Contrary to the unspoken wishes and expectations of most of us, development is not accidental; neither is it spontaneous, but all development is the product of a well-followed and articulated process. A boy who GROWS up to become a notorious criminal or a fraudulent politician or a careless doctor, didn’t just come to that; rather, he or she gets there through a series of behaviors or attitudes that were not controlled from childhood to adulthood. When a man takes a step, and another step, and another step without control; he or she will not remain in the same place, but will have moved from places and spaces.
In the same way, what we see around us today is not accidental, the “sudden” yearning for fame, HUGE money, pleasure and acceptance in our societies, is not SUDDEN as we would love to admit; but gradual; in fact, each development is the product of a constant but gradual process over time. Whether Nigeria is a developed economy or an underdeveloped economy today, it is not SUDDEN. That we have a form of political crisis in Nigeria and we see politicians crossing parties like crossing streets, it is also not SUDDEN. It is evident that the attitude of our leaders when it comes to money (laundering or looting) is also not a SUDDEN fact: we as a people and the leaders have taken certain steps for decades, which has led to everything that we are. watch and enjoy (or endure today).
Many reasons explain our underdevelopment; but I will examine the top 10 in this article. The top 10 reasons for Nigeria’s underdevelopment (at 54 years of independence) are as follows:
1) Self-discovery:
Mongo Park is believed to have discovered the Niger River, and many other explorers discovered different parts of the world. As fantastic as it seems that a town is discovered; it’s just as pathetic. When a town is DISCOVERED by others; those who discover them get to know them, their strengths and weaknesses; and they make sure to exploit uncovered people and their resources (while keeping uncovered people IGNORANT of themselves). The greatest enemy of our development as a nation economically is the IGNORANCE of SELF. Life Coaches are aware of the impediments of lack of self-awareness to personal success; I am persuaded that until we realize who we are as a people or a nation; we could end up trying to become anything or anyone among the nations. IDENTITY is key to focus and courage; because until we realize who we are, we will continue to want to be like everyone else. Today, we have lost almost everything that we could call “our heritage” to cultures and peoples who know who they are and are secure in their self-awareness.
2) Sense of nationality:
The assumption is strong; but it is different from reality. We often make assumptions and act on our assumptions; and in truth, some people live in and by assumptions. Some people assume so much that they are even afraid of reality. On October 1, 2014, it opened my eyes; after the Independence Day celebrations at night; my wife observed that hardly anyone was really moved by independence day: most people just take the opportunity to take a break from work. A nation is not just a collection of people living together; but a bond of people who share the same culture, economic life, ethnic group, among others. Until we regain the lost sense of nationhood among Nigerians, true productivity from the private sector to the public sector will not be realized. Nigerians must be excited to see the bigger picture than their immediate families to the entire nation called Nigeria.
3) National Sacrifice:
This reason is connected with the previous one. When we see ourselves as parts of a whole, sacrificing ourselves for the whole (Nigeria) will be easy. The truth is that development is not achieved on a gold platter. Going to the moon may sound laudable; but leading the expedition for your nation is a sacrifice. Many nations that we now call developed nations are simply nations whose people have sacrificed for the common good.
4) Social structure:
The sacrifice is not just by public statement; but by public and private practice. Long time; the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, advised Nigerians to sacrifice for the good of Nigeria during the fuel subsidy protest; but the Nigerians were quick to advise him to curtail his own rights, benefits and allowances for the good of the nation. A poorly structured society will hardly be well ordered and well managed. The gap between rich and poor is widening every day and the government is not really working hard enough to close this almost endless gap. The society that acclaims corrupt and “too smart” entities; the society that expects so much from a rich man, but cares less about the origin of his money, can hardly be a developed society. The structure of our societies must be reformed for true development from the base to the center of government.
5) Influence:
Everything is said to remain in a state of rest until an external force is applied to it. Nigerians are great people, with tremendous potential; but they have been trained to depend on the words of the elders. However, it is clear that the requisite willpower Nigerians need to venture into the unknown to try new things and break new ground has been weak and in most cases absent. Influence determines where a people goes or goes; We are where we are because of the form of influence our leaders have exerted on us. Therefore, we Nigeria are not developed today, it is because our past and current leaders have exerted and are exerting underdeveloped influences on us.
6) Scarcity:
Scarcity doesn’t have to be real to be felt; I think Nigeria’s problem is not scarcity per se; the target has a SCARCENESS MENTALITY. This type of mindset causes people to act or think as if things, jobs, opportunities, and people are in short supply. When a man has a scarcity mentality, he believes he would be foolish if he didn’t take as much as possible, steal as much as possible, connect with as many as possible. A nation with a scarcity mentality is a distracted nation; instead of people spreading out to blaze new trails, explore new opportunities, and try new things; everyone stays with the “available” and fight for the lion’s share. When this goes on for a long time; perceived scarcity then becomes real. Nigeria is not underdeveloped because the requirements for true development were not or are not available; but because nobody wants to leave the few for the many buried underground or hidden in places. Therefore, let us make the decision to break these chains of scarcity and explore more land and opportunities.
7) Shallowness:
I am of the opinion that superficiality does not imply emptiness or foolishness; but unwillingness to go further, deeper or higher. We do not lack potential as a people; we simply have the challenge of “stressing out”. We believe that “just a little is enough”! Nations do not develop over decades with shallow thoughts, shallow productions, shallow inventions, or shallow ideas; but in depth! We must say no to mediocrity and embrace excellence. What we need to become excellent academics, excellent politicians, excellent teachers, excellent designers, among others, is within us; we just need to tap into our internal reserves of national excellence.
8) National Vision:
Until we see it together, we can’t get there together. Our challenge is not a lack of vision; but lack of national vision. We must come together to conceive and project a vision of the future that we all anticipate. Vision produces speed, confidence, creativity, and focus; until we all see the same thing as a nation; we cannot get to the same place as a people.
9) Role models:
It is said that “people do what people see”; therefore, if Nigerians can see enough images of their personal and national future; they will be motivated and inspired to endure anything and face the greatest challenges on their way to great achievements. Nigerians need more reliable, proven and safe SHOULDERS to ride on, on their way to greatness. Role models are supposed to be guides to personal achievement, culminating in national achievement; however, the nation suffers from a shortage of transparent role models (men and women) with a worthy track record in their own pursuits in life. Today, the marriages, businesses, parties, associations and religious organizations of so many “role models” are falling. We need more reliable MODELS in Nigeria for the sake of our national posterity.
10) Reward system:
National honors I think should go to the honorable men and women of the country. But the reality in Nigeria is not; for men and women of questionable character and records various national awards are scored (awarded). A politician who ran for governor and lost received a national merit award; while the winner of the election was not. Nigeria is a place where honor is given to whom honor is not due – in such a situation, few people, whose honor does not belong to men and women, nor to governments; but God, they have been able to do great things by themselves, without being weighed down by the attitude of the government. To encourage more achievements of people in the country, more professionals, entrepreneurs and statements must receive national honors, if we really want to join the committee of progressive nations of the world.
This is a word from the bottom of my heart to all Nigerians at home and abroad.