Today, Lagos is fast becoming a wonder to itself and the same set of inhabitants who have lived here for years. The roads are being transformed from market extensions and death traps to perform their real functions – smooth transportation of people, goods and services, the night view of green lawns coupled with solar-powered lighting are admirable, waste management is improving daily (the new recycling system is a plus), the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system has started on a good note, the waterways are becoming alternatives for transportation, emphasis on overall development is so obvious – even the blind can see that.
This rapid development in about two years is not just a miracle. I believe in miracles, however, they cannot be confused with results from conscious and well calculated input of time, energy, money and human resources coupled with discipline, sincerity and a strong passion for change. Even God has respect for work.
How then can this ongoing development be sustained? As I ask this question, I think of the next twenty years. How will Lagos look like again when successive administrations have passed by? We must not forget how hard it is for change to be effected in a people who are used to a different lifestyle. We must not forget that there are people who hate change, people Harold Wilson referred to as architects of decay who will be happy just to reverse the ongoing reformation in this state and of course in other states were such development in on-going. These, I believe will not discourage us. Instead, they stand as challenges we must overcome if the future of our children will be secured.
The popular saying: you can’t teach old dog new tricks, reminds me of the importance of correct training when it is most effective: when the dog is young. Have we ever thought for once, that the same children we tend to overlook will become the youths of tomorrow and grow into the elders and decision makers in the future? Just in 20 years, a baby becomes an adult, a youth becomes a father
As a conscious optimist, I hate to talk about the problems but lasting solutions will never be a reality without identifying today’s problems and the challenges they pose to a sustained development.I strongly believe that any form of development, meant to last, must start from bottom up. Today, we lament at the rate of innocent killings by some irresponsible members of the Nigerian Police. Our learning institutions, the foundation of any true development drop on the world rankings daily – they have become business empires for uncaring, short-sighted and ultimately wicked people. Thugs and drug addicts hang around everywhere causing pain to responsible citizens, our youths pride in immediate but never-lasting gratification.
Cheating is encouraged from birth through primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, no thanks to inordinate ambitions of parents and craze for money and fake recognition by proprietors (I read with utmost dismay and a sad humor, the WAEC rankings of secondary schools based on students’ performance. I only wish they knew how their supervisors supervise excellent meals and leave with mouth-watering cash prizes leaving proprietors and students of some of these schools to cheat endlessly. I do not suppose that all these schools do not deserve to be on top of the rankings. However I know (by personal experience) that many do not deserve to be there. If only the rankings could be done with more diligence, taking into cognizance the results of products of these same schools after four years in tertiary institutions (some never get there, many are drop-outs).
Do we realize that as we shout and make noise about change; we only pay lip service to it. Or do we expect a messiah from heaven? We are in the same circle regardless of the highest form of infrastructural development. I do not undermine the efforts of the government in this area, but to be candid, if we have a set of negative-minded children and youths today, we only build for today. The future of this state and our nation in general is questionable.
In stating our present problems and challenges, I have focused strongly on young people and our learning institutions, the home and the schools; because I believe that any lasting development must strong roots these places. What then is the solution?
I await your well-thought comments on this issue. Your comment could be the solution we need! Remember its a collective vision.Yes to the Nigerian Dream.
This rapid development in about two years is not just a miracle. I believe in miracles, however, they cannot be confused with results from conscious and well calculated input of time, energy, money and human resources coupled with discipline, sincerity and a strong passion for change. Even God has respect for work.
How then can this ongoing development be sustained? As I ask this question, I think of the next twenty years. How will Lagos look like again when successive administrations have passed by? We must not forget how hard it is for change to be effected in a people who are used to a different lifestyle. We must not forget that there are people who hate change, people Harold Wilson referred to as architects of decay who will be happy just to reverse the ongoing reformation in this state and of course in other states were such development in on-going. These, I believe will not discourage us. Instead, they stand as challenges we must overcome if the future of our children will be secured.
The popular saying: you can’t teach old dog new tricks, reminds me of the importance of correct training when it is most effective: when the dog is young. Have we ever thought for once, that the same children we tend to overlook will become the youths of tomorrow and grow into the elders and decision makers in the future? Just in 20 years, a baby becomes an adult, a youth becomes a father
As a conscious optimist, I hate to talk about the problems but lasting solutions will never be a reality without identifying today’s problems and the challenges they pose to a sustained development.I strongly believe that any form of development, meant to last, must start from bottom up. Today, we lament at the rate of innocent killings by some irresponsible members of the Nigerian Police. Our learning institutions, the foundation of any true development drop on the world rankings daily – they have become business empires for uncaring, short-sighted and ultimately wicked people. Thugs and drug addicts hang around everywhere causing pain to responsible citizens, our youths pride in immediate but never-lasting gratification.
Cheating is encouraged from birth through primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, no thanks to inordinate ambitions of parents and craze for money and fake recognition by proprietors (I read with utmost dismay and a sad humor, the WAEC rankings of secondary schools based on students’ performance. I only wish they knew how their supervisors supervise excellent meals and leave with mouth-watering cash prizes leaving proprietors and students of some of these schools to cheat endlessly. I do not suppose that all these schools do not deserve to be on top of the rankings. However I know (by personal experience) that many do not deserve to be there. If only the rankings could be done with more diligence, taking into cognizance the results of products of these same schools after four years in tertiary institutions (some never get there, many are drop-outs).
Do we realize that as we shout and make noise about change; we only pay lip service to it. Or do we expect a messiah from heaven? We are in the same circle regardless of the highest form of infrastructural development. I do not undermine the efforts of the government in this area, but to be candid, if we have a set of negative-minded children and youths today, we only build for today. The future of this state and our nation in general is questionable.
In stating our present problems and challenges, I have focused strongly on young people and our learning institutions, the home and the schools; because I believe that any lasting development must strong roots these places. What then is the solution?
I await your well-thought comments on this issue. Your comment could be the solution we need! Remember its a collective vision.Yes to the Nigerian Dream.
wow....I am really impressed....I cant wait to come back home and help...if more people like you stand up, there will be change in Nigeria soon
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