Nigeria at 65: From complaints to collective action

At 65, Nigeria is old enough to command respect, yet young enough to reinvent itself. But instead of marking this milestone with pride, many Nigerians have chosen to curse the country, to refuse to celebrate her, and to dismiss her future as hopeless. This trend is not only dangerous, it is self-destructive.

Words create perception.

Nigeria is not just a government; it is her people. When we curse Nigeria, we curse ourselves. When we brand our country as corrupt, hopeless, or irredeemable, we reinforce the very stereotypes outsiders already hold against us. We are the first ambassadors of Nigeria, and the words we use shape both global perception and our national identity.

Other nations face deep flaws. The United States struggles with racism and inequality, the UK with economic stagnation and disunity, and the EU with political fractures. Yet, their citizens rarely call their countries worthless. They criticise, yes, but they also defend. That balance is why they maintain global respect. Meanwhile, many Nigerians reduce their contributions to WhatsApp rants and social media curses.

A call to build, not just complain

Nigeria does not need more spectators; she needs builders. If all we can offer at 65 years of independence is condemnation, then history will count us complicit in the very decline we complain about.

Here is what real engagement looks like:

• Organise politically: If the existing parties have failed us, let us create a new one not driven by moneybags but by like minds. A party built on brains, not bullion vans. One that thrives on ideas, strategy, and a clear manifesto rather than cash politics.

• Step up and step in: Criticism from the sidelines will not fix Nigeria. Some of us must run for office, starting at the local level. Others must lend expertise to credible candidates. When your children ask what role you played, it will not be enough to say you forwarded complaints on WhatsApp.

• Share solutions across sectors: We can build citizen-led organisations that track government promises, monitor manifestos, and demand accountability. If leaders promise 1,000 schools, we must count them. If they pledge roads, we must check if they were built. Accountability is not foreign; it is local, and it begins with us.

• Leverage our connections: Let’s face it, every Nigerian knows someone in government. A friend, a cousin, a classmate, a neighbour. Instead of gossiping about failings, let’s use these connections to push for reforms and real change.

Nigeria happened to us.

Nigeria is not an abstract idea; it is us. It is our families, our communities, our future. To curse Nigeria is to curse ourselves. To abandon her is to abandon what is possible.

This Independence season, let us resolve to move beyond lamentation to organisation, beyond cynicism to activism, and beyond criticism to contribution. Nigeria at 65 is not the end of the story. It can be the beginning of a new chapter, but only if we write it together.