Don't Kill My Dreams

           I wake up to the undead rays of early morning sunlight creeping in through my blinds. I stagger to the toilet and turn on the tap and to my utter disappointment, drip-drop! No water! I rush to switch on the borehole as luckily, there's light. Ha! I haven't ironed my uniform. The click of the iron switch synchronizes ever so perfectly with the sudden darkness. PHCN and their timing though. The way things are going, I just pray they don't take the light at the end of the tunnel. I spend the next few hours preparing for school. 
            I meet my father outside struggling to turn on his car which just got back from the mechanic's a day ago. The problem is obvious. Fake parts! I board a 'one-chance' bus (as we Nigerians call it) praying fervently for a safe arrival. Unfortunately, or rather fortunately, the bus breaks down after diving tyre-deep into a massive pothole. Bad roads! I am forced to trek the remaining distance to school. On getting to school, I find a frustrated class teacher who gives me a thorough whooping for coming late while complaining about his unpaid salary. Embezzlement of public funds! The rest of the school day just flies by as more and more half-baked and half-hearted teachers rush through their lessons. Poor system of education! I hitch a ride home from a friend of mine. Halfway home, we are stopped by policemen. Witfully, they coerce my friend's mother into giving them a mere N200 for them to let us go. Bribery and corruption! 
            On getting home, I find the entire neighbourhood in commotion. A neighbour of mine has been robbed in broad daylight. Insecurity! I slip into the sitting room thinking of how horrid a day this was. As if that was not enough, my father storms in cursing and swearing at the government. A friend of his had just died that morning after taking fake drugs. Fake drugs! He was rushed to the nearest hospital as the situation could still be salvaged. Unfortunately, the doctors were on strike. Underpaid workers! I retire to my room and read a newspaper for some peace. I flip through the newspaper to find a news article regarding a bomb blast that killed scores. Insecurity again! Ironically, I find out that the FG presents N76.3 million to the purchase of crested cutlery, flatware and glassware in 2014! It's obvious that the FG has misplaced priorities. 
            I lay my head down to rest as this is all too much to take in and my eyes follow suit. Lo and behold! I see a Nigeria with good roads, beautiful scenery, an excellent standard of education, an efficient workforce, and everything else that qualifies it as a world-class nation. I am however awoken with the sound of a gunshot in the area. Armed robbers. I lay my head down and let my wild imagination produce the Nigeria of my dreams, literally. This is the reality of the somewhat privileged Nigerian child. Talk less of the poverty-stricken ones! This is a plea to the leaders of this great nation. Please don't kill my dreams and destroy my hopes of a greater nation.

My Role In Nation Building

I am a Nigerian Child. A child born into a generation of commotion. A child born in a time of confusion. A time of ethnic differences. A time of disputes between cultures and between religions. YET, I remain optimistic that at the end of this dark tunnel, there is a light. A light for you, a light for me. But I want to be part of that light. I want to make an impact. I want to bring change. I want to know that if I leave this world, I leave it knowing I played my part. But what is my part?

 Nigeria as a nation has grown immensely since its independence that we can all agree that we have electricity...every once in a while. We have good roads...in some places. We have great lecturers...that are nowhere to be found. We have grown, yes, but is that growth enough? 

Our nation was built on the solid foundation of integrity, driven by the supporting force of determination but still needs one main element to make it the right nation. Every child was but an onlooker to these achievements, but now we have decided to take part. Take part to take change. My role in nation-building starts with this guy and it starts with that guy. You know why? It's because we are the nation. Our character, our attitudes reflect our being as a people. Indirectly what I'm saying is we need to change our corrupt mindset that we call 'Nigerian mentality' towards a more positive outlook. We need to start looking at the glass of water half-full and not half-empty. Only then will we begin to realize the changes we so much crave for in our society. As a 15-year old citizen of Nigeria, I am endeared with the responsibility of studying the history of my country and the biography of her true patriots. Their shoes are waiting to be worn. I should be able to find the well from which they drew their inspiration from and draw a bucketful of experience and patriotism. I should be able to look their eyes and understand their vision for Nigeria. I should be able to understand what made them true leaders and also fight to become a champion of democracy. I should walk in the footsteps of Ahmadu Bello and shine in the light of Nnamdi Azikiwe. I should be driven by the courage of Tafawa Balewa and be motivated by the perseverence of Obafemi Awolowo. I should understand democracy and understudy the underlying principles of politics in Nigeria...to a safe level. These indeed are my guiding principles, my stepping stones, the boundaries within which I think and act. In line with the beliefs of the late Nelson Mandela, may his blessed soul rest in perfect peace, we need to start focusing on what unites us and not what divides us. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, this isn't only my role. It's your role, it's his role, it's her role, it's our role, it's the Nigerians role! I challenge each and every one of you here today to take responsibility for your roles and who knows...we might just be that step closer to the actualisation of the Nigerian dream!

A Welcome Note

This is the beginning of what will be, or what I hope to be, a resolution towards change in Nigeria. Not just change...positive change. This blog will be a collection of my essays and speeches and those of other Nigerian children whose voices have been submerged by the overwhelming populace. This will be published on a weekly basis. 
It will also serve as a recurring reminder to Nigerians that the reform we so much crave for begins with each of us as individuals. 

My gratitude goes to Japheth Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) and my father, Uba Saidu Malami (@USMalami) for being my inspiration. Thank you.