NIGERIA AT 55 – THINGS INDIVIDUALS NEED TO DO TO BRING ABOUT POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE COUNTRY

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At 55, what can we boast of as our own? How many things have you done to put the country on the top list as an individual? Most Nigerians still experience more of hardship, how many lives have you changed? How many businesses have you patronised in your community? These questions are worth answering because they’re suppose to be part of our lives as humans.

In Nigeria today, the dependency on Government for infrastructure and other developments is too much and it needs to stop. Even though the Government tries initiating policies that would eradicate hardship – to bring about change in some areas it can, we as individuals have our own roles to play. The foreign countries we all admire, they were like this but they still found their way through. If we keep waiting for Government, we’ll not achieve anything even in the next 20 years.

Now, to start from somewhere, start from your community or environment. There are people who work hard just to get their daily bread “only”, without even thinking of having gain in their works. There are students in your community who are serious in school but don’t have enough finance to fund for their education, you see these students everyday but you feel less concerned because they’re not your relatives, even when you have what it takes to help them in life.

There are people in your community who have hand works, and some of these works ranges from ICT/Networking, Social skills, Engineering, Education, Business Skills, and Technology. People are gifted with good brains that they easily understand things to explore, but these set of people need a helping hand to finance their works/skills but still, even when capable, you ignore them.

No matter how people struggle, things still turn out to be the same due to the fact that some things hasn’t been changed in our environments. Nigeria is a great country with full potentials to excel, everything needed to do exploit is here. It’s just that things that ought to be done to promote the welfare of the Nation is being done differently while some are not even done.

BELOW ARE SOME WAYS I THINK WE CAN BRING ABOUT “LITTLE” CHANGE TO OUR COMMUNITIES/COUNTRY IN THE MIDST OF EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES

1. Respect your leaders.
Even though they are not doing as expected, encourage them. The work is not just easy, they’ll meet your needs someday.

2. Do not take bribe in any organisation you find yourself, let the naira note wait.
Try as much as possible to keep things going. See the naira note as something that will still fade away. Always try to do things in the right order.

3. Go to the Orphanage homes, help the orphans.
Always make them feel loved, be with them, pray with them, give to them and take them out to see things the world covers.

4. Try to showcase your talents.
Everybody has talent in one way or the other, promoting these talents will help create a better life for oneself and people will benefit from you.

5. Shop with locally owned businesses. 
Some of these locally owned businesses offer services like free gift-wrapping and delivery. And a percentage of your sales taxes go directly to the local community or country. This motivates local marketers.

6. Write a letter to local elected officials appreciating them for making good decisions for the community. 
People work harder when they know they are appreciated, and elected officials don’t frequently hear enough encouraging words. Don’t judge your leaders no matter what.

6. Give food to people who don’t have much to eat. 
If you have a family of four, cook enough dinner for five one night and deliver a plate to the widow next door. Your delivery helps you to get to know your neighbours better. And police promote knowing your neighbours as the best way to fight neighbourhood crime.

7. Look for opportunities to give in your community. 
Students are there, gifted hands are there, give them hope in life by helping them achieve their dreams, give the less fortunate families.

8. Vote people who you think can hear the masses voice. 
While various elections come around, check out the candidates for local and state elections.

If I should continue writing, I don’t think you can be able to finish reading but by doing our part to contribute to the community/country, we add people to our circle of influence and gain opportunities to build relationships with our neighbours, and this can change community.

This community change will then lead to National change in a matter of time. Let’s try to demonstrate what it means to be a good citizen to our children and beyond. Nigeria is our country, if we don’t change ourselves or things in our environment, who will change us? Let’s try this logic, it’ll make sense.

Once Again, HAPPY INDEPENDENCE NIGERIA!
Enjoy yourself…

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