Ijeoma Nwatu’s Post

Creating a Nigeria: We must begin to take the country like a brand, we know the issues but it’s key we begin to grow a country, the most endangered tribe in Nigeria is being Nigerian. We are the most populous black nation in the world and if Nigeria fails The black race fails, this must be entrenched deep in the heart of every Nigerian. The country’s most powerful instrument for this is the National Orientation agency but our perception has always been linking orientation to media or the agencies correlation with party affiliation It’s key to the re-engineering of the Nigerian identity and its foremost we create one to enable us to even have a foreign policy. We need to do this to clearly harness the gains of influence of our music, movies and food. We must connect the dots, ever wonder how great Countries took over the world, it’s by influence of culture - ever wondered what happened between Rome and Egypt. Culture defeated weapons, it’s with this kind of mentality that the country can take its rightful place in the comity of Nations- it’s as simple as making 419 419 is a number that Nigerians are stained with, make it our national emergency number and perception of the country and the number would change in two years #KL #Nigeria

Creating a Nigeria: We must begin to take the country like a brand, we know the issues but it’s key we begin to grow a country, the most endangered tribe in Nigeria is being Nigerian. We are the most populous black nation in the world and if Nigeria fails The black race fails, this must be entrenched deep in the heart of every Nigerian. The country’s most powerful instrument for this is the National Orientation agency but our perception has always been linking orientation to media or the agencies correlation with party affiliation It’s key to the re-engineering of the Nigerian identity and its foremost we create one to enable us to even have a foreign policy. We need to do this to clearly harness the gains of influence of our music, movies and food. We must connect the dots, ever wonder how great Countries took over the world, it’s by influence of culture - ever wondered what happened between Rome and Egypt. Culture defeated weapons, it’s with this kind of mentality that the country can take its rightful place in the comity of Nations- it’s as simple as making 419 419 is a number that Nigerians are stained with, make it our national emergency number and perception of the country and the number would change in two years #KL #Nigeria

It is true that if Nigeria is taken as a brand the challenges can then be more visible hence opening a headway for solutions. What if as a result of using the number 419 as a national emergency number, those of the scam nation decide to use it as an avenue to further plunge Nigerians into more weeping? What if they use that avenue for kidnapping purposes since those who call in distress might have to give information as their location etc? In my opinion, working out first and foremost on credibility as a government would give us a redefinition. Making laws and enforcing them on every citizen will also help.

Reclaiming Our Heritage: Why Nigeria's National Anthem Must Reflect Our Identity As an educator and a passionate change maker, I strongly believe that reverting to the old national anthem written by a foreigner would be a wrong move for Nigeria. Our nation's anthem is a symbol of our identity, unity, and sovereignty. It is imperative that we reclaim our heritage and embrace a locally produced anthem that reflects our values, culture, and history. The current national anthem, "Arise, O Compatriots," written by Nigerian citizens, is a testament to our nation's resilience and the struggle for independence. In contrast, the old anthem, "Nigeria, We Hail Thee," was imposed upon us by our colonial masters, perpetuating a legacy of cultural imperialism. By adopting a foreign-written anthem, we would be undermining our hard-won independence and reinforcing the notion that our cultural identity is not worthy of recognition. Locally produced anthems are essential for several reasons: 1. Cultural Authenticity: A national anthem written by Nigerians reflects our unique cultural heritage, language, and traditions, fostering a sense of ownership and pride. 2. Historical Context: A locally produced anthem acknowledges our complex history, including the struggles and sacrifices made by our ancestors, rather than glorifying colonial rule. 3. National Unity: An anthem written by Nigerians promotes unity and inclusivity, recognizing our diverse experiences and perspectives, rather than imposing a foreign perspective. 4. Sovereignty: Embracing a locally produced anthem asserts our independence and self-determination, rejecting cultural imperialism and foreign domination. In conclusion, reverting to the old national anthem would be a misguided step backward. Instead, we must celebrate and affirm our Nigerian identity through a locally produced anthem that honors our heritage, history, and people. Let us proudly sing an anthem that echoes our collective spirit, written by Nigerians, for Nigerians, and of Nigeria. A questions to ponder on: 1. What was the initial reason why the old anthem was changed to the new one: "Arise O compatriots!" 2. What is the reason why we had to revert to the old anthem, Nigeria, we hail thee? What is your take on this? #share #comment #nigeria #culture #africa #heritage

Now there's a picture for the #diaspora #diplomacy books! Power of ancestry in action and seeing stories like this is what makes me even more proud to be a small part of Ireland Reaching Out (Ireland XO) family that nurtures connections between Irish communities and our diaspora. We live in a world where people are craving #belonging. In many instances, this desire is being weaponized for pretty negative outcomes for the world but #diasporaengagement is a booming light on how belonging can be used for positivity. It is also why I think every country working on this topic should have a version of Ireland XO. Well done to Ghana on embracing the power of belonging in diaspora engagement. It is already resulting in (and will continue to result in) some serious opportunities for the country, both for domestic impact and image of the country around the world. Onwards. https://lnkd.in/eCvtjsiV

🤔 Do you know the REAL size of Africa? Check out the facts and history in this Insta. Credit (Tiktok): _themerc #Africanfacts #Blackfacts #Worldfacts #themoreyouknow

Chukwuokolo, J. C. (2009). Afrocentrism or Eurocentrism: The dilemma of African development. OGIRISI: A new journal of African studies, 6, 24-39. Abstract: Since the dawn of slavery in America, black activists have used Africa to construct a countervailing frame of resistance to oppression. Africa had functioned both as the justification for enslavement and racial discrimination for the dominant white society and as the counter-hegemonic weapon of resistance and empowerment for blacks. Reacting to subordination and marginalization, modern black intellectuals, borrowing from the past, have equally invoked Africa in their quest for a useable and instrumental historical past with which to counteract the Eurocentric constructions of their heritage and experiences. However, the resultant Afrocentric historicist framing of Africa, as well as its racialized and essentialist character, had only precisely replicated the negative shortcomings of the Eurocentric historiography, and black intellectuals were attempting to debunk. Keywords Afrocentrism, Eurocentrism, Historiography, Diaspora, Miseducation, Pan-Africanism

In the spirit of Nigeria's 63rd independence, we took a look at her journey so far to draw some inspiration. Here are some lessons from the "Giant of Africa":

In Africa we claim to be people of culture and who reverence our traditions and values. By why is it that after ascending to government power as presidents, Ministers and senior government officials we are okay with supporting development projects that desecrate our traditional African religious and cultural symbols, shrines, monuments etc which in most cases we used to consult as a means of getting our top jobs? Do we so easily loose sight and relevance of cultural value at the sight of bribes and kickbacks?

😎#Wekeza symbolizes hope and progress in the African Diaspora. ❇️Believe in a better tomorrow. ✨🌅 ⁉️What does a better tomorrow look like to you? Post with #WekezaDream. #HopefulInvesting #FutureForward