Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 3:01 am Post subject: I'm Proud to be a Nigerian....
I'm Proud to be a Nigerian.....
We've all had the complaints, we all know the stories about those creeps that scandalize Nigeria. It's about time we hear from the good Nigerians who have pride in their country and why.
You may be a citizen by birth, marriage or even affiliation, or if you're just proud of the upstanding Nigerians whom you know, let us hear your voice and realize the reasons why despite all, you can hold your head up high and do the name of Nigeria proud.
I'm proud to be a Nigerian....
because she gave me citizenship in the most blessed country of the world. (We have abundant natural resources and rarely any natural disasters.)
because she gave me a sound foundational education which allowed me to excel in school when I came to the U.S.
because she instilled in me a culture that supersedes most others.
because in her I was raised with values, moralities and etiquette that have helped me excel in life.
because in her I was raised in an atmosphere of love and caring for others beyond ones immediate family.
because in her I was raised to value and respect the family entity.
because in her I was raised to have compassion and respect for others.
because in her I was raised to be ambitious and to strive for the best, while excelling in all that I do.
because in her I was raised to love others regardless of race, nationality, ethnicity, culture, accent or social status.
because the music, talents and skills that exist in her are incomparable to most and are now beginning to explode due to exposure and opportunities that are arising daily.
because the foods and diets are all natural and I can savor the flavour of our natural crops to my hearts delight. (I love those finger-licking foods)
because she is multi-ethnic, multi-linguistic, multi-talented, multi-cultural, etc....
because she's blessed with some of the most beautiful people on earth.
because our people have BRAINS.
because our people are very INGENIOUS.
because our people are very RESILIENT.
because our people are very RESOURCEFUL.
because our people are very HARDWORKING.
because our people are quite industrious (despite the present major limitations to business such as electricity, phones, etc.)
because our people are mostly warmhearted and we open our doors to others. (You can/people stop by and visit at will without a feeling of intrusion.)
because we believe in caring/providing for our elders.
because as a nation we have a good sense of humour.
because we're usually the best at forever we strive for.
because she's a melting pot of the world. People of all races, nationalities, ethnicity interact and intermarry and coexist, bringing their styles, talents, cultures, etc., to educate and enlighten others.
because she knows 'what's happening' moreso than in the U.S. in terms of current news, style, fashion, music, talents, etc.
because Nigerians know how to DRESS.
because most of our men have a sense of responsibility towards their families. Even if they have 4 wives, they make sure they educate and provide for their offspring.
because our women know how to take care of their men. (the world ratio of women to men is spoiling the men though.)
because we know how to throw good parties. (You never have to 'BYOB' or bring your own beer.) There's always surplus to eat and drink.
because our people can DANCE.
because our festivities are full of love, warmth, acceptance and fun. Christmas/Easter/Ileya and other holidays are holidays you actually look forward to. (It's not just about eating or just another day. Unlike the U.S. where some people clamour to work on holidays to get double pay, or proudly state that they haven't taken their vacation in over 10 years, people choose to take off so they can enjoy the festivities with their families.)
because people actually enjoy celebrating occasions with you, be it a Christening, birthday, marriage, burial, etc. These are not just considered perfunctory acts or rites of passage.
because when you work hard you can eventually see the fruits of your labour, and your accomplishments are not always measured in terms of finances, but could include the successes and accomplishments of the children you have raised, how you excel in your particular field, profession or sport, etc.
The Wole Soyinkas, Chinua Achebes, Fela Ransome Kutis, Baba Salas, Modupe Osikoyas, Hogan Basseys, Art Alades, Segun Bucknors, Madame Tinubus and other accomplished prides of Nigeria are not known for their wealth, nor do they hire bodyguards and act like they are above reach because of their accomplishments.
This piece is quite inspirational and motivating. Positive affirmations like this does not only make for good readings, but also help make positive changes in our lives that will move us forward to new levels of excellence and achievement.
Jide ka iji!
Chiedu Ebube
osowa7@j...
23rd Dec. '03
Last edited by admin on Sat Jul 07, 2007 12:05 pm; edited 1 time in total
This is a beautiful piece of writing and full of optimisms perhaps in 2004 Nigerians will be more proud of who we are and see to it that the optimisms expressed by this writer are fully realized.
An East-African's response to a disgruntled Nigerian's outburst.
From: <lilly_taylor0@y...>
Sent: Friday, January 02, 2004
Subject: Re: I'm Proud to be a Nigerian......
I'm Not Nigerian and proud to be east African, and I do no quite agree with Ab..... although some of the things he mentioned I've observed to be true.
I'll tell you what I think, I love Nigerians because they are hilarious, your life style, the way you carry yourselves (does not make me feel like crying but I envy the unity you have amongst yourselves), the way you express yourselves (you're loud, so loud I do not understand why you need microphones in your churches) is all hilarious and on top of all that you tell jokes so funny when I hear them I do not know whether to cry or laugh.
1. Re: Disgruntled's opinion of the populace
NO YOU'RE NOT
2. Re: the confident attitudes of the average Nigerian.
NO MAKES US LAUGH
3. Re: the average Nigerian's air of superiority
COME ON NOW, WHAT GROUP OF PPL DO NOT FEEL THE SAME?
4. Re: Disgruntled's comments on an average Nigerian's confident attitude .
RIGHT ON BROTHER, ON THIS I AGREE BUT HOW ELSE WOULD I BE ABLE TO DISTINGUISH YOU FROM OTHER AFRICANS?
5. Re: Disgruntled's rude opinion of the populace
I'LL PRETEND I DID NOT SEE THIS.
6. Re: general complaints stemming from the populace.
OF COURSE OUR POLITICIANS ARE ROGUE, POLICE ARE BAD AND THE MILITARY IS CORRUPT IT'S A WORLD PROBLEM NOT A NIGERIAN PROBLEM!
7. Re: very bitter comments stemming from Disgruntled's embittered heart.
ARE YOU REALLY NIGERIAN OR DID U JUST DIVORCE ONE?
8. Re: Disgruntled's disillusion that his favored politician did not win the elections.
VERY SPECIAL INDEED
9. Re: Disgruntled's disappointment that his money transfer did not get special or priority treatment over the very busy Christmas holidays.
GET USED TO IT
10. Re: some more bitter comments expressed by Disgruntled.
GIVE ME A BREAK
Feedback
From: <wale@o...>
Thanks Lilly, its good to hear this from a non-Nigerian. I think its a function of the way one looks at things. I'm a Nigerian living and practising as a consultant in Nigeria (legitimately and honestly too), and I can say that I have no regrets. Granted that a number of the problems highlighted do exist, I make bold to say that there is presently some shift or change in the positive, unlike say 6-8 yrs ago. (8 yrs ago a person like Dora Akunyili of NAFDAC wouldn't have lasted 2 months). It took years for the developed nations to be what we all see and admire today, but if people didn't believe in those nations and stirred up turnarounds, they would still be in their dark ages today.
This is not an optimistic euphoria as someone put it and doesn't mean one condones the rot. I cannot count how many times my wife has held me back in the car while driving, from confronting a "Danfo" (minibus) driver (or their young cousins the "Okadas") who are a lawless menace on our roads.
To borrow a leaf from the famous Mr. Kenneth Ndeh...........
Blessed be Nigeria
Wale
Last edited by admin on Wed May 30, 2007 4:26 am; edited 1 time in total
I subscribe 100% to your words. I too am PROUD to be a Nigerian. Thank you for these words. We need to tell ourselves more about the positive things we have, just as we need to point out our defects and seek to correct them.
In the past few weeks until end of January, there is an African Art exhibition at the GAM (Galleria di Arte Moderna - Modern Art Gallery) in Turin, Italy (Corso Galileo Ferraris 30) and it was my pride to listen to astonished reviews and recommendations to others to go and see it from many Italians. They did not know that African Art (usually referred to as primitive art by Europeans) was so sophisticated and in many cases also superior to the best produced by Europeans. I took my friends to see it and they want to take their friends to see it.
The most wonderful aspect of it is the Benin Art, which is one of the best in the world, on show in a city and indeed in a country where the name Benin and Edo has become synonimous with the negative slave trade of trafficking for prostitution. The evidence of the greatness of the Ancient Benin Kingdom, of the wonders of the old Benin City, as it was when the Europeans first came and of the plunder and destruction they brought to Benin is laid out for all to see. The evidence that famous European artists (Picasso, Gaugain, etc) shamelessly copied African Art and called it their own (as other Europeans sometimes still try to do and in other areas) without a minimum acknowledgement of the origin of their source of inspiration and indeed of most of the art pieces they exhibited as theirs, is bluntly stated at the exhibition.
Though these are information already well known, never has it been so openly admitted and in a period when Europe can no longer ignore the need to review its past. I recommend that those who can make it go see it and take their children to see their roots. I am taking my very young kids 3 1/2 and 5 1/2 to see it.
Thank you Csxm for your reminder. We need to return to our beginnings and reorder our culture and future.
I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who's responded to the above thread to date, irrespective of our differing views.
Unlike what someone suggested, my being proud to be a Nigerian has absolutely nothing to do with optimistic euphoria. I am proud of my Nigerian heritage and all I have gained by virtue of being a Nigerian.
In this present day, one has a choice of defecting, but I choose not to exercise that right, so it has nothing to do with the fact that I was born there or my parents are from there. I choose to be a Nigerian.
Yes, Nigeria has its ills, but which country doesn't?
Comprehension hasn't always been a strong subject for some and I think when we tend not to understand the subject matter is when we get emotional or sentimental.
I clearly stated that "I am proud to be a Nigerian". I at NO time stated nor inferred that "I'm proud of the ills of Nigeria".
I suppose if my proclamation and the reasons why are understood in that context, then there wouldn't be any reason for aggravated exchanges.
Everyone is quite entitled to their personal opinions regardless of their personal and distinct experiences, but I for one know I take pride in the ownership of my Nigerian passport irrespective.
I do believe there is hope for Nigeria, ill as it may be now, but I also believe its restoration can only begin with a change of our mindset, regardless of our personal experiences.
One can only effect change by changing our mindset and that is why the bible for instance encourages us to renew our minds. We can choose to see the bottle half-full or half-empty, and that will be the deciding factor as to whether to discard try to fill it up or discard it.
As for the comparison to Nigerian media propaganda by someone, actually I take that as a positive rather than as a negative criticism. Maybe, if our media begins to educate Nigerians to build positive and morally uplifting and upstanding attributes by exposing our citizens to positive and encouraging movies, messages and slogans; then some of our citizens would begin to assimilate the messages and choose to be better and law-abiding citizens, rather than constantly watching all those voodoo ratings-chasing movies most are exposed to, that add NO substantial value to people's lives, but instead encourage others to learn new ways to do evil against their fellow humans.
When we start to participate in actual behavioural changes that shows discipline and genuine love for our country, rather than condoning behaviours and carelessness that which most dare not practice while abroad, but casually dump on our own country; then by example, we may slowly begin to influence and change the behaviours of others.
A nation is made up of it's people and if we all choose to bail, preferring a stranger's land to ours instead of sacrificing whatever it takes to build our own homeland, then we have collectively failed as a people. We cannot all stand and throw stones at a glass house from afar, because at the end of the day, it's still our house, and whether the bad elements who bear the same citizenship as we do succeed in destroying it or not depends on our contributions.
America and other nations did not become what they are today by bailing out when times were tough. Yes, I do appreciate the fact that some of us have done much without glaring benefits but with much regrets, but that is not sufficient reason to continuously ostracize, denigrate and abandon our country, much so to our mockery in the foreigners. The question I suppose we can all ask ourselves is "Our we good Ambassadors of Nigeria?"If we fall short, then it's time we individually take assessment of our stock and do what it takes to measure up to the yardstick that would contribute to the wellness of our country and the respect it deserves.
Again, I respect that we all have differences of opinions, that is what makes us unique individuals, but Joseph Swan and Thomas Edison who got credit for making the light bulb did not perfect their works in one day, neither did America become we consider it to be today in 40+ years. It took the sweat and blood of our fellow Africans and we too can make sacrifices to help Nigeria become a better place, rather than resenting the fact that after several years of institutionalized fraud by our military, it no longer measures up to the Nigeria we all loved in the 70s.
No one can uplift or damage the reputation of our country but us, we all have the choice to make the decision as what we want to do.
As I stated earlier, 'We've all had the complaints, we all know the stories about those creeps that scandalize Nigeria, it's about time we hear from the good Nigerians who have pride in their country and why'.
You may be a citizen by birth, marriage or even affiliation, or if you're just proud of the upstanding Nigerians whom you know, let us hear your voice and realize the reasons why despite all, you can hold your head up high and do the name of Nigeria proud.
We all forget these things while we whine but it's good to be reminded of them sometimes. I wouldn't be anything else but a Nigerian O!
I love the fact that in Nigeria, people are still compassionate enough to pass a plate around to raise money for someone who just lost his wallet in a bus, rather than leave him stranded. For some, it might not be much, but to me, that's a good sign.
Hello - I'm proud to be a Nigerian because of thoughtful, intelligent and very talented people like you. Your comments inspired me to write.
Some Nigerians expect others to do for them what they are capable of doing for themselves. Unless, we go back, all of us, to Nigeria and help in its rebuilding, we should shut up.
Right under our eyes, we saw the partition of Nigeria, again, by the Europeans and Americans, same people that have enslaved us for centuries and are still engaged in divide and conquer tactics to keep us irrelevant. Bakassi is a slap on our faces, you can expect further partition and a military engagement of some kind between Cameroon, Bakassi and Nigeria in the future. In the Northern part of NIGERIA, we've also lost some territories.
The recent activities did not happen by coincidence but part of a master plan. The natural resources in and around the areas in question are too significant and crucial to the survival of the planners. They won't leave us alone until we can get our acts together, we don't seem to recognize that Nigeria is a jewel, others seem to know more than we do.
As you correctly stated, by portraying ourselves as buffoons in the eyes of the world, we give others the license to make mockery and demean us further.
The bottom line is this, Nigeria is our motherland. It's a country with great potentials, great people and great culture.
I'm a Yoruba but I see the same greatness in the IGBO and Hausa/Fulani people. Together, we stand a great chance to make Nigeria a great country she deserves to be and a leader amongst the Nations on Earth.
Thank you for believing in OUR COUNTRY. May GOD bless you.
I am proud to be a Nigerian simply because I am one. I don't even need to list the wonderful effects of my Nigerian heritage in my life, to justify my pride.
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