Nigeria ranked 85 as the world celebrates 2020 happiness day

DESPITE challenges in security, health, education, economy and governance, Nigerians always find ways to be happy regardless of life circumstances as the globe celebrates World Happiness Day.

World Happiness Day is celebrated to inspire, mobilise and advance the global happiness movement worldwide, according to the United Nations ( UN).

This year’s celebration themed “Happiness For All, For Ever” aimed at focusing on what the world has in common, rather than what divides it.

The United Nations proclaimed March 20 as World Happiness Day, after a resolution adopted by the UN’S General Assembly on June 28, 2012, recognised the relevance of happiness and wellbeing as universal goals and aspirations in the lives of human beings around the world and the importance of their recognition in public policy objectives.

Personal Wellbeing Index showed that Nigeria ranked 85th on the 2019 World Happiness Report that assesses happiness among citizens of 156 countries in the world. The 2019 placement is an improvement to Nigeria’s position of 91 in 2018.

A survey carried out by Noipolls in 2019 showed that despite Nigeria’s economic, security and other social challenges, Nigerians continued to be happy people.

The report noted that the criteria for ranking include GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, social freedom, generosity and absence of corruption.

The report, however, noted that if the Nigerian Government could improve on basic amenities like roads, electricity, hospitals, educational facilities and other needs Nigerians will be significantly happier.