In the first part of this course, we mapped the visible structures of Nigerian society. We named the president and the governor. We found the police station and the school. We greeted the traditional ruler and the imam. That was the skeleton. Now we need the flesh.
Because society is not just institutions. It is the space between them. It is the way a woman negotiates with a government office. It is the way a young man seeks the blessing of an elder. It is the way a community solves a dispute without going to court. It is the way a family celebrates a birth or mourns a death. These are the unwritten rules. These are the invisible institutions. And in Nigeria, they are often more powerful than the written ones.
This second part is about that invisible architecture. We are going to go deeper into the language of society—the phrases of civic duty, of rights and responsibilities, of corruption and integrity, of tradition and modernity, of belonging and exclusion. These are the conversations that Nigerians have every day, in every language, in every corner of the country.
Let us begin with a truth: in Nigeria, you do not deal with an institution. You deal with a person who represents an institution. And that person has a mother, a hometown, a church or mosque, a set of loyalties that stretch back generations. Understanding this is the key to understanding how Nigeria works.
So as we go through these fifty questions, think of them as a guide to the human side of society. Each one helps you navigate the space between the official and the personal.
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Civic Duty and Responsibility
Citizenship is not just a passport. It is a set of obligations. It is the tax you pay. It is the vote you cast. It is the refuse you do not throw in the street. These phrases help you talk about what it means to be a citizen.
English Hausa Yoruba Pidgin Igbo Fulfulde
What is my duty as a citizen? Menene aikina a matsayin ɗan ƙasa? Kí ni ojúṣe mi gẹ́gẹ́ bí ọmọ ìlú? Wetin be my duty as citizen? Gịnị bụ ọrụ m dịka nwa amaala? Ko woni golle am bana leydi?
We must pay our taxes Dole mu biya haraji A gbọ́dọ̀ san owó orí We must pay our tax Anyị ga-akwụ ụtụ isi Min segi yoɓde njoɓdi
Voting is important Zaɓe yana da muhimmanci Ìdìbò ṣe pàtàkì Voting important Ntuli aka dị mkpa Cuɓal ko tiiɗnde
I will vote in the election Zan yi zaɓe Mo máa dìbò I go vote M ga-eme ntuli aka Mi woototo
We must keep our environment clean Dole mu tsaftace muhallinmu A gbọ́dọ̀ tọ́jú àyíká wa We must keep our place clean Anyị ga-edobe gburugburu anyị ọcha Min segi laaɓtinde nokku amen
Do not throw refuse on the street Kada ka jefa shara a titi Má ṣe da ìdọ̀tí sí ojú pópó No throw dirty for street Etinyela ahịhịa n'okporo ụzọ Taa wuuru kosam e laawol
We must respect the law Dole mu girmama doka A gbọ́dọ̀ bọ̀wọ̀ fún òfin We must respect law Anyị ga-asọpụrụ iwu Min segi teddinde sarɗi
It is our responsibility Aikinmu ne Ojúṣe wa ni Na our work Ọ bụ ọrụ anyị Ko golle amen
We must help the needy Dole mu taimaki mabukata A gbọ́dọ̀ ràn àwọn aláìní lọ́wọ́ We must help the poor Anyị ga-enyere ndị ogbenye aka Min segi wallitde miskiinaaɓe
A good citizen is a blessing Ɗan ƙasa nagari albarka ne Ọmọ ìlú tó dára jẹ́ ìbùkún Good citizen na blessing Ezi nwa amaala bụ ngọzi Neɗɗo moƴƴo ko barke
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Rights and Justice
Rights are not abstract. They are the things you demand when you are wronged. They are the things you defend when you are threatened. These phrases help you claim what is yours.
English Hausa Yoruba Pidgin Igbo Fulfulde
I have rights Ina da haƙƙoƙi Mo ní ẹ̀tọ́ I get right Enwere m ikike Mi naɓa hakkeeji
That is my right Wannan haƙƙina ne Ẹ̀tọ́ mi ni Na my right Ọ bụ ikike m Ko hakkeeji am
You cannot take my rights Ba za ka iya ƙwace haƙƙina ba O kò lè gba ẹ̀tọ́ mi You no fit take my right Ị nweghị ike ịnapụ m ikike m A waawi ñaawde hakkeeji am
I want justice Ina son adalci Mo fẹ́ ìdájọ́ I want justice Achọrọ m ikpe ziri ezi Mi yiɗi ñaawoore
The law protects us Doka tana kare mu Òfin ń dáàbò bò wá Law dey protect us Iwu na-echebe anyị Sarɗi no reende min
We must fight for our rights Dole mu yi yaƙi domin haƙƙoƙinmu A gbọ́dọ̀ jà fún ẹ̀tọ́ wa We must fight for our right Anyị ga-alụ ọgụ maka ikike anyị Min segi haɓde hakkeeji amen
No one is above the law Babu wanda ya fi doka Kò sí ẹni tó ga ju òfin lọ Nobody pass law Ọ dịghị onye karịrị iwu Rewo ɓuri sarɗi
I will not be silenced Ba za a rufe min baki ba A kò ní pa mí lẹ́nu mọ́ Dem no go shut me up Agaghị m agbachi nkịtị Mi deeƴataa
Freedom is not free 'Yanci ba kyauta ba ne Òmìnira kì í ṣe ọ̀fẹ́ Freedom no free Nnwere onwe abụghị n'efu Ndimaaku ko meere
We demand accountability Muna neman lissafi A ń béèrè fún ìṣirò We dey ask for accountability Anyị na-achọ ntụkwasị obi Min nana hiisiwal
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Corruption and Integrity
Corruption is a word that hangs over Nigeria like a cloud. Everyone knows it. Everyone talks about it. But few agree on what to do. These phrases help you enter the conversation.
English Hausa Yoruba Pidgin Igbo Fulfulde
Corruption is a problem Cin hanci da rashawa matsala ce Ìwà ìbàjẹ́ jẹ́ ìṣòro Corruption na problem Nrụrụ aka bụ nsogbu Wiɗtooji ko rakkina
He is corrupt Shi mai cin hanci ne Ó jẹ́ aláìṣòdodo He dey corrupt Ọ bụ onye nrụrụ aka O ko bonɗo
Do not offer me a bribe Kada ka ba ni cin hanci Má fún mi ní ẹ̀bùn No give me bribe Enyela m aka azụ Taa hokku lam njoɓdi
I will not take a bribe Ba zan karɓi cin hanci ba Mi kò ní gba ẹ̀bùn I no go collect bribe Agaghị m anara aka azụ Mi jaɓataa njoɓdi
Integrity is important Mutunci yana da muhimmanci Ìwà ọ̀tọ̀ ṣe pàtàkì Integrity important Iguzosi ike n'ezi ihe dị mkpa Teddungal ko tiiɗngal
We must fight corruption Dole mu yi yaƙi da cin hanci A gbọ́dọ̀ bá ìwà ìbàjẹ́ jà We must fight corruption Anyị ga-alụ ọgụ megide nrụrụ aka Min segi haɓde wiɗtooji
Honesty is the best policy Gaskiya ita ce hanya mafi kyau Òtítọ́ ni ìlànà tó dára jù Honesty na best policy Eziokwu bụ ụkpụrụ kacha mma Goonga ko ɓuri moƴƴude
Do not cheat people Kada ka yaudari mutane Má ṣe tàn àwọn ènìyàn jẹ́ No cheat people Echela ndị mmadụ aghụghọ Taa nowdu yimɓe
A good name is better than riches Suna mai kyau ya fi dukiya Orúkọ rere sàn ju ọrọ̀ lọ Good name better pass money Aha ọma karịa akụ na ụba Innde moƴƴere ɓuri jawdi
We want a better Nigeria Muna son Najeriya mafi kyau A fẹ́ Nàìjíríà tó dára jù We want better Nigeria Anyị chọrọ Naịjirịa ka mma Min nani Naajeeriya ɓurɗo moƴƴude
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Tradition and Modernity
Nigeria lives in two worlds at once. The world of the ancestors and the world of the internet. The world of the village and the world of the city. These phrases help you talk about the tension and the beauty of that double life.
English Hausa Yoruba Pidgin Igbo Fulfulde
Tradition is important Al'ada tana da muhimmanci Àṣà ṣe pàtàkì Tradition important Omenala dị mkpa Aada ko tiiɗnde
We must not forget our culture Kada mu manta al'adunmu A kò gbọ́dọ̀ gbàgbé àṣà wa We no must forget our culture Anyị agaghị echefu omenala anyị Min yejjitataa aada amen
Modern life is different Rayuwar zamani ta bambanta Ìgbésí ayé òde òní yàtọ̀ Modern life different Ndụ nke oge a dị iche Nguurndam hannde ceerti
We can blend both Za mu iya haɗa duka biyu A lè dà wọ́n pọ̀ We can mix both Anyị nwere ike ijikọ ha abụọ Min mbaawi hawritde ɗiɗi
The elders know the old ways Dattawa sun san tsoffin hanyoyi Àwọn àgbàlagbà mọ ọ̀nà àtijọ́ Elders know old ways Ndị okenye maara ụzọ ochie Mawɓe anndi laabi ɓooyɗi
The youth know the new ways Matasa sun san sabbin hanyoyi Àwọn ọ̀dọ́ mọ ọ̀nà tuntun Young people know new ways Ndị ntorobịa maara ụzọ ọhụrụ Sukaaɓe anndi laabi kesi
We must learn from both Dole mu koyi daga duka biyu A gbọ́dọ̀ kọ́ láti ọ̀dọ̀ àwọn méjèèjì We must learn from both Anyị ga-amụta n'aka ha abụọ Min segi janngude e ɗiɗi
Change is not always bad Sauyi ba koyaushe mara kyau ba ne Ìyípadà kì í ṣe búburú nígbà gbogbo Change no always bad Mgbanwe adịghị njọ mgbe niile Waylugol boni tuma fuu
We respect the past Muna girmama abin da ya gabata A ń bọ̀wọ̀ fún àtijọ́ We respect the past Anyị na-asọpụrụ oge gara aga Min teddinaa ɓennuɗo
We embrace the future Muna rungumar gaba A ń gbà ọjọ́ ọ̀la mọ́ra We welcome future Anyị na-anabata ọdịnihu Min jaɓɓa garoowo
Our children will find the way Yaranmu za su sami hanya Àwọn ọmọ wa yóò rí ọ̀nà Our children go find way Ụmụ anyị ga-achọta ụzọ Sukaaɓe amen yiytoto laawol
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Belonging and Exclusion
Not everyone belongs. Some are strangers. Some are outsiders. Some are pushed to the margins. These phrases help you talk about the hard truths of community.
English Hausa Yoruba Pidgin Igbo Fulfulde
I am a stranger here Ni baƙo ne a nan Àlejò ni mí níbí I be stranger here Abụ m ọbịa ebe a Mi ko jaɓoowo ɗoo
Where are you from? Daga ina kake? Níbo ni o ti wá? Where you come from? Ebee ka ị si? Toy a iwri?
This is not my home Wannan ba gidana ba ne Èyí kì í ṣe ilé mi This no be my home Nke a abụghị ụlọ m Ɗum wonaa galle am
I feel like an outsider Ina jin kamar baƙo Mo ń dàbí àlejò I feel like outsider Ọ dị m ka m bụ ọbịa Mi nanaa mi ko jaɓoowo
We must welcome strangers Dole mu karɓi baƙi A gbọ́dọ̀ kí àwọn àlejò We must welcome stranger Anyị ga-anabata ndị ọbịa Min segi jaɓɓude jaɓooɓe
Everyone deserves respect Kowa ya cancanci girmamawa Gbogbo ènìyàn yẹ fún ọ̀wọ̀ Everybody deserve respect Onye ọ bụla kwesịrị nsọpụrụ Kala neɗɗo haani teddungal
Do not discriminate Kada ka nuna bambanci Má ṣe ṣe ìyàsọ́tọ̀ No discriminate Emela ịkpa ókè Taa newdu ceertugol
We are all human Dukanmu mutane ne Gbogbo wa ènìyàn ni We all be human Anyị niile bụ mmadụ Amen fuu ko yimɓe
Unity is strength Haɗin kai ƙarfi ne Ìṣọ̀kan ni agbára Unity na power Ịdị n'otu bụ ike Goonɗinal ko doole
Together we are stronger Tare muna da ƙarfi Papọ̀ a lágbára Together we strong pass Ọnụ anyị siri ike karịa E wondude min ɓuri doole
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The Grammar of Belonging
The grammar of society is the grammar of pronouns. It is about who is "we" and who is “they.”
In Hausa, the word mu means "we." It is used constantly. Mu mutane ɗaya ne—we are one people. The pronoun is a declaration of unity. But there is also su—they. The line between us and them is always present.
In Yoruba, the word àwa means "we." It is emphatic. It says, "We, and not others." The word wọ́n means "they." The Yoruba are careful with pronouns. They know that language can include or exclude.
In Nigerian Pidgin, the word we is used broadly. It can mean "you and I." It can mean "all of us." It can mean "the people of this place." Pidgin is a language of inclusion. It invites everyone in.
In Igbo, the word anyị means "we." It is used in phrases like Anyị bụ otu—we are one. The word ha means "they." The Igbo value community, but they also know the pain of exclusion.
In Fulfulde, the word min means "we." It is used in phrases like Min ko yimɓe gootum—we are one people. The word ɓe means "they." The Fulani are a scattered people, and the pronoun carries the weight of belonging.
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How to Practice the Second Layer of Society
You cannot learn the language of society from a book. You learn it by being part of society.
Join a community group. Find a hometown association, a church group, a mosque committee, a professional network. Participate. Listen. Learn.
Attend a public meeting. Go to a local government meeting. Go to a town hall. Listen to how people speak about their rights, their complaints, their hopes. Learn the phrases.
Volunteer. Help with a community project. Clean the streets. Teach a child. Visit a hospital. The language of service is the language of society.
Ask questions. Ask elders about tradition. Ask young people about modernity. Ask officials about their work. Ask strangers about their lives. Every question is a door.
Be patient. Society is complex. Nigeria is complex. You will not understand everything at once. Be patient with yourself. Be patient with others.
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The Fifty-First Question
There is one question that is not on the list. It is the question you ask yourself when you have learned all these phrases: What kind of society do I want to live in?
Society is not something that happens to you. It is something you make. Every day, in every interaction, you are either building or breaking. You are either including or excluding. You are either speaking truth or spreading lies.
In Nigeria, there is a saying: Ìgbà tí ọwọ́ kan bá fọ́, ọwọ́ kan á tún un ṣe—when one hand breaks, the other hand repairs it. It means that we need each other. It means that society is a collective project.
So learn these phrases. Use them. But remember that the most important thing you can bring to society is not your knowledge. It is your character. It is your integrity. It is your willingness to do the right thing, even when no one is watching.
And that character needs no translation.
It is called virtue.
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