About Ayo
Ayo Ojebode is ordinarily a lecturer in the Department of Communication and Language Arts, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. He's now a fellow at the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences (NIAS), Wassenaar, Holland. At NIAS, he’s trying to complete his research into media and the memory of dictatorial rule. For Ayo, Holland is full of paradoxes - from being lavishly frugal to attractively disgusting. You can be sure Ayo will not hold back with his frank and humorous insight into the Dutch way of life.
It took me about 30 minutes to cycle from Wassenaar to Leiden. But it took me another 35 minutes to get to Leiden Central Station. I kept losing my way at those numerous Leiden intersections. Some policeman tried to help me: “Keep going straight and you’ll get there," he said. But shortly after leaving him, I got to a T-junction! How do you keep going straight at a T-Junction? I missed my train and had to wait for another 30 minutes.
By Ayobami Ojebode
My return trip was easier. My friend’s dad had given me a piece of wisdom: "If you are cycling anywhere in Holland, just follow those white and red signs. They are for cyclists." I followed the signs and they led me straight back home, close to my doorstep.
As I cycled back, I could not stop thinking that some good people sat down many years ago, and designed those bicycle paths and signs for me. Those signs are such a blessing. In Holland, I concluded, there is something for everyone: walkway for the pedestrian, bike path for the cyclist, roads, waterways, train tracks. There are even paths for horses and dogs in Wassenaar! Someone has planned something for everyone.
Of course, comfort has its disadvantages. It means people have very little to struggle with and may soon forget to struggle. Just thinking: could some of the youth problems in Holland be the result of too much comfort? For instance, RIVM recently announced that Dutch youngsters drink more than their peers in most other European countries; and someone had to install “teen repellents” in some Dutch cities to prevent youths from loitering around on the streets and making nuisance of themselves.
Worse still, a recent study shows that Dutch youths are likely to start using marijuana before they turn 13, though the age for legal purchase of marijuana is 18. Therefore, whilst thanking Holland for those blessed signs, I think there is need to do something about youth idleness and nuisance. (Well, of course, in countries where life is harsh, youths still make nuisance!)
Cycling back that day, I also thought of Nigeria to which I must soon return. We struggle for everything. We struggle to get on the bus, and to get off. We don’t have walkways in most cities and so, animals, beggars, pedestrians, cyclists (okada), car drivers, bus drivers, tanker drivers struggle over the same piece of poor road. There are no timetables for buses — so you can’t miss your bus since you never had one. Nigerians are hustlers. In Holland students ask each other, “How’s study?” In Nigeria, students ask “How are you surviving?” As if life is warfare or a plague.
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yes!!! while i was growing, i learnt by heart that "struggle continues, victory is certain" may be it should have read, victory continues, struggle is certain, what do you think?
Sincerely,life is not all about comfort. Hardships and struggles toughen us and bring out the best in us. It's when raw gold is refined in fire that it becomes what everyone desires. It has been discovered that a student who is of average performance in Nigeria usually,becomes the best student abroad. That is what Nigeria has made of us. However we can make do with some comforts and conveniences. Thanks for your write ups. I enjoy them. See you soon, sir.
Welcome back to Holland,
I was just going through my Google Reader list and I noticed you had already put up 4 blogs.
It is always interesting to read your perspectives of a place I have lived in for over 11 years and sometimes do not notice.
However, on the matter of signs, I decided to ride from Amsterdam to Zaanvoort a few months ago and had in my mind's eye that I had to go through Haarlem to Zandvoort.
I did follow the signs and my word, I did end up in the most peculiar places, all in the direction of Haarlem but unnecessarily directionless at best.
On my way back from Zandvoort, I took another route only to realise that the cycle path from Zandvoort to Amsterdam with literally one straight road beside the main road cutting my almost 35km outbound trip to just under 26km.
The lesson; the signs are good but they do not offer the best, shortest and most direct route to your destination.
My next trip to Zandvoort was just pleasure, I knew how to get there once I got on to that straight road.
Thanks for sharing.
A typical African works better under an adverse condition!
I do not know how long it took Holland to get here, may be it was once bad and cruelly unorganised like the Nigeria of today. This can bring a ray of hope that Nigeria will 'soon get there'. At the same time, that idleness among the youths in Holland can come when one is in affluence. If you take a serious Nigerian Youth to such a country, he or she will work and work to make money and build towers in his or her village (remember the Aba Boys in Onitsha, Alaba and Computer Village in Lagos). I think above all, Nigeria must learn simple organisation of transportation as obtained in the developed countries.
Indeed, there are lots of lessons to draw from countries like this. This shows the impact of effective planning and reasoning
that facilitate development. But, how do we explain the case with Nigeria that is blessed with abundant human and natural resources?
Again, the situation in Nigeria is an explicit reflection of inappropriate
policies, policy makers or even policy implementations. Anyway,let's continue to pray, work and hope that we shall one day, have
Leaders that will have sincere intentions toward the people and the country at large. Hope indeed!
Reading this piece, i realsed that every place or country has its perculiar problems. What you described about dutch youths happen here as well. Yes, it may not be a general problem but the children of our politians do thesame every time.
As per Nigerians being used to struggling, that is also true. However, this has helped our youths very well when they have opportunity to leave the shore of their fatherland, they put in every effort ,coupled with fact that they have necessary facilities at their disposal, they excel more than people like the dutch youths who do not know how to 'survive'.
One thing i am sure of is that planning is an integral part of development process. Your writing on Holland brings one vital lesson home-if policy makers are ignorant of their responsibilty, then the future generation is more billed to suffer more deprivation than what we havw now.I am quite sure that resources needed to transform Nigeria is abundant than what Netherland has. I am excited that you are drawing out vital lessons on good and responsible governance for policy makers at home. However, it is also clear that individuals can pick wisdom from the lessons too. Thanks
Have been following your write ups sir. very inspiring. I understand something before and after reading all these. Civilization, comfort, development and other tangibles that can make our country great is already in us.I dont see myself struggling but facing challenges that can bring out the creativity in me. if we can be this challenged in this nation and striving no matter how little, every nigerian youths should be the best in whatever they do anywhere in the universe. discomfort and comfort alike can be equally abused.
From this publication and the previous ones, I have realised that every continent, country, race has problems peculiar to them. However, the difference is in how people handle these problems. My only prayer is that Nigeria gets better.
Life is warfare!
I am beginning to believe that virtually every place on this planet earth is better than Nigeria
The mataphoric reference between NIgeria and Holland is a strong one. Lack of provision of signs for pedestrians, okada,bike etc coupled with the inability to of drivers and pedestrians to "read" the few road signs have resulted to carnage on the highways. Holland is a nation that needs saving just like our dear nation Nigeria.We need to say a prayer for the youth.
The mataphoric reference between NIgeria and Holland is a strong one. Lack of provision of signs for pedestrians, okada,bike etc coupled with the inability to of drivers and pedestrians to "read" the few road signs have resulted to carnage on the highways. Holland is a nation that needs saving just like our dear nation Nigeria.We need to say a prayer for the youth.
The mataphoric reference between NIgeria and Holland is a strong one. Lack of provision of signs for pedestrians, okada,bike etc coupled with the inability to of drivers and pedestrians to "read" the few road signs have resulted to carnage on the highways. Holland is a nation that needs saving just like our dear nation Nigeria.We need to say a prayer for the youth.
wao, l got shocked when l read that a dutch police man misled you, as organized as they are? l never thought any one would have any problem with their force(s), police or waht have you. may be l was decieved by the things l see on the tv. well, good you have it easier getting back home. most descriptions are always 'just keep going straight.' little wonder a corper friend during our service year in offa came back and asked me what 'taratara' (straaaiiiggghht) meant, cos he was told to keep going straight to get to his destination. anyway, for the beauty of getting back with ease, it is all about planning like you noted, which l think Nigeria will achieve SOMEDAY. it will take a lot but we will get there. if we fail, our children will not. greetings to the "dutchian" friends.
Dr Ojebode, that is Nigeria. Nigerians survive in hardship. When there is too much comfort, the tendency is for you to relax and sit back. Life is full of ups and downs and not of bed of roses. God allows his children to pass through red sea. However, Nigerians are made of special stuff. Our style is suffering and smiling. Surely, we shall survive and get there one day. It is never too late. Keep praying for Nigeria. There is need for stress.
How comforting that these white and red signs are not some of the "100 Most Stupid Signs in the World". Nigeria and other places where there are stupid signs (maybe even Holland too) should take note. Signs are really supposed to be helpful and not confusing!
How comforting that these are not some of the "100 Most Stupid Signs in the World". Nigeria and other countries (maybe even Holland too)should take note. Signs are really supposed to be these helpful and not confusing!
One keeps wondering if Nigerian leaders keep their eyes shut when they visit countries with facilities planned for every citizen.I am sure Dr Ojebode would never dream of cycling in his native country just because of the possible dangers from the jungle called 'roads' in Nigeria. The option to chose your mode of transportation is just one of the 'luxuries' Nigerian leaders have denied their citizens.
Are we sure this 'Nigeria-is-not-working-but-at least-it-gets-us-working-hard' is not a romanticisation of poverty and social lopsidedness? For me, Nigeria is not working (and that includes Lagos)and whatever advantages an overfed Dutch abuses, Nigerians are still worse off! When you live in a country where you are constantly worrying abt fuel in your gen, bad roads, bad Policeman and all that jazz, you cannot be productive. if a Dutch, with all the advantages he has cannot be made to do things, then imagine if he had been a Nigerian with all the social disadvantages! He would be WORSE. I agree comfort has its disadvantages but 'the-struggle-is-my-life' we are practicing in Nigeria has more disadvantages.
In fact, this is a heart-touching piece! It evokes in me a painful feeling about my country. Only Lagos is working here in Nigeria.
This is such a wonderful piece. One really never appreciates what he has until he sees both sides of the coin. I have no regrets being a Nigerian because at least I know I have some thinking to do about how I can contribute my quota in a displaced society. A friend of mine who just finished his masters in the U.K told me how organised the society was but also didnt stop lamenting about the downsides; no healthy relationships, nothing to think about and the feelings of depression he had being in a sane society! You dont need to worry about buying fuel in your generator, about getting a car because of the good transport system among other things. But reverse is the case in Nigeria. At least since our leaders havent done what they should have done when they should have, we should do what we can wherever we find ourselves. There are numerous opportunities for those who are willing to do something and not necessarily expecting anything in return from the government. The way forward is social entrepreneurship.
the paradoxes of life. God allows little struggles to keep us sane too
Thanks for 'signing on' with this concern. Recently in Kigali I thought I'd be clever and walk to a restaurant to meet friends. I got a map from the hotel and set out - eventually walking half a mile past my destination thinking 'It's just the next left turn.' Without street signs I had overshot my destination - at least the extra walk in the 1,000 hills built my appetite.
Disorganization has its price.so also is organization.either side,you always get the deviant,lazy and no-gooders.
Dr Ojebode,your piece reminds me of how unreliable a policeman can be in Nigeria.The surprise is that when our policemen go on foreign assignments,they perform well.Any other similarities between policemen in Nigeria and Holland?
Yes,comfort has its disadvantages.Teachers in elitist private secondary schools in Nigeria know how difficult it is getting students from rich homes to study.Too much comfort has turned them into lazy bones.Yet they expect to pass exams.
I often wonder when our roads will improve.I feel like crying each time I'm at Ogere tollgate on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.Tanker drivers park on the Federal highway and other road users can only watch the madness.That is Nigeria!
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