By Soji Olaide
PATRIOTISM in the 21st century demands more than anthem-singing and flag-waving. It requires a sophisticated, proactive, and sacrificial blueprint for national advancement. Matthew Tonlagha has emerged as a pre-eminent architect of this new, dynamic patriotism — a multifaceted love for country that operates in boardrooms, on pipeline routes, in global capitals, and in the quiet corners of human need.
In seasons of uncertainty, nations look for light — not the blinding, fleeting flash of spectacle, but the steady, reliable glow that illuminates paths, exposes dangers, and warms the heart. Matthew Tonlagha has become one of Nigeria’s most steadfast light-bearers, his life a beacon cutting through the fog of apathy and self-interest, showing what is possible when talent is married to altruism.
His blueprint is unique because its first draft was drawn from a place of profound personal challenge. The architect himself was forged in a furnace of physical adversity, learning that a strong foundation of character is non-negotiable for any enduring structure. This personal history informs a patriotism that is empathetic, resilient, and deeply human.
His business acumen represents the architecture of economic patriotism. With MATON Engineering, he drafted a plan for indigenous capacity that is both profitable and empowering. He designed a model where corporate growth is intrinsically linked to community upliftment, job creation, and regional stability. This is patriotism that understands that a strong economy, built by its own citizens, is the bedrock of national sovereignty.
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During the nation’s crippling season of oil theft, Tonlagha’s role with Tantita was that of a searchlight. It was a brave, necessary beam directed at the dark underbelly of economic sabotage. This was no comfortable glow from a distance; it was light carried into perilous shadows — a courageous act that helped restore vital national resources and illuminate a path out of a revenue crisis. The government’s recognition is a testament to how brightly his efforts shone in a moment of national darkness.
The security work with Tantita reveals the architect of defensive patriotism. When the nation’s economic blueprints were being vandalised, he helped redesign its security architecture. This was a high-stakes, perilous project that demanded strategic brilliance and raw courage. The result was a more secure framework for Nigeria’s most vital assets, protecting the nation’s wealth so its development plans could proceed.
His philanthropic work is the manifestation of compassionate patriotism. Here, Tonlagha architects social safety nets and opportunity ladders at the micro level. He designs programmes — scholarships, feedings, training — that are tailored to uplift the most vulnerable. This patriotism believes that a nation is only as strong as its weakest citizen and thus actively works to strengthen every strand in the national fabric.
Most innovatively, his foray into international lobbying showcases him as an architect of diplomatic patriotism. He is not waiting for the government to act alone. Using his own resources, he is engaging expert partners abroad to help redesign aspects of Nigeria’s international narrative and relationships. This is a forward-thinking, strategic patriotism that operates on the global chessboard, seeking to secure a more advantageous position for his homeland.
In all this, Matthew Tonlagha’s greatest design is perhaps the blueprint he offers for citizen leadership. He dismantles the old, passive model of patriotism and constructs a new one in its place: active, resourceful, brave, and compassionate. He proves that patriotism is a verb — a series of deliberate, strategic actions taken for the common good.
He challenges us all to become architects in our own spheres. What blueprint can we draw for our community? What structure of support can we build for our neighbour? How can we use our skills to fortify our nation? Tonlagha’s life is the proof of concept, a magnificent edifice built on the drawing board of selfless love for Nigeria. He shows us that the future of our country must be designed, and it is a design project in which every citizen holds a pencil.
•Olaide is president of Youth Development Agenda
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