A few days ago I woke up and felt the need to engage my peers about Nigeria and to come up with solutions that we could begin to implement as I am tired of complaining and lamenting about problems that seem to persist. What was interesting about the discussions were that almost every solution that was proffered was rejected, with people coming up with all manner of reasons why we couldn’t. We can over analyze! Here are some of the examples –

1. Suggestion – Some of us should step up and get involved in politics, perhaps run for the House of Representatives or Senate. Feedback – No, don’t! If you join them, you will get dirty and therefore, you will be seen as one of them.

2. Suggestion – Some of us with stellar track records in running organizations and known for transforming institutions should step up and run for executive political offices such as the office of the Governor or President. Feedback – No, don’t. They will not let go! They own INEC and you are supposed to “start small” by starting at the House of Representatives’ level.

These are two examples that lead me to ask – Who did this to us? We are endowed with problem solving skills that have been exhibited in sectors such as fintech, social media and entertainment. Have we been conditioned? Why do we have such a pessimistic view where we can’t even think or try to get out of where we are?

According to the Oxford dictionary – conditioning is “the training or experience that an animal or a person has that makes them behave in a particular way in a particular situation”.

The good news is that negative feedback loops a.k.a conditioning can be reversed by thinking positively. Has it occurred to you that almost all proponents of “you are too young to get into politics” actually got involved in their 20s? Many times, the difference between those that excel in life and those who fail is that the former is positively programmed. Positive programming is a process training our minds to see possibilities which can be realized through goal setting and execution.

I hope that Nigerians will wake up and apply their innovative capacities to pursue a New Nigeria. Encourage each other and if you cannot encourage others, do not discourage those that decide to step up.

Source: https://www./reversing-mindset-conditioned-nigerian-youth-part-1-chukwuka-monye/

Author:
Chukwuka Monye
Innovation Strategist | Founder & Managing Partner, Ciuci Consulting

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ccmonye