I congratulate Nigerians on the 53rd anniversary of our nation's independence. But as we celebrate, we must also take time to reflect on the state of the nation. The Nigerian project is a bold experiment in nation-building.
It is an experiment that has proved to be a challenging undertaking. But, for me, building Nigeria is an experiment that is well worth the attempt. At independence, on this day in 1960, Nigeria was a country full of high hopes, and good prospects, with its diverse peoples filled with aspirations.
But somewhere along the line, we got it fundamentally wrong, with the consequences that today, 53 years on, we are still struggling to get the basics right. The country is faced with tough difficulties and mortal dangers on multiple fronts.
Our efforts at nation-building are being affronted by manifold crises of under-development – bad governance; poor planning; industrial collapse; decay of basic infrastructure; socio-economic backwardness; political instability; insecurity; widespread poverty; social, ethnic and religious tension; high incidence of crime and criminality; and terrorism, among many other woes. These are undeniably serious setbacks to our development march; but they do not amount to any permanent incapacity for us not to move forward.
Indeed, setbacks are necessary but temporary impediments along the path to progress. Therefore, I am at one with American entrepreneur, Les Brown, who counselled that "anytime you suffer a setback or disappointment, put your head down and plough ahead". Hence, I remain convinced that the Nigerian project is a viable one.
And I am optimistic that we may yet get it right as a country; and convert our much vaunted great potentials into actual benefits for our people. All we need is sound leadership and good governance. Indeed, our story on the independence path has not been doom and gloom only; it is also strewn with bright patches and shades of greatness.
We have had sporting glories, a Nobel Prize in literature, representation in the top universities in the world and getting one of us listed in the Forbes 100 top list. For the most part, we groan so much at the cup being three quarter empty that we forgot it's also one quarter full. As someone in leadership position, I set my sight firmly on the promises the future holds and the opportunities that our great country can offer.
My aspirations are for Nigeria to be able to overcome its development challenges to become one of the top 10 economies in the world in the shortest time possible. But we need to work towards achieving these goals.
As a matter of urgency, we must shift our economic paradigm from sole dependence on oil towards productive diversification. Agriculture is a viable alternative here. We must develop our agriculture towards achieving food security. We must give primacy to food production as a strategic national imperative, for it is a sure basis for sustainable economic development.
My conviction about agriculture as a viable solution to our unemployment problem lies in the fact that an agricultural economy that is grounded in food production cannot fail.
People can give up luxury items if occasion demands it. But for as long as we remain human, we will eat; food is a biological necessity! Luxury item are a matter of choice. Related to this is the need to gainfully and meaningfully engage our youths by creating jobs and employment opportunities. Our present chronic youth unemployment situation is a potential source of social implosion.
There is profound wisdom in productively engaging our youths. Young people are some of society's greatest assets; but they can also be a major source of its problem.
Our huge population offers immense opportunities as a market and for massive job creation that can absorb our teeming unemployed youths, and help in eradicating poverty. Another area of great promise is information and communications technology (ICT), which offers enormous possibilities for creating jobs and for meaningfully engaging our youths. After all, ICT is a field that is not only a product of innovation, it is driven by human creativity.
Innovation and creativity are an area of strength for young people. They will have their imagination taxed and their minds energised. It can help focus the vibrant energies of our youths on positive development. Essential to modern life and any economic endeavour is power, but this is an area in which the nation has been badly struggling. The circa 4,000mw the nation produces is a huge joke.
This, when the economy is in full throttle, cannot even serve the Ikeja business district. We must be jolted by the realisation that without sufficient electric power, all other efforts will come to nought. I am an unflinching believer in the assertion of George Bernard Shaw that 'the only real failure in life is the failure to try'.
It is in our utmost interest not to fail to try. October 1st of every year offers us the opportunity to review the journey of nationhood and to come to the awareness that just as we have the prospect of greatness, so also are we faced with the grim possibility of tipping over the brink; the probability of outcomes now depends on the choices that we make.
It is my fervent hope and prayer, however, that we will always make the right choices and realise our greatest potential. Once again, I congratulate us all and wish us happy independence celebrations. Ogbeni Aregbesola is the Governor of the State of Osun
Source: Nigeria will be great (http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/nigeria-will-be-great/)