We are our own worst enemy.

The moral of this story is that Africa must device her own ways in the same way she must tell her own story. 



I grew up in Oshogbo; a town in the western part of Nigeria foremost for its arts and craft. Oshogbo is foremost for its ebullient tye and dye. My fondest memories included exploring some of the streams that banded my Fagbewesa settlement, the rhythmic evening sound of the wobbly Nigeria Railways Corporation trains (faka-fiki-faka-faki fooo…) and more. I am fascinated by the concept and tale of freedom and for the umpteenth time, I have chosen to tell one for her. There was a time when folks who chose the blue-collar route underwent a period of apprentice after which they bagged their freedom. The freedom celebration was always a grand affair. The only other celebration that rivaled “Freedom” was the spoils from the Islamic graduation then called Wolimo. I and my gang of gluttons thoroughly relished the venison that accompanied every Wolimo.  Wolimo is the celebration that marked successful completion of Quranic studies by young scholars. For the graduating scholars, the celebration also marked a sort of freedom from the merciless assailing whip of the cleric Alfa.

 

Upon graduation, the apprentice who just earned his freedom was now free to determine his own destiny. From this point onward, he was the captain of his own enterprise. It wasn't unusual in the fullness of time to be greater than the master. Indeed, it is only a testimony to the superior craftsmanship of the master and his apprentice for the latter to surpass the former. I must say there is something surreal about the "freedom". I know a lot of folks who went on to be bigger than their masters.

 

Today, with the never ending continuum of the formal educational system, scholars are sentenced into a perpetual life of no-freedom. I am a product of this system. Indeed, I am like many other at the mercy of it. It is a world where the quality of life could well be defined by the number of certificates you have. It is a world where hunger still remains number one global challenge. It is a world where we pay lip service to many things including peace. Yet, you are supposed to just align cos that's just the way it is. If you ask pertinent questions, you are sure to be tagged a conspirator and will be treated as controversial. This is not an attack on the establishment but I am going somewhere with this.

 

The average number of higher education graduates has been on the increase and this trend is sure to continue thereby increasing the average literacy of the society. This appears to be a good thing until you ask what difference this has made on the society in the practical sense. If the purpose of education is to help nurture and develop the human soul (Mind, Intellect & Emotion) to be more productive, then why is it that not much has happened to us as a people? A handful of individuals may boast of better living standards but collectively we are still a developing nation. Wait a minute! When shall we drop this busy and lousy phrase? Our Gross National Product is said to be increasing amidst growing frustration and discomfort. How about we consider a more sensible metric like Gross National Happiness? 



It's not news that the last time Dangote published request for applications, its CV bank was awash with dozens of Master certificate and PhD degree holders.



Here are few known facts and puzzling questions about where we are as a people:
 

1.   Our population is on the rise. This means that we have more mouth to feed. If we continue at the current rate, we will create an angry population who will have nothing to eat than the rich themselves. Are we on the road to becoming another China awash with cheap labor?
 

2. Our national revenue is unstable. With the threats of substitutes and uncertain supplies, our mono-cultural economy is highly unsustainable. When shall we develop non-oil sources?
 

3.   Unemployment is worsening. There are more jobless people than ever before. New graduates are joining the already saturated market. Most graduates are barely skilled to compete in a wider labor market.
 

4.   Terrorism is not a problem. It is a mere result. The imbalance in our social stratification is a major reason why we have become ungovernable. It’s not impossible that some in the ignoble altar of international politics have made it lofty enterprise to disrupt our peaceable lives.
 

5.   The number of Churches and Mosques are doubling. Growth per kilometer is number one in the world yet we rank first class on the corruption index.

Time doesn’t change anything, our decisions and choices do. To change our national trajectory, we all must embrace our identity, gain awareness, make necessary shifts and do the hard stuffs. If anyone is promising a smooth ride, such an individual should be remanded in a psychiatric institution. 

 

Image Credit: Google