Inspiring...

My dear brother, you cannot Imagine the kind of joy I felt when I read that you are going to deliver a speech , on an advisory note to the betterment of our motherland. I have gone through the speech, and I find it very inspiring. Now, would the people that matter find it inspiring too? Because we are too far away from all the action and decision making, I Suggest you copy the presidency, finance minister, and vision 2010 committee the speech and its entirety. My brother, I wish I had the means to champion this believe with you but I beleive that proper persuation on your part and well meaning Nigerians would generate proper funding for your veiws. HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT SETTING UP A COMMITTEE OF INTELLIGENT AND WELL MEANING NIGERIAN BRAINS ABROAD, THAT WOULD BE FORMIDABLE ENOUGH TO SOLICITE AUDIENCE WITH THE PRESIDENCY? My brother, faith can take you a long way. I strongly commend your speech. I see you like music too, I can tell from your web site. I recommend you go out and buy GLORIA ESTEFAN'S MI TIERRA (MY HOMELAND) its song in spanish but you would be moved by the english interpretations too. I hope it makes your believe in your motherland stronger. I hope you succeed.

HALLE@webtv.net (TINU DAVIDS)

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LIP-SERVICE ...

My foremost reservation in your proposed speech stems from its aim: "skipping the industrial age and leapfroging our nation from the agricultural age into the information age". To me it sounds ambitious and simplistic. It is just synoymous with a woman given birth to a grown up child without that child undergoing the necessary biological metamorhosis. Anthropologist will dispute this when they subject this speech to the socio-economic evolution of the hominid-human beings.Sociologically, it is incorrect to jump from pre-industrial to post-industrial without the such passages of hunters and gatherers, horticultural, pastoral, agricultural, industrial and postindustrial societies. All these societies have an in-built learning stages as well as creating historic facts when any society observes them.

Psychologically, skipping such phases of human progressive development is not only unhealthy but is morally wrong and will fail to provide a concrete basis for national policy on technology. This is because the social psychology theory of learning is adamant with geometric progression but tends to ignite its flame with arithematic progression in a serial form, i.e, 1, 2, 3, 4 etcetara, until we reach a final counting point. And to me, learning is a progressive or gradual process. If one skips a process of basic learning it produces anti-knowledge, this is logically against the philosophy of science, it is not capable of providing a proofabale truth and hence it will not be chronicled as a historic moment of Nigeria.

I see that kind technology being blighted with cracks and faults due to its lack of the basic foundation and skills or pure knowledge- a fluid and a manipulable knowledge that can be inferred at from time to time and from generation to generation. For I believe in the great dictum of George Benard Shaw and Zik that "the next great civilisation may come from the black race." This is more than enough prophesy but such prophesy must be progressive and should be properly documented in order to complete a circle of life. I think that it is not plausible for one to just go to the moon without learning the art of space shuttling and that to me is a systematic learning.

What you have underlined with the term skipping is the same mistake governments in Nigeria are making with its series of ad-hoc committees for industrialisation who instead of providing a national blue-print for the Nigerian technology policy and with a broad based comprehesive education for an average citizen, continue to milk the nation dry without anything to show for it. It seems as such great label like the transfer of technology from the core countries to the periphery in the early '80s that never come to fruition except squandermania and scholarship frauds in Nigeria. You don't tansfer technology rather you acquire it as a skill and the you perfect in it and hence the crave for the information age today.

In my humble opinion it is practically impossible for an unstable Nigeria to skip its evolution, whether it is leading to industrial or post-industrial era. It is very crucial that a society solidifies the foundation of its socio-cultural prospects before a another leap forward. Nigeria is not that country yet. Abacha appointed those Vision 2010 men and women to appease them and prevent them from being anti his regime. Their project are among those lip-service paying programmes of government to build its image and public relations and when the time comes it will go down the drains. I wish you don't take them serious.

In my conclusion, I suggest you should rethink the skipping thing and settle with industrialisation first before automation, I believe that whatever is done in a hurry is never done well. Moreover, our society is caught between uncertainty and progress and whichever overhelms each other we rejoice at. I am sorry, if I have sounded naive or harsh but this is my opinion about it. To put this way, concentrate your mind in Igboland such noble intention can never be realised in Nigeria.

PHILIP EMEAGWALI: Where will you recommend that a cybercity be located in Nigeria?

ANSWER: To build technological town will cause a Nigerian problem and wars will be fought over where the site should be located.

PHILIP EMEAGWALI: What do you think about my proposed Vision 2020?

ANSWER: Africa needs more than 2020-even 2040 is enough. Currently we are fighting for the 3rd liberation of Africa. A new Africa that will provide the political culture, or what Zik called economic determinism or toga virilis which will lead us to the information age.

PHILIP EMEAGWALI: What is your opinion of the Vision 2010?

ANSWER: Its members are politically appointed. And the programme itself is another junk thinking whose mission will die like an aids victim. Reasons are not far fetched if we consider more 10 similar programmes initiated by F.M. governments in Nigeria. Most of these programmes were a strategic military ploy to distract people's attension in other to for a certain group of people to keep leadership power in Nigeria. The programmes is an ill-fated child of praetorianism in the country, and though they are good idea but they are never well intended development plans for them to endure in Nigeria.

PHILIP EMEAGWALI: Do you think Nigeria needs a new Vision plan such as the proposed Vision 2020? If so, why?

ANSWER: Yes, in long term, if we can know our direction to the promise land. But if not, no thanks! As long as we have the present bunch of no gooders, who are part and parcel of the political crisis that engulfed Nigeria since the past 9 years. It is only a matter of time for another martial music to encircle and announce its obituary in Nigeria.

PHILIP EMEAGWALI: Should Nigeria invest more in computers and technology?

ANSWER:Yes if they have honest intensions to do so. If this is not going to be a lucrative business for the Alhajis and profitocrats in Nigeria.

Uchenna Opara, tiucop@uta.fi, Finland

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Cultural...

PHILIP EMEAGWALI: What do you dislike about my talk?

WRONG ARGUMENT. YOU DO NOT ENTER THE INFORMATION AGE BY BUILDING THE HARDWARE. WHAT YOU FIRST NEED IS THE SOFTWARE. THEN YOU CHOOSE THE MOST ADEQUATE HARDWARE. NIGERIA'S PROBLEM IS NOT MONETARY, IT IS PSYCHOLOGICAL. OUR PROBLEM, LUCKILY, HAS NEVER BEEN THE LACK OF FUNDS TO BE USED TO BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE. NO. ON THE CONTRARY, OUR PROBLEM HAS ALWAYS BEEN: 1) CHOOSING THE RIGHT INFRASTRUCTURE TO BUILD AND 2) ADEQUATE USE OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE. AND FOR ADEQUATE USE TO BE MADE, WE HAVE TO HAVE THE MENTAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL BASE. LET ME EXPLAIN, IF WE DO NOT HAVE A STRONG INDUSTRIAL BASE NOR A STRONG INDUTRIAL MENTALITY, IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW MANY TRADE FAIR SITES YOU BUILD NOR HOW MANY INDUSTRIAL ESTATES YOU SET UP, THEY WILL ALWAYS REMAIN BARREN OR BE PUT TO THE WRONG USES. BUT THEY DEFINITELY WILL NOT STIMULATE INDUSTRIAL GROWTH. EXAMPLE: REMEMBER FESTAC TOWN AND THE TRADE FAIR COMPLEX IN LAGOS. BUILDING A TECHNOLOGICAL CITY WILL JUST BE ANOTHER WHITE ELEPHANT, A BIG PROJECT THAT WOULD ACT AS A VEHICLE FOR A FEW PEOPLE TO GET RICH. IT MIGHT NEVER EVEN BE FINISHED (SEE AJAOKUTA) OR IF IT EVER GETS FINISHED, IT WILL LIE FALLOW FOR LACK OF ADEQUATE COMPANIES TO POPULATE IT OR LACK OF IDEAS OF HOW BEST TO USE IT. THE "SOFTWARE" IS LACKING. IT WILL FINALLY END UP AFTER SOME YEARS LIKE DELTA STEEL (A BIG COMPLEX GONE AWRY) OR THE REFINERIES (NECESSARY PROJECTS THAT HAVE NOT BE MAINTAINED NOR DEVELOPED TO MOVE WITH THE TIMES). LATER-ON IN YOUR SPEECH, YOU HIT THE NAIL IN THE HEAD: EDUCATION IS THE KEY. MASS EDUCATION FOR THE MASSES. BUILD UP THAT CRITICAL MASS OF EDUCATED PEOPLE. PEOPLE WHO CAN READ. PEOPLE WHO CAN THINK. PEOPLE WHO WILL NOT JUST SWALLOW ANY PROPAGANDA OR PROPOSAL WITHOUT QUESTIONNING IT INTELLIGENTLY. PEOPLE WHO CAN STUDY OTHER RACES, OTHER CULTURES, OTHER COUNTRIES AND DISCOVER WHAT MAKES THEM TICK. PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING (BECAUSE THEY HAVE READ ABOUT AND ADMIRE HEROES ELSEWHERE) TO MAKE SACRIFICES SO THAT THEIR COUNTRY PROGRESSES. PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO DIE FOR CONCEPTS. PEOPLE WHO WILL, IF THEY EVER BECOME LEADERS, NOT THINK ONLY OF THEIR POCKETS BUT RATHER THEY WOULD THINK ABOUT THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY. PEOPLE WHO ARE ABOVE BRIBERY. THAT IS THE KEY. EDUCATION IS THE "SOFTWARE". ONCE YOU HAVE THIS FIRMLY IN PLACE, THE PEOPLE WILL BUILD OR EVOLVE THE MOST SUITABLE "HARDWARE" FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT. AND THEY WILL ENSURE THAT THIS "HARDWARE" IS ADEQUATELY MAINTAINED AND SUITABLY UPDATED WITH THE TIMES.

PHILIP EMEAGWALI: What did you like about the talk?

ANSWER: YOU WENT STRAIGHT TO THE POINT. MANY OF US NIGERIAN FEEL THAT THE ONLY WAY TO SHOW THEIR PATRIOTISM IS BY NEVER CRITISIZING NIGERIA. THEY ALWAYS SAY THINGS LIKE "WITH GOD'S HELP, WE SHALL OVERCOME". I DISAGREE. WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC. WE HAVE TO LOOK INWARDS AND DISCOVER WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR COUNTRY. WHAT IS IT THAT WE DO WRONG? AND WE SHOULD BE READY TO SAY IT OUR CLEARLY IN ANY FORUM.

PHILIP EMEAGWALI: Do you believe that Nigerian society is repressive to women? And why?

ANSWER: YES, OUR SOCIETY IS REPRESIVE TO WOMEN. AGAIN THE REASON IS LACK OF EDUCATION. WITH EDUCATION, WE COME TO LEARN THAT WE CAN ALL GAIN FROM BOTH MEN AND WOMEN. THE WORLD HAS CHANGED, WE ARE NO LONGER IN A PREHISTORIC CONTEXT WHERE MAN HUNTED AND THE WOMAN STAYED BACK HOME. NOR ARE WE IN THE AGRICULTURAL AGE WHERE THE MAN TILLED THE SOIL WHILE THE WOMAN LOOKED AFTER THE HOME. IN THIS AGE, WE CAN ALL CONTRIBUTE. BRAIN POWER AND NOT MUSCLE POWER IS THE KEY AND BOTH MEN AND WOMEN HAVE BRAIN POWER.

PHILIP EMEAGWALI: Should the Nigerian military budget be reduced/eliminated and redirected towards education and technology?

ANSWER: I WOULD ELIMINATE THE MILITARY 100 PERCENT. THEN RETRAIN AND REEQUIP THE POLICE TO DEAL PROPERLY WITH THE PROBLEM OF INTERNAL/DOMESTIC LAW/ORDER. THE MONEY SAVED WOULD, AS YOU SAY, BE REDIRECTED INTO EDUCATION ..AND MAYBE SOME OF THE MANY OTHER NEEDS WE HAVE: HEALTH, TELECOM SERVICES, ROADS, MAINTENANCE OF INFRASTRUCTURE, ETC.

PHILIP EMEAGWALI: If you are the author of this speech, what ideas will you include?

ANSWER: I WOULD INCLUDE A CRITIQUE OF NIGERIANS ABROAD: MANY NIGERIANS ARE SO CHAUVANISTIC (OR MAYBE SO INSECURE) THAT THEY MIX ONLY WITH NIGERIANS. RESULT = NO MATTER HOW LONG THEY LIVE ABROAD, THEY NEVER LEARN THE "RULES OF THE GAME". THEY NEVER REALIZE HOW THE CARDS ARE STACKED. THEY NEVER REALIZE WHAT MAKES THE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES TICK. THEY MAY LIVE IN LONDON FOR 10 YEARS, BUT ITS AS IF THEY'VE BEEN LIVING IN AJEGUNLE OR ENU-ONITSHA. THEY EAT ONLY NIGERIAN FOOD, GO ONLY TO NIGERIAN PARTIES, HAVE ONLY NIGERIAN FRIENDS, ETC. WE MUST LEARN TO MIX MORE. WE MUST MAKE FRIENDS WITH THE LOCALS, VISIT THEIR HOMES, GO TO THEIR WEDDINGS, THEIR PARTIES, THEIR ORGIES, MIX THOROUGHLY, EAT THEIR FOOD, GET DRUNK WITH THEM HAVE GOOD FRIENDS, AND EVEN HAVE BAD ENEMIES. THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO REALLY LEARN. THAT WAY, WE GET A REAL TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY AND NOT A "PERCEIVED TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY". SOME PEOPLE MIGHT SAY: BUT THE ITALIANS LIVE IN GROUPS (THE BRONX), THE ORIENTALS LIVE IN CHINATOWN. BUT THAT'S NOT A GOOD EXAMPLE. THEY CAN AFFORD TO. THEY INMIGRATED WHILE THEY HAD A SOLID CULTURAL HERITAGE. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN WAY OF DOING THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HANDED OVER FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION. BUT WE AFRICANS ARE DIFFERENT. WE HAVE BEEN VERY UNFORTUNATE IN HAVING HAD 2 GREAT DISASTERS IMMEDIATELY ONE AFTER THE OTHER: THE SLAVE TRADE AND COLONISATION. BOTH BROKE OUR CULTURAL CHAIN. WE ARE NEARLY ROOTLESS. WE ARE DRIFTERS. WE HAVE NO VERY SOLID CULTURAL ROOTS AND THEREFORE WE CANNOT INBREED. WE HAVE TO GRAFT FROM OTHERS IN ORDER TO BUILDUP FASTER WHAT WE HAVE LOST IN 4 CENTURIES OF HAPHAZARD DOMINATION.

Anthony ONOCHIE, anthony@jet.es, Spain

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Grammar...

I COMMEND YOU FOR KEEPING IT VERY SIMPLE AND EASY TO READ. MOST NIGERIANS OF PHD STATUS WILL USE "BIB BIB ENGLISH TO DABARU US TO THE POINT THAT WE MISS THE MESSAGE WHILE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE GRAMMAR" ...I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE TWO OR THREE "CYBER CORRIDORS" THAT ARE INTERCONNECTED (AT LEAST THIS IS WHAT INTERNET IS ALL ABOUT). THESE "CYBER CORRIDORS" SHOULD DEVELOP FROM THE BASIC FOUNDATION ON THEIR OWN MERIT AND POTENTIAL. KNOWING NIGERIA, THERE WILL BE ARGUEMENT FOR THE LOCATION. BUT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE ABLE TO FUND AT LEAST TWO AND ENCOURAGE BUSINESSES, SCIENTISTS, ETC., TO TAKE IT FROM THERE.

K. Peter Ayedun, KPeterA@classic.msn.com

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Tears...

I have read this article at least 3 good times and have nothing to add or subtract...You have said it all, Philip! And this article brought tears to my ears...Why CANNOT Nigerian leaders do these obvious things which will facilitate national development? It is shameful that access to the internet taken for granted in many countries of the world today remains a luxury for the haves and have mores in Nigeria. The military junta has continue to run the country like a headless chicken. Until they leave and accountable and responsible citizens take over, there is no hope. However, I hope your article will get published in Nigeria. Who knows what impact this exceptionally well-written article could bring about?

Emeka

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Speechless...

The write-up, to say the least, is articulate. It is not short of the much-desired solutions we want in the Nigerian economy. The practical and straight-forward proposal about the "Cybermarketing" kept me speechless.

I urge you to present a copy of this document to the vision 2010 committee and the Presidency. Our leaders should start thinking not only of their immediate families, but also generations of Nigerians yet unborn. I find no real answer, when a Finn asks me when I will finally return to Nigeria.

Who knows!! Mays GOD give us more men of vision and achievers like Philip Emeagwali.

F.O.T. Akenami, PhD Fellow, Finland

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Thanks...

Thank you. Your speech is God send.

My only comment is : HE WHO HAS EARS TO HEAR WITH, LET HIM HEAR.

You've done your part. You "found the cure and prescribed the medication." One question remains: Is their a good "pharmacist" to fill the "prescription"?

Thanks for a job well done.

IKE MUONEKWU, muonekwu@sj.bigger.net, Ph.D.

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Highlighting...

THE SPEECH IS WELL WRITTEN. I THINK YOU ARE HIGHLIGHTING AN AREA OF DEVELOPMENT WHICH THE MILITARY IS AFRAID TO ADDRESS. MAY BE YOU SHOULD HAVE TRIED TO TIE UP COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY WITH INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGICAL GROWTH. AS IT STANDS NOW THE ONLY WAY FOR TO CATCH UP TECHNOLOGICALLY IS USE THE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY AS A SHORT CUT TO INDUSTRIAL GROWTH. ...

FOR THE FIRST TIME, ONE IS MAKING A CASE FOR COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY TO BE ACQUIRED BY NIGERIA. IT IS GOING TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY POWERS THAT BE IN NIGERIA.

George Mbata, gmbata@oz.oznet.ksu.edu

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Feudalist...

Your speech assumes that Nigeria is a well ordered, peaceful, culturally homogeneous and stable environment where meaningful suggestions will be welcome. However, you know that the structural reality of that entity is highly deformed. Such situation in which the existence of a total disregard for the involvement of most of the citizenry of Nigeria in the leadership, military and civil service of a country, coupled with unrealistic myopic and inequitable distribution of amenities in a large country as nigeria is counter productive.

For instance Igbos in particular are no where as active players in the nigerian situation. As you know, such situations create a physical mathematical condition in which the nigerian function becomes quite obviously non-integrable wthin the limits we are operating.

Therefore reacting to the pathetic situation by using a nationalist view of events may be quite errorneous. Doing so gives these operatives wrong signals of accepting the structural reality. We must therefore be courageous at times like this to venture to offer alternatives rather than to agravate the situation by even contributing any suggestions. Why?

I'm quite aware that before pipelines were constructed to places like Kaduna, Minna and even the construction of Oil refineries in those locations some credible economists who happened to be Igbos gave solid, academic honest opinions. Some of these opinions were such that the amount of energy it will take to pump uphill from the oil fields to the north would be enough to put certain industries around those localities. What happened? These were exercises in futility. The entrenched interests are not bound to listen. A situation where the biggest commercial center in Africa which happens to be your home town Onitsha has no international feeder airport nor good seaport is a good example of the structural reality of Nigeria.

In a nutshell we (Igbos) must begin to think about the practicable alternatives to the geographical reality. Where are we now? We have no airports, no railways, no telecommunications, no seaports and yet we are the most hardworking self improving members of the Nigerian population.

If you were contributing only to Igbos because of their drive for improvement your speech will be songs in their ears. However, that is not the situation. Nigeria is under a strong feudalist group. Take it or leave it they have their own agenda. It is quite obvious. What we can do like europeans did or the jews is to find a way or peaceful disengagement of the entity Nigeria. We should be tired for pretending to be the smartest. While in reality we are the dummest.

So my brother, we have along way to go. Until we begin to address the structural reality where import/export, exclusionary policies are in effect; our efforts will surely send the wrong message.

So, the so called vision may be decoy in the making.

PHILIP EMEAGWALI: What will you recommend I remove from the speech?

ANSWER: I shall suggest that you remove the statement of education gap between the south and the North. That is non-existent.

You should also remove the paragraph dealing with population growth. This is because any natural system strives for continuity and this is even more required in situation like nigeria where infant mortality is high and health care delivery is non existent. The poor is obviously not the cause of nigeria's inadequacy.

On the whole we should start focusing on Igbos to see how we can help. We must endeavour to have a localized order (Eastern Nigeria) before we diverge. Remember it was a group of Igbos that paid in cash and kind for us to exist thus far.

I hope to talk to you in the near future. Bye for now.

Kanayo Akujieze

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Scholastic...

I want to commend your scholastic and honest write-up. Due to my very tight schedule, I was not able to read it with a view to digesting the information therein. However, one of the questions you asked for suggestions attracted my attention.That is: "Should the Nigerian military budget be reduced/redirected towards technological advancement?". To my opinion, if Nigeria is to move forward technologically or otherwise, the answer to that question is in the affirmative. The Nigerian economy currently is in the hand of the military. Moreover, the size of the Nigerian army will soon overtake the size of the remaining population. Some of the students we graduated recently who were commissioned lieutenants in the army a year after had their starting salaries more than four times mine. This does not include other incentives. If the salary of a lieutenant could be more than three times the salary of a professor, and considering the size of the army how can you expect such a nation to develop technologically? The work of the army in this present time is not even defined?

Your write-up is in the right direction. I have not much time to continue on my comments. Thank you and God bless.

Sylvanua Jude Aneke, syaneke@sas.upenn.edu

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Excellent...

Very relevant, of course. At the end of the day, the basic and foundational difference between developed and developing (or is it RETROGRESSING) nations is the difference in their level of scientific culture. This scientific culture, in our own age, is essentially cyber culture. Don't mind all the superficial talk about the corectness of political ideologies. That our own Vision 2010 has no program for the information age pinpoints the precise direction in which we are currently headed. The assholes do not even realise WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. They don't know what is at stake.Why should they? What do traditional rulers know about computers? Do you think Abacha uses a PC or laptop? Does he even have an e-mail adress? Not likely at all, so, like father, like son. That is why the planners of our visionless vision waste more than 5000 naira a day, when a professor receives just about the same amount as MONTHLY salary. Stupid! Absolutely stupid! To hell with Abacha and his vision crooks! ...

The emphasis on education and the development of our human resources. Your discussion of this matter was excellent. I especially liked the way you highlighted the importance of PRIMARY education. This is something our people do not yet realise, and what would be our greatest handicap in the long run. How can a nation with inefficient primary schoools become a first-class nation? It is impossible! Absolutely impossible!

Igboland, especially, is not taking this matter serious at all. They are busy frying groundnuts, taking chieftancy titles, celebrating "igba nkwu nwanyi", blaming the "Northern oligarchy" for everything, and waiting for the same oligarchy, alias "government," to pay the salary of the school teachers owed by Igbo Local Governments. How long shall we wait? We, Igbo people, ought to start from OURSELVES. "A na-esi n'ulo mara mma puwa ama". If the federal government fails us, that is no reason for us to fail ourselves. Not at all. Indeed, that's the more reason why we should work hard to improve ourselves and our people. By so-doing, we may even inspire the rest of the nation to follow up, even if in competetition.

And, still talking of education, the situation at the secondary level is just as bad. At Aba and Onitsha, people attend "commercial schools" i.e, schools designed to frustrate the ambitions of potential engineers, doctors, physicists, programmers, etc. Not that they even receive the professed education on accounting or typewriting (sigh). Abeg, make we kukuma forget this jaree! ...

I don't know if Naija has enough money to pay EACH AND EVERYONE of its numerous professionals as much as it pays those white kids whom it curently hires. From my own perspective, the real problem is not primarily about salaries. The nation has no visible direction. It lacks competent, visioned, knowledgeable and earnest leadership. Its leaders do not inspire hope, loyalty, confidence, or commitment from the people. Therefore, professionals feel frustrated, especially when they realise that nothing they do is going to change anything, and that the salary they don't receive is actually used to adress the perfume needs of the president's concubines. If we get a visioned, focused, competent, knowledgeable and patriotic leadership, most technical professionals won't mind receiving 100 naira per month if that's what Nigeria can honestly afford to pay them at the moment, - as long as the president himself receives the same, and everybody, or at least most people, are working very hard, honestly, and commitedly to create a better future for the children.

... The issue at stake is a critical one involving the lives and future of millions of our children. Abacha and his cohorts should go to hell. So should political correctness/diplomacy, when it stands on the way.

BTW, I am really happy that you are not into all those tribalistic mumbo jumbo. People ought grow up, not distract themselves by focusing on irrelevant Tuwo-Amala differencies.

PHILIP EMEAGWALI: What is your opinion on my proposed African Cyber Corridor?

ANSWER: Excellent! excellent! Not just excellent, but absolutely NECESSARY. How shall we DO it? How get into ACTION? That's the real prolem. The computer Science dept in one Naija University I know is a proud owner of a few 286 computers!! And that's not its only pride: its (computer science) students do not even get to see those blessed and mysterious computers until their third year! kai! In fact, at graduation, the students would have to learn how to use Windows!!!! Would have probably never heared of Netscape, not to talk of Java. Computer science indeed!

PHILIP EMEAGWALI: In two weeks, I will be speaking to the Congressional Black Caucus. How should I reword this speech for this African-American audience?

ANSWER: I wonder. I've never been to the US, nor met many African Americans, so I don't know much about their particular needs. Those guys play a lot of pop, and basketball, which is really nice, but not sufficient at all. More of them should engage in science, really. Encourage them to join the information age. we need more Emeagwalis. They are good - and important - for our pride. Perhaps, a specific project should be undertaken to breed black American programmers.

PHILIP EMEAGWALI: Can you suggest a catchier title that begs to be quoted?

ANSWER: Hmm, I'm tempted to be mischievous here but, quite frankly, the following, or something much like them, ought to be considered:
1. Is Vision 2010 visionless?
2. 2010: Visioning the PAST?
3. Vision 2010: The Greatest defect
4. How far does Vision 2010 go?
5. Vision 2010: Vision my nose!

Well, I suppose you would have to choose something more civil, especially if you want Abacha and co to listen to what you are saying (assuming he would understand this talk about an African "Cyber corridor". Does he ever listen? I wonder! Rumour claims that he spends his time playing draft, not computer games!)

Dominic Ogbonna, Dominic.Ogbonna@student.kuleuven.ac.be, Belgium

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Impolite...

Could I simply say that personally I did not like what I read and since we do not know each other I thought that it would be impolite to say anything more.

Echewodo Nwawudu, enwawudu@cix.compulink.co.uk, United Kingdom

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Nobody...

I AM A NOBODY. NOBODY KNOWS ME. NOBODY HAS HEARD OF ME. SO, IN MY CLOAK OF ANONYMITY I CAN SPEAK WITHOUT THE THREAT OF RETALIATION; PHYSICALLY OR VERBALLY. Mr. Emeagwali, YOUR SPEECH IS ELLIGENT, VIBRANT, INSIGHTFUL, AND INSPIRING. YOUR VISION OF A NIGERIA IN THE NEXT MILINIUM SHOULD BE COPIED AND POSTED AT EVERY GATHERING PLACE THRUOGHOUT YOUR COUNTRY. OR IS IT YOUR COUNTRY? ACCORDING TO Nnaemeka M. Onumonu, THE IGBO PEOPLE ARE NOT CONSIDERED "TRUE" NIGERIANS AND ARE TREATED AS 2nd CLASS CITIZENS. YET YOU DON'T MENTION THEM IN YOUR SPEECH OR INCLUDE YOURSELF AS ONE OF THEM. YOU HAVE MADE A SUCESS OF YOURSELF, BUT DON'T EVER FORGET WHO YOU ARE OR WHERE YOU CAME FROM. THAT HAS BEEN THE DOWNFALL OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN IN THIS COUNTRY. WE STRUGGLE AGAINST OUR- SELVES AS WELL AS THE WHITES SO OUR JOURNEY IS TOWARD OBLIVION, WHILE YOURS CAN BE TOWARD PROSPERITY. BUT ALL MUST BE INCLUDED IF YOUR PLAN IS TO WORK OR THE FOUNDATION WILL CRUMBLE WHEN YOU TRY TO BUILD ON IT. I HAD A DREAM OF VISITING MY HOMELAND AND SEEING THE WONDERS OF THE FIRST NATION OF THE WORLD. I DREAMED OF GOING TO KENYA TO SEE THE WILDLIFE ROAMING FREE; OF SEEING SOUTH AFRICA IN ITS AWAKENED STATE, PREPARING ITSELF FOR THE NEW CENTURY; THE STRUGGLING NATION OF RWANDA IN AN ATTEMPT TO HELP AN OVERWHELMING SITUATION; EGYPT, WITH HER VAST CULTURE AND HISTORY. BUT IT WAS NIGERIA THAT CAPTURED MY HEART. THE CAPITAL COUNTRY OF AFRICA HAD BEEN DESCRIBED AS THE MOST PROSPEROUS OF ALL THE NATIONS OUTSIDE OF SOUTH AFRICA; THE INFRA- STRUCURE WAS SOUND, ITS PEOPLE FRIENDLY AND WELL EDUCATED. WHAT A NIGHTMARE TO FIND OUT THAT NIGERIA WAS CONSIDERED A 3rd RATE BANANA REPUBLIC. MY FAITH IN MANKIND HAS BEEN FURTHER ERODED TO THE POINT THAT I TRUST ALMOST NO ONE ANYMORE. Philip, CONSIDER YOUR TASK, SWALLOW SOME OF YOUR PRIDE, COME TOGETHER WITH all THE PEOPLES OF YOUR ONCE GREAT NATION AND THEN SALLY FORTH WITH ALL THE STRENGTH YOU AND THOSE WITH YOU CAN MUSTER. MY ANONYMOUS SPIRIT WILL BE WITH YOU. PLEASE HELP TO RESTORE MY FAITH IN HUMANITY.

AJ, THEZULUWARRIOR@webtv.net

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