He's gorgeous! I don't usually comment, but I couldn't pass without giving my approval. You don't see men like that everyday! Ha! He gets the last laugh because he can say he was kicked out of a country for being too fine! Yes sir!

ItsModella: Like I commented on youtube, its a shame that we love to live in deception. Is this truly not the state of Nigeria? Nigerian artists travel to SA and Miami to shoot videos because they are ashamed and try so hard to blend into the western world. Even then, when they shoot their videos in the ghettos of Lagos, no one complains. Now a foreigner comes and does the same and what these people can do is rant all over the internet forming useless patriotism. Well they better start accepting the fact that Nigeria does not fall short of a shithole.

So true! Nobody complains about the slums or the poverty seen daily, but now people want to complain when an outsider is showing the truth in people's face. It's as if people are just learning there is poverty in Nigeria. Let's fix it instead of trying to cover it up.

So Nigerians are doing so well portraying Nigeria? Before Rick Ross, Nigeria had a bad rep. After Rick Ross, Nigeria will still have a bad rep. Complain about the corruption, leaders, and materialism done by our fellow Nigerians first. What about the 419ers emailing everyone they can abroad trying to dupe people for money? Nigeria is a joke and a byword to many foreigners abroad. It's our job as Nigerians to show the good side and the culture of Nigeria, not some useless rapper. Who is Rick Ross anyway? However, people cannot pretend there are no problems in Nigeria. I don't think Nigeria can be made to look worse than it already does. It is a delusion of grandeur to think the world gives a damn about Nigeria when we as Nigerians don't. It's just thought by the world to be another poor black, African country stuck in the dark ages ravaged by one disaster or another--this is what the any outsider would think visiting Nigeria. From the moment you land at the airport til you reach your destination, just outdated. It's our job as Nigerians to change that. Even the best Nigeria has to offer has a long way to improve by global standards. Nigerians are getting angry because they can't handle the truth. Yes, Nigeria needs improvement. Perhaps it is good to see the country from another perspective for a change. Rick Ross, lol.

Nigeria is fully capable of funding these projects! Oil rich country that it is! If the Nigerian government takes China's money, they have to work by China's rules. China will build all these things to make use of Nigeria's resources. Africa is apparently a no-man's land. What are the "leaders" doing? Do we call this new neo-colonialism through economics? When will Africa cease to remain in the dark ages? There is too much potential, and now other countries will come in and make use of the resources that we are squandering.

Leaders can keep driving their fancy cars on sh*t roads and powering up their big fancy houses with generators instead of consistent electricity. Or even flying abroad for medical care. For how long leaders of Nigeria? How long can this continue until there is nothing left to steal. North, South, East, or West--Nigeria needs to change.

Marriage by force? I didn't know such things happened. Interesting. It's silly though! It's kind of weird too. Reminds me of wake keeping and funerals when they hold the departed's photo up. I wouldn't have such a wedding. But everyone is different I guess.

How about we blame the educational system in Nigeria, not the youth. Technology and social media can be a blessing or a curse, but the foundation of the educational system is what determines the outcome. Look at the "brightest" countries in the world, they all have technology. Technology and entertainment are not the problem; actually, if you use these well, they can be an asset and bring innovation into Nigeria. The problem is the school system. Primary, secondary, and tertiary schools all need to be developed to create bright students. When there is quality, standardized education at all levels, in all Nigerian states, education will improve. Bring intelligent, well-trained professors and teachers at all levels of education with an innovative and enriched curriculum. Build good learning foundations in primary schools. Instead in Nigeria, you have poor access to education, dubious/sadist professors, outdated teaching styles and materials, tribalism, cultism and other issues. To take WAEC, JAMB, or any other examination, there are so many hurdles students must endure to take the exams. How can they do well if they are not taught how to take exams or good studying habits, and are not even given an enriched curriculum to do well academically and answer the questions well?

Young people all over the world that have access make use of technology and social media. They like football, entertainment, and enjoying with friends. Why would Nigeria be different? The problem is the sh*t education system. There are so many intelligent and industrious people in Nigeria. However, the government doesn't give a damn about fixing the problems as a whole. Education is a federal issue. It cannot be done in a patchy way, state-by-state. If the country invests in their young, they will reap the fruit. Give the youth a chance! The adults have to prepare and show them the way. Don't eat your young.

antitpiah:
Not quite true. Home is where your heart is, not necessarily where you are born. If you live in a place and pay your taxes you are a citizen. Your nationality is still defined by your ethnic group/heritage/affiliation. Ohuruogu, for instance is a Nigerian name. To claim otherwise for the sole purpose of making yourself feel better about who you really are is dishonesty. I do agree that people should be free to decide what country they want to represent. What Island. People should be free to act in their own interest, monetary or otherwise. That said, the fact still remains that you cant simply wake up and change who you are all of a sudden. No one exist in a vacuum. We all started from somewhere. And that place is HOME. Ohuruogu's home is not the UK. Her home is whereevre her parents call home. She is part of something bigger than her and she, like the rest of her cohort, cant just cut herself off from her origin or ethnicity.

They are not denying who they are by choosing to play for their home countries. Of course we all have a history and started from somewhere, but where you place your feet and choose to make your home is home. That is where your heart is. The athletes in question are comfortable enough representing the countries they are representing, which does not happen to be Nigeria. Olympic athletes are officially categorized by nationality, not heritage. Whichever country in which you are a citizen of and CHOOSE to represent is who you represent, heritage aside. By your argument, everyone in the world should play for their parents', grand-parents, and/or great-grand parents country, regardless of where they were born or choose to represent.

antitpiah: No one is claiming anything. We are just stating facts as we know them. Well, if Nigeria had nothing to do with forming them, then I guess they should return the discipline they got from their NIGERIAN parents. They should wipe off the millions of years of information imprinted on the NIGERIAN DNA they were freely bequeathed by their NIGERIAN parents; dont forget that they are only able to achieve this much in part because of the DNA shoulders of the ancestors they are standing on.

Not just Nigerian parents imbibe discipline into their children. This can be said of all the other Olympic athletes from all the other nations represented. Also there are coaches, teammates, educators, and other individuals that help build up one's achievements. Gifts and talents do have to be nurtured through hard work, so it's not DNA. What does DNA have to do with anything? We are not lab rats competing. We are human beings. Every human being has potential, no matter where they come from. DNA may help give you certain propensities to do certain things well, but please do not think that Nigerian DNA is superior to the world's. That's a funny statement. The same people will want to argue that certain tribes have better DNA than others. Typical Nigerian superiority complex! Your parents can help you up to a point in life, but sometimes you need more than they can give. And this is not a bad thing, rather this is growth and development.

antitpiah: There is corruption everywhere. If Americans ran to Russia because there is corruption in America, we wont have America as it is now. There is no miracle elsewhere, we all need to pitch in if we ever going to see a Nigeria of our dreams. It is easy to blame others. Change we come only when we start taking responsibilities for our actions, inaction and baseless criticisms

Of course there is corruption everywhere. But Nigeria's corruption is so bad that it stagnating the country and no one in leadership seems to care enough to do something about it. Who wants to pitch in? And then pitch in to do what? Everyone is just trying to see themselves and their close ones survive. I've tried personally in helping work toward fixing the health system. I've studied abroad and thought I would bring back what I learned to help Nigeria. But there were so many obstacles in finding ways to help. The story is too long to post in this thread! Even to get people to admit there was a problem was impossible. Nigeria is full of potential, but continues to remain in the dark ages because those in leadership really don't give a damn and this is a fact.

antitpiah: Some people have already suggested that the athletes competing for other countries are selling their souls. I agree to some extent, an Italian in NY is an Italian in Milan: It is true that home is what you decide to call home, but nationality is who you are, your ethnic group and the DNA haplotypes you possess. In the couple of years since we started (1952) competing at the Olympics, we've had some amazing experiences as a nation: heart-pounding encounters like Nojim Maiyegun's bronze medal at the 1964 games; incredible, world class individual performance by Chioma Ajunwa at the 1996 games; Exhilarating, out of this world soccer roller-coaster, from the Dream team, that we hoped would never end. We are currently in some ruts that is going to take our collective effort and imagination to get out of, a lot of hard work and patriotism is going to be needed in the years ahead if we ever going to live up to our potential. Still, as the saying goes, representing your father land is like pizza — even when it's bad as it is right now, it's pretty damn good. I am Nigerian first, and I plan to continue being Nigerian.

That's good for you. Be a proud Nigerian. But we are talking more than genetics here. We should root for Nigeria, but not get caught up in the delusion of grandeur. No one is selling their soul. Nigeria is not a god. Sometimes there needs to be tough love to say, "I love my country, but certain things need to change." And that change starts with the individual. I am a Nigerian by heritage as well, but I love where I was born and it has made me who I am today. I love my parents and their culture, but I have to be a citizen of the world, flexible and adaptable, to survive. When I travel to Nigeria, I know that it is the land of my origin, and I feel it in my bones. But at the end of the day, I am an outsider. Everyone wants to claim me and say, "don't forget where you came from" but the same people will be quick to hold me to a standard and will like to measure "how Nigerian" I am. I will never be "Nigerian enough" for them because I am a product of the country I was born. And this is fine.

I love who I am and the rich history of Nigeria, but I have a choice to represent who I want. I can't erase my heritage and will never try to. I can only represent it in the best manner, and whichever country gives me the best opportunity to reach my potential and help me be all I can be, I will represent that country to my heart's content. And this is not a question of genetics, DNA, or ancestry. It's like someone taking the time to build a house and someone else coming to take the credit and say it was his idea. This is silly. Where you finish may not be where you started. As I said before, let them be. These Athletes are Nigerian in ancestry, but they are Americans, British, Swedish, or whatever else by nationality. Let them be. Maybe if Nigeria shows real interest and is serious, they will attract such athletes. Better yet, indigenous Nigerians could be invested in and given the support to be world class athletes that they can be. Nigeria is not a hopeless case if there is hope. I rep my fatherland, motherland, and the land I was born.

mpmp: Why is everybody whining about men/women OF NIGERIAN ORIGIN representing other countries. Is it wrong to do so?

I think its pure selfishness and greed to assume and conclude that just because they have Nigerian Heritage, they have a responsibility to represent Nigeria. When these athletes were training 24/7, dreaming big, enduring all the stress and rigor of traning, working multiple jobs, applying for scholarhips up and down, getting their lifes put together, I wonder where all of you were. Now that they are at the top of their game, we have the time to start researching their surname and parental heritage.

I agree 100%!!! I made a similar post somewhere. If one's parents emigrated from their country and their children are born in a new country, those children born in that new country are citizens and people of that new country by nationality. Their heritage is elsewhere, but where they are born and raised is their home. Nigeria had nothing to do directly in forming those athletes, so why do they feel obligated to claim them? With all the corruption, tribalism, bribery, materialism, lack of institutions, etc, how can great athletes, or even other people striving for greatness with real raw talent survive in Nigeria? Not that people are not successful in Nigeria, but it's hard to do it based on sole merit and hard work. If you have money and connections, it's a lot easier. It's always North vs South, East vs West, Politics, titles-- "Who you be" or "Do you know who I am?" Enemies of Progress. A nation that eats their young by refusing to invest in them to foster a brighter tomorrow. It takes a lot of dedication and investing in talent to refine it to greatness. At least these other countries have provided means to create world-class, Olympic athletes for it people, including those of Nigerian decent. You can't say that it's an issue of just being a developing Nation, because others nations in this category are being successful. Nigeria loves to boast about itself, but what is there really for us to boast about? A lot of talk, but nothing to show for it.

Let these athletes be. They are not obligated to represent Nigeria simply because of their surname. They are representing their respective homes. People of all countries travel and make new homes for themselves. Why should Nigeria be any different? It's hard enough representing a country like Nigeria that has such a negative reputation internationally. At least these young people are showing that not all Nigerians are bad, even if they are not directly competing under Nigeria's flag.

This girl is amazing! She is really inspiring. Thanks for posting this. If Nigeria could truly invest in the youth, the sky would be the limit. So much untapped gifts and talents. #teamgabby !

Also Andre was born in the US, which makes him an American as well. He can obviously play for Team USA as a born citizen. How does one know whether he claims Nigerian citizenship as well, just because of his surname? In the US, he can play among various NBA stars where he can learn a lot from and develop his career. Arguably, the US is the best place to play basketball. Why would he want to plan anywhere else if he got the chance to play in the NBA with fellow NBA stars, especially Nigeria? Just because his dad is Nigerian doesn't mean he has to play for Nigeria. He is also an American too, as I said before. Andre himself mentioned cultural differences and his experiences of being on the outside looking in to his dad's culture (which happens to be the case for many born abroad, away from their parents' country, not just Nigeria). One naturally assimilates to the place they are born. The US is his home. The Nigerian team is new and has a long way to develop, which is possible with the right training and coaching. Nigeria has a lot of potential. However, Andre made the right decision to wait things out.

And where did they get this "coach" for Nigeria's team? Does he have basketball experience? Any one know?

Will Naija let US score to 150? Chai!

This is embarrassing guys! The big US players are even sitting on the bench resting. Their not even playing.

shymmex:

But how come African blacks are rubbish?

I guess we need some soul food, lemonade, and kool aid - our heavy food isn't good for basketball..

Good training and conditioning is important! And jokes aside, diet is important also. There is no reason why African blacks can't be good. In the USA, many African blacks have excelled in athletics of all kinds. The only difference is good training!

SmoothCrim2015:

I guess the Nigerian team is white then

LOL! Let's see what they do in the second half .

shymmex: When will USA start choosing players to represent what their population is?

blacks = 12% of the population

We need more white people in that team - white people are being marginalized!!

If you know the history of American basketball, you would know that Whites dominated the sport when it started, like every other sport, but as soon as blacks came in they dominated. Blacks are really great at basketball!

Nigeria should not be intimidated by their distant cousins! Team USA is killing dem. Na waoh!

Nigeria should not be intimidated playing their distant cousins. Team USA is killing dem!

Beware of "Nigerian romantics" lol! Common sense, as it seems, is not so common .

Interesting development...

"Black men" or "African men" because the two are not the same? Completely different. White men who are open to dating black women can be a breathe of fresh air. Variety is the spice of life! Anyway, to answer the question, women should love and respect themselves first, then find a man who treats you like a lady and who will love and be committed to you. Don't limit yourself because there is so much out there. Black, white, yellow, green or purple--it doesn't matter. Men are men at the end of the day. But there are great ones and terrible ones in every shade of the spectrum.

Na wah for all these "roads" in Naija. People using their cars as boats. Maybe all those un-flyable planes can be converted to buses or submarines, lol? We need to fix our roads to handle floods.

As a Nigerian youth born and living in diaspora, I want to come back and help. I have gone through my undergraduate and graduate studies and desire to come back and invest in Nigeria. I want to help reform the healthcare field and develop better preventive care practices. I have so many great ideas and Nigeria is a hot bed of potential, but lacking in practical know-how and expertise. Consultants can do so well in Nigeria! But why is it so easy for a foreigner to come to Nigeria under oil, or other companies, or NGOs, but Nigerians reject their own people? Is it the novelty of their skin or colonial mentality? Or have we lost faith and trust in ourselves? I would have to go through NYSC, which is an antiquated, in my opinion. Think about it, you take the whole graduating class of new graduates, and send them to various corners of Nigeria, often without protection and without sufficient financial support. They then sit for a year trying to survive and prepare for their future, when they should go straight into the workforce. The government should easily be able to help these students if not for its corruption. In my opinion, NYSC should be modernized to be geared toward enabling new graduates to gain real world skills and application of knowledge in their area of study/degree. This can be done through intensive internships, externships, workshops, career networking, and awards given to promising graduates that show innovation or great ideas. Such awards could be used to start business or pursue various entrepreneurial ventures.

Also, are such dialogues taking place in Nigerian institutions of higher learning, ie. universities, even secondary schools among students and youth?

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JDuEs7lWp8&feature=fvwrel[/flash]

Such dialogues are common in the classrooms where professors and teachers desire to promote innovative thinkers who are being prepared to be leaders of tomorrow. This forum took place at the prestigious Colombia University in New York. Why not at Unilag, UNN, or any of the other universities in Nigeria? But the Unilag students were busy protesting name change of their school because of the same love for status, title, big boi/big girl, big money, and love of corruption and material wealth. They learnt this from Nigerian society and those around them. They should be protesting bribing teachers, campus cultists, unfair academic practices, unemployment/lack of opportunities, etc. There is so much wrong with the Nigerian "educational system," but that discussion is for another thread.

How do we Help Nigeria, when Nigeria doesn't seem to want to change. It has been said that the first step to dealing with a problem is recognizing a problem exists. But when a mother eats her young, how can it cry out for help? It was doomed before it even got a chance. Those in leadership and with power are doing their best to make sure the next generation, the youth, don't survive.

So my question is, you older generations, how can you help us help you?

Is there any hope for Nigeria? This is the limit. It has not even been a week since these poor souls lost their lives and their remains are being treated in such a manner. What else, why not sell people as food then. Cannibals or vampires, I don't know what these people in leadership are. No respect for human life or death. Tragic!

So has the investigation been completed already? Where are these people getting their presumptions from? From the shoddy records of the planes maintenance history? Till today, there is still confusion on a number of things such as the manifest presented and if it was of those who bought tickets or those who actually boarded the plan. How about the people on the ground of which there has been no mention of the number of casualties or the damage to residential areas? Plans do not just drop out of the sky. The pilot was an experienced pilot also who had flown that air route before. There are so many things that need to be investigated. I tire for these people in leadership. At least give this investigation a chance to be completed. The black box has not even been analyzed yet and its findings presented. These bush people parading as elites have ruined Nigeria. Killers of truth with corruption in their dark souls. At least do not let these people die in vain like the millions before that have been mercilessly wasted in this country known as Nigeria.

Why "ask." Why not just fire the person? They should all fire themselves too and let thinking and honest people lead this country if there is anyone honorable left in Nigeria. What a waste of time!

Emeka Dopa: Since these while, i hv bn thinking of parachute, jumping, and stuffs like dat. or is it ruled out entirely in such emergencys? pls anybdy can put me thru on dis.

Planes are not built as helicopters where one can just jump out. So parachutes and such items wouldn't work. And generally to do such things, one needs training on how to do so properly. Think of the children and babies on the flights, even the elderly. Parachutes and jumping would not be an option for them. There are many safety concerns with parachutes too. Even the safety equipment on board commercial planes are generally for crash landing over water. With an experienced pilot, a crash landing over water can be done without loss of life, given the type of problem the plane is having and such a landing is possible. However, over land, crash landing is often a tragedy, simply because of the harshness of impact.

My heart is hurting for those that lost their lives. What hurts so much is that there were warnings that this plane was bad and shouldn't have flown out. These lives could have been saved. But seeing as how bad the aviation industry is in Nigeria and from other accounts, its a wonder that there are no accidents daily. May God help us out of our habitual stupor and show us the way forward. If anything, so that these who perished would not have died in vain.

Just look at the condition of the airports and that will tell you about the planes. Just in utter disarray. Nigeria, is there a hope for you? People just slaughtered because of negligence. Maintain the planes, they can't. Of course, this could have happened anywhere, but this is so senseless because there were so many warnings before this happened. I just pray for the families of those lost. We need action in Nigeria. I wish I knew what to do.

What a tragedy! My heart is so heavy. My prayers go out to those who lost someone in this tragedy! Such an event can happen anywhere in the world, but when it could have been prevented and happens so close to you, the pain is even more. I weep for Nigeria.

#nigerianproblems

Interesting development...

prince_onx: Naija folks/girls want that title by all means! That is exactly why marriage is over rated in Nigeria and jumped into for almost all the wrong reasons. Am getting old, am the first son and my mates are married, my parents want grandchildren, My sisters and cousins are all married, my clock is ticking, I want to but not financially stable, i want to and am ready but she's older, is a man 10yrs older too old for me?, and so on! People should get married when they fall in love regardless or their age or pocket. I did at 31, loving it, and still chasing dollars with red eyes

Please help me tell them! Spot on! I just attended a wedding this past weekend in which the groom was at least 20 years older than the bride. She looked so sad and miserable. Why live someone else's life and be miserable. We only have one life to live. Is marriage by force? Apparently it is for many Nigerians, and sadly for the bride I saw last weekend. With that old groom dancing like he won millions and the bride looking like she was at her own funeral. Na waoh!