The Nigeria Flag
Nigeria, according to the United Nations, is the most populous black nation on Earth that is ready to overtake the US as the third most populous nation in the world.
Unfortunately, in the international space, Nigeria has a bad reputation due to the high rate of fraudulent practices. The country has been blacklisted as one of the most corrupt countries in the world.
Internally, many young Nigerians are daily looking for a way out of the country for good. They have lost faith in the system and see the state of affairs as irredeemable.
Despite all these negativities, Nigeria has the potential of becoming one of the richest countries in the world under the right circumstances. In the diaspora, young Nigerians are emerging as innovators in different fields and it is almost as good as the environment has a great impact on how an individual would turn out.
For the Nigerian youth living in Nigeria, the tendency of excelling in a field of his or her choice is very slim because there is no enabling atmosphere and one sees that a first-class graduate as an example now sits behind the wheel of a motorcycle while a different narrative is being told of Nigerians who have in a way escaped in search of greener pastures.
Nigerians like Philip Emeagwali trail in the field of technology, many in the Medical, Navy, and entertainment, and in recent years, sports. We cannot forget in a hurry Tobi Amusan who is the first Nigerian to win a gold medal in the world’s 100m hurdles Athletic championship in Oregon this year. And also the rest of her team.
However, with all these positives Nigeria is in an acrimonious situation. Nigerians are languishing in poverty due to the state of affairs taking a toll on the country and many are taking the exit route to get out.
Corruption, has been identified as the main factor that is militating against the progress of the country. Painstakingly, many have tried to fight this menace to no avail. It seems to get stronger and smarter daily.
It is very obvious now that no Nigerian can successfully fight corruption. Instead of fighting corruption which has shown time after time that it will always rear its ugly head no matter what you bring against it; we can channel or refine it to the best use. You ask how? Okay.
For instance, if a corrupt political office holder under strict surveillance is mandated to reinvest the money that he or she stole to establish at least one company in Nigeria and pay at least 1000 workers and tax for In the space of four years in office, one will have in a way solved two problems that are, trying to cripple corruption and at the same time creating employment for the masses.
If intentional subtle actions are taken against corruption since “brutal force” has proven ineffective, with time, corruption would likely die a natural death.
Action must be taken now before the situation in Nigeria gets to a point that it completely becomes a failed State and the “Giant of Africa” became the “Laughing stock of Africa”
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