What’s Nigeria’s Benchmark?

This piece was inspired by clips from the 2010 World Expo held in Shanghai. The theme of the expo was Better city, Better life. Its aim was to portray world-class cities with little or no carbon emission.

Several countries from North and South America, Europe and Asia stretched the borders of our imagination by their display of cutting edge technologies and infrastructure which have the ability to improve man’s relationship with his environment. Mind blowing pavilions were designed unveiling architectural beauty and functionality. Sadly, Africa was still Africa; having only its cultural heritage on display.

During the build up to the Shanghai Expo, one of the organisers said something that struck me deeply. He said ‘‘during this expo many children would come visiting and one can only imagine what seeds of the future would be planted in their hearts.’’ To him, the success of the expo was in its ability to set a new benchmark for their future.

Thus, the question arose, ‘What’s Nigeria’s Benchmark?’

In 2010, most Nigerian kids are mainly surrounded by mediocrity. This is not the fault of the government alone, we are all contributors. We live in a society that fantasises about the future, disregards the present and lavishly glorifies the past... saying we must try to bring back the ‘good old days.’ Hence, we build structures as though we live in the twentieth century. Our educational curriculum is tailored to stifle ingenuity and begs for urgent review. We consistently serve and uphold ideas, policies and laws that are primitive and unsophisticated. Professionalism is not a top priority in most of our institutions and organisations. Innovation, safety, and environmental impact are not given major consideration in our daily operations.

So, what are we showing our kids?... Since they are our Future

To build a world-class nation we must first of all define clearly a world-class nation. Therefore, I would recommend to all Nigerians; parents, school proprietors, artisans, government officials and kids the clips from the Shanghai World Expo 2010... Let this be our benchmark for national development. If these already developed countries are looking in this direction, we better start looking in that direction also. Not copying but using it as a yardstick.

Thank you and God bless Nigeria.

Written by Taulpaul