DEVELOPING NIGERIAN NATIONAL DNA
Nigeria is still a country, but not a nation, contends Ndi Onuekwusi
The Professor Eni Njoku’s Biennial Lecture series is a remarkable event in honour of a pioneer academic and university administrator in the history of Nigeria. Prof. Eni Njoku was the first Nigerian Vice- Chancellor of a university in the history of this country; even more so, he was the first vice-chancellor of University of Lagos. In a country often associated with few laudable events and traditions and even fewer noteworthy recognitions for individual excellence sustained posthumously, it is a privilege for me to be part of the honour to this great scientist, great academician, great university administrator and great Nigerian.
The topic for this year’s lecture ‘Quality Education: the bedrock of the nation’s growth and sustainable development’ is long overdue to occupy the centre stage of Nigeria’s political, social and economic focus, discussions, preoccupations and sustained front burner considerations. Education, without any iota of doubt, is a stimulator, catalyst, driver and sustainer of development. The abuse of education or the mismanagement of education in any way as unfortunately is the case in Nigeria inevitably leads to the punishment of the people and the degradation of the society. The keynote speaker, Prof L.O.C Chukwu, Director of Quality Assurance Unit of the University of Lagos, is most eminently qualified to enlighten the distinguished audience on this burning issue which I believe rises to the level of national emergency in Nigeria.
It will be a disservice to speak to Nigerians at a time such as now and ignore the current burning question of restructuring of our beloved country Nigeria. Restructuring has emerged from the ongoing conversation in Nigeria as the pathway to building a functional and progressive Nigerian nation. Time and our focus today, do not allow me to dwell extensively on the topic of restructuring; however, I wish to just highlight few key issues that are important in the ongoing national conversation.
Nigeria is a nation worth having because Nigeria is bigger than the sum total of the component parts; so Nigeria will be a great country to have, provided we do the right things rightly.
No Nigerian has emerged in the conversation. This is not surprising to the trained observer because there is no Nigerian nation. From the beginning in 1914 till date, there
EVERY NATION HAS UNIQUE DNA. THIS DISTINGUISHES NATIONS AND PEOPLES. IN NIGERIA, WE HAVE/HAD SUBNATIONAL DNAS (NORTH, SOUTH, EAST/ETC.) WHICH MODULATE AND CONTROL OUR DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTICS VIEWS AND ACTIONS
has been a country but no nation; we have never had a Nigeria strategic vision which I wish to call a Nigerian DNA. Every nation has unique DNA. This distinguishes nations and peoples. In Nigeria, we have/had subnational DNAs (North, South, East/etc) which modulate and control our different characteristics views and actions. In the absence of a supranational vision (DNA) we have always come to the centre to quarrel or bargain based on our subnational DNAs. To survive, Nigeria must evolve a Nigerian national DNA which is owned by all Nigerians irrespective of ethnicity, religion or sex.
Development must be the core goal to be distilled from the Nigerian national DNA. Governance and politics must be aligned to the national DNA that will emerge and must be development driven supported by appropriate knowledge. A major symptom of the failure to thrive which Nigeria suffers is the obvious lack of governance at community level which has manifested in the total dysfunction of all our primary services - education, health, security and government.
In other to progress, Nigeria must develop the DNA, adopt the DNA, internalise the DNA and live the DNA. Anything that distorts, diminishes or negates in anyway the DNA is anathema or abomination.
Education is the basic building block for all aspects of development. Luckily, any country that gets all the ingredients right, will move irreversibly towards becoming a developed nation, within 10 years. It is our option to keep sliding backwards or transit to honest, knowledge-based leadership and governance to become the great country Almighty God has endowed Nigeria to be. The great Nigerian musician of blessed memory, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, had said that Nigeria was going in the wrong direction and when it was alerted to that fact, Nigeria turned to face the right direction but continue to work backwards in the wrong direction. It is time for Nigeria to stop, take a deep breath and decide to move in the right direction, applying all the necessary factors to achieve growth, development and progress. The core value for building a great nation is love. We must reject hate and live love.