FEATURE ARTICLE

Dr. David OgulaFriday, October 23, 2009
[email protected]
New York, USA

ANNOUNCE THIS ARTICLE
TO YOUR FRIENDS

FAITHFULNESS IN LITTLE THINGS

n the past 50 or so years, most African nations have trudged along a fairly similar developmental trajectory. The common path, among other things, noted by Martin Meredith in The Fate of Africa: A History of Fifty years of Independence, is an insatiable appetite for grand projects. Often, politicians and experts make explicit appeals for grandiose schemes such as investing in space technology, nuclear power plants and model cities. A couple of years ago a plan was floated about establishing an air-based emergency response system in Nigeria -- a country that has never had an effective ground emergency response system. To be clear, one is not necessarily attempting to tread lightly on capital projects that guarantee optimal benefits. Investing in such projects may be necessary for national advancement and certainly provides a sense of accomplishment, and national pride.


advertisement

However, the argument can be made that our stymied development is not due to the heavy approaches to national development or the lack of coherent strategic plans. It is the other way around; it is the neglect of the little things or the lack of an attempt to fit together all small details that connect big projects to the basic patterns of life in Nigeria. For example, billions have been squandered on hosting international sporting events, ostensibly to showcase the nation and its capabilities. The viability of some of these events rarely extends beyond the vision and wisdom of those in powerful positions. It is known that the potential benefits asserted, prior to the execution of such projects or events, rarely materialize after the grand opening or closing ceremonies.

Though grandiose projects are alluring at one level, at another level, they evince failure and highlight the vexing paradox of reaching for the stars while neglecting basic things. Trawling back to my first year in secondary school, I recall my vice principal admonishing us at every given opportunity that, "a little thing is a little thing, but faithfulness in a little thing is a great thing." Commitment to little things can inject organic unity in society that sets the stage for extraordinary accomplishments.

Take a moment to reflect on simple acts such as standing in line (queuing) for services - removed from the argument that coercion by Buhari and Idiagbon caused dissension. Consider the impact of such orderliness on service delivery, quality of life and human dignity. Consider the environmental and aesthetic impact of disposing personal trash appropriately. Consider the effect of walking to a designated bus stop [engaging in a little physical exercise] instead of requesting convenient pick-ups and drop-offs; of walking into a shop to purchase merchandise instead of buying from hawkers, dangerously stalking cars and their occupants.

Even more, consider the unappreciated art naming streets and assigning numbers to houses. This urban exercise presents an organized way of locating or reaching people in large settlements. Beyond this basic application, imagine the implications of assigning an address to a person in conducting a national headcount or in fighting crime. One would think that maintaining a system of street names, house numbers and addresses border on the intuitive, but apparently those charged with this responsibility do not deal with trifles.

Consider the impact of access to clean water. The simple act of washing hands has a significant impact in preventing the spread of contagious microbes which allows people to live healthy lives. According to the Water Project, "nearly 80% of illnesses in developing countries are linked to poor water and sanitation conditions." Access to water could have a more immediate transformative impact on people's health than an air-based EMS.

Our cities and towns, even the ones under development, makes one wonder in what ways our aesthetic sensibilities are gratified by permitting our streets and roadways to be "decorated" with used tires, broken refrigerators and vehicles. Do we really think we should pay international experts to advise us that pure-water sachets, plastic bags, broken air conditioners, refrigerators, tires and vehicles, deface our cities, towns and even our villages? Note the way bills are posted and business signs, displayed along our streets. What does the Nigerian aesthetic sense dictate? It is evident that simple homes with manicured lawns provide a greater curb or visual appeal than mansions with massive gates surrounded by filthy roads and overgrown brush.

As individuals, we have demonstrated that we are incapable of or, more appropriately, refuse to manage time in keeping with the demands of post-industrial societies; we begin preparation for events at the time they are scheduled to start. Such lack of respect for time reveals more than we are willing to acknowledge. Imagine an emergency response system (land or air) based on what we callously refer to as "African time;" Can you imagine a space project where the engineers, scheduled to launch a rocket to the moon, miss the time the earth and the moon are aligned for the best possible launch? Time is of the essence in small as well as large operations; it takes time to perform tasks, produce things and deliver services.

There are countless examples of little things we can do to effect a positive impact on society. Clearly, faithfulness in those little things can make a difference in our lives. A nation is as good as its ability to provide and address its basic needs.

advertisement
IMAGES IN THE NEWS