THE DREAM I HAD

7 years ago, I had a dream. Such an amazing experience. Let me share this dream with you…

...It was a beautiful Thursday morning. I drove out of my house, and as usual I met Sanni just as I got out of my gate. Sanni is usually the first person I see everyday because I buy newspapers from him on my way to work. 

However, this time, it is a very different Sanni. You can tell by the expression on his face. His face was glowing. What is going on? Why is he so happy? I looked around and I saw my answers on the front pages of the newspapers he was holding.

’23 years of constant power supply’ so says The Punch Newspaper. 

The Guardian has this to say – ‘Nigeria celebrates 23 years of non-stop power supply’. I quickly scanned for the front pages of other dailies. Vanguard, The Nation, Business Day, This Day and they all have similar stories to tell.

I was overwhelmed with joy. I couldn't believe what was happening because just last week ASUU celebrated 15 years of Uninterrupted University Education without a single day of strike.  

All of a sudden I became a very proud Nigerian. I was still driving to work and then I switched on the radio to listen to the 7am news and I heard that the President was traveling to Gombe State to commission Nigeria’s 2^nd Vehicle Manufacturing Plant. The first was commissioned 5 years ago in Akwa Ibom State and now Nigeria has its own brands of cars and trucks.

I remember I had to get back home early tonight because the Super Eagles is playing against Germany in the ongoing FIFA World Cup being hosted in Nigeria. Tonight is the semi-finals and if we get to win this year’s world cup, it will be the 2^nd time in a row the Super Eagles will be winning it.

I drove into the gate of my office complex and as I was about to open the car door, I heard a very disturbing noise. It is a very familiar sound. It was the sound of the generating set. The gate man had just put it on because PHCN put the lights off.

Alas! It was a dream. I have been dreaming? What a sweet dream that was! 

My friends, do you believe these feat is possible in Nigeria? Oh! Let me give you a minute to imagine this. 1, 2, 3,... 

This is possible! This was The Dream I had. 


I took time to imagine and visualize how Nigeria will look like in 15 years to come. I came up with many and here I show you just a few. I like you to do the same and visualize your City, State or Local Government and add this same caption. send them to info@temitopeajijola.com including your Name and/or twitter handle and I will upload as much as I can on my website. Free Your Imagination and let me see what you can come up with... 

Kaduna - Year 2028

Lagos - Year 2025

Port Harcourt - Year 2028

Uyo - Year 2027

RESPONSIBILITY

I was trying to catch some sleep the other day and then there was a knock on the door….(heavy knock sound)…  Only one person in my house knocks like that.  It’s my baby sister, Christiana and she does that when she has a probing question.  She has been trying to complete her school project work for some days now but every time she wants to use the computer, there is no power supply or it just goes on and off.  I saw the frustration on her face as she was about to ask her question. “Nothing seems to work in Nigeria. Why?”  I looked up and sincerely, I don’t know what to say to answer her question.  All I said was some things are just not right yet. I knew she does not understand what I said. I probably added to her misery.

However, upon serious meditation, I soon discovered the closest answer to my sister’s question.  It is lack of responsibility. Let’s talk about Responsibility today.  Now, responsibility is a compound word derived from two separate words: ‘Response’ and ‘Ability’.  In other words, it is the ability to respond to challenges.  A father is responsible for his family.  The security of the nation is the responsibility of the police.  The government is responsible to create laws and uphold the laws of the land.  Nothing just happens! Somebody is responsible for something!

      "Now, responsibility 

 is a compound word 

derived from 

two separate words: 

‘Response’ and ‘Ability’ "

I have since realized that not doing something is actually doing something. Are you able to solve the problems in your community?  It is either you resolve it or make sure it is brought to the attention of the people or institution that can do something about it.  A simple example is the electoral process.  We have the responsibility as citizens to vote people we want into power.  But some people don’t vote. Yes, they probably don’t have faith in the whole process and then they don’t cast their vote.  But not voting is voting. I say it again! Not voting is actually voting. If you don’t vote for the right person, you have automatically voted them out by reducing their chances of winning the election. That one vote is too important to be wasted.  Don’t forget, we cannot afford to leave no legacy for the generations yet unborn. This is our responsibility. Yes we can talk and analyze the wrongs in the country, but we can do better by doing something to correct them, no matter how little.