I am not quite sure how this started but a couple of weeks ago a group of Nigerian twitters/bloggers began a campaign called “Light Up Nigeria” [LUN] and here on Twitter. The idea is to mobilize Nigerians into demanding electricity.
The time has come,Nigeria belongs to all of us and if we do not speak out now,its the same burden we will all have to bear. So join,tell your friends,family andybody you can,enough is enough. Our voice may be small now but as the group grows and the word is spread,the government will hear our words and something will be done. LIGHT UP NIGERIA so progress in all the other sectors can advance also.
Nigerian Curiosity took up the mantle and wrote this excellent post providing background on why Nigeria is still in darkness and detailing the campaign plus some additional suggestions on how to widen the campaign. For example wearing black armbands on Fridays, discussing the matter
Such short term strategies can be as simple as getting all supporters of the initiative to wear black (representing the lack of electricity) on a specific Friday or every last Friday of every month until there is progress, discussing the matter and at their church groups, civic/religious gatherings, in online forums and anywhere that others suffering the fate of lack of electricity gather. ……..Regular evening meetings around the country where participants gather in a neighborhood with no electricity and bring their torchlights, lanterns or other light sources could also help to keep the attention on the initiative in the local and international press, while spreading the word about the campaign. Highlighting areas where local and state government manage to provide regular electricity could also put pressure on underperforming officials. The sale of official clothing items, related books, music albums and other merchandise will not only raise funds for a committee that will spearhead things, but keep the initiative visible and allow its reach to spread further than Nigeria’s shores.”
Some of the comments were supportive but overall they were somewhat critical of the campaign. Osize who “just didnt get it” and was dropping people using the hashtag #lightupnigeria to frequently.
I do not get this stuff. What is the goal? When all you have is a hammer all problems start to look like a nail. This is abuse of social media awareness as far as I am concerned borderline spamming………It is even more dangerous to assume that social media exercises like this make an impact because then we can fold our hand and ignore the doing part. There isn’t a dearth of awareness about Nigeria’s power situation so what awareness is being raised. Not all problems will be solved by more awareness. It is time to do. Nigerians please start doing stuff.
If the goal is to shame the leaders into acting. You better think again , this is Nigeria. I know this may tick a few off, but project do need to have deliverables. Here I do not see one.
Beauty wasnt impressed either
Where are you going with this? There are so many issues here that their dependencies need entity relationship diags to connect them. Just like @nneoma above, education is key. Yardy’s lot see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil, do no evil as their collect wisdom continues to ruin Nigeria. How does one reason with them? #lightupnigeria as the MEND simple minds set Nigeria on fire!
I came up with some of my own ideas on how to mobilize people and get them thinking that change is possible. Flyers – they dont have to be printed, just write “Light Up Nigeria – We Want Light” and start posting these every where – on walls, trees, lampposts (especially lampposts), get taxi’s, moluwe etc to stick the flyers in their vehicles, phone relatives and friends and ask them to start distributing the leaflets at work, parties etc. Bombard everywhere with notices and flyers demanding electricity. DeeJays to make regular announcements on their shows, talk show hosts to discuss LUN on every show, musicians [come on Seun Kuti] to make LUN songs to be blasted out at the roadside, hand scraps of papers to passers by with LUN written – whisper in lovers ears, children’s ears, shout “give us light” at every opportunity, hand out flyers to public officials, create some graffiti on walls. Religious people can also get involved – whilst keeping everyone awake at night as if the heat was not enough – they could be singing songs about lighting up Nigeria – clubs and parties can take 5 minutes out to dance / shout / sing LUN – let the governments know what is demanded. More ideas welcome please.
