Steemit Engagement challenge: share your thoughts about your country|| The 3C’s and the 3R’s by @merci26

Hello friends,

Welcome to my blog. I am super excited to be among this community. I am a Nigerian, and I feel like I am already in Pakistan just by joining this community😂.

Well, we are still in the spirit of Engagement challenge contest, and I am excited to share with you, the 3 things I love about my country as well as the 3 things I will like to change about my country, if I am given the opportunity, but before we start, let me take you down memory lane as to the origin of my great country Nigeria.

LITTLE STORY ABOUT NIGERIA

Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay

Nigeria is as old as Man. It’s origin dates back to the 5th centuries. I do not want to dive into the old Nigeria as I will not really end this post today. Let me talk about the modern Nigeria.

Nigeria got amalgamated in the year 1914 by Lord Fredrick lugard who joined the southern and the northern part of Nigeria in other to foster and promote unity. It’s independence was gotten in the year 1960 on the first of October. Nigeria is located in Africa precisely the western part of Africa. They are actually known as the Giant of Africa, as they are the most populated when you compare them with other African countries.They have a very vast geography and a climate ranging from arid to Humid. Nigeria has other African countries surrounding it. It is surrounded by Niger in the North, chad and Cameron in the East,Atlantic ocean as well as Gulf of Guinea in the south, and then by the west it is surrounded by Benin.

Nigeria has two major rivers, River Benue as well as River Niger of which the name Nigeria originated from. It has a soil that is poorly packed ranging from sandy soil to loose loamy soil. Niger-Benue basin, the Lake Chad basin, and the Gulf of Guinea basin are the three major Drainage system we have in Nigeria.

The two major climates season found in Nigeria are the Dry season and raining season. The dry season runs from the month of September to February while the raining season runs from the month of March to August, depending on the location,either in the southeast or southwest.

Nigeria as a country has 3major ethnic groups which are Igbo , Yoruba and the Hausa-Fulani.
The Hausa-Fulani group are known to be the most populated in Nigeria and also found in the Northern part of Nigeria. majority of them are Muslims. The language spoken by the Hausa’s is the Hausa language while the Fulani’s speak the Fula language. Their occupation ranges from farming to cattle rearing.

The next most populated are the Yoruba’s which are located in the south-west part of Nigeria. They are usually known for farming, but majority tend to live in the urban region. The yorubas are usually headed by an OBa who is either a chief or the paramount ruler.
They also have the ile-ife who is a very powerful spiritual leader who is generally respected and noticed by all. Infact, you can’t go into politics without receiving blessings from the Ile-ife.

The igbos are found in the southeast of Nigeria. They are usually recognized or known as industrious. Their occupation ranges from trading, farming as well as trading of agricultural products. They are usually ruled by elders and chiefs.

Nigeria is a country known for its high natural resources such as production of petroleum as well as gas. Its capital is in Abuja. Nigerian flag has 2 colors, green and white. Where green colour depicts it’s abundant natural wealth, while the white colour symbolizes peace.

Image by jorono from Pixabay

With these few introduction stated above, I welcome you to my country Nigeria.

3 THINGS I LIKE ABOUT MY COUNTRY

There are lots of things to like about my country Nigeria, but I will talk about only 3, they include:

THE PEOPLE

image of BurnaBoy 2021 music grammy award winner

Nigeria is a Country with approximately over 200Million people. The people in Nigeria are very industrious as well as talented. We are not just talented, we are very intelligent as well as welcoming. Nigerians are very creative and have won awards that are recognized internationally.. the awards are in different industries, ranging from music to sports. The Nobel prize for literature in 1986 was Won by a Nigerian, with the name Prof Wole Soyinka. He has been the only Nigerian that has won the prize so far. We also have the likes of Chinua Achebe who proved and showed to the world that Nigerians are good in literature. In sports, Nigerians are not exempted as we have Chioma Ajunwa who was an Olympic medalist. Just Recently, A Nigerian based Musician known as Burna Boy won the Grammy. The list of how industrious and creative Nigerians are, can go on and on.

THE FOOD

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Nigerian food is one that cannot be underemphasized. You cannot come to Nigeria without enjoying a wide range of delicacy ranging from spicy to sweet foods. Nigeria is a country with over thousands of different kind of foods ranging from our sweet and spicy Jollof rice to Amala and Ewedu, to bole, banga soup and starch, Egusi soup and poundo, Okazi soup and fufu, Afanga soup, Edikikong soup, ishiewu, Nkwobi,Dodo. The list is Just endless. Each region in Nigeria has a food peculiar to them, but I bet you, it’s enjoyable and satisfying to the taste buds.

CULTURE

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We live in a world where a lot of people have decided to abandon their culture to follow that of other countries. It’s not like that in Nigeria. The people of Nigerian are very conservative and have kept their cultural heritage over the years. The culture of Nigerians is seen when it comes to their way of dressing, food as when as when you visit a particular location in Nigeria. Merely looking at a person, you will be able to know the part of the country where they come from as they are very proud and would always want to show their culture.

3 THINGS I DO NOT LIKE ABOUT MY COUNTRY

Despite the many things to love about my country, there are still things that needs to be improved, as no country is 100% perfect. Some of them include:

HIGH LEVEL OF INSECURITY

Nigeria is now the center of insecurity as we are attacked regularly by terrorist ranging from Bandits to Bokoharam, to Unknown gunmen. It is indeed sad that Nigeria that was once a haven full of peace and unity is now a place which her citizens are scared and unsafe with. In just few months, we have had lots of deaths as a result of insecurity. Recently, we lost a promising doctor who was traveling for official duties. Just on the 14th of this Month, I lost a close friend also as a result of insecurity, her Name is Stephine. She was killed in the capital of Nigeria Precisely and the cause as well as her killers are yet to be identified. In Nigeria, traveling either by road, train, air, water is not safe. We are only surviving by the help of the holy one above us.

image of late Stephanie

CORRUPTION

There is high rate of corruption in Nigeria, especially by the top as well as Government officials. In Nigeria. We see where people who are not qualified are given high positions which they do not merit. People commit crimes and go free in Nigeria because of how corrupt it’s systems are. In Nigeria, has eaten deep from the government sector down to the private sector, as well as even individuals.

HIGH RATE OF UNEMPLOYMENT

In Nigeria we have thousands of youths that are Graduates with no Job. The Government have failed to provide Job opportunities for the youth and as such majority of the youths have gone into committing crime, thereby painting the image of the country to be a Bad one.

CONCLUSION

Nigeria is a country full of love, peace and harmony. There is a lot to like about nigeria, ranging from it’s beautiful tourist center, to food, culture, dressing , geography as well as the people. I invite you to come to Nigeria to see how accommodating and loving the people are. Despite the bad things happening in Nigeria, I still believe in my country and it lies in the hands of each and everyone of us to Make it Great again.