THE MYSTERY OF NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION

 

A reasonable man adapts himself to the world, the unreasonable man tries to adapt the world to himself, but the most reasonable man creates his own world. In my opinion, the rotation of the sphere within which we live is constant; but the content, context, and conduct have drastically changed. The renowned management thinker and strategy innovator, Prof. Gary Hamel, argued and affirmed a fact with which I totally concur- “Change itself has changed!”

Conventional wisdom says that the right government will provide the efficiencies, information, good education, innovation and agility that will sustain and succeed the nation; but before our very eyes, this notion has acutely failed. Developed countries are trying to cut-cost as much as possible, while inflation is relentlessly skyrocketing; terrorism, natural disasters, religious and communal clashes triggered by patriotism has also become common experience.

However, in contrast to the accusing fingers pointing at leaders (positional occupants) as being responsible for most of the predicaments that has befallen nations and industries, I’ll rather argue that insufficient leadership ability is the major problem grappling with our world. Either evolution or revolution, none ever starts with a group, it oft starts with an individual. Leaders emerge, but leadership is emergent. The path to national transformation, as we can see in the 21^st century, is personal amelioration.

The socio-economic advancement of nations has denounced the conventional political route, and has become more effective on individuals, but synergized leadership abilities. Both corporate and community development have transcended the capacity and capability of politicians and lawmakers decision, and have become the shared leadership responsibility of every inhabitant of each community or industry.

Prioritizing and Focusing on personal development rather than the wide, complex, and enigmatic national transformation for the emergence of new product, ideas, innovation, technology, industry and national advancement has become more expedient and exigent. The economic boom that countries like America and Europe is thriving on, amidst every other thing, can be easily tied to the success of companies and individuals like Bill Gate (Microsoft), Steve jobs (Apple), Jack Welch (General Electric), Richard Branson (Virgin Airlines), like Intel Corporation, IKEA Furniture, Sears, Coca Cola, IBM and so on.

Our nation is crying out for leaders that model integrity, excellence, compassion and responsibility. This is our right as a people, however, this does not assuredly present us with the trouble-free, economic boom, and secure homeland we solely desire. Government can make policies, produce social infrastructures, and so on, but it is the people that eventually make change happen. The old truth and the new-age reality is that commitment to personal development is a pre-requisite to national development.

It is so pathetic that many of us have lost personal identity in our quest for the retrieval of national identity. My question is, can doing ever take the place of being? We have become driven individuals rather than called individuals. Doing is simply the reflection of our inner core. Who I am should dictate what I do, not the other way round. In other words, we are human beings not human doings. My concern now is not whether Nigeria is 52; my concern is what if a nation like Nigeria cannot change you, would you change the nation? Tell me, what is your contribution to the growth of our nation? As a nation, we are producing more wealth-distributors or consumers, than wealth-creators. This unarguably fact is a proof that Nigeria will never experience NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION without PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION.

While our leaders debate over allocation of resources and whether or not to print more money, I think it will be wise of us, if we truly crave the kind of change we profess, to begin to allocate the resources at our own disposal appropriately. Resources like choice to do the right thing and do things right, decision to vote the right person into office; time allocation to doing things that will position us as a solution provider rather than problem creators; relationships that challenge our potentials, and propel us to maximize out latent potentials.

When extrinsic factors inundates our intrinsic values; Circumstances become our compelling counselors, and our potential to become a world changer is changed by the world. Effectiveness is about “I am, therefore I do.” not “I do, therefore I am.” I have said all of that to say that personal development is the way, emphatically, the only way to national development. The wealth of every nation is a function of the quality and not the quantity of people living therein. It is not how much of people we have in the government, but how much of people with self-governance.

I strongly believe that personal transformation is the key to national revolution. The problem of our Nation is not about National influence but Personal influence. I hope we can focus more on the seed and not the fruit; when we pray for the seeds, the fruits can get better. Naija o ni baje o!!!