SLC-S29/W1-“Thinking and Ideas!| If You Were in Charge!”

Good evening, fellow steemit family. This is Ayobami from Nigeria.

I want to participate in the beautiful contest organised by @ninapenda. I love the contest so much because it gives room for everyone to share diverse ideas on different topics, and this week, we are told to write on the topic "If you were in charge"

Imagine you were given a full authority over your community or country for just one year. What would you do? No limits, no excuses, just you, the power, and 365 days to change things.

As a young Nigerian and a student, I often think about the problems we face every day. If I were in charge of Nigeria for one year, here's what I would do:

The first and most urgent issue I would address is corruption in public life. Corruption involves when people in power steal public funds, take bribes, give jobs to family instead of the best person, or bend rules for personal gain. Corruption is everywhere, it touches every part of life: from market prices to school fees, hospital care to job opportunities.

Right now, in 2026, Nigeria scores only 26 out of 100 on the Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International. This ranks Nigeria 140 out of 180 countries worldwide; one of the most corrupt places on earth, that's such a bad situation.

I would focus on cleaning up public institutions, recovering stolen money, punishing those who are guilty of committing corruption no matter how big they are in the society, and building systems that make corruption hard or impossible.

There are many serious problems in Nigeria ranging from bad electricity (frequent blackouts), insecurity (kidnappings and banditry), high rate of poverty, bad roads, to weak education and health systems. All these hurt us deeply. But corruption is the root cause that makes everything else worse. It's like poison in the water that spreads and weakens the whole body.

• Corruption steals money meant for roads, schools, hospitals, and power plants. Billions disappear every year, leaving us with broken infrastructure.

• It kills jobs and growth because honest businesses can't compete with those who pay bribes.

• It keeps poverty rate high because when public money is stolen, the poor get nothing; no free medicine, no good schools, no steady light.

• Fixing corruption would create quick wins such that there will be more money for real development, better investment from oversea, and hope for youth.

Other issues need money and trust to solve, and corruption blocks both. So, if we clean it up, there will be real progress in security, power, education, and the economy becomes faster and easier.

[Pixabay]https://pixabay.com/illustrations/no-corruption-stop-corruption-4650589/

The toughest decision would be to prosecute high-profile politicians and big officials from all parties. There will be no selective justice or settlement deals.

The decision will be a very difficult one because:

• Powerful people would fight back with money, lawsuits, protests, or threats.

• Some might say it's witch-hunt or political revenge.

• It could cause short-term chaos or division.

But without this bold step, corruption will continue eating deep in our society.

I would speak to Nigerians like family with honesty, simplicity and with respect. In organised town halls meetings in each states, on radio, TV, social media, everywhere.

I will let them know how hurtful it is for corruption to ride in our country. I will let them understand the fact that when public funds are being stolen, they stole from them as a citizen, their access to good health and education, and stable electricity supply.

They should understand that corruption is not a small thing; it has kept Nigeria poor despite our abundant natural resources, our brains, and our hard work. If we let the big thieves go free, the small ones will never stop. I will explain to them that this is not about revenge; it's about justice and love for our country. If we forgive the big ones, we teach our children that corruption is okay. We should work together to choose a better Nigeria for our children.

I would share real examples of recovered money being used for good, invite citizens to report corruption safely, and reward whistleblowers. Transparency builds trust.

And I believe that in one year, with God, strong will, and working with the right people, we can break the cycle. Corruption is our biggest enemy, we will beat it, and Nigeria will rise!

I would like to invite @etified01, @bossj23 and @gabriella26 to also participate in this challenge.