By Babajide Akran The pages of Nigeria’s history glow with the brilliance of our leaders and elders in their prime, trailblazers whose sacr...
By Babajide Akran
The pages of Nigeria’s history glow with the brilliance of our leaders and elders in their prime, trailblazers whose sacrifices and vision carved the foundations of our communities and nation. From the fierce battles for independence to the bold strides in building our early republic, their contributions were monumental, etched in the hearts of a grateful people. They were the architects of hope, the engineers of progress, and their legacy still stands tall. But let us face the stark truth with courage: Change is the heartbeat of existence, an unrelenting force that sweeps away yesterday’s blueprints when they no longer fit today’s world. The strategies and mindsets that once liberated us are now relics, out of sync with a generation wired for speed, tech, and innovation.
We now live in the era of a smart, tech-savvy generation, Gen Z and we millennials, who navigate apps, AI, and global digital ecosystems as effortlessly as we breathe. We dream in algorithms, trade in cryptocurrencies, and organize movements on social media. Yet, too many of our leaders remain tethered to an analog past, wielding outdated ideas like a blacksmith in a 3D-printing lab. Shockingly, most of today’s leaders can barely operate their smartphones properly, fumbling with basic apps or struggling to send a WhatsApp message. Many can’t even use computers efficiently, relying on aides to manage emails or spreadsheets. And these are the people steering our nation? In a world where governance demands data dashboards, e-voting systems, and cybersecurity savvy, this digital illiteracy is not just a gap, it’s a chasm that cripples our progress. Policies crafted in the 80s cannot govern a nation racing toward 2030, where fintech like Paystack and agritech startups are redefining wealth. Clinging to obsolete methods is like running Windows 95 on a quantum computer, slow, glitchy, and doomed to crash.
This isn’t just a critique; it’s a clarion call. The world has shifted. Rwanda digitizes its courts, Kenya pioneers mobile money, yet Nigeria’s leaders often lag, stuck in manual mode while the youth code the future. Philosophically, leadership is not a static crown but a relay race, passing the baton to those who can sprint with the times. History teaches us this: From Steve Jobs rebooting Apple with relentless innovation to Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew blending discipline with tech-forward governance, adaptation is the soul of impact. We the Nigeria’s youth, over 70% of our population, are a goldmine of potential, building apps, mastering blockchain, and dreaming of green energy. But we need leaders who can keep up, not slow us down. Imagine the tragedy: A nation of digital natives governed by those who can’t navigate a Google search.
Provocatively, I ask: Are our leaders unknowingly scripting our stagnation by refusing to evolve? If they can’t operate a smartphone, how can they grasp the complexities of a digital economy or cybersecurity threats? The disconnect breeds policies that choke innovation, frustrate youth, and widen inequality. Yet, there’s hope.
Fellow Nigerians, the future isn’t knocking, it’s breaking down the door. Our elders’ past glories are gold, but they must alloy them with today’s tech-driven steel. To we youths, let's rise and collaborate, not just criticize. To our leaders, learn, unlearn, and relearn, your smartphone is a start, not a summit. Nigeria deserves current, capable stewards who honor history but code tomorrow. The clock ticks, and the world won’t wait. Let’s debug our leadership and compile a future that roars with progress.
BSA CARES
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