Revitalizing Nigeria's Educational Sector

REVITALIZING NIGERIA’S EDUCATIONAL SECTOR

 

According to BBC English Dictionary, Education is ‘the process through which a person is taught better ways of doing something or a better way of living’. Same dictionary also recognizes it as the act of teaching people various subjects in a school or college. In the same vein, the Wikipedia Online Dictionary defines it as ‘a form of learning in which the knowledge, skills, values, beliefs and habits of a group of people are transferred from one generation to the next through story-telling, discussion, teaching, training, and/or research’.

Whilst, Revitalization is simply the act or process of making something more active, lively, or successful. So, to revitalize something or a system means to make it more lively, active, or successful, as the case may be.

Frankly, the survival of any nation as an entity depends solely on the health status of its educational sector. In line with this singular fact, the unavoidable role of education in the development of any society has been vastly documented in series of global academic journals.

Presently, unequivocally Nigeria which is widely regarded as the giant of Africa is still uncertain where she is headed regarding her educational system. Suffice to say that, her destination is yet to be known by the concerned citizenry. It is against this backdrop that the minds of many of our young ones are preoccupied with the intention of leaving the country for elsewhere for their academic pursuits.

It is no longer news that most educational programmes initiated both in the past and present by the Nigerian government, have ended up serving as mere siphons to transfer money to the bank accounts of the corrupt political officers and their allies. To start with; since the commencement of the Universal Primary Education (UPE) in 1976, the programme has failed to perform effectively as anticipated as a result of lack of funds necessitated by corruption, among other related factors.

Furthermore, the Universal Basic Education (UBE) initiative launched by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in Sokoto State on 30^th September 1999, which was intended to be universal, free and compulsory, has in the long run seemed incapacitated due to the ongoing troubling revelation of the shortage of teachers as well as employment of half-baked ones in our various schools, which is also attributed to the aforementioned socio-political cankerworm known as corruption. These and lot more similar programmes taking place in the Nigeria’s educational sector have been hampered by corruption thereby crippling the nation’s socio-economic system.

It is obvious that most of our school structures are in dilapidating states, which shows that Nigeria has a weird value system. Indeed, Nigeria is a society where priorities are considered to be less-important. For example, the monthly wages of the less/non-educated local government councillors are far greater than that of university professors. Of course, something is apparently wrong with any society that doesn’t take its educational system seriously.

As the disgusting culture of corruption persists, the public tertiary institutions have been left to rot away. Some of the loans received from the World Bank towards the revitalization of the nation’s educational system, were rather used to purchase inconsequential equipment that could not be properly installed or maintained, and several institutions received irrelevant books and journals in this regard. Due to this anomaly, each year the nation’s tertiary institutions send-forth hundreds of thousands of half-baked graduates in different fields of endeavour to the nation’s labour market.

Sincerely, to restore the Nigeria’s economic sector, there is an urgent need to revitalize the nation’s educational system, and this measure can only be actualized by revisiting all the factors that currently affect the system in question such as lack of infrastructure, teaching facilities, social amenities, poor wages and incentives, substandard teaching curriculum, high tuition fees, just to mention but a few.

First and foremost, we must begin from the grass root. The government ought to as matter of urgency rehabilitate all the dilapidated technical colleges situated in various locations across the country as well as provide adequate facilities required to run the schools, and sufficient funds to sustain the said structures and equipment. Honestly, the country’s anticipated technological development or enhancement shall remain a mirage if the grassroots are not properly addressed.

Most of the technical works presently done in China is being carried out by the school children. Nevertheless, barely few years ago, China was recognized as one of the third-world countries in the world alongside Nigeria and other developing nations. But today, China is among the world’s ruling class as regards science and technology.

Also, there is an urgent need to reintroduce History subject, which has abruptly vanished, in the Nigeria’s school curriculum. And, a law mandating every tertiary institution in Nigeria to offer History as General Studies should be enacted by the National Assembly. It is pathetic that most of our young ones barely know their past or lineage, and such anomaly is solely as a result of the sudden disappearance of History subject in the nation’s education curriculum. It is worthy for us to note that without knowing our past, we can never comprehend where we are meant to be headed.

Furthermore, world-class libraries, laboratories, and research centres, should be establish in all the existing primary, secondary and tertiary institutions across the federation, which would go a long way to enhance both the reading culture and the practical method of teaching faced by the pupils and students.

The medical and engineering undergraduates ought to be meant to pass through befitting teaching hospitals and workshops respectively, to enable them acquire the desired skills. Also, well-equipped national engineering workshops are expected to be established at strategic localities in the country, so that, any graduating engineering student would be meant to pass through any of them; and it would serve as a prerequisite to  the mandatory National Youth Service Programme, just as it is observed by the medical students.

In the same spirit, the ongoing Industrial Training and Teaching Practice schemes embarked upon by the students of our Universities/Polytechnics and Colleges of Education respectively, must be taken more seriously by the concerned authorities. The officers assigned to supervise the students or to visit the various firms or schools where they claimed to be, should endeavour to pay regular sudden visits to the said establishments. This measure would help to eradicate any form of insincerity found among the students/trainees since most of them prefer to dodge the training, thereby enabling the institutions to actualize the primary aim of the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES). And the institutions involved must on their parts endeavour to encourage the supervisors by providing sound vehicles and other logistics for the concernment.

On the other hand, the tuition fees of all the public citadels of learning in Nigeria must be revisited by the appropriate authorities with the view of reducing the fees to their barest minimum, so that, it would be affordable by every parent or guardian. Due to payment of high tuition fees, some of the students whom are less-privileged often indulge in menial jobs while in their respective schools in order to assist their parents or guardians or to supplement what the said benefactors have given to them. And by so doing, they would pay less attention to their studies thereby indulging in examination malpractices, cultism, armed robbery and other kinds of criminality which ends up affecting their academic statuses negatively; most of them even become dropouts at the long run, due to the financial challenge.       

Most importantly, government ought to endeavour to employ qualified applicants to teach in all the public institutions regardless of their levels, including nursery, primary, secondary, as well as tertiary. Engaging quack teachers in our public schools has cost the nation a very grievous harm and we cannot afford to pay more for the damages. Thus, formidable and trustworthy agency must be set-up in earnest by the government in this regard, in order to put to stop nepotism, lack of due process, and all forms of corrupt practices.

Above all, conducive or enabling environment should be provided for the teachers at all levels. At the tertiary level, befitting offices ought to be allocated to both the academic and non-academic staff to enable them discharge their duties effectively and efficiently. Also, revisiting the teachers’ salaries or wages is long overdue. They, especially the lecturers, should be meant to receive reasonable amount of money regarding their levels/cadre as salaries and they ought to be paid as at and when due; and all their entitled incentives are expected to be revisited from time to time. No doubt, this measure would help to eradicate all manners of corrupt practices namely, admission racketeering, examination malpractice, sorting, and what have you, taking place in our various schools; as well as help to eradicate the incessant strikes embarked upon by the teachers at all levels.

In a more serious note; the private sector ought to also be mandated to follow suit as regards revitalizing the nation’s educational sector. In view of this, any private institution that is unable to live up to the expectation should be shut down indefinitely by the appropriate regulatory body, such as National Universities Commission (NUC), National Polytechnics Commission (NPC), Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), the state ministries of Education, and so on, as the case might be.

For the above suggested measures to work, all hands must be on deck and we must endeavour to tell ourselves the gospel truth. It is needless to state that Nigeria has suffered tremendously in the area of education; therefore it is high time we eliminated any form of hindrance behind the ordeal. Think about it1

 

           FDN NWAOZOR

Public Affairs Analyst & Rights Activist

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            frednwaozor@gmail.com   

            +2348028608056  

       

       

                    

             

     

 

The Alarming Rate Of Rape

CHECKING THE ALARMING RATE OF RAPE IN NIGERIA

      

Greetings brethren! It is no longer news that mankind is passing through the twenty first (21^st) century. In other words, every society existing in this lovely universe has embraced or is almost close to a civilized state. But the worrying question that accompanies this fact is: does civilization constitutes a high rate of social-vices?

In recent times, the increasing rate of rape has remained the order of the day as well as a fathomless societal cankerworm in the global community. And the implementation of a finite and drastic measure as regards its eradication seems like a mirage.

Rape, in a precise tense, is an act in which a man indulges a female human into sex forcedly or against her wish. In the same vein, a rapist is a man or a male human who rapes or has raped a female human.

Over the years, rape cases have been occurring uncontrollably across the globe. It can take place indoors or outdoors based on the relationship between the two parties involved. The former happens between a female and a false male lover which often takes place out of seduction via intake of alcoholic/drugged drink, initiation of oral sex, et cetera. Whilst the latter invariably takes place between the victim of circumstance and a group of men/boys, and usually at night. In this mode, the victim would be dragged or forcedly carried to a near-by bush or an uncompleted building by the said group, in order to embrace privacy.

It is needless to say that rape incidence has abruptly emerged as the order of the day in most countries, in which Nigeria is not an exception. Unequivocally, that of Nigeria has become an alarming and devastating phenomenon that requires a drastic and severe approach.

Some months ago, one of the national daily Newspapers reported that a certain married woman was allegedly raped at night in the police cell at one of the cities in Delta State by her cellmate who happened to be a man at the age of 22. The news was so shocking and extremely disgusting to the audience. One may ask: on what grounds or circumstance would a woman be kept in the same cell with a fellow of an opposite sex to the extent of allowing them to pass a night together?

Also, barely few weeks ago, it was reported that in Onitsha Anambra State, a certain secondary school girl clad in her school uniform was dragged by a group of armed men to an uncompleted building and she was allegedly defied in the act.

Most pathetically; last three days, the public was reportedly informed by a social media that a mad woman in Kabba Kogi State, was gang raped at night where she usually have her night rest, though the gang was later apprehended by a vigilante group.

Rape solely depends on the environment the two parties found themselves. Analysts are of the view that rape is attributed to several misfortunes including mental disorder/imbalance, immoral dressing, ignorance, intake of alcoholic drinks or hard drugs, deceit and curse, which could be grouped into medical, social and spiritual syndromes.

Someone who is suffering from a certain mental disease and not kept under lock and key or any guard is no doubt a societal menace, thus may end up indulging in several vices such as rape.

A lady who dresses half-nakedly is liable to the wrath of rape as a result of sexual seduction she might ignorantly showcase. Most ladies who indulge in such act do so to attract the attention of the public, unknowingly to them that such practice may beget evil thereby ruining their lives.

Men who cannot live without alcoholic drinks or hard drugs such as cocaine, marijuana, Indian helm, to mention but a few, would always think of, as well as go for something evil such as rape, with the view that it is a pleasurable activity.

More so, several men who are in a certain so called love-affair are usually fond of deceiving their partners through presentation of expensive gifts and/or dishing out emotional eulogies, romantic speeches among other falsehoods which would make them appear extremely affectionate and unique just to actualize their selfish interest. At the long run, he would end up sleeping with the lady/girl in question, which could be against her wish or faith. And most times, the ladies seem so lousy or careless that they can’t differentiate between the real and fake ones, even when the handwriting is boldly and clearly written on the wall. Let’s ride on!

Above all, someone who has been placed under a certain spell in subsequent to an evil deed he committed in the past may see rape as an occupation. The members of this group usually indulge in incest.

The legislators have a very vital role to play towards eradicating these sacrilegious acts. They ought to enact a law that shall bear a capital punishment such as sentencing anyone found guilty of any of the aforementioned loathsome and bastardly acts to life imprisonment or any other grievous penalty. Another law should also be enacted stating that any lady caught outside her home or place of residence clad in any immoral wear would be arrested and prosecuted by a mobile court, and would be subjected to pay a huge amount of money as fine if found guilty.

The last but not the least of the laws should be on how to address the illegal sales and consumption of alcoholic drinks and hard drugs which has proliferated intensely in our noble society, with the effort of the Nigerian Customs Services and the Consumers’ Protection Council (CPC).

Secondly, the government should constantly ensure that any individual suffering from any form of mental imbalance is caught and taken to a special psychiatric home, duly treated and catered for. On this note, people must endeavour to report any person suffering from such illness to the appropriate quarters/agency.

Thirdly, the religious organizations are not left out. They ought to ascertain from members of their congregations whosoever that is suspected to be passing through any spiritual attack or any kind of curse with the aim of placing him/her on a special deliverance.

Fourthly, the civil society and other stakeholders should on charitable basis from time-to-time sponsor seminars and workshops with the object of sensitizing and sanitizing the minds of the youth on rape and other social vices. 

Also, the police authority and other concerned bodies or individuals ought to ensure that on no account or circumstance should inmates that are of opposite sex be kept in the same cell.

Among all, we must always endeavour to tell ourselves nothing but the truth. The men folks should stay away from deceit because it’s highly blasphemous, and it maims and kills too. Learn to tell your beloved partner the gospel truth and always remember that pre-marital sex is nothing but evil.

In addition, our ladies should also be extremely careful and socially conscious of whatever they do at all time. They should first and foremost be aware of what they really want before going for it. They are, as a matter of fact, expected to know virtually everything about whosoever that happens to be their partner in any area of life. Do not allow yourselves to be deceived by a so called spouse.

On the other hand; the actors of this evil act should also realize that, they are inviting the wrath of God which may lead them to a state of doom and could be deadly if they fail to embrace real repentance.

Frankly, no one is expected to be insouciant over any thrive concerning the eradication of this aberration that is putting the lives of millions of our innocent women/ladies in state of jeopardy. Thus everyone is meant to be grief-stricken and act accordingly. We must work assiduously as well as fight tremendously to ensure that this barbaric incidence becomes a thing of the past in our noble society. And the time to act is now. Think about it!

 

       COMR. FRED NWAOZOR

Public Affairs Analyst & Rights Activist
__________________________________
           frednwaozor@gmail.com
              +2348028608056   

 

 

 

New Year Jubilee

NEW YEAR JUBILEE: THE GENESIS OF A UNIQUE ODYSSEY

       

Brethren, it has almost become a cliché to say that someone is redrawing the map of the world. Same is applicable to seeing actors in their dramatic moods. For many years, several cultural and historic monuments have been destroyed which has tremendously jeopardized the progress of various historical jubilees that would had constituted many historic remarks. Most of these remarks that have existed in the past successively were lately misunderstood by the present generation, therefore, being observe as mere clichés.

Saturday penultimate week, one of my bosom friends residing in Abuja called to register his extreme anticipation in respect to the forth coming year, 2015 precisely. In his first sentence, he informed me that he couldn’t wait to see the New Year. I tried to find out the actual cause of the immeasurable anxiety, though which is most times usual amongst mankind. He further informed me that he had already set aside a very tangible resolution that would commence as soon as 2015 begins.

At this juncture still on the phone conversation, I became more curious and my curiosity was accompanied with enthusiastic inquisition. Thus, I persuaded him to disclose the resolution to me even though he wasn’t ready to let the cat out of the bag. And, he gladly succumbed to my humble persuasion. He told me that he had made a resolution that “in the coming year” (2015), he would never taste beer or any alcoholic drink again. Honestly, I laughed because the fellow in question has been known by all and sundry as one of those who believe that beer ought to always be in one’s tummy irrespective of the nature of the weather.

And this is why he was not ready to disclose the resolution to me because he knew I would certainly consider it as a mere annual cliché being vomited (cited) by millions of youths scattered all over. But, he further let me see the reason his was a distinguished one by backing it up with some facts or experiences. I concluded by telling him “Bravo!” and he was so delighted to receive such gesture/exclamation from my person.

In any perspective your observation or analysis might be standing on, the fact remains that any anniversary is consequential regardless of the nature or its area of interest. Sometimes the discrepancies between school records and examination results may not be considered necessary because both are found on academic environment. But notwithstanding, in any two or more existing similar materials or facts, there must be a distinct dichotomy among them. In other words, if many anniversaries or jubilees have been in existed for donkey’s years, one or two of them must be definitely different or distinct. Let’s put it this way; if two babies are born simultaneously and they happen to be identical twins, there must be certain difference(s) lying between them.

We are discussing New Year jubilee/anniversary. A “New Year” is a certain different year that has just been encountered by mankind which the beginning takes place in every 365 days or 366 days as the case may be. In the world at large, the commencement of such year always calls for a jubilee among the entire mankind irrespective of religious or cultural affiliations.

The world over celebrates the 1^st of every New Year to mark a certain distinct journey that has just begun. Suffice to say; every New Year is regarded as a different odyssey that has just been embarked on, and each day that makes the year in question is seen as one of the steps that constitute the journey since any journey must begin with a step. Let’s ride on!

Most people come up series of resolutions at the beginning of every calendar year; few end up actualizing theirs while most of them often fail towards the end of the odyssey. And these, failures and successes have been a point of attraction to many concerned souls in regard to New Year resolution(s).

New Year jubilee is truly a welcome phenomenon that has resulted to many worthwhile histories or historic events. As we celebrate such day, courtesy or tradition demands for a certain useful individual resolution to be reached. And, the resolution ought to be seen as the essence of such jubilation.

Having reached a certain resolution, there is optimum need for such decision to be accompanied with adequate practical-intensive support to ensure that its outcome becomes a success. Having backed up your decision with an intensive support, then you shouldn’t relent to couple such journey with tremendous prayers and faith. Any of the above tools or measure should not be taken for granted if you truly want your goal to be actualized. There’s no two ways about it.

Thus, for success to be attained there must be a certain target or dream. And such dream or aim must be accompanied with hard work coupled with any necessary avoidance as well as adequate prayers and tremendous faith.

But mind you; sometimes failure(s) might be consequential regardless of the amount of effort put in any of your objects (aims). And this is where nature comes in. Certainly, man proposes but God disposes.

Having stated the above facts, frankly New Year jubilee or anniversary is surely the genesis of a unique odyssey therefore calls for adequate maintenance. Think about it!

 

FDN NWAOZOR

Public Affairs Analyst & Rights Activist
frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056
Twitter: fdnnwaozor

Participation Of Corps Members In Electoral Matters

PARTICIPATION OF YOUTH CORPS MEMBERS IN ELECTORAL MATTERS

       

No doubt, one of the paramount desires/dreams of a group of people in any locality is to be referred to as a literate society. In other words, any right thinking government strives relentlessly to ensure that its citizenry is made up of high number of literate people.

Corps members, in a concise term, could be defined as a group of Nigerian youths that are being mobilized to serve the said country in their respective capacities having successfully completed their degree or diploma programmes in various higher citadel of learning across the globe.

In Nigeria, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is recognized by the government as a compulsory scheme for any Nigerian graduate whose age falls within the required age bracket for the national calling, irrespective of the country in which the university or Polytechnic he/she attended is situated provided it is a recognized institution. The scheme was established by law in the year 1973, on 22^nd May precisely, after the Nigerian civil war, under the regime of General Yakubu Gowon with the sole aim of strengthening and restructuring the Nigerian state as well as creating a greater Solidarity among the members of the aforementioned state. 

For over the years, many pressing issues have been raised regarding the real essence of mobilizing fresh Nigerian graduates under the aegis of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Some of the outpouring questions as regards the people’s guest are not unconnected to ascertaining the actual socio-economic importance of the scheme in question.

If the truth must be told, you would agree with me that the NYSC scheme (programme) has indeed contributed tremendously towards our collective motive of actualizing a better Nigeria. Due to time frame coupled with space factor, the interest of this piece lies mainly on ‘the role of corps members in leadership development and aspiration for a better Nigeria.’

Corps members whom are generally regarded as a “Literate Society” is a group that comprised of Nigerian youths from different field of endeavours that have been contributing significantly towards ensuring that the Nigeria’s leadership system is duly rebranded. It is no longer news that it is mostly the youth that are deeply bothered over the ongoing complicated leadership nature in Nigeria; this is so simply because they remain the set of people that are severely affected by the anomaly. If this assertion holds water, then it is needless to reiterate the fact that the corps members whom are a concentration of literate youths have been working assiduously in view of ending the lingering socio-political lapses in the acclaimed ‘Giant of Africa’. Let's ride on!

The most distinct feature of the NYSC scheme, which has to do with deploying the fresh graduates or the incoming corps members to different states or better still different geopolitical zones considering their respective places of origin, remains the major recipe that has enabled them to genuinely contribute their quota in the Nigeria’s political platform. For instance, a corps member who hails from Kaduna State and is being deployed to serve in Enugu State stands to be neutral if being posted to function as an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) official in any locality in the state, because he/she would hardly know any of the aspirants or contestants, thereby creating an avenue for transparent voting system at the polls. This usually becomes the case as a result of the fact that the corps member would have no personal interest regarding the election(s).

Considering the fact that corps members are a set of fully learned individuals coupled with the fact that they consist of persons who possess the extreme urge to reform the country’s socio-political and economic system, it is of no need saying that they are one of the basic keys required by Nigeria to ensure that her leadership structure is thoroughly enhanced. This is why in recent times, they have been granted the opportunity to participate in electoral practices.

Among all, since corps members are often treated as government personnel by the general public, they are usually faced with the required opportunity to pursue their worthwhile dreams vigorously and wholeheartedly. Of course treating a ‘Corper’ or a corps member as a special personnel gives him/her the morale to assess any office regardless of the attribute of the office especially when he/she is clad in the NYSC uniform. This is the reason the corps members have over the decades been able to air their views freely without any biased mindset, most especially in electoral matters in which they are allowed to participate. And, this phenomenon has succeeded in enabling the people in question to contribute actively and wisely in the geared effort towards rebranding the nation’s leadership pattern in its entirety.

Surely, the ongoing participation of the Youth Corps Members in electoral matters, which is tagged by all and sundry as a worthwhile initiative, would go a long way to reawaken the consciousness of the youths in leadership aspiration as well as create an avenue for transparency and zero-corruption at the various polls. Think about it!

         

         COMR FDN NWAOZOR

Public Affairs Analyst & Rights Activist
------------------------------------------------
            frednwaozor@gmail.com
            +2348028608056         
Follow: @fdnwaozor                                                     

X-Mas Commemoration: The Best Of Its Kind!

CHRISTMAS COMMEMORATION: THE BEST OF ITS KIND

Brethren, many of us have taken to wearing visors and other similar devices to protect our eyes and visages from the possible effects of harmattan. Taking Nigeria as a case study, many would testify that the ongoing climatic phase causes virulent feelings, and may as well lead to various virulent diseases. While some would definitely testify that it is a welcome scene, therefore ought to continue for eternity. Honestly, these and more similar phenomena observe amongst mankind is not man-made but wholly natural.

Let’s put it this way; if brandy is good in bringing the real man/woman in you as a person at any given time. And, that fellow that appears to be intimate to you believes in the work of whisky in respect to similar purpose. Then conclusively, it signifies that you both are of different nature, or possess distinct idiosyncrasies. Thus significantly, no matter the level of intimacy in any relationship/affair, be it symbiotic or parasitic, the exact nature of the two or more parties involved can never be compromised or interchanged.

In geography, we were taught that about seventy percent (70%) of the earth crust is covered with water, while about thirty percent (30%) is covered with land. Brethren, there’s a big problem or error attached to this geographic estimation coupled with approximation. The astronomers who carried out the research and rounded off with such conclusion were so myopic to understand the fact that, even the part of the earth crust covered with water is as well covered with land. It’s not a paradox. It’s a fact, and it is natural. Of course the bed-rock of any sea, ocean, river, pond, lake et cetera, is land. In agriculture, we call it the soil. Suffice to say; every part of the earth crust is covered with the soil (land). 

 

But the above critique is not my optimum interest in this edition. My interest is this: despite the level of intimacy between the land and the natural water, they still don’t mix together. This simply signifies that each of the compounds or substances in question is made up of a certain distinct nature. This is a fact. Yes, a fancy fact. Let’s ride on!

Each of the paragraphs above has proven to us that nature is indeed very powerful. Nature could be regarded as all the animals, plants and other things in the world that are not made by man; and all the events, features and processes that are not caused by mankind. In a nut shell, nature is anything that is not man-made. In other words, it’s older than the world. Yes, nature has been in existence before the world was created. This is why, most times anything caused by nature seem to be mysterious. That is, beyond man’s imagination, creativity or creative ingenuity. Therefore, nature controls; it rules. Inter alia, it finalizes.

We’re discussing Christmas (X-mas). We’re discussing its annual commemoration. First and foremost, what is X-mas celebration or commemoration? X-mas celebration is a religious festival or ritual being observed on every 25^th December by the Christendom to mark the birth of Christ.

 

Next question; who is Christ? Christ is one of the names of Jesus whom Christians believe to be the only begotten son of God and whose teachings are the basis of Christianity. According to the Christian writ, Christ was sent by God to sanctify the sinful world and He obliged. He came, saw, taught, healed and delivered the world. Most importantly, He died for our sins to be forgiven. What a tremendous generosity!

As a devoted Christian, Catholic to be precise, I understand that Christ was not really born on the 25^th of December; but such date was selected by the ancient Christendom in order to mark the day such generous being came into the world since the actual date of His birth was not painstakingly recorded by the scribes or historians of His time. They considered it consequential for such date to be monumental or be remembered by mankind because the day in question marked the beginning of man’s sanctification, deliverance as well as total emancipation, which remains the most vital Christian tool in existence.

Truly Christ came or was born, saw and conquered. Above all, He accomplished His mission because mankind was freed from bondage by His willingful death. After the death of Christ, He resurrected. Before His death, He resurrected many souls. And this remains the most mysterious act performed by Him.

Thus, resurrection is nature. If truly we believe that such vital tool is nature, in other words, Christ is nature. He’s beyond man’s imagination. Starting from His birth down to His death, everything about Him was mysterious.

Beloved, if amongst us we have some group of persons we owe an allegiance to, then what stops us from observing more greater respect to a being whose existence while on earth was totally mysterious or above man’s comprehension?

In other words, there is tremendous reason for X-mas commemoration to be continually observed because it remains the most important Christian virtue practised here on earth. Such date which was set aside to mark the day Christ was born should not in any way be compromised because it is the birthday of our Messiah; therefore, remains a worthwhile Christian virtue, which I’ve tagged “The best of its kind”. Think about it!

 

FDN NWAOZOR

Public Affairs Analyst & Rights Activist
--------------------------------------
frednwaozor@gmail.com  
+2348028608056       
Follow: @fred_nwaozor

 

 

Be The Change You Anticipate

BE THE CHANGE YOU ANTICIPATE

Brethren, please don’t fear change because your life does not get better by chance; rather it gets better by change. Though you might lose something good in the process, but don’t forget that you may also gain something great. In other words, ‘change’ brings either gain or loss. And it is obvious that we always anticipate gain whenever the issue of change is being raised.

Mind you; you can never boast of gain if you don’t thrive towards it. Thus, look for something positive in each day, even if some days you have to look a little harder. It is only by thriving towards something positive that you would have the chances of embracing ‘gain’.

So if we await a certain kind of change, we are expected to thrive in accordance to the anticipation. For instance; you can’t dream of becoming the President of your country while in each day, you sit and watch the country in question revolves round you. On the contrary, one with such dream is expected to revolve round the country rather than the reverse. You must familiarize with every nook and cranny of the country before you would be able to lead the people in it.

We must endeavour to be the change we anticipate. If you want your immediate family to be the eye of others, then you must act rightly. Of course, you must do the right thing if you want other families to emulate yours. If you are the overall head of the family, then you must act like the leader of the home. Remember that a leader is bound to carry everyone along; therefore, his actions must be fair and just to all concerned regardless of the circumstance. Then by so doing, people from other homes would like to emulate yours.

It beats my psyche each time I see some persons who pray for or anticipate a corrupt-free leadership from their country’s President, whilst in their respective offices or various fields of endeavour, they are the most corrupt officials/staff. The Igbo people would say: ‘Ji Ire gi guo eze gi onu’. This means; count your teeth with your tongue. Yes you must endeavour to painstakingly count your dental arrangement with your noble tongue if you actually want to ascertain the exact number.

Beloved, you can’t continue sitting on the fence if you are really looking forward seeing a certain positive change in any society you belong. If everyone decides to follow suit regarding your attitude, how do you think it would look like? I mean, if every other members of that society decide to join you and sit on the fence, then who would facilitate the change which you earnestly anticipate? You must acknowledge the fact that all hands is expected to be on deck for anything to work. Let’s ride on!

The arithmetic or the procedure is very simple, and it goes like this: if you want something good, then you must be good; if you wish to obtain something great, definitely you must act greatly; if you dream to become a leader, you are expected to comport yourself as a leader because considering the nature of your dream, you are no doubt a potential leader; of course lastly, if you anticipate a complete society as regards the society you belong, then you must try as much as possible to be a complete man or woman in all ramifications, because it’s only a complete being that can create a complete environment. There is no two ways about any of the above facts.

Our paramount plight is remains that, most time we prefer to watch others fight or act on our behalf while we go to bed. Even if you don’t wish to act or be among the acting team, you should be prepared to be among the clapping team. The rule is simple. Invariably courtesy demands that, if one is not in the bidding team, he/she ought to be in the clapping team, because it is only when you cheer others up that they would be more motivated and determined to act in the right direction.

Another predicament we often face is that, we are usually afraid of encountering a negative change. Some of us would prefer to remain silent and dormant instead of embracing failure. Believe me, fear has killed or maimed several of our dreams than failure has ever done. Frankly, fear of the unknown is a canker we all must endeavour to fight squarely before our problem would degenerate into something deadly.

Surely, it is better to act and obtain failure than to be dormant thereby remaining whom you are. Unequivocally, failure is indeed a recipe required to obtain the desired success. If you don’t fail, you will never know the exact route that leads to the success room. This is why sometime those who succeed freely often end-up messing up their golden opportunity. Thus, failure is worthwhile just as success is. Both are needed by mankind while attaining greatness.

At this juncture I repeat; be the change you anticipate. Act positively each day even if some days you have to act a little harder. In a nutshell, if you truly want Nigeria to be better come 2015, then you must also thrive towards becoming a better person. Think about it!

 

FDN NWAOZOR

frednwaozor@gmail.com   

Follow: @fdnnwaozor

2014 Int'l Human Solidarity Day (Aired Viewpoint)

A CLARION CALL FOR THOROUGH BROTHERHOOD AMONG NIGERIANS AS WE CELEBRATE THE 2014 INTERNATIONAL HUMAN SOLIDARITY DAY, TODAY SATURDAY DECEMBER 20

Solidarity, in a precise term, could be defined as a complete unity and support among people of a certain group. It can also be addressed as an absolute togetherness showcased by members/occupants of a particular group or locality as the case might be.

Solidarity is identified in the Millennium Declaration as one of the fundamental values of international relations in the twenty-first (21^st) century, wherein those who either suffer or benefit least deserve help or support from those who benefit most. Consequently, in the context of globalization and the challenge of growing inequality, the uplift of international solidarity remains unavoidable.

Surely, the concept of solidarity has defined the work of the United Nations (UN) since the birth of the organization. The establishment of the UN drew the peoples and nations of the world together to promote peace, human rights, social and economic developments. The body was founded on a basic premise of unity and harmony among its Member States. It is indeed in the spirit of solidarity that the union relies on cooperation in solving international plights of socio-economic, cultural or humanitarian origin in order to maintain universal peace and security.

Frankly, solidarity is a very vital tool required to solve problems in our interconnected world. We can only reach our shared goals if people are able to participate in the formulation and implementation of plans, policies, programmes, and what have you, to shape our common future, since it is already noted that commitments without empowerment are merely words without meaning.

Having noticed the effect of solidarity among mankind, there is no need reiterating the fact that thorough brotherhood can only be actualized through indulgence in solidarity. Thus, adoption of human solidarity by any entity is no doubt a pathway towards an arena loaded with undiluted unity, since a thorough brotherhood practice among a group of individuals is an epitome of exemplary oneness.

Today Saturday December 20, the world over is celebrating the 2014 International Human Solidarity Day; the annual International Human Solidarity Day was established on 22^nd December 2005, by the United Nations (UN). Having acknowledged the fact that solidarity is one of the basic and universal values that ought to underlie relations between peoples in the Twenty-first Century, on the aforementioned date, the UN General Assembly decided to proclaim December 20 of each year as Int’l Human Solidarity Day.

Prior to the adoption of the Day by the United Nations, by resolution on 20^th December 2002, the General Assembly established the World Solidarity Fund which was duly set up in February 2003 as a trust fund of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Its motive is to eradicate poverty and promote social and human development in developing countries, particularly amongst the poorest segments of their populations.

Since it is obvious that solidarity, which guarantees absolute unity, is as well a giant step towards alleviating the poverty level of any society, then there is an urgent need for a right thinking citizen of any country such as Liberia, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone among others currently salvaged by poverty to support the ongoing human solidarity crusade as much as they can. In addition, there is also need for a country like Nigeria that is being attacked by insurgency to do everything humanly possible to ensure that solidarity among the citizenry becomes the order of the day.

Nigeria can promote thorough brotherhood among her populace by closing the existing gaps including ethnicity, corruption, nepotism, religious cum social discrimination, chauvinism, and personal aggrandizement that are presently found in the country’s socio-political sector. As the country is fast approaching another era of interregnum, there is need for all the electorates to comprehend the essence of solidarity with the view of actualizing a common goal that would benefit the country in its entirety.

As the global community commemorates the annual International Human Solidarity Day, today, I’m urging the Nigerian citizenry to borrow a leave from the developed nations such as United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and United States of America in regard to embracing thorough brotherhood, which is indeed a scenario that would yield the long awaited socio-economic emancipation.

 

 

 

          FDN NWAOZOR
Public Affairs Analyst & Rights Activist

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            frednwaozor@gmail.com   

              +2348028608056  

       

2014 Int'l Human Rights Day (Aired News-Commentary)

THE NEED TO UPHOLD THE MANDATE OF ANY CONSTITUTION AS THE WORLD COMMEMORATES THE HUMAN RIGHTS DAY, TODAY WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 10, 2014

In any existing society, everyone is entitled to certain rights or privileges as the case may be, which signifies the value of that person in the society in question. This phenomenon is invariably regarded by all and sundry as ‘Human Rights.’

Human rights are moral principles or norms that describe certain standards of human behaviour and are regularly safeguarded as legal rights in both national and international laws. They are usually seen as undeniable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because he or she is a human being as well as a bona-fide member of that society regardless of the person’s location, language, skin colour, religion, ethnic origin, background, among other statuses.

Human rights are universal and supreme, in the sense that it is being applicable everywhere and at every time; and they are also egalitarian, in the sense of being the same for everyone. They require empathy and the rule of law, and impose an obligation on persons to respect the human rights of others.

Fundamentally, it is forbidden for human rights to be taken away, ignored or overlooked by any person, officer, court of law or any instituted authority, unless as a result of due process based on specific circumstances. Ordinarily, human rights require freedom from unlawful molestation, discrimination, assault, torture, detention, imprisonment, and/or execution, which have recently been the order of the day in most localities or countries.

The doctrine of human rights has been highly influential within national and international laws coupled with regional and global institutions. Actions by states and non-governmental organizations form a basis of public policy worldwide. There is a consensus that human rights encompasses a wide variety of rights such as the right to life, fair trial, prosecution, protection against enslavement, prohibition of genocide, free speech, information dissemination, choice of religion, and a right to education. Though some thinkers or schools of thought are of the view that human rights ought to comprise a minimum requirement to avoid the worst-case abuses while others see the wide variety as a higher standard.

Many of the basic ideas that yielded the Human Rights Movement came up in the aftermath of the Second World War and the atrocities of The Holocaust. The aforementioned ideas or views culminated in the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Paris – France by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in the year 1948. Although the ancient people did not have the same modern-day ideology of universal human rights.

The real forerunner of human rights crusade was the concept of natural rights which appeared as part of the medieval natural law tradition that became notable during the enlightenment by philosophers like Francis Hutcheson, John Locke and Jean-Jacques Burlamaqui, and which featured predominantly in the political thrives of both the American and French Revolutions.

From the above foundation, the modern human rights arguments emerged during the half of the twentieth century possibly as a reaction to slavery, torture, genocide, and war crimes, as a realization of inherent human vulnerability and as being a precondition for the emergence of the anticipated just society.

Due to the supremacy and universality of human rights, every adopted constitution or bye-law creates a special column which categorically stipulates the rights and privileges binding the entire members of the society/group that abides by the mandates of the said constitution, and such provision is bound to remain sacrosanct among the members unless unanimous amendments are made to that effect.

Frankly, sine recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the rudiments of freedom, peace and justice in the world; and since all human beings were born free and equal in dignity and rights, there is an absolute need for the fundamental rights stipulated in any constitution to be duly upheld, in order to put to a stop all forms of human rights abuses taking place in all nooks and crannies across the globe.

Today Wednesday December 10, the world over is commemorating the 2014 Human Rights Day. In 1950, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 10^th December of every year as Human Rights Day, to bring the attention of people of the world to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the common standard of achievement for all peoples as well as all nations.

This year’s slogan – ‘Human Rights 365’, bears the idea that every day is Human Rights Day. It celebrates the fundamental proposition in the Universal Declaration that each one of us, everywhere, at all times, is entitled to the full range of human rights. It also showcases that human rights belong equally to each of us and bind us together as a global community with the same ideals and values.

As the world commemorates the Human Rights Day today, I’m earnestly soliciting that the mandate of any adopted constitution or bye-law regarding fundamental rights and privileges should be treated as sacrosanct or supreme by the overall members of the society in question irrespective of their statuses, and that every member regardless of his/her status ought to be a beneficiary to such provision.

At this juncture, I enjoin all Rights activists and civil societies to be fierce and uncompromising as they strive relentlessly towards upholding the nobility of Human Rights.

 

        COMR FRED NWAOZOR

Public Affairs Analyst & Rights Activist

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          frednwaozor@gmail.com

             +2348028608056  

  

The Truth About Emotional Heartbreak

WHEN A HEART IS ‘BROKEN’

Greetings brethren! I wish to commence with two distinct messages; what you owe me is to grant me a listening ear. Mind you, failure to be all ears might cost you an irreplaceable fortune. To before warned is to before armed.

First: don’t be afraid to give up the good and go for the great. On the other hand; every scar has a story, so you shouldn’t be afraid to tell it. Yes you ought not to be afraid to surrender any good thing in your possession in order to embrace great ones. Also, you mustn’t shy away from telling a story that you experienced no matter how it pains to do so.

Don’t forget; a person who chases two rabbits concurrently, catches neither. Thus you must let go of one of the rabbits if you really want to catch any. Furthermore, for everything you have lost, you have surely gained something else in return.

If you closely and wisely consider the above statements, you would notice that they are talking about two things. Of course the aforementioned messages are discussing the importance of two major factors, namely: sacrifice and sharing. Yes they are all preaching the essence of sacrifice or sharing, or the need to sacrifice something if you are determined to acquire something else as well as the need for one to share his/her bad experience with someone else.

Believe me, it is important to share a bad or unfair experience with someone because a word of encouragement after failure or having encountered a detour worth more than an hour of praise after success. Therefore share any experience with someone because if you wait until you’re ready, I’m afraid you may be waiting the rest of your life. In the same vein, there’s need to sacrifice something in order to obtain something great or for the sake of embracing the ‘Best’; Abraham laid a good example on sacrifice and we are expected to emulate that.

Three weeks ago, I was opportune to find myself in Abuja – the Nigerian capital territory for a certain convention. During the ceremony, which lasted for forty-eight hours, I ran into a colleague who confided in me and told me that he was passing through a heartbreak due to the ‘heartless’ gesture displayed by his purported fiancée. According to him, the lady in question left him for another man who resides in Germany without any prior notice or signal.

Heartbreak can be described as very great sadness or unhappiness. In other words, a heartbroken person is one who is extremely sad and upset. Among mankind, the term ‘heartbreak’ is often used when one is passing through an emotional trauma having being hurt by his/her love-partner; and this is the area where the context of this edition lies. Let’s ride on!

In recent times, heartbreak attributed to love-affairs has taken a different dimension in such a manner that most youths see it as a way of life. This alarming shape of heartbreak has prompted several reactions and counter-reactions among psychoanalysts. Frankly the ongoing mode of heartbreak as a result of love-affairs has called for urgent attention from all concerned institutions and stakeholders.

In this edition, I only have a candid note for that person who thinks that his heart has broken because he/she is being ‘dumped’ by his/her so called love-partner or fiancée as the case might be. I’m personally more concerned in this aspect because I’m of the view that many people have ended up ostracizing themselves or even committing suicide, all in the name of ‘heartbreak’.

If I may ask, what makes you think that your precious life has come to an end because someone just left it? How could you in your right senses think that someone leaving your life is a sign of ‘End of the road’ or ‘End time’? Don’t you know that someone leaving your life could be a sign of blessing? Thus, it often calls for thanksgiving whenever a certain fellow/partner has left our lives, unless in the case of death or eternal demise.

I know it is not easy to completely forget the good moments you have shared with your loved one, but sometimes we should be ready to let go; because the person’s departure could be an avenue of ushering in a better fellow or the person you’re destined to spend the rest of your life with. Therefore we must always be willing and prepared to sacrifice someone for another. If someone leaves your life, it implies that, he/she doesn’t deserve you; and that’s the way you’re expected to see it, rather than witch-hunting yourself.      

Even if the person left your life due to a spell casted on him/her or as a result of ill-health, the only thing you owe him/her is nothing but prayers. And as you pray, you must remain faithful because faith conquers everything. Believe me, faith is the most ultimate among all spiritual factors; it yields patience, optimism, determination, and what have you. I want you to note that despair is one of the greatest sins, if not the greatest, in existence.

And we ought to endeavour to share our experiences with other persons close to our lives, because a problem shared is half solved. The person you shared your plight with, might be the one that would help you to be free from the trauma. For instance, sharing a spiritual problem with your spiritual director or a man of God is definitely a pathway to solving or unravelling the predicament. Also, sharing your emotional plight with a psychoanalyst or psychologist, or an inspirational tutor, is no doubt an avenue required to solve the problem in question.

If death has robbed you of a partner or a loved one, leave everything for God. After all, He was the one who provided the person for you; so He must have a reason for taking him/her away from your life. Besides, death is a certainty and an inevitable scenario, so we must at all time be ready to absorb the pains it brings.

Sometimes we pour too many words on a certain unfavourable circumstance or whenever we are passing through an emotional trauma, thereby constituting more problems not just for ourselves but for generations yet unborn. Most times the only remedy to a predicament is simply silence and prayer coupled with faith. In most cases, silence is expected to be broken when the person involved intends to share his plight with a concerned fellow or one who could be of help.

Sincerely, it is time we started seeing some estrangement as a mark of blessing. At this point I repeat; don’t be afraid to give up the ‘Good’ and go for the ‘Great’. Think about it.

 

FRED NWAOZOR

frednwaozor@gmail.com 

+2348028608056     

Demeaning Reading Culture Among The Youth

DEMEANING READING CULTURE AMONG THE YOUTH

Brethren, have you ever in your lonely mood imagined being blind? I know the question might sound a bit weird considering the gravity of the imagination in question. Please don’t get me wrong; I’m only trying to fathom a certain vague phenomenon that’s presently telling on my person.

Penultimate week during a moment of solitude, I took my precious time right in my humble abode to romance over some ongoing anomalies passing through most societies in the world. Prior to that moment, I was personally and deeply affected by the said factor, which I lately tagged ‘a societal canker’.

Honestly, some of us who found ourselves in the writing profession (field) may on a very fateful day decide to quit or take an eternal leave from the field. I’m glad you actually know the difference between French leave and eternal leave; therefore there’s no need throwing more light.

Of course if writers are not being read by their target audience, then the writing profession would be considered to be worthless by the writers themselves. Same scenario is not unlike seeing a fashion designer whose wares are not being admired by the members of the public.

Frankly, the current demeaning reading culture among the youth is not only negatively affecting the writers, bloggers, journalists, or as the case may be, but the society at large. No doubt, it has eaten deep in the blood vessel of the countries concerned.

The lack of reading habit found amongst our teens is solely attributed to the aforementioned anomaly (culture). Yes, how do you expect the teenagers to appreciate reading whilst the set of people they are meant to look up to is nothing to write home about as regards reading?

Without mincing words, our youths have really derailed in regard to reading, education generally. None of them, or only a few, wishes or thrives towards actualization of academic success via hard work; rather, they prefer indulging in impersonation, examination malpractice, sorting, among others. It is even more pathetic to notice that the so-called parents or guardians seem impervious to these naughty and shameful acts. Let’s ride on!

Even those who spend virtually twenty-four (24) hours daily on the social media find it difficult to digest any educative or informative article/opinion, instead they prefer going through series of gossips, pornographic images, silly write-ups and what have you, as well as watching several indecent movies.

In spite of the fact that the newspapers, magazines and other periodicals can also be read or accessed on the internet or the social media, still you hardly see any youth that takes time to digest the contents of any publication online. The idea of publishing the softcopy of news bulletins online was considered worthwhile by the publishers owing to the fact that many people could not afford to purchase a hardcopy of any of the newspapers/magazines; yet our young ones find it difficult to be informed by those costless news. It is really disheartening.

Each time I remember that my country, Nigeria is taking a lead in this absurd and disgusting tradition, I end up shedding immeasurable bloods. It is no longer news that most Nigerians are invariably misinformed and/or uneducated; this is why they often indulge in inconsequential and childish discussions or debates thereby constituting societal mayhem.

Mind you, being educated doesn’t imply that one had successfully spent some desirable or required number of years in a certain citadel of higher learning. Being educated simply means that the person in question is knowledgeable or learned. And such knowledge is not acquired by attending classes, rather by indulging in enormous study and research works. Thus, learning is not all about attending classes but telling yourself that you ought to know that which you’re yet and meant to know.

At this juncture, I call on various concerned groups and stakeholders such as the civil societies, religious bodies, inspirational speakers, teachers unions, to carry out a holistic crusade, either individually or collectively, with the aim of elevating the level of reading habit among our young ones. They can actualize this by organizing series of seminars, workshops, conventions, conferences, et cetera towards sensitizing the people involved on the dangers of lack of information or knowledge as well as illiteracy.

I want to tell you unequivocally that anyone who lacks knowledge is simply like a blind man. And knowledge or appropriate information can never be acquired by shying away from reading. Think about it!

 

FRED NWAOZOR

frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056