LAGOS — For years, the phrase “Nigeria happened to me” has been used by citizens as a shorthand for systemic failure and personal frustration. In a bold psychological pivot, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) is launching a new project of the same name—“Nigeria Happens To Me”—designed to reclaim the narrative by showcasing Nigerians who are thriving in business and creative sectors despite the odds.
The project is a collaboration between the NOA and the Akin Fadeyi Foundation (AFF), led by anti-corruption advocate Akin Fadeyi. The campaign aims to “amplify” the faces of resilient entrepreneurs, selling their success stories to the world and expanding their business frontiers.
A Partnership Rooted in Advocacy
Akin Fadeyi, the convener of the “Corruption Not In My Country” project, announced that his media production arm, Bufferzone Ltd, will serve as the technical partner for the storytelling initiative. Fadeyi highlighted that the project is not about ignoring social deficits, but about providing a “complete picture” of the Nigerian experience.
“Nigeria can happen to us in different ways,” Fadeyi stated. “The government owes citizens the imperative dividends of the social contract… nonetheless, it won’t always be a woeful aggregated inference when we look at an exhaustive picture.”
Phase One: The South West Tour
The project is set to begin its pilot phase in Lagos before moving state-by-state across the South West.
-
Leadership: The tour will be led by NOA’s Tukur Mustafa and the agency’s regional directors.
-
State Hosts: In Osun State, NOA Director Stephen Adebiyi will host the team as they conduct interviews with “unknown Nigerians” doing extraordinary work in tough circumstances.
-
Target: The team is specifically looking for entrepreneurs who have utilized government incentives—such as Bank of Industry (BOI) loans—to scale their ventures.
Bridging the Gap Without “Fisticuffs”
Fadeyi, who has a long history of collaborating with the Federal Government (including the adoption of his COVID-19 messages in 2020), emphasized his strategy of “mainstreaming advocacy” rather than engaging in confrontation. By leveraging technology, such as the FlagIt App, and persuasive media, the project seeks to fulfill accountability by highlighting what is working, thereby encouraging more inclusive growth.
Nigeria Happens To Me: Project Goals
How to Participate
The NOA and Akin Fadeyi Foundation are currently calling for nominations. If you are an entrepreneur who has found success or a “milestone” in the Nigerian market, or if you know someone who has thrived through resilience:
-
Tag them on the Akin Fadeyi Foundation or NOA Facebook pages.
-
Highlight the specific challenge overcome or the government incentive utilized.
This project is a strategic effort by the NOA to move from passive citizenship to active patriotism by spotlighting those who have successfully navigated Nigeria’s complex business terrain.
