Hive-Reachout weekly prompt 51//Change One Thing (Bad Governance and Corruption)

The world today is full of challenges. Every day, we hear about problems all around us such as the issue of poverty, unemployment, insecurity, poor roads, bad schools, and lack of clean water, global warming that is affecting our climate and many other challenges. In many places, especially in my country Nigeria, these problems seem to grow worse instead of better. People suffer everyday, most people especially young people like me have lose hope and the future looks uncertain. If I had the chance to change just one thing that affects our lives the most in anywhere around the world and especially in my country, I would choose to change bad governance and corruption. This is because I believe that bad governance and corruption are the roots of many of the problems we face today. If we can fix this issue of bad governance and corruption, we can begin to fix almost everything else.

Bad governance simply means that those in power are not leading the country in the right way. They are not planning properly, they are not listening to the people, and they are not managing the nation’s resources well. Corruption, on the other hand, means stealing, lying, or using a position of power for personal gain. When people in government take bribes, misuse funds anyhow or help only their friends and family, that is corruption and It is a serious challenge that affect any society.

Many people do not realize just how much bad governance and corruption affect our daily lives. Imagine when money meant for hospitals is stolen by corrupt officials, people die because they cannot get proper treatment. When money for schools is embezzled, our children grow up without proper education. When public funds are misused, roads remain broken, electricity is unreliable and water is unsafe to drink. These are just but a few examples of how corruption and bad governance create deep suffering for millions of people all around the world.

One of the biggest problems we face in the world and narrowing down to my country Nigeria today is unemployment, especially among young people. Every year, thousands of students graduate from universities, yet many of them cannot find jobs. One of the reasons for this is corruption. Jobs in many government offices are given only to people who have connections or who can pay a bribe to get a job. Many qualified young people are left out simply because they don’t know the right person or they refuse to pay illegal fees. Also, when businesses see how corrupt the system is, they often decide not to invest. This means that there will be fewer companies, fewer job opportunities, and more poverty. If we had honest leaders and a fair system, more businesses would come, and more young people would find good jobs.

The crisis in our education system is also linked to bad governance. When leaders do not care about education, they do not invest in schools. Many public schools in Nigeria do not have enough chairs, teachers, or books. Sometimes, teachers go on strike for months because the government refuses to pay them. As a result, students lose valuable time and education becomes weaker. Corruption plays a part in this too. When money meant for building or improving schools is stolen, students suffer. Some of the people who are supposed to supervise education projects also take bribes and look the other way. If we had good governance, our schools would be properly funded, managed, and respected.

Poor infrastructure and public services are another major problem. In many parts of the country, roads are full of potholes, electricity is just unpredictable, and water is not safe. Why is this the case? The answer again is corruption. Contracts are often awarded to unqualified companies simply because they know someone in government or because they agreed to pay a bribe. Sometimes, projects are never completed, and the money disappears. Even where work is done, it is often of poor quality. If our leaders were honest and cared about the people, they would make sure that public funds are used wisely and that projects are completed properly.

The economic crisis in any place around the world is also connected to bad governance. My country is rich and bless in natural resources like oil and gas, but we still remain poor. This is because money from these resources is not used to benefit the people. Instead, it ends up in the pockets of a few powerful individuals. Government spending is often wasteful, and policies are made to serve the interests of the rich. When a country’s economy is managed poorly, prices go up, the value of the currency drops, and the people suffer, that is what we are facing today in my country.

Another area where I feel the pain of bad leadership is in the issue of insecurity. All across Nigeria, there are serious security challenges, terrorism, kidnappings, armed robbery, headsman and communal clashes. These and many more are causes of insecurity and can be linked to bad governance. When people do not have jobs, food, or hope, they become easy targets for criminal groups. Also, when security agencies are underfunded or corrupt, they cannot protect the people properly. In some cases, funds meant for security are diverted. If leaders were serious about safety, they would invest in modern equipment, training, and fair justice systems. They would also address the root causes of crime, like poverty and unemployment that is causing this insecurity among the people.

From all these examples I've mentioned above, it is clear that bad governance and corruption affect almost every part of our lives. They are like a tree with many branches, unemployment, poor education, insecurity, economic hardship, and poor healthcare are all branches growing from the root of bad leadership. That is why I believe that if I could change just one thing, it would be bad governance and corruption. Fixing this one issue can lead to big positive changes in every other area.

The problems in the world and especially in my country Nigeria are many, but most of them come from the same root bad governance and corruption. By choosing to change this one thing, I can start a chain reaction of positive change in all other areas of life. Finding the root of a problem can help tackle all other problems or challenges. So I choose to change bad governance and corruption, because in doing so, I can help change everything else for the better.