There is Progress Ahead
Bill Gates spoke. Nigeria is debating. That is good. Before Gates, many have said the same thing - Nigeria needs to invest in its people - in varying styles. Nearly everyone that left government typically starts saying the same. Ex-President Jonathan now wants bigger budget for education [he did not do that]. From Kaduna to Lagos, Abia to Benue, the best ideas always come when someone has left government in Nigeria.
Simply, it is all politicking. They know what to do but no one wants to make some people uncomfortable. That is why the most important infrastructure we need in Nigeria – the development of our people – has not been commissioned.
Yet, do not lose hope in the capacity of your fellow citizens. As they siddon-look in government houses across the nation, our private sector is doing all to “restore the dignity of man”[Thanks UNN]. Mr. Gates quoted life expectancy of 53 years for Nigerians; two decades ago, it was 48 years. That is progress even though we can do better.
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Do not cloud your mind with hopelessness. Find a space; activate the optimistic exuberance that has made us one of the happiest people on earth. Channel that happiness to an endeavor. We would be fine because from the traffic seller through mamaput to Dangote, our entrepreneurs are the best in Africa. That is a foundation we would build upon.
The best ideas don't just come after people leave government, but also before they enter government. The perceived 'demon' obviously is within government, once you get there, you get possessed by the same thing that took over those who were there before you.
An average Nigerian appears to be hardworking, many are brilliant, with revolutionary and transformative ideas; but always fall short when asked to replicate same in government. There's a disconnection here, and until it's rectified, our growth and progress would remain minimal.
Individual capacity has its limitations, until fused and institutionalised, the full potentials may never be realised. We just have to make the government WORK, atleast to the point of matching individual capability and industry. Currently that's not the case, and the country keeps bleeding because of that.
We cannot afford to look the other way when the government isn't working, even the small progress you make in your personal endeavours, the government still wants a 'share'; and that throws up a moral question.