ARE WE TRULY FREE AFTER 65 YEARS Of INDEPENDENCE?

Every October 1st is the celebration of Nigeria’s Independence Day, and although many would shudder at the thought and wonder “what is there to celebrate?” However, we still can’t take away the fact that it is a day of Freedom from bondage, although to an extent.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, freedom means the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants. Such rights were given to our nation, Nigeria, on October 1st, 1960. We were granted freedom and independence from the British colonial masters, but Independence means more than just a change of rulers; it is a chance to start our own destiny, and to shape the future with our own hands.

Today, October 1st, 2025, marks 65 years since that historic day, and for six and a half decades, we have celebrated the sacrifices of our forefathers who dreamed of a land where every citizen could live with dignity and pride. Their anticipation for freedom was not in vain, for independence gave us the foundation to build a nation of hope.

But as we look around today, we must ask ourselves: Are we truly free? This question is a question that poses other questions in itself including: Are we free from poverty that traps more than 70% of Nigerians in hunger? Are we free from corruption that has eaten deep into the fabric of our nation? Are we free from unemployment that frustrates the youth, or even from insecurity that robs individuals and families of peace?

The truth is, the list never ends. Yes, independence removed the chains of colonial rule, but there are still so many chains that weigh heavily on our society, and until we overcome these, our freedom remains a mere fallacy in itself.

Freedom is beyond waving a flag and reciting the National anthem. It is the ability to live without fear, to be able to speak without being silenced, and to dream without limitations. Freedom is when the farmer labours and reap the fruits of his labour; it is where students are able to learn without barriers, where the youths are able to pursue opportunities, and the citizens are able to trust in justice, just to mention a few.

If we’re focusing on freedom in the real sense, we cannot shy away from highlighting the challenges that are hindering it. One of such problems is the incessant hike in school fees. It is not uncommon these days to go on a short break and resume a new session with the price of fees being increased.

As much as Education is expensive, affordability is key. The hike in fees has been plaguing several institutions in Nigeria over the years, and has contributed to some dropping out, others giving up, and the resilient ones struggling to finish amidst the numerous problems, yet we celebrate freedom every year!

What about the unconducive classrooms for learning? Having to sit or should I say, stand for a two-hour lecture in a classroom that lacks proper ventilation, good lightning, good chairs, and so on, yet students have no choice but to face these same issues day-in-day-out for 4 years, and for some 5-6 years, and yet we all celebrate being free from slavery every year.

Moving on to the bigger picture, life after school scares finalists more than their final exams. The thoughts and pressure of finally leaving school knowing fully well that there is little-to-no job outside, despite striving to sail through the university calendar for 4 years or more, and then the sign-out pictures, the project defense, and then less than a month after final exams, reality sets in.

We find out we’re no longer receiving allowance, but have to fend for ourselves, which is a phase everyone must pass through, however, how do we successfully survive in this phase when there’s clearly no structure or system to get a good job?

We now have so many studentspreneurs who would rather focus on their business, because in fact, it will save them a lot after graduation. And sadly, we still celebrate October 1st every year.

Looking at several issues, including the ones directly affecting us, it is important to say that independence is of three folds, the past, present and the future. It is not just about the past we overcame, but about the present we live in and the future we create and are still creating.

So, we reiterate again, are we truly free after 65 years? The honest answer may be “not yet.” But the glaring truth is that this freedom that we talk about is not beyond our reach-it is in our hands, in our values, our actions, and our collective will to build a nation worthy of its people.

So, until we get the true freedom we deserve, which includes seeing a drastic improvement in our educational system ranging from a stable price of affordable school fees, well-ventilated classrooms or lecture halls, and even a proper structure that reduces the number of unemployment across Nigeria, and so many other benefits that everyone deserves, we must not just celebrate independence day, but make sure that our celebration is actually significant in the real sense.

We shouldn’t just celebrate and declare a national holiday for nothing, but we should actually commemorate such a day with evident achievements to boast of.

Cheers to Nigeria being…“Independent”, yet still in search of true freedom.