People Solve Problems

A nation divided by ignorance, suspicion, mistrust. Tribes fighting against tribe. Muslim fighting Christian. Brother against sister. This is what Nigeria and others face everyday.

People make a great nation. Not resources or standing in the global community, but people and their contribution towards society. My country is blessed with an abundance of human resources. North to South, from East to West packed with rich cultures, over 170 ethnic groups, and an unbelievable flair for resourcefulness in the face of unfathomable poverty and danger, we still strive to make a living and live we do.

But a few months ago we made history together. For the first time in a long time, if ever, our elections were conducted mostly according to global standards of freedom and fairness. It may not have ended well, some were tragically killed by accidents and even murdered. It may not even have been that fair or free, but despite all the tragedy and trauma, it made Nigerians aware that as a people, our lives and rights are not in the government, but in ourselves. Our success and failure lies in working together as one.

If the media is a powerful tool, then web 2.0 is our fighter jet as we have come to realize from these weeks of assignments and months of continued unrest and upheavals in the Middle East. We have been given a tool where one individual could reach and influence millions all over the world. Where one young girl previously oblivious to the plight of other women, some mere girls like herself could make it her personal mission to actively fight against Vaginal fistula. And all this boils down to why, what, how. Why is this happening? How can I solve this problem? What could I do?
2011 is the Year of the Revolution. Through web 2.0 we have a glimpse of the future in the present. Possibilities all around us. The possibility to overthrow corrupt and oppressive governments; the possibility to help those in need; the possibility to solve problems that occur across the world. From Facebook to Twitter that inadvertently helped to spark the revolution to PulseWire, a place where women create impact to communities they may never even have heard of, for sisters they have never even met. A place where the why, the what and the how can be asked, answered and achieved through the help and support of our fellow sisters.

Like Egypt, Bahrain and Libya, Nigeria through its election and fight against corruption, for maternal health and human well being tries to conduct its own revolution. Once no one had any faith in that, but now that people have become aware of such opportunities, they can educate themselves and others accordingly and finally, have the determination to strive for a positive outcome. I do believe that as heaven helps those who help themselves, so will Nigeria also be aided to solve her problems through her people’s belief and struggle for a better life.