Let us reason together—deeply and sincerely.

If my neighbour cannot eat or sleep well, how then can I, in all honesty, sleep with peace of mind? If there is violence, strife, and rampant lawlessness in our community, how can we call ourselves wealthy, if we cannot move freely without fear?

What then is true wealth?

True wealth is not measured in isolation or in the number of cars or houses one possesses. It is measured in collective well-being. It is wealth that flows from the top to touch the lowest rungs of society. The Annang people, like many Bantu cultures, express this philosophy in a simple, profound statement:

“Imoadeagwo” — People are wealth.

This is our own Ubuntu. And if we are to build an enduring African or Nigerian brand of democracy, then we must return to this wisdom—where people, not power or possessions, define prosperity.

Democracy through the Lens of Ubuntu

To build a sustainable, peaceful society, we must realise that:

• Bringing children into this world without the capacity to care for them is unjust. Unless born out of necessity or misfortune, every child deserves attention, love, and dignity.

• A parent who neglects their responsibility commits a crime before God.

• Societies that ignore vulnerable groups—like street children or destitute adults—risk moral collapse.

Take, for instance, the Almajiri school system. It must be strengthened—not scrapped—to align with principles of early childhood development and emotional well-being. Children in these systems deserve structured learning, emotional support, and care. No child should be left wandering aimlessly, unloved, or without shelter. In the spirit of Ubuntu, there should be:

• Jobs for those who can work

• Specialized welfare stipends for those who cannot

• Education tailored to the disadvantaged, so no child is lost to the streets

Remember:

God sees our true balance sheets—both personal and national.

What Makes a Person Truly Wealthy?

A wealthy person, in the true African sense, is one whose source of wealth is known and whose wealth touches lives across many social strata. Not someone who isolates their riches for personal display.

Ubuntu means that a social safety net is not charity; it is obligation. As captured in A Compendium of Annang Culture (co-authored with Dr. Udo Ndatah in 2014), these cultural values—if properly adapted—can pull Nigeria out of the woods and into prosperity.

A Call to Action: Let Culture Inspire Nationhood

Every ethnic group in Nigeria holds unique, beautiful, peace-promoting practices. What we must now do is:

• Highlight the best of our cultures

• Expose and document them

• Build adaptable frameworks for national integration

Through this, we can begin to define:

• A Nigerian architectural identity

• A Nigerian social curriculum

• A collective vision of peace, rooted in Ubuntu

This is not mere philosophy—it is nation-building. And it must begin with you, and me.

Because I am Bantu,

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is also my God.

— Hon. Patty Etete Inemeh