Excerpt from Something to Believe in: Religious Surrender and the Decline of Problem Solving in Nigeria. Originally posted Nov 21, 2018.

Eighty percent of over a 180 million citizens of a country do not seem to realize how their current mindset, obsession and unquestioned loyalty towards the adoption and complete submission to religious teachings and practice is keeping them in the one place they desperately do not want to be. When you observe how easy it is to get Nigerians to believe and follow often outrageous rules and instructions from religious leaders in God’s name - sometimes to the detriment of their well-being - it confirms the saying that “it is easier to deceive people, than convince them that they are being deceived”.

Our heads bowed, hands raised to the skies, as we kneel begging, does not project the image of a conquering, strong-minded, independent people who are confident in their ability to direct their destiny and create something original. If we cannot stand tall, shoulders square, exuding brilliance and confidence behind our eyes with the ability to observe, design and create systems and processes for ourselves, control our narrative and share it with the rest of the world to admire and emulate, then we belie our claim to international parity, because a submissive follower with hands outstretched and begging, with no voice or inventive ideas, has nothing unique to contribute on the world stage.

We will begin a series of posts that explores the attitude of everyday Nigerians in relation to how they view (and value they place on) individual contributions and societal responsibility towards the growth of their economy and improvement of their culture. The objective of this series is an attempt to uncover why we resort to prayers (passive) in the face of challenges, especially our tendency to abdicate personal initiative for reverential dependence on spiritual entities for assistance, as opposed to careful contemplation, strategic planning and gradual practical growth (active).

We will explore our emotional pre-occupation and gripping fear of death, judgement day and eternity, emotions that were instilled in us by those adopted religious teachings we so happily proclaim, and how those thoughts compel us to put up mental resistance to the nonconformity needed to develop a broadminded, intellectually curious, innovative society.

We will examine the consequences of our refusal to acknowledge our progenitors, our submissive mindset that prioritizes and glorifies anything foreign, especially if done in the name of God, over our own history or creative ingenuity. We will also explore our lack of faith in our own ability to evolve and grow intellectually, and finally, our stubborn resistance to change as Nigerians.  Please note that this is not so much an argument against religion as it is a plea for critical thinking and application of common sense. It is time we as a people acquired some.

With the fast pace of development happening in the world, I believe the time is now; we need to change strategy and learn to search deep within ourselves, for solutions to our problems, inject rationality into our national discourse and start working towards innovation, economic and human development, by replacing prayers with action and adding value to our communities and the world, rather than