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While media responsibility to society cannot be overemphasized, it is instructive to those who care enough that the task of building the Nigeria of our dreams is a task for all. So much is required to rescue the Nigerian state out of its current state of pollution. There are many who have expressed uncompromising belief in the dawn of a new Nigeria, but very few have actually taken bold steps towards orchestrating the desired national rebirth. Fela Durotoye is one notable Nigerian of my generation I admire so much for his great passion in the task of rebuilding the Nigerian nation. At 35, he is a retired successful entrepreneur who has undertaken the task of seeing Nigeria become the most desirable nation to live in by December 31, 2025. To this end, practical steps are already being taken to actualize the vision preciously tagged: “Gemstone 2025.” We need more hands like him.
For some, the foregoing represents a trite picture of an idea too lofty. Such critics only bring to mind a foretaste of the ill-naturedness of the human mind and its inherent pessimism. Without doubt, we can attain the Nigeria of our dreams. However, the way out of the Nigerian crisis is a distant journey into the innermost recesses of our minds. What we need is not a revolution of guns and machetes. We desire a revolution of the mind – an arrival at the threshold of the charity that truly begins at home.
Every Nigerian must attain that distillation of spirit where service to the fatherland is prioritized over personal interests. From the lawmaker to the clergy, and the aristocrat to the so-called hoi polloi, let there be a sense and sameness of direction. We must not allow the diversity of our cultures to blur the clarity of our glorious future. Patriotism must not be viewed as an alien term that begins and ends in our newspapers when our journalists make references to the systems of the West. Nigerians must arrive at the crossroads in their cultural and socio-political odyssey where historic decisions about their future will be taken without risky hesitations or dangerous compromises.
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Writer Profile
Amaize Ohimai Godwin
One of Nigeria’s youngest anti-corruption advocates, Ohimai Godwin Amaize is a communications strategist who expresses passionate belief in the use of the media as a tool for social reconstruction. Notably a man of many parts, Ohimai has been Coordinator, Integrity Organization, University of Ibadan, and served as one of the two (2) students’ representatives in the University of Ibadan Ceremonials Committee. A former president of the Union of Campus Journalists [UCJ], University of Ibadan, where he studied English and French (Combined Honours), Ohimai is a voluntary adviser to numerous youth-led non-profit initiatives.
Born on September 9, 1984, Ohimai has received several awards in recognition of his dynamic efforts. In 2005, he was a co-recipient of the Reuben Abati Award for Investigative Reporting, University of Ibadan. He was nominated twice in 2006 and 2007 for the Junior Chamber International [JCI-UI Chapter] Five Outstanding Persons Awards [FOPA] and has been profiled as one of the ten [10] outstanding graduates of the University of Ibadan in 2007. In June, 2008, he was awarded the Green Yaggy Achievement Award alongside the likes of ‘Gbenga Sesan, Yeni Kuti and Denrele Edun. Ohimai has a rich mentorship background that parades multi-directional experiences with notable Nigerians such as Dapo Olorunyomi, Dele Momodu, Fela Durotoye, Nuhu Ribadu, Gamaliel Onosode among others.
Ohimai has handled the Popular Culture Programme of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC] and actively contributed to the development of crime prevention strategies at the Commission’s Strategy and Re-orientation Unit [SARU]. In October 2008, he was inducted Ambassador, Microsoft Internet Safety, Security and Privacy Initiative for Nigeria [MISSPIN]. As a MISSPIN Ambassador, Ohimai coordinates Project BLING, a pop culture initiative devoted to the use of music in the fight against cybercrimes in Nigeria.
A renowned online publicist for social change initiatives, Ohimai is currently at the forefront of Fix Nigeria! - one of Nigeria's biggest online movements on anti-corruption advocacy. In recognition of his visionary contributions, in the summer of 2009, Ohimai was one of the only two Nigerians selected to attend the course – “Managing for Integrity: Strategies and Approaches” at the Central European University, Budapest, Hungary. Currently Communications and Media Relations Executive of Guardians of the Nation International [GOTNI], he after a brief stint as Brand Consultant [Brand Development, Research and Strategy] with a frontline Brand Consulting firm in Lagos, resigned his appointment to fully pursue his passion for social change at the Youth Media & Communication Initiative [YMCI], Abuja where he currently functions as the organisation’s Creative Director as well as its Project Officer, Strategy and Communications, MakeYourVotesCount.org.
Ohimai maintains his personal blog at www.mrfixnigeria.blogspot.com
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Comments
From Pedus DR PEDUS C EWEAMA | Jan 6th, 2008
Hello Godwin,
Impressive evocation of the reality of the Nigerian society. Good work!
People like us in the diaspora are willing to help transform the socio-political terrain of Nigeria, and I think the role of the youth cannot be over-emphasised. The youth need to actively participate in the transformation of Nigeria beyond the virtual platform of TakingItGlobal. Please call on me in any area you think I could be of help in youth mobilisation and I will be there.
From Pedus DR PEDUS C EWEAMA | Jan 6th, 2008
Hello Godwin,
Impressive evocation of the reality of the Nigerian society. Good work!
People like us in the diaspora are willing to help transform the socio-political terrain of Nigeria, and I think the role of the youth cannot be over-emphasised. The youth need to actively participate in the transformation of Nigeria beyond the virtual platform of TakingItGlobal. Please call on me in any area you think I could be of help in youth mobilisation and I will be there.
DR PEDUS C EWEAMA | Jan 6th, 2008
Hello Godwin,
Impressive evocation of the reality of the Nigerian society. Good work!
People like us in the diaspora are willing to help transform the socio-political terrain of Nigeria, and I think the role of the youth cannot be over-emphasised. The youth need to actively participate in the transformation of Nigeria beyond the virtual platform of TakingItGlobal. Please call on me in any area you think I could be of help in youth mobilisation and I will be there.
DR PEDUS C EWEAMA | Jan 6th, 2008
Hello Godwin,
Impressive evocation of the reality of the Nigerian society. Good work!
People like us in the diaspora are willing to help transform the socio-political terrain of Nigeria, and I think the role of the youth cannot be over-emphasised. The youth need to actively participate in the transformation of Nigeria beyond the virtual platform of TakingItGlobal. Please call on me in any area you think I could be of help in youth mobilisation and I will be there.
DR PEDUS C EWEAMA | Jan 6th, 2008
Hello Godwin,
Impressive evocation of the reality of the Nigerian society. Good work!
People like us in the diaspora are willing to help transform the socio-political terrain of Nigeria, and I think the role of the youth cannot be over-emphasised. The youth need to actively participate in the transformation of Nigeria beyond the virtual platform of TakingItGlobal. Please call on me in any area you think I could be of help in youth mobilisation and I will be there.
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