Nigeria at 50: How will the next 50 years be shaped
- Details
- Category: Okafor C. Udoka
- Published on Wednesday, 06 October 2010 12:51
- Written by Okafor C. Udoka
- Hits: 1903
Fifty years ago, our fathers rolled out their drums in great jubilation as the Union Jack was officially de-hoisted: 'we are Independent', they enthused. Theirs was a jubilation of success, courage, foresight and hope. A hope ingrained in the fact that a new properous nation was born.
Their hearts swelled with deepest sense of pride and accomplishment that posterity will enjoy the milk and honey flowing from the land they sacrificed a lot to ensure its Independence.
Today, some of our people claim that Nigeria is a country of great promises but unfortunately it is reluctant in her strides, unwilling to take the desired leaps, sluggish in her move to affirm her nationhood and slumbering in the stupor of colonial contraption, and administrative indigestion.
Nigeria indeed have come along way. Our chequered history solidifies our hope in the greatness of this country. Smarting from a civil war of man and guns which claimed over two million lives, we are today faced with the challenges of nation-building and globalisation.
The challenges before us as a nation are indeed daunting and enormous but it behooves us to set Nigeria on the path to nationhood and greatness. Of course we do not need to be in the corridors of power to effect a meaningful change, it begins with me and you in our respective families, towns, states and the nation.
The journey to the next 50 years of our nationhood has officially begun. As an editor writing editorial on Nigeria's 100th Birthday, what would you like the caption to be? For me, 'Nigeria at 100: the beacon of Excellence' would be my headline. I urge you to choose a caption for yourself and make a wish for Nigeria also. And work ceaselessly towards its actualisation.
We have a historic task to lay a strong foundation for a united, strong and prosperous Nigeria. And we must not fail in this regard. Let us consciously discharge our duties for the good of Nigeria with the very best of our strength and treasure. Let us assiduously work and pray to be remembered as a generation which uprooted the embers of hatred and discord between and amongst our people by cultivating the seed of accord.
We must not create new areas of disharmony by protecting the North against the South. Let us resolve to erase dichotomy in our national life as Nigeria marks 50.
Most importantly, let us be good examples to our children for their interpersonal and communal relationship and encourage them to grow aright. The future is indeed theirs.
At this juncture, may I cease this opportunity to wish Nigeria a happy Birthday. Even as we agree that we may not have developed as we should, there is still every reason to be thankful to God Almighty for our nation-Nigeria.
It is well Nigeria.
Okafor Udoka C.
35 Lagos Street Aba, Abia State.
