By
Femi Fabiyi (femif826@gmail.com)
On a regular basis, the analogies of Nigeria as a nation, within and outside the country are often scripted as themes of two extremes. Depending on your areas of coverage and the caliber of people within your access zones, one may undoubtedly submit to a misguided conclusion about Nigerian’s standard of living. My trip to Nigeria last year was incredibly interesting. I spent my first two days with my friend – Tayo, also known as CEO in Lekki where he resides. The reception was more than extraordinary, and I was very grateful. The gesture cut across social and cultural events. On the third day, I headed to Ibadan, Oyo State, one of the biggest cities in Nigeria, and the reality of the true Nigeria socio economic situation among the 90 plus percent of the population sank in. The gap between the two extreme lifestyles in Nigeria is just too wide for me to put in context. The unconventional socio-economic structure where oil and gas, banking, entertainment and politics are the core economic drivers, makes the local economy trajectory difficult to simulate.
Nigerians strongly believe the country has all it takes to be great despite the current treacherous economic outlook. In context though, my heart beats hope and my head spins progress. I can see shining light down the tunnel albeit our willingness to come together and match our faith and optimism with sincere actions. Nigerians, both at home and abroad, should responsibly take active roles in the Nigeria socio-political apparatus and direct individual efforts towards a community-based support system. These efforts should take root in community development and be reflective of 21st century challenges. Different kinds of challenges are springing by the day, especially among many African countries due to the world’s strong appetite for innovation, science and technology. Response to these challenges must be aggressive and decisive. Nigerians should, in good faith embrace the attributes of working together with common goals as a way of breaking perpetual cycles of poverty. Efforts must be directed to an economy structure with middle class long-term financial security as primary target.
According to the United Nations Human Development report in 2019, Seychelles, Mauritius, Algeria and Tunisia have the highest levels of HDI (Human Development Index) in Africa while Nigeria HDI was ranked medium, far below these countries. Interestingly, all the key economic sectors attributable to these four countries’ successes are actively present in the Nigeria market. Although Seychelles and Mauritius are small Islands that depend largely on tourism, one cannot ignore the fact that the combination of government policies and their citizens’ determination to maintain beautiful and attractive locations are key components to their successes. Algeria and Tunisia, to some extent, have identical economic structures as Nigeria – huge oil reserves, access to western markets, and large and arable landscape for agricultural purposes.
The combination of balancing sound political and economic policies plus citizens’ awareness of their responsibilities to their country’s developmental goals cannot be underestimated in today’s business world.
In 2018, the World Bank reported $25 billion (9 trillion naira) being the amount remitted to Nigeria from abroad. Remittances to only four countries were greater: Egypt ($29 billion), Philippines ($34 billion), China ($67 billion) and India ($79 billion). Nigeria and Mexico are grouped by an Investment banker in 2004 as MINT (Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, Turkey), a group considered to be the next emerging market after BRIC. Mexico and Indonesia have ingeniously established themselves as leaders of the group with modern industrial and service sectors. Tourism is also a major contributor to their GDP in 2017 and 2018. Though corruption poses developmental challenges to Mexico and Indonesia, the combination of their government policies and private citizens’ effort towards the establishment of safe and exciting environments in local communities have made their countries great destinations to international visitors and retirees. In the same token, life in suburban and Nigeria major cities are constantly under systemic threat, and people’s properties vulnerable to armed bandits and hooligans. Aside from Nigeria’s poor political infrastructure, weak social services, and lack of sound economic direction; there has been a lack of love, empathy, compassion and a sense of responsibility in our communities.
Our culture now lacks the minimum standard acceptable level of morality. Bribery has been engraved in our DNA where corrupt politicians are glorified, and honorary titles bestowed to kidnappers and fraudsters.
It is time for Nigerians to rewrite the rules and pivot from the sit-down-dey-look attitude to becoming agents of change. The benefits of collaborating responsibly among Nigerians both home and abroad, far outweigh the cost of standing idle. There should be a balancing action between expectation from the government and our communal responsibilities to create a better living standard in our communities. Our safe and secured cities, despite the social services challenges will encourage more remittances from abroad, promote international investments, improve tourism and ultimately encourage creativity and development.
For every one-dollar US government made available to its citizens as aids and grants, there is an additional 50 cents donation coming from private US citizens, US companies, Foundations and Trusts to support one course or another. Nigerians will need to embrace the spirit of giving and show kindness in their communities, where development on common goals like security, tertiary roads repairs, affordable and stable homes, easy access to food and medicine, child care, education and other essentials are addressed to improve people’s standard of living.
To the best of my knowledge, Nigerians are very active on social media. We created various social groups, established entertainment and business platforms and even set up religious outlets where jokes and events are posted daily. What is however missing on these platforms are sincere love, empathy, compassion, and sense of responsibility. We inadvertently overlook many colleagues and friends in our social groups who may be facing acute life challenges – divorce, loneliness, separation, loss of loved ones, loss of properties, business downturns, health issues and many more who have chosen to keep quiet and suffer in silence to avoid stereotyping. Using our social media groupings to support one and the other and show kindness will eventually transition into community development. We can begin to contribute to the welfare of the nation by looking inwards, beyond the current rhetoric and dwell on an agenda that shows an objective and sincere support system. We can enrich lives and give hope through humility and hold each other by the shoulder. We must create environments where our confidence can override our fear.
There are more upsides to building communities among people with similar goals than going all alone. Heavy presence of Chinese in New York, Philippines in California, Cubans in Florida, Somalians in Minnesota, and Mexicans in New Mexico have compelled politicians in these states to make progressive policies that ultimately benefited immigrants from the above listed countries. There are also Jewish, Irish, Italian communities all over the length and breadth of the United States that provides community-based services.
Saving our communities from disintegration and bringing back the morals and confidence that will propel economic growth and development in our communities, will require active participation of all and sundry in the rebuilding process. We need to revert to the era where community stewardship used to attract accolades and crimes meted with appropriate punishment.
Twenty-six years ago, Rwanda was ravaged with brutal war where life in excess of one million people was lost due to political wrangling between two tribes. Today, Rwanda politicians have more women in her parliament than men. No other country in the modern-day era has that kind of political structure. We must use social media in a more meaningful way, engage in local affairs and initiate ideas with a focus on community growth and development.
According to Wikipedia, Nigeria was ranked the lowest on tourism among the MINT countries. The problem is not limited to what the government did or did not do. We the people must share some of the blames. Afterall, what have we done for each other lately and what legacy are we leaving behind? We should spend more time looking out for each other and engage in constructive efforts that will ensure inclusiveness and bring development to our respective communities.
Femi Fabiyi is a Financial Professional based in Connecticut, USA