NIGERIA: The future of the black nation
Days back I posted an article about the hopelessness of Nigeria, however after listening to some messages, I want to shed a positive light on our situation as a country.
After independence in 1960, Nigeria was widely considered one of sub-Saharan African most promising post-colonial State, the potential for greatness seemed limitless. Fast forward to the war between 1967 - 1970, where the potential for greatness and togetherness was first tested. Somehow they was no success in dividing the nation, there have been several conflicts till this present day that should have divided Nigeria and let 'peace' reign separately between the northern and eastern part of the country but something always holds us back together. I for one don't believe that separation will solve the issues we have as a country. A perspective change, discipline, hard work and faith is what we need individually to get this country working because we are the hope of the black nation.
Singapore, China, Ireland, India, are countries that have earned their respect in the world through their economic power. These countries at some point were poor and barely significant or recognized in European affairs, they had uneducated citizens, high level of poverty, low economic development and heavy dependence on developed nations, Singapore was even kicked out of Malaysia in 1965. However, the wanting for an economic change and a conscious effort towards that change made these countries what they are today. For some it took longer while others had less than a generation to make a drastic change in their Country.
How did these countries attain their present day economy? What lies behind their success and development as a country? Below are few extracts from different articles of how third world countries like China and Singapore rose to first world countries.
According to American academic and author Peter Pham;
Three crucial factors have attributed to China’s economic miracle: a
gigantic population, production efficiency and intensity and capital, in other
words, its total factor productivity (TFP).
For the first stage of any pre-industrial economy, you need to focus on agriculture. This is low-skilled labor but very intensive. China properly followed the Asian Capital Development model by moving on to manufacturing. It requires more skill, but is still incredibly labor intensive. China’s massive workforce moved from the fields to the factories.
Rule
of Law is a big reason. In general, Rule of Law is the main force that pulls a
society out of what we think of as a medieval society, and into a modern one.
It essentially means government does what it's supposed to without having to
rely on bribes or favors or honor or patron/client master/serf chieftain/tribesman relationships. When people can actually trust that their
contracts will be enforced, that the deal they make today will actually take
place three years from now, that the law will apply the same to them as to the king's
nephew, then all of a sudden people actually INVEST in the future. Industry
happens. Improvement happens. Standard of living rises.
Without
Rule of Law, you get corruption, stagnation, and a social stratification with a
few wealthy people running the show, and a mass of poor folks being run. Rule
of Law is the first and foremost prerequisite to modernizing a society.
I am not an economist but from what I've read above and some others not shared, there was a conscious effort on the part of the leaders and citizens to make their countries better. Some of those countries at some point went overboard (which is not always advisable but can be learned from) but what I'm pointing out is the drastic measures that were made. Not citizens who are constantly blaming the government, while they also cry out at the slightest discomfort which is likely the path to change, or get involved in "fast money" activities like internet fraud, political thugs, ponzi schemes and so on, or try to run from the country and end up improving another man's economy while theirs is in shambles. We Nigerians really need to do better, we can't expect to come out as gold without going through fire. And our leaders can't keep recycling, yet coming back with archaic ideas thinking it will work in this new age. I think we are in deep need of new set of leaders, if only it were possible to keep all these our old leaders separate from the rest of Nigerians, elect new educated leaders with ideas, without the influence of some selfish people called 'godfathers' and just purge this great country of certain ideas that is just further destroying the country, if only we can all agree to stand strong and go through 'fire' that will birth a new Nigeria, if only we can.
The amazing thing about Nigerians is that wherever they find themselves (especially out of Nigeria) they always stand out in excellence. Go to some of the best schools around the world, most tasking industries and you will always find a Nigerian there, not as a mediocre but somewhere at the top. Nigerians are intelligent, hardworking and somehow can't help but stand out (sometimes negatively); so is it the country that holds/kills potential greatness or what? Nigeria has a way of frustrating people with big dreams for the country, several instance that someone rises to tackle an issue for the good of this country but he/she is drained of that zeal and energy just because this country can't recognize greatness at its little stage. Suddenly the person leaves for another country and they realize his/her potential and boom! we've lost that. Why can't we use the energy we use in draining people to build them? Nigeria is about the largest black nation and we can't keep flip-flopping and expect things to magically happen. Like it or not the black race are still considered inferior in some countries in the world, and I wonder why this is, because we happen to have great potential that can literally change the world but then we rather stay at the 'comfort' of another man's country serving and simply surviving when we can spend time exploiting the natural wonders of our country.
However, I believe a day will come where Nigerians in diaspora will run back home to be part of the amazing renewal in its Country, where our agricultural industry will supply the foods the citizens consume, where made in Nigeria products are considered higher than imported products, where our oil industry is recognized worldwide, where our educational system round the country produce the best students in the world and we wouldn't have to take some English test to travel to another country, where unemployment wouldn't be a 'thing' that we glorify, where tourist are free to exploit the beautiful places of the country without any fear of crises or bombing, where each state is steadily developing, where orderliness is required and appreciated, where refuse dumping carelessly is considered bad and punishable, where Nigerians are proud to show their passports knowing they wouldn't be treated like criminals because they are world power.
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