Were I the head of Nigeria’s National Orientation Agency I would commission Angela Merkel to come and do a six month tour of the country preaching modesty

Ayo Akinfe

[1] Nigerians are in denial about the fact that their vanity, ostentation and love for the flamboyant is one of the main causes of the country’s under-development. Misguided social values and misplaced priorities have led to a lot of our social-economic woes

[2] Surplus income that should be contributed to cooperative societies and then invested in job creation, industry, manufacturing and service provision is squandered on owambes, SUVs, private jets, parties in Dubai, amassing titles, etc

[3] If we were a lot more modest, this would free up capital for investment in key sectors of the economy. When I look at Pastor Iluyomade’s wife’s 60th birthday party, it just summarises everything that is wrong with Nigeria

[4] If the National Orientation Agency (NOA) brought the former German chancellor Angela Merkel to Nigeria and got her to tour all the 774 local government areas, preaching modesty, I believe it would help immensely. Our social values are hopelessly distorted and unprecedented corrective action needs to be taken to alter our mindset as a people

[5] During 16 years of power, Angela Merkel did not appoint any of her relatives to a state position and none of her loved ones claimed and privileges of benefits from the state as a result of her being in office

[6] She did not buy real estate, cars, yachts and private jets while she was Germany’s leader

[7] For 16 years, she never changed the style of her wardrobe. At a press conference, a journalist asked Merkel: ''We realize that you are wearing the same suit, don't you have another? She replied: “I am a civil servant, not a model.”

[8] At another press conference, they asked her: "Do You have a housemaid cleaning your house, preparing food, etc." Her response was: "No, I have no servants or need them. My husband and I do this work every day at home."

[9] Ms Merkel lives in a normal apartment like any other citizen. She lived in this apartment before being elected German chancellor. She did not leave it and she does not own a single villa, houses, swimming pool or garden

[10] Angela Merkel presided over Europe's largest economy and will always remain a great example of leadership, driven by values, selfless principles, facts and empathy. She is a true role model. For starters, greed breeds corruption, so Nigeria needs to start producing citizens (not just leaders), like her to get out of this economic rut