MUSA-ODODO ABDULRAHAMAN
Nigeria stands today at a historic crossroads, not because our challenges are new, but because they have returned with renewed force, demanding a deeper response than politics, slogans or temporary interventions. We are witnessing something far more profound – a slow erosion of our collective identity, a quiet genocide of national purpose, and a dangerous drift away from the meaning that binds a people together. If we are to survive, grow and flourish, we must finally pay attention to the lessons that life and nature have been teaching us from the beginning.
Existence is a school – a vast, living university – and Nature is its supreme teacher. Her curriculum is life itself and her lessons are endless. Yet Nature has one requirement for success: Attention. Attention is the cosmic currency, the language by which the universe speaks and the only means by which transformation occurs. Nations rise, civilizations thrive and communities heal when they pay attention to the signals of life, to the warnings of history and to the whisperings of conscience. Today, Nigerians must ask ourselves a critical question: Are we paying enough attention to the school of life?
To answer this, we must confront the foundational matters that determine the destiny of every people: National Identity, National Purpose, and the consequences of losing both. National identity is more than a flag, an anthem or a set of geographical boundaries. It is the living sense of who we are together – our shared values, stories, memories, commitments and aspirations. It is the invisible glue that holds diverse people together and transforms millions of strangers into a single nation. When this identity weakens or fragments, society becomes vulnerable to division, manipulation and distrust.
Linked to identity is National Purpose, the collective understanding of what a nation exists to achieve. Nations that thrive do so because they have a clear and compelling purpose – a shared future that binds their dreams, policies and sacrifices. Purpose is the compass that guides national decisions, the fire that mobilizes action, and the moral force that lifts a people beyond selfish or factional interests. Without purpose, a nation drifts. Its people lose direction, its institutions decay, and its leaders govern without vision.
When identity collapses and purpose dissolves, a society enters a full identity crisis. In such a crisis, individuals cling to narrower loyalties because the national bond has weakened; mistrust grows and the narrative of “us” and “them” replaces the idea of one people. This is not merely an intellectual problem – it becomes a social, political and moral calamity. A purposeless society becomes a battlefield of competing fears, where hope fades, cynicism spreads, and talent is wasted. It is in this context that Nigeria finds itself today: not defeated, but dangerously unmoored.
Yet history shows that nations in crisis can be reborn when they choose to confront themselves with honesty, humility and moral courage. The path forward is not guesswork; it is a universal principle that has guided civilizations through their darkest hours. It is called Dialogue with Wisdom. This is not the usual gathering of politicians trading speeches, nor a mere exchange of opinions. Dialogue with Wisdom is a higher form of collective conversation – one that draws from the deep well of our shared humanity, cultural memory and ethical consciousness. It calls every citizen, leader, elder, youth and community to listen deeply, reflect sincerely and act purposefully. It is dialogue that seeks truth, not victory; understanding, not advantage; and solutions, not soundbites.
Such dialogue becomes a national rebirth. It allows a fragmented society to rediscover who it is, what it stands for and where it must go. It rebuilds trust, surfaces shared values, unveils collective purpose and produces actionable decisions that unify rather than divide. The outcome of this process is not just social harmony; it is the foundation of real peace, durable unity and human civilization. From this, a New Nigeria – purposeful, unified, peaceful and prosperous – can emerge. A Nigeria that stands not only as the pride of Africa, but as a model for humanity in a world starving for genuine collective vision.
Nature has been signaling this truth through our storms, tensions and transitions. She has been urging us to pause, reflect, return to ourselves and take responsibility for our collective future. She does not violate her principles; when a people ignore the lessons of life, life repeats the lessons until they are learned. Nigeria is at such a moment. Our challenges – whether in economy, security, governance or morality – are calling us not to despair, but to awaken.
This awakening demands more than criticism. It calls for collective responsibility, courageous leadership, ethical citizenship and a renewed commitment to building a shared national destiny. It requires that we see one another not as enemies, competitors or strangers, but as fellow students in Life’s Grand School, each carrying a piece of the national puzzle. Our future is interconnected, and our destiny is shared.
If we answer this call, Nigeria will not only endure – she will transform. She will rediscover the identity she once carried, define the purpose she urgently needs and reclaim the destiny she has long been capable of fulfilling. The time is now. The responsibility is ours. And the opportunity is immense.
Nigerians must pay attention. The nation we desire is waiting to be born – through the wisdom we choose to gather, the unity we choose to build and the purpose we choose to pursue together.
Shepherd of Nigerian Divine Destiny
Musa-Ododo Abdulrahaman
Founder, Initiative for Discovery of Nigeria Heritage and Endowment (IDNHE)
Convener, The Conscious Creation of a New Nigeria
Chairman, National Policy Dialogue.
www.nationalpolicydialogue.org
