What is the Nigerian dream?

Amidst the hectic daily schedule, and living the American dream, I am gradually learning how to find a balance and make out time to read about some burning issues in the mainstream. Just incase you are wondering what I mean by the American dream, some people define it as the process of sleeping, working and paying bills while others define it as a system that allows you the freedom to do what you want…

However, a quick research shows that James Truslow Adams, a writer and historian, first used the term in his book The Epic of America (1931). According to him, the American Dream is "that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position."

Perhaps this explains the reason why thousands of people struggle to defile all odds to come to the States, to embrace the perceived American dream. But it is not always served on a platter of gold. You have to apply yourself to achieve anything. In a nutshell, the same basic principle of life applies here too—there is no food for lazy man. One of the main differences is that the hustle is more polished. And it is easy to get distracted if you do not keep your eyes on the ball.

Meanwhile, everyone seems to have vibrant viewpoints and blue prints of what they think the New Nigeria should be. But today, I was just wondering if the Nigerian dream exists. If yes, what is it? Someone say reading the Nigerian anthem (1st and 2nd stanza) will give us a clue of the harmonious dream.

Many young people have high aspirations, one of which includes leaving the country to live their Nigerian dream outside the shores of the country. But a dream is a dream anywhere, whether in the US or Nigeria, it takes absolute committal and focus to accomplish them. It is possible to maximize one’s potential as long as we hold on to our God-given Purpose and allow it be our driving-force. "What a man can be, he must be", but not to the detriment of others.