The Federal Republic of Nigeria is one of the 17 African countries that became independent in 1960. The countries are celebrating their Golden Jubilee independence anniversary in 2010, to express gratitude to the Almighty for keeping them in 'relative peace'. Nine of the 17 countries will celebrate in August, 2010. This is historic.

The countries got their freedom from the three major colonial powers of Belgium, Britain and France in 1960. The individual countries are marking the anniversary by doing many important things: upgrading essential infrastructure, erecting monuments, organising lectures, commissioning landmark projects and generally rekindling patriotism, cherishing the contributions of past leaders and creating a positive atmosphere that hope is not totally lost.

Many foreign dignitaries from outside Africa were on the guest list of the countries that have so far celebrated their 50th independence anniversary, starting in April 2010. Cameroon, Togo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia and Senegal have so far marked it with appropriate memorable events and activities. In Somalia, it was marked despite a raging civil war. In Senegal, a bronze monument officially estimated to cost US$27 million (US$70 million according to other estimates) was erected and opened to the public in April 2010, as one of the memorabilia of the anniversary.

The president of Senegal, Mr. Abdoulaye Wade, was so proud of it that he recently showed it off to Nigeria's President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who stopped over in Senegal on his way to attend the last G20 Summit in Canada. In a shrewd diplomatic move, President Goodluck Jonathan joined other world leaders to rejoice with the Republic of Cameroon, when it celebrated its 50th independence anniversary recently.

The ceremony, which cost Cameroon CFA Francs 5b, was befitting and impressive. In Togo, the government splashed a tidy 30 million Euros to mark its golden jubilee anniversary. Ghana marked its own golden anniversary in 2007, and justifiably spent US$60 million or the equivalent of N9 billion in the process.

In Nigeria, the golden jubilee anniversary ceremonies started in May 2010, when President Jonathan, unveiled the anniversary logo in a simple ceremony that was attended by the cream of the political, business and bureaucratic classes of the Nigerian society. Many diplomats were there too. The large attendance and the attention the guests paid to the unveiling of the logo testified to the relevance and value attached to the importance of independence. It is good that Nigerians are now the masters of their own political affairs. Although views are divergent on the anniversary, the same diversity of opinions is common in every public discourse in the country of over 150 million. Nigeria has always been proud of the diversity of its population and its heterogeneous culture.

The events and activities lined up to mark the anniversary include an elaborate parade and display of hardware and skills by the Nigerian military - the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. The three services will partake in this aspect of the anniversary in three locations: Calabar, Lagos and Abuja. The Air Force plans to fly its most modern aircraft from their bases to Abuja. The inventory of the Nigeria Air Force includes planes capable of speeding in excess of Mark 2 or twice the speed of sound, implying that they could reach Abuja from Kaduna within minutes.

Para-troopers will drop from moving planes; the Navy will showcase its ships, weapons and skills in a presidential fleet review, similar to the one conducted by President Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari in the Second Republic. The Army will display its latest pieces of artillery, battle tanks, missiles, bombs and also demonstrate its capacity to rapidly deploy troops and professionally secure any portion of Nigeria under threat, although there is no war game on the cards.

Collectively, the Army, the Air Force and the Navy or the Nigerian military, have over the years earned respect and commendation as viable institutions, and for the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a nation state, for their positive role in peace keeping operations on behalf of the United Nations Organisation, the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in various theatres of armed conflict. Their parade and displays would make us proud and glad as citizens of this country. Nigerians are entitled to this.

The soft phases and faces of the golden jubilee anniversary in Nigeria include a colloquium on Nigeria, debate by school children in all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, visits to orphanages by wives of top political officeholders and the screening and broadcast of television and radio documentaries in which the country's major accomplishments would be highlighted.

National heroes, both men and women, who sacrificed their lives and comfort in the struggle for independence, or contributed to nation building from independence to date in various spheres, would be recognised through special awards as part of the anniversary. This is important: it is expected to boost the morale of those making sacrifices for the progress of Nigeria today and encourage others, especially those in the younger generations, to emulate them in the future.

Eminent international personalities, mainly former and serving presidents, prime ministers, heads of state and leaders of international organisations would be invited to rejoice with Nigerians. In the process, the prestige and dignity of the country would be projected, with the hope and in the belief that it would rub-off positively on Nigerians living or planning to travel abroad. Indeed, Nigeria is set to earn plenty of respect through the renovation and upgrading of facilities and equipment in the Nmandi Azikiwe International Airport and five other airports in the country. Essential facilities would be upgraded, from toilets down to the provision of additional parking for aircraft and equipment for the safety of parked airplanes. It would be done by the ministry of aviation in such a way that the first impression guests get at the point of entry must be commensurate to our standing in the comity of nations.

Other ministries, as indicated in the supplementary budget submitted to the National Assembly by the president, have projects that can be beneficial to and supportive of the anniversary ceremonies. The construction of some much-needed structures by the ministry of the federal capital territory is timely. The production of an 800-page compendium on Nigeria by the ministry of information and communications is an appropriate project. This is simply because it will contain the historical background of Nigeria, provides accurate information on its founding fathers, and highlight its tourism and investment potentials, as well as making a pictorial presentation of some of our artefacts.

The annual children's parliament by the ministry of women affairs, the hosting of a party for 1,000 less privileged children and a conference for women among others, which have been scheduled to dove-tail into the anniversary celebration and give it additional side of Nigerian life, is a welcome idea. The events and activities lined up to mark the golden jubilee anniversary would be memorable because Nigerians deserve nothing less at this point in the history of this interesting country

Dambatta is an information officer in the presidency