The Role Of Nigerian Students In Creating A New Nigeria...

Over the years, Nigeria has undergone several reforms in making it a better country, but it seems to get worse by the day. The notion of a new Nigeria is not about breaking it down like the biblical temple, but a revived, refreshed, reinvigorated, reorganized, refined, and reordered Nigeria. A new Nigeria is not an inexperienced or unaccustomed country but a reliable, self-sufficient and developed country -- a Nigeria we can all be proud of. Every citizen of Nigeria, men and women, the young and old hold the key to a successful redevelopment as it is said, 'every part of a tree contributes to its existence'. This essay seeks to focus on the role of Nigeria students (being educated at one citadel of learning or the other) in the creation of a new and better Nigeria.

The first step in creating a new Nigeria is creating a revived spirit in students -- an optimistic mind that believes Nigeria can actually get better. Like the popular say, 'Rome was not built in a day', The process of recreation is definitely not a day's job and every student needs to understand this fact. The revival process won't come as a miracle, but one of cutting, recutting and sowing a cloth to bring forth a beautiful product. They need to renew their faith in Nigeria, that the dilapidated can be rebuilt, the wastelands can still be productive, that water can come out of the barren land and a good thing can actually come from Nazareth.

Nigerian students need to understand the essence of self-empowerment and sufficiency. Of the crisis facing Nigeria today, unemployment stands as a major thorn in the flesh as thousands of school graduates are out searching for jobs. It is no longer news, that the available jobs are not enough and is therefore a battle among the fittest. To solve this situation, it is important that students strive for excellence to become employable and rather than rely on getting a job after school, they should take initiatives and work on building successful businesses which will in turn create jobs for others. Innovativeness together with vision is very essential, and requires that they think out of the box, planning extensively ahead, rather than live only for the present.

A new Nigeria means a safer Nigeria, a country where people can live in freedom and absolute peace of mind. To build that nation, students must shun all acts of cultism, thuggery, hooliganism and other forms of unruly and violent behaviours. Nigerian students must adopt a dialogical rather than diabolical approach when it comes to solving problems. It is said 'violence beget violence', which is why the destruction of lives and properties during protest will do more harm than good in developing a safe and habitable country and must be shunned at all cost. If Nigeria is ever going to get better, students must live as responsible and law-abiding citizens. By joining voluntary organizations and aiding in community service and development, helping to enforce law, order and cleanliness, Nigeria is on its way to becoming a greater nation.

Building a corrupt-free country, one with integrity is a responsibility of every students. A bad reputation corruption has been for our dear country, a result of desperate individuals who want to make money and wealth through all nooks, crannies and selfish interests. Fraud, bribery, and all forms of examination malpractices must be avoided at all cost and understand that good success and wealth never come easy but a result of hard work, preparation, patience, perseverance, and prayer. It may be tough to succeed, but it is definitely not impossible as Nigeria is blessed with enough resources to aid in the conquest.

The new Nigeria of our dreams is one without corruption,
A country where the young and old can live in peace with other,
A country where the children of the poor will no longer live on the food crumbles of the rich,
A country where its citizens strive for excellence in all,
A country where poverty and unemployment will be of the past,
A country where all the tribes and states will support each other in harmony,
A country where the leaders have the love of the people at heart,
That is the the Nigeria of our dreams.