American President Theodore Roosevelt once said, “The credit belongs to those who are in the arena, who strive fearlessly and who, at worst, if they fail, fail while daring greatly.” I’m asking Nigerians, especially in the United States, to stop complaining about the mundane litany of corruption, economic woes, and inept government. Go home, govern the people, and contribute your humble quota to the change eminent in the landscape. Here, I will address three poignant reasons why the Nigerians in the United States must go home: (1) There is an oversupply of highly skilled and educated Nigerian’s in the United States. (2) Nigeria’s economy is emerging. (3) There needs to be moral courage to combat patronage and the pursuit of upward mobility in Nigeria.
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Historically, Nigerians are synonymous with high-academic achievement in the United States. The 2006 census reflects this reality: More than 37 percent of Nigerians had Bachelor’s Degrees, 17 percent held Master’s or professional degrees, and more than 4 percent had doctorates.
On the same token, census data revealed that only 19 percent of White Americans had Bachelor’s Degrees, 8 percent held Master’s degrees, and only 1 percent held doctorates.
Surprised? Let’s back up.
Despite remarkable education attainment, discrimination still stifles employment opportunities for Nigerians in the United States. An Economic Policy Institute study reveals that across nationalities and ethnic groups, Black immigrants carried the highest unemployment rate of all foreign-born workers and Nigerians aren’t exclusive to this statistic.
Evidence from this study is compelling.
Thus, I’m urging Nigerians in the diaspora to return home and reap the benefits of its rising economy.
What rising economy?
Nigeria’s political woes are news for the mainstream media, but its success gets no airtime. Let’s crunch the numbers: For the past decade, despite political turmoil, the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has grown on an average of 7 percent compared to less than 3 percent in the United States and many European countries.
How much growth?
Nigeria is the biggest recipient of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Africa. In April 2014, new GDP data made Nigeria the largest economy in Africa and the 26th largest economy in the world. It also houses thriving startups like Jumia, Africa’s Amazon, Konga a seamless e-commerce marketplace, and Dangote’s Cements owned by Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man.
If these businesses are thriving, I see no reason why the diaspora can’t be a major player.
How can I be a major player when patronage appears to be the common denominator?
I’ve got good news and a short history lesson. Patronage was also an integral part of American politics. Those with the right political connect obtained most government jobs. It took the United States 128 years after its independence to enact the Pendleton Act (22 Stat. 403), when patronage eventually gave way to merit-based employment.
Nigeria is only 54 years old.
If Nigerians abroad go back to Nigeria with a wealth of experience, knowledge, and boundless enthusiasm, maybe eradicating patronage in the eyes of the law would only take a fraction of what it took the United States. Of course, this is no easy task, but with hard work and perseverance we can implement similar polices.
Let me be clear, I am not oblivious to the socioeconomic and political woes that plague the country: Nigeria still suffers from staggering inequality, most of the population lives on less than $1 a day, and unemployment is ridiculously high at 25 percent. Oil thefts is costing the country more than $20 million daily, paralytic power supply is stifling growth, and extremist rebellion have claimed the lives of more than 1,200 people.
Still, I firmly believe that what is not quite the best may still become the best only if we strive to make it the best. So whether or not we can win in this important fight, get caught trying or be found trying.
My fellow Nigerians, never be with the cold and timid that knows neither victory nor defeat. Engage in the political process, start a business in Nigeria, write blogs, and stand up for what you believe in. I understand it’s not easy, but I’m urging you to have moral courage.
The time has come for you to go home, speak truth to power, get out of your comfort zone, and strive for a greater Nigeria.
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This is nice... the Nigerians in Nigeria that govern the country do want change. If all the Nigerian Americans show up today in Nigeria they will be not get a welcoming hand. They will find it very difficult to cause change. And the reason is because the people in charge like the mess... the Mess helps them steal money.
Once you start to clean up the mess.. means people cant steal money and they will come after your life. What is the solution for this? It is exposure, just like every developed country we have to expose every bit of the Nigerian government from Agriculture to Finance to Education. the people need to see where there billions of oil money is going.
Olu, this is the very point that causes me a great deal of concern. The younger Nigerian diaspora wants to see change but we don't necessarily want to martyr ourselves for it because 'if I'm dead, how can I effect change?' We are constantly implored to 'go home and help' but in what state will we fine 'home' when we arrive? Will the help be welcome?
I also realize that the longer the diaspora stays away from the continent, the harder it will be to assimilate when we eventually return because we might not recognize the country to which we are returning.
The funny and terrible thing about this is that, for myself, all that is heard about Nigeria is negative. From relatives to strangers (all Nigerian mind you), they talk about the ills of Nigeria and how bad people are there.
It has made me come to the conclusion that those in Nigeria need to decide to want change. I don't want to martyr myself for a people who can't appear to not want change though they complain about issues that plague them. It's like the person who has an infection on their leg who complains about said infection, but won't seek treatment. My question to that person would be, "Why are you complaining when you don't seek to change the very thing you complain about?"
The above article is all well and good (minus the title), but it doesn't speak to anything in the works to change things. And with regards to the title that makes me roll my eyes, I wonder if the author doesn't realize that he's essentially insulting me while expressing that he and Nigeria need help.
I'm American born. My parents have said that I and others like me could change Nigeria for the better. I have no real need to and with all that I still hear about Nigeria and what I learned about the Nigerian-Biafran war, I can't help but think some people dumb for allowing their country to fall into the dire straits it has. The mistrust across tribes for the actions of ONE (1) man how many years ago and the refusal to integrate regardless of tribal culture just annoys me when I think that people would want me, an American born Nigerian (a black man with my own issues here with integration in American society), to fix things in Nigeria just smacks of stupidity to me.
Blacks in America today have hundreds of years of slavery that they can't let go of and refuse to let go of it because as much as it is a burden, it is also a comfort.The Nigerian-Biafran war ended in 1970 and no one tried to mend the ties despite the fact that the British colonized the area and threw all who live there together years before? Blacks in America, despite the fact that I don't think they have a good reason to remain as they are, have a far better reason for being as they are in this country. Nigerians come here and make fools of all of them with how they progress despite the obstacles that exist and they can't make any head way back home?
The author and anyone else who wants to tell Nigerians in America to 'shut up, go home and do something' need to temper their entitlement. If I or anyone does go and fix things, not one individual in Nigeria would be able to say one word to those who fix things. They can pray for us to come to their rescue or they can let the foreign interests fix the issues they refuse to fix.
If you choose to be or think you're helpless, you will be.
On point!
Africa is in an incredible position to shape its own destiny and this entails supporting programmes developed by Africans for Africans because the real fuel for development must be drawn from the African continent.
This is Africa’s moment and there is a new Africa emerging, rising from decades of desolation. This article is so much on point and it applies to the rest of Africans leaving in the diasporas and complaining about the leadership back in the continent. We can have business and leaders’ summits with the whole universe but nothing will change until Africans rise up, roll up their sleeves and get on with the work of building this continent; village by village, town by town, country by country. Its time to go home my people!