IE Admission question If the world's cultural heritage (sports, music, fashion, architecture, literature and painting) was contained in a time capsule, what would you include to demonstrate the legacy of your country?

1. Explanation
•The two white horses on each side
represent “Dignity” and “Pride”
•The Eagle represents “Strength”
•The black shield represents
Nigeria’s fertile soil
•The white wavy lines that form a
“Y” on the shield, represent two of
Nigeria’s famous rivers, River’s
Niger and Benue (which both meet
to forma confluence at Lokoja)
•The green and white band on the
shield represents “rich soil”
•The ground upon which the shield
rest is covered with Coctus
Spectablis, a common flower found
in many parts within Nigeria

3. Nigeria is the very definition of diversity, even our climate varies
significantly, from the tropical rainforest climate to the harsh Sahel climate
in the Northern region of the country and Alpine climates experienced at the
middle belt states, which is located at the Plateau regions of the country. A
country with 36 states, 1 federal capital, 372 tribes, and 521 languages
underscores multiplicities, diversities and differences of a people. This
makes it difficult to unite them as a nation, also if we consider our
vegetation, climate, even topography we realize that on a natural level, the
terrain called Nigeria is different in many ways.
This further strains my attempt to find a unifying deed, edifice, monument,
occurrence, or otherwise which absolutely captures the legacy of my
country in a way that it preserves our legacy for posterity sake. I have
always thought that one of the more visible unifying factors of a people is
Language, but in a country where we have over 500 different languages,
how do we begin to bind ourselves together by a singular mode of verbal
communication?

4. Yes, our official lingua franca is English, but I must say, even though I
commune and write here in English, English does not bear the essence of
Nigerians; from each ethnicity to each tribe. There are always barriers in social
interaction, but it’s more pronounced when language is in contention. A
certain number of people with similar views, language etc over a period of
time, in a certain location, can become a people. These are the very things
that are variable in Nigeria, yet we are united. This prompted me to look for
something else as being our unifying factor, something worth preserving, and
something other than what is apparent. And I found this in our Coat of Arms I
call this the” Spirit of Nigeria” this is what I sought and found and will
preserve, this is our legacy, this is what I think makes us a people.

6. Dignity
The Two White Horses; naturally
a symbol of strength, mobility
and stamina, is for us “Dignity”.
A word which originated from the
French word “dignite” which
means “Honor”. As a people,
the fiber of our being is woven by
the tread of honor, in all our
deeds, in all our endeavors; we
are like regimented men, “death
before dishonor”. “Dignite” also
means pride and worthiness, and
this is how we feel as Nigerians.
Upholding the creed, honoring
our National Anthem,
irrespective of race and origin,
we introduce ourselves as
Dignified, white Horses.

7. Strength
The Eagle; this bird has been associated with everything from strength
to vision, from Power to leadership. To the Nigerian it represents the
strength of our resolve and the force of our being and one of the
derivatives of the word “strength” comes from “moral resistance”. As a
people, we shall vehemently resist immoral doctrines, and meet it with
the force of our resolve; to be more upright. Our conduct shall be
ethical; it shall favor one and all, not wavering at all. No inequality, no
differences in measure, these ideals strengthen our wellbeing. We are
strong, we are as Eagles.

8. The Shield and the Green and
White Band
These represent the fertile land
upon which a rich and fertile
people dwell. This is our innate
ability as a people and as a
geographical territory, to give life
and to sustain it. We are self-sufficient,
we can and we do cater
for our own, our land is blessed
with one of the largest work force
demographics in the world, the
wealth of our natural resources
has the potential to support and
sustain a significant part of the
world economy. We are a country
blessed with vast land mass, rich
enough to cater for our dense
population. We are like a shield,
we defend our own.

9. The “Y”
The River Niger and Benue, two of the most significant rivers
in Nigeria, contain aquatic life for sustenance; the Rivers
signifies purity, freshness, and newness. These two great
rivers confluence at the very center of the country; this in my
opinion indicates how a natural occurrence show cases our
unity. The rivers signify sustenance, purity and unity. The
rivers meet at the heart of the country.

10. Our Motto
“Faith and Unity, Peace and Progress”
We have FAITH that the Federal
Republic of Nigeria shall never
crumble, we have stayed UNITED
despite a civil war, numerous attacks
both domestic and foreign, survived
plagues, epidemic out breaks,
famine, poverty, corruption,
mismanagement of public funds,
public office, unemployment,
disasters, political and natural in
nature. We have learnt as a people
to pick peace, when PEACE and
JUSTICE are at logger heads, we have
been PEACE full, in the face of
daunting odds, we have thrived in the
presence of adversities and we have
PROGRESSED despite it all.

11. This is the Nigeria I choose to preserve, this is the idea I
choose to retain and pass on, this is the core of who we are
and this is what makes us a nation. This is the ideology that
the capsule should hold, every noble deed, every single
contribution we have made to the worlds history, was or is
born out of these core beliefs that define Nigeria, in seeking
to preserve the legacy of my country, I have realized I am
preserving me.