₦airaland Forum

(A) Nigeria is the first country in Africa to successfully design, build and launch a satellite (under supervision of Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd) into orbit (NigeriaSat-X, Aug 17, 2011). (B) The average Nigerian typically does not wait for the government to come and solve his problems. He is a master of improvisation and will sort his issues out. This is why incidents like food riots are rare in Nigeria. (C). Nigeria produced the first black African Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, being the first African country to achieve this feat.

(D). Andrew Ejemai, a 10 year old Nigerian living in the UK, passed the A level exams at such a young age, and obtained admission into Eton College, England.

(E). Nigerian as a country has made significant contributions to the developed economies of this world in terms of human capital and intellectual contribution.

(F). Nigerians are intelligent, brilliant minds who have proven their mettle in various fields – Wole Soyinka was the first African to win the much coveted Nobel prize for literature in 1986. Chinua Achebe’s classic novel ‘Things Fall Apart’ was ranked as number 14 in a list of top 100 books in the world by Newsdesk in 2009. Others include Cyprian Ekwensi, Mabel Segun, Chimamanda Adichie and Helon Habiila whose literary works have won both international and local awards at various times.

(G). Nigerians have excelled in the fields of economics and finance, managing well established global bodies. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, the current Minister of Finance, was until recently a Managing Director at The World Bank. Obiageli Ezekwisili is currently the Vice President for Africa at The World Bank. Mr Adebayo Ogunlesi is a first class graduate of Oxford, and Managing Partner of Global infrastructure Partner (GIP), a concessionaire of London’s Gatwick International Airport.

(H). In the field of engineering, Jelani Aliyu received multiple awards for his breakthrough in car interior design. He is currently the lead exterior designer for General Motors in the United States. His design-Chevy Volt has been described as an American Revolution as well as hottest concept in the design line.

(I). One of the most popular books written in the field of process control engineering was Co-authored by a Nigerian Professor, Babatunde Ogunnaike, currently lecturing at the University of Delaware. The book, Process Dynamics, Model and Control, has enjoyed amazing reviews on Amazon and has been sold as one of the top 100 books in control engineering world.

(J). Nigerians are enterprising with a rare ability to invent things from the ordinary.

(K). We are innovative and can develop something out of nothing…Give Nigerians space and they would clear your doubt.

(L). Nigerians are creative-We don’t have access to many technologies that can make our work easier, but we improvise and become creative with what we have

(M). Nigerians are very industrious and the country has got a vast amount of opportunities.

(N).Nigerians are industrious people. They are so hard working that they find a way to earn a decent living irrespective of the tough conditions of living. You just have to give kudos to the resilient spirit of people that are struggling to make ends meet in a country where public infrastructure is almost nonexistent.

(O). Nigerians possess a competitive spirit, and can be very positively opportunistic, always seeking out the smallest window to win legitimate competitive advantage.

(P). There are clusters of youths working together and doing great things. There are bad eggs everywhere, here too. Do a Google search for Nigeria, youth development and leadership, and see what you get.

(Q). Nigerians can be extremely savvy businessmen, starting with almost nothing and growing billion Naira companies. Need proof? Look at Dangote & Guaranty Trust Bank.

(R) Nigeria is now synonymous with inspiration and positive change! For many others read ... http://www.419positive.org/419-reasons-to-like-nigeria-191-215/

Rossikk: An estimated 200,000 Chinese live in South Africa, despite China being the world's second largest economy which even lends money to the USA.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overseas_Chinese

This whole idea that Nigerians emigrating to other nations is the ''fault'' of the Nigerian govt is totally absurd. If anything it shows the govt has succeeded in educating many of its citizens to the point where they can contemplate emigration.

we shouldn't blame government for anything because we have our roles to play. Nigeria is progressing sure and steadily but our impatience cannot allow govt to focus

kritzmoritz: I think its most regretable someone will go to my blog, copy my entire article in full and post it here without giving any credits. The person even disguised some of my exact words with his/her bad english in the last line. It is important to note that all articles on: http://www.kritzmoritz. is copyrighted. It doesn't cost a lot to do the right thing. Give credit to whom its due where necessary. That is the pride of any writer.

And for those who are asking, No, I don't live in South Africa.

I gave credit to you but it was edited out. Not my fault bro. The MOds did it.but the link was pasted there. So any could go to the main site

I just want to add that I don't live in SA. It was written by a friend. I brought it here for discussion. Nigeria is a great sleeping- but- soon- to- rise giant. We must find solutions to our problem. Govt can never solve all our problems. Irrespective of our differences we can unite to be great. UNITY in DIVERSITY.

Can't she live her private life Sahara reporters. She is free to sought for experts for her medical condition anywhere they abound.

I must commend Andrewza. I like ur response to issues concerning being South Africa but you must be objective to some issues. I feel Africa was brought into lamelight by the interest of China. Technology was made cheap and easy to transfer by the chinese unlike the west who wants conditions such as good governance, devaluation of currency, support of brentton woods policy, interference with sovereignty. As such all countries have to protect their interest. China has done for Africa than our colonial masters especially britian. But Andrewza, I think your fear is that China economic tsunami in Africa is threatening South Africa position as economic power before Nigeria takes over.

Yesterday, I was driving through Yeoville in Johannesburg when I glimpsed a sign through the glass windows of a hotel lobby (Safari Hotel) which boldly advised visitors thus: "This is to inform the public that Nigerian Nationals are not allowed in this hotel." I took offence with my South African companions and began to immediately wonder what sort of madness and discrimination I had just witnessed. Simple logic after all, demands that You cannot profile a group of people (in this case, all Nigerians) as a criminals, pimps and fraudsters.


Anyway, still seething with rage, I took a solid reflection of Nigerians’ situation in this city when I again, dashed through the streets of Hillbrow and Central Business District of Johannesburg. I couldn’t help but marvel at how the activities of Nigerians, mostly, had reshaped the landscape of this city. Images of a typical central Lagos pervades here: Petty traders hawking alongside heaps of refuse; drug dealers pedaling their illicit trade, prostitutes and their pimps and general organized chaos. The deep, baritone accent of the Nigerian English easily gives these perpetrators away. Added to that, they are loud, brazen and shameless in deprecating the city in promoting their trades; and in the process, discomforting the very people that had welcomed them into their land.



I am in full agreement that the insanity of the Johannesburg city centre cannot be blamed entirely on Nigerians. But please bear with me. This article is about Nigerians and their preference for a squalid existence in a foreign land rather than staying home for a more productive life. Nigerians will raise travel funds (flight tickets, accommodation, food, visa, etc), an amount sizeable to establish a reasonable small scale business, and use it to sojourn in foreign lands doing petty things they’d never dream about. If you looked closely, you would see that the culprits are mostly dregs from the lower rungs of the Nigerian society. They are largely unskilled and found their way to South Africa with only the clothes on their backs. They have now become a menace to the society that harbors them.



These Nigerians are now South Africa’s problems because their own nation would rather fete and defend criminal elements in the political class rather address the serious socio-economic challenges that drive Nigerians from their homelands. They would prefer instead to live in the squalor of Johannesburg.



As much as I wonder at the choices people sometimes make in deciding their futures, I will typically blame the Nigerian government for letting down these fragile set of people. They couldn’t find the security they needed at home so they sojourned abroad only to live an existence that they should rightly be ashamed of. They do not trust their own government to protect and provide for them.



And really, how can anyone in his right mind trust a government that celebrates mediocrity and criminality. A government that is content to leave its citizens to the wimps of foreign countries because it had conveniently absconded from its role.



As we speak, the mess that is the Nigerian government continues to unfold. I awoke this morning to news of the Presidential pardon for a group of VIP criminals in Nigeria. It was a decision as much shameful as it is reckless in its recommendations. I see no basis for this latest government indiscretion to pardon people who pillaged our commonwealth and mortgaged the future of our sons and daughters. A pardon for People who’s various acts of disservice is the very reason many of us are languishing in foreign lands because there is nothing credible to come back to.



The arrogance of our political leadership certainly has no limit and their mindlessness is a calamity which final chapters are yet to be written. They are so shameless, even shame has lost its meaning. Nigeria will surely not find salvation with these crop of political leaders

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My questions to fellow naija folks is that why do prefer to suffer abroad than to hustle in Nigeria. Many African countries are envious of our black gift from God. Imagine selling your house to buy visa, travel tickets to abroad to start afresh in the name of various national challenges which great countries have passed through in their nation building.

Sometimes it seems, you don’t need too many reasons to hate Nigeria and I feel so hateful towards my country right now. http://m.news24.com/nigeria/MyNews24/Nigeria-will-never-pull-through-like-this-20130327

berem: Jonathan looks good on that suit o! wearing that traditional attire with a hat makes him look more like a certified M.oron!

. Lady I enjoy your input but learn not to be insultive. It is a bad trait.

Rebels claims more than 14 SA soldiers died. http://m.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/?articleId=8632241

If we can have many such guys as smile4kenn, our lives on Nairaland would be transformed.

See Mr playmode, western media have painted this country red, my simple advice is that Nigeria is safer compare to SA but SA have an excellent infrastructure. My uncle was killed in johannesburg in 2003 by unknown gunmen. Also one of my uncle relocated to naija and he lives well in Asaba. Infrastructure is growing but Nigeria is liveable. You sound as if you weren't born here. Challenges abound everywhere. Expatriates lives in Nigeria while can't you. Kidnappers or armrobbers act on information. So beware. Don't fluent your wealth. Those who don't have hope in this country will talk nonsense. Relocation should be in phases

Fascinating report on GEJ transformation agenda. We need to do more. This country is about to explode positively.

This writeup is simply out of this world

The term influential does not necessary mean how rich or how technologically advanced but how you can use these factors to change the way people live their lives locally or internationally. Take for example the US invented the internet (by the help of a Nigerian Emeagwali) which has transformed the globe into rooms. The book "things fall apart" taught the white men how traditionally advanced Africans are not as the bushman in which black south Africans are known for. The US, UK others describe Nigeria as the most important country - a sleeping giant like pre-China. Nigerians have spreads its message through nollywood, christianity, fraud (419), creativity, industrious ability,prostitution etc check out every country in the world succeeding you will find the imput of Nigerians scatter. Most of the people being repatriated from other countries always claim to be Nigerians. Go to ivory coast, congo, gabon, and see what Nigerians have done there. Everybody wants to be an american yankee behaving like cowboys or sags their jeans, this is influence. When american wanted to setup a base in africa Nigeria was there choice but when Nigerians revolted they could not site africom but a mere bilateral agreements with different countries. When corruption ceases in Nigeria then the sleeping giant would wake up.

Though I don't fancy BBC reports but see this http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11429067

South African defence union expresses doubt on SA ability to fight M23 rebels. http://m.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/?articleId=8615598

Everyday, I keep wondering that without an effective database our police still succeeds. I think our detectives are doing great if not bad eggs amongst them.

CAR rebels are criusing SA defence vehicles. http://m.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/?articleId=8608303

GEJ is working, Haters are talking, market women are selling and Agberos are still loading trucks. - CNN

Pls SA troops were fighting child soldiers. See link. http://m.timesofindia.com/world/rest-of-world/Child-soldiers-killed-in-Central-African-Republic-South-African-troops-claim/articleshow/19309919.cms?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=tweets

payless: Propaganda! Intellectual dishonesty at its peak.

. A trial visit will convince you. Amaechi also get credit as for the omoku plant. Things are working. As regard your intellectual dishonesty I engage my brain cells in productive. One thing that amazes me is that there are many unreported developments in this country. Transamadi now boast of regular power supply. Just find out.

We get about 18-22 hrs of electricity now in transamadi port harcourt. Transformation agenda on course. God bless GEJ.

Sure and steady wins the race. These workers never wanted progress. The development was initiated by Obj but progressed rapidly to almost completion under Gej. Very soon by God's grace what happened in the telecom sector would happen many fold in the power sector. May God continue to work for all those who wants this country to move to the promise land

Pls if you to see an ACN gov in action go to Edo state and Lagos state. Ogun state is also trying but I tell most solemnly Adams first 2yrs did what PDP could do in 8Yrs. Come and see roads constructed with drainages, streetlights, traffic lights, proper demarcation. I have never one day seen him showing the world his legacies on newspapers or tv like others but he needs to do more. But the word MASSIVE CONSTRUCTION can better be defined in AKwa Ibom state.

What ever we do we should always be objective whether politically or otherwise. The state of federal and state roads nationwide are improving drastically. But the pace at which federal roads are being constructed needs to be appreciated. I was curious and I decided to check if found out that he has barely completed 2yrs. My brothers and sisters I tell you GEJ has done more than 8yrs of Obj.

Boscog: we nigerians shld look down at political issues of dis country ,even Egypt ,syria n Libya are even regretting there foolish actions which westerners pushed them to .investigate well the writer is been used by one stupid n greed nigerian politicians.mark it some were ppl.

. I agree with you.

I read this LA writers report on twitter two days ago. He wrote the minds of many Nigerians. But I want us to know that GEJ did not start all these challenges. The initial kid glove approach he took made many lose faith in him but I tell you something that by 2014 there would be a different song. No president in Nigeria has made a lot of progress under short saddle at the helm of affairs. There many ongoing projects. Corruption remains his biggest minus.

Please let's be reasonable here: 1. sure-p is not meant to finance new projects but to fasten ongoing projects to completion. 2. Budgetary constraints delays projects taking longer time to complete. 3. Sure-p is financing the owerri-ph road by arab contractors. 4. Some federal roads are being fastracked with this fund such as the benin-ore, some railway projects etc. 5. State government are also disbursed: so they need to account for theirs. 6. There are multi-sectorial economic challenges, that is why most countries including US borrows fund. 7. Example include the chinese loan aviation ministry is borrowing because her budget cannot construct the terminals. 8. I think government should concentrate more on the job programme more because it would have the fastest and desired effect on the masses.

I watch the live telecast during the good governance tour in Akwa ibom he never mention he rigged election, he only tried to show how he wanted to integrate all to have participation in politics. He said he removed the name of an aspirant that have won before from a certain community and put the name of Etuk from a marginalised community to contest the election. It was the pdp primary not general election. Most of the press are doing political journalism instead of telling us the true story in order to sell. Am not his fan though but he has tried for his state

My personal opinion is that the man is an achiever - masses people but he needs his advisers most, now that he is the chairman of pdp governors forum. I think that post is choking him. He is trying to outdo rivers colleague. He can be voted the best governor, because he single handledly transform villages to cities and town but he needs to remain focus.

I think the NPF can reform for the better because they are doing well if not the bad eggs among them. I think they deserve commendation. No matter the intimidation on NOI Nigeria is on the part of progress.