We are Stronger Together
Nigeria is a big and beautiful country with many different people. We speak different languages, eat different foods, and celebrate different traditions. Some of us go to church, some go to the mosque, and some follow the ways of our ancestors. But no matter where we come from or what we believe, we are all Nigerians, we are citizens of the world, and we are all God's children.
Sometimes, people fight because they think their way is better than others or because they refuse to understand each other. Many years ago, Nigeria had a big civil war, just like the United States did a long time ago. Families were separated, and people suffered. In Rwanda, a terrible war happened because some people believed they were better than others. In Germany, people once fought because they hated people of another race and religion. But these countries learned that fighting only brings pain. Today, they work together to build their nations.
Nigeria and the world are better when we work as one. When we accept each other and make friends from different backgrounds, we create a happy and peaceful home for everyone. Imagine if your school only had one subject—wouldn’t that be boring? Just like different subjects make learning exciting, our differences make Nigeria and the world, special!
Here are some ways you can help make Nigeria a more united and loving country:
Make Friends from Different Backgrounds
If you see a classmate who speaks a different language at home, ask them to teach you a few words. You can also teach them a few words from your own language! During lunch, try sitting with different groups of classmates instead of always sitting with the same friends. When choosing teams in sports or group activities, mix up the teams so that people from different backgrounds work together.
Learn About Other Cultures
Try tasting different foods from other parts of Nigeria. Have you ever eaten amala and ewedu from the Yoruba people, banga and starch from the Itsekiris, tuwo shinkafa from the Hausa, or afang soup from the Efik? Ask your parents to let you try new dishes! Learn a traditional song or dance from a culture different from yours. Maybe a friend can teach you their favourite folk song. Ask your parents or teachers to tell you stories from different Nigerian ethnic groups. Many of them have interesting folktales and legends!
Respect Different Beliefs
If a friend is fasting during Ramadan, support them by not teasing them with food and encouraging them. If a Christian friend invites you to their Christmas celebration or a Muslim friend invites you for Eid, join in the fun and enjoy learning about their traditions. If someone believes in something different from you, don’t argue with them. Instead, listen and try to understand. We don’t all have to be the same to be friends!
Celebrate Unity Days in School
Work with your teacher to plan a “culture day” where students can wear traditional clothes, share food, and perform songs and dances from different Nigerian cultures. You can also organize a “Language Exchange” where students teach each other simple greetings in different Nigerian languages like Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Ibibio, Tiv, and more! Create a “Friendship Wall” in your class where students write positive messages about different Nigerian cultures.
Stop Unkind Words
If you hear someone say something mean about another tribe, religion, or group, say, “We are all Nigerians. Let’s respect each other.” If a friend tells a joke that makes fun of another ethnic group, remind them that words can hurt, and we should be kind to everyone. Also, if someone is being bullied because of where they are from, stand up for them and tell a teacher or an adult. Bullying is bad!
6. Be Proud of Nigeria’s Diversity
When you travel to another part of Nigeria, learn something new about the people there—how they greet, what they eat, or how they dress. Look up Nigerian heroes from different backgrounds. Did you know that Wole Soyinka (a Yoruba man) and Chinua Achebe (an Igbo man) are both famous writers? Or that Hilda Baci, a chef from Akwa Ibom, broke the world record for the longest cooking marathon? You can also draw or create an art project that shows how different Nigerian cultures come together to make our country beautiful.
When we do these things, we make Nigeria and the world, a happier and stronger place for everyone, now and in the future. So, let’s be kind, learn from each other, and work together. Because no matter where we come from, we are one!
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