By Oluoma ‘Fluitist’ Odimegwu
Happy Independence Day Nigeria! Wait, “Independence”? Yes, independence. I recall the conversations I had with my friends in medical school about our future. It started after our lecturers told us that they were able to buy good cars and rent very decent apartments with their first salary as doctors, that is (literally salary of a month or two). Wow!
Some of them told us that in their uni days, they had meal tickets and they ate chicken in the canteen. They got allowances from the government. Wow! But now, even the pocket money we get from our parents can barely get us one meal daily in school.
Each time we hear such stories, we look at ourselves and say, “Nkem dị iche bukwa ajo afa o”. This is really sad. But it brings us to a situation that is interesting. From the 1930s to the 1960s young Nigérians championed independence. And they got it. Then, the beautiful things our lecturers enjoyed followed.
There is always a struggle for every generation, a fight they have to undertake, and victory they have to attain for the good of their race.
That fight now is for a better Nigeria. A more progressive Africa. Therefore we cannot chicken out and go to quick money ventures because things have become tough. I see challenges just like everyone, but the opportunities I see shines so bright that I have lost sight of the challenges.
There is no excuse to say school is scam. Be in school and do it well. There is no reason to engage in crime or evil rituals for quick money. Instead, be diligent, learn a trade (even while in school), build a talent, because Nigeria is inside of your heart, and your home; and “Aka aja aja na-ebute ọnụ mmanụ mmanụ.”
When you fail yourself and your community, the entire nation will feel it, and it will show. Yes, this is true because Ndị Igbo would say: “Ofu aka ruta mmanu ozuo ọra ọnụ.”
I pray that my dreams to become a doctor and an Igbo cultural ambassador through inspires someone to find their unique niche and can the flames. I pray that we are also supported with a working system, or at worst, eventually build one.
It is sad that young people have dreams in this country, yet they are afraid to love their country and trust the leaders. It is only love and trust that will unlock the potentials in young people and embolden their disposition to build their country.
The future of Nigeria is ripe in the mind of young people like me and my classmates, but we are rarely given the opportunity to shine, to be ourselves, and live freely in a secure and prosperous society. That denial is now a opportunity to take our destiny by our hands, “snatch it and run with it” to our great destination in the future.
I believe something will change soon. Odikata njọ, ọ ga-adi mma. I encourage young Nigérians to insist on excellence, and demand accountability from their leaders from their small communities to the local government, state and federal. The future is ours, no matter how laughable this truth sounds, the future belongs to us.
Most of those in power today will not be there naturally in the next 20 years. So you see that the future belongs to all of us, young and old, but it is the young that will live in it. So while we complain, let’s know that we have a challenge which is an opportunity before us.
An empty land is an opportunity for an architect, a civil engineer, an electrician, a plumber, etc. Let’s take up the task even if we must complain. Let’s start now as independent minded people to painstakingly build a bright future for ourselves.
Sing your song now, play your harp now, write your poem now and draw the road map to a future you desire now.
I hope to engage my community on social media more and more with inspiring stories, music, and lifestyle photos to keep your spirits high as we build Nigeria and Africa.
Even when all is shaky, let us, young people, see our freedom and independence as responsibility; primarily, what we owe ourselves and our future, and all who will be in it. From within, Nigeria can truly become independent!
Happy Independence Day my fellow country people. Ọrụ dị na ngwọ! Ka anyi kunie!
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Oluoma Odimegwu is an Ichoku Academy Artist, a Medical student and the pace-setting female Okwa oja (flutist)