Why Nigeria is key to the rise of the African Diaspora.
According to a report done in 2015 by the United Nations, by 2050 the third largest country in the world will be Nigeria. This information goes hand in hand with the projection that during that same time period roughly 40 percent of the world’s population will be from Africa. With one of the youngest and most fertile rapidly growing populations in the world today Nigeria is key to the rise of the African Diaspora in the next few decades.
Why?
If Nigeria can overcome some key obstacles it can position itself to become a key world power in the coming decades which is vital to all people of African descent.
1.
Nigeria has one of the largest if not the largest economy in Africa (By GDP) Sources: (Statistics Times), (Wikipedia), (BBC)
Despite economic issues such as the current recession, their high unemployment rate and the crisis of famine there is great potential in Nigeria. If Nigeria can diversify its economy away from such a high dependence on oil, raise the literacy rate of its population, and invest heavily into its infrastructure while also resolving tribal conflicts, we believe Nigeria could easily be the Mecca of the African diaspora.
2.
Nigeria has one of the strongest militaries in Africa.
According to Global Firepower, Nigeria is ranked as the fourth strongest military in Africa as of 2016. This military strength would be essential in terms of protecting the interests of the African diaspora on the world stage. This military strength has recently been bolstered by an agreement by the Trump administration to sell high-tech warplanes to Nigeria in order to combat Boko Haram. (Source: NYT)
There are many reasons why it is important that the African diaspora possess a model nation with world influence and recognition. For a recent example of how important having an entire country backing you strictly based on racial identification can be seen in the backlash from China over the United Airlines controversy where a man of apparent Asian ancestry was forcibly dragged off a flight recently.
Afro-Pick.com believes that when Africa comprises a significant portion of the world population of working age the world will have two choices - exploit or negotiate. Historically we all know which choice has typically been made. However if Nigeria takes ahold of its potential it can not only be a leader for its own citizens but a leader for the entire African diaspora in the same way Israel is a leader for the Jewish populations of the world.
With an understanding of future demographic trends it is imperative for black people everywhere to begin preparing for their era of dominance. Part of that preparation is re-connecting with each other. To be clear this is not an entreaty for us all to start dropping our ‘slave names’ and pretend we are actual Africans born in Africa. We simply need to recognize our roots and branches and acknowledge that being part of the same tree means that what harms one harms us all and what uplifts one uplifts us all. In other words ‘United we stand, Divided we fall’.
Getting back ro the key role Nigeria can and should play in the future of the African diaspora as a world leader, we suggest that Nigeria adopt a ‘law of return’ similar to that used in Israel for people of African ancestry living throughout the African diaspora.
If you our readers have checked out our ‘membership’ page (which is still be worked on of course) then you know that we feel that one of the best ways to further the empowerment of black people in the African diaspora is to forge a future path rather than retread past trails. So for us it only makes sense that if we here at Afro-Pick.com believe that creating a online community which someday will function as an online government then it is even more important for an actual nation to take upon itself that same role and Nigeria is in our opinion the leading candidate.