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A TRIBUTE TO EXCELLENCE: A NEGLECTED CULTURE IN NIGERIA By Everything seems to be wrong within Nigeria. Given the fact that it is generally accepted that the federal structure is defective and perhaps malignant, there has been no concerted efforts to revisit and review critically, how to remedy or address these defects which has transcended to all facets of the society. It is so pitiable that, Nigerians and their leaders and future generation have come to accept as fait accompli the present mal functional decadent society as a Nigerian way of life.
Professor Eskor Toyo amplifies the reality of Nigerian ideological misunderstanding as a creation of British colonialist interest, " what the British colonialist created in Nigeria, was not a nation, it was a colony called Nigeria; However in these colony a patriotic desire arose among the Nigerians themselves for unity, political and economic independence".
Shortly after that independence was won, up till the 1980’s there were still pockets ruminant of that feeling of patriotism and desire to forge unity. There were concerted efforts at building and providing basic social infrastructure like roadway, communication, water, electricity healthcare, sports and cultural development across the length and breathe of the country.
By 1983 when the then golden voice of Abacha toppled the civilian administration of Shagari, Nigerians were told painfully the truth about the epileptic state of our health institutions which was described as " mere consulting clinics", the roads were " death traps" and the entire system as he knew it had collapsed, albeit the truth did not sink well in the minds of Nigerian who obviously were basking in the glory of the return of the khaki boys and gyrating with the civilian experiment. Buhari’s attempt to restore orderly conduct was quickly rebutted as too harsh, the opened the floor gate for reckless indiscipline and open corruption unprecedented and accepted by all as the "real deal".
The basic concerns of almost every Nigerian then as it is, were for more federal presence and more states creation as if that was the fundamental problem with Nigeria. No body paid attention to issues like the restoration of the culture of excellence, merit, good governance and rehabilitation of the decaying social and moral values as well amenities he Abacha had complained about in his December 1983 speech.
Nigeria has geometrically degenerated at a rapid progression in almost all areas when compared with the 1960- to 1980 era. There was a time when Nigerians were proud to be a public servant and teachers earning descent living and well above the poverty standard based on their incomes; a time there was when workers believed in honesty, hard work and merit; a time when workers had opportunities available for career advancement, enjoyed benefits of hire- purchase; a time when college graduates look forward to a bright future assured; a time when private sector employees enjoyed medical benefits; a time when workers look forward with happiness towards retirement with guaranteed pension for their hard work and patriotic service, it was indeed a glorious dawn, perhaps never to be witnessed again in Nigeria, unless urgent action are taken to restore these values.
Even with their limited resources, the old post and telegraph was albeit more efficient than the present leprous and moribund NIPOST and NITEL, even the rural electric board scored higher than the all too well known inefficient NEPA, also the police force have fully metamorphosed into what late Fela described as a bank and an army of occupation when compared with the old constabulary, these examples are a reflection of the larger societal decadence and the gradual extinction of the sacred principle of public accountability which hold public officials accountable for mistrust of public wealth.
I reminiscence on the glorious days of old mid western region and later Bendel state in areas of sport development while growing up as an adolescent there. Today, those legacies have either disappeared or discarded. Sports was taught to be a fair competition and cheating was a rare occurrence, hence the region/state dominated in sport and youth development, there was a smooth transition, competitive contest like elementary school sports, inter- house sports, invitational relays, principal soccer cup competition, junior high school soccer competition; the list is endless. These endeavor-produced stars like Thompson usiyen, prince Afejukwu, Henry nwosu, Salubi, Koto Bright et al.
In those glorious days schools like saint Finbars, C.M.S Bariga, Edo College, Government Secondary Schools in Ughelli, Owerri, Umuahia, Hussey College, Urhobo College and Sapele Technical College were notable for producing the crop of the nations talented sports men through the various programs that were efficiently executed. Also the likes of David Imonite, encouraged Lawn Tennis competition, which saw the emergence of Ogbe Hard court and Abeokuta clay court classics back in the days. There was a predictable progression from high school to youth clubs and other age grade competition, which kept the restless young population with something to look forward to with joy and pride. There was appreciation and just reward commensurate with hard work and talent.
Instead of revisiting or improving on those hey days, our society had degenerated deeper in obscurity and wanton gyration of ignorable abandonment of these basic values, which helped to encourage a national culture of excellence and pride. The wrangling in the youth and sports ministry illustrates how deep these corruptive vices had eaten into the society. It is uncommon to read and hear of bribery and corruption scandal, involving almost every imaginable soul down the drain, no new program are implemented or introduced, those that existed were allowed to languish or entirely forgotten. Nigeria produced the likes of Mary Oshokena [golden girl of Nigeria], Egbunikes, Chidi Imoh and other world athletes of repute, but today, most of what we see are recycling of old breed, with sports official smiling happily to their personal bank account while sports men and programs are allowed to rot.
Most countries nowadays regards sports as a dynamic business to be handled as a corporation, but not in Nigeria, where the government regulates and control sports in this modern era. We pride ourselves as having a professional league, yet it is not other than a glorified amateur league, our sports leaders should take a cue from their north African neighbors or even from ivory coast and south Africa where soccer is a profession and compare notes. Our league represents the sorry state of our soccer development, which has lost emphasis on grass root talent development. Many a soccer player does not get a chance to showcase their talent because corrupt element in the business demands gratification, something that was a rarity back in the days where high school seniors provided the conduit pipe for top club sides like Julius Berger, stationery stores, bendel insurance, rangers shooting stars etc, when last did Nigeria have the chance of having another Adokiye Amasiemeka or Odegbami who adorned the national team jersey while in college, or Thompson Usiyen straight from High school? Is it that there are not talents any more from colleges or high school? Or something is wrong with the system.
As a prelude toward repairing the damage, sport management and administration should be transferred to private enterprise with government regulation, so as to be self-funding and self-sustaining instead of relying on all mighty federal or state funding. They should learn from countries that have become successful in sport administration.
Secondly, reintroduction of more competitive sport contest and re-inventing the culture of morals in sport as a friendly contest through organizing more competitions nation wide.
Thirdly, there should be a national sport induction program to honor all former national sports person into a sport person hall of fame, instead of the leper treatment that is presented accorded those heroes of our times.
Football clubs should be disinvested from state control into private ownership, items like jerseys should be sold to earn more money, grants made to them to acquire their own arenas. Also, it is high time the national team should retire honorably the following jersey numbers, #5, #7, #11 in honor of notable names like "chairman Chukwu, "mathematical Odegbami" and " Chief Justice Amasiemeka" who no doubt paid their dues honorably.
Also, the Nigerian University games and their NIPOGA counterparts, have shamefully copied the same cheating syndrome, where non matriculated sports men are unscrupulously and fraudulently given identity cards to enable them participate in such games, all in the name to win overall medals, who are we deceiving and what impression does this leave on the larger society when genuine undergraduates sportsmen’s go into the real world? They would think it is the right thing to do thereby endorsing CHEATING/ CORRUPTION.
Finally, once these programs are implemented along side other well intended program, Nigeria would be on the march again…
March 2004
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