ShortStory I Grace To Grass

GRACE TO GRASS

      “Hello…” Lilian exclaimed as she took her phone call.

        It was an unknown number.

      “Good morning, dear.” an unfamiliar masculine voice greeted immediately.

      “Good morning, sir…” she responded. “Please, who’s this?”

        It was about some minutes past ten O’clock on October 8, 2008.

      “Please, is this Okoro Lilian?” the unknown voice enquired amidst the suspense.

      “Yes,” she replied in a very low tone. “Please, who is this?” She reiterated anxiously.

      “Eh-eh-m,” the caller stammered. “Okay, this is Mister Martins Adewale.”

        The name was relatively unknown to her.

      “The Human Resources Manager of Arise Group of Companies, Abuja.” He clarified.

      “Oh,” Lilian exclaimed. “Good morning, sir.” She exclaimed excitedly and apprehensively.

        Arise Group of Companies Limited was one of the notable firms in Nigeria whose headquarters was situated in the country’s capital territory, Abuja. It majored mainly in production of foods such as garri, baking flour, condiments, wheat and corn flour. Lilian successfully passed through both the oral and written job interviews of the company few days back alongside other several applicants.

        The 29-year-old lady was a graduate of Marketing from the Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria. She graduated five years back, precisely 2003, after which she participated in the Nigeria’s compulsory one-year National Youth Service programme.

        Mr. Martins who happened to be the leader of the 5-man interview crew set up by the company got her phone number from the Curriculum Vitae (CV) she tendered to the manufacturing firm.

       “Morning, my dear,” he replied. “Where do you reside?” He added in a jiffy.

       “Kubwa sir.” She answered.

         The aforementioned locality, which was one of the major suburban districts in Abuja, was slightly near to the location of the company.

       “Okay, you are a resident of Abuja?”

       “Yes sir.”

     “Can you make it to our office first thing tomorrow morning?”

       Of course, that was one of the most vital questions she longed to hear considering how long she had spent in the labour market.

      “Like what time, sir?”

      “By 9am.”

      “Yes sir,” she gladly concurred. “I can.”

      “Okay, till then,” he said. “Ask of me when you come.”

      “Okay sir.” quoth Lilian, smiling.

        He cut the call instantly.

        The following day being October 9, 2008, Lilian who couldn’t wait to embrace the appointment arrived at the company as scheduled at exactly 8:31am far earlier to the agreed time. When she got to the place, she was told that the HRM, Mr. Martins was yet to be on seat, so she had to wait till about some minutes past nine when he eventually arrived.

       “Good morning, sir.” Lilian greeted elatedly, head bent as she walked into Mr. Martins’ office having closed the door behind her.

        Lilian clad in black suit coupled with black plain trousers, black plain shoes and a white shirt recollected the face she was seeing having come across Martins on a few occasions.

       “Hello pretty,” Martins seated on his office chair in his white suit exclaimed cheerily. “How long have you been here?”

       “Almost an hour, sir.” she said, stood still.

       “Please sit down.” He urged.

       “Thank you, sir.” quoth Lilian, majestically sat on one of the chairs positioned opposite the host.

       “You are welcome.”

        There was a few seconds silence.

       “Actually…, I invited you for a crucial interaction,” he said. “That would be helpful to you.”

       “Okay sir.” She tendered, nodding as she smiled heavily.

         Her arms, which held each other, were placed on the table.

       “You see,” he rode on. “I like helping young girls like you.”

       “Thank you, sir.” She appreciated, lowering her head which was beautified with gorgeously plaited black hairs.

      “Especially pretty ones like you.” He added.

        She smiled.

        Lilian who was naturally endowed, was obviously a dark pretty damsel that any man would wished to behold. She was plump and average in height. Mr. Martins who was in his early fifties picked interest in her during the interview exercise.

      “Before I proceed,” he said. “I would like to ask you a question.”

      “What is it, sir?”

      “Do you truly want to get this job?”

       Lilian, amazed. “Sir,” she said. “This is what I have been looking for, for over four years now.”

      “Meaning,” said the HRM. “You can’t wait to have the job, right?”

      “Yes sir.” She replied passionately.

         He smiled. “So,” he said. “Are you willing to do what is expected of you?” He finally hinted.

       “Like what, sir?”

       “It’s a pity you are not familiar with the tradition.”

        The unsuspecting applicant remained curious.

         Since the interview segment Mr. Martins picked interest in her, he had been preoccupied with series of fantasies regarding his foreseen emotional relationship with her. Mr. Martins was a randy man to the core in spite of the fact that he was happily married with four children. He was very good in playing games to assert the least.

       “Meet me at New Haven Hotel tomorrow by 10 am,” Martins urged. “By then, the picture would be clearer to you.”

       “Hotel…?” Lilian shouted naively, deeply surprised.

       “Stop acting like a kid,” Martins enjoined. “This is what your mates do to get what they want.”

         To be continued, please.

FDN Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri

___________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

Twitter: @mediambassador

Opinion II Intensifying Skills Acquisition Among The Youth

INTENSIFYING SKILLS ACQUISITION AMONG THE YOUTH

          

The last time I checked, on July 15, the world over celebrated the fourth edition of the World Youth Skills Day. The day, which is aimed at enhancing the youth’s ability in order to make informed life and work choices, was established by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on November 11, 2014.

        

The World Youth Skills Day was initiated in the UN by the effort of the Sri Lanka Representative, and was unanimously endorsed by the assembly. Hence, the UN calls on Member States to observe the day in an appropriate manner.

        

A skill can simply be defined as the ability to do something well. It can also be referred to as the ability and capacity acquired through deliberate, systematic, and sustained effort in order to smoothly and adaptively carryout complex activities or job functions involving ideas, things, and/or people.

         

Similarly, skill acquisition is the process of acquiring a certain skill by an individual through a thorough intensive training over a given period of time. Skill acquisition involves both theoretical and practical training regardless of its duration.

        

Skill can be classified into three major parts including cognitive, technical and interpersonal skills. A cognitive skill deals with ideas; technical skill is the ability to handle things or a certain human endeavour effectively and efficiency; whilst, interpersonal skill is the ability to relate with people around you usually in business or work places.

         

It’s noteworthy that there are hundreds of thousands of skills in existence such as sporting skill, cultural skill, installation skill, maintenance skill, manufacturing skill, management skill and what have you.

        

Skill is required in every area of human endeavour and it enables the entrepreneurship drive of any nation to be actualized. The most important aspect of skill acquisition is that it benefits all classes in any society involved especially the masses.

        

A small or medium scale entrepreneur is expected to hire many skilled people to take on tasks that are outside of his/her skill set. However, every individual either a prospective leader or business personnel, must relentlessly strive to acquire the skills that will make him/her a great leader or a successful businessperson, as the case may be.

        

Someone who has commenced a business or trade venture owing to his specialized skills and knowledge related to a particular service or product is required to expand his skills to be a successful entrepreneur. Such measure is referred to as ‘skill enhancement’. No doubt, improving skills related to acquiring money or raising capital for a business boost represents the difference between success and failure of the venture in question.

         

Unequivocally, being good at starting a business does not automatically make one good at planning for growth. He or she must acquire planning skills that tie his/her vision to practical steps, which the business can take to realize that vision. The acquisition of the aforementioned skill is important because without it, your firm or business venture can stagnate and lose out to the competition.

         

One may have envisioned a smooth rise to the top when he commenced his business, but the truth is that he will surely encounter crisis or challenging situations. Whether it has to do with shortage of money or the loss of his facilities to a fire disaster, he must acquire the skills that would enable him to remain calm in times of turmoil and maintain his ability to make adequate decisions.

         

The above step is very vital because the affected person can learn to triumph when it looks like he could be defeated. Needless to say that skill acquisition in decision making remains an inevitable tool while carrying out a business strategy.

         

On the other hand, the importance of acquiring strong communication skills will be evident in all of one’s entrepreneurial activities. From networking to leadership, one needs to constantly and consistently update his communication skills to enable him form alliances and encourage consensus.

         

Taking Nigeria as a case study, you would notice that most of our young ones, or the youth, are potentially preoccupied with variety of skills in various areas of human endeavour ranging from culture to sports, engineering/sciences, art works, and leadership, that need to be develop with a view to strengthening their respective entrepreneurship prowess towards nation-building.

         

To this end, there is need to encourage our young ones to be acquainted as well as acquire proficiency in one skill or the other within their reach. The schools can help in this regard by ensuring that the pupils or students regularly create time for guidance and counselling during their school hours.

          

A good counselling would enable each of them to discover their potential skills or abilities, thereby making them develop an interest in that area. The parents and guardians on their part should not hesitate to boost the morale of their children or wards in any skill they are fit in by providing all the needed materials or facilities for them to excel.

         

Inter alia, there is an urgent need to revive the various technical colleges and commercial schools situated across the federation that are currently moribund. And at the tertiary level, the ‘Entrepreneurship Studies’, which are usually done by the undergraduates as general studies, ought to be taken more seriously by the various school managements.

         

In the same vein, the ongoing Industrial Training (IT) and Teaching Practice (TP) schemes being observed by the Universities/Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, respectively must be intensified by the concerned authorities.

        

Above all, the various cultural heritages across the country need to be revisited with a view to harnessing the required ones. This will go a long way towards discovering and reawakening thousands of skills among our numerous youths.

         

As Imolites, and Nigerians in general, join the rest of the world to commemorate the annual World Youth Skills Day, it’s imperative for the governments at all levels, the civil society, religious bodies, corporate organizations, and well-meaning individuals to intensify awareness on the importance of skills acquisition as well as look for a way they can contribute their respective quotas in the crusade with a view to eradicating the socio-economic crisis currently ravaging the country.

        

There could not be a better time for such consignment than now. Think about it!

FDN Nwaozor

National Coordinator, Right Thinkers Movement

__________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

Twitter: @mediambassador            

Opinion II When Electors Rape Elections

WHEN ELECTORS RAPE ELECTIONS

         

Democracy is arguably characterized by the people. It’s equally worth noting that election is peculiar to democracy. In other words, any democratic system is required to embrace an electoral process.

          

In elections, the voters or electors are presented with alternatives that they can choose among a number of proposals designed to settle an issue of public concern. Hence, in such an exercise, electors are expected to act as kingmakers. Elections are apparently central to the existence stability and development of democracy.

         

On December 28, 1978, the leaders of the then Nigeria’s five political parties issued a unanimous pledge to the nation, to keep election free and fair. The leaders in question promised that their leadership to the country would curb excesses in speech and behaviour by their party members.

          

They further stated that they would restrain their members from engaging in political thuggery and ensure that nothing was done to disrupt the peace of any community where election is to be conducted or upset the unity of the nationhood. Above all, they disclosed that they would accept the verdict of the electorate in the elections which they would help to make peaceful, free and fair.

          

Recalling the recent Nigerian electioneering eras, even the blind could attest that several things are no longer at ease as against what it used to be. The assertion that things have fallen apart is not unconnected with the fact that practices to include but not limited to thuggery, election rigging and vote buying are now the key attributes of most elections. It becomes pathetic when realized that the supposed kingmakers (electors) are the primary cause of the ongoing unfortunate situation.

         

If the above perception is anything to go by, then a sane person would wonder the reason a ‘kingmaker’ would partake in any act targeted at rigging a scheduled election let alone indulging in such dirty act as thuggery. It’s more baffling to acknowledge that those electors – particularly the youth – who sell their birthright would stand to gain nothing, not even reasonable cash.

          

Even those who would not want to associate themselves with activities that could lead to election rigging would prefer to act like mere onlookers as long as the election lasts. Funnily enough, most of them would be present at the polling unit just to engage in frivolous interactions like issues bordering on sports, emotional relationship or what have you, and not to cast their votes. When scrutinized further, you would observe that majority could not even boast of voter’s card.

          

Owing to the acknowledgement that electors are ostensibly the kingmakers, the constitution of most countries across the globe, which Nigeria’s isn’t exceptional, captioned a clause that relates to ‘Vote of no-confidence’. The aforementioned term is a constitutional matter that empowers the electorate, or the governed, to recall any elected officer if found wanting or culpable.

           

In such case, the concerned electors are required to act as a body by collectively endorsing a written document, stating that they no longer have confidence in a particular elected official thus ordering him/her to return home. This tool shows that the electors are meant to be in charge, both in the pre and post– election eras.

          

It is as well worthy of note that the teeming Nigerian electors have equally abused such a lofty democratic tool. They are often marred by apathy when expected to act as one indivisible body, thereby allowing themselves to be cajoled into a state of mockery by the elected officers who they have chosen to worship.

         

The primary consignment of a lawmaker is to air the collective view of his constituents in the Assembly. It suffices to say that there is no tangible reason a legislator who does not have a befitting constituency office would not be recalled by his/her constituents.

         

It is not anymore news that most of the present lawmakers cannot boast of a constituency office in their various constituencies let alone observing ‘Constituency briefing’ as a priority. Some don’t even know the ward chairmen of their respective political parties; they are invariably interested in acquiring such information when elections are by the corner. Worse still, the affected electors would claim ignorance of the injury they have incurred in the process.

         

This trending unwarranted and mind-boggling attitude of most Nigerian electors has continued to rape the god-sent democracy. The gravity of the unending rape is arguably colossal than we could think of.     
          

It is, therefore, needless to state that rebranding the Nigeria’s electoral system is indeed long overdue. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) needs to start taking some pertinent actions as regards the country’s electioneering activities. It ought to be willing and ready to sanction any political party caught in any anti-election acts, especially while a certain election is being awaited.

          

Above all, there’s a compelling need to carry out an all-inclusive sensitization among these individuals known as the electorate before the worst is witnessed.

         

It is equally high time the governments at all levels introduced voter’s education into our various schools’ curriculum. Think about it!

FDN Nwaozor

National Coordinator, Right Thinkers Movement

_________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

Twitter: @mediambassador