ANYHOWNESS

I was reflecting on the recent Ikoyi building collapse and I was considering possible causes, what really went wrong. While there are a lot of factors that might have contributed to the collapse of the structure, one thing that struck my mind, which I will be discussing, is how we as Nigerian seem to have a culture of just doing things anyhow.

There was a project to be executed but the supervisors probably didn’t do a thorough job in ensuring the quality of work done met the required standards. The laborers also were probably only concerned about earning their pay and didn’t care about how the quality of their job would affect the overall project.

This isn’t an unlikely scenario, if you have had any form of renovations in your home, you’d agree that a good percentage of artisans have a very lackadaisical attitude to work, if you aren’t there to breathe on their necks as they work be sure to get a tardy, shoddy job.

However, this poor attitude of not being thorough doesn’t only apply to artisans alone but is seen in almost every sector. When a task is set before a typical Nigerian, more often than not they do it anyhow. Anyhow; meaning that they do not follow due process, aren’t thorough, skip necessary steps and checks, aren’t concerned about the quality of work done. We just want to be able to say we did the task regardless of how well it was done, we believe the end always justifies the means.

Many people go to school just to get a certificate and be able to get a job in the future and therefore do all it takes to do just that. They bribe their way through school, cheat in exams, buy certificates, and so on, forgetting that the primary purpose of education is to be imparted with knowledge and the certificate is just proof of the process.

In business, we see that many businesses, sole proprietorship especially do not follow a proper structure, all the business owners care about is that they make a profit and for as long as the profits are rolling in, they’re satisfied and do not see the need to have a well-designed structure. But when there is a change in ownership the business collapses. It is rare to see Nigerian businesses that survive more than one generation.

In governance it is even more pronounced; the best hands are not hired and it is impossible to get quality results. The government spends about three months repairing a particular road only for it to begin developing potholes after 2 weeks.

To drive it home, as basic as cooking many Nigerians don’t follow recipes. There is no precise measurement for salt or other spices used when cooking or the precise timing for the process, we rely on our instinct and experience to guide us and many times we can’t predict the outcome of the meal and cannot accurately replicate a dish.

The reason for this ‘I don’t care any which way, attitude may not be clear but it has got to stop. We cannot make any sustainable progress or achievement by doing things anyhow. There cannot be growth and advancement in our country if the quality and standard of almost everything is poor.

We need to develop a culture of being deliberate and thorough with our duties. We must stop focusing on the end result alone but also the necessary requirements, due process, and quality.

Love is all I have,
Atinuke Odjenima
Transformational Growth Catalyst