NIGERIA AS A YOUTH IN THE GLOBAL PERCEPTIVE

As an independent entity, our nation Nigeria at 55 years of age is a Youth in the midst of many Nations of this very old earth planet. The youthful tendency makes her vulnerable in the midst of many experienced Nations she associates with in the past and present. Times without number, our nation looks forward to her colonial master and their allies whenever she runs into trouble for advice, aid, help and assistance, just like little children run to their parents when they are in need of biscuits, bobo, ice creams, etc.

Every child for sure requires much experience before they can mature like their parents and elders.

Even though, some nations like Singapore who are younger are seemingly more stable in economy than Nigeria. But considering the differences in terms of population and size of these two nations, we cannot say that Nigeria is not growing, at least for many years now her economy grows at 7% per annum and currently the largest economy in Africa. Singapore can be compared to a state Government in Nigeria such as Lagos and Abuja.

If Abuja was a Nation on its own, it can be compared to many nations that are considered to be better than Nigeria in terms of development, yet Nigeria is considered as under-developed.

The size of Nigeria may be likened to the collective sizes of many European nations put together as one nation. The concept of European Union (EU) is not as old as the concept of Nigeria.

Alas! EU shares the same complex nature with Nigeria in terms of language variations. The United States of America is free from language barrier in their nation. That may be singular reason why they have become as United as a Nation and more stable in economy than many complex societies like Nigeria. EU made of separate nations had in the past gone to wars and even activated World wars 1 and 2, due to its complex nature.

Till date Britain and some other nations are still making use of their various currencies instead of the intended plan of the government of Europe, for a common (Euro currency) in their continent.

Therefore, Nigeria with about 250 (two hundred and fifty ethnic groups) and 500 (five hundred languages), is as complex as Europe.

Nigeria as an infant went through civil war for about three years and yet succeeded in returning back as one united nation despite its complex nature. This shows that the child was strong. Today, that the then principal actors, past leaders, some of whom are still at the corridors of power, are held responsible today for the changing cultures that have established so much ill in the society. I will advice that we cannot afford to hold responsible our past leader of the then infant nation, who went to war and returned as one nation, for today’s weakness in our society. Today, that infant has grown to become a Youth; mobile and vibrant with high fresh stock potentials. Nigeria as a nation is a prospective bride of the global master.

Our nation has set its road-map to become one of the best twenty (20) economies in the world by 20:2020

It is quite a huge ambition for a complex nation as large as about 3/4 of the entire Europe and also 3/4 of USA in terms of population, fixing a date to play in the same economic league with other nations of over 200 yrs old.

What this means is not only that our nation is very ambitious but also doing well in planning her future. By her current experiences, our nation is entitled to take radical decisions on her own without further consulting her elders. As a youth, she has the greatest opportunity to act rationally into combating her challenges of these days and years which include; terrorism, injustice and corruption.

As a Youth, Nigeria as a Nation must Rise Up to face these challenges by carrying out a positive Revolution.

In the past, the West led the entire world into Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions. Another Revolution is imminent in the 21st Century civilization. The Information Revolution is long expected and Nigeria can lead the way into the global information Revolution.

The Installation of the Satellite systems in the orbit by our nation, and the eventual emergence of mobile phone and devices in Nigeria since the wake of the 21st Century, is a way forward for this mission of Information Revolution to become a reality. She must explore this time, the potentials of the western technologies and integrate them to become Nigeria’s specific solutions for Nation building. Our proposed solution can also be planted in other nations if they wish to deploy an All Inclusive governance in their various nations which can breed a digital culture for good governance across the globe and especially in the African nations.

These days, a common Nigerian is driven by mobile phone and that is quite an unusual behavior or lifestyle for many citizens of the very mature nations like USA, who do not use mobile phones in the same manner that Nigerians do. This is perhaps, the consequence of joblessness which might turn around to become a blessing in disguise, because millions of Nigerians by so doing have become digital-age compatible, which is of course the way forward for the 21st Century civilization to thrive, successfully.

The Youthful tendency and excitement of Nigerians in the use of mobile technologies can drive the nation into exploring other potentials of the ICT systems and the nation also can arrive at the point of driving the expected digital world.

Yes, the West must have developed the ICT system devices such as mobile phones, satellite, internet but may not be too busy with them as Nigerians do. This case will be different from the case of the use of generator sets for electricity supply of which the West who manufacture them do not make use of them as Nigerians do use them at homes, industries and offices. The generator issue is a sad experience on its own that we do not deserve and desire towards in our pursuit for national development.

This time around, we have the privilege to exhaust the great potentials of the digital technology in a positive manner by carrying out a Nationwide Revolution for digital navigation through ‘Digital Revolution’, which is for a positive change in the way we co-habit in the cyberspace. So far, No Nation to be specific has taken the lead for the Next Information Revolution or carried out any global effect that is digitally inclusive.

From Nigeria, a Definition has been ascertained by an expert system which has identified ‘Digital Revolution’ as the Art of combining human and machine procedures to gather, manage and administer citizens’ data and information, for the purpose of supplying them with all-Inclusive governance.

This Revolution is to assure that all citizens can be accounted for through a comprehensive inventory by the implementation of an electronic yellow page.

Digital Revolution can be sustained by an ‘Integrated Conduct of Development Equation’- iCODE, which is for a digitally inclusive Cyber culture and a holistic approach for electronic governance and for systematic and coordinated methodology for Digital age Civilization.

It is also a refinery for crude democracy and a systematic process for inclusive governance.

Considering the way the factors which are driving globalization have so favored China in terms of hardware and India in terms of software, the mobile, internet and satellite systems which is common to all as well can also favor Nigeria to become the world power in this 21st Century.

Let us not think that the excitement in the use of smart devices is only meant for status factors in this young nation called Nigeria or as a kind of madness, I can assure that before the Western world knows what is happening, mobile technologies such as mobile banking and other associated digital components will become the determinant factor for services and production as bone of contention in our socio-economic growth. More so, the challenges of terrorism and kidnapping can drive the citizens to depend solely and compulsorily switch into the digital culture which can serve as the only solution towards combating those hydra- headed crime monsters which has attempted to becloud Nigeria. Nigeria deserves to be trouble free because according to Rev Sun Myuon Moon, the founder of Universal Peace Federation or Peace Ambassadors- ‘ For The World to Move, Africa must Move and for Africa to Move, Nigeria Must Move’

If Nigerians imbibe the digital age culture, this nation will be many steps ahead of her nimble adversaries.

Let us not forget what our Golden Eaglets did in Atlanta 1996. Our nation can become the world power in terms of economy, also. Watch out for the World Economic Championship which Nigeria has fixed to take place by the year 2020.

Long Live The Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!

From Ihentuge Ekeh