Nigeria is a very blessed country. The nation is so blessed that if its resources are properly utilised, it can soar high. However, the country is faced with challenges that are holding it back; keeping it from reaching its full potentials. The Nigeria we have today is a country where the people do not feel safe; a country where it seems as though everything is turning upside down. This is why the people are hoping and praying for a better Nigeria; the Nigeria of our dreams and the Nigeria we so desperately want.
We are still hoping for a country where the masses can move freely without feeling threatened or uncertain about their safety. We are yearning for a nation where corruption and evil practices are tamed. We want a country where integrity and goodwill will prevail. We hope for a country where children can go to school without the fear of being kidnapped. We desire a country where people of various tribes and religion can coexist peacefully; where differences in tribe, tongue or religion is not a hindrance to good governance. We yearn for a country where willing and able youths can be assured of finding good jobs; a nation where basic infrastructure and amenities are available everywhere. More than anything else, we want a country where peace reigns. However, we cannot just sit and expect to move mountains without doing anything to actualise what we believe and hope for. As citizens, there are certain things we can do to individually and communally play our part to make Nigeria a better country.
These include, among others, obeying laws and order. Laws are set up for the proper running of a nation. So, by disobeying them, you’re choosing to disrupt the country from being properly run.
The masses can also offer community services. People of a particular community can put their hands together and develop programmes for the benefit of the community at large. A major challenge is that, government funds do not always reach every part of the country. So, people often have to provide for themselves basic amenities such as pipe borne water, power/electricity, roads and even schools.
More Educated youths can also volunteer to teach the younger children who do not have the opportunity to go to school; selfless service is what makes the world complete.
Creation of jobs by individuals should be encouraged to avoid over-dependence on scarce government jobs. More jobs created by people means more employment and more people taken off the streets. This will solve the problem of unemployment and of poverty. These are some of the things people can do as individuals but there are some things better solved collectively (by the masses, the government and even international bodies if necessary).
Advocating tribes supremacy should be discouraged and attract sanctions. Taking this action will help to build unity among the different tribes and thereby strengthen the whole country. All tribes should be treated equally by the government and given equal roles and power in government. No particular tribe should be treated higher or held with greater respect. For the problem of tackling corruption in the country, though it is a difficult problem that can happen in various forms, there are various ways of finding a solution to it but fighting corruption in the general is a gradual effort. Whether it’s corruption in governance or corruption in the place of work, we must try to expose the ways and doings of corrupt people because there are laws against corruption that attract certain amount of punishment. It is not something that can be achieved in one day but it is important to start somewhere. After all, as it’s popularly said, Rome was not built in a day.
Terrorism is another major challenge that is being faced in the country. The current approach being used in tackling the problem is not yielding the best result. This is mostly because the security bodies are trying to engage in more battles which leads to more loss of lives and property. Instead, places should be adequately secured with good security gadgets and officers while conscious efforts should be made to attempt a dialogue with the terrorists to overcome the issues.
The lives of the people should be prioritised by the government because there can be no country without people.
In conclusion, a life of prayer should be employed to fortify every other conscious effort that is made. If every solution is taken into consideration and worked towards, it will lead us to the better Nigeria that we all are seeking. Everyone should join hands to make Nigeria a better place to live in; better for us and better for the generations to come. The fact that we believe means that someway, somehow, someday we will achieve the Nigeria we want. It is not something that can be achieved in a day but remember, Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Faith is taking the first step when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
NAME:
JAMES GLORY GOKE
SCHOOL:
GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOL WUSE ZONE 3, ABUJA
PORTFOLIO:
STUDENT
AGE:
14
