Nigeria has been working very hard to fail, rather than to succeed as a nation. In actual fact, we are masters at failing.
I sat right in front of the faculty of Environmental Sciences, University Lagos with four of my classmates. They were bemoaning the fact that unlike the rest of us, they were going to undertake either an extra semester or an extra year of work in order to graduate.
After listening to their complaints for a while, I knew I had to let them know why they were in this sorry situation, so as not to get themselves entangled in the mess again.
Working Hard To Fail
I looked each of them in the eye and said, “If you guys had worked half as hard as you worked to fail, you would have succeeded and joined the rest of us in graduating”. They were stumped and asked in anger, “you mean we worked hard to fail?” “Of course, yes”, I replied. They were baffled, so I broke it for down to them.
While the rest of us worked with minimal energy and money in the classroom in order to succeed, they worked assiduously outside the classroom to fail, while hoping to pass. Week after week, they exerted more energy in clubs, dancing and sweating it out than the rest of us; including incurring incidental costs expended on booze and cigarettes, and fuel used to convey them to and from the clubs and parties.
By the time I finished my analysis, my point had hit home, as one of them exclaimed with a sad resignation, “O my God, I truly worked very hard to fail!”
A Nation Adept At Failing
It is sad to see that, just like my classmates way back in the university, Nigeria has been working very hard to fail rather than to succeed as a nation. In actual fact, we are masters at failing. Little effort is actually expended on nation-building. Rather, great time, energy, resources and money are expended daily on acts capable of destroying the nation.
It is no wonder that we specialise in exasperating Nigerians, employing the unqualified over and above the qualified, putting round pegs in square holes, de-motivating the ambitious, sacking the qualified to install our unqualified kith and kin, and discriminating against our fellow Nigerians on the basis of tribe and religion, whilst still hoping to make great strides and progress.
The devastating result of our actions are plain to see. Rather than a great nation, what we have is a dysfunctional one filled with demoralised citizens, decaying infrastructure, a poorly educated and ill-equipped workforce, needless deaths, inter-group conflicts and violence, ethnic prejudice and poor governance.
Frustration Galore
On Facebook, in response to my article “The Youth and Nigeria’s future”, Mr. Segun Ogunrinola wrote, “…let the truth be told, the so-called leaders who have been at the helm of affairs since independence have totally failed the youth and dashed our hopes. Of course, to serve Nigeria is not by force, should be the response from a Nigerian youth who toiled day and night to acquire a University degree (and is left) with no job after graduating.
It (is) pathetic to see the children of the poor (being) unjustly treated by the same law or policy which treats the children of rich justly. How can I believe in the future of a country (where) citizens are being killed by the kinsmen of the Commander in chief of the Armed forces?
The gap between the rich and the poor is getting wider every day. A country where mediocrity is being celebrated over meritocracy. Some of us are very hardworking, tenacious and committed to our (country), but we haven’t seen any seriousness on the part of government. (This) is a country where anointed candidates have been recruited before (any) advert for a recruitment exercise is published… How can (Nigeria) expect my loyalty?” He ended by saying, “There’s hope if we can re-direct (our) focus, use our God-given potential and wisely use our PVC come 2019”. I am sure many Nigerians share in his sentiment.
Waiting For Nigeria
Are we really ready to redirect our focus and use our God given potential as Mr. Ogunrinola posits? I think not. If we are, we would have taken the bull by the horn and taken the necessary steps to correct the state of affairs as soon as citizens began to yearn for change.
The truth is this, we are comfortable with the status quo to the chagrin of the world, especially to those of the black descent who look unto us for direction.
My friend, Dr. Femi Aribisala, told me that when he worked at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), our country was invited to Bulgaria to be part of a summit on Nigeria by countries of Eastern Europe in 1985.
Unknown to Nigeria, the block had, over the past 12 years prior to the invitation, held an annual conference basically to discuss Nigeria and her prospects. When he inquired from the Polish representative why they were holding a conference on Nigeria and what their business with us was, he responded that they knew one day we will ‘wake up’ and were preparing for us by positioning themselves as favourably as possible.
I am not sure the conference holds anymore. The reason is simple: The sleeping giant has refused to wake up. In fact, she is no longer sleeping but now in a coma, or how else can we explain why after 33 years since the invitation, we are still groping in the dark?
Building a Great Nigeria
The president says he wants to change the Nigerian narrative, but he seems to be only playing lip service to the problem. Building a great nation is not all about corruption or the lack thereof, nor is it about having the largest economy, as President Goodluck Jonathan erroneously thought, or having a large land area, or the mightiest military power. No, great nation-building is about building a great people who in turn inspire the world with their positive exploits.
There is still a chance that the president can turn the tide. It starts by listening to the voices and aspirations of our people and re-laying our foundation with justice and equity as the cornerstones, where all Nigerians are treated equitably, irrespective of tribe, geographical location and religion.
We can and will begin to build a great nation when we reward meritocracy, rather than mediocrity and nepotism. We will, if we insist that henceforth, only the best and brightest amongst us from the North to the South, from the East to the West are appointed into strategic positions. We will when we place a high value on all lives, with no effort spared to ensure that all lives are preserved and secure.
It is imperative that all Nigerians see ourselves as partners in destiny and not just ethnic jingoists. Leadership at all strata must begin to address basic problems which divide us rather than bring us together, and in no time public trust, and cohesion will emerge.
Building a great Nigeria won’t be easy but it will come quicker and at a lower price than the steep costs we have borne over the years, but are yet failing. History has shown that when diverse citizens, especially young people, are brought together to work on common problems, the nation improves and grows. The world is watching and waiting, as well as Nigerians – dead, living and yet unborn. Are we ready?
Benzak Uzuegbu, an estate surveyor and valuer, writes from Lagos.
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