Why are we so cursed?

I am currently on vacation with the family in Dubai, it's not a big one - only 1 week to spend here. It does however give me an opportunity to think of the coming years, where I have been, where I am and whether I am on track to get to where I want to be. My youngest child starts secondary school next month and that definitely brings my wife and I closer to the retirement from school fees. Of course there is still at least 10 years to go but it is a landmark all the same.

The other nagging issue is 'home'. The how and the when of a return back to our beloved Nigeria. At a recent research report representation, a growing segment of Nigerians was defined in terms of their aspirations and behavior. Apparently Nigerians now see achievement in the light of leaving the country to make something of yourself outside. We have become so devastated that staying in the country is no longer the first option but a consolation prize. Who can blame us. Our president now goes for his diabetes check up in Saudi Arabia and we should now be overjoyed that he has decided to declare it ahead of the trip, unlike the previous check up. Even Hillary Clinton ribbed us with the way we are so inefficient as the 6th largest producer of crude oil yet we import virtually everything we use of the refined product.

Even more depressing now is the reversal of the initial trend of having Nigerians in charge in the multinational organizations at home. Name the multinational now and 9 times out of 10 the CEO or MD is a foreigner. We have been shown up to be such poor managers at home. Time was when the Managing Directors of Guinness, Nigerian Breweries, Cadbury, Nestle, etc were all Nigerians. We apparently ran things so badly that the foreign owners had to come in to save the day. The sad thing is that they are now creating opportunities for middle and junior management levels as well. More and more, we are seeing people less qualified being brought into these organizations to lead Nigerians who are much more qualified. They have managed to create opportunities for their team members that may have lost their jobs due to the Global recession.

I was discussing with some other African friends recently and they wondered what had happened to Nigeria. We are now seen as having no bite. Can you believe that some of these guys are working in Nigeria without work permits? They treat us so poorly but we are caught in the rat race at home. Where are our fire-brands? Are things that bad?

Yes I know I am probably not one to talk but I refuse to keep quiet! Are there others out there who feel the same way?