Look at Them!

Dear Mom

You know, we had a good laugh yesterday over the names of the various fish and marine life in Ilajeland. It led us to wonder what happens to local knowledge these days.

Growing up under your care and tutoring was a rare privilege, honour and grace - such a blessing! Maybe the trajectory had a lot to do with it (i.e. losing dad so early and moving from place to place, etc.) but I can also cite many who had such and more, who haven't been so blessed.

We got to gain insights about our localities, neighbours, languages, cultures, flora and fauna. The freshwaters of River Oluwa, the brackish waters of the swamps and lagoons, the salt waters of the Atlantic Ocean and those generous offerings from its huge expanse, the communities-on-stilts, the wonderful and peaceful lives of the riverine peoples of Nigeria's coastal splendour, and our numerous relations spread along its territories. Oh!

These are memories of unmatched measures. Royalty and your rich heritage conditioned you and cautioned us. These days, one must wonder.

Our kids need so much help that a real renaissance must commence. They know less and less of both the country and their place in it. There are parents who even know less than their children! How then can they help them? Alas, we have to redesign our civic education and invent our own Public Service Media to save the situation.

May I close on a bright note: Many many mothers are doing their very best to redeem things o! We just hope and pray that 2011 will be an electoral banquet for Nigeria and her hardworking MOTHERS.

We love and miss you dearly
Dayo