John F. Kennedy, the thirty-fifth American president once said “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” These words hold true for every Nigerian today as we begin the journey into our 49th year of existence as a sovereign nation under the sun. The progress and advancement of a nation is dependent on its people. The Americans, the British, the Germans, the French, the Japanese, the Chinese, the Malaysians developed their countries themselves. The truth that all of us must face is: only Nigerians can develop Nigeria. The consciousness that we are indebted to our nation is required for us to grow and move forward. It is vital. As a Christian and citizen of this country, you have something the whole nation needs, you owe something to Nigeria. At this stage of the country’s development, we urgently need change leaders, change makers, change agents, and change catalyst. We need peace makers, impact makers, difference makers, bridge builders, nation builders, possibility thinkers – brave young men and women who will boldly step forward to get involved and participate actively and fully in the development process of the nation. Despite the unpleasant statistics and sad reports that suggest Nigeria is on the brink of disintegration and collapse, I stubbornly refuse to accept that Nigeria is a failed state. Rather, I choose to see only light and goodness in the land, the potentials of its people, their greatness, restoration, fruitfulness, harvest and abundance everywhere. I have great faith and confidence in our future. I see ahead a bigger, better and brighter Nigeria - a land without rancor, hatred, disunity, religious intolerance, religious bigotry, tribalism, selfishness, greed, self-centeredness, mediocrity, falsehood, deceit, dishonesty or corruption. Did I hear somebody say wishful thinking, day –dreaming? He’s a dreamer! Not here in Nigeria. It can’t happen! Remember the African-American civil rights activist, Martin Luther King and his dream? Some 60 years ago who could believe that an American of African descent – a black would one day become the president of the United States and the world’s number 1 citizen? I believe in dreams and the power of dreams. I see a new Nigeria, a land of overflowing opportunities where brotherhood prevails.

Fellow Nigerian, I know that at the moment your mood is one of complete despair. Hang in there. Don’t give up. Our tomorrow will be better. Nigeria’s future will be different. Fellow Nigerian, do you belie in change and the possibility of a new Nigeria? I do. One truth that is as old as humankind is, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE! The Bible (the most amazing book in the universe) confirms this at Luke 1:37, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” And Genesis 18:14a reads, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”
Jesus said to her: “Did I not say if you would believe you would see the glory of God?
John 11:40. Every thing is possible to them that believe. But wait a minute – what are you doing to change Nigeria? What are you contributing towards the success, progress, peace, unity, growth and development of the nation? What role are you playing to make the new Nigeria dream a reality? What is your contribution to the New Nigeria project?

Perhaps you are a spectator – a passive observer of events. Maybe you are a fence sitting Nigerian? The Chinese say, “men who sit on the fence stand the risk of being crushed from either side.” A Yoruba proverb states, only a bastard will fold his hands while his father’s house is on fire. The international best selling author and motivational speaker, John Mason says: The problems of this world have been caused by the weakness of goodness rather than by the strength of evil.” Someone has rightly said all that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing. I think it’s reasonable to ask ourselves: WHAT AM I DOING TO MAKE NIGERIA DIFFERENT, BIGGER AND BETTER? WHAT IS MY CONTRIBUTION TO POSITIVE CHANGE IN NIGERIA?

Like John the Baptist – a change agent and a voice for meaningful change in his own generation (Luke 3:2-18), I am the voice of one crying on the street. I am a change maker, a peace maker, a world changer. I am a dreamer, a possibility thinker, a new Nigerian – the Next generation. I believe in me and in the people around me. I believe in change and Nigeria’s power to change. I believe in the new Nigeria dream and in the beauty of our nation’s future. Let us think: Is Nigeria not the most blessed nation on the African continent? Is Nigeria not the largest gathering of black people in any geographical sphere on the face of the planet? Which country has the highest cadre of trained black personnel? Are we not the largest black market in the world?

Dear Nigerian, if we don’t love and believe in Nigeria, nobody else will. Whatever we have is worth cherishing. Whoever we are is worth adoring. Nigeria is worth celebrating. After all, Philip Emeagwali, the mathematical genius and computer wizard who invented the formula that enable computers to perform 3.1 billion calculations per second is a Nigerian. The classic “Things Fall Apart” is rated among the hundred great novels ever written. Its author, Chinua Achebe is a Nigerian. Wole Soyinka was the first African in history to win a Nobel Prize in Literature, the second black after Albert Camus. Isn’t the globally acclaimed novelist, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie one of the brightest and creative minds of our time? Hasn’t this charming award-winning Nigerian author given the literary world the Purple Hibiscus, Half of a Yellow Sun and The Thing Around Your Neck? Is it not true that the international news magazine TIME, at the Global Summit in New York in 2006 recognized and proclaimed Nigeria’s former Director-General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Dora Akunyili as lone of the “18 heroes of the world?” Have not one of our own, the legendary Fela Anikulapo –Kuti successfully impacted on the world with his scintillating brand of African music - Afro Beat? It’s no longer news that Ekwere Peters, an Associate Professor of Petroleum Engineering in the University of Texas, Austin, developed a system to locate and determine the amount of oil in rocks. Another Nigerian scientist, Miss Esther Effiong (a difference maker) dazzled Howard University, the most prominent African American educational institution in the United States by scoring 100 percent in the university’s PhD placement examinations. According to the Guinness book of world records, the 50,000 seat Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State, is the world’s largest single church auditorium. Already everyone is aware that Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo’s Kingsway International Christian Center (KICC) is the largest growing church in Europe. Isn’t it great that Forbes magazine named another Nigerian, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala , the Managing Director of World Bank as one of the most influential women on planet earth. In 2008 the Newsweek magazine declared Pastor E. A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) among the top 50 Global Elites. Pastor Adeboye was listed number 49. He was the only African mentioned and together with Pope Benedict XVI, the only Christian leaders listed among the world’s most powerful people. Gorgeous Agbani Darego, another Nigerian difference maker proved to the international world that indeed BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL when she scooped the Miss world beauty crown at a global event held in Sun City, South Africa in 2001, thus leaving her foot prints in the sands of time as the first black woman from an African country o win the pageant. Nigerian model and beauty Oluchi Onweagba (the pacesetter) is undoubtedly one of the world’s catwalk star. She’s modeled for everyone from Gianfranco ferre to Gap. Let’s hear Oluchi: “I am positively Nigerian, proudly African and I am beautiful.” There are no people on planet earth like Nigerians. We are unique, beautiful, intelligent, talented, industrious, ingenious, inventive and resourceful people. Are we not the black warriors of black Africa - the undisputable lion king of the African jungle, the pride of the black race?

Arise O compatriots!!! Walk tall. Let’s celebrate ourselves … a great people, a great nation. Nigeria is the only country we can truly call our own and our home. Her destiny is in our hands. Let us join hands with one another in affection, unity, and brotherly love to make our nation better for ourselves, for our children, for our grand children and for future generations Failure is not our destiny. In love and unity, with fervent prayer, strong determination, perseverance, persistence and bravery, we can all rise above mountains, challenges, obstacles, barriers, hindrances, hurdles, difficulties, setbacks, discouragements on our path to peace, progress, prosperity and greatness as a nation.
Like the golden eagle the bird of kings, we can light up the sky of the world again!!!

As we open the 49th chapter in the book of our national life, I pray God the supreme spirit of heaven inspire change, patriotism, passion, zeal, loyalty, dedication and commitment in our hearts so that we can restore Nigeria to its leadership position in Africa and fulfill our God-ordained destiny – to rule the world. The future belongs to us – change agents, change catalysts, change makers, difference makers, generation changers, possibility thinkers, dreamers, visionaries, the younger generation – the youths.

I am a Nigerian to the core!!! GREEN WHITE GREEN is the best!!! It feels great to be a Nigerian. How about you?