Folukemi is a trained journalist, a writer, a social media…
Despite different challenges facing the country, most especially economic recession and insecurity situations, Nigerians were rated the sixth happiest people in Africa.
This was contained in a World Happiness Report 2017 released on Monday produced by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), a global initiative launched by the United Nations in 2012.
Peaking on the report, Jeffrey Sachs, the director of the SDSN and a special advisor to the United Nations Secretary-General, said: “Happy countries are the ones that have a healthy balance of prosperity, as conventionally measured, and social capital, meaning a high degree of trust in a society, low inequality and confidence in government,”
The report indicated Africans are full of hope for a better future, a factor that gave Nigeria a good position on the list.
It says, “The majority of African countries rate life at present below the mid-point of the Cantril ladder scale in the latest available Gallup World Poll.
“This is not the case for average future ratings. Projected ladder ratings in five years’ time are uniformly higher than present evaluations across all countries on the continent. In fact, the percentage increase in future expectations of life is often higher among some of the least contented nations. “Nigeria’s track record of such positive expectations is well documented.
Cantril’s 1960s study already reported a difference of 2.6 points between the country’s average present (4.8) and future (7.4) ladder ratings.
“Similarly, in 2016, there is a difference of 2.9 points between Nigeria’s present (5.3) and future (8.2) ratings in the Gallup World Poll. An international study of comparative ladder ratings in ten countries with large populations, including China, India and the United States, found Nigeria’s 2.6 point difference between the present and future ratings to be by far the largest.83 Nigeria’s spirit of optimism may be exceptional by world standards, but not in Africa.”
Read Also: Read Also: 5 Healthy Food Brands You Should Know in Lagos
Folukemi is a trained journalist, a writer, a social media enthusiast. She believes being happy and fulfilled is not a fairy tale and she is dedicated to helping others find theirs.