My Dream Nigeria -By Oluwaleye Adedoyin Grace

INTRODUCTION

I pledge to Nigeria, my country!

Before we start this journey, let me tell you a tale of a country. There was a country with unity and faith commanding authority; love was the air she breathed. Indeed, it was an arena of joy and an abode of grace. A country where an innocent black-skinned boy walked freely and unshielded; where citizens threw party after party with songs of joy dancing on their lips. Where ears were deaf to the sound of wails and eyes shut to the sight of blood. Indeed, love flowed like a river with no blockade of war. Where tribes communed and dined from the same bowl, where patriotic citizens came into power to serve their nation — never for self-aggrandizement or personal gain.

There was a country! Indeed, a country envied by her counterparts. Yes! There was a country — my country, Nigeria.

NIGERIA, A TESTAMENT OF A PAINED NATION

Let us tread the path of history.

When Nigeria gained her independence, although I was not born then, I know there were hopes — positive hopes — that heralded the freedom fighters’ minds to make our nation great, obviously not the Nigeria of today. If we were to ask the likes of Sir Obafemi Awolowo, who did much to promote independence and became a true leader; Herbert Macaulay, who founded the nationalism movement; Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello, who fought for Nigeria’s freedom from British rule; Anthony Eromosele Enahoro, member of the Movement for National Reformation; Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, who stood against military dictatorship and inspired millions; and Aminu Kano, leader of the opposition and independence fighter — I am sure they would say the next 60 years would be the opposite of present-day Nigeria.

My people blame the government for everything — economic, social, educational, religious, even family issues. But the question is: who elected them? Who gave them sovereignty to rule? Who gave them the right? Nigerians! We chose this pain. We are the cause of our predicament, setbacks, and suffering. Gone are the days when those in power danced to the tune of the masses and the reasons for their election. The last time I checked, all manifestos are only meant to blindfold us and convince us to vote for them. Once in office, their slogan becomes, “Who needs manifestos?”

My people are carried away by what they hear, not what they think. We bury our conscience because of the grandeur of the castles they build in the air and the mountains they create on the ocean. Our opinions are burnt, our notions exiled to ‘no-name’ lands, our feelings drowned in the deepest ocean, and our impressions carried away by mere words. Don’t you think we are like shafts directed by the wind?

Not only do corrupt politicians loot our money in dollars and pounds, but they are the main source of corruption and embezzlement. Public funds meant for development are diverted into their private pockets. The level of Nigeria’s underdevelopment can easily be traced to these corrupt officials. For instance, many projects have been awarded multiple times, yet the money earmarked ends up in corrupt accounts. Hail the pen — their weapon of corruption! The pen is used to change financial figures from hundreds, to thousands, to millions, to trillions of naira, enriching themselves fraudulently. Even armed robbers don’t loot as much as corrupt politicians.

What a perverted nation! While their children travel the world living in mansions, you and I are left here in Nigeria to suffer under bridges, at the mercy of mosquitoes and dangerous animals. No wonder the death rate is high. Many die because of cold and unfavorable weather conditions, yet we have the right to adequate shelter, food, reasonable wages, care, pensions, employment, sick benefits, and welfare for the disabled, as stated in Section 16(2)(d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Many depend on shelters under bridges and “feed themselves with malnutrition.” Over 50% of Nigerian children suffer from various health deficiencies. Can you imagine? Their money is saved overseas while we wallow in abject poverty. While their children eat healthily, we dine on small bowls of eba. At the end of the day, whether eba or tea, it is the same water. Maybe they need to be reminded that what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

Whenever I read the constitution, I feel another wave of disappointment. Should we talk about Section 18(3) of the CFRN, which says the government shall strive to eradicate illiteracy and provide free compulsory and universal education, including secondary, university, and adult literacy programs? Free? The last time I checked, there is no such thing as free in my nation. Assuredly, if oxygen were made in Nigeria, only the rich would have the opportunity to breathe it.

What about the educational sector, which is going down the drain? There is little or no technological development in Nigeria — why? Because there is no financial support from the government. We are talented, skillful, and gifted, but where is the financial help? No wonder Nigeria is categorized as underdeveloped. Some struggle to finish tertiary education, but due to lack of employment, there is no difference between the educated and the uneducated. Welcome to Nigeria, where law graduates interpret at civil gatherings, mathematics graduates teach part-time in nursery schools, economics graduates sell petroleum on the street, and account graduates hawk car parts in Ikorodu. Now I know why they say “Naija is for hustlers.”

What is our fate? What is the fate of generations yet unborn?

THE ECONOMIC STRUGGLE: A BURDEN TOO GREAT FOR ONE

Nigeria’s economy has been battered and broken over many years — decades of neglect, corruption, mismanagement, and failed policies. It is not the work of one man or one government alone. You cannot expect a single person, no matter how determined or visionary, to mend an economy that has been destroyed by countless hands over a long stretch of time — not in four years, not in ten years, not even in a lifetime.

This is a wound inflicted by many — by different leaders, by different regimes, by different systems — each leaving scars deeper than the last. The present government did not single-handedly spoil this economy; it inherited a legacy of ruin from those who came before. Yet, the people’s anger is often directed at the current administration as if it were the sole culprit.

But how can we not see the truth? Healing a broken nation’s economy is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires patience, unity, and collective effort — from leaders and citizens alike. We cannot demand miracles overnight when the foundations have been eroded for years. The economy is like a great tree, weakened by years of storms and neglect; it cannot be restored to full strength by one gardener in a single season.

This reality should humble us all — leaders and followers — and remind us that the path to prosperity is long and winding. It calls for honesty, accountability, and a shared commitment to rebuild what was lost, piece by piece, day by day.

My heart aches for the millions who suffer under this economic hardship — the father who can barely feed his family, the youth whose dreams are crushed by unemployment, the sick child whose treatment is delayed because of lack of funds. Their pain is a call to action, a plea for understanding that no one person can carry this burden alone.

THE ROLE OF YOUTH IN NIGERIA’S FUTURE

The youth of Nigeria are the heartbeat of this nation. They carry in their hands the fragile hope of a better tomorrow, yet too often, they bear the heavy burden of today’s broken promises. They wake each morning to a country that seems to ask more than it gives, where dreams are stifled by unemployment, where talents go unrecognized, and where the future feels uncertain.

But hear this: the power to change Nigeria’s story lies not in the hands of one leader, one government, or one generation alone. It lies within the spirit of our youth — vibrant, resilient, and unyielding. No president, no matter how well-intentioned, can mend an economy shattered by decades of neglect and greed alone. It is the collective strength of millions of young Nigerians, standing shoulder to shoulder, that will breathe life back into this nation.

Imagine a Nigeria where the youth refuse to be bystanders to their own destiny. Where they rise as entrepreneurs, creators, and innovators — building businesses that lift communities out of poverty. Where they wield technology not just as consumers but as pioneers, breaking barriers and opening new doors. Where they plant seeds in the soil of their ancestors’ land, turning barren fields into thriving farms that feed a nation.

This is not a distant dream — it is a call to arms. A call to every young Nigerian who has felt the sting of rejection, the ache of hopelessness, and the weight of injustice. You are not powerless. You are the architects of the future. Through your courage, your ideas, your unity, you can rebuild what has been broken.

Together, you can demand a government that listens, a society that respects, and a nation that includes. Together, you can tear down the walls of division — ethnic, religious, regional — and build bridges of understanding and solidarity. Together, you can turn the tide of despair into a wave of hope.

Remember, the journey will not be easy. The road ahead is long and fraught with challenges. But the strength of a united youth is unstoppable. When you stand together, there is nothing you cannot overcome. When you lift each other up, the impossible becomes possible for in your hands lies the power to heal this wounded nation, to restore its dignity, and to build a Nigeria where every child can dream freely, live fully, and thrive.

MY DREAM NIGERIA

Yes! I have a dream!

I dream of a prosperous country where every Nigerian will live in dignity. I dream of an end to high levels of poverty, and unemployment in Nigeria. I dream of a Nigeria where governments will ensure that citizens have access to quality healthcare. Where there will be a high quality hospital for the populace; where our ‘leaders’ will develop and use the available healthcare in the country rather than going abroad to cure a mere headache. My dream Nigeria lies in the heart of the sick 7years old Olayinka who was refer abroad to go for an operation to cure his brain tumour but suffers day and night because his parents cannot even afford a three square meal.

I dream of an end to high level of inequality where my being an undergraduate will not be based on whom I know, where the merit of my result won’t be sacrificed because I do not know the vice chancellor. I dream of a country where I do not need to have an iPhone to sit with the high class, yes! I dream of a country where the rich son will dine with the daughter of the pauper, where there will be unity among all the ethnics group. My pain is in the tears of Mr. Aminu of Kano who forfeited his job opportunity in the southern region because of his ethnicity.

I dream of a Nigeria where there will be a world class research university. Where every child will have access to quality education at all levels.  I dream of an era where there will be no strikes by academic and non-academic staff in our higher institutions. A Nigeria where lecturers will not seek sexual favours from students to have an A. A country where admission to higher education institutions will be on merit not how much you pay to earn the admission. My sorrow is in the pain of Adaeza of Enugun who had 355 in her post UTME yet mulcted her admission in the northern region because she is not from the catchment area.

I dream of country where the girl child is allowed to enjoy the rights and privileges as the male child, a country where a girl child will go to schools rather than being married off at an early age. My pain lies in the heart of Amina of Kaduna, a 15-year-old girl who was given out of marriage because of a ‘culture’ that needs to be eradicated.

I dream of a Nigeria where the prison service would be a correctional centre it was named. Where prisoners will enjoy their rights, privileges and be treated according to the treatment they really deserve. My dream Nigeria is in the heart of Mr. Tale, ‘a prisoner’ who wait in detention for trial over 7 years now without being tried. Innocent young men with the hope of freedom one day.

I dream of the Nigeria with free and fair elections, where politicians will not be experts in writing election results to change the will of the people. I dream of Nigeria without electoral thuggery, a country where there won’t be violence in election. I dream of a country where our very best, both morally and professionally, will dominate the political space. I dream of Nigeria where elections periods will not be an opportunity for selfish benefits. Where the vote of the majority counts.

The Nigeria of my dream lies in the sweat of a father who strive to get a well payable job just to fend for his family and put food on their table. He comes home late in the night and go to work as early as 4a.m just not to be sacked from his low payable work yet receives insult from a child old enough to be his own son.

The Nigeria of my dreams lies in the heart of the 17 years old Adedayo who take refuge under the bridge in Lagos and his abode under the scourging sun day and night. I dream of a Nigeria where there is hope for the girl who toil on the street of Ilorin every day to beg for daily bread to feed her sick mother.

Yes! I dream of Nigeria with moral icons like Nelson Mandela. I dream of a day Nigerians will have leaders that are unifying figures and who command moral authority. I dream of a country with true leaders.

I dream of a better Nigeria. I dream of a brighter future for our children. I dream that all Nigerians work to make these dreams a reality. Yes! My pain is in the tears of the Nigerians out there waiting for these day to come.

CONCLUSION

Over the years, all I keep hearing is that Nigeria will make a good country. Many times my grandfather said, “Nigeria will definitely make a great nation.” So I asked him, “You’ve been saying this for more than 60 years, hoping for a better Nigeria. Don’t you think your grandchildren will tell their grandchildren the same? Will Nigeria ever become great if leaders continue this way?”

Well, I stand boldly with no iota of fear to say my country is perverted! But wait! I am one of the optimistic Nigerians. I am a believer. I am the voice of hope. I am the voice of the 36 states. I am the mouthpiece of over 250 ethnic groups. I am an advocate for over 500 languages and a messenger for 371 tribes. I stand with no doubt that Nigeria will surely become a better place one day. Hopefully, one day!

Let us then rise together, not to blame endlessly, but to support, to demand better, and to work tirelessly for the Nigeria we all dream of — a Nigeria where the economy serves the people, not the pockets of a few.

Oluwaleye Adedoyin Grace writes from Faculty of Law, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State.

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