Hi, it’s nice to reach you. You know what? Life is beautiful! As long as we have life, we can strive and thrive. The challenges we face cannot stop us. You can affect nations and generations positively. For some time to come, we shall look at some relevant issues under a series called “Revolution.come”. Understand this: the challenges of today are just too small to deter you from working on your visions and believing in the beauty of the future. Things may not be looking up for you today, but tomorrow can be better. It all depends on the choices you make.
In this edition, let’s begin with the subject of responsibility. There’s a young guy I respect. He is a role model for our generation and even generations to come. He took responsibility for his own future and for Nigeria’s future. I love the fact that he never studied abroad and I’m moved at his passion for this country. Toyin Subair is the guy! In case you don’t know, Toyin Subair is the man behind HiTV. For the sake of emphasis, he is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of HiTV.
At the launch of HiTV, he said, “the achievement of HiTV is nothing to be boastful about, but seen as tool to create value, develop the minds of Nigerians and to sell Nigeria’s uniqueness to the world.” Toyin Subair has proved a point, that you can make a difference and influence the world globally if you are ready to pay the price of responsibility.
Today, in Nigeria, I agree that we are surrounded by many discouraging factors, but we must not give up on our life goals. In fact, so many youths have lost faith completely in Nigeria. Of course, their defeated disposition is as a result of the disturbing realities in the polity; for example, the so many unresolved cases of corruption and murder, the ever-rising cost of living, the frequent strikes and the demon called unemployment. Also, youths perceive the government as indifferent to their plight.
Several youths have succumbed to the pressures generated by this situation and have decided to be failures. You might want to ask me, how? They see our national problems as very good excuses or reasons why they should fail in life. Now, the point I’m trying to make is this; they have refused to take responsibility for their future, let alone Nigeria’s future. How many youths today see themselves as agents of change? How many are passionate about making a difference?
You must understand that the problems that confront us in life are not to obstruct us but to instruct us. According to John Maxwell; there is a world of difference between the person who has a big problem and the one who makes a problem big. It’s high time we stopped the blame game. When are we going to stop blaming the government, our parents, the politicians, and the economy for our failures?
Winston Churchill, a former British Prime Minister once said “Responsibility is the price of greatness”. Someone has defined responsibility as response ability; your ability to respond to different situations. You have the power of choice; you can respond to life situations either positively or negatively. The wise happen to things, they don’t allow things to happen to them. Don’t let anything hold you back from pursuing your vision.
The Nigerian factor may have thrown some obstacles your way, but you can respond positively and refuse to be deterred. You don’t have to quit or give up. Quitters are failures. What most of us do is to complain, criticize the government and that is where it ends. But we never realize the need to take responsibility for Nigeria’s future. Someone has to rise to the occasion. And that person is you!
Mahatma Gandhi, the man that secured independence for India, said “Be the change you want to see in the world”. Right where you live, work or school, you can make a refreshing difference. You can be a positive influencer. Make efforts to fight the monster of corruption on your own. Nigeria has a bright future! We are the future of Nigeria! I want you to believe that the dry bones of Nigeria will rise again, when human responsibility meets with divine intervention!
At the beginning, I made reference to Toyin Subair, the HiTV boss. Do you know you can surpass his achievements? You can be one of the best things that will happen to Nigeria. But you’ve got to take responsibility for your future. Taking responsibility can mean building your capacity for opportunity. Nigeria is surprisingly a land of opportunities! Taking responsibility could mean taking self – development seriously; reading good books, attending self – development programs, listening to tapes/audio CDs and other resources.
Michael Angier, in an article titled “Top Ten Things to Think About If You Want to Change the World” said “Take personal responsibility. Never think "it's not my job". It's a cop-out to say, "What can I do, I'm only one person." You don't need everyone's cooperation or anyone's permission to make changes. Remember this little gem, "If it's to be, it's up to me."
Recently, I was listening to sage Sam Adeyemi of Daystar Christian Centre, and I had a fresh perception of what taking responsibility could mean. It can mean working towards the vision of a New Nigeria, where corruption has died out, where people are value -driven, not money – driven and where our leaders are really out to serve the interests of the people. It can mean working towards the vision of a New Nigeria, where corruption has died out, where people are value -driven, not money – driven and where our leaders are really out to serve the interests of the people.
For a country like Nigeria, whose youth age bracket is put at 18 – 35 years, youths account for 48% of the population. We represent the most virile and articulate, we constitute the workforce and partners in the implementation of policies geared towards peace and development in every society.
Like Mahatma Gandhi did in India, you and I can bring about a positive revolution in Nigeria, just by taking responsibility. The siddon-look attitude adopted by most of us over the years has not helped matters. I think it would be nice if I end this piece with an insightful statement from Thomas Jefferson, one of the founding fathers of America. He said; “What is in individual glory, when his community is in peril”.
Two words more: Take responsibility!
Idowu Omisore, MRS = Motivation+Relationship+Self-development
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