The Nigeria We See

A Fully Functional Educational System

The most urgent challenge that most schools in Nigeria face is inadequate funding at the federal, state and local government levels. In 2017, the entire sector received an allocation much lower than the United Nations 25% (of the national budget) recommendation. Add the incessant strikes, unstable curriculum, inadequate and sometimes poorly qualified teachers, and lack of appropriate infrastructure and teaching aids, and what you have is an educational sector that is a shadow of its former self and not even close to the best in the world.

While several students from other African countries school in Nigeria, according to the UNESCO Institute of Statistics (UIS), the number of Nigerian students abroad increased by 164 percent between 2005 and 2015.

At PFF, we know that first-rate education acts as a superior socio-economic bridge builder; the Nigeria we see has more teachers with core competencies use proven teaching methodologies to deliver top-tier quality training. All children including those in humanitarian dilemmas have timely and sustained access to good education, and the government at all levels prioritizes the educational sector in the annual budget, supports its development till the quality of education offered in our schools, stand shoulder to shoulder with the best in the world.

A Robust & Reliable Healthcare System

You may add subsidized to that. But for now, we’d take a substantial increase (100%) in the number of fully equipped hospitals, pharmacies, and adequately trained, adequately incentivized doctors and nurses. The future of over 180 million people and 2% of the world’s population will be much more secure if we had confidence that every time you got sick, you were guaranteed of premium healthcare at par with the best in any part of the world. The effects of the increase in productive capacity as a result of healthier people cannot be overemphasized, the Nigeria we see is a healthy and happy place.

And yes at some point this will not only be subsidized but made free so even the lowest income earners among us have access to the best healthcare money can buy.

nigerian healthcare

A Place Where Businesses Thrive

No, not just a change in the usual indices of economic prosperity; growth in GDP and per capita GDP, reduction in unemployment and lower inflation rate, etc. All these will be a welcome development, but more importantly, a vibrant business environment where the private sector, the engine room of economic buoyancy thrives without roadblocks.

Fitted with the necessary tools, correct regulatory policies, up-to-date infrastructure so a simple breakfast business does not close down after six months, as a result of crippling overheads, and a transport business does not take years to become profitable because of heavy maintenance costs to vehicles as a result of bad roads.

Zero Crime

Yes you read that right!

Picture a highly trained Nigeria Police Force equipped with the latest crime detection tools, earning above subsistence salary and compensated with welfare packages. Maybe crime prevention on a massive scale and its long-term reduction are not so far-fetched. Not to be unduly simplistic about the cause and effects of socio-economic policies, we know a lot of other factors come into play to guarantee a country so safe you can leave your door unlocked to go get groceries. A responsible judicial system, reduction in income inequality, robust welfare and social security system for all, up-to-date data collection on all residents of the country, full functioning adjacent crime control agencies, etc. all contribute to the safety of the average Nigerian, but then, so what?

We roll up our sleeves and get to work. But to pretend our lives cannot be much safer and protected that at present, is a full blown exercise in self-deceit.

A Reliable Social Security/Welfare System

The underprivileged among us do not have to lead miserable lives.

Even the most prosperous economies have segments of the population on the low income earning spectrum but government-funded food, health, education, and shelter provisions bridge the gap.

The Prince Fadipe Foundation (PFF) and a whole lot of other non-profits are devoted to this portion of our populace, but the bewildering increase in the number is why we never seem to catch up. Robust welfare and social security packages which do not only cater to the needy among us, but provides adequate relief for the displaced portion of our population, is a reality that we believe in, and we can all work towards.

A Truly Diverse Community

We’re not referring to just our multiple religions, over 250 tribes, and more than 500 languages. We are the 18th most ethnically diverse country in the world, this is beautiful and equally challenging.

However, what we dream of is a country where the Cultural, Intellectual and Socio-Economic Diversity of its rapid growing populace is well appreciated and fully expressed.

The multiplicity of our tribes, unique history, striking characteristics, and individual nuances have been over-flogged. What has not been given adequate attention, is how these multiple points of views can jointly contribute to a healthier, more balanced and productive way of interacting with nature and the productive use of our natural resources and creation of man-made potential. Is it not possible that our efforts to diversify our economy through a self-propelling agricultural sector will take off better with the non-polluting crop growing and harvesting practices unique to certain tribes and cultures?
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Our debating, strategy and policy making spheres should also welcome many kinds of thinking. From politicians, to business owners to civil service workers, careerists, tech innovators to the secondary school pupil; thoughts on our politics, educational system, global environmental challenges, gender equality efforts, should be a place for not just multiple voices but diverse thoughts and ways of thinking. Intellectual expressions should not end at just the introduction and debating of ideas, but it should spread to tangible and measurable changes in the quality of lives we live and the type of world we leave for those coming behind us.

The differences in our social and economic strata should tend towards a more equitably constructed society, creating thinner dividing lines between socio economic classes. To create a better connection between children from different backgrounds, our public schools and curriculum should be drastically reformed. This increases the chances of crossing over through generations and better interactions between the classes. When the government also makes policies or provides structures designed to improve the lives of Nigerians, it takes into consideration the unique needs of the upper, middle, and lower class populations and how they will be affected individually, and not just the population as a whole.

nigerian culture pff

Leaders We Can Trust

The devil is in corruption, but for once let’s have a lucid, intelligent conversation about it.

This does not affect only publicly elected leaders, but all authority figures and individuals in all spheres of human organization and interaction.

It affects you. The fight to end it also starts with you.

A simpler but more profound argument is that everybody from the LAWMA agent cleaning a busy Lagos road to the Senate leader, in charge of administrative control of the federal upper legislative chamber, are held to the same standards of integrity, diligence, and accountability. And the punishment in the event of a deviation from this does not get more lenient as you get closer to the top.

A place where the salary of a Senator is not 50 times the national average.

All these and more take COURAGE, DETERMINATION and LOADS OF HARD WORK. But it can be done. At PFF, we pledge to do our part and we hope you can join us. The Nigeria we see is a happy, safe and prosperous place. Get the picture yet?.

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Supported by family and friends passionate about not just giving a hand to the less fortunate but also helping them get back on their feet, the Prince Fadipe Foundation (PFF) was born.

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