Restoring lost hope in Nigeria

• Published date: 09 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

Hope - the state of mind that engenders positive outcome is consequential to human existence. The American poet, Emily Dickinson in her poem 'Hope is the thing with feathers' analogized hope to a bird that's perched in the soul of human, where it sings unceasingly even in the most powerful storm. The poem celebrated the robustness and essence of hope.

But hope is gradually pulverized by the crushing everyday demand of life's existence. Nigeria is bristling with citizens whose search for better standard of living, security and stable economic environment remain so elusive. And, slowly may turn the country to a graveyard of hope. It has already actuated a massive exodus of citizens to where they reckon as Oasis courtesy of 'Japa'. It's common to hear vociferous recitation of whys and wherefores for the continued slide of the country into the dark hole of nothingness further down the road. Yes, scaremongering has practically taken a foothold.

So, the loss of hope is at the foreground of the damning prognosis for the country. Make no mistake, there're rhymes and reasons for the way the citizens feel. It has been a long history of dashed hope in the face of manifold potentials and resources and there's no let-up in the deterioration of socioeconomic situation of the country. Leaders break faith with citizens. Expectations are continually deferred. Change remain so distant, pushing cynicism to the centre stage which dissolves into hopelessness

A recent empowerment outreach to those bearing the brunt of the country's socio-economic challenges in some parts of Kaduna State during the holidays proved to be a microcosm of the depth of ravages of the parlous situation on Nigerians. Heartrending narratives of the quotidian struggles and survival left not a few drowned in emotions.

The curtains just fell on 2022 and it marked somewhat the nation's annus horribilis as about 133 million Nigerians were said to be under the affliction of multidimensional poverty according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

So much can still be done to turn the tide. A friend who had stayed in Kigali, Rwanda for over a decade won't just cease rhapsodizing about the amazing progress given the circumstances leading to the building of the shining new country. In my friend eyes, as long as Rwanda could emerge as a reference point in development and good governance on the continent he's implicitly sure that Nigeria can overcome the myriad challenges and infuse hope to the its teeming...