Our literature, films, and art must be intentional to introduce positive role models from diverse ethnic backgrounds. We need more stories portraying characters who overcome challenges and contribute positively to society. Our stories need to inspire us to believe in the potential for individual and collective growth… Our stories must go beyond highlighting problems to proposing solutions and depicting the nation’s progress. It is by envisioning a future where Nigeria thrives economically, politically, and socially, that our stories can instill a sense of optimism
OCTOBER 1 was Nigeria’s 63rd independence anniversary and a friend wryly commented about the muted celebration and sense of inertia that filled the air. It was a comment that stayed with me a while. I think there is a sense in which we are all disappointed by the progress we have made as a nation on many fronts – economically, politically and developmentally. We all recognize what rampaging corruption in every sector has done to our economy. We recognize what havoc our culture of consumption and profligate spending has wrought. We recognize how poor and unambitious leadership has stalled progress. We recognize that 20 years into our democratic March we are still unable to hold a free and fair election. But the real humdinger of it all is that 63 years since independence Nigerians still identify by their ethnic nationalities first before their citizenship as Nigerians. It is the greatest failure of our arts and culture eco-system that somehow we have failed to foreshadow this reality in our storytelling expressions. It is criminal negligence of all our public intellectuals, writers, visual artists, musicians, poets and everyone who works in our creative ecosystem.
Patriotism and love of country are products of clear and intentional imagination engineering. It is the most vital engineering project of any society because without love of country the impulse will not be there to serve it, to dedicate your talents to improve it, to defend it and to wish its prosperity. When America’s President John F. Kennedy declared at his inauguration in 1960 ‘ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country’ he was pulling the levers of imagination engineering. The very consequence of our negligence to craft a narrative that paints a picture of our vision for Nigeria beyond obtuse propaganda jingles on NTA, is what we see online and on our social Media highways. Young Nigerians speaking of their country in the third person. They denigrate and dismiss its possibilities even without really knowing it well. To japa or emigrate has become the sole life success plan of many. And worse yet, no one seems to care about raping Nigeria of its resources especially if the criminal happens to be our friend or from our tribe. The problem is that we have creative storytellers who are absent of vision or a sense of historical significance. Our storytellers reinforce the negative profiles of our country by lazily documenting and mirroring what we already see in real life. Our books, poetry, films and music are often more a lamentation of what we lack, not a visioning of what we can have. And therein lies our failure as a creative community. Successful nations are great first and foremost because their storytellers engineer that impression intentionally. A black President in America was not a possibility until novels and films imprinted it with strong black characters in that role. The seed of possibilities is what makes imagination engineering such a powerful tool of nation-building. Nigeria must demand more from its creative industries than entertainment. Our creatives are public intellectuals and influencers. If the limit of their understanding of the power of their art is just personal wealth and the manipulation of their influence for personal gain only, then the success of Nollywood or our afrobeats music is hollow. It is a job to do at 63 years of independence to have such a deeply divided nation with so many of our youth population proudly standing as ethnic jingoists. The fight for their hearts and mind is real. And our storytellers must commit to do battle to save what is left of this nation’s pride and future.
Our creative minds can play a pivotal role in fostering a sense of belief and envisioning a stronger, more homogeneous society. Instead of reinforcing ethnic divides, storytellers can focus on narratives that celebrate Nigeria’s rich cultural diversity while emphasizing our shared humanity. By weaving stories that highlight commonalities across ethnic groups, we foster a sense of unity that transcends tribal boundaries.
Our literature, films, and art must be intentional to introduce positive role models from diverse ethnic backgrounds. We need more stories portraying characters who overcome challenges and contribute positively to society. Our stories need to inspire us to believe in the potential for individual and collective growth.
Biggest of all we need to shift the narrative from what we lack to what we can achieve. Our stories must go beyond highlighting problems to proposing solutions and depicting the nation’s progress. It is by envisioning a future where Nigeria thrives economically, politically, and socially, that our stories can instill a sense of optimism. Of course it is fine to highlight the socioeconomic issues plaguing the nation, but it can be done with a focus on resilience, innovation, and community-driven solutions. Art can be a powerful tool for shedding light on problems while inspiring collective efforts to address them.
Our country needs heroes. So we must engineer stories that emphasize the importance of civic responsibility and active participation in nation-building. Whether through literature, films, or art, we need to portray characters who take pride in contributing to their communities and country. And truth be told, we have a highly populated country with a struggling educational system so there is need to Infuse educational elements into entertainment. Films and books can subtly convey historical and cultural lessons, fostering a deeper understanding of our shared heritage. To prosper Nigeria needs more informed and enlightened citizenry.
And we will need to leverage technology to reach the very spaces where counter-narratives exist currently. Online platforms, social media, and virtual experiences must be targeted to disseminate positive narratives. And we will need collaboration among writers, filmmakers, visual artists, musicians, and other creatives. A multidisciplinary approach can create a more comprehensive and impactful storytelling experience, amplifying positive messaging. Nigeria’s storytellers hold the power to shape perceptions and inspire collective action. At 63, Nigeria is a nation in dire need of hope and much faith in its future. We need imagination engineering that is consciously steering narratives toward positivity, unity, and a shared vision for a better future. Our creative community must be front and center of that. The time is now for Nigeria’s storytellers to embrace their role as architects of hope and catalysts for change.
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