RE: Akunyili Condemns Use of 'Naija' in Place of Nigeria
Igietseme, Joseph (CDC/OID/NCEZID)
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Subject: Re: [NIgerianWorldForum] Akunyili Condemns Use of ‘Naija’ in Place of Nigeria
Chineke, Nigeria rulers go kill man o!!! Now Dora, whom I respected a great deal on account of her work at NAFDAC is also losing the plot big big time. For God sake, why and how will the lot of the country be impaired by the use of the word Naija! And how will our lot be improved by the banning of the word Naija??
New York is proud of being called "The Big Apple", Australians are happy to refer to their country as "Oz", the Chileans patriotic chant of Chi Chi Chi, Le Le Le is done with passion. Ingerland Ingerland Ingerland rings out of the stand from English fans when England is playing, Blighty, is another variation on Britain. And there are so many other endearing terms coined by the citizens of various countries or places to refer to their countries and provided that it is not a derogatory term, why in God's name will any sane person waste time, money and effort fighting it.
Dora, had you asked me, I would have, free of charge, coined a jingle for you on your rebranding mission using the various terms used nowadays to refer to Nigeria. What about-
"Wether you call am Naija,
Or na 9ja,
Nigeria na our own.
Let's pull it together, e ma je ko ja." (Don't let it break)m
Dora, please do something better for God's sakes.
Sent from my BlackBerry smartphone from Virgin Media
Somebody remind me again; how exactly again did this woman become a professor?
I can understand how she became a minister. After all, being smart is not a requirement for the job.
How is it offensive to refer to Nigeria as Naija? Now, she wants to write to companies to stop using the word. Great idea! While you are it Prof, try reading that portion of the Constitution on freedom of speech.
Apparently, she is the only one who still believes in her rebranding project. We all can see what positive impact it has had on Naija's(oops, I meant Nigeria's) image. Good people, great nation and goofball public office holders!
EOU.
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone from Zain Nigeria
Akunyili Condemns Use of ‘Naija’ in Place of Nigeria
From Paul Obi in Abuja, 11.15.2010
The Federal Government has condemned in strong terms the use of “Naija” in place of Nigeria, saying that such usage is “very uncharitable and unpatriotic”.
Minister of Information and Communication, Prof. Dora Akunyili, made the remarks while receiving the participants of Heir Apparent Reality Show in her office in Abuja yesterday.
Akunyili, who frowned on the continuous misrepresentation of the country's official name in place of a “corrupt” version, said: "It is very offensive to call Nigeria ‘Naija’. We are making plans to write companies to stop using the word Naija. I have heard that name Naija in adverts. I want them to go back and remove that word.
"If anybody says this is Naija, ask the person, 'Where is Naija?' We have to stop this word because it is catching up with the young. If we don't put a stop to its usage now, it will continue to project us wrongly.”
The minister's condemnation was prompted by a sentence in the presentation of the visiting group where “our world is Naija” was inserted.
Akunyili, who fervently spoke against the use of the word, ordered that the sentence be removed from the programme and changed to “our world is Nigeria”.
“Naija” is obviously a Nigerianised form of Niger, from where Nigeria derived its name.
The word is popularly used by musicians, artistes, advert managers and corporate companies and it could be positive or negative, although it is being used more positively in recent times.
It is believed to be trendier and is used by the younger generation.
Though no official condemnation of the word has been made, several reports have warned of the consequence of the usage of such words among the youths.
Earlier, the minister commended the group for what she called patriotic creativity in their new jingles, saying: "This is the greatest success we have recorded in the rebranding Nigeria project."
She further assured the participants that the ministry would ensure that its jingles on rebranding project were replaced with the ones on Heir Apparent once the correction on the Naija word was effected.
Also speaking, Bonat Tagwi, who represented the Director General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr Idi Farouk, sponsors of the reality show, said the programme was meant to replicate government's effort towards the young, whereby the ideals of leadership would be inculcated on them
Eke, Maureen Ngozi
My goodness! Is there no end to the stupidity of the leadership? It is the case of too much time for contemplating ways of politicizing their foolishness. Does she desperately need that much attention, public praise, self re-authentication? The house is burning down under our noses and we are busy worrying about who called us what names or what we have been calling ourselves?
Are they using Naija as the official name or informally? The implications of the two usage are different ofcourse. I suppose she can run around the country and censor everyone who uses it in their homes. hmm! So, now what? ARREST! YOU SAID “NAIJA?”
It would be productive if she could address the negative posters standing in my banks warning people to report when they have received invitations from Nigeria or Nigerians for bank transfers, funds, etc. I also want her to do something to ask those idlers claiming to lead us, including her, to return or funds from oversea banks. They are responsible for the bad image. Guilt! They give me more headaches than the use of “Naija” by Nigerians for that matter. Since she is so bent on rebranding Nigeria, it would help me if she could do something to clean up the internal and external images of Nigeria—airport madness in Nigeria, being asked to open up my suitcase when the foreigner or “money madam or baba” who came on the same flight with me walks past the screening, undisturbed. Who cares that you are a Professor. Professor my foot! Go chop your books ke! And, what has she been doing to improve our national sense of self, besides talking about it? All talk and no bite. Abeg, make she go rest! It is the hour of political maneuvering and she is at it, all to obfuscate the issues and distract us. Don’t buy this hype! She needs something new.
Maureen
Maureen N. Eke, Ph.D
Professor of English
Central Michigan University
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859
989-774-1087 (direct line)
989-774- 3171(main office)
989-774-1271 (fax)
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Olabode Ibironke
Is it not the case that Naija has its origins in pidgin English? Naija as the pidgin name for Nigeria? If so, that adds another dimension to the debate, I think.
Bode
Chuma Nwokolo
Its use appears to be familiar, rather than offensive. It is quite at home, for instance, in a Pidgin English conversation, and if Queen Elizabeth cannot complain about the spin we put on English words, neither should the Minister about the nicknames we give our own country. 'Naija' does not threaten the official designation of the Federal Republic, so this appropriation of nation by nationals is not really the business of government. 'Nigeria' was not coined by a Nigerian but 'Naija' has the flavour of the Nigerian street.
Seek another crusade, Madam Minister.
Ifedioramma E. Nwana
Certainly Nigeria is in very, very bad state. I agonize daily on the state of things and the fate of my brothers and sisters who roam aimlessly on our streets, young men and women who have the capability and could contribute to the development of this God-given country but who the political situation does not allow even to think straight not to talk of productively. But can we correct the rot overnight? Let us begin to accommodate efforts made by people, no matter where they are and what positions they hold. Efforts that are intended, even if only intended, to stimulate us to think and take actions that would lift this country to expected positions: in agriculture and food security, in sports, in academics, in industry, in politics, in health care, you name it.
From: "Eke, Maureen Ngozi" <eke...@cmich.edu>
To: usaafric...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Tue, 16 November, 2010 19:29:10
Subject: RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series - RE: Akunyili Condemns Use of 'Naija' in Place of Nigeria
eiwe...@hunter.cuny.edu
2.It is true that there are lot challenges of development facing Nigeria today. However, it is also true that Nigeria has made modest but significant strides since independence in various spheres of societal development. It is not where it ought to be because of the reformist-conservative political ans ideological settlement under which it attained independence. If Nigeria had entered independence under the leadership of a radical nationalist movement with a different political and ideological orientation the story would have been different. Instead given the complexity of Nigeria and the interest of the external party at independence, Nigeria inherited a leadership that had no agenda and that tried to develop the country not from holistic self-designed and self-actuated visions, strategies and goals, but by the acceptance and application of the dogmas, diktats and prescriptions of their presumably superior foreign masters.
3. As part of the challenges of nation-building Nigerians have gone through several crises. But they have also in process generated creative philosophies and solutions such as "Federal Character" "Wazobia" "Naija" etc. These are not all negatively conceived or used. Anyone who claims that "Naija" is only used negatively is clearly out of touch with the usage and perceptions of the younger generation of contemporary Nigerian cultural and creative performers. Any elementary familiarity with the work of these young musicians, artists, actors, and comedians will show that they often use these terms in more nuanced ways: as celebratory and critical; as a reference to a challenging and success breeding environment; as reflecting the distinctiveness, smartness, intelligence, drive and ambition of Nigerians. Therefore these terms are not only used negativley.
4. It is possible that Nigerians of the late colonial and early independence generation who see all things Nigerian as negative may be worried about the use of the term, "NAIJA". But a deep look suggests that the term "Naija" is a good example of a classic product of Nigerian social thought: a delphic formula that in this case is simultaneously a term of endearment to Nigeria as well as a term of self-criticism when necessary. The emerging ecumenical Nigerian consciousness is able retain both dispositions toward Nigeria both without going schizophrenic. It is very different from the one-dimensional self-flagellation of the happy anti-Nigeria cohorts.
NAIJA forever.!!!!
Ehiedu Iweriebor
michael ilesanmi
Nigeria is naija and naija is Nigeria!!!!!!! Please.
On Dec 3, 2010 8:50 AM, "Ifedioramma E. Nwana" <ien...@yahoo.com> wrote:
Dear All,I think there is some missunderstanding here. Certainly there would be no problem in giving an endearing nick-name to a country, a place or a person. Can you really compare the use of Naija with the use of God's Own Country? How did the nick-name Yankee for Americvans originate? I have not heard Naija used for Nigeria in endearing circumsatances. In ALL occasions I have heard people use Naija for Nigeria it had been to illustrate the unseriousness, or even insincerity if you will, of affairs in this country. By the use of Naija, we seem to say that ANYTHING would pass! There are sayings that what one calls his dog that it would ansewer or that if one pointed to the grave of one's father with the left hand children would turn it into a rubbish heap!
Certainly Nigeria is in very, very bad state. I agonize daily on the state of things and the fate of my brothers and sisters who roam aimlessly on our streets, young men and women who have the capability and could contribute to the development of this God-given country but who the political situation does not allow even to think straight not to talk of productively. But can we correct the rot overnight? Let us begin to accommodate efforts made by people, no matter where they are and what positions they hold. Efforts that are intended, even if only intended, to stimulate us to think and take actions that would lift this country to expected positions: in agriculture and food security, in sports, in academics, in industry, in politics, in health care, you name it.If you think that Dora is gasping and grasping any straw according to her imagination, she did not cause the cesspool in which we all now find ourselves. It is only by collective and sacrificing effort that we can get out. Picking holes and the use of expressions that put ourselves down in whatever form will not help us. Quite often I find myselgf overwhelmed contemplating the problems of Nigeria caused by Nigerians. How can one, for instance, continue to still from public coffers. amounts of money that is clear to him/her that he/she CANNOT use for any good or evil in three-ten lifetimes. Then the money is dumped in another country where it is used by the citizens of that country! There are many more mind buggling and dizzying actions by our brothers and sisters who should use our commonwealth for the benefit of all!!! We complained of the Excesses of Paliamentarians, taken in brown envelops. The Soldiers came and Grabbed with gana-must-go bags. Now we are faced with assemblies that scoup with bullion vans! What to do? I AM AT MY WITS END.PLEASE PRAY FOR STRENGTH TO DO THE RIGHT THING WHEN THE TIME COMES!!!Ifedioramma Eugene Nwana Ph.D., FESN, KSM, JP (Justice of Peace)Professor of Agriculture & Economic Entomology (rtd)
From: "Eke, Maureen Ngozi" <eke...@cmich.edu>
To: usaafric...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Tue, 16 November, 2010 19:29:10
Subject: RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series - RE: Akunyili Condemns Use of 'Naija' in Place of Nigeria
My goodness! Is there no end to the stupidity of the leadership? It is the case of too much time f...
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