TIGed

Switch headers Switch to TIGweb.org

Are you an TIG Member?
Click here to switch to TIGweb.org

HomeHomeExpress YourselfPanoramaThe Nigeria of my Dreams: Yes We Can
Panorama
a TakingITGlobal online publication
Search



(Advanced Search)

Panorama Home
Issue Archive
Current Issue
Next Issue
Featured Writer
TIG Magazine
Writings
Opinion
Interview
Short Story
Poetry
Experiences
My Content
Edit
Submit
Guidelines




This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
The Nigeria of my Dreams: Yes We Can Printable Version PRINTABLE VERSION
by editorkay, Nigeria Sep 2, 2009
Peace & Conflict   Opinions
 1 2   Next page »

  

My growing years were not particularly the best and I guess that is one of my driving forces for a better life today.

Today as I write, I am reminded of the memories of my grandpa who laid the foundation of delayed gratification in my life; the reason I have committed my life and career to the voluntary sector. I am glad I chose the sector and will not be deterred from it.

The 21st century is unimaginably turning towards the yearnings of the challenges we face today. The past decades profits was earned by those who tore the world apart and the profits of several decades to come will be earned by those who are genuinely willing to put the world back together.
Throughout my growing years, I watched as values of a great nation like ours petered out in the most unimaginable fashion. From the loss in value in production quality, to the loss in values of our education system, to the loss in value in our security operatives who are now toothless bull dogs in fighting crime but are now pros in intimidating the ordinary citizens.

Despite this conspicuous reality, there are very few efforts of change to challenge the status quo. However, these efforts have not been without a fight from the opposition who holds on firm to the status quo. I have thus wondered over the years what our foundation as nation was built upon; is it on individualism, insecurity, or on indiscipline?

Each day I walk on the street, I watch Nigerians who display acts of greed not caring who suffers the consequences. I watch Traffic Policemen laying ambush for the slightest disobedience of the law in order for them to extort the offender. I watch an entire community hail a corrupt son for coming back home after looting the country’s treasury while serving; all because he has been their solace in the face of poverty. I see a system filled with self-centred corporate firms who grow at a parallel proportion to the growth of the society and cares less if the society they grow in, grows in steady proportion.

I watch parents throw away their values and wrap their hands around their daughter who has come back from Italy with enough for the family to eat without questioning her on what type of job fetched her such fortune. I watch dreams of young men and women go down the drain all because they can not afford to pay school fees. I watch charlatans and mediocres assume public office because of their ethnic, religious or social class and in the end, the 150million people who live in this great nation are the ones made to suffer the consequences of the gross ineptitude of the leadership. I see health care in shambles as people lament the high cost of hospital bills and sometimes, wrong diagnoses which has led to the loss of loved ones and bread winners too.

My little exposure outside the shores of this great nation has taught me the true nature of Nigerians. As much as I hear people complain of how much our citizens misbehave in other parts of the world, I am still convinced that those numbers do not constitute a meaningful number of us who truly exhibit the Nigerian character. I have seen Nigerians outside the shores of this country that have made me proud. Even if they now use their brains for foreign interest rather than national interest, I am still proud of them. However, I do not encourage brain drain. These individuals have shown that given a better system, they can exhibit the Nigerian character in them.

All I have been privileged to see has opened my eyes to the reality that we can truly be the great nation we ought to be. The great Nigeria we ought to be is the Nigeria of equal opportunity, where every individual have equal rights to go to good schools. A nation that believes in the freedom of the people to their fundamental human rights, to expression and to information. A nation that glorifies hardwork, discipline, integrity and upholds the rule of law whether there is any person assigned to enforce it. A nation that embraces empathy and sees every action as targeting the principle of being ones brother’s keeper. A nation that breeds leaders not by position but by act. Leaders who are compassionate and who do not see the populace as mere statistic, leaders who have roadmaps of where we ought to be in their mind and will not just talk but will effectively work towards effecting that roadmap.

A patriotic nation who see national service as a pride and a rare opportunity to serve the fatherland with diligence and hardwork and expects that the government will also be compassionate to reward hardwork with better retirement benefits. A nation of mutual corporate benefits where corporate firms will not just exist for their selfish profit making but will be concerned about the growth of the society in which they grow in. I envisage a nation that is willing to work together to achieve great dreams, dreams that make us a great nation; a nation with a compassionate government, a government that truly represents a government of the people by the people and for the people. That is my Nigeria, the Nigeria I see everyday in my dream and I am certain that once I conceive, it can materialize.





 1 2   Next page »   


Tags

You must be logged in to add tags.

Writer Profile
editorkay


Olukayode Ajayi-Smith is an alumnus of the prestigious LEAP Africa Youth Leadership programme. A graduate of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, he read Computer Science with Economics. Kayode is a core Humanitarian. Whilst a student, he was Editor-in-Chief of an inter-campus magazine entitled Campus-Icon Magazine for three years.

He also helped in championing the first ever Students’ Union Magazine at the Olabisi Onabanjo University where he served as the Deputy Editor-in-Chief. He was the only Nigerian youth delegate to the first ever Civicus youth assembly in Glasgow, Scotland, May 2007.

Kayode has also contributed to the work of various civil societies through his volunteering work. He was a volunteer at LEAP Africa (Lekki, Lagos), African Youth for Transparency (Ikeja, Lagos), Oxfam Charity Shop (Slough, London) and was an intern at the National Assembly as a researcher with the Women’s Right to Education Programme, Abuja. He also had a stint with Transparency and Anti-Corruption Campaign in Africa. This is a Non-Governmental-Organisation based in Abuja. Kayode served as the Head of Logistics and Operation on the Faith in Nigeria project.



Kayode specialises in developing youth development programmes and assisting civil society organisations with logistics and planning of programmes. His ‘Youth Volunteer Card Scheme’ recently received endorsement from UNESCO Nigerian office in Abuja and is currently being explored by the African Citizens Development Foundation for execution. He is currently putting finishing touches to his book titled “MDG Success: Our Role as Young People”. The book is expected to be a guide to youth participation in the success of the Millennium Development Goals.

Kayode is currently a member of the Editorial team at Development Report Magazine, an online magazine. He is also assisting the Nigerian Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organization to realise its goal of kick-starting the activities of the body fully in Nigeria. ‘Kayode is looking forward to a successful career with the United Nations; a dream he has been nursing for a very long time.
Comments


kudos.
Ayo Morakinyo | Oct 22nd, 2009
We are conceiving it hence, we will achieve it. Good write-up.



Good Vision
segun | Nov 19th, 2009
I encourage your vision guy, i thing you have something to offer nigerian and her people



Am behind you
Ebenezer | Sep 24th, 2010
I think you have a good sense of leadership, we need to bring more people like around the table.



Good article.
Akindolani Dayo | Feb 22nd, 2011
Yeah, I believe in your write -up friend. How are you doing? Your dream of working with United Nations shall come to pass.

You must be a TakingITGlobal member to post a comment. Sign up for free or login.