Nothing Is Wrong with Nigeria Save For the Narrative

• Nigeria has some of the most brilliant technology experts, not only in Africa, but in the entire world
• Nigeria is literally Africa’s flag bearer when it comes to moving boldly
• With a growing population and an emerging middle class, Nigeria presents three major opportunities: Food production, food processing and power production

By Sylvester Oluoch

Any nation makes economic progress through wealth creation. The creation of wealth comes from a combination of natural resources, human capital, and a free enterprise. Nigeria is blessed with resources and an entrepreneurial spirit that staggers the imagination. Therefore, nothing is wrong with Nigeria save for the narrative that paints the nation as a collection of crooks.

Going by population, Nigeria is the biggest market in Africa, and the seventh largest in the world. At a fertility rate of 5.5 per capita (55 children for every 10 women), Nigeria is on course to be the third most populated country in the world by 2050. That is power that needs keen management and moderation. To realize Nigeria’s potential, Nigerians must change the narrative.

There is nothing wrong with Nigeria’s population. If well managed, it is a power, a market waiting to be empowered. What Nigeria needs to do is work on educating the masses, especially the women. The longer women stay in school and college, the fewer the children they are likely to have. Additionally, college educated women will provide better living standards for their children and create balance because career women wind up bearing fewer children than home makers.

Is it not time that Nollywood positioned itself to market Nigeria with the kind of commitment that Hollywood markets the United States of America? Nollywood has a role to reflect the Nigerian society, and an even bigger responsibility to influence what Nigeria becomes. The script writers of Nollywood can run a propaganda campaign with a plot that paints Nigeria in the best light possible. Essentially, everything seen as wrong with Nigeria has been sustained by repetition.

Nigeria has some of the most brilliant technology experts, not only in Africa, but in the entire world. Put them to good use. Technology today is a tool for security and safety both on the streets and in the cyber space. This is vital to outsourcing services that are widely sought after by western markets.

When the wealth of technology talent will come to bear in Nigeria, the skies of Nigeria will be “written in flames” that there was nothing wrong with Nigeria but the narrative.

Industrialization takes a lot of power. The number of young people seeking jobs in Nigeria, buttressed by the oil wells in the country makes it a lot easier for Nigeria to produce mind-blowing amount of power. What is required is a private sector that sets the pace for the country’s leadership.

Nigeria is already proving that it does a lot right. However, the cynical world is stuck with the kind of tales that stifle Nigeria’s chances at foreign direct investments. A lot of Nigerians are already proving that there is much favoring Nigeria and turning a deaf ear to the anecdotes of the cynics. This, they are doing in act not just in rhetoric.

Nigeria is literally Africa’s flag bearer when it comes to moving boldly. The West African country has already undertaken massive steps in plastic production, car manufacturing, smart phone production, food processing, and oil refinery. And that is proof that nothing really afflicts Nigeria except the things we hold in our minds after hearing them millions of times.

Some of the major undertakings in Nigeria that are testament to progress are:

• Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) – Car and bus manufacturing
• AfriOne – Smart Phone manufacturing
• The Dangote Oil Refinery – Crude oil refining

With a growing population and an emerging middle class, Nigeria presents three major opportunities: Food production, food processing and power production. The places that any young person can get started on are farming and food processing. However, power production is rather capital intensive and would require a lot more sophisticated planning and massive capital injection.

• Farming essential foodstuff – rice, plantains, and cassava are the best starting point
• Food processing. The need is driven by the rising urbanization and desired food security
• Power production, especially in renewable energy.

The day we will all agree that there is nothing wrong with Nigeria is when the nation’s potential is tapped through continuous improvement in manufacturing and refining. To cap this up, the youth shall have realized that farming is as rewarding as any other vocation. More so, for a country with a market the size of Nigeria. All it takes is a changed narrative, which changes belief.