• Home
• Columnist
• Videos
• Artist
  • Musicians
  • Actors
  • Comedians
• Notable Nigerians
• Legend Dies
• Articles
  • Nigeria Articles
• Photos
• Submit Article

Author: Dr Lai Ajileye
Posted to the web: 12/6/2006 11:59:44 AM

Lest We Forget: Challenging the ‘Heart of Africa’ Project

By Dr Lai Ajileye

It is in the best interest of any nation to be seen and portrayed in a positive light in the international politics; most countries off the world pursue these objectives by ways and means reflective of their social and political agenda and its impact on public interest. The world being a global village means that the people of every nation are spread far and wide across national boundaries engaging in economic, social and political activities. By so doing, individuals of respective nations serves as pleni-potential ambassadors in deeds, action and inactions across the globe.

 

The objective of the ongoing ‘Heart of Africa’ project by the Minister of Information of Nigeria, Mr Frank Nweke, is a policy option of the government to promote the Nigeria image in the global community. Though, it achieves it’s immediate objectives, rallying Nigerians in the Diaspora to the clarion call of exemplary living and lifestyle in various endeavours, my concern is whether it is design originally to achieve any long term goals or rather, it begs the questions of whether it is the right policy option to achieve a long term lasting image of the nation, Nigeria.

 

I am saying this in the context of the perennial chasm existing between our government social policies and deliberate investment in Nigerian populace and the ever evolving reality on the ground within the country. Though the administration of President Obasanjo has tried to level on this chasm, but the fact remains that majority of Nigerians at home still live below the poverty line.

 

Nigerians at home today will become the Nigerians in the Diaspora tomorrow. I believed therefore, that the very effort to launder the Nigeria’s image abroad should ideally begin within Nigeria, with every Nigerian child in our primary, secondary, tertiary institutions and various homes, poor and rich, church and our mosques. Lest we forget that, charity as they say, begins at home .

 

There is no government policy that can stop human migrations, for whatever reasons, but there can be deliberate policy effort by the government design to enable each and every Nigerian child to be trained, developed and orientated on the imperatives of patriotism, positive moral identity and restraints, high self-esteem and national dignity. With these fundamental ingredients of national life, Nigerian children home and abroad would have evolved with an intact pro-social personality enriched with positive social virtues, industry, values and sense of responsibility. This effectively would have a multiplier effects on Nigeria’s image far and wide beyond where the ‘Heart of Africa’ project can ever reach. This is a strategy and practice with nations of the world where today the ‘Heart of Africa’ project is seeking attention for positive image of Nigeria.

 

Scientists have demonstrated that behaviours are learnt by modelling and observation. Our government, leader and institutions of governance have direct practical responsibility towards these objectives. It is not complimentary to the effort or objectives of the ‘Heart of Africa’ project when our government openly display contempt to court rulings because it does not align with their political agenda. By doing this, we are teaching Nigerian to treat law and order, rule of law in their host countries with contempt when they become Nigerians in the Diaspora. Yes! That is all they know because that is what we see our leaders do, disobeying court ruling and bending constitutional injunctions. When faced with tough decisions and situations abroad, Nigerians can easily resort to this type of options. For example, Nigerian governors jumping bail to escape the arm of justice.

 

When the government abandon professional counsel on economic and effective management of national resources and take an opposing stance of sharing the excess crude oil fund accrued amongst various arms of governments with leaders we now know have questionable credibility in financial resource management and is averse to a programme that serves public welfare and goods. Yes! Nigerians at home sees all these, when they become in-diasporas’, they manifest features of chronic neglect and deprivations. They become dishonest, uncharitable, unaccountable, criminals, antisocial and consequently defeating the very purpose and objectives of the ‘Heart of Africa’ project

 

When government leaders float ‘bogus’ companies to serve as fronts and conduit pipe to siphon public funds. Yes! This is what Nigerians at home sees and learn. When they become in-diasporas’ in any corner of the world, America, United Kingdom, Australia, North Africa or South Africa, rather than being an individual ambassador and agents of ‘Heart of Africa’, they exhibit similar behaviour where such antithetical practice is alien to their national agenda and policy. When they are caught (like recently in the State of Texas, USA), the objectives of ‘Heart of Africa’ project is put on trial in a foreign land in the glare of the world press. The reverberating consequence is the suspicion and doubts it cast on the credibility of fellow Nigerians going about legitimate economic and business endeavours. It goes on like that……

 

Going by the aforementioned, Mr Nweke would agree that although the ‘Heart of Africa’ project, to all intent and purposes, is a lofty idea and supportive of the efforts of Nigerians in the Diaspora; the eventual success on a long term can be derived from the activities, attitudes, actions and inactions of our leaders at home within Nigeria and the premium they placed on programmes that develop high sense of moral and social adjustment within each Nigerian child. Therefore, lest we forget that our charity should begin at home and we should learn that the role of the state, government and politics is to create the conditions in which the public interest could be so secured.

 

Dr Olayiwola Ajileye writes from London

drajileye@hotmail.com