This writing prompt reminded me of the holiday that’s coming in a few days’ time and how my family at home takes every holiday very seriously, including the coming one, which is Nigeria’s Independence Day. I know my family is going to slaughter a chicken, as has been the custom at home. I also remember how I was called to visit home to celebrate Independence Day with them last year, and I laughed over it because, over here in my city of residence, such holidays don’t really count. Apart from schools and banks not working on that day, nothing much happens here.

The holidays we have in Nigeria—are they enough, excessive or we need more?

The thing is, a good number of holidays in the country only benefit government parastatals and have little or no effect on the private sector. So, in a country where most citizens are living and earning a living through individual efforts, many of the numerous holidays we have are not so recognized or valued, and they appear as though they don’t even exist.

So, my answer is: the holidays are excessive but not enough. Not enough in the sense that most of them are not celebrated by many people due to the way the nation is patterned.

We have holidays like Democracy Day, Independence Day, Eid-el-Fitr, Easter Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and so many others, but among these, it’s just a few that a large number of citizens really observe. New Year’s Day and Christmas are the most prominent, even though Christmas is a religious one. But because it falls toward the end of the year, it comes up as an end-of-year break for almost everyone, whether Christians or not.

In my opinion, the other holidays that are not taken seriously by a lot of people—because they are meant for just some sets of people—should be loosened a bit to make them more welcoming to all. For instance, Nigeria’s Independence Day, which is just a few days away at the time of writing this, has been discarded by many people as not really a holiday. This is because the day holds little meaning apart from those in top government houses who will have a lot to eat and drink from the national purse, and government workers or students who will simply mark the day as one for sleeping and resting. I think it would be more interesting and counted as a major holiday only if the nation was working well. By then, people would have the fun and joy of having it as a holiday—by attending outings with families, maybe enjoying nice offers from the government to the citizens, and, above all, if the one day was extended to two or three days. Who wouldn’t like it that way? Absolutely no one! Except, of course, for private company owners who would frown at taking their staff away for so long. Lol

Thanks for reading.

This is my entry to Week 184, Edition 02 of the Weekly Featured contest in Hive Learners Community

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