Articles & Opinions

Nigeria can still be a better place

    

By Joshua Modupe Gladys

Nigeria is a beautiful nation blessed with natural resources.

She is remarkably the most populous black nation on earth.

Nigeria is home to the second largest film industry on the globe whilst also being the fashion, technological and creative hub in Africa.

Nigerians are known for their vibrant and friendly energy experienced through diverse creative expression.

Nigeria however, lack development  and some of the development challenges are: lack of job opportunities; this issue of unemployment is because of high poverty levels which has led many into criminal activities, regional inequality, social and political unrest, high inflation has also taken toll on households, welfare and high prices of goods and commodities are likely to have pushed about 8 million Nigeria populace into poverty. That is about one third of the entire population swimming in the pool of poverty and this is a nation blessed with abundance of  natural resources and brilliant youths.

Some of the causes of social problem in Nigeria include:

  • Poverty in the midst of plenty in the society/community
  • Corruption/ bad leadership like embezzling of public funds
  • Negative peer group influence amongst the teeming youths (the leaders of tomorrow)
  • Negative influence of social media
  • Separation/ broken homes
  • Sexual immorality

This social problems are the major reasons why Nigeria remain an underdeveloped country. So, for us to have a better country, we must collectively join hands together and get rid of this negative vices that have eaten deep into the bone marrow of our dear country Nigeria.

Where there is a will, there is surely a way”, I strongly believe that there is no problem without a solution. Therefore, I will consider some ways of solving contemporary social problems facing Nigeria:

  • Rule of law: rule of law means that the law is above everyone without partiality. So whoever breaks the law should dance to the music by being punished accordingly, there should be no sacred cows.
  • Anti – corruption agencies: agencies such as the Nigeria police force, Federal road safety corps etc can help to discourage violent act by arresting culpable law offenders. So we can have a sane society.
  • Civil Society: the people should make it a collective responsibility to help make Nigeria a better place because Nigeria is the only home for us by working hard faithfully in all honesty, loyalty and having God fearing leaders whose primary aim is to have the good of the people at heart.
  • Religious organizations: religious leaders in our churches and mosques should imbibe into their members deep truth of their religious ethics on how to be God fearing and live a worthy life that will birth a better country.
  • Public opinion leaders: leaders of various association should endevour to express their opinion about any public issues without fear or favouritism either through the different communication channels.
  • Infrastructural development and maintenance: this is a major challenge in Nigeria, infrastructural development has been long abandoned by our leaders or mis- managed. We need the intrusion of industries so as to reduce the cost of transporting goods and services from other countries. There is also need for constant power supply to run the industries smoothly. Philip Emeagili said “ Nigeria is a nation with over 100 million energetic people, endowed with natural resources but lack mental resources”. This is pathetic and I think this is the major difference between developed and developing country like Nigeria.

Nigeria can still be a better place with good leadership who have dreams and aspiration for a sane and better society. We need leaders with the right mindset, right network and mental resources to pilot the county into the needed development and success. We need leaders who will be accountable to her citizens.

Election is round the corner, Nigerians should vote wisely a good leader that will help better the lives of the people by bringing the needed development and infrastructural facilities in all State of the nation.

To make Nigeria a better place for all, good social amenities such as good road network, health care for both young and old, constant power supply, affordable homes, security, education and great investment in human and capital, this can drive the intending change we desire to have a better Nigeria.

Conclusively therefore, we should remember that Nigeria is our home, “our castle”  running away to build other peoples economy is not the way forward but a collective responsibility to join hands together to make our country a better place is paramount. There is power in unity, lets make Nigeria a better place for us and our generation unborn to live in.

Joshua Modupe Gladys is an SS 2 Art student at Bishop Smith Memorial College, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.

She is one of the winners of SHARON GRACE MEDIA LTD PRIZE for writing this article

Ntional News Beam.

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