Development is defined by the Longman Contemporary English Dictionary as “the gradual growth of something, so that it becomes bigger and more advanced.” Similarly, Webster’s Lexicon Dictionary says it means “to cause, to grow or expand.” Merging the definitions, development could be seen as the growth of a place, idea or something in a step-by-step manner such that it increases in quantity and quality. It also includes positive moral and character formation of the people. Wholesome development is only achieved through the combined contribution of the people. It is the business of everyone to play a prominent role in the development of the place. The popular saying, “two heads are better than one” carries a lot of meaning in achieving the development of a place.

     Secondary school students as an integral part of Nigeria’s population have a key role to play in Nigeria’s development. They are the future leaders and as such the hub on which future economic, social and political development is anchored. On the other hand, secondary school education affords a preparatory ground for positive contributions to national development through imbuing the students with the knowledge and skills to attain their lofty but realistic dreams of becoming Nigeria’s future scientists, lawyers, doctors, business owners and most importantly, future leaders. Nigeria should not neglect her secondary school students who constitute over 90% of its youth and the roles they would play in nation building.

     Archer84, a young Pakistani in his contribution on “What is the Role of Students in Developing a Country?” made a delightful argument that we should not “underestimate a student today so that she would not let you be underestimated in future.” In their capacity, students have a moral obligation to work hard to achieve their ambition and become a great source of pride to the nation. They should be focused towards utilizing opportunities available to them and not abuse them instead. This is because the role of secondary school students in Nigeria in contributing to national development is enormous and people expect them to impact positively on the society.

     The role of secondary school students begins at school. In order to become the type of citizens that can lead the nation, they are expected to be disciplined and to pay attention to their studies. Secondary schools provide the conducive and right environment for grooming positive attitudes in the students to affect their lives. A country without civilized students can never progress. So, secondary school students who receive adequate and proper training in school will grow to become useful and valuable citizens who will contribute immensely to the development of the country, exhibiting good and quality character traits, shunning violence, cultism, crimes and other dreadful vices.

     Secondary school students are the hope of the country and should therefore lead the way in correcting certain anomalies in the system. Since the elites seemed to have failed, the country’s focus is being redirected to this group and catching them young would be a great strategy just like Japan refocused attention on her students after World War II after she lost most of her adults and intelligentsia and today boasts of the world’s best technocrats. Therefore, to whom much is given, much is expected. The students hence have a major role to play in order to live up to the expectations of our people. As the bastion of hope, they do no indulge in barbaric activities like hooliganism, rioting that leads to damaging public properly. A disciplined, focused and ambitious student community will enhance the image and status of our country by winning laurels, evolving creative innovations, reducing branding cost while an ill-groomed student community will only bring bad name and spell disgrace and disaster to the country. It is therefore binding on secondary school students to assist government to fight the anti-social elements like drug addiction, kidnapping, armed robbery, prostitution and so on. With their co-operation, crime and criminal activities will be greatly minimized.

     Believably too, secondary school students can make a very big difference in the political logjam of the country by assisting to educate and enlighten the masses on the need for honest voting and credible elections. Also they should resolve to refuse recruitment by politicians as thugs to rig elections, manipulate and disrupt credible voting processes in order to ensure a stable and sustainable democracy. This again is a sure sign of development in the right direction. After all, development is not only about building roads, dams and the provision of infrastructure; it is also about good governance and stability. In essence, the role of secondary school students in development should go beyond the ordinary perception of ensuring that measures are put in place to raise living standards but that their lifestyle reflects and exemplifies honestly, forthrightness, reliability and dependability. In so doing, they impact positively on the lives of others around them, not only in words but also in deeds. A good name is better than gold.

     Secondary school students should perceive themselves as future handlers of the nation. Their role should be geared towards building blocks for the nation. As such, they should be law abiding and responsible citizens and every ready to sacrifice freely for the country in order to foster love and unity. Failure on the part of the secondary school students may cause long-term problems for the country and jeopardize her interest. They should endeavour to do the right thing so that they would not let the country down.

     Again secondary school students are a serious force to reckon with in nation building and human capital development in Nigeria. No country can stand the test of time without visible impact from the youths of this segment of learning. They form a critical link between primary and tertiary education and indeed, the labour market. It provides manpower for both the private and public sectors thereby playing a key role in the social, economic and political enhancement of the country. Secondary education is an important intermediary and its beneficiaries play enviable roles in learning, skills and human capital development.

     In conclusion, the ultimate role of secondary school students in Nigeria’s development should include refocusing mindset to development-oriented programmes. They should aim to achieve greater heights so as to become the beacon of light for others to emulate and learn from the beginning the lessons of self-help, self-reliance and self-sacrifice. Also, Nigerian secondary school students should believe in themselves and aim for the skies in order to achieve great strides in national development. This and only such confidence can take us to the “Promised Land” of economic, social and moral development.

Ugoeze Uchegbu – Maryland Comprehensive Secondary School (1st Prize – SSS Category)

     I have been privileged to travel to some of the most developed countries in the world, in terms of infrastructural facilities, scientific discoveries and technological advancement. I have seen what was once dreams of these countries turn to social realities. I have read about people who defied all social odds to bring about emancipation of their people from the bondage of tyranny and penury; great people who have turned their countries, through their selfless service and relentless efforts, to heave on earth.

     I began to notice the colossal social difference between my country and these great nations a few years ago. Whenever I returned to Nigeria at the end of my summer holidays, I noticed that the basic amenities I always enjoy abroad – uninterrupted power supply, affordable housing, medical care, qualitative education, good transport system with good road networks, hygienic water to drink and security of life and property – are social taboos in my fatherland.

     My parents always send the driver to the nearest fuel station to buy diesel for our generator, which we use everyday; my school is also run on generator, otherwise classroom teaching would be unbearable for students. The use of generator everyday, especially weekends, in my neighbourhood has become a way of life, as residents now store fuel/diesel at home.

     On my way to school in the morning and on my way home in the afternoon everyday, I see innocent children either hawking or begging on the highway; they run after vehicles hoping to get some money from them. Yet in the midst of this perilous means of survival, they find momentary joy when given money by a few compassionate people.

     My mother complains of high prices of foodstuffs whenever she goes shopping; our roads, particularly highways, have become death-traps, as many families are being thrown into states of mourning as a result of the untimely death of their relations, most of whom cannot be accounted for; there is no supply of hygienic water to most homes, as some are forced to dig bore-holes; and security of life and property is a dream yet to come true (everybody knows what the Nigerian Police stands for – corruption, especially those on our highways).

     My inability to understand my social surroundings led to my quest for answers; I began to ask questions. One of such moments, I asked my mother, “Is there no electricity supply in this country?” She laughed in astonishment, and said, “Why did you say that?” I answered innocently, “We are always on generator at home and in my school. And whenever we go out and are coming back in the night everywhere is always dark. It’s as if there is no electricity supply. You hear the sound of generator everywhere.” My mother took time to explain the worrisome situation of things, which further aroused my interest about the pathetic situation of my country.

I began to ask questions, particularly from my teachers in school and my father’s associates. My conclusion, based on the enquiry and observation of my social environment, is that everybody seems to have one or two negative things to say about their fatherland. This is undoubtedly in sharp contrast to what an average American would say about America.

     I then realized that Nigeria at 50, though a country blessed with abundant natural and human resources, is not the country of my dreams, and I am convinced that our forefathers that committedly fought for her independence would agree with me, as the present social realities do not reflect the type of country they envisaged during their struggle for independence.

     It has been 50 years of independence, Nigeria is still crawling like a helpless child with no direction. Majority of our people are still struggling to make ends meet, as thousands are homeless and jobless, with no hope of a better tomorrow.

     For there to be meaningful social change and economic progress, Nigeria needs a visionary leader: a good leader who would no fall prey to the temptations of corruption, a leader who would lead by example, and a leader that is answerable to the people because he knows he needs their support to make it. A leader who sees his political post as a rare privilege and opportunity to serve his people, and as such does whatever it takes to put things right. Above all, a leader all Nigerians, irrespective of ethnic, religious or political affiliations, would believe in.

When we have such a leader, Nigeria can then take its rightful position at the table of the leagues of nations as the true giant of Africa.

Happy Birthday, my dear country, Nigeria.

Opeoluwa Otegbade – Chartered College (1st Prize – JSS Category)

     Years ago, on the 28th of August 1963, our very own Martin Luther King Junior gave a speech titled “I have a dream” from the steps of Lincoln Memorial, which is considered as one of the greatest and most notable address in human history. But today, this year 2010, I am giving you an essay titled “Nigeria at 50, Nigeria of my Dreams” from the steps of Corona Secondary School as what is about to go down as one of the greatest and most notable essays written.

     Nigeria, the great heartbeat of Africa, is a great nation, a country known to have the highest population of black men. We got our independence on October 1st 1960, free from the Colonial era. Under the rule of leaders like Hugh Clifford, Graene Thompson, Fredrick Lord Lugard and others. We were dragged out of our country, sold without value, dragged around, forced to work on the white man’s land till slave trade was abolished and we got our freedom, it came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of our captivity.

     Since Nigeria got her independence in 1960 and turning 50 (its golden age) on October 1, 2010 our country is still unstable. There is bad leadership, corruption, overpopulation, pollution, etc. Concerning bad leadership, every year, we swoop in new leaders who have made no solid impact to our country but promote the corruption by bribery and embezzlement of our money. Also our country is so over-populated that our physical and human resources can no longer contain us which leads to problems like unemployment, hit crime rate, insufficient food, traffic, etc. But recently, we have been having a lot of accidents which brings sorrow to a lot of families and reduces our population. The crime rate is also increasing which is making it hard for people to sleep peacefully. Lastly, I would like to discuss pollution which is one of our major problems, which is mostly in liquid, gas or solid state. Industrial waste flows into the river and causes health problems for us and the fishermen in the riverine areas. Gas pollutes the air and is dangerous to our health.

     But fellow Nigerians, in spite of all difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I have a dream deeply rooted in the Nigerian dream that tall men are created equal. I have a dream that justice will roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream. I have a dream that his country shall be greater than the greatest, where the streets are like gold and silver; a country where children and adults swim out in the broad daylight, where the world inventors will come from. I have a dream that whether from the desert sands of the north or the grasslands of the savannah belt, where all Nigerians, whether Christians or Muslims, rich or poor, able or disabled will be able to sit down in a tale of brotherhood, eat together, pray together and work together knowing fully well we are of the same nation. This is our prayer, this is our hope. Upon it lie our motto – Unity, Faith, Peace and Progress. With this faith we will be able to hew out the mountains of despair, a stone of hope, we will be able to rise from the dark desolate valley. We cannot walk alone. As we walk, we make a pledge that we shall march ahead. I have a dream that the spirit of judgement and injustice will leave the hearts of selfish rich men and they will be able to lend a hand to love the greatest gift of all. This is our hope that we realize that a change can only come when we stand together as one. With this faith, we will be able to stand up and reach for the skies knowing that we will be the greatest heartbeat among all other continents. I dream of a nation where all shall be judged not by their state or wealth, nor ethnic or religious connection, but by the content of their character and intelligence.

     Therefore, let unity ring from every village, every mountainside, and when we let it ring, in every village, every town, every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children from the north, east, west, south, Christians or Muslims, rich or poor, would be able to join hands together and joyfully say: “We are United, Thank God Almighty, we are united at last.”

Odinakachukwu Adigwe – Corona Secondary School (3rd Prize Winner – JSS Category)