Nigeria is one of the greatest countries in the world and has been extremely blessed by God.
A land of about 574,003 square miles and 150 million people with huge natural resources, wonderful weather, no known or serious natural disaster, where almost anything of agricultural value can grow; a place that has been blessed with vast mineral, agricultural and human resources, extremely capable, strong hardworking, motivated and intelligent people with a lot of energy.
It is a shame therefore and a bit unfortunate that in the year of our Lord 2015 after 55 years of independence – Nigeria has not quite gotten to where it should be.
A friend of mine said recently that perhaps in our lifetime, we might get to a state of good governance, a state of good statesmanship, but we might not be able to get to a state of excellent governance or top level statesmanship.
Whatever the case may be, we must set ourselves on the path of this excellent governance and leadership. That is the way and direction Nigeria should go and that should be our creed at this time.
We must begin to galvanise well thinking people to come together under a platform to help build this nation.
We must put aside personal interests that jeopardise our collective dream and look to the interest of the common man, expand our coast, think of common good and think beyond ourselves.
We must begin to think of leaving an enduring legacy for the future generations. Nigerians must work together to see how we can build an outstanding nation.
That is the reason why at this point in time, we must find a way of honouring Nigeria. The good thing about Nigeria is that it is not all a bad story. Nigeria has as her citizens, some of the most outstanding people that the world has ever seen.
A while ago, a friend’s wife was ill and needed to have a brain operation and because of the state of our health facilities, she had to be flown abroad for the surgery. When she got there, they did a few tests and said she must be operated upon within three weeks.
Unfortunately, the doctor most qualified (and one of the best three in the world) to do this operation had a waiting list of six months.
The lady’s family asked for the name of this doctor and it happened that he was a Nigerian who had come out of the University of Ibadan Medical School (UCH). They called on my brother (who attended UI) and asked if he knew this fellow and my brother said yes, he did.
My brother picked up the phone and called this guy, they renewed acquaintances and my brother told him of this lady who needed this surgery done as soon as possible. That was how this gentleman agreed to perform this operation within the stipulated three weeks.
This lady’s life was saved because this doctor is a Nigerian.
Everywhere you go in the world, you will see a Nigerian doing great things.
We have a Nigerian engineer designing cars at General Motors in the United States; we have Kunle Olukotun, a professor of computer engineering at Stanford; we have the highly respected Dr. Funmi Olopade, one of the best brains in cancer research in the world at the University of Chicago.
We have the young Ify currently doing her PhD thesis at Oxford University and a leading Malaria researcher; we have the popular Chimamanda Adichie, award winning author of several bestselling books.
We have the highly popular and respected Chinua Achebe, a professor emeritus at Brown University in the US; I am told that one of the leading people at NASA is a Nigerian, Dele Olojede, a Nigerian publisher has won the highly coveted Pulitzer prize in the US.
Mention must also be made of Ben Okri, who once won the Man Booker prize award our highly respected Professor Wole Soyinka, our Noble Prize laureate, Hakeem Olajuwon, J.J. Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, these are just a few amongst the several Nigerians doing wondrously well all over the world.
We must begin to celebrate all these people and begin to celebrate the good about Nigeria and as we begin to speak great things about this country; we must raise up bright and new role models.
As we honour Nigeria and outstanding Nigerians, thanking God that in spite of all that has happened, Nigeria will begin to be outstanding.
Nigeria is still standing as a nation, Nigeria is still looked upon as the giant of Africa and one with the greatest potentials on the continent; in spite of everything, Nigeria is still a dominant force along the West Coast and represents one of the largest economies in Africa and amongst the top 20 in the world, things will begin to improve.
Nigerians are still friendly, accommodating and forward looking people; in spite of everything, Nigerians are still hopeful that things will be better.
It was this nation that gave rise to icons such as Nnamdi Azikwe, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, Simeon Adebo, Wole Soyinka, Emeka Anyaoku, Chris Ogunbanjo, Mobolaji Bank-Anthony, Grace Alele-Williams, Kole Omotosho, Akintola Williams, Chief Rotimi Williams (SAN), Alhaji Aminu Kano, Prof. John Pepper Clerk, Lt. Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, Anthony Enahoro, Pa Rewane, Prof. Adeoye Lambo, Prof. Oritsejolomi Thomas, Justice Idigbe, Justice Adetokunbo Ademola, Sir Samuel Manuwa, Philanthropist Mobolaji Bank-Anthony, Chief Bola Ige, Primate Akinola, Prof. Bolanle Awe, Fela Anikulapo Kuti and his brothers, Olikoye and Beko and their entire family, Hogan Kid, Bassey, Dick Tiger, Chief Henry Fajemirokun, Chief A.O Lawson, Dr. Christopher Kolade, Pius Okigbo.
Even at the risk of sounding immodest, my own dear mother, Mrs Folayegbe Akintunde Ighodalo, first female permanent secretary in Nigeria, the Miller sisters, Mrs Tejumade Alakija, first female head of service in Nigeria, Justice Taslim Elias, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Prince Bola Ajibola (SAN), Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim, Alison Ayida, Phillip Asiodu, Dr. M.A Majekodunmi, Steve Rhodes, Sam Amuka-Pemu, Alhaji Babatunde Jose, Fela Sowande, Herbert Macaulay, Duro Ladipo, Herbert Ogunde, Samuel Ajayi Crowther and so many others who need to be celebrated.
We must all join hands together, and work hard to ensure that in the next 10, 30 and 50 years, Nigeria becomes truly outstanding and makes its mark amongst the committee of nations.
We must begin to look right now for the right kind of leadership; we must begin to look into the right kind of processes that will take us to where we are going; we must begin to make use of our natural resources and use them optimally; we must begin to encourage again the spirit of labour, hard work, honesty.
We must begin to look at the things we can do to take Nigeria forward and say no more to all the elements of backwardness that has held this nation back.
We must begin to honour our own, say good things about Nigeria and as we do that, God in His infinite wisdom and mercy will begin to move the right people into the right places. And that is why we are honouring Nigeria.