My Nigerian Dream: How Long Will We Watch Our Common Wealth Be Stolen?

I Have a Dream for Nigeria.

I am humbled to write to you, my brothers and sisters, to share a vision, a dream—a dream not just for me but for all of us who call Nigeria home. A dream for the nation we love, the land that cradles our hopes, and the soil that holds the promise of our future.

I have a dream that one day, in the streets of Lagos, the hills of Jos, the markets of Onitsha, and the creeks of the Niger Delta, equity will not just be a word but a way of life. I dream of a Nigeria where honesty is not punished and justice is not sold to the highest bidder. A country where the pursuit of daily bread is met with dignity, not despair. A nation where our citizens will lift their heads high, knowing that the content of their character matters more than the size of their wallets or the influence of their connections.

I have a dream that one day, our politicians will no longer see public office as a license to plunder but as a sacred trust. They will remember the faces of the hungry children, the tired farmers, the struggling teachers, and the restless youths who elected them. I dream of a time when the creed of our leaders will be one of service, humility, and stewardship, not the insatiable lust for power and wealth.

I charge every public office holder today, whether you sit in the grandeur of Abuja or the modest chambers of a local council, to remember this: you are called to be a light in the darkness, a beacon of hope for the people you swore to serve.

Let your conscience remind you that power is fleeting, and the empires of ill-gotten wealth you build today will vanish like a vapor under the judgment of time. The cars will rust, the mansions will crumble, and the hidden accounts will be emptied, but the cries of the hungry, the sick, and the forgotten will echo in eternity.

Let integrity guide your hands, and service fills your heart. What legacy will you leave behind when your name is mentioned? Be the leader who builds bridges, not barriers; the one whose actions inspire, not betray. Remember, your office is not your throne but a sacred trust. Leave footprints of justice, honesty, and equity, for that is the only inheritance that will endure the storms of history.

I have a dream that one day, in this great nation, the sons and daughters of the street vendor, the housemaid, and the mechanic will have the same chances as the heirs of the wealthy and the connected. A boy from Borno and a girl from Aba will sit in the same classroom and dream the same dreams—not divided by tribe or status but united in their pursuit of greatness.

I have a dream that the very basic necessities of life—clean water, stable electricity, affordable housing, quality healthcare—will no longer be privileges reserved for the fortunate few but rights enjoyed by all. I dream of a Nigeria where no mother will have to choose between feeding her child and sending them to school. Where no family will have to sit in darkness while the wealth of the nation glows in foreign lands.

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But I ask you today, my brothers and sisters, how long must we wait for this dream to come alive? How long will the youth of Nigeria be called the leaders of tomorrow while they languish in the shadows of today? How long will we watch corruption siphon our common wealth while our roads remain broken and our schools decay? How long will we keep quiet as mediocrity and nepotism choke the life out of our nation?

I say, not long! Not long if we, the youths of this nation, rise with the strength of our resolve and the fire of our passion. It will not be long if we say no to tribalism, no to apathy, and no to the old ways that have kept us bound. It will not be long before we demand accountability from our leaders and integrity from ourselves.

Let the youths of Nigeria stand together—not as Igbo, Hausa, or Yoruba, not as Christians or Muslims, but as Nigerians. Let us hold fast to the belief that we can be the generation that turns this dream into reality.

I have a dream that one day, our music will not just sing of struggles but celebrate triumphs. Our literature will not only cry for change but chronicle the greatness we’ve achieved. The world will no longer see Nigeria as a land of potential waste but as a beacon of hope, a testimony to what can happen when people dare to rise.

Let the rivers of justice flow through every corner of this nation. Let the winds of equity blow across every home, every school, every workplace. Let the spirit of honesty and service dwell in every heart, from the leaders in Abuja to the laborers in Aba.

And one day, one glorious day, we will say to ourselves and the world, This is Nigeria. This is the nation we have built together. A country where dreams are born and fulfilled, where hope is not a fragile ember but a roaring flame.

This is my dream for Nigeria. This is our dream for Nigeria. And together, we will make it a reality. Yes, we can. Yes, we must. Yes, we will!

Thank you, and may God bless Nigeria.

Share this vision of hope and unity—together, we can ignite the change Nigeria needs!

Editor’s Note: Ethelbert Nwanegbo, a Nigerian-American based in Florida. He’s a revered chartered accountant in the US and a serial entrepreneur. Despite Nigeria’s ongoing challenges, he actively operates multiple businesses in the country, driven by his deep commitment to fostering a brighter future for Nigeria and empowering its vibrant youth population.