oday, I will continue with my last sermon with the title "Once Upon a time in Nigeria"

This will be the second in the series.

In the first part, I spoke about the development of infrastructures that were gradually taking place under the colonial government and for several years after.

Developments were occurring because the fathers were dedicated to the country.

They believed that it is only in the prosperity of the nation, lies the happiness of the citizens because with the provision of infrastructures, individuals will be able to pursue his/her vocation, which will be able to sustain his/her livelihood and his family.

When these are taken care of, temptations to involve in sinful acts are minimized and the journey to heaven is made easier.

At the first time, I related how the postal services and rail transportation were reliable.

I am sure many people will find it difficult to believe if I tell them that up to the mid 70's posts (letters) were delivered into homes. It occurred in Lagos and perhaps in Kano and Kaduna.

Today, the only sure way to have letters delivered is by the use of DHL, which is not within the reach of just anybody. Can anyone imagine the frustration of the use of expensive DHL by students and job applicants?

The priority of the governments at those times was the prosperity of the nation. They did not acquire personal properties that cannot be explained within their legitimate earnings unlike today where Politicians and many Civil Servants cannot even track their properties.

Today, I plan to tell more stories of the happy, memorable days of Nigeria. Let me suggest that all youths and Students listening to me announce the hour of these broadcasts to themselves in order to be educated about what Nigeria was in the past and see what they can do to improve their lives. Those of you that are reading it on the nigeraworld. com should post them to all people on your mailing list.

Let us pray.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Once Upon a time in Nigeria part 2.

In the 1st sermon, I related how University Students in the past read in luxury at the expense of the government.

There were Federal Scholarships and Bursaries. There were also States Scholarships and bursaries.

I do not know anyone who attended university in Nigeria and paid for it by himself. This occurred till early in the 80's. If there was any student who in his first year, did not have Scholarship, it must probably be that he/she did not apply in good time.

The Hall of residences were beautiful and immaculate clean. University workers kept them clean and changed their beddings as if in a hotel. Students could eat in any of the Dining Halls and not necessarily in his/her Hall of residence. The foods were superb and cheap, covered under scholarship anyway.

Awon iyara ti awon omo University wonyen un gbe dara lopolopo, o mo tonitoni. Awon osise lo un se itoju won. Awon osise naa lo un te bed won bi igba ti eniyan wa ni ile ero (Hotel). Awon ounje won doso, ko si won. Owo Eko ofe gbe gbe gbogbo re. Ko pon dandan ki akeko jeun ni ile ounje ti ile (Hall) re, o le loo jeun ni ile ounje ile (Hall) miran.

Today, University girls squat with their co-male students in the same room, where the boy is a bit financially buoyant or do live-in with totally strange men. This is the kind of sin, which poverty and irresponsible government can make someone who wants to live Godly enter into. This is an example of sin, which I always shout about, which poverty can make one to dip his/her hand into.

A first degree from Nigeria was rated just like the British first degree. A 1st or 2nd class upper Division (21) degree from any of the then few Nigerian Universities was acceptable for enrollment into Ph.D programmes in England and other countries of the world without any difficulty.

Let me return again to the High Schools of then. Those of them who attended Government Colleges (high schools) or Provincial Secondary Schools, in the old Political North (including the present Kwara & Kogi states) later renamed Government Secondary Schools lived in the boarding house freely, ate free food and received monthly pocket money. They received transportation allowance at each school vacation. Books and uniform were supplied free. Parents did not have to be financially capable. Yet there was no oil revenue.

There was no person who completed high school in those days, who wanted to work and did not get job

At those times, there were employments for everyone, whatever his/her level of education. Workers received their wages promptly.

Teachers with just Grade three certification lived like kings, taking care of their relations and relations' children, unlike today when University graduates roam about the streets without jobs.

Both the Federal Government and the States' Government of yester years from time to time assessed the man-power need of their governments. They recruited students right from the Universities and sponsored them for further studies in the fields where the man-power were needed.

The subsequent governments of my home State, Kwara from 1967, when it was created up till 1979 was very resourceful. They constantly assessed the man-power need of the government, recruited students right from the Universities and sponsored them for further studies in the fields where the man-power were needed.

I do not forget that the first crop of Town Planners we had in Kwara state enjoyed that status.

Most states in those years including the Federal Government did a good job in terms of man-power training and infrastructure.

I was told that the first Premier of Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, personally used to go round the Government High Schools and suggested to the graduating Students, what future course they should pursue eg Military, Police etc.

In the past, the wealth of the nation was not in the hands of any cabal. But today, only a few people share the wealth of the nation among themselves. They however give peanuts to their sycophants while the majority live in penury.

Let me give an example. At the beginning, Civil Servants did not necessarily have to struggle to go on further education or training, they only received a letter to proceed, which may be at a local location or somewhere overseas. And the selection of candidates for courses had no religious bias. It was by merit.

Those trainings were for the purposes of developing the staff for higher services and for the benefit the nation. At the end of the course, the staff themselves are rewarded with promotion to higher duties with higher remunerations, which brings better life.

This was why people lived in happiness in those times because things were organized. If we can return to this kind of practice, we will all agree that it is not over for us.

Unfortunately the subsequent governments no longer care for the development of the nation.

And how can the nation develop when an individual carts home about N20m in a month from the commonwealth, for sitting 2 or 3 times a week in Abuja?

How can there be any meaningful development in a country where there is a Commissioner of Police in every State, yet each Governor takes N400m every month as Security vote, which is not to be retired (not to be accounted for)?

Which other nation in the world does that occur and expect any development?

The World Bank has said it many years ago that 1% of the population shares 80% of the wealth of the nation leaving the rest 99% of the population to scramble for the rest 20% of the wealth. How then can there be jobs for University graduates or any other person for that matter?

God will certainly require from these people, the blood of the uncountable number of citizens who have died due to their negligence of the nation. They will all burn in hell fire at the end of their profligate life here on earth. But I constantly pray for them to repent.

Worse, we the citizens are docile and we encourage their theft. We encourage them to decimate us. We allow it because our minds ourselves are darkened, dirty and corrupt because we would do the same, were we in their position.

Until there is understanding of the basic principle of prosperity laid down by God and adherence to it by every citizen; government and the governed, many shall die in poverty and will end up in the eternity of hell.

By the grace of God, I will continue with these stories of what it was like, in Nigeria in the past.

Let us pray.

Continued from Part 1

Sam Aweda, Pastor, Jesus for the World Revival Mission (Peoples' Church)