{"id":12045,"date":"2013-04-12T13:34:22","date_gmt":"2013-04-12T12:34:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=12045"},"modified":"2013-04-12T13:34:22","modified_gmt":"2013-04-12T12:34:22","slug":"combating-poverty-of-aspiration-in-nigeria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/articles-opinions\/combating-poverty-of-aspiration-in-nigeria\/","title":{"rendered":"Combating Poverty Of Aspiration In Nigeria"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Omozuwa Gabriel Osamwonyi<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nigeria is poor. We are poor in many ways: Materially, ethically and so forth. Material poverty is ravaging the wellbeing of almost 100 million Nigerians. Moral and ethical poverty have turned some of our leaders to gravediggers. Consequently, Nigeria is no more a land of opportunity for all; but an ostensible burial place of innovation, entrepreneurial initiatives and cutting-edge scientific solutions.<\/p>\n

The cancer of spiritual poverty is destroying our nation inside out. Yet, Nigerians are very religious. Collective thoughtlessness, which is indicative of philosophical poverty, is fragmenting our nation along ethno-regional and religious lines. Even our culture is not left out. Don\u2019t our rundown museums signify cultural poverty?<\/p>\n

All these are compounded by poverty of aspiration at different levels of our national life. Hence, we are pleased to be a mediocre nation struggling to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).\u00a0 Even though, we have the human and natural resources to be a nation pioneering global development. We should have long exceeded the loft goals of vision 20:20:20. But, we aspire low.<\/p>\n

Our abysmally low annual spending on Research and Development (R&D) has made innovation-driven economic growth elusive in our quest for national development.\u00a0 How many innovations are patented in Nigeria annually by the Registrar of Patent, Trademark and Industrial Design? Compare it with that of other nations. What picture emerges?<\/p>\n

Juxtapose the above with the statement made some decades ago, by the admirable General Yakubu Gowon that; \u201cNigeria\u2019s problem is not money, but how to spend it.\u201d\u00a0 Short-termism, which is suggestive of poverty of aspiration, is the source of most of our problems.<\/p>\n

Do we have a talent management system in place? Are we truly concerned about the educational development of exceptionally brilliant children from indigent homes? Look at our streets. What do you see?\u00a0 Children of school age hawking, begging, washing cars or stealing.<\/p>\n

Poverty of aspiration is pronounced among the poor, but it is not exclusive to them. \u00a0Many superrich Nigerians and their children are battling with it as well. Their fanatical pursuit of illicit pleasure affirms this.<\/p>\n

Some pleasure-seeking rich \u201ckids\u201d sell their parents\u2019 orchards to buy fruits. Our failure to stress the dignity of labour is raising a generation of armchair dreamers that have succumbed to the mundane and are incapable of preserving heritage. They have not learned the art of autographing their works with excellence and are pleased to be nobodies. Being squanderers with passion for easy money, sex, drug and gambling make them feel like Olympic gold medallists. They embody the dark sides of humanity, as they \u201cenjoy\u201d wealth without work.<\/p>\n

Which areas of human endeavour are most of our impressive success stories of social mobility coming from? \u00a0Politics, entertainment, 419, to me, this seems like an exhaustive list.\u00a0\u00a0 Is it surprising then that a primary school child was once asked; \u201cwhat do you want to become?\u201d He answered, politician. When asked why, he said, so; I can have fleet of cars, retinue of aides and buy nice cars for my parents.<\/p>\n

This demonstrates one fact: A society that venerates money cannot inspire succeeding generations to attain lofty heights and make this world a better place for all. In such a society, nobility of character, excellence in all things, prudential living and the drive to innovate are conveniently sacrificed at the altar of money.<\/p>\n

The ravaging spread of philistinism in Nigeria is fuelled by our disregard for innovation and historic achievements. This is a nation without venture capitalists of repute. This is a nation where the intelligentsia and literati can hardly afford the basic needs of life.\u00a0 This is a nation where \u201cthe labour of our heroes past\u201d is openly belittled by tribal flag-wavers. Is it still a puzzle why the drive to achieve path-breaking success is uncommon?<\/p>\n

At the root of Nigeria\u2019s poverty of aspiration is \u201cI-pass-my-neighbour\u201d mentality. A man that has a roof over his head, eats well and wears good clothes seeks to be crowned guardian of the people\u2019s prosperity. He is beatified and becomes an object of popular worship. Only a nation lacking in humanity confers divine qualities on people of means. This practice does not foster social cohesion, but fragmentation. It creates oppressive class system, which makes the dreams of the underclass to die unborn.<\/p>\n

When life keeps screaming NO at poor kids as they knock on the doors of opportunities, it could make them to acquire learned helplessness. Once this happens, they stop scanning the horizon for opportunities and resign to fate, assume “sidon-look\u201d posture and slowly slide into misery and vices.<\/p>\n

As a society it seems we have acquired learned helplessness. Our dependency mentality is predicated on it. Sadly, it is hampering our collective capacity for remedial actions. This is why we abdicate legitimate responsibilities, claiming they are someone else\u2019s business. Also, it is stifling our creative impulse for national reconstruction, particularly that of the young.<\/p>\n

Open and progressive societies do not allow situations to hamstring the imagination of their youths.\u00a0 A society that cannot awaken the creative imagination of succeeding generations and create enabling environments for them to attain stardom in their chosen endeavours, is at the cusp of social and cultural collapse.<\/p>\n

This is why government at all levels must step up the quality of our education through enhanced funding. Public education should not be for the poorest of the poor, making them barely literate. \u00a0Otherwise, as we gradually transit to a knowledge-driven economy, those educated in public schools will lack the needed competence to excel.<\/p>\n

Our system of education must become the source of innovation- commercially viable innovation- if we truly seek to raise a nation of champions. To this end, stressing the dignity of labour, promoting entrepreneurial culture and embracing the scientific spirit are imperative. \u00a0Equally we must allocate more money to R&D.<\/p>\n

We cannot truly progress if we are not concerned about our place in history and mentor others to be legacy-builders. Therefore, we must stop celebrating people-impoverishing gold diggers parading as leaders of national transformation.<\/p>\n

Improving the plight of the indigent child must become a national priority. By so doing, children of the poor will have a solid start in life, assured that their minds will not be burdens, but blessings.<\/p>\n

It is needful we jettison our dependency mentality and learn to pull ourselves by our bootstraps. Reclaim our pride of place in the comity of nations by becoming the hot-spot of innovation and inventiveness.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Omozuwa Gabriel Osamwonyi Nigeria is poor. We are poor in many ways: Materially, ethically and so forth. Material poverty is ravaging the wellbeing of almost 100 million Nigerians. 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