**Until We Emancipate Our Minds, Nigeria Will Not Move Forward. The Timeless Warning of Fela Anikulapo Kuti** By Abayomi Odunowo. Over thirty years ago, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the afrobeats pioneer and activist, released the iconic song "Teacher Don’t Teach Me Nonsense." This piece, rich with satire and critique, called out the systemic failures and mental enslavement prevalent within our society a warning that feels more relevant today than ever. It forces us to examine the fundamental issues that plague Nigeria: the pervasive cycle of colonial mentality, the imitation of ineffective Western systems, and the resultant socio-economic hardships that keep our nation shackled. Despite being a country rich in human and natural resources, Nigeria finds itself mired in poverty, government corruption, and a stunted development trajectory. The painful reality is that we are still stuck in this cycle of dependency and denial, echoing Fela’s fears of societal stagnancy. What is it that continually holds Nigeria back? Is it that we have inherited a dysfunctional understanding of governance from our forebears? Are we too complacent, treated as subservient nations reliant on external ideologies, instead of embracing our uniqueness? Today, we witness the absurdities of what Fela termed “Demo-Crazy,” where elections are nothing more than theatre, votes are commodities, and the political class appears hell-bent on accumulating wealth at the expense of the very people they are meant to serve. The economic show we are forced to endure is exhaustively characterized by inflation, currency devaluation, and ill-conceived policies perpetuated under the guise of progress. As our people hustle endlessly for a better tomorrow, the gap between the political elite and the masses widens, creating a chasm of distrust and disenfranchisement. It is an unbearable irony that many Nigerians live in a land of plenty yet suffer through economic turmoil, a sentiment Fela poignantly articulated decades ago. Despite our country's undeniable potential, our efforts are undermined by a psychological legacy of colonialism a mindset that demands emancipation. As Fela presciently warned, “Until we free our minds, we cannot free our nation.” This call to action is no longer optional; it has become essential. If we fail to seize this moment for collective mental emancipation, we may as well resign ourselves to repeating the same cycles of hardship, as our children and grandchildren inherit our unlearned lessons. The way forward is clear yet challenging. We must abandon the notion that salvation will arrive via solutions imposed from outside our borders. Instead, we should prioritize homegrown policies influenced by our cultural values and societal realities. Our minds must be our own the pillars of critical thinking and self-determination must take root in our communities. It is imperative that we embrace ideas that resonate with our lived experiences. We must develop governance that reflects the true aspirations of our people while fostering economic policies grounded in local realities. In practical terms, this calls for significant reforms in our educational systems, where teachers should be trained to cultivate critical thinking, instilling a spirit of innovation rather than rote memorization of outdated philosophies. Our politicians need to indeed be more accountable to the citizens they serve, and the citizens must become informed and active participants in their governance. We must shift our narratives, redefine our democracy, and champion an economy that uplifts rather than undermines our collective heritage and aspirations. This is not merely a nostalgic revival of Fela’s music; it is a clarion call to embody his message of self-liberation. The time to act is now our challenges are daunting but surmountable. By collectively embracing this journey of mental emancipation, we can carve out a path toward sustainable progress, free our nation from the vestiges of colonial shackles, and ensure our descendants do not inherit the tragedies of our past but rather a legacy of resilience and prosperity. Let us heed the timeless warning of Fela Anikulapo Kuti and take a stand for the liberation of our minds as a precursor to the liberation of our nation. The change we seek begins within us let us refuse to carry forward the burdens of ignorance and dependency. Until we commit ourselves to mental freedom, Nigeria will remain shackled, repeating the woes of yesteryear. **Signed,** Otunba Abdulfalil Abayomi Odunowo National Chairman AATSG Email: [email protected] Phone: +234-9053535322 Website: www.aatsg.org.ng Click here to join now: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VadcNX21NCrRShw4S33A Let’s grow stronger together as we champion merit-based, honest, and visionary leadership across Nigeria! Together, we move Nigeria forward. #aatsg #leadershipthatdelivers #jointhemovement #100kin6