BY JAPHET ALAKAM

One of the greatest  challenges facing the country is her inability to actualize the dreams and visions of the founding fathers. Before her independence from Britain in October 1960, the founding fathers had great plans and vision for the country,   little wonder  they struggled to get  political independence so that they will be able to achieve those dreams. But 51 years after the so called independence, the country reputed to be the giant of Africa with its abundant natural and human resources has not been able to stand on her own.

The questions that bother the mind of many is why has it taken so long? Many writers have  tried in the course of their writing to proffer answers to this troubling question and as part of his own contribution towards  answering this same question, Kingson Uwandu,  a young Nigerian who has seen it all in Nigeria having passed through the tutelage of the famous lawyer, Gani Fawehinmi  has come out  with a new book titled ,The Nigerian Dream, The Passion, The Vision, The Hope. The book which can be described as  a message of hope is a very good demonstration of the depth and wealth of intellectual awareness of the present day youths.

The 210 pages book from the stables of Gani Fawehimi students chambers, Lagos is an innovative exposition of the theme of the future of the Nigerian state in its evolution as a nation. It is a well researched document meant to enlighten, encourage and ignite and direct national  passion to building a nation, building men and women of impeccable character and intellect who will change the nation.

In the book, the author tells his reader that the dreams and visions of the country can  be realised if only Nigerians, especially the youth start to do the right things. He went on to highlight some of the problems that have made it impossible to realising those dreams.  For example in the first chapter titled, Arise, Oh Compatriots,  Uwandu points out some of the ills facing the country to include; apathy, indifference, complacency, captivity of the mind, lack of courage, selfishness and fear.

He does not end it there. He goes on  to  sensitise the reader about the working wonders of the mind and came up with the fact that there is need to feed the mind with positive things so that it  can actualise them.

According to the author, the Nigerian dream is to make the nation  become a place where peace and justice can reign as spelt out in the national anthem and pledge and in order to actualize this,  there is need for all parties to play its role accordingly.

Other areas  also pointed out by the author to be addressed  are: investment in human development, right to good governance, organising credible election that will produce credible leaders and others. According to him investing in human development of the country will make the human capacity needs of the economy to grow and also since the life and prosperity of institutions and countries depend largely on the quality of leadership that  there is need to have quality  leaders who will take care of the system.

Though with little errors  in some chapters, The Nigerian Dream is a well researched book that has answers to the mirage of problems that  afflict the  country.  I commend the author for his Nigerian spirit and recommend  the book  to all, and  especially the youths who are presumed to be leaders of tomorrow.