10 %

Nigeria has been labeled the most populous black nation. It has been said that out of every 4 black people you meet around the world, 1 is a Nigerian. A country of about 150 million people with leaders in every relevant industry of the modern world, Nigeria is undoubtedly ranked as being part of the top 10 percent of known countries in Africa. However, can it be categorized as being part of the top 10 percent of developed or developing countries in Africa? I’d say no.

South Africa is regarded as the only developed African nation so that rules Nigeria out of the category. Even among the developing nations, Nigeria doesn’t have a GDP that qualifies it to be top 10 percent. It’s been said that 90% of the wealth of a certain group of people will rest in the hands of 10% of that group of people. Nigeria has not proved itself yet to be part of the 10% holding the wealth of Africa. Whereas the potential is evidenced by the massive stock of Natural, Human and Intellectual resources, the realization is another story altogether.

The current Managing Director of the World Bank, a vice-president of the World Bank, a former secretary to the Commonwealth of Nations, An Icon of Revolution in Ukraine, a former world’s best computer scientist……..etc. are all Nigerians. I could go on and on. What about natural resources? The largest gas reserves in the world, one of the largest bitumen reserves in the world, the 6^th largest crude oil producing and exporting nation in the world; the most unique granite deposits (sandy-looking) in the world; large deposits of marble and limestone just to mention a few all refer to Nigeria. Why then are we not top 10 percent?

Nigeria as country still imports every single resource we can boast of in every category that exists. Nations that grow up to the top 10 percent category are nations that have conquered most of their basic problems and have provided sustainable solutions to them. There is no city in Nigeria that can boast of regular power supply or flow of pipe-borne water. Pipe-borne water has become in many areas in Nigeria just as lethal as stream water because of the diseases borne by water flowing through rotten pipes.

Even the human resources who could have helped drag us out of this retrogressive mire have fled the country. It is not news that the top 10 percent intelligent and innovative Nigerians are plying their trade in other more developed countries of the world where they are appreciated.

Nigeria and Nigerians must awake to the call of destiny. If Nigeria is reckoned with as a force in Africa, then we must begin to see ourselves as such and rise up to the challenge. Our problems are not exclusive to us. Other nations at different points in their existence have passed through some of them. We need to find out how they triumphed and adapt their model of success to our nation. We can no longer sit still and wait for the messiah to ascend the presidency and lead us out of slavery into the promise land.

The interesting thing about the top 10 percent in anything is that after having achieved that position they never desire to leave it. They hunger and thirst for excellence and triumph more than they ever did before they made 10 percent. We must understand as Nigerians that the 10 percent that rule do so because they have taken bold uncompromising and daring steps to extricate themselves from the popular 90%.

Currently, 90% of Nigerians still break traffic laws, tax laws and any other laws that’ll cause them the minutest inconvenience without missing a beat. It is infact strange and unpopular to uphold certain values in the country if you want to be successful. Nigerians have described the country as a jungle and therefore jungle justice is the only form of rule they believe can prevail.

We need to change our thinking as Nigerians and partner with those whose thinking has changed; men who have separated themselves from the many knowing that the critical few are a prerequisite to see national rebirth and revolution through; those who have made up their minds to see Nigeria become the most desirable country to live in by 2025 or die trying; those who have agreed that Nation building and development must be a win-win proposition and have put metrics in place to make it so; people who are born Old Nigerians but are Citizens of the New Nigeria; Members of the New Nigeria Club. Join the New Nigeria Club and let’s put hands together to grow Nigeria out of a country people are leaving to a Nation most desirable to live in.

Busayo Akanro is a Human Resource/Business Development Consultant

In Lagos State, Nigeria.

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