For over six decades, Nigeria has oscillated between the brink of greatness and the abyss of decline. Revered as the “Giant of Africa,” it embodies a paradox: a nation immensely endowed yet perpetually struggling; a land of promise often betrayed by its own contradictions. As the world hurtles towards postmodernism—an age defined not just by technological advancements but by fluid knowledge economies, cultural reinvention, and geopolitical recalibrations—the urgency for Nigeria to awaken from its prolonged slumber becomes not just a national imperative but a continental necessity. For when Nigeria rises, Africa does not merely stand; it begins to stride.
In the comity of nations, Nigeria’s story is one of unfulfilled potential. From the colonial entrapment of British imperialism to the turbulent early years of independence, Nigeria has carried both the weight of its history and the burdens of contemporary mismanagement. Yet beneath this narrative lies an unassailable truth: Nigeria is not a minor player. With a population exceeding 220 million, a youthful demographic, vast arable lands, a strategic coastline, and untapped mineral resources beyond its famous crude oil, Nigeria possesses the latent capabilities to redefine not just its future but that of Africa and the Black race globally.
Economically, Nigeria should be Africa’s engine of industrialization and technological innovation. Its GDP ranks among the highest on the continent, yet over half its population lives below the poverty line. The paradox is stark: a nation exporting crude oil yet importing refined petroleum; a nation producing millions of graduates annually yet suffering from acute brain drain; a nation celebrated for Nollywood’s cultural exports yet unable to provide basic security for its creatives. Nigeria stands at a crossroads, where the industrial civilization of the 21st century demands more than mere resource extraction. It requires digital literacy, manufacturing capacity, robotics, artificial intelligence, and knowledge economies. Nations like Singapore, South Korea, and even Rwanda have demonstrated how strategic visioning can transform postcolonial states into technological hubs. Nigeria, with its far greater resource pool, lacks no such potential—it lacks only coherent national purpose.
Yet awakening cannot be achieved by economic metrics alone. Nigeria’s existential threats are deeply intertwined with its fractured socio-political fabric. Ethnic nationalism, religious extremism, corruption, and institutional decay have eroded state capacity and public trust. The insurgency in the northeast, the restiveness in the Niger Delta, and the growing separatist agitations in the southeast underscore a nation in search of its soul. No economic policy or technological leap can succeed without addressing this foundational discord. National unity must transcend empty slogans and find expression in inclusive governance, equitable resource distribution, and a national identity that prizes diversity without fracturing cohesion.
Postmodernism, in the global sense, represents a departure from rigid ideologies and the embrace of hybridity, innovation, and the deconstruction of traditional power paradigms. For Nigeria, embracing postmodernity is not about mimicking the West but redefining modernity through its indigenous epistemologies and technological reinterpretations. Imagine a Nigeria where Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Tiv, Fulani, and other cultural philosophies inform digital ethics, where traditional knowledge systems fuse with data science, where blockchain underpins transparent governance, and where renewable energy projects are driven not by foreign mandates but by communal imperatives. Such a synthesis would not just position Nigeria competitively; it would set a precedent for postcolonial technological agency.
Externally, Nigeria must recognize its diplomatic inertia. As Africa’s most populous country and largest economy, its voice should resonate in multilateral platforms. Yet too often, it cedes leadership in continental matters to smaller, more agile nations. The African Union should have Nigeria as its ideological and strategic nucleus. Nigeria’s foreign policy must evolve beyond peacekeeping missions to proactive continental development strategies—initiating free trade policies, technological exchanges, and security frameworks that not only stabilize Africa but prepare it for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
In the global power matrix, Nigeria should not be content with being a resource supplier. Instead, it should assert itself as a thought leader, a technological competitor, and a cultural hegemon. Its universities should rank among the world’s best, its tech companies should rival Silicon Valley start-ups, and its policies should reflect an understanding that sovereignty in the 21st century is digital, not merely territorial.
Yet, perhaps the greatest battle lies within. Nigeria’s awakening demands introspection: a reevaluation of leadership paradigms, a rejection of parochial politics, and a reclamation of moral authority. A nation where public office is seen as service, not entitlement; where electoral processes reflect the will of the people, not the machinations of oligarchs; where infrastructure development is not a campaign gimmick but a societal norm.
This awakening requires what Chinua Achebe once lamented: a failure of leadership must give way to a reformation of leadership. Youth must be empowered, not as token representatives but as active architects of national rebirth. Gender equity must cease to be aspirational rhetoric and become actionable policy. Education must transcend rote learning to instill critical thinking, creativity, and civic responsibility. Health systems must be revamped not for elite patronage but for universal coverage. And the creative industries, from film to literature to music, must be nurtured as soft power tools in the global arena.
Ultimately, Nigeria’s awakening is not just for itself. It carries the hopes of a continent long relegated to the periphery of global relevance. It embodies the aspirations of Black populations worldwide seeking a homeland that mirrors their dignity and potential. The diaspora, vast and influential, watches not with cynicism but with cautious hope, yearning for a Nigeria that can stand as both refuge and reference point.
In this era where data defines economies, algorithms dictate influence, and cultural narratives shape perceptions, Nigeria cannot afford to sleep while others script the future. Its resources, both human and natural, must cease to be commodities for external exploitation and instead become catalysts for internal transformation.
The day Nigeria gets it right is not merely the day Africa wakes up. It is the day the world reconfigures its understanding of what Black excellence, African leadership, and postcolonial resilience truly mean. That awakening must begin now—not as a fleeting slogan or a political platitude but as a sustained, deliberate, and strategic revolution of consciousness, policy, and practice.
For Nigeria, the time to rise is not tomorrow. It is long overdue. And with every passing moment of inertia, the promise of its destiny risks fading into the footnotes of history rather than standing as its headline. Yet history, ever forgiving, awaits the day the sleeping giant stirs. And when it does, the world will feel its steps.
By: Jide Adesina
1stafrika.com
July, 2025
