Nigeria celebrates 60 years of Independence day and unveils a logo assuring Nigerians of “greater inclusiveness” going forward.

 Today October 1, 2020 is Nigeria’s Independence Day.

By Tom Okure, Ph.D. 

ICMS, Inc Reports 

As part of the independence celebration President Muhammadu Buhari unveiled a 60^th Independence Logo and assured Nigerians of a “greater inclusiveness” going forward.

Nigerian Government Independence Logo

According to the Nigerian government, the 60^th Independence Logo depicts “Together Shall We Be,” and was chosen to forge a more united and cohesive Nigeria. The skillfully crusted diamond of the logo on the Nigerian map symbolizes “our age of treasure, the worth of the Nigerian people, who sparkle to the admiration of the world.……The fair green and the dark green colors respectively remind us of our warmth, welcoming spirit and love, as well as abundant wealth inherent in our human capital and the richness of our land.”

President Buhari shows off the anniversary logo

Nigeria gained independence from British colonial rule on October 1, 1960. At the time, there was great enthusiasm among Nigerians, who believed their future was bright and as a nation they would realize whatever they set their minds to accomplish as an independent nation. In 1963, Nigeria became a federal constitutional republic, with Nnamdi Azikiwe (An Easterner) as its first president and Tafawa Balewa (A Northerner) as the prime minister. The country adopted a democratic governance approach and all seem well at the time, until 1966 when a series of military coups derailed Nigeria’s democracy. After 16 years of perpetual and brutal military rule and interruption of democratic institutions, Nigeria in 1999 returned to democratic civilian government. In an elaborate ceremony, power was transferred by General Abdulsalam Abubakar to President Olusegun Obasanjo (a former military dictator himself), who was elected in a nationwide elections.

In 1999 Power was transferred by General
Abdulsalam Abubakar to President Olusegun Obasanjo

As the Federal government announced its plans to celebrate this significant milestone year of its independence, many Nigeria’s argue that there is nothing worth celebrating, because during the last six decades since independence, all the passion and hopes of Nigerians have been smashed.  The great excitement after independence has been eroded due to persistent national insecurity, ethnic clashes and religious prejudice combined with high unemployment rates etc. 

Despite the enormous human capital and economic resources that the country is endowed with, it has yet to achieve any real level of economic development takeoff. Its economic development remains stultified because of lack of basic infrastructural development in the areas of electricity, road and rail connection, education etc., leaving its citizens despondent and entrapped in an endless cycle of struggle to survive by barely meeting their basic human needs.

Without peace and security, Nigeria like most other countries cannot achieve the aspirations of its people. It is the hope of this writer, that this Independence Day will unleash a renewed sense of hope, togetherness and enthusiasm of all citizens despite the ongoing devastation caused by the Corona Virus (Covid-19) epidemic. One would hope that with the “greater inclusiveness going forward” implied in the unveiled national logo to celebrate the independence, all Nigerians will renew their sense of national belonging and Nigerian politicians and policy makers will rise to the great task of building social trust between the people and the Nigerian nation. Nigeria also needs to tackle its endemic societal corruption in all facets of society.

We wish Nigeria a joyous and happy independence celebration and God’s blessings in its new age. 

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All rights reserved by Tom Okure, Ph.D CEO of Inter-Continental Mgt. Systems, Inc (or ICMS Inc). ICMS, Inc, is a multifaceted business and management consulting firm with its head office in Albany, New York.