Academics and consultants in all fields, self-proclaimed messiahs and prophets, fortune-tellers, magicians, illusionists, and shamans are present in Lagos. Lagos, the Metropolis with a population of about 24 million, remains the financial hub of Nigeria despite losing the title as the capital city to Abuja. It attracts investors and diverse professionals ready to offer their services. If an alien arrives in Lagos with an unknown task, Nigerian creative minds will invent a new profession to execute it. Disappointingly for many, despite earning billions of dollars from petroleum revenues over six decades after independence, Nigeria still struggles with socio-economic catastrophe.
Unemployment is very high. Those lucky enough to have paying jobs find it difficult to make ends meet because of the high cost of living. The daily suffering begins for many with the transportation ordeal. People scramble in buses called Molue and Danfo or sit behind a motorcycle driver called Okada to travel to their destinations. Electricity power outages are rampant. Businesses produce below capacity, and inhabitants endure discomfort — the scorching heat is merciless if the air-conditioning falls out. During the rainy season, young and old hop over potholes from one elevated patch on the road to another as if playing hopscotch. Some do the long or triple jump to avoid slipping into a hole. Drivers do slalom driving to prevent their vehicles from getting stuck in muddy ditches.
In the past, event organizers, partygoers, and gate-crashers created the “suffering and smiling culture” by which Lagosians tried to blend out the problems and enjoy themselves with the hope that life would soon be better. Nigerians’ wish for God’s help remains unfulfilled. Intensive prayers, sacrifices, and offerings by Christians, Muslims, and numerous other religious groups have not helped resolve Nigeria’s predicament either.
The economic problems, coupled with corruption at all levels and perpetual insecurity caused by criminals, have dealt a devastating blow to the fate of the young generation of Nigerians. They have had enough and are leaving the country in exodus, which they coined Japa, a Yoruba word meaning to flee or to run away.
As usual, the new movement provides opportunities for the emergence of new business services – emigration, relocation, employment, work permits, and visa consultants. Nigerian-educated professionals, particularly in the health sector, are now in the top ten on the list of foreigners granted work visas to the UK, USA, and Canada. Unfortunately, Nigeria is thereby losing the core skilled talents it needs for its crucial infrastructure development. The optimists believe in a bright economic future powered by the return of knowledgeable Nigerians from the Diaspora. Many who have no hope of leaving the country live with the motto -If you cannot beat them, join them and integrate into the system. While the majority in Lagos live in poverty, some avenues provide the means for very few insiders to earn millions of US dollars and live in luxury, secluded away from the slums. The adamant career criminals command the underground world and probably some corrupt officials.
The statistics are favorable for Nigeria – the most populous country in Africa with a population of 211.4 million in 2021, has the highest number of people, 60.4 million, employed in Africa in 2022, has the highest number of universities, 279, in Africa in 2021, is blessed with mineral resources including coal, iron ore, and gold, and one of the highest producers of petroleum and natural gas in the world. Nigerians are making an impact in the film and music industries. The number of Nigerian downloads and views could catapult a Nigerian film or music into the subscriber record zone. If the Nigerian economy were strong, the high consumer potential could make any enterprise profitable in Nigeria.
With the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Nigeria could reset and incorporate AI in its social, economic, and infrastructure strategies. Hopefully, the novel technology will help Nigeria create a blossoming democratic economy, mitigate poverty, promote sustainability, and institutionalize impartial wealth distribution. Nigeria will eventually prove its title as the Giant of Africa by setting the path and pace for advancement in all sectors. It is a competitive world. Other African countries do not want to lag. They embrace the latest technologies to achieve their development goals. Nigeria, be prepared for the challenge! Video
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