Dare to Dream: The re-birth of a nation

By Muyiwa Akinyosoye

"Dare to Dream" is an inspiring and thought-provoking fictional narrative that explores themes of leadership, patriotism, and national transformation within the context of Nigeria. By depicting a country at a crossroads, facing challenges to its dignity and purpose, the story offers a vision of hope and renewal through visionary leadership and the collective efforts of its citizens.
The narrative delves into the complexities of nation-building, highlighting the importance of collaboration between leaders and citizens in overcoming obstacles and driving progress. Through the characters and their experiences, readers are likely to be drawn into a world where the power of collective action and unwavering determination leads to the revitalization of a nation once deemed to be in decline.
By presenting Nigeria's journey from struggle to success over a span of 50 years, "Dare to Dream" offers a compelling narrative of resilience, optimism, and the potential for positive change. It aims to inspire readers to envision a future where their own countries can undergo similar transformations, becoming beacons of hope and prosperity.
Overall, "Dare to Dream" appears to be a captivating tale that encourages readers to reflect on the possibilities for national renewal and the role each individual can play in shaping the destiny of their country.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 26, 2024
• ISBN: 9798369418581

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Copyright © 2024 by Muyiwa Akinyosoye.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 04/09/2024

Xlibris

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CONTENTS

1. The Hustle and Bustle

2. Perspective on Nigeria’s Infrastructure.

3. The Beginning

4. Project Saturn

5. The Vision

6. Africa’s New China Awaits

7. The Opportunity

8. Serendipity

9. The Journey

10. Vision 2050

11. Thinking Outside the Box

12. Pedestrian Start

13. The Decade of Hope

14. The Visionary Leader

15. Baku’s Administration

16. Financial Engineering

17. The Years of Progress

18. Light At The End

Characters

"Where there is no vision, the people peris; but he that

keepeth the law, happy is he"…Proverbs 29:18(KJV)

1

The Hustle and Bustle

A microcosmic introduction to the day-day of the Lagos working class.

I t was another sweltering and humid morning in the bustling city of Lagos, Nigeria. The rainfall from the previous night had left its mark, casting a shadow over the day ahead with anticipated challenges such as heavy traffic and other unforeseen obstacles looming in the minds of its inhabitants.

In the bustling metropolis of over 20 million inhabitants, drainage issues have perennially plagued the city. Despite efforts to educate and manage the populace about the harmful effects of littering, these endeavors have often fallen short. The arrival of rainy seasons exacerbates the problem, as litter carried by runoff accumulates in the numerous open drains lining the streets, leading to blockages and subsequent overflow. Consequently, these factors contribute to sporadic instances of localized flooding, marring the city’s landscape intermittently.

Today began like any other for Uche, who reluctantly rose from bed moments after her alarm pierced the early morning silence. With the clock on her wall reading 5:10 am, she groggily made her way out of the room and stumbled towards the kitchen. Every muscle in her body yearned for the awakening embrace of coffee, and that’s precisely where her bleary-eyed journey led her – to the coffee pot.

As Uche parted her kitchen blinds, remnants of the early morning rain still clung to the surroundings. Mesmerized by raindrops cascading off her neighbor’s rooftop, she found herself rooted to the spot, oblivious to the boiling kettle’s increasing whistle in the background. Gradually, the kettle’s shrill tone drew her back to reality, prompting her to swiftly prepare a cup of instant coffee to kickstart her day.

With coffee in hand, she ventured back towards her room, contemplating the impending challenges of the morning commute. Thoughts of navigating through traffic and the unpredictable road conditions sparked a surge of energy within her. Aware that delaying her departure from the mainland would mean facing horrendous traffic, she quickly tuned her bedside radio to Cool FM 96.9, hoping for updates on traffic conditions. Realizing she already knew what to expect, she wasted no time and headed straight for a warm shower, determined to tackle the day head-on.

_____________________________________________

Uche Madu held the position of Chief Accountant at an esteemed accounting firm situated in downtown Lagos. The firm, Caxton Consulting & Chartered Accountants, was spearheaded by the dynamic and spirited CEO, Tunde Caxton, who boasted considerable popularity among the younger generation of Lagosian. Renowned for its unwavering reputation, particularly within corporate circles, Caxton Consulting was a source of pride for Uche, who played a pivotal role in establishing its widespread recognition.

Since her graduation from the University of Lagos, Uche Madu had seamlessly blended her dedication to her job at a downtown accounting firm with rigorous preparation for her professional exams. The desire to append Chartered to her name had been a driving force since her final years as an Accounts major. It was a distinction she wore with immense pride, often peppering her conversations with references to her designation. In her interactions with potential clients, Uche’s status as a chartered accountant lent weight to her recommendations, earning her respect and trust in the industry. Her journey from university straight into the workforce had been marked by relentless pursuit of excellence.

When she crossed paths with Tunde in 2010, the nascent CEO of Caxton Consulting, she recognized in him a kindred spirit – someone passionate about his fledgling company yet struggling to find team members who shared his vision. Tunde faced challenges in delegating crucial tasks like brand development and business expansion to individuals who failed to exhibite the requisite intelligence, articulation, and ambition to propel his vision forward.

Uche, with her confident demeanor and clear career goals, stood out during her interview with Tunde. Her academic achievements, coupled with her ambitious outlook, convinced Tunde that she was the perfect fit for his company. Her arrival sparked a cultural shift within the firm, inspiring even the more seasoned employees to raise their performance levels. Uche’s rapid ascent to the position of Senior Accountant within four years underscored her exceptional work ethic and ability to deliver results.

Within two years of joining Caxton Consulting, Tunde knew he had made a shrewd decision by bringing Uche on board. Her contributions were invaluable, and her impact on the company’s success was undeniable. Today, Uche remains a cornerstone of Caxton Consulting, her influence and prowess continuing to strengthen the firm’s standing in the industry.

_____________________________________________

Glancing at her watch with a sense of urgency, Uche hastily grabbed her keys at 6:30 am, chastising herself for taking longer than intended to get ready. With a quick dial to her friend, Tinu, who shared her carpool, she ensured they were synchronized for their regular pickup.

Tinu, a civil engineer, and longtime friend from their childhood days in Festac, worked in the same office building as Uche. They were not only university mates at Unilag but also bonded by their shared upbringing. Tinu’s work at an infrastructure and finance company involved in engineering design and developing financial models to support project funding—a unique business model with significant involvement in the infrastructure sector.

Hey, Tinu, I’m heading out, Uche announced as she briskly approached her car.

Considering the rain last night and potential for micro-floods, we need to hit the road before the traffic becomes unbearable.

I’ll be at the usual spot in 10 minutes, Uche, Tinu replied promptly.

Thanks, dear; see you soon, Uche responded before ending the call.

Embarking on the journey from Ikeja to Tinu’s location typically took around 10 to 15 minutes via inner roads. Despite encountering a few red lights and intersections along the way, traffic wasn’t too congested. Uche navigated through the roads cautiously, avoiding potholes and areas of stagnant water.

You never know what’s lurking beneath these waters, she muttered to herself, mindful of the potential hazards.

The last thing I need now is a flat tire, she remarked, coming to a slow halt at a red-light intersection.

With Tinu just five minutes away and the clock in her car reading 6:39 am, Uche remained focused on staying ahead of the morning traffic. As she reached for the radio, she swiftly tuned it to Cool FM, hoping for some reassuring updates on the traffic situation.

While the news from the radio wasn’t entirely encouraging, it did provide a degree of solace, especially when the announcer occasionally provided updates on traffic conditions across the city. The last update had mentioned relatively smooth traffic flow in most areas, with only gradual congestion building up, particularly on the Third Mainland Bridge.

Approaching the designated pick-up spot, Uche spotted Tinu and pulled up beside her, allowing her friend to get into the car.

How are you, sis? Good morning! Uche greeted warmly as Tinu carefully eased herself into the car, deftly avoiding the small puddles of water that dotted the pick-up zone.

"I dey O! Tinu replied, settling into her seat and fastening her seatbelt. Let’s hit the road before the traffic on Third Mainland starts building up."

You don’t have to tell me twice, Uche responded, stepping on the gas as they made their way down the link road to rejoin the main thoroughfare leading to Third Mainland.

Tinu couldn’t resist the urge to vent her frustrations, a habitual response whenever things seemed out of place. The aftermath of heavy rainfall always laid bare the true state of the roads, and that morning was no exception. Tinu couldn’t ignore the glaring evidence of deteriorating road conditions, amplified by the recent downpour. Potholes seemed more pronounced than ever, sending jolts through the car and rattling their bodies—a stark reminder of their location: Nigeria, in case they had momentarily forgotten.

Nigeria has long grappled with the consequences of neglected infrastructure, particularly its deteriorating roads. The root of this pervasive issue, as many who have witnessed years of neglect can attest, lies in chronic underfunding and a lack of maintenance at both the state and federal levels of government.

Tinu harbored a deep disdain for the sorry state of the country’s infrastructure. Whenever the topic arose, she couldn’t help but voice her frustrations, earning herself a reputation among colleagues and friends as a vocal critic of the status quo.

Uche braced herself for the inevitable as Tinu settled into the car. Her impassioned rants about the urgent need for improved infrastructure were as predictable as they were fervent. Tinu made no secret of her belief that, as a tax-paying member of society, she deserved better—and she wasn’t shy about sharing that sentiment with anyone who would listen.

As they navigated through their usual route, passing by notorious bottlenecks and steadily approaching their destination, Uche and Tinu couldn’t ignore the smooth ride they were experiencing. However, their optimism was dampened by the growing traffic congestion on the Third Mainland Bridge—an ominous sign of the chaos that awaited them.

The impending rush hour madness in Lagos loomed large in their minds, a reminder of the inevitable hectic morning ahead.

At least the journey hasn’t been as bad as I had thought, Uche remarked, breaking the tense silence.

Thank God for that, Tinu replied, though her unease was palpable, especially as she observed overflowing gutters and drainage systems along the way.

Why! WHY!! Tinu exclaimed, her frustration boiling over. Why can’t we just get our infrastructure and this country in order? Why?

Uche glanced at her friend, taken aback by the sudden outburst.

Why what? she asked, puzzled by Tinu’s intensity.

Why can’t we see that we don’t have another country to call home? Tinu continued passionately. This isn’t some temporary arrangement where we can simply pack up and leave when things get too difficult. This is our home, our only home.

What do you mean? Uche inquired, sensing the gravity of Tinu’s words.

Isn’t it painfully obvious? Tinu responded. We’re a country blessed with abundant human and natural resources, yet we suffer due to mismanagement and poor governance.

It’s heartbreaking to see hardworking people struggling to commute to work, forced to navigate through puddles of water on streets like Kenny Street because of inadequate drainage and poor road conditions, Tinu lamented. Why is it so difficult to allocate resources where they’re needed most, for the benefit of everyone? It’s not too much to ask, especially when taxes are collected purportedly for this very reason.

Tinu’s impassioned rant continued unabated. How is it that places like modern-day Dubai can provide top-notch amenities such as quality roads and reliable power supply for its citizens in less than 25 years of aggressive investment, yet we seem unable to achieve the same? Instead of investing in improving our infrastructure, we opt to buy bigger cars like SUVs, (rolling her eyes as she mentioned the word) to navigate the pothole-ridden roads, a solution that reflects more foolishness and a poverty mindset than anything else.

She paused, taking a breath before delving deeper into her analogy.

When I look at the deplorable state of things in our country, the only comparison I can draw is to a house -i.e., Nigeria - owned by its inhabitants but constantly being dismantled and sold for scrap due to corruption. Yet, somehow, we hold onto this misguided belief that the house—or what’s left of it—will remain habitable at the end of the carnage.

Uche nodded, absorbing the gravity of Tinu’s words. That’s actually a profound analogy, Tinu. I’ve never considered it in that light, but it’s undeniably powerful. The dismemberment of the house, akin to corruption, is indeed what’s happening, and the sooner we all realize this, the better chance we have of salvaging what’s left.

Exactly, Tinu agreed. But you mentioned that we deserve better infrastructure as taxpayers. While that’s true, we must also acknowledge that the current state of underinvestment in infrastructure is not solely due to corruption. It’s also a result of a lack of capital, which can be attributed to the unsustainable welfare and social programs the country has implemented over the years.

Uche continued her contemplation, delving into the complexities of Nigeria’s socio-economic landscape.

Consider the petrol subsidy that the federal government persists in implementing, she began. "While successive administrations have attempted to educate the public