THE DREAMS OF AN AFRICAN CHILD
Dream is what inspires one to his achievements. Living in a naturally endowed large mass of land called Africa is an optimistic child whose dreams are clearly traced from the depth of his heart and boldly written on his face with determination. This child is the African child.
It is true Africa is the second largest continent of the world yet it still tops the list of under-developed continents. What gladdens the heart of every child is the level of regard and recognition rendered to his root or origin, but Africa lags behind in the aspect of development and civilization. Being breed in an environment that lacks these important features has eaten deeply into the lives of Africans especially their children, the believed leader of tomorrow. The African child dreams for the day he would be set free from such hopeless way of life, a day he would live in a land full of civilization and creativity. Wake up an African and tease him with a question such as “If I were God what would you ask me to grant you?” you would notice the face beaming with smiles and there would come a sharp response “I would ask you to take me to United States, the world of civilized men.” This really shows the urge for transformation filled in the heart of the child such that the mere thought of further development of Africa hastens the heartbeat of the child with anxiety. Truly, the realization of these dreams would boost the pride the young African human has in his heart for his fatherland.
Again, the depreciating standard of education in Africa is an ill wind that has blown the African child no good. It is a terrible situation facing the African young people that they cannot stand up to compete with many of their mates all over the world especially in terms of innovation, creativity and calculations. As it is rightfully said, “knowledge is power.” It is the dream of an African child to be empowered with knowledge, to live in an environment that boosts essential academic and social requirement, which would enable him effectively, participate in the creation and discovery of the yet unborn technologies. Africans believe in hard work for survival to eliminate hunger and improve their standard of living thereby leaving education in a dark corner as a second priority.
Yet, the fact that knowledge has-lifted and upgraded many continents today is one of the major reasons Africans have refused to relent academically although they face numerous political, economic and social challenges. Provision of adequate academic facilities, conducive reading environment, experimental facilities, further encouragement of education in Africa through numerous ways especially awarding of scholarship, elimination of corrupt practices in the educational sector are the dreams of the African child.
Moreover, the continent ‘Africa’ is not just bandied about all over the world because she is the second largest continent but also because she is highly endowed with natural resources in other words crude oil (Nigeria), tin (Nigeria) gold (South Africa) are found in large magnitude in Africa. Nevertheless, despite all these endowment, Africa still swims in the ocean of unstable economic situation.
This has drastically affected the lives of Africans giving room for the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer and is automatically affecting the people’s standard of living not excluding their children. The rate of poverty in Africa has affected the life of the African child to the extent that many now refer the poverty as a ‘disease’. With all the attentions of the African focused on conquering poverty and hustles for survival, less care and attention is given to their child. The African child looks forward to the day Africa would stand up to her feet and tackle her economic problems. It is the dream of an African child to live in an environment that is capable of providing for all his needs, an environment that is economically empowered for a comfortable living.
Freedom is the right to do what you want or say what you want without anyone stopping you. It is one aspect of life that cannot escape from the heart of the African child. Nelson Mandela, an African icon who will never be forgotten because he frowned vigorously against the oppression rendered to his people, also Nnamdi Azikiwe was a selfless Nigerian who fought so hard for the freedom of Africa. It is the dream of an African child never to let the labor of their heroes past to be in vain.
The dreams to continue until his efforts are crowned with success. The African child dreams for the day he would be given the right to speak his opinions and make his own decisions, the day he would be given due respect as a citizen of Africa. He believes that when all these are given to him, there would no longer be cases of child abuse and child labor in Africa. The African child seeks for the right to be provided for, the right to shielded away from dangers when such occurs.
Furthermore, the constant outburst of certain diseases in Africa has been a threat to the lives of the inhabitants ranging from the old down to the children, the rate at which most of these diseases claim the lives of the Africans has left many question unanswered. Diseases and infections are major obstacles the African child face in the manifestation of his dreams, therefore it is not farfetched that one of the dreams of an African child is to live in an environment that is free from diseases and infections. The elimination of diseases and infections in Africa would further promote an interactive environment for the growth and comfort of the child because in such environment the child would not be afraid to socialize with one another because of one communicable disease or the other.
I am an African child. Development and civilization, improvement in educational sector, stable economic situation, freedom and elimination of diseases are all my dreams.
By
IGWEONU CHIAMAKA
Command Day Secondary School Enugu