Reclaiming Patriotism: A Missing Pillar in Nigeria’s Development Agenda?

 



"Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country."

— John F. Kennedy

Every time the national anthem plays in Nigeria whether at a football match or during morning assembly in schools there’s a spark of unity, even if brief. Yet, beyond those moments, the idea of patriotism often feels like a distant dream. Nigeria’s development challenges are well known: insecurity, corruption, unemployment, and infrastructure decay. But underneath these problems lies something less discussed a patriotism deficit. Without a shared commitment to the nation’s wellbeing, policies and reforms struggle to take root.

This article asks: Can Nigeria’s development agenda succeed if patriotism is missing from the equation?

Patriotism Yesterday vs. Today

Older generations recall a time when Nigerians proudly carried “Made in Nigeria” goods and when serving in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) felt like a badge of honor. Today, that pride has faded.

  • In the 1980s, students would chant “Go, Nigeria, go!” during sporting events, seeing national victories as their own.

  • Compare that to today: still patriotism peak during football matches, Olympic wins, or national tragedies only to vanish in Nigeria's daily grind. But many graduates’ first dream is not to “serve the nation” but to “japa” to leave the country. This fleeting allegiance could be the missing pillar in our long and slow march toward national development.

  • The difference is striking: development cannot thrive where citizens no longer see themselves as stakeholders.


Patriotism in Perspective: More than Flag-waving

Many equate patriotism with ceremonial duties like singing the national anthem, hoisting flags on Independence Day, or attending government-organized rallies. However, true patriotism is far more profound and dynamic. It is a moral compass that guides citizens to prioritize national interests, uphold civic duties, and demand accountability from leadership. It compels a sense of shared destiny and a belief in the promise of the homeland.

Patriotism is baked into the civic culture in advanced nations such as the United States, Canada, and even emerging economies like South Korea. Citizens understand that loving one’s country means working for its good, even in difficult times. Sadly, in Nigeria, patriotism is often seen as naivety a relic of idealism in a system that rarely rewards sincerity.



Patriotism and Development: An Inseparable Link

Development is not merely an economic phenomenon; it is a collective outcome that requires the alignment of both leadership and followership. A government can build roads, provide healthcare, and launch education programs, but if citizens are indifferent, corrupt, or cynical, development efforts stall.



How Everyday Realities Weaken Patriotism

Patriotism is not killed by one big event it dies slowly through daily frustrations:

  • Power cuts: A small business owner in Lagos who loses half his income to generator fuel does not feel inspired to defend the “giant of Africa.”

  • Roads and safety: A trader traveling from Jos to Abuja spends more time praying against bandits than thinking about the market.

  • Corruption: When a graduate sees jobs going to “connections” instead of merit, her loyalty shifts from country to self-preservation.

When citizens repeatedly experience government failure in their everyday lives, the idea of patriotism feels hollow.

Why Rebuilding Patriotism Matters for Development

Nations that have turned corners in their development journeys often did so by cultivating patriotism:

  • Rwanda rebuilt its national identity after the genocide by emphasizing “Rwandanness” above ethnicity.

  • Singapore tied its development agenda to a collective pride in being Singaporean, making civic duty part of everyday life.

Nigeria, too, needs this glue. Development projects are never just about money or policies they rely on citizens who believe the nation is worth sacrificing for. A patriotic citizen:

  • Pays taxes not just out of fear, but because they want roads and schools to work.

  • Resists corruption because they see the bigger picture of nation-building.

  • Stays and contributes skills instead of fleeing abroad.





Pathways to Rekindle Patriotism

Reclaiming patriotism is not about singing the anthem louder; it requires practical steps:

  1. Leadership by example: When leaders cut excesses and live modestly, citizens believe again. Imagine a governor who sends his children to public schools; that single act could spark more faith than a thousand speeches.

  2. Civic Education with Impact: Schools must teach citizenship not as memorizing the constitution, but through community service projects where young people feel the impact of nation-building.

  3. Celebrating everyday heroes: A nurse who stays in Maiduguri despite insecurity deserves the same recognition as a sports champion. Highlighting such stories shows Nigerians that patriotism lives in small acts.

  4. Fairness in governance: When citizens see equal treatment across ethnic, religious, or class divides, their attachment to Nigeria deepens.

Conclusion

Nigeria’s development agenda is full of strategies and policies, but without a patriotic citizenry, they remain paper promises. Patriotism is not an abstract feeling it is built (or broken) by everyday experiences with leadership, fairness, and opportunity.

Reclaiming patriotism means creating a Nigeria where citizens no longer ask, “What has this country done for me?” but proudly declare, “This is my country, and I will help it succeed.”


******By Shadrach B. Adams*****

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