By Foluso Ojo
A recent video circulating online shows foreign financial analysts discussing Nigeria’s emergence as the world’s best performing stock market. They attributed the country’s remarkable performance to bold economic reforms, improved investor confidence, and policy decisions that are gradually reshaping the economy.
Ironically, while international observers are beginning to acknowledge Nigeria’s economic progress, many Nigerians remain unwilling to admit that anything positive is happening. Every positive development is either dismissed as propaganda or met with suspicion, while every setback is amplified as proof that the country is beyond redemption.
Constructive criticism is essential in any democracy. Governments should be questioned, policies should be scrutinized, and leaders should be held accountable. However, there is a significant difference between constructive criticism and a persistent determination to portray one’s country as a complete failure.
It has become common to hear some opposition figures and self styled economists argue that nothing is working, regardless of the available evidence. More concerning is the attitude of many Nigerians in the diaspora, who often become the loudest voices projecting only the country’s failures to the rest of the world. While every nation has challenges, not every nation is so eager to convince the world that it is hopeless.
No one is suggesting that Nigeria has solved all its economic problems. Inflation remains high, many families are struggling with the rising cost of living, unemployment remains a concern, and millions are still waiting to feel the full impact of recent reforms. These realities should never be ignored.
Yet, acknowledging these challenges should not prevent us from recognizing genuine progress where it exists.
Economic reforms are rarely painless. Across the world, countries that have successfully transformed their economies often endured difficult transition periods before the benefits became widely felt. If respected international investors and financial analysts are beginning to identify positive indicators in Nigeria, we should at least be willing to examine those indicators objectively instead of rejecting them simply because they do not fit our preferred narrative.
Patriotism does not require blind support for any government, nor does it demand silence in the face of poor policies. True patriotism means celebrating national achievements while demanding improvements where necessary. It means correcting what is wrong without denying what is right.
Nigeria is not perfect, but it is not standing still either. Progress may be slower than many would like, but progress is still progress. A nation cannot build confidence if its own citizens refuse to believe in its potential.
The question before us is simple: If foreigners can identify reasons to invest in Nigeria and speak positively about its future, why are Nigerians often the last to acknowledge their own country’s achievements?
It is time to change the narrative. Let us continue to hold our leaders accountable, but let us also learn to celebrate genuine successes. We can criticize without condemning. We can demand better while recognizing progress.
Nigeria is a work in progress. Instead of becoming ambassadors of hopelessness, let us become ambassadors of honest optimism, people who acknowledge our challenges, celebrate our victories, and believe that our country can become even greater than it is today.
