The Small Difference Between Developed And Developing Countries By Amb Dr. Eniola Ajayi

I found that just like the difference between the ordinary and the extraordinary is the little extra; so the difference between developed and developing, is in small things.

The other day, Folake and I were doing our morning walk as we have done for a couple of days now, then it hit me from the road signs. I noticed that there was provision for everyone and everything. I noticed that everything was well thought out, clearly marked and nothing was left to chance. There was a sign for where dogs could walk and another sign where dogs could not walk. There was provision for people on bicycles, motorcycles, motor vehicles and even where horses could walk too.

Areas of the roads undergoing construction were nicely cordoned off. The roads had portions dedicated for walking / running, motorcycles / bicycles and motor vehicles. Everyone is provided for.

I was intrigued by the level of order, inclusion and consideration. No one was left behind. People, whether able or vulnerable had all amenities provided for them. Even the ducks roamed and flew as they wished in various parks. I also noticed many trees guarded with harness to keep them growing straight. A bench was provided every now and then, in case you wanted to sit for a while.

Children had playgrounds at different intervals within the neighbourhoods, even roses had a particular section of the park dedicated to them. It is a situation of live and let live. The physically challenged had provision for parking at the most convenient spots of any parking facility closest to the amenities to be accessed. The bicycles have special parking spots too. The motorcycles are not left out.

This level of organization makes it impossible to throw trash anyhow because, the trash can is almost always within easy reach. The dog litter is also provided for. They also make it easy for you to be considerate of the environment as the bins are clearly assigned for easy segregation of garbage, to make waste recycling possible. It is utterly unthinkable for someone to throw trash from a moving vehicle or while walking on the road.

The infrastructure and deliberate provision of anything you could possibly need with clear directions of what is expected of you makes getting civilised second nature over time. You adapt to the order. I am sure that is what they mean by, “when in Rome, you do as the Romans do”. When you do like the romans do, it becomes a habit. When a group of people become deliberate in their pattern of behaviour, it becomes a culture.

You quickly learn that a bicycle has the right of way ahead of a motor vehicle. In deed, “might is not right”. I came to the conclusion yet again that, for a country to be truly developed, it has to pay attention to everyone and everything. There has to be a deliberate effort to look out for everyone. We all have to think through every circumstance and make sure no one is left behind. At the end, consideration with concrete demonstration of care for our fellow men will advance any society to a developed status. We rise above crude and savage tendencies to humane and cultured attitudes, fostering a beautiful and developed world for everyone. Think of the little things you can do to make the world beautiful for the next person. You could call it human rights and animal rights.

It is all about the attention to details and all the little things you do. We must be intentional to develop. It can be done. We must develop this mindset. We can do it. Just do it! Thank you.

Dr. Eniola is the Ambassador of Nigeria to the Kingdom of Netherlands

Amb Eniola Ajayi

August 17, 2023