My daughter told me her teacher said Nigeria is a 'developing country' and I nearly lost my mind

So my 14-year-old, Zara, comes home from school yesterday and says, 'Mum, my geography teacher said Nigeria is still a developing country, is that true?' I just stopped stirring the stew and looked at her. My dear, I had to sit down before I answered.

I told her, 'Zara, your teacher is not wrong but she is also not telling the whole story. Nigeria is not developing, Nigeria is surviving. There is a difference. Developing means you are moving forward steadily. Surviving means you wake up every day and fight for everything , light, water, fuel, peace of mind. Your grandmother in Ibadan has a generator that cost more than this teacher's car. That is not developing, that is coping.' She just looked at me like I was speaking another language. These children here in London, they don't understand what we go through back home.

I had to explain to her that Nigeria is rich in everything except management. We have the people, the resources, the talent. But when the system is fighting you, you cannot develop. You just survive. Anyway, I sent her to school today with a note for that teacher. Abeg, if you want to talk about Nigeria, talk about the real Nigeria. Not the textbook version. E no easy.