For every time another Nigerian becomes a citizen of another country, we loose something
We empower those countries that we take refuge in…..we partly develop those countries. And our own????
These things should concern us…..whether we live in Nigeria or not, because you're still always going to have loved ones, family, relations or friends in Nigeria.
Just in case for some funny reason, you’re not sure you’re Nigerian…take the brief survey below.
Your surname is Nigeria, if you fall into one or more of the following categories:
• There is naija, nyja, or 9ja in your name or blog name.
• More than 50% of the people on your blogroll are Nigerian
• Your profile picture is Nigerian-ish....lol (You get my point).
• Your always talking about Nigeria on your blog (whether complaining or positively)
• Your always commenting on a Nigerian blog.
• Some or all the words on your blog can only be understood by a Nigerian.
If I missed a category you fall under and your Nigerian, let me know :-)
Now that we have established the fact that you are Nigerian (whether you like it or not),
Listen to Femi Kuti’s Do Your Best song.
I think we aren’t even really doing the best we can for Nigeria!
One of the biggest problems is that most people don't believe that Nigeria can be better. When people have lost hope, how are things supposed to get better?
The floor is open for discussion.....
P.S. Do respond with comments, suggestion etc, because this post is going to be up here for a while. And if you scream for update, I’ll be updating in the comment section of your blog!!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
51 comments:
I've noticed that a quarter of the people who go abroad and never come back home are those who never had much in Nigeria anyway. The other quarter do not know the meaning of "root" and amazed at how good life is in the West.The other quarter are those who think complaining online will get it done, they forget that 90% of Nigerians do not visit message boards and could care less. They also forget that it's the food at home that the family eats. The other quarter have selfish interests, they tell you, "Oh boy I done make am, make Naija carry go".
Nilla, I hope you're none of those. True daughter of the land will always take care of it or atleast try his or her best.
When you get repeatedly frustrated by the Nigerian system, it becomes something else. I've seen people so full of bright dreams head back home only to be disillusioned. After years and years, they finally realize it isn't worth it and head back to where they're appreciated.
That's that for me. I do intend to return anyway. There's a lot Nigeria has to offer. The main thing is to step in with both feet without any thought of being hampered by failure.
Great post Nilla.
Yep - a majority of people don't believe Nigeria will get better.
But guess what? You don't need a majority of people to make things happen in Nigeria (or many other places, for that matter).
And me? I don't plan to go back - I guess my attitude, my outlook on life is too different for me to feel comfortable in the Nigerian environment - but I don't believe I'm completely useless abroad.
PS Interestingly enough, the latest post on my blog deals with the issue of people who've given up hope in Nigeria. We must have a psychic connection, Nilla! :)
For real...I support ur voice strongly Nilla. People always tell me that there have been people that have gone before us who tried to make Nigeria a better country, but they were failures. So what makes us think our generation can change it? But somewhere inside of me...I strongly believe we can come together and make a big change. People's mouths will drop in awe, and those who didn't believe in us will be distraught!
I have a dream of being on a panel of medically-oriented change to the country in the nearest future, I'm still in school, but I know soon I'll take off on a project that my heart is leaning towards...
But I'm also open to more ideas from u guys...
zqzThis is going to be an interesting one...
I'm the home-based here, and can see most of the hopelessness first hand.
I do not agree with donzman that its the food at home the family eats. If the food is only fit for pigs, fling it to the floor and ask for what befits you.
Philosophy is one thing, but if you see people defecating along the Marina in broad daylight like thousands of car drivers see everyday, you start to see how much trouble we're in.
I won't knock either side, those who knock Nigeria or those who say 'e go better'. But Nigeria is a failed nation in respect of the fact that it doesn't look out for its citizens. I hope the next set in power can rectify this.
We're in denial if we say it's well here. In a land where the impossible is the only thing certain to happen, I'm tired of people saying "accept Nigeria as it is".
I hope for better things for a country that's a former shade of its glorious past.
Great Post!!
In addition to what many have said, in all honesty, sometimes I think there's no hope any more, but then, I look back at my parents who are still there and are doing their very little thing to at least improve Nigeria and then say to myself, I can also do what I can do.
If the government doesn't care about its citizen, at least the very few of us can do what we can even if it entails touching peoples' lives positively.
Sometimes its not about the reward you get back but the lives of people you touch. Now thats a lasting LEGACY.
Thats something people should think about.
I LOVEE this post!!
the issue of nigeria...for me it's a love-hate one...my heart is there...but really...many...MANY MANY ppl have gone home and like someone pointed out...they come back disillusioned...they try to help the economy and are beaten down...it's like we dont want to be helped...we look for ways to make sure we stay down...it's like God forbid someone comes in to do something positive...they're shot...plotted against...stolen from...nilla...the list is endless...my dad told me the same thing...he said years ago i went back wanting to make a difference...he said Nigeria is not for you my dear...i refuse to believe this...but you know what...the facts face me everyday...ive known ppl that have died...i have cousins here that have tried to go back...nilla...nigeria...we have to change the mindset of the ppl....it's take about 40years to effect change... you have to start in the schools...training the teachers.... if you cannot turn the minds of ppl around, nigeria will continue to get worse....
LOL @ update in comments section...se you're still keeping warm
like Laspapi said, i dont stand for either side. I can't sit in the US and say "oh I haven't lost hope in Nigeria" when it's just been passed as a law that every money from Western Union into Naija must be collected with a Nigerian passport... Um huh? And I'm sitting here asking "when did it get that bad?" when 70percent of transactions are intercepted by some-eavesdropper, c'mon I would lose hope if I were me.
I'm still young; maybe I'll figure something out later to help/transform the country to some-place awesome... till then. I have my own share of problems (sometimes I think Nigerians my age ain't seen nothing yet) to deal with, let alone worry about another entirely seperate world that barely cares to worry about itself. Who am I talking about, the Government? The People?
I believe every change that can be achieved should (must) start individually. I guess the question I haven't figured out is "HOW?". And even if I figured it out, why would anyone listen? How easy is it to let go of a particular lifestyle to embibe a different one from some strange young-man living abroad?
One thing is sure: Nigeria has enough religion, and to some extent, too much of it. I think it is over-emphasised, the "hand of the devil" on that country. Shifting responsibility has never worked well with change. If only Nigeria accepts its place in the equation, then maybe I'd have achieved some major break-through. But if I were to strip Nigeria of Religion, what do I replace it with?
Great post Nilla, great first response by Donzman. I have nothing more to add at the moment, have this little hang over...
jl@mack
Religion has nothing to do with it my brother, most European economies were built up due to their religious alliances. England's literacy rate rose (which led to the industrial revolution) when the KJV of the bible was released. They did this to dissipate the control of the catholic church on Europe.
Major post Nilla...Donzman, all that one na cliche talk my friend, where you get your statistics from sef.
On a more serious note, we all ought to have a feeling of despair, things are not right and we should channel our patriotism. Blind patriotism is not taking us anywhere.
The way things are right now, it does not pay to do the right thing in Nigeria, and not until it pays to be less corrupt and more forward looking, will the wind of change blow in our land. Two optios, reward merit, this does not look like its gonna happen soon. Second option purnish corrupt and indisciplined individuals. Looks like a cheaper option to me.
You didn't put 'cursing in Nigerian dialects'. Another one is mentioning all the NYAMA! they ate 2day frapuccinos, cheeseballs(cakes or whatever!) and explaining how Oxford links to Boston underground in their blogs(i no know who send dem message). Truth is either we all like it or not, once a Nigerian ALWAYS a Nigerian. A lizard here cannot turn to an alligator if taken abroad. If anyone likes, they should not do anything about Nigeria's state. It still doesnt remove the Nigerian you are from your blood.
Though I don't pray for it, what if one day all dem oyinbos take pankere begin pursue every Nigerian comot from their countries? Would they rather jump into the ocean than come back?
I'm not sure I get Anthony's point. I dont think we should push aside the fears of people concerning our country. I live in Nigeria, and I know there are tens of millions here who will never get rewarded for hard work.
At one point I tried to keep newspaper cuttings of the "impossiblities" but it made me physically ill.
People are killed randomly, the policeman robs, politicians plunder, the criminals prosper, the Utilities (Water and Power) are non-existent, and the citizens go hungry. On Christmas Eve, I did a U-Turn on the most busy bridge in the country, the 3rd mainland, because armed robbers had created a check point.
The Vice President of the country is worried about returning home from the USA. Is he at war with his boss because of corruption? No. Its a power struggle and both sides are operating a "scorched earth" policy and they are taking no prisoners.
This is a country under siege by a vampiric cabal (they've been in power for decades) and we must not forget.
No oyinbo will ask people to leave anywhere and if they did, it might be better for those people to jump into the ocean than return because I know there'll be a reception waiting for them at our ports, authorized by the government and local crime lords, ready to steal, extort and rob them of all they might be bringing back as they seek solace.
As omodudu said, let's not do cliches. Its a code red situation here and you cannot jest at scars if you have never felt a wound.
I like the way the discussion is going so far.
@ Donzman
I’m not one of those, and I hope you’re not one of those either.
@ Azuka
Every one of us has gotten and is still frustrated with the system.
Nothing good comes easy.
I like the fact that you intend to return, so do I (hopefully next year).
@ AWW
You’re kidding me you don’t want to go back!!!
WHY? – cos I don’t want to buy your statement on “my attitude, my outlook on life is too different for me to feel comfortable in the Nigerian environment”
In fact, since we have psychic connection, You should return to Nigeria someday, at least that’s what I’m thinking.
@ Everyone
You should check out AWW’s latest post, It’s great and it relates to this post too.
@ Jaycee
I strongly believe with you too.
Regarding your panel of medically oriented change, my friend Curvyice would probably be interested too….She’s still in school too....but I know, sometime in the future..
@ Laspapi
We are in more trouble, if we just think the problems will just go away like that…
In terms of Nigeria not looking out for us (the citizens)…I think we should be the one’s looking out for it, like JFK said
@ Lee
So do I get a declaration from the few of us here that we’ll do what we can??
I’m with you on leaving a lasting legacy…
@ Diamondhawk
I feel you….
How about we try changing the minds of all the bloggers……
Everyone on here is making so much sense and i can see we all have one thing i common- passion for NIGERIA. yes we there dont seem to be anything working out in 9ja but there is that ray of ope that says things can and will get better.and yea the guy at teh top said something abt people going out there and getting fustrated and thus return to where they are appreciated. that is true in a way but most go there with hopes of making fast money and then when it doesnt work out that way they give up and run away. nigerians need patience,we need to put our selfish needs and greed away and work towards the gud of the country at large.
@jaycee you are not alone at joining one of the medical panels cos ifeel we have to put an end to medical malpractice i that country- teh doctors dont acre at who dies all they care abt is there money and te respect they get for been DOCTORS.
we all have a part to play and yes jaws will drop and eyes roll at what effect our generation will have. we will make things work in NIGERIA.
I AM A PROUD NIGERIAN AND I LOVE IT.
@ Laspapi
For some reason the link I put in did not go through…., but John F Kennedy said “...ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country...”
@ Mack
Yes, individual change first, then collective change and then again more individual change (for those that didn’t change the first time).
@ Chxta
Come back when your hangover is gone.....
@ Omodudu
Yeah we need to acknowledge and reward those that are doing good. I’m sure some of us here already do…
Do you have more suggestions on how & where to channel our patriotism needed?
@ Anthony
LOL @ “cursing in Nigerian dialects” and mentioning in “NYAMA”
…but they still fall under words that can only be understood by a Nigerian.
About Onyinbo chasing us away, that might just be what we need to get people motivated. But that’s not going to happen.
@ Laspapi
I don’t think Naija people will think it will be better to jump into the ocean, than to return to Naija.
donz,
If you read my post very well, I never said religion was the cause. I said we dont need any more religion than we have now, since it seems to allow people the leisure of averting their responsibility to the "devils in power" and the "ruling demons in ocult kingdoms" and more blah blah blahs.
Religion has been turned into a mask, people go to church (or wherever) to paint and beautify. But their real selves remain the same. I call it a multiple personality disorder. Call it what you will.
What I was trying to say in my original post was: if there is going to be change, it must come from people looking from different perspectives than what they already have been.
mack,
I hear you mack but the problem isn't religion, the problem is people not doing things the right way. Corruption/laziness/irresponsibility are all frowned at in the bible. The problem goes back to the individual's convictions.
ok nilla, let's take the gloves off.
Ask not what your country can do for you? That is a cliche. JFK's lines might be beautiful but Camelot parallels are not applicable to our country.
I don't ask this country to do anything for me. I ask it to give the fundamentals of existence to its people in 2007. I don't want children to wake up at 2am to the stuttering of machine gun fire on the streets as robbers impose their will on whole neighbourhoods without any response from the security agencies, and for these children to think sounds like that are normal. I don't want toddlers on their way to the nursery to regard seeing dead people with their innards exposed lying for days on Ikorodu Road as normal events.
I don't want grown men to have to explain to their children the reason they dont pay taxes anymore is because they know monies given are embezzled by those in governance. I don't want Nigerian parastatals and govrnment agencies to be inherently corrupt. I don't want officials of these agencies to ask me with a leer, "Are you not a Nigerian?"
I don't want pregnant women losing babies to Rubella because the medical services affordable to the majority do not immunize them and ante-natal is guesswork in my country.
I insist on my people's freedom to live and enjoy life, to be protected by the machinery of state.
Ask not what your country can do for you...? I've joined non-violent demonstrations, written newspaper articles, spoken repeatedly on tv, been part of seminars on human rights, joined the Civil Liberties Organization, given free legal services on issues of humanitarianism to those unable to afford it and most painfully of all, held helpless adults by the hand, unable to render assistance because there are too many walking wounded.
jaycee's still in school so we'll let him be, but for all who think those in Nigeria are complacent, who say "If I were home, I'd...", come back now. Drop your stuff, and put your money where your mouth is, today. Don't say this is unrealistic because now isn't a good time. The stars will never be in alignment for you in that regard. I'll meet you at the airport, guaranty you dont get robbed there or by policemen on the way to your residence and then you can take it from there.
I won't knock either side, those who are optimistic and those who'd rather die than return.
But do not underestimate the task here. This country is on its knees and slowly keeling to one side, its not for a lack of those fighting for what is right.
There is no quick fix for Nigeria. People are dying in droves daily and idealism won't help matters. Desk-top Generals should realise that.
Written enough, nilla. I'm out.
hmm...i just commented on a nigerian blog! yay!
Hallo Nilla, and sorry for not responding earlier.
"You’re kidding me you don’t want to go back!!!
WHY? – cos I don’t want to buy your statement on 'my attitude, my outlook on life is too different for me to feel comfortable in the Nigerian environment'"
Well, I think that most people are usually happy in an environment where they are surrounded with people who share their outlook on life. I guess I've always been different - and being different in Nigeria is much more of a cardinal sin in Nigeria than it is abroad.
But perhaps being different doesn't matter so much if you have loads and loads of money, or if you're so famous that you're beyond reproach. Then, you are regarded as merely 'slightly strange' rather than 'mad, dangerous and a threat to society'. :)
But I don't judge people for the decisions they make in deciding to stay abroad, return to Nigeria, leave Nigeria or stay in Nigeria, because our personal circumstances are all different. I certainly don't believe in the attitude of Nigerians abroad who never pass up an opportunity to comment on how terrible things are in Nigeria and how lucky they've been to escape. (But you've read my blog, so you know that already. :) )
Darn it,Nilla just made me come out...as a Nigerian!Luvvn the post gurl,only you,only you!!!
UPDATE! UPDATE!! UPDATE!!!
I have screamed oh. Wetin you fit do?! Yea, yea, I am Nigerian!!!
Personally, I love my Naija. So far, half of my life has been in Naija. We could make Naija better definitely, but it won't be easy.
I think it has 2 start with those @ the top (government) because they're the ones who can do and undo a lotta things.
The citizens can only do so much. I intend 2 relocate back 2 Naija some day. It won't be any time soon, of course becauae I am still tryna put my feet on the ground, but some day, I'll go back.
Point is, so much has 2 change 4 Naija 2 be better. Corruption is a huge, huge problem
Good one Nilla. I guess we all have to be NIGERIAN. The system may frustrate us but we have to stick at it to make our nation a better place. Do I believe Nigeria will get better? Yes. When? It depends on you and me.
As far as I am concerned no amount of wishful thinking and emotional hope with no deeds is going to move Nigeria from its present state. Please you guys should invest some time in learning about the decision process of individuals. If we fit check the public good fallacy for instance make we see wetin dey shele. Nigeria's case did not happen by mistake or by accident. Often people point out that the fifty kobo was equal to one dollar at some point. I just laugh, because money, and exchange rate is not the question but productivity. Infact Nilla we have sit down and have a serious jaw jaw on this issue. When I become the president of Nigeria, I will make you the minister of 'social conciousness', i hope you were not hoping for treasury. Naija sha.
@ Laspapi
I don’t think the statement is a cliché, but lets just agree to disagree..
All those things you don’t want to see, many of us don’t want too..
I applaud all the good things you’ve done to help those in need.
Jaycee is a she though...
And yes I agree with you that we should put our money where our mouth is. I’m really coming home next year (I just graduated and of course it doesn’t make sense to come home immediately when I have an opportunity of working via my academic training {12mos-18mos}, also I still have one more exam to take).
@ Codec
lol
@ AWW
You see how you carefully left out our psychic connection now?
Well I’ve got news for you, I’m different too.
True....our personal circumstances are different...so I’m temporarily going to stop bugging you to come home.
@ Naija Vixen
I was wondering what happened to the bloggers with Naija in their names..
You’re the first.
@ Vera
I updated on your blog already....LOL
Yeah, corruption is a big problem....
@ Adebayo
Yeah, it depends on us.
Thanx for stopping by.
@ Omodudu
It’s funny, you mentioned treasury, cos that’s the office I’ve held the most in organizations....lol...and don’t worry I didn’t tiff their money, I’m just very good at bugging people to pay dues....
Nilla,
Many Nigerians have a deep sense of "family root" and "Nigerianness," which explains why they rant and carp about the lot of the people. Even for those who have taken up refuge abroad, there is still that strong sense of camaraderie with anything Nigerian.
I guess it is because Nigeria has a great potential to be great and most Nigerians were imbibed this strong sense of community as children. It is a shame that Nigerian leaders profane this with their debauched method of governance rather than channel it to the development of the great country Nigeria ought to be.
Quick question:
Person A, lives in America, is an investor, negotiates a 1 bn dollar server farm to be built in Nigeria. In order to take advantage of the cheap labor.
Person B very successful, comes to Nigeria with loads of cash and technical know how, chooses to work in one of them Naija banks as CEO, uses is skill to perfect currency roundtripping, that hurts the Naira so bad.
Abeg who is contributing more to Nigeria's economy.
Whats all this talk about coming home in 2006, Newsfalsh my people. The world is now a global village, sometimes you guys going home just go there to exploit some more and opress the poor Nigerian guy that has not been as fortunate. Lets face it my pips.
Omodudu,
I agree with you. The larger half of the nigerian youth in diaspora I have interacted with only complain because they are not part of the in-crowd that is despoiling the Nigerian economy. Retorts like: "if na me, i no go just chop like dat, at least i go do something for the masses" are very common among these young Nigerians
Luckily, there is still a sizable number of young Nigerians who don't share this sentiment and it is on those that we hitch our hope.
I am proud to be 9ja...and believe something great can and will come out of 9ja. The world shud be watching because we juz start o.
I really miss home (Naija-because that's where my heart is)but wetin person fit do...even if I cry one (1) bucket, e no help matter.
But no matter what I do, I mus surely visit home regularly, I no go jones fo hia...(sei, Una remeber "Ghana muz go!"?)I no need 2 talk further...
@ Omodudu
From your two examples, obviously Person A is contributing more….
But that does not mean that all Nigerians going home are going to exhibit the trait of Person B.
Also in the current situation we are in now, (still assuming person A lives in America)…I think its getting tougher by the day to even have investments coming from the US, when Nigeria is continuously a security threat (no thanks to the happenings in the Niger delta area).
@ Veracity
It’s not good that we keep “having the potential to be great”, we’ve had that potential for a long time. It should be time for us to be great...
@9ja Opeke
Home is where the heart is :-)
Thanx for stopping by girl!
hopefully one day they would look back and hopefully they'll realise wat they missed.
we all have our lil problems with nigeria and the nigerian system where all rules of life, living ati be be lo has been rewritten not to fit but making up ones mind not to see anything good in nigeria might be a blessing to nigeria itself. I SEE IT AS DOING AWAY WITH THE WEAKEST LINKS.
I guess for many, they still keep the hope alife of one day (soon) of returning to nigeria, but the fear of not succedding hold them back, or the words others use, prevents them from making an informed choice of returning.
So this girl has not updated? Are you trying me? Don't try me o!
I have got n9ja as the name of my blog. Excellent post. Thanks
Great post Nilla. I think we are all guilty of judging Nigeria too much. though I always feel that when I watch Nigerian movies for example, and I pick errors which could have easily been fixed if a little more time was spent on it.
I find that my biggest criticism of Nigeria is the "notion" to get rich quick, which most human beings possess. It just seems to be on fast forward in Nigeria, I feel. We can all do our bit to better the country definitely. Hence I wanna go back to Nigeria after masters and study the film industry there and try to contribute to it.
Thanks for posing such a thought provoking question. I left an in-depth response at NIGERIANCURIOUSITY.BLOGSPOT.COM but will summarize my response here. I believe that Nigeria's situation is far from hopeless. It will take an astounding amount of work and commitment from all Nigerians to change our country for the better. To do this, the conviction and skills of Nigerians at home and expatriates abroad will be necessary. Although it is my dream to return to the country of my birth, I do not believe that returning is the only way to effect change. I feel that I can help through remittances, supporting individuals at home that make a difference, supporting economic and political leaders that have a proven record of successfully serving their customers and constituents e.t.c.
You are right, by becoming a citizen of another country, we assist in developing that country, but thank God for dual citizenship and the true love most of us have for our homeland. There should be little to stop us from helping Nigeria progress.
I could've sworn I left a comment on this post... what on earth has Vera done with my comments?!?!?I went to a Nigerians in diaspora conference on Saturday and for the first time in my life actually thought about Nigeria.. as in Nigeria-the life over there, the citizens,the politics... not just suya and lagos strip clubs.. and i must say my eyes were opened up... There are a lot of problems which i'm sure all the other commenters have talked about.. call me idealist.. but I believe can be done to change things... but the change has to start at the top
@ ChiefO
“Doing away with the weakest links”
That’s an interesting perspective…
Thanx for stopping by.
@ LOASCM
I feel you, that’s why I think we should be encouraging people to go back.
Thanx for stopping by.
@ Vera
You, you dey try me too :-)
@ n9ja
Thanx :-) and you’re welcome.
@ Elle
I am with you on improving the film industry. I enjoy watching Nigerian movies, but we know that the quality is something else….it can be improved!
@ SOLOMONSYDELLE
But shouldn’t it be something to think about, if we end up developing the other country more than ours, unless of course if the other country is the one you’ve chosen as your primary country.
I’ll stop by your blog.
Thanx for stopping by.
@ ONB
lol
Dear, I believe with you too.
Yes I know the people @ the top play a huge part in Nigeria changing or not, but I don’t think the change necessarily has to start @ the top...
@ DONZ
Thanks for stopping by..
I kept forgetting to address you, because your conversations were with Mack.
Hey Nilla: Thanks for stopping by nigeriancuriosity.blogspot.com. As to your comment on my response, I would have to respectfully and regretfully disagree. There are ways around your concern. For instance all Nigerian citizens, as long as they maintain either a passport or property in the country, can be required to pay annual taxes. Little Eritrea currently practices a similar system. That way, all Eritreans contribute to the development of their country, no matter where they live. With a lot of organization, the same can happen in Nigeria. Also, I think that the overwhelming majority of Nigerians tend to be very patriotic. The only way expats will develop foreign countries at the risk of our own development is if a significant majority of Nigerians never return to our motherland and/or never invest in Nigeria. Call me too optimistic, but something tells me that as a people we are too proud and too 'Nija' to let such happen. Thanks again, and I promise to stop, considering how much us commenters are taking up your time!!
@ SOLOMONSYDELLE
I agree...
But we need to ensure/encourage a significant majority return/invest.
Please do not stop....
It's not the commenters that are taking my time, It was my blog stalking habits....
Nigeria is a lost cause!
Until the day we put all Nigerians (those that have been entrusted to rule the country, most especially) who've stolen from the Nigerian people in a law court, found guilty and summarily excecuted or put in a jail 4 life...we will never move forward. Then we will need to set up a Reconciliation Commision and a true Sovereign National Conference where all Nigerian nationalities(tribes) will decide if they want to secede or continue to live together as one Nigeria - thereafter, we can create many Nigerian nations recognised by the U.N. and every new Nigerian nation can go their separate ways and start on a clean slate.
This is the hardline approach and it may be our only option at the end of the day for a better Nigeria nations!
Okay, sista Nilla. To ensure or at least encourage nija folks to return and/or invest is doable. Creating tax incentives is always a way to go. What will hinder progress are those maintaining the 'status quo' as discussed at my blog. That's where becoming independent of the status quo will kick in. If Ms. A returns to Nija and by God's grace is blessed with success that is not dependent on the status quo, she should be able to help other positive nigerians, right? It will take one person helping the other out. It will also take un-corrupt officials and leaders encouraging the investment of those at home and abroad through economic incentives. If we can establish a system that is clear and easy to follow, people won't be afraid to come home and improve Nigeria. And, with the cooperation of good people regardless of ethnic group or religion, we should be able to pull eachother up. Yes, terribly optimistic, but sometimes it only takes one person.
proud to be a nigerian anyday!
hey lets go to nigeria, buy a house or two in VGC,abuja and 1 near obudu,join the yatch big boys, drive hummer through ajegunle,pop champayne @ the strip clubs, speak americana to the beggars on the street, shout at he driver for the slightest mistake.
get called "sir" even if you didnt earn itwork on projects you know will be thrown out the window-you stil get paid sha...
yea rite
Nilla great post.
What i find strange about the whole debate we Nigerians have about going back home, is that for those who have 'lost hope' no one is really doing anything to be a part of their 'adopted countries'
ok so you don't want to go back to naija because its messed up but we're hardly doing anything to protect ourselves in our adopted abodes.
Take the UK for example
With the large number of Nigerians living there, we have no political clout to protect our interests if for example the BNP was to get into power.
Its easy to lose hope with the multitude of problems facing naija but part of the reason why it seems that way is because we all feel its pointless doing anything to change things.
@ Ijebuman
...I guess for some it's almost like living as a 2nd class citizen in the adopted countries...
I guess there is that liberty to feel it's pointless to make a change...because there are places to go to, or run to.
If there wasn't any other country to go to, taking steps to ensure a change wouldn't be an option, it will be a must.
Some ppl said a quarter of the ppl who go abroad and never come back r those who never had much in Nigeria,some said Nigerians prefer living as a 2nd class citizens in anoda country etc.
First of all to me,everybody has his or her own reasons for doing whatever they want.
Lets take the population of Nigeria as a whole into the consideration and also the statistics that Western Union gave from 2000 to 2005.The only reason western union is still in Business in Africa is cos of Nigeria cos the funds remitted to Nigeria by Nigerians in other countries is like 50percent of western union's revenue.
All you need to do is ask any of ur friends in UK and the US who has families back home to tell u how much they send to this Naija we r talking abt every month.
Most ppl that go to Naija from here always come back with stories that yeah ppl r making it in Naija o and the question I always ask them is,what is the percentage of friends,family etc that u know in naija did u get to see when u were there?The whole point is cos u r coming from the US and UK,the only ppl that u will relate with or that u will look for r ppl that u alrdy know either have a good job or doing good and it is with these same ppl that will u will hang out with while there.
I was talking to one of my cousins who stays in Naija and told him that it is as if there is nuthn called "concience" in naija again and he said u have to throw ur concience out of the window when u move back to naija or stay in naija which is true left to me.
Last time I was in naija,I made it a point to see as many of my old friends that r still in naija and I got to see a lot of guys that I attended school with that aint making shyte and most of these guys were way better than me back then and the only reason this is is just cos the opportunity that some of us had is not there for most ppl.
If u go to naija and u tell me that the only thing u see is Nigeria moving forward and so and so,then u r just plain selfish and just a fool.
I am proud to say that am a Nigerian anywhere I go cos I know ppl still respect us anywhere.Anybody anywhere in the world that has had the opportunity to get in contact or work with a Nigerian will always acclaim that we are one of the best in anything we decide to do.
Seriously, much as I would love to spend holidays outside the shores of Nigeria, naija remains home to me
Post a Comment