October 1st 1960 (2024)

Nigerian Independence Day: A Bittersweet Reflection

Today is Nigerian Independence Day, and while I know it's a day for celebration, I find myself feeling lukewarm about it.

Every year, it brings up a mix of emotions that are hard to sort out.

I love my country, Nigeria is rich in culture, history, and vibrant spirit. But at the same time, there's a deep sense of frustration that I can't shake. I carry this complicated relationship with Nigeria, a love-hate feeling that weighs heavily on my heart.

Part of me wishes I didn’t live outside of Nigeria. I wish that my country was in a better place, a place where I could thrive, raise my children, and enjoy life without needing to leave. Instead, I’m here, abroad, building a life for myself and my kids, because living in Nigeria just doesn’t seem feasible. And that reality hurts. I didn’t leave because I wanted to, I left because I had to.

Every First of October.

On days like today, I think about what could have been. What if Nigeria was better? What if we had leaders who truly cared for the people, infrastructures that worked, and opportunities that allowed every Nigerian to dream big and achieve those dreams? I imagine a Nigeria where all I had to do was travel to see the world, and always return home to a country that felt whole, secure, and promising. But that’s not the Nigeria we have today.

I’m proud of my heritage, no doubt about that. Being Nigerian has shaped me in ways I wouldn’t trade for anything.

The resilience, the strength, the unwavering sense of hope we carry, that’s what makes us who we are. And yet, this deep pride is constantly challenged by the harsh realities back home.

The insecurity, the corruption, the struggle to access even the most basic amenities—it’s exhausting.

But even with all these mixed emotions, I still find myself saying, "God bless Nigeria." Because despite everything, I believe in the potential of my country. I believe in the Nigerian people. There’s a part of me that hopes one day things will change, hmmm yea, one day na one day..

that Nigeria will rise to become the nation we all dream of, so that my children and the generations after can know a different Nigeria, a better Nigeria.

For now, I live with this tension. I celebrate our independence, but I also mourn the Nigeria that could have been.

Here’s to hoping that one day, we will truly have a reason to celebrate wholeheartedly.

God bless Nigeria.

ps

are you Nigerian? 

how do you feel today? I would honestly like to know....