THE RENAISSANCE WE NEED IN NIGERIA TODAY
Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua
Along the road in many places in
Abuja and some cities in Nigeria, book-selling has become a lucrative business.
Among the “catalogue” of books on the street, I bought a copy written by Lee
Kuan Yew titled, “From third world to
first world.” Reading this book, I
think of a renaissance in Nigeria akin to Singapore, a third world country that
has become a first world country today through the leadership of LEE KUAN YEW who was able to unite his
intellectual and political vision to raise Singapore from grass to grace. Much of this was accomplished through a unique
mix of economic freedom and social control. Lee encouraged entrepreneurship,
but also cracked down on liberties that most people in the West take for
granted”. According to Lee, “We would have been a grosser, ruder, cruder
society had we not made these efforts to persuade people to change their ways”. Lee focussed more on material prosperity,
anticommunism, and international politics. His vision of stewardship
especially in a multiethnic society is a lesson to developing nations.
Going
through the second half of the book that explores Lee's personal courage in
dealing with international leaders to situate Singapore in an independence
context, I wondered if the railways, refineries, iron and steel industries in
Nigeria could not have made Nigeria a first-world (developed) country by now if
the governments that put them in place had a better knowledge of international
politics along with a proper method of monitoring and evaluation. Perhaps
Nigeria did not have enough qualified engineers then hence the recourse to
foreign technicians who perhaps turned the Nigerian engineers into glorified
apprentice. I pray that the present leadership of Nigeria will be allowed to
build on the efforts of our past leaders and heroes. We can if we are
collectively determined since nothing is difficult for a willing heart.
To
explore this determination, I think of a national Renaissance in Nigeria that
must begin with a change of personal attitude. Perhaps we can study how it
happened in Europe that has become a refuge to many today. The word "Renaissance"
is derived from a French word “renaître” meaning
"rebirth" or “revive”. The word refers to the rebirth of learning in
Europe from the 14th century to the 17th century. In many
parts of Europe, the Renaissance was an age of new discoveries in arts and
science. Renaissance thinkers identify with the present and see how to invent
new ideas towards transformation. They thought of what they would be known for
by inventing something positively new. They thought of how to transform even
the “classical antiquity” that could bring about significant changes in
politics given that the political class needs the intellectual class to design
the vision of a nation. “Renaissance” is
akin to a great mind that beams hope on the future from the ugly past.
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that encompassed innovative
flowering of vernacular literatures, painting, and educational reform. In
artistic development, the names Leonardo da Vinci and Michael Angelo are fondly
remembered. The Renaissance started with the development of the
vernacular literatures to express the new spirit. Today the European languages
have become international. Many of us make strenuous efforts to speak English,
Italian, French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese whereas some of us cannot
speak any of the local languages in Nigeria. A lot can be achieved even in
times of crisis and suffering. Dante was born at Florence in 1265. He was exiled by the Florentines in I302.
Before his death at Ravenna in 1321, his book,” the Divina Commedia, or
the “Divine Comedy”, became the “Epic of Medievalism”. His theology became the
theology of the Mediaeval Church; his philosophy that of the Schoolmen and his
science was called the science of his time. His suffering made him a prophet of
the new age and a forerunner of the Renaissance.
The Crusades was one of the
factors of the Renaissance. Many nations of Western Europe discovered that the
energy they were expending on killing human beings could be used to produce
peace and a culture of development that they could bequeath to the future
generation. So many questions are brewing in my mind in the thoughts of the
crusades. For instance, what can Nigeria gain from the multitude that keep
dying in the various terrorists’ attacks?
Very often, the question still looms loud: “What has culture, ethnicity
and religion contributed to world development?” If Nigerians are rated to be
very religious, has our religious awareness and consciousness enabled us to
shift attention from religious jingoism to dialogue of social engagement? Can’t
we channel our resources towards a sincere amalgamation of religious truth to
promote human dignity and value? Can we not come together as a people of God to
assist the political leadership attain a clearer vision of integral national
development?
The leadership of Nigeria believes
that the different religions in the country can contribute to the
transformation agenda of the nation. This faith is confirmed in the existence
of the “Nigeria Inter-religious Council (NIREC)” that is a symbol of religious
coexistence. The council believes that there is no conflict between
Christianity and Islam in Nigeria. The council therefore needs the maximum
support of the government and the cooperation of the delegates who represent
both sides. I really wonder if another committee outside NIREC is necessary to
“negotiate a price” with any group for peace and security in Nigeria. The
blueprint and terms of reference of NIREC provide the space and capacity that
can give Nigeria a national Renaissance and peaceful coexistence. May God guide
the leaders of NIREC with a united mission and a sincerity of purpose to attain
the vision and the objective of the Council! If the government has entrusted
the deliverance of Nigeria into the hands of Christians and Muslims, then it
has become imperative that failing to provide peace for the nation is akin to
failing God! Our politicians are Christians, Muslims or Traditional
worshippers. They are therefore included in this mission.
Consequently, every body has a
role in Nigeria Renaissance (transformation agenda). For instance, what can the
intellectual class add to the Renaissance of Nigeria? What is happening to the
research of our graduates in the universities? How will the findings in this
research be executed if it is true that employment today in Nigeria is only
reserved for those who can provide a written note from a person who has a
political position? Has merit that is
based on efficiency, excellence and aptitude gone on vacation? Can it be true
that some of our graduates are not really employable? Then what happened to
their years of training and formation in the Universities? Could this not mean
that even the educational system needs a total Renaissance? Do we still think
of professional pride and professional fulfilment in a situation where
qualified graduates in arts and sciences are truck drivers and “gate men”? Who
will provide a space and enabling environment for various talents in a country
where even some medical experts have abandoned their practise for “political
laboratories”? Maybe we can still use
our cultural values to evangelize the structural selfishness and greed that has
retarded us for so long. May God send us his Spirit to renew the face of our
country Nigeria!
Fr. Prof. Cornelius Afebu
Omonokhua is the Director of Mission and Dialogue of the Catholic Secretariat
of Nigeria, Abuja and Consultor of the Commission for Religious Relations with
Muslims (C.R.R.M), Vatican City
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