Independence is not just a ribbon cut on October 1st, 1960. It is a covenant renewed each dawn, and a reminder that Nigeria is more than its wounds, stumbles, and cracks in its gigantic frame. Sixty-five years may come across like a heartbeat in the lifetime of nations, yet for Nigerians, every moment has thundered with struggle, song, and survival. Sixty-five years on, and the world still turns its eyes toward us, not out of pity, but with a meticulous astonishment; because even in our chaos, we still shine.
We were born in the euphoria of 1960, a green eagle stretching its wings toward promise. Our anthem was hope, our rhythm was unity, and our dream was boundless possibility. And yes, we are a nation of contradictions. Our politics often limps, our promises sometimes evaporate in the midday sun, and our executives wrestle with shadows instead of ideas. But beneath these collisions lies a heartbeat that refuses to be silenced.
The markets still hum, the artists still sing, the farmers still sow, and the youths still dream. From the market in Aba to the studios of Lagos, from the oil fields of Delta to the farmlands of Jos; our story is being rewritten by a people determined to match promise with reality. And just like Afrobeats: messy, magnetic, and uncontainable; Nigeria refuses to fade into quietness.
The decades have tested us in various aspects like civil strife, coups, crimes, corruption, and the uneasy dance of democracy. Still, the Nigerian spirit has never bowed its head. We have beaten back despair with strength, creativity, and faith. When global eyes look at us, they do not see only the scars of a troubled giant. They also see individuals who turn adversity into originality, hunger into hustle, and brokenness into brilliance.
Independence is not a date on the calendar; it is a state of mind. It is also a daily declaration that no matter how heavy the night was, the morning will still find us standing. Nigeria is not perfect, far from it. But Nigeria is still alive. Nigeria is becoming. Nigeria is us; and the world still believes in us. The question now is: do we believe in ourselves? Our story is not finished. It is still being written in the laughter of children under village skies, visions of tech hubs in Yaba, the beat of dancers in Benue, and in the prayers of people who still believe in Nigeria.
The cracks may remain, but so does the courage. Let the flags wave as the green reminds us of abundance yet to be harnessed, and the white, of peace yet to be perfected. Nonetheless, we are still writing the song of our nation, verse by verse, era by era; because independence is not just about the past; it is also about the will to shape the future. Happy Independence Day, Nigeria. May your eagle not just rise, but soar. God Bless Our Great Nation.
They see the green and white flag fluttering not as mere fabric, but as a stubborn statement: we are still here, and we are still rising.
So today as always, let us raise our heads, not in denial of our struggles, but in defiance of despair.
William Z. Bozimo
Veteran Journalist | Columnist | National Memory Keeper
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