pannigeriannews 
By Gabriel Adisa
Every October 1st, Nigeria pauses to remember a defining moment in its history – the lowering of the Union Jack and the hoisting of the Green-White-Green in 1960. That moment signified not just freedom from colonial rule, but the birth of hope, the birth of the Giant of Africa.
Sixty-six years after, it is pertinent to ask: How far have we journeyed? And what battles lie ahead?
Our journey as an independent nation has been one of mixed fortunes, of triumphs and trials.
At independence, Nigeria was full of promise. With abundant human and natural resources, a vibrant agricultural sector and a crop of visionary leaders like Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria was projected to be a global power. The First Republic witnessed rapid development in education, agriculture and infrastructure.
However, the journey soon became turbulent. The military incursion of 1966, the 30-month Civil War, and decades of military rule truncated our democratic growth, weakened our institutions and entrenched corruption.
The return to democracy in 1999 marked a turning point. For 27 years of uninterrupted democracy, Nigeria has made significant strides:
These includes democratic consolidation. Despite its imperfections, democracy has come to stay. Power has been transferred from one civilian government to another, including the historic 2015 transition.
Also, our economy has been diversified. From an agrarian economy, Nigeria has become Africa’s largest economy at different times, with growth in telecommunications, entertainment, fintech, and services. Our youth are driving innovation globally.
Similarly, in education and human capacity, Institutions like Federal Polytechnic Ayede and others across the country have expanded access to technical and higher education, producing manpower for national development.
Yet, the journey has not been without scars. The legacies of ethnic mistrust, over-reliance on crude oil, infrastructural deficit and unemployment remain visible.
Flag independence was achieved in 1960. But true independence is yet to be fully achieved. The battle ahead is more complex than the battle against the colonialists.
The battle ahead includes how our country is going to be economically Independent. Nigeria cannot be truly independent when it imports what it should produce and exports what it should process. We must move from consumption to production. The challenge is to build a productive economy driven by agriculture, manufacturing, technology and skills – the very mandate of Polytechnics.
Also, we must fight the battle for national unity. Our greatest strength is our diversity, but it has been mismanaged as a weapon of division. The battle ahead is to forge a true Nigerian identity where a child from Ayede sees a child from Maiduguri or Owerri as one. Unity is non-negotiable.
Likewise , we need to fight the battle against Corruption and insecurity. Corruption has crippled our progress like a cankerworm. Insecurity – from banditry to kidnapping and insurgency – has threatened our corporate existence. We cannot develop in an atmosphere of fear. The battle to secure Nigeria and entrench accountability is urgent.
Another one is the battle for leadership and followership. Nigeria does not lack good policies; it lacks faithful implementation. We need a new tribe of leaders with integrity, competence and vision, and followers who demand accountability.
In conclusion, our hope is not lost, at
66, Nigeria is not where we want to be, but we are definitely not where we were in 1960. We have survived a civil war, military dictatorships, economic recessions and political crises – yet we remain one nation.
The Nigerian spirit is resilient. The creativity of our youth, the industriousness of our people, and the abundance of our resources give us hope that the future can be greater than the past.
The journey so far has taught us lessons. The battle ahead demands action.
As we celebrate this Independence, may we all – government, institutions, professional bodies, and citizens – commit to building the Nigeria of our dreams. A Nigeria where Polytechnic graduates will find jobs, where human and material resources will be harnessed for development, and where the labour of our heroes past will truly not be in vain.
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