Tinubu’s $1 trillion GDP target and Rufai Oseni’s tears

Nigeria's significant social media penetration, placing it among the top countries globally for daily usage, is a double-edged sword, according to 'Tope Fasua. While literacy improves, the velocity of information on social media makes it difficult for minds to process, and many accept information uncritically, especially if it aligns with their existing sentiments.

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With social media, dogmatism (the art of adopting someone else’s belief) has increased, paradoxically as the world got ‘smarter’.

Fasua observes that "dogmatism has increased" paradoxically as the world becomes "smarter." Nigerians, spending nearly four hours daily on social media, are susceptible to the rapid spread of information. This phenomenon, he argues, shows how easily minds can be influenced, for better or worse. Currently, purveyors of "pessimism, hopelessness, despair and doom" seem to hold sway, as bad news, which sells, often overshadows good news.

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And, psychologically, with our current state of social psychology, millions of Nigerians are wired to seek negative news about their country, and others, and to believe such news and spread them on the spur.

Psychologically, millions of Nigerians are "wired to seek negative news about their country," believing and spreading it readily. This is coupled with a national tendency towards exceptionalism, where Nigerians often boast about their greatness but then descend into "superlative, nihilistic, and fatalistic terms" when complaining – "Nigeria is dead! Nigeria is finished!"

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When we start to complain about our country, we speak in superlative, nihilistic, and fatalistic terms – Nigeria is dead! Nigeria is finished! There is no hope for this country!

The author contends that even those whose livelihoods depend on criticizing the country are often the most vocal in condemning it. He notes a shared trait with Americans in developing a "tunnel vision" focused inward, often reacting with rage when prompted to pause, contextualize, and compare Nigeria with other nations or historical trends. Fasua states his daily effort to push back against this negativity, particularly concerning the Nigerian economy, aiming to offer a more balanced view.

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This is the reason why I strive daily to contribute my quota in pushing back as much as possible; especially as it pertains to the Nigerian economy.