by Marie-Therese Belisle Nweke
Wed. July 19, 2023
The difference between the poor and rich nations is not the age of the nation.
This can be demonstrated by countries like India and Egypt, which are more than 2000 years old and are still poor countries.
On the other hand, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, which 150 years back were insignificant, today are developed and rich countries.
The difference between the poor and rich nation also does not depend on the available natural resources.
Japan has limited territory, 80% mountainous, unsuitable for agriculture or farming, but until a few years ago, before being surpassed by China, had the second largest economy in the world. The country is like an immense floating factory, importing raw materials from the whole world and exporting manufactured products.
The second example is Switzerland. It does not grow cocoa, but produces the best chocolates in the world. In her small territory, she rears animals and cultivates the land only for four months in a year, nevertheless manufacturing the best milk products. A small country, which is an image of security which has made it the home of the strongest world bank.
Executives from rich countries who interact with their counterparts from poor countries show no significant intellectual differences.
The racial or color factors also do not evince importance: migrants heavy in laziness in their country of origin are forcefully productive in rich European countries.
What, then, is the difference?
The difference is the attitude of the people, molded for many years by education and culture.
When we analyse the conduct of the people from the rich and developed countries, it is observed that a majority abide by the following principles of life:
- Ethics, as basic principles.
- Integrity.
- Responsibility.
- The respect for Laws and Regulations.
- The respect from the majority of citizens by right.
- The love for work.
- The effort to save and invest.
- The will to be productive.
- Punctuality.
In the poor country, a small minority follow these basic principles in their daily life.
We are not poor because we lack natural resources or because nature is cruel towards us.
We are poor because we lack attitude. We lack the will to follow and teach these principles of working of rich and developed societies.
WE ARE IN THIS STATE BECAUSE WE WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE.
WE ARE IN THIS STATE BECAUSE WE SEE SOMETHING DONE WRONG AND SAY, “LET IT BE”.
WE SHOULD HAVE A SPIRITED MEMORY AND ATTITUDE…
ONLY THEN WILL WE BE ABLE TO CHANGE OUR PRESENT STATE.
If you love your COUNTRY (NIGERIA, BELIZE…), try and circulate this message so that as many people as possible can, reflect on this.
Welcome your comments, please.