Patriotism is a subject that raises emotions and a sense of pride each time it is raised. According to an online dictionary, patriotism is the quality of being patriotic; devotion to and vigorous support for one’s country.
The term patriotism is conferred on the most dedicated, one who undeniably can lay down his or her life for the cause of a nation.
Having said that, I never knew how it felt to be patriotic until 2019 when I visited Kenya for my uncle’s wedding. In hindsight, it was as if there was an advance party that unofficially went ahead of us.
As soon as we touched down in Nairobi we were treated with dignity and respect by our Kenyan in-laws, I thought to myself “Kenyans are very hospitable” but it was the combination of two ingredients; one of which was that Nigeria is a great country that is respected and also that Nigerian people in Kenya are known to be hard-working people and our men there treat women well making most Kenyan ladies want to settle with Nigerian men; lol. This understanding left an indelible mark on my mind.
As we danced to Nigerian music in the company of a handful of my fellow countrymen at the wedding party, I did so with pride. Therefore any time the National Anthem of our dear country erupts it immediately deletes any form of ethnic biases, Nigeria is what matters to me, the green and white flag has unexplainably made sense and continues to instil a sense of pride in me.
My love for my country Nigeria was birthed in Kenya when I realised how important it was for a country to be respected. I was reminded of that line in our National Anthem, “The Labour of our Heroes past shall never be in vain.” Some people, indeed, could make a way for others depending on how they conduct themselves. Similarly, one thing I like about Nigeria and Nigerians is the ‘never say die’ spirit. We are resilient people; surviving every phase of adversity, pushing through every door of challenges to unlock the benefits that lie in the opportunities that we confront.
Being a Nigerian means I am a subset of the most populous black nation, a part of a country that is vastly blessed with natural resources, an array of vast uncultivated land, a country of promise and potential but marred with administration ineffectiveness, yet I’m conscious of the fact that I am a distinct African, able to succeed in any facet of life.
Conclusively, my hope for Nigeria is that we get the right set of leaders who can unlock the hidden treasures of our land, maximise our population strength, and transform our nation into a productive country. The nation and its people have remained resolute and it’s my firm belief that we will rise above the few who use this nation as bait to amass wealth.
So help us, God.
Love,
Jessica
