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The initiation of NIDO by President Olusegun Obasanjo is
in my view, one of the best things ever done by the Nigerian
leaders. It is also a v very wise way of
distributing either the blame for failure or commendation for
success. It is truly an act of Government of the People by the
People and for the People. Our dear president has said, “Please,
come home and do what ever you can to make Nigeria worth a home”.
This is not a voice of a self-centered man neither is it a voice of
one who ignores wisdom, knowledge and expertise. It is rather a
voice of one who wants the best for his country-our
country.
This
is a voice of one who wants the best for his country-our
country.
For the President
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to have
called on Nigerians in Diaspora to extend their helping hands to the
development of Nigeria, he must have seen something that they have
which would be gainful to Nigeria if heartily released. For any
Nigerian Academician or Professional in Diaspora to have heard this
call and fail to react wouldn’t be in our best interest. A popular
primary school poem in Nigeria goes thus: “Johmbule my son, I sent you to
school, to learn how to spell your name”. Any Nigerian academician
or professional in Diaspora I believe has gone to acquire wider
knowledge. For such a person to ignore a call for him/her to put
his/her knowledge into practice for his/her father land would be
like Johmbule asking his
father to help him spell his name after his father has sent him to
school to learn just that.
The
diversification of Nigeria’s economy has gotten to a necessity stage
and I believe expertise is also necessary.
Let me refer to
President Obasanjo`s various reforms to make things better back
home. On his assumption of office, the president had noted the
danger in making just oil the base of Nigeria’s income. He had
pointed out other economic potentials in other sectors waiting to be
harnessed. One need not mention that the academicians and
professionals have got some roles to play here. The diversification
of Nigeria’s economy has gotten to a necessity stage and I believe
that expertise is also necessary.
There has been a
longing for Nigeria’s industrialization. Every Nigerian craves for
industrialization but the actualization requires more than craving.
Please, ask yourself, “What do I know about industrialization? Your
idea might be the saving grace you know. You can also establish an
industry in Nigeria because, as an expert, you are an industry on
your own.
According to President Obasanjo`s brief on Nigeria, the Nigerian educational
philosophy is based on the development of the individual into a
sound and useful citizen and the provision of equal educational
opportunities for all citizens at the primary, secondary, and
tertiary levels, both inside and outside the formal school systems.
It goes further to say that the content and quality of
instruction at all levels is oriented towards inculcating respect
for the worth and dignity of the individual; faith in man’s ability
to make rational decisions; moral and spiritual values in
interpersonal and human relations, shared responsibility for
the common good of society; respect for the dignity of labor
and promotion of the emotional, physical and psychological
health of all children and the acquisition of appropriate
skills, abilities and competence. I believe that we are all
aware of the real position of education today in
Nigeria irrespective of the content of the above
philosophy. I ask again, what can we do? You may be
the custodian of the right answer to this question.
Answer your call.
You
can also establish an industry in Nigeria because, as an expert, you
are an industry on your own.
Our government says
that the health policies and programmes are directed towards
providing equal opportunities for all Nigeria citizens to obtain
good health care. The national health policy declares primary health
care as the key to attaining the goal of health for all citizens of
Nigeria by the year 2000 and beyond. Well, year 2000 is obviously
over but the beyond is here now. What can our medical experts do
towards the attainment of this policy? You may be the one to save
the life of your loved friend or relative, you know. You may as well
hold the key to Nigeria’s health care problem.
Our arts and culture
needs to be promoted, tourism needs to be exploited. All these are
industries and the government has said, “Please, let us do it
together. It can not be done if no body attempts to do it. We know
countries today that reap bounty dividends from tourism. If you know
about tourism, you can develop tourism in Nigeria. If you know about
arts and culture, you can promote Nigeria’s arts and culture.
Germany has Goethe Institute in Nigeria. Its duty is to promote
German language and culture. Britain has the British Council in
Nigeria. Its duty is to promote the British language, culture and
education. America has the American Commercial Services in Nigeria.
Its duty is to promote American industries and made in America
Goods. All these bodies work independently from their countries`
embassies. Let us do something. Let us say what we know and do what
we can.
All
these are industries and the government has said, “Please, let us do
it together.
The Nigerian Economic
Policy 1999-2003 has stated:
· The economy
exists for and belongs to the people, and at all times, the general
well-being of all the people shall be the overriding objective of
the government and the proper measure of performance.
· Given the
state of the economy which is equivalent to national emergency,
economic management shall involve total commitment of the leadership
at all tiers of government, and the mobilization of the populace
without creating a bloated government.
Government shall be lean, efficient, honest, transparent,
cooperative and friendly. Operate on the basis of extensive
devolution of power, and shall function mainly as a
facilitator.
Government’s
primary role shall be to ensure, in cooperation with the private
sector, the urgent creation of adequate and efficient
infrastructure, particularly of energy, telecommunications, water
and financial services, to bring about a positive and
internationally-competitive environment for economic
activities.
· Private
enterprise, private effort, and non-governmental action shall play
the major role in achieving the goals of the society and the derived
targets of the government.
· Everything
shall be done to foster a strong work ethic to drive
productivity.
Review this policy and
see where you come in. The policy can only be as realistic as people
make it to be. The mobilization of the entire populace proposed here
is an invitation for collaborative contributions. Please, do
something.
Incase
you do not know, somebody in Nigeria can only swindle you if you
decide to allow him/her to.
Do you know about the
Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and the
Economic and Financial Crime Commission? With these bodies
operational, Nigeria is a safe pace to do business now. Incase you
do not know, somebody in Nigeria can only swindle you if you decide
to allow him/her to. Let us all lend our supports to our government
to serve us better. Criticize objectively and provide suggestions
for better results. Let us build our home.
I want to challenge
every Nigerian academician and professional in Diaspora to check
his/her knowledge data bank and to look around the environment where
he/she has studied and then make a list of the things which need to
be done in Nigeria. Move further to go through the list and then
point out which among the items in your list which you can do best.
Start doing that right away. Nigeria will be a great home by the
time we all contribute towards the development of our home-Nigeria.
This is a call from home. A call you must not ignore. A call we all
need to honor. A call for duty.
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