Welcome to I Am So Naija!!!

Yes oh! I am sooooo Naija, I just had to blog about it! You’re welcome to I Am So Naija!!!, a blog about everything Naija.

You know, just about everyone in the world these days, has got that a-land-of-corruption-violence-and-scammers impression about Nigeria, and this includes fellow Nigerians.

Truth is, everyone is right!

Apart from our consistently high rankings on lists of the most corrupt countries in the world, and our consistently low rankings on the charts of economic progress and development, Nigerians have continued to show the world that we are somewhat undeserving and ungrateful for the blessings bestowed upon ur land.

But that is Nigeria! Allow me to introduce to you, Naija!

What this blog is about is celebrating the Naija state of mind, as opposed to that of the Nigeria you once knew.

Now I know what you are thinking – “e be like say you don dey madt, abi!” (“you’ve gone nuts!”), but hear me out first, after which, you can decide to be more Naija, if you are a citizen of the land, or to have a more naija impression of the people of Naija, or you can decide to stick with the classical Nigerian mind set.

Nigeria vs Naija

Here are a few of the differences between Nigeria and Naija (according to my own perception oh!) starting from the two names.

·         Nigeria is the name given to us which we had no say about (and which I personally never did like – sounds like an offensive joke!). Naija as a name was born to the collective creativity of the people (plus it sounds beautiful and hip!).

·         Nigeria as a nation is the result of what the past generations have done with the blessings of the land. Naija is what the new generation is making out of what is left.

·         Nigeria is a land of corruption, violence and scammers. Naija is a land of possibility, responsibility, creativity and beautiful people!

Okay, I know I have exaggerated a bit on the extremes, plus I am very biased towards Naija, but why don’t you try living all your life in the said country and tell me what you would have written about the two ideas – Nigeria and Naija!

I can go on and on about the differences between Nigeria and Naija, but I think you’ve gotten the message.

There is one thing however that Nigeria and Naija have in common – us; the people of the land and we are the ones who will determine just what and where the nation will be in the coming years. Remember, the future is now!

So while Nigerians will remain 'Nigerian' on their passports (for the time being ;-)), my hope is that we will start to act, think and speak (not necessarily in that order) in a different way that will inevitably move the nation forward, i.e. the Naija way.

How Naija are you?

I Am Sooooooooooo Naija…!!!