NIGERIA: HOPE OF A NEW DAWN
By Abdulwarees Solanke
(Being a presentation to The Moral Ambassadors/Crusaders Group Platform)
I have been called upon to elaborate on HOPE. something that is open in definition and in common everyday use. *I hope to..* . *I have hope in…* *I’m hopeful of…* *I’m full of hope that….*
In the perspective of grammarians, hope is either used as verb, as a noun or as an adverb relating to what one wants achieve in the future one’s expectation of the future, desire, faith, aspiration, expectation, prospect, promise and conviction for or about the future.
So discussing HOPE in these context would mean we have come to an awareness that something is amiss somewhere in our lives and we now long to redress that deficiency and return to a noble past or that we are supposed to be somewhere but held down by certain forces which prevent us from reaching that height.
Our longing to be unshackled from the restraining forces, our aspirations aspiration or expectation to put behind our odious and uninspiring past to progress to an endearing future therefore represents our HOPE.
Consequently. I will be looking at HOPE from perspective of FOUR VARIANTS. The first variant is that of PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT. As individuals, what is our appreciation of our past or background? Is it something to be proud of? Is it rosy? If not do we want to continue in its uninspiring form? Do we desire for a change or improvement? What type of change? Our desire, aspiration or expectation of the future represents our HOPE in this regard
The second variant of HOPE is PUBLIC BEHAVIOURAL, SYSTEMIC and INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE. Here, we have to raise questions on our public morality and behaviour, conduct, order or processes. Are we satisfied?
So, our aspiration, expectation, hope is that public morality improves, that there is change in the perception that our systems, processes and institutions yhat are non-performing to be performance driven, corruption free,
The Third variant of HOPE may be spiritual in nature. It’s about redemption, the HOPE of meeting God, the hope of being accepted for Gods mercies despite your past shortcomings, despite your iniquities. Applying this to our public life, we get an impression that despite the malaise, there is hope of being a partaker in the kingdom
The last variant is the hope of national rebirth and progress. Here we can romanticise about the prospects a fresh start, a new beginning, an inspiring future.
WHAT INSPIRES HOPE?
Hope or expectation is not built on emptiness. Because hope is also about, certainty, faith, about assurance of a future, confidence, there are certain values that powers or gives hope the first of which is what was possible or achieved in the past. Second is the prospects or promises, or possibilities given the experiences of others, learning from others in similar situations and following their footsteps.
Other factors that inspire hope is the depth and originality of plan outlined to address a public issue or problem. This is in terms of policies, programmes, projects and initiatives, the implementation. Equally. the extent of engagement. Aligned to this is the faith in those operating or implementing the programme. It is their knowledge or education, experience, expertise and their integrity or credibility. When the best foot is put forward on any issue, we have a guarantee that something good will come from it which is also about the guarantee we have on the basis of the aforesaid.
Hope is also built on currency of performance. In short is built on what was, what is and what will be because of evidence we see, experience we have and what we see or learnt from others in similar circumstances like us and were successful ultimately.
ABC OF HOPE: What hope gives. Let me just itemise them simply. There is a Yoruba saying, Baoku ise o tan. Once we’re alive, it’s never the end. Hope is a value that inspires in one *A: ability and assurance.*
Hope is a value of life that instill in man a degree of *B: Boldness to trudge on in the face of odds*
It imbues in one *C: confidence of some level.*
Because of these ABC, one is led *D: Discover.*
he
It is something that *E: enhances Energy*
and nurtures *F,: Faith ultimately leading to fortune* and *G: Grace,* consequently *H: Health* and *I: improvement because it is a value that thrives on inspiration*
. And the one with Inspiration will not lack in *good J: Judgement*
For me, I have hope in Nigerria. In fact, I recently argued that we should change Nigeria to New Graceland Republic (NGR) because of the hope, prospects, fortune, possibilities, the riches, the untapped resources. All we need in Nigeria is to trigger a new consciousness of pride, faith and love for the country which will see us reclaiming our Destiny of Greatness.
We are country of talents: look at our ability as a people, look at the creativity of our people, see how our diversity can become our strength and see the productivity of our countrymen elsewhere, dictating the pace of everyday life wherever they find themselves.
Second: look at the magnitude or abundance of resources we’re blessed with and more are still being discovered.
Let me end my discourse on HOPE narrowing it down to the Hope we should all have in Nigeria
We see this even in the names we give our children
They are all anchored on our hope.
Therefore, aligned to Hope is FAITH.
We see this in choices and decisions we make.
The Final thought on HOPE is the spirituality of Nigerians. Nigerians are generally God loving. We see this in our devotion. We see this in our prayers.
To have HOPE, you must have preparation or plan in the consciousness that you’re sowing for the future, because Hope is a futuristic value.
In all circumstances of life, if we must succeed, we must first do the needful I enumerated in the beginning of this discourse. Hope has a basis. Hope must has feet to stand on. Hope is not wishful thinking.
He who is not hopeful loses faith. He who loses hope loses motivation.
He who has no motivation cannot achieve.
Another value we must understand that aligns with HOPE is patience.
With the abundance of our talents in Nigeria, I have hope that we can achieve greatness
Let me say here that HOPE is POSSIBILITY.
Hope is not built on emptiness. Hope only valid if you’ve done something great before and the experience of the past can be replicated all things being equa.
I have hope that we can return to our glorious past in Nigeria.
I HAVE THE CONFIDENCE AND THE ASSURANCE THAT WITH WHAT WE ARE BLESSED WITH NIGERIA IS THE NEW DESTINATION. WELCOME TO THE *NEW GRACELAND REPUBLIC* *(NGR)*
I have THE HOPE THAT THIS GIANT CALLED NIGERIA WILL RISE AND SHINE TO THE GLORY OF GOD.
I also have HOPE that we can regain or RECOVER what we have lost before if we work hard like before.
By Abdulwarees Solanke
(Being a presentation to The Moral Ambassadors/Crusaders Group Platform)
I have been called upon to elaborate on HOPE. something that is open in definition and in common everyday use. *I hope to..* . *I have hope in…* *I’m hopeful of…* *I’m full of hope that….*
In the perspective of grammarians, hope is either used as verb, as a noun or as an adverb relating to what one wants achieve in the future one’s expectation of the future, desire, faith, aspiration, expectation, prospect, promise and conviction for or about the future.
So discussing HOPE in these context would mean we have come to an awareness that something is amiss somewhere in our lives and we now long to redress that deficiency and return to a noble past or that we are supposed to be somewhere but held down by certain forces which prevent us from reaching that height.
Our longing to be unshackled from the restraining forces, our aspirations aspiration or expectation to put behind our odious and uninspiring past to progress to an endearing future therefore represents our HOPE.
Consequently. I will be looking at HOPE from perspective of FOUR VARIANTS. The first variant is that of PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT. As individuals, what is our appreciation of our past or background? Is it something to be proud of? Is it rosy? If not do we want to continue in its uninspiring form? Do we desire for a change or improvement? What type of change? Our desire, aspiration or expectation of the future represents our HOPE in this regard
The second variant of HOPE is PUBLIC BEHAVIOURAL, SYSTEMIC and INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE. Here, we have to raise questions on our public morality and behaviour, conduct, order or processes. Are we satisfied?
So, our aspiration, expectation, hope is that public morality improves, that there is change in the perception that our systems, processes and institutions yhat are non-performing to be performance driven, corruption free,
The Third variant of HOPE may be spiritual in nature. It’s about redemption, the HOPE of meeting God, the hope of being accepted for Gods mercies despite your past shortcomings, despite your iniquities. Applying this to our public life, we get an impression that despite the malaise, there is hope of being a partaker in the kingdom
The last variant is the hope of national rebirth and progress. Here we can romanticise about the prospects a fresh start, a new beginning, an inspiring future.
WHAT INSPIRES HOPE?
Hope or expectation is not built on emptiness. Because hope is also about, certainty, faith, about assurance of a future, confidence, there are certain values that powers or gives hope the first of which is what was possible or achieved in the past. Second is the prospects or promises, or possibilities given the experiences of others, learning from others in similar situations and following their footsteps.
Other factors that inspire hope is the depth and originality of plan outlined to address a public issue or problem. This is in terms of policies, programmes, projects and initiatives, the implementation. Equally. the extent of engagement. Aligned to this is the faith in those operating or implementing the programme. It is their knowledge or education, experience, expertise and their integrity or credibility. When the best foot is put forward on any issue, we have a guarantee that something good will come from it which is also about the guarantee we have on the basis of the aforesaid.
Hope is also built on currency of performance. In short is built on what was, what is and what will be because of evidence we see, experience we have and what we see or learnt from others in similar circumstances like us and were successful ultimately.
ABC OF HOPE: What hope gives. Let me just itemise them simply. There is a Yoruba saying, Baoku ise o tan. Once we’re alive, it’s never the end. Hope is a value that inspires in one *A: ability and assurance.*
Hope is a value of life that instill in man a degree of *B: Boldness to trudge on in the face of odds*
It imbues in one *C: confidence of some level.*
Because of these ABC, one is led *D: Discover.*
he
It is something that *E: enhances Energy*
and nurtures *F,: Faith ultimately leading to fortune* and *G: Grace,* consequently *H: Health* and *I: improvement because it is a value that thrives on inspiration*
. And the one with Inspiration will not lack in *good J: Judgement*
For me, I have hope in Nigerria. In fact, I recently argued that we should change Nigeria to New Graceland Republic (NGR) because of the hope, prospects, fortune, possibilities, the riches, the untapped resources. All we need in Nigeria is to trigger a new consciousness of pride, faith and love for the country which will see us reclaiming our Destiny of Greatness.
We are country of talents: look at our ability as a people, look at the creativity of our people, see how our diversity can become our strength and see the productivity of our countrymen elsewhere, dictating the pace of everyday life wherever they find themselves.
Second: look at the magnitude or abundance of resources we’re blessed with and more are still being discovered.
Let me end my discourse on HOPE narrowing it down to the Hope we should all have in Nigeria
We see this even in the names we give our children
They are all anchored on our hope.
Therefore, aligned to Hope is FAITH.
We see this in choices and decisions we make.
The Final thought on HOPE is the spirituality of Nigerians. Nigerians are generally God loving. We see this in our devotion. We see this in our prayers.
To have HOPE, you must have preparation or plan in the consciousness that you’re sowing for the future, because Hope is a futuristic value.
In all circumstances of life, if we must succeed, we must first do the needful I enumerated in the beginning of this discourse. Hope has a basis. Hope must has feet to stand on. Hope is not wishful thinking.
He who is not hopeful loses faith. He who loses hope loses motivation.
He who has no motivation cannot achieve.
Another value we must understand that aligns with HOPE is patience.
With the abundance of our talents in Nigeria, I have hope that we can achieve greatness
Let me say here that HOPE is POSSIBILITY.
Hope is not built on emptiness. Hope only valid if you’ve done something great before and the experience of the past can be replicated all things being equa.
I have hope that we can return to our glorious past in Nigeria.
I HAVE THE CONFIDENCE AND THE ASSURANCE THAT WITH WHAT WE ARE BLESSED WITH NIGERIA IS THE NEW DESTINATION. WELCOME TO THE *NEW GRACELAND REPUBLIC* *(NGR)*
I have THE HOPE THAT THIS GIANT CALLED NIGERIA WILL RISE AND SHINE TO THE GLORY OF GOD.
I also have HOPE that we can regain or RECOVER what we have lost before if we work hard like before.
