2015 World No Tobacco Day

CHECKING THE DANGERS OF TOBACCO INTAKE AS THE WORLD NO-TOBACCO DAY IS COMMEMORATED TODAY SUNDAY MAY 31, 2015

         

        

The BBC English Dictionary defines tobacco as ‘the dried leaves of a particular plant which people smoke in pipes, cigars, and cigarettes.’ The products of the tobacco leaves can also be referred to as ‘tobacco’. In the same vein, tobacco smoking is the act or habit of smoking tobacco leaves or any of its products to include cigarette, cigar, snuff, et cetera.

        

Tobacco contains a stimulant known as ‘alkaloid nicotine’. Dried tobacco leaves are mainly smoked in cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco and flavoured shisha tobacco. They are also consumed as snuff, chewing tobacco, and dipping tobacco. Tobacco use is a risk factor for many diseases, especially those affecting the essential organs in the body including the heart, liver and lungs as well as several other protracted illnesses such as cancer.

          

In 2003, in response to growth of tobacco use in developing countries and its overwhelming deadly consequence, the World Health Organization (WHO) successfully rallied 168 countries to sign the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The convention was designed to push for effective legislation and its enforcement in all countries in order to reduce the harmful effects of tobacco. This led to the development of cessation of tobacco products.

          

There are a number of types of tobacco including, but are not limited to, Aromatic fire-cured, Brighleaf tobacco, Burley tobacco, Cavendish criollo tobacco, Dokha, Turkish tobacco, Perique, Shade tobacco, White burley, Y1, and Wild tobacco. It is noteworthy that, any of the type involved contains unwholesome substances, which cause untold harm to the body. In 2008, the World Health Organization (WHO) named tobacco as the world’s single greatest cause of preventable deaths.

           

Tobacco smoke contains many chemicals that are harmful to both smokers and non-smokers. Research shows that inhaling even a little tobacco smoke can be harmful to the body. This is why among the various means of consuming tobacco leaves, which include sniffing, smoking, chewing and stuffing, smoking remains the most dangerous and delicate. Scientifically survey indicates that, of the more than 7,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, at least 250 including hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide and ammonia are known to be harmful. Among the 250 known harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke, at least 69 can cause cancer, especially in the lung, kidney, mouth, larynx, esophagus, bladder, pancreas and cervix.

         

Tobacco smokers are exposed to variety of risks or health complications namely: blood clots and aneurysms in the brain which can lead to stroke, blood clots in the legs which may travel to the lungs, coronary artery disease including angina and heart attacks, high blood pressure, poor blood supply to the legs, problems with erections due to decreased blood flow into the penis.

         

Other health risks or problems are poor wound healing especially after surgery, asthma, problems during pregnancy such as babies born at low birth weight, premature labour, miscarriage and cleft lip; decreased ability to taste and smell, harm to sperm which contributes to infertility, loss of sight as a result of an increased risk of mascular degeneration, tooth and gum diseases as well as wrinkling of the skin.

         

Smokers who switch to smokeless tobacco instead of quitting tobacco intake completely still have a number of health risks to include increased risk of mouth or nasal cancer, gum problems, tooth wear, cavities, worsening high blood pressure, and angina. Those who do not smoke or take any form of tobacco but always stay around smokers are also exposed to some health issues such as heart attack and other heart diseases, lung cancer and sudden reactions involving the eye, nose, throat, and lower respiratory tract.

         

Infants and children who are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke are not left out. They can easily contract asthma, infections like virus-caused upper respiratory diseases, ear infections and pneumonia; lung damage or poor lung function, as well as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

        

Obviously, the aforementioned consequences are good reasons to quit the intake of tobacco. Like any addiction, quitting tobacco is not an easy task, especially when the person involved is acting alone. If one intends to quit smoking or intake of tobacco, family members, friends and coworkers may be supportive. He can also talk to his health care provider concerning nicotine replacement therapy and smoking cessation medications. More so, if he or she joins smoking cessation programmes, which are often offered by hospitals, health departments, community centres and work sites, he would have a much better chance of success.

         

Today the global community is commemorating the World No Tobacco Day. The Day, which is marked on every 31^st of May, was instituted by the United Nations (UN) through the effort of the World Health Organization (WHO). Annually, WHO alongside its partners mark the World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), highlighting the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocating for effective policies to reduce its consumption. This year’s commemoration is calling on countries to work together towards ending the ongoing illicit trade of tobacco products. Frankly, from several angles such as social, health, legal, economy, and governance, the illicit trade of tobacco products has been a major global concern.

         

The bitter fact is that the global tobacco epidemic kills nearly six million people each year, of which more than 600,000 are non-smokers dying from breathing secondhand smoke. Unless we act, according to WHO, the epidemic is likely to kill more than eight million persons annually by the year 2030; and more than eighty percent (80%) of these preventable mortality rates will be among people living in low and middle income countries like Nigeria.

         

As the world commemorates the annual World No Tobacco Day, it is the responsibility of every Nigerian to acknowledge that the dangers of tobacco intake can only be avoided if its addicts as well as illicit traffickers holistically desist from such uncalled act.

         

Similarly, the members of the legislature ought to also note that they are not exempted in the crusade that is targeted to end this life-threatening menace, which has become the order of the day. The National Tobacco Control bill that was recently passed into law by the National Assembly is indeed a welcome development that ought to be encouraged by any concerned authority or anyone who thinks good of Nigeria. Think about it!

COMR FRED DOC NWAOZOR

(The Media Ambassador)

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frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: fdnnwaozor

+2348028608056    

2015 World Day of Cultural Diversity

REVIEWING NIGERIA’S CULTURAL HERITAGE AS THE 2015 WORLD DAY FOR CULTURAL DIVERSITY IS MARKED TODAY THURSDAY MAY 21

    

        

Heritage can be defined as the inheritance such as buildings, monuments, or any property of an individual or a society. Whilst, cultural heritage are the inherited qualities, traditions, ideas, or style of living of an individual or a given society, which have continued over many years, especially when they are considered to be of historical importance.

        

On the other hand, cultural diversity is defined as the situation whereby the cultural heritage of a person, group or society varies or consists of different conditions, qualities, or types. In other words, the diversity of a given culture is the state at which it comprises or made up of varieties.

        

Today Thursday May 21, the world over is celebrating the 2015 World Day for Cultural Diversity. In 2001, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity; hence in December 2002, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in its unanimous resolution, declared May 21 annually to be the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. The Day provides us with an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to learn to live together better.

        

Undoubtedly, cultures such as dancing, masquerading, dressing, sewing, hunting, fishing, singing, wrestling, moulding of sculptures, painting, and so on, are essential developmental tools in any country. Culture is strongly connected with identity; and identity expressed through culture is a necessity for all human developments. It creates the fundamental building blocks in our respective personalities and in the ties that link us to various communities and the nation we find ourselves.

         

Culture plays a unique and crucial role in a development policy especially issues relating to human rights. A free and staunch cultural heritage has the tendency of promoting other rights and values to include freedom of expression, diversity and debate about needs in a society. In the same vein, culture is a key player in the link between freedom of expression and democratization.

         

  

Culture can also encourage the economic growth of either a nation or an individual. Creative areas including music, paintings, drawings and sewing, can equally serve as revenue sources. In fact, the encounter between culture, creativity, technology and economy embodies a great potential in creating work places and increasing exports, and also contributes to social inclusion.

         

Culture can also assist in checking socio-political crises or differences. It ensures unity during crisis, and influences identity, debate and dialogue; thus, it is needed for nation building, and for peace and reconciliation. Needless to say; it inspires change, which we all anticipate. Survey indicates that cultural cooperation is one of the most equality-oriented forms of co-operations in existence.

         

The entertainment industry cannot be left out while discussing the impact of cultural heritage in nation building. Similarly, the tourism of any country cannot be discussed without mentioning the country’s cultural diversity. It is obvious that the cultural heritage of any society contributes over sixty-five percent (65%) of its tourist sector, which remains one of the paramount Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) sources of any developed society.   

         

Surely, tourism is one of the backbones or engine rooms of any developed country in the world, and this cannot be possible without the impact of cultural diversity of the country in question. This implies that Nigeria, which is made of over two hundred and fifty (250) ethnic groups in which each of the groups is endowed with different cultural resources, can as well consider harnessing her tourist sector as she is currently thinking of economic diversification or beyond oil and gas.

         

As the world celebrates the World Day for Cultural Diversity, there is a compelling need for us to acknowledge that our cultural diversity is a stimulator of creativity, and investing in the creativity can transform societies. Hence, it is our civic responsibility to develop education and intercultural skills in our young ones as well as learn to live together in the diversity of our cultures, languages and religions in order to bring the desired change.

         

In view of this, there is no gain reiterating the fact that it is high time the Nigeria’s cultural heritage is reviewed by the appropriate quarters or authorities; so that, credible ones would be sustained or harnessed via institution of cultural carnivals by both federal and state governments, promotion of the various existing communal cultural festivals, establishment of museums, and other related practices, while the unacceptable ones would either be addressed or completely abolished, with a sole motive of boosting the country’s tourist industry as well as encouraging human empowerment. Think about it!

COMR FRED NWAOZOR

(The Media Ambassador)

_____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056    

   

Compensating victims of the Recent Electoral

THE NEED TO COMPENSATE VICTIMS OF THE RECENT ELECTORAL CRISES

     

         

Undoubtedly, every society looks forward towards actualizing a meaningful development. And it is obvious that no development will take place in any society that lacks peace. In the same vein, a peaceful atmosphere can never be sustained in any society if there is no absolute unity among the members of the society in question.

         

Apparently, one of the factors that guarantee unity, which is the fundamental attribute of any societal development, is fairness. The BBC English Dictionary defines fairness as ‘the quality of being reasonable and just.’ Similarly, the Cambridge Dictionary defines it as ‘the quality of treating people equally or in a way that is right or reasonable.’

        

Considering the just concluded elections in Nigeria, which encompassed the Presidential, governorship, national and states assembly polls, one need not to be told or reminded that there were series of casualties recorded across the country during the elections, which led to loss of several innocent lives.

         

Statistics show that, about fifty-eight (58) Nigerians were reportedly feared killed during the pre-election era; according to the National Human Rights Commission, sixty-one (61) incidents of election campaign violence occurred in twenty-two (22) states across the federation during the said era. And during the elections proper, ranging from the Presidential cum National Assembly to the gubernatorial cum state Houses of Assembly, the overall survey indicates that no fewer than thirty-two (32) persons lost their lives while too many others were maimed, in which all the states that took part in any of the polls were involved.

         

Since the deed has been done, we are not meant to apportion blame to various quarters or institutes, rather to make amends. If a painstaking study is taken, we will ascertain that each of the victims of the polls was either affiliated to a certain political party or a supporter to the party; whilst some were interested in the individual personality of a particular aspirant. Suffice it to say; the affected political parties as well as politicians shouldn’t be reminded that they have a quota to contribute towards ensuring that any Nigerian who is aggrieved due to loss of loved one or injury sustained is duly compensated for posterity sake.

        

The government in its capacity is expected to take a lead in regard to this proposed crusade that is geared toward ushering in a more united Nigeria. The federal and states governments ought to set up formidable and reliable committees to look into the pre, during and post election violence as it affect their respective jurisdictions with a view to ascertaining the actual families or persons that were hurt. The electoral umpire (INEC) must also be supportive in this crusade that is targeted to yield a rancour-free society.

        

On the other hand, those who constituted or were party to the electoral mayhem that led to the extra-judicial killings among other crimes must be brought to book. To this end, the police and other related bodies and agencies ought to painstakingly undergo severe and thorough findings that would help to fish out the miscreants as well as their accomplices in order to prosecute them accordingly. The judiciary on its part must ensure that the anticipated prosecution is handled in earnest and relentlessly without any iota of favour or fear of intimidation with the motive of allowing justice to prevail, which will go a long way to caution other Nigerians that are evil minded or are fond of taking the law into their hands.

         

More so, though the aforementioned electoral violence is not only peculiar to Nigeria, but there is a compelling need to note that such anomaly could be avoided if proper measures are taken. Since an average Nigerian, especially the youth, pays more attention to his/her personal interest whenever any electioneering campaign is ongoing, there is no gain reiterating that a holistic and rigorous awareness campaign is meant to be embarked on prior to any general or state election as the case may be. Such awareness should be focused on letting the electorate realize that no politician’s ambition is worth the blood of his/her fellow citizen. The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in collaboration with the various civil society organizations is expected to take a lead in respect to this.  

          

Finally, in any action we take or intend to indulge in, we ought to endeavour to ask ourselves if it would be fair to all concerned, because fairness remains the rudiments of our desired change; in other words fairness should remain our watchword. Above all, we must continue to note that the better Nigeria we all anticipate lies in our bare hands. Think about it!

 COMR FRED NWAOZOR

(The Media Ambassador)

_____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056    

Remembering Chinua Achebe

REMEMBERING CHINUA ACHEBE

         

Even if I lack words, the thousands of pens lying in my household would continue to be unhappy if I remain silent. In other words, in most cases, silence could warrant a state of anarchy which may lead to unbearable mayhem or unimaginable massacre. Thus, these incessant road carnages being witnessed almost on a daily basis on our roads could be attributable to the increasing pace of silence amongst our apex leaders.

        

Let’s take it this way: The last time I checked, millions of corpses belonging to various Nigerian citizens were peacefully or disturbingly lying in different morgues situated at strategic points across the federation. On this note, we are expected to realize that among these aforementioned corpses, some deserve to be given a thorough befitting burial to encourage as well as please billions of souls they mentored and left behind. Therefore in such circumstance, some of us who benefitted immensely from the deceased persons are expected not to be silent, rather ought to be chanting dirges coupled with eulogies in order to prove to the Chief mourners that we are also deeply touched by the forbidden departure.

        

This piece is solely in memory of Chinua Achebe. When the Late Professor Chinua Achebe left the mother earth, I was the one who suggested that the deceased deserved to be buried in a gold tomb. Mind you, I said “Gold tomb” not golden tomb. I was of the opinion that he worked for it, hence was not meant to be deprived of such gesture.

        

You will bear me witness that the world would have remained blind or illiterate provided there is no profession known as writing. I always tell people and would continue to say it that, learning is not all about attending classes; it’s about telling yourself that you ought to know that which you’re yet and meant/bound to know. Summarily, learning can take place anywhere and anytime. For such fact to be upheld, we must embrace reading. And, it’s no longer news that there’s nothing to be read if there’s nothing written. Thus, the chorus remains ‘No writing, No reading.’ Q.E.D. In a nut shell, writing begets reading.

        

If truly that the globe cannot dwell successfully without embracing the writing profession, then what stops us from celebrating those found in such intense intellectual profession? To be frank and candid, writers/authors ought to be seen as God’s most leading messengers, hence deserve to be regarded as apex celebrities. Honestly, the members of the writing profession are the people who are really liberating the universe from all sorts of bondages. Let’s ride on!

        

Having stated the fact that authors are global celebrities, I wish to use this avenue to sincerely inform us that some authors supersede others. This is what we call ‘hierarchy’. Yes, there are writers who are like gods to their fellow writers. And such set of people should not just be celebrated but ought to be immensely adored by all and sundry.

         

It was on Thursday 21^st of March, 2013 that the global literary giant, Prof. Albert Chinualumogu Achebe who happened to be a member of the world’s leading stakeholders’ confraternity kicked the bucket leaving billions of immeasurable footprints behind, and alive too. The news of the passing away of the renowned Nigerian novelist filtered into the country in the early hours of Friday March 22. Chinua Achebe (1930-2013) shot to the global literary stage with the iconic prose, ‘Things fall apart’ in 1958.      

          

Chinua Achebe – prolific publisher, author and educator, born on November 16, 1930 in Ogidi in Eastern Nigeria. Things Fall Apart, the stature of Achebe never diminished until death. ‘A Man of the People’, published in 1966, is a bleak satire set in an unnamed African state, with the ending of the novel bringing attention of the military personnel who suspected him of having foreknowledge of the coup. His latest book, There was a Country: a Personal History of Biafra, immediately caused a stir in Nigeria and beyond as it reignited discussions about the Nigerian Civil War as seen from Achebe’s point of view.

         

Known vastly for his frankness and involved commentary on issues of language, religion, freedom, as well as the perception of Africa by other global communities, Achebe voluntarily retired from the University of Nigeria in 1982, thereafter devoting time to editing and becoming active in politics with the left-leaning People’s Redemption Party (PRP). He became the party’s National Vice-President in 1983, and also published ‘The Trouble with Nigeria’ at the time.

         

On March 22, 1990, Prof Achebe was involved in a ghastly auto accident while in a car heading to Lagos State with his son, Ikechukwu; and the driver suffered minor injuries. With the car flipping on its side, the weight of the vehicle fell on Achebe and his spine was severely damaged. After undergoing treatment in England, doctors came out with a damning statement that he was paralysed from the waist down and would require the use of a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

         

In spite of the predicament, he still thrived relentlessly, assiduously and overwhelmingly in his field of endeavour owing to his extreme passion for humanity. Across the world, the legacy of Achebe is in the reach and universality of his works, talent and vision with international figures like Margaret Atwood, Maya Angelou, Nelson Mandela, and several others lauding him and his works. He was a recipient of over thirty (30) honorary degrees from universities in Nigeria, England, Scotland, the United States, Canada, and South Africa. He twice refused the Nigerian honour of Commander of the Federal Republic in 2004 and 2011 respectively, with a reason that Nigerian was not doing well in her political stride and needed to pay more attention on that rather than issuing honours or awards.       

          

As soon as I heard the news of his glorious exit, I told him that silver nor gold I had none, but I candidly promised him that by His grace, my unborn great grand children shall live to chant eulogies in regard to his worthwhile existence here on earth. I also disclosed to the deceased that I shall live to proclaim the good gospel on the fathomless contributions he recorded towards the growth of mankind.  

         

It is needless to reiterate the fact that the late Prof Chinua Achebe lived a life worthy of emulation, that, his name deserves to be reckoned with for eternity. But it is so pathetic that the name of the man in question is yet to be immortalized by the Nigerian government ever since he departed. For crying out loud, even if there is no available monument or edifice to be named after the late literary icon, two years is enough to erect a new one. This issue deserves to be given an urgent attention for posterity sake. Think about it!   

          

FDN NWAOZOR

(The Media Ambassador)

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frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

Twitter: fdnnwaozor