IN Nigeria, it is often said that poor people produce many children in the hope that at least one out of all will become great and successful in the future. But what happens to the rest?
This nation however gave rise to negative attitude of adult individuals towards life. To some parents, it has provided a means of escape in performing their responsibility of making sure that every child gets adequate attention, education, moral support and protection, for general and personal development towards attaining his/her dreams.
Every child has his unique ability.This uniqueness of natural potentials to do something in a way others can never do, and to discover them is a step towards achieving one’s dreams. Utilizing such potentials is the ultimate step that guarantees fulfillment in life. But how can this ever become reality in the life of every child, or adult, individuals in the society even when governments and other legally constituted authorities do not recognize the fact that children are the greatest natural resources in the world, and maximizing them should be the sole desire and function of individuals, institutions and governments.
But when there is no adequate provision/care, the child may lose his ability to dream or believe in a future for themselves, or think above their environment. They therefore grow into unfulfilled frustrated adults who will eventually leave the society worst than what they met it.
This has established a permissive attitude towards the pandemic personified as corruption and all kinds of societal misdemeanour. An individual who never received the necessary attention needed as a child will most probably become an adult with permissive attitude towards corruption and other negative conducts in the society. For such individuals, there is no reason to be patriotic, disciplined or responsible.
They are living for just today because for them, there is no real tomorrow to protect. Therefore, they indulge in all kinds of immoral and unacceptable activities in the society. After all, who knows, one can die tomorrow or even the next minute. We cannot blame them now because they were never given a reason to dream when they were younger and more viable. Hence, they would have known that they have a definite future if they had dreamt. They just believe that some people are destined, or born to be great, while others are not. That’s a very big wrong notion or belief. But if we subject these undestined individuals” who think or believe that some are born great and successful, they are most likely to achieve the same success. This is true.
Let’s take Joseph in the bible for example. If Joseph’s father had not loved him the way he did, I am very sure Joseph would never have dreamt of becoming an authority. This was only made possible by the conducive environment of care created by his father. He could later face the hardship of prison, betrayal, rejection and corruption in the larger society of Egypt due to the foundation of care, love and right behavour he had received from his father.
Some people may say there are individuals who never received any form of encouragement as children, but still become very influential in the society. Well, I know if we look closely, we would discover that there was actually a motivation somewhere that drove the desire in them to become successful individual. And this motivation may have originated from other responsible individuals or entities in the society. Something can not just happen like that. There must always be a cause, whether known or unknown. likewise, destiny don’t just come by chance, it is a choice.
These individuals rely on others for survival. They depend on charitable organisations for help, as well as ask people for assistance. They feelthey are at adisadvantage by reason of their birth place, family situation, or background even when they are not handicapped or sick. Therefore, the society must help them. This is why one would sometimes see a very healthy looking adult begging in the street.
These are the set of people who believe government must help them to survive. Otherwise, they won’t do anything to help themselves.
The panacea to this societal problem begins from the family. The family is the heart of the nation. A disciplined family we all know, will produce a disciplined nation, while a family with cherished and definite values will give rise to a developed country. The solution to this cyclical problems is for us to look beyond what we can see. Nigeria’s past and present achievements do not actually call for celebration. Instead, we all must begin to look with our minds. Then our vision will be enlarged beyond what we can see and imagine.
Thus, we would be able to live in the true meaning of freedom in the mind and in the physical, this will enable us reach out to others with definite steps as a result of our physical liberty, and with love due to the freedom of our minds. It’s only then we can be truly united in our diversity and be the giant we truly are.
