Nigeria Quotes

• Nigeria is not a nation. It is a mere geographical expression. There are no 'Nigerians' in the same sense as there are 'English,' 'Welsh,' or 'French.' The word 'Nigerian' is merely a distinctive appellation to distinguish those who live within the boundaries of Nigeria and those who do not.

  Obafemi Awolowo

  Expression, Politician, Boundaries

  357 Copy quote

• There is no country in the world with the diversity, confidence and talent and black pride like Nigeria.

  Binyavanga Wainaina

  Country, Pride, Diversity

  "Binyavanga Wainaina, Kenyan Author, Comes Out As Gay To Challenge Homophobic Laws", www.huffingtonpost.com. January 21, 2014.

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• The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership. There is nothing basically wrong with the Nigerian land or climate or water or air or anything else. The Nigerian problem is the unwillingness or inability of its leaders to rise to the responsibility, to the challenge of personal example which are the hallmarks of true leadership.

  Chinua Achebe

  Responsibility, Air, Land

  Chinua Achebe (1984). “The Trouble with Nigeria”, p.1, Heinemann

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• Nigeria is what it is because its leaders are not what they should be.

  Chinua Achebe

  Leader, Should, Nigeria Independence

  "Playing the power game", www.espn.com. July 4, 2008.

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• Change Won’t Happen Immediately, as Nigeria’s Problems Didn’t Start Overnight

  Mo Abudu

  Starting Over, Problem, Happens

  9 Copy quote

• We want to lead a country where people will be less greedy. Where people will know that the commonwealth of Nigeria belongs to all Nigerians, where people's wealth depends on the people around you. If you become a rich person and everyone around you is poor you are very poor.

  Goodluck Jonathan

  Country, People, Want

  Interview with Isha Sesay, www.cnn.com. September 30, 2010.

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• The worth of a child born and bred in Nigeria cannot be compared to that in the United States.

  Yakubu Gowon

  Children, Usa, United States

  61 Copy quote

• Nigeria has no business with poverty. With our human and material resources, we shall strive to eradicate poverty from our country.

  Olusegun Obasanjo

  Country, Poverty, Strive

  25 Copy quote

• To keep Nigeria ONE, is a task that must be DONE.

  Barack Obama

  Tasks, Done

  3 Copy quote

• Nigeria is one of the best-kept secrets.

  Aliko Dangote

  Best Kept Secrets, Secret, Kept Secrets

  51 Copy quote

• The work of making Nigeria great is not yet done, because I still believe that change is possible, this time through the ballot, and most importantly, because I still have the capacity and the passion to dream and work for a Nigeria that will be respected again in the comity of nations and that all Nigerians will be proud of.

  Muhammadu Buhari

  Dream, Believe, Passion

  41 Copy quote

• Even Jesus Christ cannot conduct a free and fair election in Nigeria.

  Olusegun Obasanjo

  Jesus, Election, Christ

  40 Copy quote

• To move Nigeria forward, we must define our interest in the Nigeria project

  Okey Ndibe

  Moving, Projects, Interest

  3 Copy quote

• Nigeria is so peculiar and dramatic. Even talking about the potentials before we talk about the negativities, Nigeria is a nation for perpetual study. I think in Nigeria, it is the potential which hits people and makes them believe in Nigeria. It tends to make them react when they see potentials being wasted and it is a tragedy to see potentials wasted. But paradoxically, it is a realization of the existence, that positive, that keeps many Nigerians and even foreign people going.

  Wole Soyinka

  Believe, Thinking, Talking

  Source: saharareporters.com

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• In Nigeria, there is energy, whether it is Lagos, which is sheer anarchy, but it is not lethargic. It is strong, even aggressive and if that energy could be directed to work it will produce really enormous results.

  Chinua Achebe

  Strong, Energy, Anarchy

  Source: www.ehlingmedia.com

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• I think I have become a very strong person. If you’re able to grow up in Nigeria and go through certain things, you’re able to tackle anything around the world because you’re able to live wherever, if you can survive in a city like Lagos or Warri or Niger Delta, as far as I’m concerned.

  Nneka

  Strong, Growing Up, Thinking

  "The Wrap Up" with Nonny Orakwue, www.mtv.co.uk. January 4, 2012.

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• I am a woman and a woman of Africa. I am a daughter of Nigeria and if she is in shame, I shall stayand mourn with her in shame.

  Buchi Emecheta

  Daughter, Shame, Mourn

  1982 Destination Biafra.

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• I think anyone who isn't investing in Nigeria is missing out. If you look at Nigeria today, literally all of the business class cabins are full of foreigners, because these guys see opportunity.

  Mo Abudu

  Opportunity, Thinking, Class

  Source: www.ebony.com

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• Let's say there are prospects for a new Nigeria, but I don't think we have a new Nigeria yet.

  Wole Soyinka

  Thinking, Prospects

  12 Copy quote

• The work of Nigeria is not complete for as long as there is any one Nigerian who goes to bed on empty stomach.

  Ibrahim Babangida

  Long, Bed, Empty

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• Nigeria has moved into low-middle-income, but their north is very poor, and the health care systems there have broken down.

  Bill Gates

  Broken, Income, Care

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• Nigeria is a West African nation of over 100 million energetic people. It is endowed with lots of natural resources but lacks human resources.

  Philip Emeagwali

  People, West, Natural

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• Nigeria is like everywhere, really: there are some beautiful places that have been invested in and others that haven’t been.

  Tinie Tempah

  Beautiful, Nigeria Independence, Havens

  "Tinie Tempah interview: 'It's a new day, a new age, a new outlook'" by Elizabeth Day, www.theguardian.com. February 12, 2011.

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• Each one of us, and, indeed, all those who aspire to national leadership must bring their own visions, views and styles to the business of reforming Nigeria, and the search for solutions.

  Ibrahim Babangida

  Views, Mind Your Own Business, Style

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• I was told stories, we were all told stories as kids in Nigeria. We had to tell stories that would keep one another interested, and you weren't allowed to tell stories that everybody else knew. You had to dream up new ones.

  Ben Okri

  Dream, Children, Kids

  "Ben Okri", www.theguardian.com. July 22, 2008.

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