NIGERIA AT 62: DEPENDENCE OR INDEPENDENCE

ADEMOLA OMOSOLAPE MODUPEOLUWA DEMOGRAPHY AND SOCIAL STATISTICS PART 2 DSS/ FREEDOM NOT INDEPENDENCE As an independent country, Nigeria celebrates its independence day on the 1st of October. On this day all manner of fanfare is done to celebrate this commemorable day, the speech of the government of each state and the presidential address gives hope to every citizen of the country, even people from other countries join the country in the celebration of this great day but the question remains are we dependent or independent? Definitely dependent! What we are celebrating is the freedom we got from the slavery of the colonial masters and not independence. Independence is the state of not being reliant on others but reverse is the case in Nigeria. Starting from the point of our complete dependence in the educational sector. We need to continually rely on foreign research to get an update to our school curriculum. The syllabus of most courses taught in schools are totally outdated and this is the reason we find it hard to compete with foreign institutions and come out as the best, even though there are a lot of students who go a long way to read beyond the school syllabus in order to pass these external exams. The ASUU strike has been another great threat to the educational sector since 1999. The ASUU Lectures has been demanding for Funding for the revitalisation of public Universities and the payment of earned academics allowance but the federal government had continued to give them unfulfilled promises which had led to the continuous strike of the members of this union. Furthermore, the Health sector which is one of the core sectors of the country lacks the necessary facilities needed for its perfect performance. The technology of most health centers are outdated, the country needs to rely on other countries for every surgery needed to be successful. Our leaders travel out of the country at the slightest headache because they know the health sector lacks the needed equipment and professionals for the treatment of their ailment. The Doctors are grossly underpaid and this is the main reason for brain drain in the country. Although we claim we have different notable industries in the country but looking at the preferred industries they are industries owned by Foreigners. Most of the local industries end up winding up due to the fact that the patronage is very low; some have to merge with other industries in order for them to survive. Many Companies and even government establishment prefer mediocre foreign 'technical expert' to competent Nigerians and if they must employ Nigerians they prefer to bring in from "abroad" as expatriates because they speak and act like a white man and this will promote their company. Fela Kuti sang in his song "Colonial Mentality" and I quote "You don be slave man before, them don release you now but you never release yourself...the thing wey black no good na foreign things them dey like No be so?" The issues of taking foreign things above ours must stop! We need to encourage local industries by using their products more. All sectors should be given regular checks and updated. With the above we can become an Independent State. Thank you God bless Nigeria