Today is Nigeria’s 51st Independence Day Anniversary.

There are probably as many sentiments about this day as there are people.

Some see it as an opportunity to rehearse their disappointments and discontentment.

Others see it as another opportunity to put up weird pictures with splashes of green and white.

I see it as an opportunity to express gratitude and inspire hope.

It would be delusionary to say there are no challenges. Everyone who listens to the news knows that we still have a long way to go as a country. What I’d like to focus on however, is the will to go on. Inspite of the chaos, crises, confusion and calumny, there is still the will to go on. Where there is a will, there is a way.

I celebrate my country today, not because of where we are but because of that flicker of hope that the winds of ethnic strife, the whirlwind of corruption, the typhoon of terrorism and the pangs of political inbalance have not been able to snuff out.

I celebrate today because you are taking out time to read this and you are going to be a part of the transformation we despertely desire.

I celebrate today because of a few good men (and women) who have not and will not sell their bodies or sell their souls.

I celebrate Nigeria because of our true heroes, whose names do not appear on the headlines, yet are taking giant strides through their integrity, sacrifices and intercessions in the secret.

I celebrate Nigeria because we will turn things around for the better and some day soon, leaders will come from all over the world to learn how to lead their own Nations with excellence.

Let’s celebrate. We will get there. Soon, the TRUTH will set us FREE. Someday, we shall be free indeed.

P.S: Stay tuned for my INCREDIBLE Independence Celebration Gift To You.

Over the last week, there has been a lot of informal discussions about the National Youth Service Corp (N.Y.S.C.)

These heated conversations have been fueled by the sad massacre of innocent Youth Corp members who were serving their fatherland in certain parts of the Northern Region of our country.

I have my thoughts about N.Y.S.C and if you watched the 7 o’clock and 10 o’clock news on  Silverbird Television last Monday, April 26, 2011, you may have heard a little bit of what I think.

I will still share my thoughts about N.Y.S.C on this blog but before then,I WANT TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS. Please, air your views. Bare it all. I’m all ears. What are your thoughts about the N.Y.S.C program?

Our Country is endowed with some of the world’s most precious resources yet we endure some of the toughest living conditions.

Our citizenry is a blend of the wealthiest people on the continent as well as the poorest people on the planet- a shocking mix of princes and paupers. Whilst a few of us can afford the luxuries of life, most of us barely get by and would even consider a meal of burger and chips a rare delicacy.

It is a paradox that in recent times, we have recorded a higher GDP with each new year, yet we have also recorded a higher cost of living as well as a lower standard of living.

Think about the 5o million able-bodied people who have no jobs and have to hustle just to keep body and soul together. Some of them live on your street and “hang around” all day, trying their hands on various ventures hoping that something will “click”. Many of such people may be called “glorified beggars” as they would do almost anything to eke a living.

What about the 70 million people who go to bed every night with nothing to swallow…except their pride?

The facts and figures stare us in the face. Poverty is ravaging our nation at an alarming rate. As our economic situation worsens, people are becoming more desperate. You don’t need to be a prophet to know that it’s either we change or perish.

I choose to say “IT’S TIME FOR CHANGE”.

I do not intend to analyze the ugly situation we have in our hands. Most Nigerians I know are gifted at analyzing our economic doldrums. The reason I’m writing  this is to proffer simple solutions to the complex problem that we have created over the last five decades.

I have a few recommendations…and it’s my prayer that you will make good use of the points I’m sharing here, regardless of your political inclination, social class, financial status, religious persuasion or tribe.

These are the three keys to Nigeria’s economic transformation:

First, INTEGRITY.

“Integrity” is from the word, “Integer’ which means “whole number”.

Integrity is the state of being a single whole.

A person of integrity says what he means and means what he says.

You might be shocked to realize that a nation with people who lack integrity is like a building with a weak foundation. Any economy built on lies, selfishness and an unbridled appetite for wealth is bound to collapse.

According to a World Bank report, 80 percent of  Nigeria’s oil and gas revenue benefits only 1% of the Nigerian populace because of corruption. Now, that’s appalling. Our God-given resources are siphoned into the pockets of a few people who pledge to serve  the Nation yet  turn around to serve themselves. Our nation is bedeviled by a host of dishonest and deceitful men and women.

Our biggest need is a generation of people whose deeds are in congruence with their creeds.

It’s important for us to note that this is not just about political officers and government functionaries. This is about everyone of us.

Nigerian leaders are first Nigerians before they are leaders. More often than not, our leaders are a reflection of our citizenry. I have heard people say that they will embezzle if they get elected into public office. The same people lambast the current leaders we have.

Many of us keep pointing accusing fingers at corrupt leaders but it’s time for us to look inwards and make the necessary adjustments in our own lives.

If you are a pastor, don’t steal church money.

If you are a policeman, stop exploiting motorists.

If you are a customs officer, don’t take bribes.

If you are an accountant, don’t doctor financial records.

If you are a businessman, don’t cheat your customers and clients.

We can’t fix Nigeria without first fixing Nigerians.

Let’s start with you. Work on yourself but more importantly, ask God to work on you.

Let’s get it right individually then it would be easier to progress corporately.

Trying to fix the economy without embracing INTEGRITY is like trying to fill a basket with water.

Kindly share this link on facebook, twitter and any other media you have access to. It will touch and transform thousands and perhaps millions of lives.

I’d also like to read your comments.

P.S.: Watch out for the other two keys.

As we stand on the threshold of history in Nigeria, it is important for us to revisit some of the points I raised in one of the debates and take the necessary steps to secure the future of our Nation and Continent.

Kindly watch this video and share it with your friends on FACEBOOK, TWITTER and other SOCIAL NETWORKS.

You may also leave your questions, contributions and comments in the box below…

Please Remember To Share This Video.

It was organized by an exceptional young man called Seun Salami, founder of Vine Media.

The theme was STICK.ABILITY…interesting!

Other speakers scheduled to speak were Fela Durotoye, Kunle Ayoola (Soul Snatcha of RoofTop MCs) and Toyosi Akerele of RISE.

We had a most fulfilling time and I’m so glad I was a part of it.

I shared a couple of insights and I was delighted to see the faces of those precious young people glow with renewed passion and enthusiasm.

Here are a few points from my presentation that you might find interesting:

• One of the challenges that you must overcome as a young person is impatience.Many young people are not willing to take the heat and the pressure required for their transformation.

• One of the reasons Nigeria hasn’t gone as far as she should go is that we consume resources in the short term that we ought to invest for the long term.

• You can’t have the pleasure of the promise if you don’t endure the pain of the process.

• Concentration is key:Become so focused till your distraction becomes distracted by your focus.

• You shouldn’t keep consulting those who know so much about your past and so little about your future otherwise you will repeat certain patterns you ought to break and your future will be a duplication of your past.

• The most read authors are not necessarily the best authors, they are the bestselling authors.

• People perish, not for lack of talent or skill but for lack of knowledge.

• You are a walking, talking bag of seeds.Sow them.Grow them.

• Don’t just SOW YOUR SEEDS, GROW YOUR SEEDS.

• It’s time to turn that bright idea into a fantastic proposal.

• Hall of your victory is in showing up.Learn to participate.

• If your hands are on it, people will join you in it.

• Learn to verbalize your dreams because a potential partner or sponsor might just be listening.

I hope learned a few things.

Be kind enough to leave a comment or a question, if you have one.

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