A man of God that I have great respect for said sometimes sometimes ago that 'if you fail to change your environment that environment will change and choke you'. Relating this to what's currently happening in Nigeria, we would all agree that it is true. The decadence in every strata of the country is more than enough prove for this. And this is because the leaders have failed to change our country's status hence the crimes and corruption we see.

Nigeria which used to be the giant of Africa, the country flowing with milk and honey is now looking for a breathing space at least to survive. Let me talk a bit on the past achievement of this great nation

1. On the 1st of October 1960, Nigeria gained its independence from Great Britain and had its first indigenous constitution which is considered Nigeria’s greatest achievement.

1. In August 1963, Nigeria hosted the first-ever boxing world title event on the continent outside of then-apartheid South Africa.

2. Nojeem Maiyegun won Nigeria’s first Olympic medal(Bronze) at the 1964 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

3. 16th of July, 1966 Nigeria became the first Anglophone independent state in Africa to become an associate member of the European Economic Community

4. Since the 1970s till date, Nigeria remains the largest oil and gas producer in Africa

5. Nigeria spearheaded the creation of the ECOWAS Cease-fire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), as a regional peace-enforcement mechanism, which facilitated the resolution of the civil wars and the restoration of democracy to Liberia and Sierra Leone.

6. 15 Jan 1977 – 12 Feb 1977, Nigeria hosted the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture, popularly known as FESTAC 77

7. Nigeria won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1980 beating Algeria 3-0 to claim their first-ever African title

8. Nigeria pushed for the prevention and resolution of devastating conflicts that engulfed Liberia in 1992, which spilled over into Sierra Leone and other countries in the MANO River region.

9. Nigeria won Africa’s first Olympic gold medal in football at the  1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States. This famous achievement brought Nigerians together irrespective of ethnicity or tribe.

10. At the  1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States.  Multi-talented Chioma Ajunwa won the long jump gold medal at the 1996 Olympics, she became the first Nigerian, and first Black African woman, to win Olympic gold in a field event.

Source 

In the Mid 2000 Nigeria’s film industry ‘Nollywood’ became the World  second largest film producer in the world

1. Agbani Darego, a Nigerian model and beauty queen, was crowned Miss World in 2001. the first black African to do so.

2. In  September 2003 – Nigeria’s first satellite, NigeriaSat-1, was launched by a Russian rocket.

3. Nigeria provided leadership and enormous support to the United Nations peacekeeping missions in Congo and other countries, we were one of the first countries to provide troops in Liberia in 2003.

4. Nigeria also led the movement for the end of apartheid rule in Southern African countries, including South Africa,  Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

1. Nigeria was one of the major countries that ensure that democratic governments were restored to Guinea-Bissau, Cote d’Ivoire, and Sao Tome et Principe, after the military take-overs.

2. In 2014, Nigeria overtook South Africa to become the largest economy in Africa and since then we’ve been at the top.

3. Akinwumi Adesina, a Nigerian minister for agriculture and rural development, was  elected to head the AfDB in 2015, becoming the first Nigerian to assume the position, and was also re-elected for a second term of five years in August 2020.

4.  In March 2021, Damini Ogulu, aka Burna Boy, won the Best Global Music Album award for his album ‘Twice as Tall’, a first for a Nigerian as a solo artist.

5. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s former Finance minister was appointed the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2021. She is the first woman, first Nigerian, and first African to head the international organization, making her appointment a historic one.

6. Best And Largest Army
   Currently at 57 We possess the 4th best and largest military in Africa.

7. We Are Winning The War Against Polio
   Thanks to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and our federal government, polio has nearly been eradicated from the country.

List sources: https://www.nairaland.com/4762980/nigeria-58-top-10-things

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://rnn.ng/35-nigerias-famous-achievement-since-independence/%3Famp%3D1&ved=2ahUKEwjPpqTfwO32AhUE3xoKHZSQDD8QFnoECBIQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2cq597u7Sk65uzxd-R3XJf

All in all, Nigeria has had it glorious days. But today in this present day, the country can boast of little or no improvement or development. I can tell you with all sincerity that Nigerians are talented and compassionate; atleast facts from all around the world can bear witness, in the sense that Nigerians are very successful in these parts of the world. But our leaders and corruption as killed the ability for the country to develop and as rendered each and every citizen gasping for air in what was supposed to be a well ventilated atmosphere.

Conclusion

I know the glorious days will return, I am certain Nigeria's flag will blow with pride and dignity, I am sure the Nigerian pledge will be said with confidence and sincerity by her citizen. But then, 9ja needs you to make it happen. Peace.

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