In recent times, a number of Nigerian citizens have been recognised abroad with high profile appointments in various fields of endeavour. The Federal Government has always sent congratulatory messages to them for “making Nigeria proud”.
Recently, Olurotimi Badero, Nigerian-American, was named as the only combined cardiologist and nephrologist (heart and kidney specialist) in the world. Nigerian Yakubu Nura recently emerged winner of the world physics competition. Kennedy Ekezie, an indigene of Imo State, was recently honoured by Queen Elizabeth 11. The 20-year-old young man was honoured for raising over $2million (two million dollars) to start mentorship programme for young Africans all over the world.
One important denominator in all of these appointments, exploits and recognitions is that those involved were raised abroad, not in Nigeria!
They have the black Nigerian gene, but their intellect was honed abroad. It means that there is nothing wrong in being a Nigerian; the limiting factor has been the environment.
It is the environment that does not enable citizens to live out their potential; but kills dreams. In the sports arena, all those that have been celebrated as having made their mark in their chosen sports, reached their peak offshore. They were discovered with great talents, but such talents would have died had they stayed in Nigeria. They got signed on to clubs abroad and had a success story. Today, many Nigerian sportsmen and women are in various parts of the world wearing the national colours of other countries and doing great exploits.
The Nigerian environment has continued to limit many citizens so much that the rate of emigration is growing exponentially. People want to relocate to Canada, London, America, Australia, Ukraine, and to many other countries of the world.
Just recently also, Kemi Badenoch, became the only African woman appointed as United Kingdom minister by the new British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. Badenoch is only 39!
United Kingdom is appointing youths into government positions, while the Nigerian government is busy recycling geriatric who have been in politics all their lives.
Although government has always made life difficult for people to land good opportunities or to live out their potentials in the country, they are always ready to own and appropriate the success of Nigerians abroad. Although through nepotism, they put down those qualified for jobs while filling job vacancies with mediocre people; they are always quick to “celebrate” appointments done by merits (abroad) and by a people who hate cutting corners.
Congratulating Ralph Akinfeleye, a foremost Mass Communications lecturer, on his recent election into the World Journalism Education Council, President Muhammadu Buhari, had, through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said Federal Government will always appreciate those who bring honour to the country, particularly in the areas of scholarship and other lofty endeavours.
The statement added that the election of the University of Lagos don in Paris, France, witnessed the “hoisting of Nigeria’s flag proudly once again in the international arena.”
In what appears to have a perfect bearing on the Nigeria story, Mensa Otabil, founder of the International Central Gospel Church, in a keynote address at Albert Ocran’s Springboard Convocation programme, stunned his listeners. In his illustration, Otabil gave a parable of Onions and why Mark Zuckerberg is richer than Ghana, saying that environment plays a huge role in shaping the lives of citizens and in determining what they become ultimately.
He told his audience that Zuckerberg, a 31-year-old computer programmer, is richer than him (Otabil), his wife; richer than President Mahama and the MPs and richer than all Ghanaians combined.
Otabil pointed out that Zuckerberg is not more intelligent than the thousands of computer programmers in Ghana, but the American has a better environment; a country of opportunities.
“What is the difference between Zuckerberg and you; Steve Jobs and you? Otabil asked rhetorically. “It is not brains, it is the environment,” he answered sullenly.
In another story, Otabil said he read in a book, of a US company seeking to grow onions that will not sting the eyes. For a man who had shed onion-stinging- tears in the past from his kitchen in Accra, he will certainly wonder how an American company will grow new species of onions without its notorious characteristic. But the ‘useless’ book he was reading in the plane suddenly became useful, revealing, that the new species of onions will be planted in a ‘non-sulfuric ground.’
He learnt a new thing. Onions sting eyes because they are always grown and nurtured in a soil full of sulfur but the US company is coming with a new offer. “The reason why the onions will not sting people’s eyes is because it was going to be grown in sulfur-free soil,” he said.
“It is not the nature of onions to sting eyes. It is the environment it is nurtured in that makes it sting eyes. It struck me that a person can be so good but if he is planted in a wrong environment, he is going to turn up so bad,” Otabil said.
He wondered how much sulfur was in the Ghanaian environment that made many dreams, business break down in tears.
“What have we put in the environment, in the soil that is killing the dream of young men and young women? How can people go to university and for years and not know what to do? How can people with potential not fulfill their potential?
No matter how big the dream is, Otabil says if the environment is without a sulfur-free soil, you will achieve something, but ultimately you will become the village champion amongst global players.
“The challenge for nations like Ghana is not the challenge of talented citizens. It is the challenge of poisonous environment. An environment that has been poisoned by ordinariness, by mediocrity and sometimes by a clear agenda to destroy talents.
“And how can a nation be great when its systems are fighting the talent of its people? he asked.
It is good to dream because dream is free but fight to get a better environment for the dream to thrive; he challenged the young men and women.
The Nigerian government, nay, politicians must start thinking of us; of our lives; our future and dreams. And the only way to do that is for them to start thinking, not in party terms, but in policy terms.
This is because, as Otabil puts it, “if that doesn’t happen, dreamers will die with their dreams not realised.”
Zebulon Agomuo
