Northern Nigeria: The Making Of Another Generation In Poverty
I’m still on it in same passion: that the next generation of Northerners escape the poverty coming. The passion for politics and the “sweet” wave of packages that come with it: compensations, settlements, appointments, loyalty and sycophancy, zoning, rotation don’t generate anything for competitive wealth creation. I still fear the North is producing just the next generation of politicians and their blind miscreants. The love for public/civil service has done same. It is a region of ex-generals, ex-perm secs, Directors; ex-govs, ex-Heads of State–too many to count. Yes, welcome to the home of poverty.
In same country, the other region is producing just the next generation of global competitors in Music and Entertainment, Sports, Aviation, Pharmaceuticals, Imports, Banking, Telecom. This is a region where one state is owning seven private universities. Welcome to Southern Nigeria, home to the Wizkids, P-Squares, Mikel Obis, Innosons, Chimamanda Adichies, Ramsey Noahs, Tiwa Savages, Yemi Alades. Welcome to the next generation of leaders who won’t become ex-this, ex-that. These guys live on even after their deaths.
Last night, Africa celebrated a generation of soccer stars of global outlook. 10 trophies at the CAF AWARDS 2016, Nigeria alone picked Four – all four Southern boys and girls. Northern boys and girls (me inclusive), were spectators of the event of the celebration of young Nigerians whose families will not see poverty.
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Yet, they don’t have political connections; and would not wait for the next four years to vote a favourable political party that will appoint their political gods into boards, so that their CVs would be considered, and their loyalty to a certain political god will pay. Imagine.
Last night, the world celebrated Super Falcons striker Asisat Oshoala (a southerner) as the Women’s Player of the Year, while the Super Falcons who won the Africa Women Championship for the eight time were crowned the Women National Team of the Year. Super Falcons has become home to Southern girls only.
Northern girls’ don’t get the platform to develop soccer talents — the leadership here doesn’t take talents and creativity as anything. The leadership in my North loves politics only. The leadership is zero!
Last night, the world was there when Kelechi Iheanacho (a southerner) was also crowned the Most Promising Talent, beating another southerner, Oghenekaro Etebo, and three other contenders.
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Same night, Alex Iwobi (a southerner) clinched the Youth Player of the Year award.
The world watched in celebration of these boys and girls emerging millionaires at that age without a connection with Abuja, or any Government House, or any Senator.
Its boys and girls like Oshoala, Iheanacho, Oghenekaro, Iwobi, alongside Omawumi, Tonko Dike, D’banj, Iyanya, Flavour, Olamide, Davido, Phyno, Timaya, Kiss Daniel in whom a region, Nigeria’s south breaths competitive existence.
May we be troubled to lose sleep in the North until we wake up into the reality of today’s world where innovation, technology, leadership drive growth.
