#Think Along With Me

Lessons from United Arab Emirates

Bayo Fasunwon

Travelling has been acclaimed as a viable means of education. It allows one to see and forever remember the various developments, and underdevelopments in other parts of the world, and helps in accessing inspirations that would trigger a better way of living and utilizing available resources on return to the traveler’s base. As an academic, engaging in the exchange of ideas, gaining new knowledge, and making more intellectual friends are additions, especially during international workshops, symposiums and conferences. Apart from the personal gains of the researcher, his institution and nations have a lot more to gain. Therefore, being in attendance at one of such occasions, and at the auspice period of the DUBAI EXPO 2020 delivered beyond expectations. There are many insights gained from the trip, but certain aspects of the trip as it relates to our nation is the focus in this column.
Arriving in Dubai after the hectic stopover in Kenya was like sojourning from hell to heaven. While the aviation issues with the United Emirates lingered, Nigeria (ns) lost a lot of manhours and wealth to Kenya. Much money was made by Kenya on COVID 19 tests alone, without considering the feeding and accommodation costs for stopovers. This was added to the exorbitant COVID 19 tests in Nigeria at departure and arrival. The costs of the tests alone were enough to scare many Nigerians from confirming their COVID status, and help curb the spread of the pandemic here. On arrival at the airport in Dubai, one was welcomed by neat, friendly and courteous staff at the arrival point. The warmth of the personnel was in itself a signal that you were welcome to their city.
There was no disguised extortion, contrary to what was observed while departing and arriving my country. A free COVID 19 was conducted, and we were also given a free SIM card to communicate while the stay lasted. The neatness of the environment, noiselessness and friendly interactions at that point would encourage more visits to the country. Despite being a city, the level of obedience to traffic lights, and zebra crossings was astounding. In all my stay in the country, yours truly sighted Policemen twice, and they were civil, tacit and professional. There were free wi-fi in the streets, hotels and taxis, therefore making communications via social media easy, and hence security for travelers were to a large extent guaranteed.
Despite being an Islamic country, the liberality and respect for other religion was visible. While interacting with some delegates from Saudi Arabia, they hinted that their government is also working towards adopting Dubai’s religious liberality in order to attract tourists and investors. They informed that certain laws are been amended and certain practices are also being tinkered with to ensure that the nation retains its Islamic culture, and still allows non-Islamic investors, and developers contribute to the development of their country. They have observed that flexibility is the legal tender of foreign direct investments.
Yours truly was therefore elated to get an invite to the Islamic nation. Noise seemed a taboo in the beautiful city of Dubai, and for once, you realize the abnormality in the daily noises in our cities. Contrary to expectations, yours truly never heard the Muezzin’s call for prayers over loud speakers early the morning, yet the Muslims observed their prayers without the type of noise that rouses one from bed by Muslim faithful here in Nigeria. The Church service attended was exciting, but one noticed that the environment of the ‘Church’ was sound proofed such that the prayers, singing, preaching and dances do not in any way affect the next door neighbours, as against our noise producing gatherings in Nigeria.
While investigating the secret of the successes of the United Arab Emirates, certain secrets were laid bare, which unfortunately we lack in Nigeria. In the first place they have dedicated, faithful, loyal and benevolent leaders. They had leaders who were committed to the development of their nation and peoples. They have leaders who saw their diversities as an opportunity rather than a curse. Their leaders understand the limitations of their environment, but decided that such limitations could be overcome with their commonwealth and used to create the environment they so much desired. Therefore, streams were created in their deserts, skyscrapers emerged on sands and the streets were all paved for clean movement. The leaders used the wealth of the nation to create wealth for all citizens. Another secret revealed was that the people, the Emiratis were considered jewels of estimable value. The sanctity of lives of the people were respected and preserved.
We were informed that when an Emirati is employed by a foreigner, there is a standard minimum, non-negotiable amount that must be paid to such. Unlike here in Nigeria where the lives of the average Nigerians do not really matter, and the people are slaughtered like chickens; here where ‘foreign investors’ treat Nigerians as slaves in their fatherland and pay them pittance as wages, without government battling an eye lid. Third was the embrace of technology. One was surprised to note that swarm of police were not present in the gold market. But at every corner, CCTV are at work. Artificial Intelligent security Robots were even on patrol at the venue of the EXPO 2020. At every mall, and street, technology was being put to use to ease the stress of living.
While on breaks, different delegates invited us to their pavilions to interact with representatives, and the innovativeness of the nations were inspiring. Yours truly was however disappointed at the Nigeria House. While the pictures of Nigerians who were involved in scandals and or had not helped the image of the country as much were on display in large formats, credible Nigerians had their portraits in few small formats on display. There was not much to attract many to the various investment opportunities in Nigeria, neither was there anything to show, in comparison to others that Nigeria seeks for global recognition and reckoning.
Unfortunately, a throw pillow on display had an inscription ‘Anything for the boys?”. While nations were clamouring for patronage, ours was advertising corruption. Our faces were covered in shame. The delegates from the United Arab Emirates were emphatic about their desire to make tourism a major earner of foreign exchange for their country and people, and one cannot but wonder what the situation is about our tourism, especially in a country bedeviled by senseless killings.
From Dubai, one learns that the northern deserts could be transformed into cities of bloom, which the rich forests of the South West and South East can also beautify this country. The average Nigerian on the streets could hold his head high and be a proud citizen of this nation, if only our leaders’ heart of stone could be removed and replaced with a heart of flesh. Until the leaders truly love the nation and the people, Nigerians may well continue to ask forever, anything for the boys?

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