians in the Southern part of the country, who are clamoring for self-determination because of how they are being treated. Sentiments apart, if we cannot live in peace, it’s imperative we separate in peace. It’s not compulsory to live together, especially when the system is not working.

When we take a statistical test about how Nigeria has fared in the last 61 years, we can reasonably conclude that we have not developed and progressed as expected when compared to our counterparts. Let’s not look too far, Ghana got her independence in 1957 from Britain. Nigeria was due to gain her independence around that time, but due to technicality, it didn’t come through. When you look at the development and growth that has occurred in Nigeria, you will just wonder if we are cursed as a country. Our leaders have really failed us, they have used poverty, ethnicity, religion, and tribalism to divide the hapless citizens who don’t realize the power they have.

It is rightly stated that every country, nation, or community gets the kind of leader they deserve. This is because if the citizens know what they want, they will put in the works to get results. It is because of lack of accountability that our leaders misbehave as they know they won’t be held accountable by the citizens, and to some extent, the courts when they embezzle public funds.

The question on the lips of every Nigerian is when will Nigeria get it right? Will Nigeria and Nigerians ever get it right? To some, Nigeria will never get it right.

Well, optimists believe we’ll get it right one day. According to Fela Durotoye, a leadership expert, for a country to develop there must be peace, progress, and property. Without peace, there can never be stability, when there’s instability, there can never be prosperity.

As it stands today in Nigeria, many families find it hard to afford three square meal and the basic needs of life. There’s insecurity, the economy is in shambles which has led to the downfall of the naira, the country is heavily divided on religious and ethnic lines, and there are no jobs for the teeming population.

The government is not helping the situation; they are only paying lip service to the sufferings of the citizens. The only time our leaders remember the citizens is during elections. The litany of problems facing Nigeria can destroy the country. For lack of better words, many Nigerians are merely existing instead of living. Nigeria is merely sitting on a time bomb and if not properly managed, it will explode anytime.

Therefore, the average Nigerian seems to have lost hope and have resorted to unethical means of surviving. The men have resorted to armed robbery, scamming, rituals amongst other crimes against humanity. Some of the ladies on their parts, have resorted to prostitution and stealing just to survive. It is sad and terrible to be a Nigerian at this time.

It should be noted success in life is not about income, but impact. According to Fela Durutoye, success is about income, but greatness is about impact. To really know a great man, look at the impact he has made in the lives of people as opposed to the luxuries he showcases. This is because success is not what you make happen for yourself, but true greatness is what you make happen for others. So, I will leave you with this question, what impacts and legacy are you leaving for others to thread upon?

You can know a great country by merely looking at how she treats her citizens. In the USA for instance, the leaders debate on an endless basis on how they can serve the masses, but in third world countries, most of the leaders are only concerned about themselves. Civilized climes look at the per capita income, they ensure that the minimum wage is capable of sustaining an ordinary citizen, but can that be said of Nigeria? No. Per Fela Durutoye: successful people chase prosperity, but prosperity honors the great. Again, I will ask you, how do you want to be remembered?

In order to make Nigerian great again, the government must make policies and laws that favour the citizens, most especially the youths. They should focus on education, health, sports, technology, and entrepreneurship. The youths composed of 60% of the population. They must make favorable policies that will enable the private sectors to thrive.

Why am I saying this? The future of Nigeria is on her youths. You must build the nation by building the people. If the world wants to determine how developed a country is faring, they look at the citizens. The government must make favorable policies that will benefit the teeming population. Just like your future is inside of you, when you invest in yourself, you are bound to succeed.

Again, Fela Durutoye teaches that the future is not just tomorrow, it is what you can obtain but haven’t’. It is not what you can do, but you haven’t.

Therefore, the future of Nigeria is not a timeline or a race to finish, the future of Nigeria is inside of all of us. It is If you take yourself as an example, you might have great potentials, but due to the fact you haven’t taken time to utilize it, you are bound to remain on status quo, that’s the sad state of Nigeria, which hasn’t taken the bold to utilize her numerous natural and human resources.

In conclusion, while we waiting for who will take us to the promised land, we have to do our part by being good citizens regardless of who is doing the wrong thing. Just as we started with Fela Durutoye, I will leave you with his personal creed:

1. I will make a personal impact on everyone I meet and everywhere I go

2. I will be a solution provider and not part of the problem to be solved

3. I will be a role model worthy of emulation

4. I will be my best in all I do particularly the things I am naturally good at

5. I will do the right at all times regardless of who is doing the wrong things

6. I will value time and make the best use of it

7. I will care and show respect to all through my words and actions

8. I will consciously build a great legacy starting now today and every day

9. I will live a life o integrity and honor

10. I will make my family and nation proud

SO HELP ME GOD.

Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He’s a Human Capacity & mindset coach. He’s also a public speaker. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He’s the author of the acclaimed book Design Your Destiny – Actualizing Your Birthright To Success and President of gloemi.com. He can be reached via info@gloemi.com

News

Court Vacates Order for Arrest of Fubara’s CoS, Says It’s Mere Academic Exercise

Published

16 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Eric

The Order of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja for the arrest of Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff to the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and granted by Justice Emeka Nwite on the 31st of January, 2024, has been set aside, today, 25th April, 2024.

Justice Emeka Nwite had on January 31 ordered Ehie’s arrest in connection with the burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly on October 30, 2023.

The police, in the charges, alleged that Ehie and five others masterminded the bombing of the Rivers State House of Assembly amid a plot to impeach Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

The five others are Jinjiri Bala, Happy Benedict, Progress Joseph, Adokiye Oyagiri, and Chibuike Peter, alias Rambo.

Justice Emeka Nwite while reading the ruling setting aside the order given by the court against Eddison Ehie declaring him wanted and granting an order of arrest said it as now becoming a mere academic exercise.

The judge further granted same to the 2nd-5th Defendant/Applicant in same suit.

Eddison Ehie had a team of representation including Falana SAN, Wole Oladoye SAN, Dr Bimpe Ajegbomogun and Barr. Asmau Yakubu

Though Ehie’s name was mentioned in the counts, he was not listed among the defendants.

He said, “He was never invited by the police for anything. All that he saw was that they filed a charge; they mentioned his name in four out of seven charges for murder and arson.”

Aladedoye also argued that it was strange that the Inspector-General of Police left all the courts in Rivers State, where the alleged offences were committed, to file an application before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

“Your Lordship has no jurisdiction to entertain the matter here, “Aladedoye said.

Counsel for the other defendants, Femi Falana (SAN), said the crime his clients were alleged to have committed were state offences.

In the application it was stated that “What is disclosed are state offences; it is our submission that this court cannot exercise any jurisdiction in state offences without the fiat of the Attorney General of Rivers State.”

News

Dana Air Confirms Runway Excursion Involving It’s Aircraft, Says Passengers, Crew Safe

Published

3 days ago

April 23, 2024

Eric

The management of Dana Air has, in a statement on Tuesday, confirmed reports that one of its aircraft with registration number 5N BKI skidded off the runway at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Tuesday morning.

While expressing regret that the aircraft which flew from Abuja to Lagos, skidded off the runway in an attempt to land, it expressed relief that no casualty was recorded, stating that it had informed the Accident Investigation Bureau and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority of the incident.

The statement read, “Dana Air regrets to inform the public of a runway incursion involving one of our aircraft, registration number 5N BKI, which was flying from Abuja to Lagos today 23/04/24

“We are relieved to confirm that all 83 passengers and crew onboard the flight disembarked safely without injuries or scare as the crew handled the situation with utmost professionalism.”

“We have also updated the AIB and NCAA on the incident and the aircraft involved has been grounded by our maintenance team for further investigation.”

News

FG Mulls Review of Admission Age into Nigerian Universities

Published

3 days ago

April 22, 2024

Eric

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, has hinted that the Federal government would review age requirement for admission into tertiary institutions in the country.

The minister, who pegged 18 years as benchmark for admission into universities, advised parents not to push their underage wards to higher institutions, especially university education, below the age of 18.

Mamman spoke to journlaits after monitoring the ongoing Unified Tertiary matriculation Examination, UTME, in some of the centres in Abuja.

The minister said he is not happy with the age of some candidates that applied to write the examination, noting that they are still far before required age to seek admission into universities.

He, however, applauded the conduct of the examination, describing it as peaceful just as he said irregularities where were visibly noticeable in the past, has drastically reduced.

He said: “The examination process is seamless. The environment is comfortable for students. That’s how it should be, especially with the use of technology in our affairs and the educational system. It makes life easy for everybody and seamless.

“As we know, this examination is going on throughout the country. It is being monitored everywhere seamlessly and from the report I have heard, the malpractice level is very low, just a 100 out of 1.2million.It is the use of technology that has made that happen, so this is very good.

“The other thing, which we noticed, is the age of those who have applied to go to the university. Some of them are really too young. We are going to look at it because they are too young to understand what the university education is all about.

“That’s the stage when students migrate from a controlled environment where they are in charge of their own affairs. So if they are too young, they won’t be able to manage properly.

“That accounts to some of the problems we are seeing in the universities.

“We are going to look at that. 18 is the entry age for university. But you will see students, 15, 16, going to the examination. It is not good for us. Parents should be encouraged not to push their wards, children too much.”

He hinted that beneficiaries of the Federal government students loan will cut across both higher education and skill acquisition, saying it was important that “students who are not being able to proceed to tertiary education, should be able to have a meaningful life even after secondary school, even primary education actually.”

According to him, the percentage of admission out of the registered number of candidates that applied, is “about 20 percent- universities, polytechnics and colleges of educations.”

He continued: “They are our children, our wards living with us. This is why the issue of skills acquisition is very important because, any students, who is not able to proceed to tertiary education, should be able to have a meaningful life even after secondary school, even primary education actually.

“The only solution to that is skill; by talking skills right from the time they entered school, for the primary school. Somebody should finish with one skill or another. That is part of the assumption of the 6-3-3-4 system.

“It is assumed that by the time a student finishes up to JSS level, he would have acquired some skills. If he does not proceed to senior secondary level, he would have acquired some skills that will help him navigate life and cease to be a burden on parents and society.

‘That is why skill is just the most important thing for us now. We are going to drive through the education sector for both public and private sectors, to empower the young ones.

“Tertiary education is encouraged but not every child needs to go to the university or polytechnic. It is mandatory and government is in support and there is a constitutional requirement to educate every Nigerian child up to that level of education. But with the introduction of the Student Loan Scheme, access will not be a problem.

“Parents will now be supported both for tertiary and even the skills we are talking about. That is one of the most important policies government has been able to provide,” he added.