Neoxian City - Writing Prompt #3 || A lovely country of mine — Nigeria.

It's my first time posting through this frontend — Neoxian City, and my first time participating in their prompt. It's a privilege to talk about my beloved country. No matter what we have faced in the past, facing in the present, and what we would face in the future, Nigeria will always be my beloved country because this is where my head was settled in. This is a country I first know and heard about when I was born and I have always been proud to be a Nigerian.

I know we are still going to experience many things in the future which would hurt us, provoke us, and make us want to leave this country, because every year, there is always something to trend about. This is Nigeria where we are proud of a lot of things including the kind of energy everyone has.

Despite what we have encountered and the ones that are still happening presently, especially the cashless policy and the election that has happened, and the one that would be conducted this Saturday, I am still proud of the many things we possess in this country. No matter how sad we are, we still find ways to make ourselves happy and cruise about.

Is it the “Bulaba.. Balablu... Townhall city... Blubala” we have heard and played an instrument to Or the “Ellu P... 75 Obi.... 76 Obiwanem.... 77” 😂😂 Nigeria is a cruise country and we aren't afraid of anybody even our so-called bad leaders who are still on the throne instead of giving the youth chance to rule too. What can an old man do again? How does a man who got wetted in his pants during a meeting or is supported on both sides by human beings rule a whole country with 36 states? Isn't that funny and frustrating? But we still believe our country will be great and it doesn't matter who rules us, we still find our ways to survive.

Let me share those things I am proud of in my country and you would agree with me that they are true except you aren't a true citizen of Nigeria.

My country is blessed with many resources and land that are rich and fertile where there are different agricultural sectors. So many resources but most of our people do not value what they have which made other people come over to steal and make use of them. Still, we have it in abundance because it can never be exhausted.

I am proud of our food. Yes, this country has three major tribes which are Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa. With these three tribes, there are different cultures and varieties of foods you will always come across that will wow you. We are rich in culture and that alone already beautifies who we are. I have checked YouTube for recipes for different meals and I couldn't stop being grateful that I am born in this country because we have much delicious and beautiful food around us.

We can make a particular food in many ways and that is what we are good at. Talk about "Yam". There are different ways to prepare this and process into like "Elubo" which we use to make Amala. Yam can be used to make "Ikokore" (Water Yam Porridge) a native Ijebu food. Yam can be turned into Porridge called “Asaro”. Yam can be turned into pounded yam with various assorted meat into a stew like efo riro or egusi soup. Assorted like “ponmo, tinu eran, ita eran, abodi, shaki, edo, ifun eran,” etc 🤣🤣 I am sorry if you do not understand Yoruba but these are all meat in different parts. We are just blessed.

Another thing I am proud of is how energetic every Nigerian is. Nigerian youths and other people have the inbuilt ability to survive all odds. Take, for instance, inflation, cashless policy, bad ruling, etc. We still find means to survive no matter how high the price of a good is. We still care for one another. Even when there are people who are cruel and unconcerned, there are other categories of people who would defend the victims and fight for them.

It's just that we are the ones doing ourselves but we have the true ones that care and would do whatever it takes to make others smile. We can just survive anything. Bring something greater than the experience of the "no cash" policy, trust us to always survive. If we could survive these past few weeks and still live, then bring more and we would tell you how strong we are.

Lastly, what I am proud of is how clever and intelligent people we have in my country. We have backups and there is nothing you ever bring to them, they will show you what next you aren't expecting 😂 we are ever ready for anything, anywhere. Always prepared and alert. No dulling moment with Naija citizens. The ability to speak and express in pidgin English is top-notch. We aren't shy to speak it anywhere and it's always funny.

^{Let me just stop there as I wouldn't want to make the post longer. Let's move to the next question, please...}

Do you think your country has all it takes to help you develop as a person?

Yes, I would say yes because this country has enough resources to make use of and become a better person, but in the aspect of education, I don't think Nigeria is more pragmatic in that aspect. We need practicals but this country only gives us theory and nothing more.

I want an education where I would go out to share my experience in practice and not talk for hours proving what I have been taught. I believe in practicals than theory as that is the way to believe in what you are capable of doing. So, in that aspect, there is no improvement at all.

If you could leave for another country, would you? If yes or no, explain why?

I would! I want to leave my country but not permanently. No matter how long I leave this country, I will always return to my source as I wouldn't forget where I birthed from. Nigeria is a great country and I believe we would witness the best of the best. We don't know when but I am sure of it.

I will leave for my education which is my Masters. I do not have a plan to study here but go overseas to learn new things, get to explore more, and do practicals. I want to see beautiful equipment that isn't available in my country. Once I am done, I will be back in my country where I would excitedly impart to others the knowledge I got from another country. But Nigeria will always be my home.

Thanks for your time on my blog.