Rasak Adekoya, a Youth Leader of Nigeria Association of the Blind (Lagos Chapter), writes inspiring open letter to Nigerians. Read below..
OPEN LETTER TO NIGERIANS
Fellow Citizen,
I write this with a high sense of the responsibility that has been placed upon us as a citizen clamoring for change and the need for us to get serious, very quick.
Best-selling author, Malcolm Gladwell, in his brilliant book, OUTLIERS, revealed an interesting fact.
A list was drawn from the very wealthiest men in history. The list spanned centuries. But a shocking 20% of that list were people born within a single generation! Do you know what that means?!
He did the same analysis for a list of key people who defined the present-day computer era as we know it today and the significant milestones reached in the ICT world. A majority of them were born within 4 years of each other. Again, in a single generation.
Time and again, history shows us that at certain times, specific generations are given tasks, responsibilities and opportunities to define pivotal shifts in the existence of mankind.
Now, let us come to Nigeria.
In 1984, in an essay, Prof Wole Soyinka delivered a scathing verdict on his generation calling it THE WASTED GENERATION- a generation which produced intellectuals but no results.
Fast forward several years to 2012 [28 years later], in the same paper, The Punch, Prof Pat Utomi, another cerebral Nigerian, described his own generation as THE GENERATION THAT LEFT TOWN- intellectuals who saw the reality and the lack of opportunity and an enabling environment to flourish, who left the country to find greener pastures.
But there is another generation. I would call them THE GENERATION THAT BUILT. They are the ones born between the 80’s and 90’s and up to the very beginning of the millenium. They are part of the generation globally reffered to as The Millenials.
I’m talking to that generation specifically.
So here are a few thoughts.
1. There has been generations before us. And there will be generations after us. We are not the beginning. And we will not be the end. But we can be more than a generation that just passed through. We can be the change – in the civic space, entrepreneurship, advocating for good governance, transparency and accountability.
Every generation has had their fair share of tasks, responsibilities and opportunities. What sets them apart- or not, is what they DO with what they have [not what they SAY about what they have].
So again, what have you DONE? What do you DO? What will you DO? And what effect does what you do have on the Nigerian Project?
2. Nationalisation is not a mere phenomenon. It has never been so in any part of the world. It is not by permitting divisive factors to continue to undermine our national well-being. Nationalism is a dedicated leadership and citizenry imbued with faith to cultivate a wide-spread national feeling for “One Nigeria.”.
Nationalism is not by joining undefined crowd – riot, protest or agitation. What you are looking for is NOT the CROWD. What you are seeking is a CRITICAL MASS. The Critical Mass is always the needed catalyst in any system for significant changes to occur.
3. What define your tribe? Nigeria will be great when we stop ethnocizing, tribalizing and gendering corruption nor leadership. For me, tribe is my ability to merger and partner with those whom I share same passion with. Those who dream of a better Nigeria. Those who work effortlessly to contribute their quota intellectually to build Nigerian and Nigeria society. These are my tribe.
This is not about ethnicity. Or unhealthy competition. This is about global collaboration. Across languages and religions. Reprogramme your mind to view people, not as “their tribe”, “their race” or “their religion” but as humans with the common goal of our mutual advancement.
People who think like this, they are your tribe. Seek them.
4. Seek Mentorship. I love passionate, zealous people. Yet, for all my love for these characteristics, I am a little wary when I see people high on passion and low on direction. Zeal without guidance or control is a terrible thing, a very dangerous thing.
There are those who have gone ahead of us and have lead with verifiable impact. Seek them. And get direction from them. Mentors and coaches are people who give us the benefit of their experience without the downsides of their mistakes. Having a mentor pushes you light years ahead. Look out for them beyond the political sector. They are in other industry.
You are not Omniscient or Omni-Potent. Don’t pretend. And no one will hold it against you. We are a passionate generation. Let us also be informed, intelligent and intentional.
With the help of accountable, inclusive and transparent leaders, Nigeria can be great again.
I end this letter with something I have come to accept as a personal driving force. Advancement, for me, is no longer an option, but a personal responsibility.
I must do what I must. It is a duty. Together let us be known as THE GENERATION THAT BUILT.
Yours in service,
Rasak Adekoya.