31st December, 2006 my entire family and a network of intercessors were in a fierce prayer: battling to save the life of my sister and her about to borne baby in a caesarean operation. She was already cut opened when power was abruptly interrupted. In desperation, the hospital staff that tried to put on the generator ruined the ignition, sadly again the backup generator had no fuel. We couldn’t find a hosepipe to get out fuel from the other generator or the cars around. All through this fiasco she was under sedatives, stuck between heaven and earth while we kept battling her life and the baby within. Sorry I didn’t tell you where this was – Lagos Nigeria!
Stories like these are classic in my geography, our maternal mortality rate is unbeatable in the world. Thank God, our prayers prevailed but had we lost them both to the epileptic power situation in the country or the inefficiencies of the hospital staff, someone surely will recite the cliché - “God gives and he takes, who can question him?”
Last Sunday I listened to my pastor preached that “geography has nothing to do with fulfilling destiny”, and was of this view until now. It is not I have acquiesced to the barriers associated with my geography but the lately realization that my exception doesn’t change the reality. Geography unquestionably plays a big role!
I certainly agree with him and Andrew Carnegie that “no individual or race is improved by arms-giving”, but agree more that “the best means of benefiting the community (a geography) is to put within its reach the ladders upon which the aspiring can rise.” Sadly true, not all geographies have access to these ladders.
I listen to the podcasts of ecorner.stanford.edu and wistfully see an awesome ecosystem for sustainable entrepreneurship in that geography: an unparallel synergy between students, angel investors, venture capitalists and Silicon Valley. No wonder the inventions changing today’s word like Facebook, Twitter, Google, Yahoo… are all coming not from mine, but that geography.
Are those from other parts of the world less creative or entrepreneurial in their thinking? Are they all destined as consumers and not inventors/entrepreneurs? Is it their choice not accessing infinitesimal seed funding at every window of opportunity that opens to them?
Don’t they practice the principles of imagination, positive thinking and affirmation when Western immigration fences them out the global mainstream of career and enterprise aspirations?
The fact that some of us are insulated or have found a way out of the limitations of our geographies doesn’t unmake the formidable adversaries still holding most of our people back. Right from the times of Slavery in Africa, Apartheid in South Africa, Racial discrimination in America, Marginalization of Niger Delta (Oil producing area) in Nigeria, The Holocaust in Germany and even Genocide in Sudan, some pretty few have always found a way of escape.
I end this blog with the words Robert Ashton.co.uk when we began changing the way the West sees the Nigerian enterprise landscape:
“Say Nigeria to the average Western businessman and his eyes widen and his chequebook closes. They get too many dodgy spam emails from Nigeria to take the country seriously. Sure there are kidnappings, armed muggings and unsafe aeroplanes – but you find those all over the world!
Geography is a big deal!
All sadly true isn't it. And we call ourselves a global community. But Gbenga, you've left your readers in suspense. What happened to your sister and her baby? Did they emerge from the power cut healthy and unaware of the crisis?
ReplyDeleteRob, did I? I mentioned in the 2nd paragraph they made it thru the power cut - Thank God, our prayers prevailed but had we lost them both to the epileptic power situation in the country or the inefficiencies of the hospital staff, someone surely will recite the cliché - “God gives and he takes, who can question him?”
ReplyDeleteGbenga, I'm not sure of the position I hold in this matter for now. But think of it, is Geography really a big deal? You mentioned epileptic power situation in Nigeria, but there are abounding Natural disaster in other commnunities, far troubling than what we have here, yet they STILL stand out. Look at the recent unrest in Iran, the Government did everything possible to block the News from going out to the world, yet people they still made it happen.
ReplyDeleteDo you agree that if was possible to swap everybody including the lecturer between University of Lagos and Standford there would be changes in quality of education in this geography? Banks in our commnunity were collapsing until someone - ONE PERSON - took leadership. I am fully persuaded that quality administration of human resources and infrasture will transform this geography. In my opinion, "Good people...Great Nigeria" campaign is the beginning of the end we desire.
Excellent feedback!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely concur “that the quality administration of human resources and infrastructure will transform this geography” but until this happen our realities remain the same.
In fact, the essence of the theme was to establish that the quality of our geography (people and infrastructures) would increase the quantity of output in terms of enterprise, career and general wellbeing.
It is incontestable that thought leaders have always reached within to overcome the limitations associated with their geographies. We see the manifestation this evidently before us of in various guises; Oprah, Yunus, African football stars, You, I, the list is endless. Nonetheless, we mustn’t be oblivious to the millions of souls tapped in the adversities of these geographies.
Again my contention is this: When we are looking at retail, incremental changes then it is okay to settle for the ‘individuals model’, but by the time we start looking at wholesale, systemic changes then we can’t help but embrace the ‘geography model’.
Thomas Friedman in is latest article on NY Times, comparing the economic geography of America with that of Russia wrote along these lines, here is the link: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/28/opinion/28friedman.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=invent%20invent%20invent&st=cse
Whao!
ReplyDeletewhat a close shave they had but thank God they made, really Gbenga i am working on piece at the moment that deals with our defiance towards entrepreneurial values and ideals which is helping other nations to thrive.
My dear friend we will get there but not with our current mindset or status!
keep up the Good work, If not Us then who?
Is Geography really a big deal? To a large extent no. Could my opinion be biased based on the reality that i have begun to understand the workings of the global economy? maybe.
ReplyDeleteIf probably i had read this blog some 10 years back, i would have agreed ab initio. But not ahy more.
Am really sorry for the truama your sis & family went through. And am sure glad that she survived. God be praised always. But i think that what she went and what the nation si going through is not a result of our geography but rather a direct result of loss of the serenity of empathy, epileptic leadership and the comatose of our value systems.
If only we had the right kind of leadership in place and our generation are willing to have an orientation of mind set and true definition of success, then we will truly be a major force.
Where we come from(the natural resources we have) and whom we are(the people) are not in harmony. Total mismanage.
My friend, we all have lots of work to do, and am glad that you and many others i know are beginning to understand that the greatness of this nation lies in its people.
we will get there
So true! Geography is abig deal. Sadly the colour of your skin still counts in some cases.This whole perception that people have that being an African makes you un-worthy of a high position or that u shouldn't aim high just coz u may end up not getting to the top should really stop.
ReplyDeleteIt all starts with a positive attitude and striving for excellence no matter what!
I suck at numbers and am repeating accounting for the 3rd tim but I won't give up until I pass it coz I know I will eventually!
Young people should really work towards changing people's perceptions that just because we are in the "Dark Continent" we can't do what others ca from across the Globe. We should make Geography work to our advantage! :)