By Dare Medunoye
Is it just me or has the traffic on Lekki/Ajah road increased lately? These days, I find that when I get home, I want to get all the rest I can, while also putting in the time to catch up with my family and get ready for work the following day. But then, I sleep and wake up, only to face the long traffic again.
So, I’ve been thinking: What alternative routes are available for people like me who have to hit the road, day-in, day-out? I know that Google search gives us a few options, but then, are they really effective? Do these other alternatives consider the bad roads and crazy driving of many commuters?
Imagine if other commuters are thinking like me, it will only be a matter of time before a solution springs into someone’s mind. This leads me to the crux of this write-up. Innovation is the engine that drives every society. The more Nigerians and Africans channel their creative energy, the more susceptible we become to spearheading groundbreaking solutions.
Many of us have an aspect of our dear country that eats at us, but for Nigeria to get ahead, we as Nigerians will have to churn out the solutions that make our lives easier. I am not taking away the responsibility of the government, I am just saying that we have a role to play. We have to dream the part, think the part and live the part. We have to make innovation our new normal! After all, this is what we stand for in Heirs Holdings. It has been the thrust and rallying point of our organisational achievement. If we do not keep re-inventing ourselves, how then can we succeed as a people or as a nation?
We have to dream the part, think the part and live the part. We have to make innovation our new normal!
To help us set the ship rolling, I have listed out a few things we can do to encourage and drive innovation in all our spheres of influence.
- Stress the importance of creativity in all your endeavours and collaborations.
- Actively solicit ideas. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, or to befriend technical experts. Read widely and purse information that will inspire new ideas.
- Make time for brainstorming. This brings synergy to your team but it also amplifies the potential for solving existing questions.
- Reject the status quo. Don’t settle for the way things have always been. There is always a better way, a newer perspective, a more effective way of doing things.
- Act now. Take a leap. Submit your ideas on converge. It is great to be part of an organization that rewards you for creative thinking.
Finally, keep this always in mind. Innovation is not a tech word. Innovation has nothing to with sophistication. It is not an option. It is mandatory for any nation not only to live above the poverty line but also to flourish. We must innovate at all levels – Government, policies, school curriculum, the private sector, home sector. Dreams are not limited to a social class, race or age bracket.
Together, we can transform Nigeria, and ultimately, Africa!
