State of the Nation: Making Comics of Our Reality

State of the Nation: Making Comics of Our Reality
By Dr. Bolaji O. Akinyemi

There are mornings when one wakes up with a heavy spirit, as I did today, weighed down by the realities of our nation. Nigeria’s challenges seem staggering, unrelenting, and often overwhelming. Yet in my weariness, I remember that even in darkness, there are always flickers of light—sometimes in the most unexpected forms. For me, one such reminder comes from my son, Samuel Akinyemi, popularly known on stage as Samuelcomedian (the ICON). His choice of comedy, set against my own serious and sober approach to life, presents a unique reflection of how different generations engage with our collective struggles.

While my generation often insists on solemn debate and heavy analysis to tackle national problems, his Gen Z peers frequently choose satire, skits, and comic relief. What appears as trivial banter is, in truth, a mirror held up to society. Comedy has become a tool of diagnosis—sometimes sharper than the analyst’s pen or the activist’s placard.

Consider our national issues:

Fuel scarcity and epileptic power supply. Where an older Nigerian might call for policy review, a comedian turns it into a skit: “Generator don turn first-born of the family.” The laughter masks pain, but the truth is undeniable.

Rampant insecurity. Where the public intellectual writes op-eds on policing reforms, the comedian jokes that Nigerians no longer ask for directions on the road, they ask, “Hope kidnappers no dey this area?” Humor becomes coping.

Inflation and poverty. While economists churn out statistics on food prices, comedians create sketches of people pricing tomatoes like they are bargaining for gold. The absurdity highlights what figures often fail to capture—the daily struggle of survival.

Leadership failures. While activists call for accountability, comedians craft memes that say, “Our leaders are like rechargeable lamps—bright for two days, then darkness.”

The juxtaposition of seriousness and satire is not a dismissal of either. Rather, it is evidence that Nigerians, across generations, are seeking ways to understand, express, and survive their lived realities.

Yet, we must be careful not to let comedy become an escape route that numbs us into acceptance. Our laughter should not silence our resolve. The jokes must drive us toward conversations, and those conversations must drive us toward solutions. For whether we analyze soberly or laugh loudly, the truth remains: Nigeria cannot afford silence.

Generational disconnection is real. My son and I do not always see Nigeria in the same light. Where I see tragedy, he sees parody. Where I feel pain, he creates content. Yet, both responses come from the same source: love for country and the frustration of its contradictions. This is where older and younger Nigerians must meet—on the shared ground of concern.

The task before us is to deliberately talk about our problems, no matter the style. Share them in analysis, in music, in comedy, in drama, in essays, in conversations at the market square, in classrooms, in offices, and yes, even in WhatsApp groups. The form matters less than the intent: that we keep Nigeria in focus. Silence is complicity, but expression—whether serious or comical—keeps the flame of hope alive.

Let us then embrace the richness of our voices. If your strength is analysis, write. If it is satire, perform. If it is poetry, recite. If it is graphics, draw. Each voice adds a brick to the national conversation. Each approach expands the dialogue space. And perhaps, in the interplay of laughter and lamentation, we might stumble on the solutions our country so desperately needs.

The state of the nation is no laughing matter. But laughter, paradoxically, can still help us face it. Do join me on the evening of Sunday 28th September 2025 at NECA House Hakeem Balogun Street, Central Business District, Alausa, Ikeja to encourage my son’s craft and join us build a nation we can all be proud off.

Dr. Bolaji O. Akinyemi is an Apostle and Nation Builder. He’s also President Voice of His Word Ministries and Convener Apostolic Round Table. BoT Chairman, Project Victory Call Initiative, AKA PVC Naija. He is a strategic Communicator and the C.E.O, Masterbuilder Communications.

Email:bolajiakinyemi66@gmail.com
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