• By Adeyemi Badewa

As Nigeria celebrates its 64th independence anniversary, I’m filled with mixed emotions – sadness, frustration, and uncertainty. Born in the 80s, and I have witnessed the country’s steady decline, and it’s hard to comprehend the solution to our myriad problems.

Growing up in Lagos, I remember moments of relative sanity and stability. My parents would tell stories of Nigeria’s golden era, when education was quality, healthcare was accessible, and infrastructure was functional. However, with each passing year, the tide of negativity seems to swell beyond imagination.

Poverty, corruption, inequality, immorality, injustice, and insecurity have become entrenched, suffocating the nation. I recall the fuel scarcity of 1993, the June 12 annulment, and subsequent riots. The 2012 fuel subsidy removal protests. The EndSARS movement in 2020. Each event left an indelible mark on my perception of Nigeria.

Quality education, morality, and honesty are dwindling by the day in our very own eyes. I have seen talented friends abandon their passions for lucrative, yet unfulfilling careers, not only seen. I am a typical example who graduate who graduated as student of mechanical engineering and by today, I have had work experiences in banking, customer service, administration and now in the media, writing.  Many like that in the world of Nigeria who just clocked 64 years as a sovereign nation. 

The youth, once the beacon of hope, are now ensnared in a toxic ideology that prioritizes quick wealth over hard work. The consequences are dire: money rituals, cybercrime, kidnapping, banditry, and robbery have become rampant because of what? Questions with no answer as ever!!!

In 2019, a friend’s sister was kidnapped in Kaduna. The family paid a hefty ransom, but she was still murdered. The perpetrators were never caught. Such incidents have become all too common. Many talents and giftedness hand have been wasted due to bad road, poor policing and lack of trusted hands in security agencies. A young friend of mine who is a farmer that is doing well relocated to the UK because fellow farmer was kidnapped and murdered. 

Even sports was once a unifying force but have suffered. Favoritism and corruption in selections have led to a decline in our national teams’ success. I remember the 1994 Super Eagles’ African Cup of Nations victory. Now, Nigeria struggles to qualify for international tournaments.

As a millennial, I’m torn between leaving Nigeria for a better life abroad or staying to contribute to the solution. The thought of abandoning my homeland is unsettling, as testimonies abound for those who voluntarily apply for slavery in other countries because even as a slave, lifes are valued older there,  but the prospect of navigating this chaotic landscape is equally daunting.

In 2019, I ventured into farm to augment my regular media job and covid came, restructured every life around the globe but we Nigerians are yet to recover after 4 years. The country Nigeria has refused to help our innovative ideas and creativities.

Nigeria’s 64th anniversary forces me to confront the harsh reality: what happened to the country our parents and grandparents fought for? Where did we go wrong as everything we grew up with and to are exrene

I shed tears for the Nigeria that could have been – a nation where talent thrives, meritocracy reigns, and justice is served.

Yet, amidst the despair, I hold onto hope. Hope that we, the millennials, can reignite the spark of patriotism and drive change. Hope that we can revive the values of integrity, hard work, and compassion to be passed on to Generation Z.

As Nigeria marks 64 years, I urge fellow youths to join me in this plea: let’s reclaim our nation. Let’s break the cycle of corruption, inequality, and immorality.

We owe it to ourselves, our children, and the generations to come.

Badewa Adeyemi writes from Osun State.