What is the Nigerian dream? What is the singular philosophy that drives the Nigerian man to act? What gives him hope, assures him of tomorrow, gives meaning to his pursuit? What drives him? Is it the feeling of hope, the certainty of success, the predominance of belief or just pointless expectation and the quest for survival? I am a Nigerian and each day I wake with that strong desire to pursue my dream with a conviction that I can truly make it. But regardless many might wonder what drives me. Is it the idea that life will get better or that progress is inevitable if only I work hard enough or that prosperity is assured in good time?
Nigeria is a country of great extremes; abundant wealth trailed by abject poverty and corruption that one might often wonder what is the standard by which equal opportunity is available to every Nigerian, allowing the lowest in society to aspire to great heights? If it citizens are constantly tormented by the looting of their fellow black men, where is the hope? If tribal sentiments trail opportunities, where is the equality? If the trivialities of ethnic divisions constantly take priority over ideas of growth and development, where is the possibility of change? If security is often a burden that men cannot sleep with their two eyes shut where is the stability? If the nation continually struggles to provide basic necessities like water, power and affordable shelter what chance at progress is there?
There are days when I wonder what my future is in this country if truly there is a dream worth pursuing if the change is possible or hope worth clinging to. For there is so much negativity around that it overshadows the positive things about this nation. From the negative media reports to the realities of great extremes to youths hanging by the thin thread of hope and others dangling from it. As many turns to illicit activities to make ends meet; an unjustified path you might say, but tell that to the graduate who has seen no job opportunities, five years after graduating and who still has to provide for his family. A harsh reality it might seem, and indeed it is but in all this some still struggle to make meaning of life, to pursue dreams almost drowning in the pain and hopelessness around. And so I cannot be a pessimist and with that understanding, I push forward towards a tomorrow worth living for.
From the hawkers on the street to the crowded local markets you can feel that spirit, that spirit of perseverance heavy with dreams, every man pushing, passion in their eyes burning with sparks of creativity and ingenuity. It is a fiery spirit that one might mistake for ill intentions. It is the zealous pursuit of the Nigerian dream; one that tells the tale of perseverance amidst hardship and the unwavering conviction that no matter how turbulent the storm, how deep the valley, how narrow the path “I go make am for this life”. And each day as the sun rises, I also rise in that spirit to the hustle, to till the land in search of bread. Run! Run! Run! In the harsh lands of hope and in the vain fields of expectation there I take pursuit with belief.
Growing up in a country like Nigeria, I recall as I walked to school I would often see people pacing to the bus stops in the morning, I could sense the urgency in their faces, the conviction that their daily bread came from no other but from their destination. As a child and even now I still wonder where that vigor in their pursuit came from. For I came to understand that a man must choose to either live his dream or be buried by one and Africa is a land where many have been buried by dreams, by realities that change their perspectives of life to one driven by a survival mentality; one wherein everyman tills the soil in search of the next meal and nothing more. No wonder the world often ascribes poverty to Africa. But nonetheless, men rise each day to pursue a dream and to live it, to be baptized by the belief in its possibility and to be driven by the certainty of its outcome.
Life is beautiful regardless of its rigidity and struggles. I recall my dad getting out of bed before the entire family and always the last to return home. He worked hard because he had a dream, one wherein his family had the best of life and his children were not defined by the colour of their skin, or their nationality but simply by the content of their character and by their sheer desire to build a future wherein life held more meaning than it offered. And each day he rose with that conviction though it wasn’t easy still he had a dream, one he was willing to pursue tirelessly. Years after, his three children are graduates. Truly dreams come true!
While my personal experience shows that the Nigerian dream is truly worth pursuing. The story of the underage apprentice who turned $1 into $500 million dollar empire is one that is a testament to this truth. Cosmas Maduka, the founder, President/CEO of Coscharis Group started off as an automobile apprentice with his Uncle and through hard work, sheer determination and maximizing opportunities turned an investment of $1 into $500 million dollar company. Though without his own stories of failures but still it shows that the Nigerian dream is worth pursuing.
Our dreams are what give us life, give us meaning and any man without a dream is a man without purpose or meaning. We rise each day because we want to live that dream, we want to fly with wings like eagles and soar beyond the heavens to a place where hope is finally given rest and peace. I am the dreamer wandering the planes of existence in search of fulfillment and like the Nomad I will eventually find my place of rest. But while I dream I am not oblivious of the realities, the social stigmas that paint every Black man has absent ambition, purpose and a life of meaning, one that defines colour as a measure of worth and relevance or the plight of my fellow black man burdened by the thought of the next meal or children robbed of innocence or men drunk with power. I am not! These are the realities that keep my dream alive. They keep me pushing each day with tireless vigor and with the expectation that change is possible and dreams do come true if men work had enough to achieve them.
So what defines the Nigerian man? Hard work and nothing short of that! That is the Nigerian man, tilling the soil like he owns it. His life nurtured by the diligent observance of culture and tradition. The Nigerian life bound by the dogma; get a degree, then a job and then get married, the rest is history. The great triad of expectation and the designed path laid for all to tread. Every parent’s dream, every man’s desire to push beyond that bar of expectation cast in stone and achieve much more and build a future of his dreams. Dreams and men in pursuit!
We all just want to live the Nigerian dream, push the bounds of hope, live meaningful lives, touch the world, enjoy its pleasures and leave life with memories and be thankful we lived. The Nigerian dream is just the beginning towards a future, towards a life of beauty and peace.
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