Thursday, April 22, 2010

THE NIGERIAN SITUATION…AND THE POSSIBLE SOLUTION...USING THE AIESEC EXPERIENCE!



“…This is a new moment of great promise. To realize that promise, we must first recognise a fundamental truth that you have given life to in Ghana: Development depends upon good governance.
That is the ingredient which has been missing in far too many places, far too long. That is the change that can unlock Africa’s potential…”


These are the words of the first black American president Barack Obama, during his state visit to Ghana. This speech, and others that have been made by top ranking officials of the Obama-led U.S government, most especially that of Hillary Clinton during her visit to Nigeria has drawn the attention of the world to the African reality, or more specifically, THE NIGERIAN SITUATION.

In a country blessed with abundant natural and human resources, it is quite ironical that the majority of our 140 million citizens languish in abject poverty and squalor, with no access to basic physiological needs like food, water, decent housing, basic health facilities, education, etc.

Our economy is being crippled by lack of power, generating a mere 2,400 megawatts for our 140 million people while South Africa generates over 40,000 megawatts for less than 50 million of her inhabitants. And yet, year in, year out our government vote billions to power sector with no results.

Our education sector is comatose, with incessant strikes being the order of the day. Conducive learning environment is a luxury, only to be enjoyed by the children of the rich. Our classrooms lack windows, roofs, no chairs and tables, toilet facilities, name it… our children and future leaders beg for education, and our leaders ignore their pleas.

Our health sector is begging for attention, with one doctor to thousands of patients, earning a pay that can barely take them home. Health facilities are non-existent, our hospitals are a death trap and those who are in the position to fix this rot are whisked abroad for the treatment of a slight headache, leaving the teeming impoverished citizens with no choice but to die in the rotten hospitals.

Transportation is non-existent as Our roads are suicidal, some of them ranking among the worst in the world. Motorists spend hours, sometimes days on the road due to total degradation and consistent accidents; falling of trailers and tankers and horrible accidents.

The rail ways are on their knees, begging for resuscitation, with the few trains and rail lines and train stations dating back as far as British colonial incursion into Nigeria. Our people are left with no choice but to hop on motorbikes popularly called Okada in the south and Achaba in the North, driving recklessly on the terrible roads, often times ending up beneath trailers and tankers, consequently crushing the skulls of both operator and passenger and sending them to their early graves. While the few rich and political class cruise around in moving machines and helicopters and private jets.

According to Thomas Hobbes and the Social contract theorists, societies surrendered their individual and collective freedom in exchange for security of life and property, but this is not the case in Nigeria where our security is in the hands of God.

Our Police force epitomizes corruption, poverty and illiteracy put together, with brutality being the only language that the men of the force understand. Their only passion lies in the consistent extortion and harassment of motorists and innocent civilians, the youths being their highest casualty. These law enforcers know nothing about the provisions of the law and officers shoot innocent youths, even children and women every now and then for ‘resisting arrest’, turning indiscriminate killings into their primary assignment. Our main source of security has become our major source of insecurity and fear.

Brain-drain is threatening to kill the little hope we have, as our youths join long queues in embassies on the quest to flee their fatherland, some are shot while attempting to sneak into Europe through North-African waters. Patriotism is an alien word and ‘Love for your country’ is a song for the looters of public treasury.

All these and many more happen in the midst of abundant wealth and plenty. In the words of Hillary Clinton while in Nigeria “…You know the raw numbers -$300billion, 2million barrels of oil per day- they are staggering, but they don’t tell you how many hospitals and roads could have been built. They don’t tell you how many Nigerians could have attended college or how many mothers could have survived childbirth if that money had been spent differently…”

All these has pushed our youths to the wall, turning back on the nation as militants, embarking on life-threatening missions… the Niger-Delta crisis, the Boko Haram, OPC, Egbesu, and so many others too numerous to mention. Crime has taken over the minds of our youths; kidnappings, cyber crimes, popularly called ‘Yahoo-Yahoo’, turning the blessings of the internet into a curse.

Our desperate youths see crime as an escape from terminal poverty and as Obama said, all these can be reversed with one thing: Good governance. ‘Development’ he said, ‘depends upon good governance…the ingredient which has been missing in far too many places, far too long…the change that can unlock Africa’s potential…’

THE SOLUTION BY OUR YOUTHS, USING THE AIESEC EXPERIENCE

For 61 years globally, AIESEC has continuously provided an international platform for young people to explore and develop their potential to make positive impact on the society.

With presence in over 110 countries in all the continents, AIESEC has contributed to the development of many nations, both in the 1st and 3rd world countries, by reeling out outstanding alumni; individuals who have distinguished themselves in their various fields, awarded and applauded for their administrative and managerial dexterity and well polished with the fundamental etiquettes of good governance. From former presidents to captains of industries, academics, and Nobel Prize winners…the list goes on and on, affirming the quality and substance that AIESECERS are made of.

The AIESEC values; Activating leadership; Demonstrating integrity; Acting sustainably; Living diversity; Striving for excellence and Enjoying participation constitute the pillars upon which the Nigerian nation can stand firm and strong. So therefore, the importance of adopting and imbibing these values into the Nigerian society cannot be over emphasized.

Our local and National seminars and conferences are characterised by tremendous learning experiences in leadership and management capacity building, while at the same time acting as an avenue for social integration among youths of various backgrounds and nationalities across Nigeria and even beyond, eschewing ethnic jingoism and upholding our values of ‘living diversity’.

There is no doubt that an involvement of governments at all levels, especially federal and state in these conferences will go a long way in facilitating the building of the necessary human capital required for our ultimate need - Good Governance.

This will precipitate a sporadic value re-orientation among our youths and equip them with the necessary competencies needed for leadership responsibilities.
As for the battered image of our dear country, the AIESEC exchange program has been generating high quality internships from all over the world. Interns come into Nigeria from several of our 110 member countries to participate in our exchange program, some living and working in even volatile parts like the Niger-Delta region. This is made possible as a result of the re-branding exercise that AIESEC has been, and is still giving to Nigeria globally through our virtual database and also the performance of AIESEC Nigeria on the international network. In so doing, portraying our citizens as resourceful and sincere, and our country as beautiful and hospitable. Hundreds of these youths go back to their countries with a renewed perception of the Nigerian state, and go on to preach the good news about Nigeria to the rest of the world. Thanks to the AIESEC experience!

What hundreds of millions of naira could not achieve through different re-branding packages by successive governments is being achieved by AIESECERS with very little resources at our disposal. This exchange program, if tapped into and supported by the government and more corporate organizations can go a long way in changing the Nigerian image for good, while at the same time contributing immensely to economic growth.

Our projects have also been contributing tremendously to the development of our immediate societies, projects like; Young EntrepreneurS {YES}; Education; Answers, Solution, and Knowledge around HIV/AIDS {ASK}, AfriTour, ICT and so many others have helped to empower many youths who in turn will contribute their quota in catapulting our nation from this socio-economic milieu.

Such diligent and exceptional exploits are not only carried out by AIESEC, but some other reputable youth organizations in Nigeria who keep yearning for government support and societal encouragement.

These and many, many more have been achieved by this group of students and recent graduates whose quest to become change agents is what has brought us together and what keeps us going. But we can contribute much more to this society if our ideas are bought into, our projects and ways are encouraged and promoted by the government and other well meaning Nigerians.

In the words of Hillary Clinton “…We also believe that civil society has a very big job to do. And by civil society, I include all of the organizations that are formed by citizens, the NGOs, the faith based groups, everyone working together…”
Yes, together we can make this country the giant that it should be.

2 comments:

  1. True talk. I love the directness of the tone. Plus, I'm particularly grateful to AIESEC. My time as an AIESECer helped open my eyes!!! Great work, Ayo.

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  2. Ayobankole, I completely agree with you. Infact I can say this is the 'clearest anatomy' of Nigeria's problems and possible solutions that have read so far. It is illuminative.
    As for the situations in 'Naija- My beloved country', I must say I had completely lost every hope that things can get better especially for the youths. I looked at it from the perspectives which you analysed and all I saw was a huge 'WALL OF JERICHO' in the likes of our so-called political leaders. Even when I was in University of Ibadan, which, as at then I believed to be among the best in the world, I was still of the opinion that the future is bleek and completely uncertain.
    It was when I viewed the world from a 'High Pedestal' that I saw the possibilities of the future of NIGERIA being rescued how much more 'Resuscitated'.
    The high pedestal am referring to is the UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER which helps youths realise the potential in them by giving them opportunities to explore and their world in different realistic ways. Believe me Westminster's arms are so wide serving as a communication forum bringing students together from all part of the world. NO racial prejudices just a school environment filled with fellowship. I have met AISECers in Uni of Westminster as well as other members of other good organisations. And they have impacted in me so greatly just like you (Ayo) have done.

    What I am saying so far is this: "If you no go you no go know"? I have gone and I have seen.

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