By David Onyeji
WHILE THE sun rises over Nigeria, illuminating a resource-rich land, it is with caution to say, many of our children’s minds remain dark.
The loud drums of ignorance overwhelm the murmurs of knowledge. Like the proverbial lizard, our leaders neglect their moral obligation to feed the wisdom fire and let it burn out of neglect.
In the communities of our ancestors, the young people gathered by the hearth to hear stories from the elders about our mythical past.
They would discuss the valiant deeds, hardships, triumphs, bravery, and insight of our forefathers.
And the young people would listen intently, their intellect expanding like the light at dawn and their hearts swelling with joy.
Too bad those times are behind us. The mind-numbing, constantly evolving digital breeze that is social media these days shapes our children’s ideas.
They far surpass our rich cultural legacy in their grasp of the latest fashion trends.
Their understanding of the challenges faced by our country’s heroes is limited to the most recent football scores.
Immunization from the whims of fate is required for us, the people.
We must never forget the insight of our forefathers, who understood that a child’s mind is like rich soil waiting to be worked.
If our children are to grow like Udala trees in the season of plenty, we must manage the garden of knowledge.
Our language, customs, and cultural legacy must be reclaimed.
Our youngsters need to learn about the hardships and victories faced by our people in the past.
We have to inculcate in them the principles of our forefathers: diligence, fortitude, and the quest for knowledge.
Only then will we be able to take back our proper position in the community of nations, with our hearts bursting with the pride of a people reborn and our heads lifted high like the majestic eagle.
When that happens, we will be able to say that we are a generation that defies the vagaries of fate.
David Onyeji is a Lagos-based young and upcoming creative writer with jknewsmedia.com
