I’ve been on a journey of rediscovering happiness even amidst so much horrors in the world, it’s important to me to seek goodness and speak good. I’m more obsessed with my keeping my energy positive and clearing out thoughts or activities that may increase my anxiety. I try to seek goodness and spread more stories of positivity, hope and love. So I’m not here to update you about the killings across our country, insecurities, or how scared we all are about the future of Nigeria. I’m not here to flood you with more and more bad news. Instead, today for the love of my county and continent, here are some scribbles of my favourite things about Nigeria, the things I absolutely love and celebrate:
- The Nigerian Paradox: You want to get out when you’re in and you want to get back in when you’re out.
- The tenacity, the I-can-do-anything spirit, and the Nigerian hustle at every level.
- Our Heroes, the ones who stood up for injustice. Our good leaders, men in uniform, teachers and journalists.
- Hard work and a youthful entrepreneurial spirit.
- Our sense of humour, the ability to suffer and smile.
- Creativity since 19-gbogboro.
- Food: Suya, Plantain, Party Jollof and Jollof Rice, Pounded Yam, Moi-Moi, I could go on…
- Art: Babajide Olatunji, Nengi Omuku, William Chechet, Nike Davies-Okundaye, Nengi Onuku, Hafsie Sani Sami, Ade Adekola, Kareem Olamilekan to name a few…
- Music: Tiwa Savage, Timmy Dakota, Wiz Kid, DJ Cuppy, Young Jonn, Flavour N’Abania, Tems, Cobhams Asuquo, Fela, Burna Boy, Yemi Alade to name a few…
- Nollywood: Highly improved production values and a creative landscape waiting to be explored by the best money, technology and people to organise systems and structures into the multibillion dollar enterprise it deserves to be. Mo Abudu, Nancy Isimi, Jim Ikye, Funke Akindele, Ramsy Nouah, Genevieve Nnaji, Bovi, John Okafor, Omotola Jalade, Ini Edo, Rita Dominic, Kate Henshaw, Patience Ozokwor, Benjamin Touitou to name a few…
- Hospitality and generosity: When you travel to other parts of this great continent you’ll see for yourself.
- Fashion and textiles: From Balogun to Barcelona, we are strutting our stuff. Buy Naira to Grow the Naira because we actually have really amazing quality high end and affordable designers. Plus let’s not forget the Luxuary of having tailors in every neighbourhood.
- Sports: Go Super Eagles!!! They’ll have you rejoicing when you least expect, and weeping when you never thought you would. Shout out to every Nigerian Athlete, and if you made it to the overseas don’t forget to come back home to inspire more.
- Inspite of all the country’s challenges, Hope, Faith and Dreams.
- Family and social gathering for every occasion. MAJOR KEY!
- Believe it or not, I love how diverse we are, with over 200 million people living together though tribe and tongue differ, in brotherhood we stand…don’t let any evil jagaban tell you other wise, we really do love each other.
- Resilient Nigerian Women P.S. just give the country to the women already, we go run am.
- The abundant natural resources waiting to be tapped and utilised to transform Nigeria’s development.
- ENERGY !!!! Na we get am pass, the unmistakable energy that no one can put you down. Naija make we no de carry last abeg.
- Nigerians in the Diaspora, we see the good you all do, come back home soon. Thanks in advance.
There you have it, 20 things I absolute love about Nigeria and the people in it. There’s a lot I actually don’t enjoy about living in Nigeria but that’s not what this blog post is about, this is not the gospel message SHUBOX was made to deliver this afternoon. I’m not sure what group of Nigerians celebrated Democracy day over the weekend, we all know the country is HOT, literary and figuratively. June 12th was formally known as Abiola Day and was celebrated in Lagos and some western states in Nigeria, now June 12th is declared Democracy Day and we remember Democracy because of our history. In 1999, the military handed over power to an elected civilian government and since the beginning of 2000 it has been our tradition as Nigerians to celebrate this as a public holiday.
We’ve come a long way as Nigerians and Africans, and it may seem far from the truth but there’s still a lot to hold on to about your country. There are still millions of people creating innovative solutions to our continents problems, many depend on people like you and me. I mean you and I because we’re privileged to be able to have access to a device that lets you access to the world and ideas about the world. There has never been a more trying time to be Nigerian….so I just wanted to remind you of the undeniable love you still have for your country, this love-hate relationship with Nigeria can provide good prospects if only you reflected more on the roots of issues that affect you the most.
Although written above is my personal list of favourite things I love about Nigeria, if you love at least 5 out of the list, you still got mad love for your country and there’s still hope for us to keep you patriotic. Long may Nigeria and her indefatigable spirit live long. Look closely in-between the silver lining, what are some of your favourite things about Nigeria too?
