Whats the Reality of Nigeria? Is what I chose to be the theme for this edition of SWORTE TALKS, as Okechukwu Ofili, Tosin Durotoye, Alan Davis and Glory Alozie-Macaulay melts the main theme – “Nigeria’s Exodus: The Quest For Gold,” at the Muson Centre, Onikan on Sunday, 23rd June, 2019.

Another sub-topic I will like to draw a line on is ‘Whats the Value of Nigeria To Those Living In Diaspora?’

Value, they says is something you give absolute attention, not just ‘checking’ but ‘making sure’.  The value we give to Nigeria as a country, is it influenced by the government or by foreign bodies.

I must agree with Okechukwu Ofili who bluntly thinks “Nigeria is a disappointment” while being realistic with the conditions surrounding it and on the soft angle I hopefully believe, in summary, that Nigeria can be made better by Nigerians believing in themselves, going out there to become somebody and bringing that package back to the country for progress, like Tosin Durotoye said. 

But then again, we go back to the biggest talk as raised again by Ofili, Are Nigerians United?

Most Nigerians who traveled abroad left because of these major reasons – 

– Ethnic crisis

– Religios crisis

– Self-esteem

– Job

– Education

Ofili narrated clearly how some ethnic groups would not work with other ethnic group within the country. Lagos, Rivers and Imo states happens to be large on this. Among this people, you will hardly find someone who is not one of them in prominent position, it may even be over their dead body. This many after roving they decide to try outside and there, things start working so the find it difficult coming back.

Some people also leave due to lack of encouragement from people around them and infrastructures and attention from the government for their type of profession.

Commenting all the way from London on the theme is Nigeria female model, Ololade Ibrahim, who said solution is not always in Nigeria.

“In some cases solution is not available in Nigeria. My case for example when I was in Nigeria modelling no one know the hustle or see or appreciate it. When I moved out, people started appreciating my effort, value me and respect me for my craft.”

“Same as football, we have many talented footballers who are ready to play for Nigeria but they never appreciate them but when they move of the country and people in that county they moved to see the passion and strength in them, they appreciate it and even pay for it.”

Should we all move out of the country then, ‘cos if so, I should be on my way since I have alot that deserves appreciation. Lol! But this will make sense since it took Glory Alozie-Macaulay Spain before she properly recognised and guess what, aside the fact that she is now a Spanish Citizen, she has been tagged  “The ghost of Sydney“. She is currently giving back to the country through grassroot development which is the point Tosin was trying to make, avoiding guide from negative circumstance.

When you leave Nigeria to another country; you stay there, enjoy it; why do you find it difficult coming back to replicating the same thing here?

CHALLENGES
From the angle of sports in Nigeria, according to Glory, is not easy, as there is no motivation and there is less competitions to help harness talents. She expects corporate bodies to come do what the government is not doing.

Outside Nigeria too is not a bed of roses as Tosin says, “Here in Nigeria, I can’t starve but there in America, they don’t pay me my salary or I get evicted, I go starve o!”

This boils down to one thing – hard work and self-motivation. 

Weather in Nigeria or ‘Jand’, nobody will take someone who is got nothing to offer – the more you work on yourself, the more valuable you  become.

“The reality of Nigeria is Tough” as rightly said by Okechukwu, as it is in any other country but Self motivation is the biggest key to success as pointed by Tosin.

Don’t forget we have great minds who have come to Nigera, made it and decided to settle here with our sister, someone like Alan Davis is a good example.

So the best way to fix Nigeria is to be open minded in every situation.

#UncleFadaka.