Naija Speaks: The Platform
In our nation as we speak, a number of people are becoming more than passionate about the transformation of the green-white-green naira land, fondly called Naija. The issue of national development is becoming more popular among the new generation of youth. The hunger for doing something great and massive for our nation is on the increase. There is a new drive to contribute to national growth. Everywhere you turn, there is at least someone thinking of positively impacting the nation. People of great vision, sight and focus are rising by the day in this great country full of talented individuals. That is why I often say, “this is a new Nigeria: A nation full of hope and prosperity”.
About ten years ago, it was not so. The negative voices were so strong in this land that it overshadowed the positive ones. I remember, then, I was a student of Oba Awon Universities (O.A.U.) based in the ancient city of Ile-Ife; the cradle of Yoruba land. We were in a long queue trying to sign one of those, usually nine or ten, course forms. But that was old school. Naija schools are now IT compliant. Those course forms are filled and submitted online now!
While we were on that long queue, a guy started a discussion about corruption in Nigeria. He started such an enviable and intelligent argument on how they have virtually destroyed the economy, educational system and other things that were built using money derived from cocoa and petroleum products. He continued to emphasis that the discovery of petroleum was such a curse to the nation rather than it being a blessing. He clarified his argument by saying that it was a curse because of greed. Putting it in his own words, “Every blessing can become a curse when handled by greedy people”. He, finally, said something that was applauded by all. I looked around and saw everyone nodding their heads in agreement, while some were verbalising their support for what he said. What he said that day, I have heard it over and over again in several places by several people. He said, “if I get opportunity to get there, I will steal my own share of the money and reserve enough for my generation yet unborn”. That was the negative voice in control at the time.
Right now, voice of patrotism is rising and a call to lift the nation is rising by the day. NAIJA SPEAKS: THE PLATFORM was born in other to give strength and vitality to that voice. We will staff to death every voice of corruption and destructive thinking. Everything responds to voice and everything responds to words. Hence, using the power of voice, we will speak positively, live positively and bring a change to our nation.
Man controls all things. I said it somewhere, sometimes ago, “If you want to change the World, change man; man changes things”. Hence, to change Nigeria, change men and women in this country. How do we change man?
Man is a product of his thought. Whatever man persistently thinks, he becomes. A wise man says, “the life of a man flows toward the direction of his most dominant thought”. Whatever is kept in the mind persistently over a period of time becomes reality of the person. If this is true, then we have a clue as to how to change man. We can change man by changing what he thinks. This is the same as changing what he hears. We can saturate the nation with positive words. You can give expression to the gift of writing and speaking you have by joining NAIJA SPEAKS: The Platform.
Are you a speaker or a writer? Are you interested in being a part of the group of people, who are passionate about bringing a change to our nation? This is your opportunity. Send your write-ups to naijaspeaks@gmail.com for a chance to future in NAIJA SPEAKS: Business Forum coming up soon.
