I have come to perceive that a growing number of Nigerians lack ORIGINALITY, or a willingness to be ORIGINAL and AUTHENTIC. What is worse, is that rather than WORK HARD to build themselves up to overcome this inadequacy, they prefer to "wing it" (like the Americans would say) by "borrowing" ideas - and even the words - of others.

By this I mean they "bold facedly" take someone else's ideas (or exact words), which they may have read, or heard elsewhere and pass it off as their own. The people I refer to have NO respect whatsoever for intellectual property in any form. They do NOT abide by any code of ethics. In fact, some are "sincerely ignorant" of copyright laws governing how much of other people's works they can use, without getting permission from the owners!

The result is that many Nigerians feel no need to author their own original ideas and concepts, believing that whatever others have put down or created can be freely put to use. They therefore do not bother to expend intellectual energy developing themselves to be original and authentic - especially since there seems to be no penalty for abusing others people's copyright priviledges.

And that is one of the major reasons why standards have fallen so badly in Nigeria

Sometime in the last quarter of 2007, Yori Folarin (who is now with TV Continental) and Alero Edu, interviewed Ambassador Christopher Kolade on their Channels TV Saturday program. One of the last questions they asked him was what he thought about the STANDARD of broadcasting on Nigeria stations.

Kolade responded that most of the broadcasters he saw on TV, would never have been allowed to go on air in his time! He ended the interview by asking this rhetorical question: "Is there any place in Nigeria, where the standards are still standing up?".

Great question. And for the most part, the answer would be a BIG, FAT, "NO"!

NOTE: In case you were wondering, Christopher Kolade belongs to one of the early generation of broadcasters produced in Nigeria. He actually started out as a broadcaster, before later moving into management.

But I know one place where standards are still being held up high in Nigeria. It's Radio Continental 102.3 FM. Let's take an example. Whenever I listen to the Auto Medics segment of the Continental Breakfast Show on Radio Continental 102.3 FM, I KNOW what I hear Kunle, Ben and Mike say "on air" are their OWN ideas, in their own words.

You will NOT catch - and I can say this from having carefully "studied" their comments - any of them sounding like he is "reciting" someone else's description of a car part/component or its functions. They UNDERSTAND what they are talking about, and have no difficulty finding words to explain it in "simple English" for a non-technical person to grasp. They do not bamboozle their clients or audiences.

The Auto Medics experts communicate "meaning" to their listeners. That's why you cannot get BORED listening to them explain how your car works, how it should work, and what possible causes may be preventing it from working normally.

These guys have a MASTERY of both the theoretical and the practical aspects of the subject they discuss. But they recognise that they need not intimidate those they serve/educate with that know-how. Instead, they choose to enlighten their listeners. Which explains why they are relentlessly called by Nigerians, even when their show is NOT on!

The words those gentlemen speak are very often their own original thoughts and conceptions. This makes them very interesting to listen to. It also proves they are competent, and have integrity.

(By the way, my special report in which I elaborate on my choice of Radio Continental 102.3 FM's Femi Sowolo - Host of the Continental Breakfast Show - as "SDAc's 2008 Most Listener Worthy Radio Presenter In Nigeria" will be published on my site on Tuesday 14th April 2009). Click here!

Now, if all the ranting I have so far done, has still not made clear the issue I am trying to highlight, let me be more blunt.

I am frequently nauseated when I hear - for instance - people on radio reading out - verbatim - content of newsletters and web pages they found via search engines etc. They are so lazy that they cannot even paraphrase the stuff they "borrow" from those sources. They blatantly abuse the copyrights priviledges of the original owners of the works they reproduce.

Ever listened to some presenters on radio/TV reading out what they call "entertainment news"? Lord help us! They just go on "speaking" using strange American expressions that NO Nigerian would ever consciously use in conversation or reporting. Which is what gives them away! The fact is, anyone who makes the effort will readily detect that they did NOT author that news.

Same happens in some columns in our newspapers. Verbatim news excerpts from other sources - usually media from developed societies - are used without ANY acknowledgement being given to the person who did all the hard work.

And then we have our own "speakers" (motivational, professional etc) who author books/articles - and speak - by borrowing extensively - way beyond what fits "fair use" - from other people's published works, without indicating so anywhere in the text.

Many Nigerians today have gotten used to doing this. Some experts or professionals asked to speak to an audience, or respond to questions, will bore their listeners with stilted, mechanical, verbatim recitations of what they read (or memorised) from reference documents they have access to.

That's why people who author creative works in Nigeria - especially written ones - suffer great lack of commensurate reward and recognition, compared to their counterparts in developed societies. For instance, do YOU know anyone who does song writing for a living in Nigeria? S/he will likely have a "long neck" from "hunger"! Yet, royalties are a major source of income for many people - some Nigerians - based in developed societies.

Has it ever occurred to you that Chinua Achebe still resides/works in the USA, and only visits Nigeria every now and then? Do you realise that people like him and Wole Soyinka got "made" because those in the developed societies appreciate their writings, and are prepared to pay them handsomely to do more, and even share what they know?

Do you really think either of these two (2) geniuses would ever have become financially comfortable - and professionally accomplished - if the people in the developed societies were like us, and had little or no regard for creative intellectual writing/works?

The obvious answer is NO.

Until MORE or us learn to be original in every aspect of our lives. Until we stop buying and selling educational certificates and results, instead of doing the hard work needed to qualify for them. Until we stop "stealing" ideas created by others. Until we learn to give commensurate credit - and reward - to the authentic creators of intellectual content in our societies.

Until we begin to openly rebuke those who FAIL to treat other people's intellectual works with respect, this country will CONTINUE to suffer a dearth of good quality intellectual capital. And THAT will prevent it from developing at the same pace as even its African neighbours.

Consider this thought for a moment: If Bill Gates had been born and brought up in Nigeria, would Microsoft have ever become what it is today?

What about Les Brown - who has been invited to speak in Nigeria in a forthcoming event? Would he have achieved the success he enjoys today, if he had started here in Nigeria, instead of the USA?

And new USA President Barak Obama? Would he have made anything close to the $2.5 million dollars he reportedly earned (according to CNN) last year from sales of his best selling books?

I would say a BIG "NO", in response to all those questions.

I am NOT convinced that Les Brown or even Obama with his direct African heritage, knows this TRUTH. That's because a lot of people from abroad, who get invited to speak out here do NOT realise (and they are not told) the systems in their countries that facilitate making a living the way they do are TOTALLY non-existent in THE Nigeria they have been invited to speak in!

But I would add that IF we change our ATTITUDES, those great achievements that seem to occur with startling regularity in the USA, and other developed societies, will NO LONGER be "impossible" here in Nigeria.

So, let me ask YOU: Are Those Ideas And Words You Share/Speak REALLY Yours? When next you want to write a book/article, or give a talk, ask yourself that question, and be sure to (a). Use fairly (b). Give due credit, where necessary, to your sources. THAT, I assure you, is what will prove that you are really intelligent!

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