In the wake of my recent column addressing the “japa” phenomenon and the urgent need to make Nigeria a more attractive destination for its citizens and investors, I had the privilege of engaging in a thought-provoking conversation with Professor Nuhu Abubakar Atta. His insights challenged my assumptions and offered a deeper lens through which to examine our national predicament.

Prof. Atta began by commending my article, after which, posed a simple question. He said, “Boma, What do you think is the one problem Nigeria must fix for everything else to fall into place?” Without hesitation, my instinctive response was corruption, a familiar refrain in our national discourse. But Prof. Atta smiled and urged me to put on my thinking and intellectual cap.

What followed was a compelling argument that, corruption, while destructive, is not the root cause but rather a symptom of a deeper issue.

He took me on a journey to revealing a framework for understanding Nigeria’s challenges through the lens of the complex interplay between the immediate and underlying causes. Using the analogy of a car crash, he explained that while the collision is the immediate cause, the underlying factors; poor vehicle maintenance or inadequate driver training are what truly enable the crash. This distinction, he argued, is essential for diagnosing Nigeria’s systemic failures.

Too often, we attribute our national woes to poor leadership, corruption, or weak institutions. But these are manifestations of a more entrenched issue: dysfunctional cultural values. These values, shaped by history, tradition, and environment form the bedrock of our collective psyche. When they are misaligned with the principles of progress, accountability, and nationhood, they sabotage even the best policies and intentions.

Sir Edward Burnett Taylor once defined culture as “that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.” In Nigeria, certain cultural norms such as the glorification of wealth without regard to its source, the erosion of communal responsibility, and the prioritization of personal gain over public good have become obstacles to development.

An illustration that comes to mind is the anecdote about Winston Churchill and a taxi driver who initially declined to wait for Churchill due to a prior commitment to listen to his speech. However, upon receiving a generous tip, the driver reversed his stance, declaring, “I’ll wait for hours until you come back, sir, and let Churchill go to hell.” This story underscores the corrosive power of money and the fragility of moral conviction when not rooted in deeply held values.

If Nigeria is to chart a path toward sustainable development, we must embark on a deliberate reorientation of our cultural values. This begins with leadership by example. Our political class must embody integrity, patriotism, and service, not just in rhetoric but in practice. Our education system must be retooled to instill civic responsibility, ethical reasoning, and a sense of national purpose from an early age.

Community engagement is equally vital. Traditional institutions, religious bodies, and civil society must collaborate to promote values that reinforce unity, diligence, and respect for the rule of law. Policy frameworks should reflect and reinforce these values, ensuring that national development is not just a technical exercise but a moral imperative.

At the heart of this transformation is a shift from the “I” mentality to a “We” consciousness. The prevailing psycho-cultural orientation that elevates individual success above collective progress must give way to a new ethos: Nigeria First. This is not mere slogan, it is a call to reimagine our identity as citizens bound by shared destiny.

In conclusion, reorienting Nigeria’s cultural values is not a peripheral concern, it is central to our development agenda. Until we confront the underlying value systems that perpetuate dysfunction, our efforts will remain cosmetic. The journey to a prosperous, inclusive, and resilient Nigeria begins with a cultural rebirth. Let us rise to the challenge.