From Dream to Disillusionment: The Transformation of Nigeria

Growing up, I harbored grand dreams about Nigeria. In my early years, I envisioned the country as a beautiful princess, accessible only to those who were prepared. I vividly recall writing an article titled “Nigeria of My Dream” in 2008 as a student at Igwebuike Grammar School in Awka. This piece, created for the Ministry of Education to celebrate Independence Day, conveyed my optimistic vision for Nigeria’s future, drawing inspiration from the developmental strides made during the administration of the late President Musa Yaradua.

To embrace this “beautiful princess” called Nigeria and realize our aspirations, we cultivated virtues like diligence, integrity, patience, discipline, and hard work, believing these qualities were essential for success.

Fast forward to 2025, and the once-admired “beautiful princess” has transformed into a harsh reality—brutish, disfigured, and a destroyer of the hopes and dreams of youth. The societal institutions meant to uphold and nurture our strengths have abandoned their essential roles.

Human life has lost its significance, as corruption, fraud, and other moral failings are now viewed as acceptable pathways to wealth. The values we once cherished have crumbled.

The situation is further exacerbated by our political leaders, who should be at the forefront of societal reform, but are instead preoccupied with personal ambitions and agendas.

As Peter Obi noted in a recent speech, Nigeria is now but a shadow of its former self. The sacrifices of our heroes have seemingly gone to waste.

A Way Forward

To navigate this bleak future, we must collectively focus on rebuilding the foundations of our society.

~Ikechukwu Augustine Obah
(MGBOEJIEJEOGU)
30th May 2025