By Donu Kogbara
LAST week, I told you about the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) study – which was published in the Washington Post. Having analysed the Quality Of Life in 80 different countries, it concluded that Nigeria is the worst place to be born in.

I described this verdict as unfair…and said that though I frequently highlight Nigeria’s many shortcomings, I can think of quite a few other nations that are wholly or partially more stressful than Nigeria – Syria (which is currently in the throes of a painful civil war) and Gambia (in which I nearly died of boredom) being classic examples of countries that have less to offer, in my opinion.

I also quoted an objective foreign journalist colleague who has no emotional attachment to Nigeria but totally shared my view that while Nigeria is profoundly flawed and often nightmarish, it is not bad enough to be described as the worst birthplace.

And I’ve subsequently discussed this matter with a white girlfriend who has travelled the world with her senior diplomat husband and reckons that Nigeria is the BEST country they’ve ever been posted to.

Having said all this, I must confess – and no apologies to diehard jingoists who think we should all be blindly patriotic! – that if God had asked me to choose my nationality, Nigeria would not have been Number One on my list of preferences.

I have enjoyed the privilege of visiting almost every continent in the world and have encountered several other locations to which my basic mindset would have been better-suited…and in which I would have found it SO MUCH easier to use my talents productively and ethically…and to fulfil my personal potential and achieve the happiness, recognition and prosperity that most human beings crave.

Readers’ reaction: Nigeria best birthplace

BUT most of the Vanguard
Readers who responded to last week’s article would (much to my surprise!), still choose to be born in Nigeria a second time around.
Here are some of the comments I received via email and text:

From: princess karen <goldpurity@yahoo.com>

I’ll gladly be born a Nigerian again and again. It’s the best thing that can happen to anyone. Whatever is wrong here can be corrected with time and Nigeria will be the best place to live. We just need more honest leaders and more patience from the people and prayers.
Eguakun Golden O.

+2348135551180 Inyom Ngozi Onyioha- Orji
Donu, having studied in the USA and seeing on CNN, etc, the daily going-ons in other countries, l consider myself very lucky to be born a Nigerian, even with Boko Haram et al. l won’t with all the riches in America and teas in China want to spend a month outside my precious country. Nigeria, like everywhere else, has good and bad aspects. But we have not degenerated into same sex marriages or shooting kids in schools. Give me Nigeria any day. To hell with the EIU study. I shudder to think what the USA, Middle East, etc, will be like in 30 years time,  considering the disgusting and appalling things happening there now.

+2348036153732 Anonymous
Donu, angel of beautified sacarsm and pathos, Nigeria is still one of the best places to be. Dying Arthur Ashe (tennis star) said that being black and living in America is worse than AIDS. We’ll live through this chaos. We hosted the world in Festac and many other intensive planning engagements; and many foreign celebrities and workers have come here and are still coming. If people survived the War of the Roses, revolutions and Oliver Cromwell, so too can Nigeria. Period!

2348080429933 D J KENT
I am very proud to be a Nigerian. I was born and brought up here. All my skills l learnt it here. I love 9ja.

2348023319886 Anonymous
Nigeria as country has its own internal challenges like every other nation, but Nigeria is one of the best countries to be born into. Forget the wahala we face now, at least we are free and one day our leaders will put Nigeria first and rest of world will see a great nation they wish they were born into.

2348065217693 Innocent Ajamale
If there is reincarnation, l would love to be born in Nigeria again and again because she is a country where opportunities abound despite the fact that we are passing through turbulent times now.

2348023135198 Anonymous
My sister, if l have a choice, l would not have chosen to be born in naija, to be honest…In this our great country, we live in perpetual fear of the unknown.

From: “gracecovass@yahoo.com”
Dear Donu, I read with pain in my heart about the above subject matter. You can’t blame the EIU. You can only blame our leaders who have let us down…But despite the condition we have found ourselves in, I am still proud to be a Nigerian.