Nigeria’s Missing Points of Achieving National Development
By Zaharaddeen Muhammed
To people especially not on the realm of social science, Development and Economic growth appears to be synonymous, but technically, they are two different interrelated concepts.
Economic growth when associated with the state, it means a term use to refer to an increase in nation’s gross demostic product (GDP) while, development entails the utilization of these resources for general well-being of the people.
In countries like Nigeria, more emphasis is placed upon economic growth which has less effect on the lives of Nigerian populace, more probably, it is because the fruits of revenue being generated which represents economic growth is enjoyed and has more impact on the lives of those in power.
Development is multidimensional and multisectoral, a such, it shouldn’t be restricted to single dimension.
More emphasis on achieving economic growth while neglecting other segments of development remains one of the reasons why most of the efforts towards achieving national development fails to yield positive result due to the fact that development being a people-centered activity has to be seen and treated beyond expansion of National income or wealth, but improvement of real situations of the people.
The first step towards achieving national development includes cultural transformation and inculcation of positive social values that lead to attainment of development, says;
Rationalization of thought, culture, traditional values and religious practices, improved learning culture and many more so that to suit with the needed efforts towards achieving development.
For this, education which is inline with industrial requirements mixed with patriotism, discipline, honesty and other positive values is needed.
To measure whether we are set for development, you ask yourself that, what is the status and quality of our educational sector? Are citizens patriotic? What will be the future of our workforce? and many more related questions because, a country that fails to give citizens opportunity to develop themselves and become responsible and optimistic to avoid self-destructive movements from the side of neglected citizens which will end up destroying and thwarting all efforts designed to achieve the development as done by several sets of mobs in Nigeria.
Both moral and material requirements are imperative aspects of development, and, for us to develop we have to first sanitize our hearts and intensify our efforts towards the attainment of the development and uphold positive values like; patriotism, loyalty, honesty, community service etc.
Zaharaddeen Muhammed writes from Avicenna science academy, Azare, Bauchi state and could be reached via [email protected]
