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Hiya! Just a quick intro :) I lived in Nigeria for more than half of my life (so far) before moving to England and I have seen the best and the worst of both worlds. I was greatly inspired by the #OccupyNigeria protests and this blog is my way of #occupying. A lot of us compare African countries to the Western countries and I will mainly be talking about the positive things that I have observed and learnt in my few years of living here. Payme’s 2Cents is for all who dare to dream to see changes in their lifetime. It is for those who dream to see environments where 'helping' thrives. I will be giving my2cents worth on how we can work towards getting things to change for better. It would be great to know your opinions, so please leave comments. Remember to keep sharing posts that you enjoy. Follow @payme_my2cents. Thanks a lot for visiting!!! Enjoy my2cents :).

Saturday 17 March 2012

Remember To Be Scared

"The test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children."    Dietrich Bonhoeffer    

How many times have you been told to live for the moment? I think we focus so much on forgetting the past and living in the moment that we actually forget the future – the future of our kids, of our brothers and sisters, our future. Seemingly negative emotions can be beneficial when used to kick start positive actions; the trick is to not let the emotions rule you. 

Let’s talk about FEAR!


Anybody that is truly afraid of failure in the future would sit tight and plan now. I think we lack fear. Family is the bedrock of the society so I would like to start with it. 

Do parents remember that they would not be aged 30 to 50 forever and that soon enough, they would have to depend on their children for basic needs, like food, shelter, money, healthcare etc.? To the ones that are too busy to help their children with homework, the ones that allow society and their televisions raise their children – if they could picture themselves in some years hungry and alone with no responsible child to care about their needs, would their priorities change? 

The society women in our streets who can afford to wear at least 3 aso-egbes in a month while their children are in public or even private schools without books – if they could remember that they would not always be able to work to earn their living and that soon enough, their new wears will go out of fashion, would their priorities change? Should anything suddenly happen to them, are their children’s futures secured or would they only have tons of used clothes and shoes to stare at? 

The fathers spending their hard earned money on drinks and mistresses while their families live on almost nothing, the ones whose sole interests are in their cars and other material possessions, the ones who are not showing their children what real men are like – if they could picture having daughters in miserable relationships that deplete them mentally, financially, morally etc., if they could picture sons who know nothing about character or commitment, sons who cannot keep jobs, would their priorities change?

To the youths who have let go of their dreams and continually choose to ignore their conscience, the ones who think they would be in their 20s forever – if they could picture bringing their children into the kind of world they are creating, would their priorities change?

Do government officials remember power shifts? Do they realise that there would be a time when they would retire and be at the mercy of ignored youths? Do they remember that their seeds would always be Nigerians? Are all politicians’ and civil servants’ children abroad and for how long will the rich ones in Nigeria be able to pay their way through? Can the fear of tomorrow force them to change the state of our educational system?

Increasing numbers of youths are leaving Nigeria in search of better education and greener pastures. Sadly, not all return with the same connection to their roots. Most obtain certificates that are more valued than the Nigerian ones. They get in power and start making policies that only work on paper and cause heartaches for the masses. If the standard of education in Nigeria is improved, there will be a good BALANCE between policy-making leaders who grew up in Nigeria and the ones raised abroad. This way, whenever policies are being made, we will have well-educated leaders from both ends involved and we would not end up being saddled with policies that are unrealistic for the citizens’ daily lives.

There is hope for Nigeria if we can get our priorities right. Focus on the children before they are formed and fixed with certain ways of life. Our parents, youths and government need to stop being so short-sighted.

Please be scared of tomorrow!!!





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19 comments:

Mr Kabal said...

Great write up as always.

Anonymous said...

True talk sweeetie!!

Anonymous said...

i cudnt agree more!

Anonymous said...

Payme the writer, interesting write-up i must say, though it covers one side of the coin if you ask me. I believe that fear for the future should not be the main motive for parents to educate their kids (though it is an advantage) but they should also know that it is their moral and societal obligation to equip that which they have brought fought for the proper future that lies ahead. For one if i may quote, the bible (for those that believe) says that train your child in the path that is right that yee may have peace (and live long) in the days of your old age, I for one happen to come from an ethnic (ikorodu to say) of people whom a weekend cannot pass without a party with lots of wasted resources while yet their children waste away at home (also learning to adopt this type of lifestyle), but thank God for me, I chose a family that knew better than that, lol. but my arguement and the other side to this story comes when I come to think of it and see people who out of nothingness (mind not my english) struggle day in - day out to send their kids to school, (even if it is public school), watch and wait patiently in hope while the child spends 6-7 years in university for a course of 4years, and only to graduate and be out to a market of no job and also still being a liability to the family after all this education or end up being killed while on the so called "service of the fatherland", now tell me, where is the real fear? take for example, a pepper seller, who barely make enough to sustain the family and the children only but serve as a helping hand to help hawk and bring money home, now you preach this message, with her having knowledge of what was just described above, I am pretty sure it will be hard to convince such people.
Definitely we need a change, that is most certain, but what pose the main question to me is, where to begin? Africa or to say, Nigeria is one of the most religious nation in the world solely guided (and unfortunate to say also "misleaded") by their faith. for a good future we need to collectively desire a change, for a change, we need to change our orientation (how? begin from religion, churches, mosques etc, teach people on what is right, to stand up for their rights and for a better society) not by taking a certain percentage of their bearly enough to survive on cash to build massive schools of which their children cannot even attend because they cant afford it. Good education is far becoming a luxury for those that can afford it and God save Nigeria from a going back to a retarded nation if the trend continues. Payme, if you can show this people, the key reward and a society where children they educate, comes of better in the society with good jobs and others, (show them an example) i am sure they need not to be told before they follow suit. Keep up your great write-up, shows you are exploring and opening your mind to things of our community. Have a blessed week.

Payme said...

Fear sure is only one of many ways to get people to get their priorities right. Please check my other blog posts and you will see that I talk about different means of doing this. Thanks for reading :)

Payme said...

Thanks for reading :)

Payme said...

Thanks for reading :)

Payme said...

Thanks for reading :)

Anonymous said...

I just sent of your article('Faux Naija) to one of my big brother in america.D guy is a genius too.Im waiting for his response thou.Keep it up.I just like the article I will keep pushing it forward for everyone to see it.

Anonymous said...

payme Im back with my brother response

01:15
Read it already...it's very interesting and a 'call a spade a spade' article that expose our messed-up society, the one that idolize the leaders that deserve being lynched. i agree with her message, we ain't going nowhere until we are able to curb the excesses of the embezzlement and corruptive practices. Was that your 'Kunle' she was referring to or just a coincidence?(you can see ur article is international standard)I sent it to one of my serving senator friend too)once again keep it up

Oluwafunke Ijabiken said...

Very Insightful!!

Anonymous said...

Great write up sis.

Payme said...

Thank you :). Please click on the link at the end of the article and comment + share for the article to win.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Payme, we should all know that fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. and this goes a long way to sort out issues even here on earth.

ibikunlegabreiloladimeji said...

I don't ₪☺ what to say asregards to your article. Bcos you are always bitting my imagination. Great wright up U̶̲̥̅̊ are always  point

Abolade Akintunde said...

Absolutely supportive of it all, only if people understand what the present does to the future

odeshina bola said...

if only we'l read and rectify our ways...d same leaders we complain abt are products of our society. They r random samples of us thus a true reflection of us.....

Photizo Desola said...

If we'd all remember to be scared, we might truly be driven to create a little bit more sane environment for our progeny. Its not like we actually lack fear,ℓ̊ think we have not channelled that emotion rightly. Water can be destructive but if properly engaged,it can generate power. We need to stop utilising our fear of whatz to come and fear of †нє unknown to a driving force to make this world better. Whatever you refuse to do now might not affect you but what tells you it won't affect your progeny? Thank you Payme.

drerhumu said...

I think its a Chinese adage which says we should all plant trees which we have no intention of sitting under. Unfortunately, our leaders and generation are not preparing for the next generation.