The Giant in Nigeria

I find myself walking down Randall Street, trying to connect to Broad Street via Mechlin Street. The Ministries of Finance and Education sit right by the corners respectively, as you hit Monrovia’s biggest street. I am heading home after work closed early, and there are boys on the street, dancing to “Away”, a dancehall hit song by Ghanaian sensation, VIP as it purred from the giant speakers mounted by one of the musical stores selling music and movies. Their dance steps were new to Liberia, and it looked odd. They would raise one leg, freeze it, bounce and drop, then do the same to the other leg rhythmically. Though it blended with the sound beat, it was still odd in Liberia as it was not American. Gosh, this society can be dope on American culture sometimes. This was in 2010.

Fast-forward, September 2012, and that same dance step which was abhorred, is called Itigi, a now world renown dance step of Ghanaian origin, modified, prefabricated and well promoted by Nigerians, thanks to their better advancement in music entertainment across the West coast. And you won’t wonder much, why it had to get to Nigeria to get popular. Talk of Azonto and Alanta, and you have other dance brands which have gained acclaim on the shores of Nigeria. Every weekend, a popular night club in Monrovia, off the Old Road junction by President Sirleaf’s residence, hosts a Nigerian artiste – musician, movie act, or entertainment star. The streets in Monrovia and surprisingly, in Ganta and even Fishtown, are awash by Nigerian entrepreneurs, seeking that proverbial land of milk and honey. A vast majority of them are Igbo, but Nigerian is the common name. Even the hardly accessible border and port town of Harper, is home to some Nigerian businessman.

The Ghanaian educational system is now popular, and touted to be the best in West and Central Africa. Well, this happened, only after parents from Idi-Roko eastwards in Nigeria got frustrated by the educational system and sought succour for their children in a more politically stable Ghana. The number of Nigerians studying in Ghana today is reportedly in excess of 71,000. Young Nigerians now dream of leaving high school and going abroad to Accra to pursue university education, one which though comes at an economic cost in excess of 160 billion NGN, is efficient, devoid of industrial strikes which has become a major feature of academic calendars in Nigerian universities – bar private universities.

In August, the Gambia executed nine Nigerians, convicted on murder charges, but there are also imprisonments for drug trafficking. I won’t be surprised, if the murder charges are connected to drug peddling deals. The trade route goes through Guinea, the Gambia, Cape Verde and then to Europe. It is no longer news, that hundreds of Nigerians served in the late Col. Muamar Ghadaffi’s well armed mercenary unit. Although most of them who had used Tripoli as a route – in trying to get to the golden fleece said to be harboured in Europe, would end up in prisons in Tripoli and in the deserts, those who were somewhat fortunate to make it to the armed unit, were said to be some of the best men in that band.

Every day, millions of Nigerians wake to the hope of having a better day. Once said to be the most religious people on earth, one in every six persons on the continent is Nigerian, and this adds to the intense competition to survive. No wonder, words like hustle, struggle and “make am” have found their way to the very popular Pidgin English lexicon. This Monday, Nigeria celebrates fifty-two years since it gained independence from Great Britain, but it has been marred by the flooding crisis which has overwhelmed the government.

Celebrations would largely be low-keyed no doubt, but I will find a reason to celebrate and be proud to be Nigerian, all the same. While attending a twitter-preneurship seminar in Abuja recently, Dayo Benjamins Laniyi, entrepreneur and owner of outdoor entertainment giants, DOXA, reiterated the stance of patriotism, by proclaiming that Nigeria is not finished yet, even though there has been predictions of Nigeria breaking apart. But like she stated, the marriage between the Northern and Southern divides in 1914, was for a reason, and it was high time, love was the key to building a “happy home”.

Something to cheer about, are the increase in power generation output, an uplift of our imae in international circles, better trade relations amongst others. There’s no doubt, the influence of Nigeria in West Africa, and still to some extent, Africa. Only, there’s a need to put our hearths right. That is when others would see the real giant in us. Today, I proclaim my belief in the Nigerian dream project, and as a party, I shall contribute my quota to nation building. Happy 52^nd Independence Anniversary, the Federal Republic of Nigeria.