Recent Ban on Forex hawkers

RECENT BAN ON FOREX HAWKERS

       

Foreign exchange otherwise known as ‘forex’, can be described as the system for dealing in the currencies of other countries, or the conversion of one country’s currency into that of another.

      Few days ago, it was widely on the news that the Nigeria’s apex bank – the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had ordered the immediate closure of Bureaux De Change (BDCs) branches nationwide, stating that branch operations were no longer allowed in the subsector; we reportedly learnt that 90 days ultimatum was issued to the affected institution. This directive was contained in the revised guidelines for BDCs as released by the apex bank.

    
In addition, the CBN categorically and unequivocally disclosed that henceforth hawking of foreign exchange on the streets and other open places, which is currently invariably not unusual in Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt, that has ‘endured for over three decades surviving civilian and military administrations’, would no longer be accommodated or tolerated. It stated that from January 1, 2016, street trading of the dollar, among others would be non-permissible; disclosing that violation of such directive would attract a severe penalty.

    
The mother bank further roared that it shall be a ground for the revocation of licences if any street trader in foreign currencies is found to have any business relationship with a licensed BDC. Similarly, the guideline entitled ‘Revised operational guidelines for Bureaux De Change in Nigeria’, prescribed that for a BDC to be considered valid in 2016, it must meet the financial requirement of depositing a minimum of #71.45 million with the CBN.

      It is worthy to note that since inception, the CBN has taken full responsibility over nurturing the money and capital markets. In consequence to this, the mother bank introduced treasury bills in 1960, treasury certificate in 1968, and facilitated the establishment of Lagos Stock Exchange in 1961. It also went further to institute the Capital Issue Committee now known and addressed as the ‘Securities and Exchange Committee’ in the early 1970s.

     
The CBN undertakes Monetary Policies in order to maintain Nigeria’s external reserves to safeguard the international value of the legal currency; to promote and maintain the monetary stability and a sound cum efficient financial system in Nigeria; to act as banker and financial adviser to the federal government; and finally, to act as lender of last resort to commercial banks.

    
Since the establishment of the apex bank in1958, it would interest you to acknowledge that so far ab initio the governors (bosses) of the bank implemented their respective policies as regards the monetary system of the Nigeria’s financial industry. The 9^th substantive boss of the bank in the person of Prof Charles Soludo introduced one of the most controversial policies in the history of the bank – the ‘Consolidation’, and it worked effectively. No doubt, it was an accomplishment that fetched the man in question a well-respected and renowned name as a financial guru. Subsequently, Mallam Lamido Sanusi (now the Emir of Kano) as the 10^th substantive governor of the bank came up with his ‘Cashless policy’; a measure Nigeria at large will live to testify its goodness and reliability.

     
Furthermore, Mr Godwin Emefiele – the current boss of the bank, assumed duty as the 11^th substantive governor of the apex bank amidst tough challenges. When he assumed duty, on Tuesday June 3, 2014 precisely, he wasn’t meant to be informed that all eyes were on him regarding reshaping and restoring the unstable and ‘drowsy’ Nigerian economy, which is undoubtedly spearheaded by the famous Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

      Frankly, Emefiele’s appointment as the CBN boss came at a moment the Nigeria’s financial industry was undergoing severe tension following the uncertainties that trail the nation’s currency – the Naira. Presently, analysts and financial experts are profoundly of the view that enormous, drastic, and fearless effort is immensely required towards driving the country’s economy to greater destinations.

     
When Emefiele came on board, during his media briefing he wholly disclosed his onward preparedness to uplift the Nigeria’s economy; thus he extensively stated most of the policies he intended to pursue vigorously, which included the determination of the apex bank to reduce ‘high interest rates’ found in commercial banks as well as ensuring ‘exchange rate stability’ with a view to reawakening and raising the value of the Naira.

     Going by the tempo he is presently employing toward actualizing the former – reduction of high interest rates, it’s apparent that soonest the nation’s banking sector would not just be juicy but would be a place to reckon with worldwide. For instance, six years after consistent increase in lending rates, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the CBN on Tuesday November 24, 2015 resolved, among other issues, to reduce the benchmark interest rate otherwise known as ‘Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)’ from thirteen percent (13%) to eleven percent (11%). It also reduced the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) from twenty-five percent (25%) to twenty percent (20%). This was in addition to its determination to ensure that by 2016 as directed, there would be zero naira Commission on Turnover (COT) currently experienced by current account holders in Nigeria.

      In the same vein, its (CBN’s) recent ban on the incessant branches of the country’s Bureau De Change (BDC) as well as forex hawkers is unarguably an obvious indication that the boss of the apex bank is prepared to actualize the latter – exchange rate stability. Even a day old child comprehends the fact that proliferation of illicit foreign exchange markets/units across the federation remains one of the major banes, if not the most, to the Nigeria’s exchange rate which of course contributes tremendously in crippling the country’s economy. Suffice to say that it is high time they are eradicated.

      Indeed, it’s only a dogged and sincere approach that would holistically make the Nigeria’s exchange rate stable on a regular basis. Voicing out a certain policy is ostensibly extremely different from its implementation; hence, the CBN governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele is expected to take the bull by the horn toward ensuring that this worthwhile proposed policy that would surely stand the test of time if duly implemented is severely handled without much ado, with a view to writing his name in gold in no distant time. For this to be thoroughly actualized, a reliable mobile committee or agency that would monitor the day to day compliance of the affected people/bodies is meant to be set up by the CBN.

     
Another disturbing act that is ravaging the nation’s currency (the Naira) is the ongoing sale of the Mint or new naira notes by unauthorized dealers in every nook and cranny of the country, and must also be drastically considered by the Mint Inspectorate unit of the CBN whose function is to maintain security and quality of naira notes and coins; unfortunately, the coins have faded out. The lingering constant circulation of torn naira notes by the commercial banks might not be unconnected to the aforesaid anomaly or illegal practice. The mints are being sold by the banks to unauthorized dealers thereby making them (the banks) issue torn naira notes that are meant to be burnt or discarded to their teeming clients via the counters or ATMs as the case may be.

    
Surely, the Naira is on a very hot seat, thus required to be rescued by a masquerade. So if the CBN is truly willing and determined to actualize a society or country that would be known for a stable exchange rate, it must be ready to wear a non-human face. Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

Twitter: @mediambassador

                   

A Letter to the Pope

A LETTER TO THE POPE

When the last unthinkable and unimaginable experience dawned on my person coupled with the other recently encountered ones, I felt it was high time I wrote the Pope – the grand master. Though it could be untimely, if not too late, but I’m strongly of the view that ‘it’s better late than never’.

Mind you; the ‘Pope’ as inscribed in the above topic does not signify the man who resides in the Vertical City of Rome; rather, it represents the leader of all the religious institutions across the globe, particularly my home country – Nigeria. Thus, you’re cordially enjoined to adhere strictly to the logical meaning of the word in question rather than its literal meaning as far as this critique is concerned, for the interest of me and you.

Dear Pope – the grand master, I sincerely tender this epistle in my lonely mood as fathomless tears are intensely ravaging my poor physiognomy. The manifestation of this candid epistle is solely attributable to the invariable obnoxious scenes as well as melodramas regarding our religious leaders I personally witness or overhear on a daily basis. Of course, I’m extremely convinced that you might have heard of some of them; notwithstanding, I promise to painstakingly and extensively list virtually all in this holistic letter.

It’s no longer news, that recently story titles such as Pastor rapes church member, Alabama Pastor accused of raping 15-year-old member, Pastor rapes Pastor’s wife inside church, Imam caught in the act, Alhaja and Imam caught having sex during this Ramadan period, Pastors offer politicians their pulpits, $9.3 million cash found in Pastor’s private jet, Reverend Fathers caught in gay act, Pastor defrauds members in the name of ‘deliverance’, just to mention but a few, have been making the banner headlines of thousands of hundreds of newspapers across the globe that if adequate and drastic approach is not taken towards avoiding subsequent emergence of such terrible and horrific stories, I’m afraid the world in its entirety might be headed for a severe doomed state in the nearest future.

Though these, as mentioned above, were alleged cases, but how would a clergyman be traceable to such ungodly stories? If someone who calls himself a ‘man of God’ distanced his person from any thought, action, inaction, practice, occasion that could lead to any social scandal, he wouldn’t in any way be found wanting. We all know that temptation arises daily, after all God Himself was tempted, but the gospel truth is that if a clergyman remains firm or passionately sticks to his faith, he would never be nailed down or trapped in the net as the devil intends; thus, by His grace he would continue to overcome any temptation that comes on his way.

It is apparent and appalling that most religious institutions no longer preach salvation as expected; rather, they prefer laying emphasis on financial prosperity or materialism thereby making the poor or less-privileged ones among their members see poverty as a curse or a reward for sins. Poverty can be referred to as a disease, which no doubt couldbe cured or addressed, but not a curse as being presumed in most quarters.

What about places where offertory would be conducted for over five times not unlike a social club where bidding is taking place? In this case, the rich would be seen dancing cheerfully while headed for the point where they would gladly and willingly tender their offerings regardless of the number of times involved; and the financially vulnerable ones amidst the congregation would also be expected to follow suit instead of the church or mosque as the case may be, being concerned or preoccupied with how to make them wave eternal goodbye to poverty.

Sincerely, everyone in his/her right senses prays to see churches or mosques in every nook and cranny owing to their innumerable positive impact on the society but it is so disheartening to acknowledge that the current fathomless establishment of religious bodies all over has ended up constituting more social, financial as well as spiritual miscarriages in our various societies rather than solving the already existing ones. For instance; it's not unusual that nowadays someone would be told by his/her so-called spiritual/religious director that his old mother in the village is solely responsible for his predicaments.

Surely, we are all aware that the tuition fees for virtually all the private citadels of learning in Nigeria, especially the universities that are owned and managed by religious bodies are indeed astronomical and unbearable to an average citizen in the country let alone the poor. But it is pertinent and amazing to note that the poor parents/guardians who could not afford the aforesaid fees contributed immensely towards the establishment of the institutions in question. Now that they are relegated at the background as regards taking their children/wards to the private schools, what becomes their fate?

It is obvious that churches and mosques do not pay tax due to the nature of the selfless services they render to the society at large; but I’m afraid if they continued with the culture of commercialization, the governments at all levels may be tempted to ask them to follow suit in regard to payment of taxes.

 About few weeks ago, I was opportune to worship at one of the Catholic Churches in Lagos State and fascinatingly the Reverend Father in charge of the Parish otherwise known as the ‘Parish Priest’ categorically told the congregation, whom are invariably addressed as ‘Parishioners’ according to Catholic doctrine, during the closing time that the completion of the ongoing new building for the church’s secondary school was far-fetched because the parishioners had not been helping matters as regards donation thereby urging them to wake up from their slumbers. Unarguably, other religious centres are not left out while discussing such phenomenon.

I’m not disturbed over asking church members to assist in building projects but my worry is that the downtrodden in the midst are invariably tasked whenever such issue is raised. Rather than being severely disturbed over how to help the said set of people combat poverty that is ravaging their respective households, on the contrary they usually end up being extorted by their ‘church/mosque leaders’. Besides come to think of it; aren’t the pupils or students in the affected missionary schools paying tuition fees, or are they enjoying free education?

Today, as a clergyman, if you don’t perform miracles in your church or mosque, you haven’t begun. Undoubtedly, everyone looks forward to seeing ‘miracles’ occurring in any worship house he finds himself. To say the least; this miracle mantra, which is ubiquitously on the rampage, has succeeded in making several genuine worship centres lose their members to other neighbouring ones that are famously known for miracle performance or as havens where miracles are being manufactured.

Currently, almost every shop situated in our various streets has been converted into churches, mosques, prayer ministries, house of prophesies, healing centres, and what have you. Similarly, they no longer worship calmly or praise decently in their various places of worship; loud speakers are extended to the streets and roads where their worship centres are located thereby producing uncalled cacophonies all in the name of ‘worship’.

Lest we forget; it is everywhere that most of our religious leaders have been, stylishly or wholly, indulging in electoral matters or issues relating to politics, which is unequivocally contrary to their calling. Most pathetically, these religious directors/overseers mostly campaign for political aspirants right in their various churches or mosques, or sometimes the aspirants would be privileged to stand on their ostensibly sacred pulpits to politic for themselves, all in exchange for a token. The churches or mosques are supposed to be institutions for liberation of mankind from all forms of bondage as well as to strengthen or uplift one’s faith with a view to bringing him nearer to his salvation.

During electioneering era, the prime duty of the church/mosque is to pray vehemently and rigorously for the various persons or bodies involved including the electorate, aspirants, electoral umpire as well as the nation at large with the aim of making only the distinguished and god-fearing aspirants emerge victorious at the awaited polls, but on the contrary you would notice that most of our so-called men of God have completely gotten it wrongly whenever electoral issues are raised. The religious bodies are expected to be involved toward actualizing good governance but are not in any way meant to delve into political matters or cases.

These and many more similar antics springing up on a daily basis in our various religious institutions, which are generating series of unbearable pandemonium, really call for a public outcry. Religion has been widely and popularly regarded as the ‘opium of the masses’; suffice to say that that is the only place the needy, frustrated ones, or mankind in general could be emancipated or embrace undiluted optimism, even when it seems they’re nearer to their graveyards. So if such institution is being misused and abused by its leaders whom are supposed to be seen as well as regarded as mortal gods, it signifies that significantly the society in its entirety is liable to encounter an unforeseen comatose circumstance.

The grand master, I tender this unalloyed epistle to you because I’m of the opinion that you have a very potent and inevitable role to play toward addressing the aforementioned quagmire that is seriously telling on us; thus I wish to drop my humble pen at this juncture. Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

Follow: @mediambassador

Acknowledging Essence of Reciprocity

ACKNOWLEDGING THE ESSENCE OF RECIPROCITY

I thought it wise that it was high time I did something on the aforementioned factor, reciprocity, which has been profoundly misunderstood, misused as well as abused in various quarters thereby posing unquantifiable threat to the society at large. The last time I checked, most of the plights we faced here on earth were not unconnected to the invariable misuse of the factor in question.

Lest I forget; reciprocity can simply be referred to as the practice or act of exchanging things with others for mutual benefit, such as the privileges granted by one individual, organization or society to another.

In social psychology, reciprocity is a social rule that says we ought to repay, either in kind or cash, what another person or organization as the case may be has provided us. That is; the need for people to give back the kind of treatment they have received from others.

To make it clearer; by virtue of the rule of reciprocity, we are obligated to repay favours, gifts, invitations, grants, loans, and what have you, as the case might be, in future or subsequently. For instance; if someone we invited to our birthday party or get-together buys us a gift or graced the occasion with a gift, we are expected to do the same when the time for their birthday comes. There are no two ways about it.

This sense of future obligation associated with reciprocity makes it possible to build continuing relationships and exchanges. Reciprocal actions of this nature are very important to social psychology as they can help explain the maintenance of social norms. Someone who violates the reciprocity tradition by accepting without making effort to return the good gestures of others is usually disliked by the social group; often times, he/she is best described as an ingrate.

Individuals who benefit from a social group’s resources without contributing any skills, assistance or resources of their own in return, are in most cases addressed as ‘free riders’. Both individuals and groups often punish free riders, directly or indirectly, even when the penalty results in considerable costs to the affected group or individual. So, it is not surprising that most rational or logical individuals will go an extra mile to avoid being regarded as a freeloader, moocher or ingrate.

Mind you; reciprocal gestures differ slightly from altruistic gestures.Reciprocity is mainly the act of repaying someone or a group for what they have done for you. Whilst, altruism is not act of repayment, or expectation of something similar orgreater in the future. Although both are worthwhile and acceptable gestures but it is noteworthy to comprehend the dichotomy between them.

Reciprocity is majorly requiredin any relationship, be it informal, business or social, towards its sustenance. But we need to understand that there are two major classes of relationship in existence which are parasitic relationship and symbiotic relationship. In the former, which is a one-sided relationship, only one party or either party benefits from the other; while in the latter, both parties benefit mutually from each other.

However, the fact is that; even in parasitic relationship, there’s an element of reciprocity which could be seemingly infinitesimal. Needless to say that, reciprocity remains inevitable toward the sustenance of any form of ongoing relationship.

Let me quickly intimate us on the precise and unequivocal statement that was made on Saturday December 5, 2015 by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK), David Cameron on his twitter handle in respect to the recent Paris terror attack. In his words, the leader in question succinctly said, “If I could just remind France when they asked us to go to war with them… when Scotland needed them at the battle of Derby, they let us down.” The rest is history.

The bone of contention is that we must not feel insouciant over reciprocity in any field of endeavour we find ourselves. In the political terrain, if a political aspirant eventually won an election, he/she is indeed expected to reciprocate to the good gestures they received from the electorate at the polls by ensuring that good governance prevails during their reign. Hence, they mustn’t betray them (the followers) while they lead. This very factor, which signifies the essence of reciprocity, is no doubt obligatory; but it is quite appalling that most of our politicians see it as elective or optional.

Similarly, in an emotional relationship otherwise known as ‘love affair’, or even in marriage, if one of the partners involved showers the other with enormous and genuine love, courtesy demands that the recipient of such kind gesture would reciprocate accordingly in his/her own little way. This implies that both parties are meant to be beneficiaries of the relationship.

Business relationship isn’t left out while discussing reciprocity. The moment a partner in a business relationship introduces cheating, that would significantly mark the beginning of the downfall of that relationship. Likewise in a bilateral relationship between two countries, the norm of reciprocity is obviously expected to be abided by both countries involved; else, a doomed state awaits either or both parties.

Even when you give money or gift to a beggar in the street, you are no doubt expecting the reciprocity of the kind gesture; yes, we render such help with the view that God would bless us in return. Suffice it to say; whatever love we showcase to the less-privileged we do so in expectation of God’s infinite blessings. Sociology tells us that we don’t just give; hence, we give for a tangible purpose or reason.

Most importantly, we often tend to forget that greeting itself is reciprocal. Of course, it takes two to tango; thus, for greeting to take place anywhere, anytime, it takes the consent of the parties involved. It’s very amusing that most times, people especially in the contemporary African society are of the view that the younger or junior person as the case may be is the only one expected to tender a greeting to the older or senior person respectively. That is completely an awkward ideology and this is why we severally misunderstand ourselves when it calls for greeting/salutation. We really need to note that, much as the younger/junior person is meant to forward his/her greeting to the older/senior, the anticipated greeting would be needless if the supposed recipient is not ready to receive the said salutation. Summarily, the both parties/individuals involved irrespective of their ages or hierarchy must agree for any greeting to take place. Hence greeting requires an agreement and it’s obvious that the latter requires two or more persons. Agreement is very vital because if I greet you, I equally expect you to respond cheerfully and open-heartedly or vice-versa; and that’s the reciprocity.

Unequivocally, we often encounter series of tribulations in our various relationships owing to the fact that we end up abusing or misusing reciprocity at the long run. For our relationships to be duly sustained or grow healthily, we ought to endeavour to acknowledge that reciprocity, which we must abide by, is not just a veritable factor but not unlike a law initiated by nature itself. Think about it!

 

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

Follow: @mediambassador  

 

Brief Hint on The Media Ambassador

The Media Ambassador

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Birth Name: Fred Doc Ndu Nwaozor

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Born: May 25, 1985

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Birth: Awo-Omamma, Imo State, Nigeria

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Residence: Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

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Nationality: Nigerian

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Ethnicity: Igbo

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Hobbies: Reading, Solving Mathematics, Listening to music,

                 Playing Scrabble & table tennis, Travelling, etc.

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Best Colour(s): Red, Green & White respectively

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Citizenship: Nigerian (1985 - present)

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Occupation: writer/poet, thinker, researcher, analyst, activist,

                       blogger, media commentator & technologist

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Years active: 2005 - present

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Religion: Christianity

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Marital Status: Single

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Parents: F.A Nwaozor (Father), Vero Nwaozor (Mother)

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Early Life:

Fred Doc Nwaozor born May 25, 1985 as the last child of his beloved parents Mr & Mrs Fidelis Nwaozor who hail from Awo-Omamma in Imo State (the Eastern Heartland), Nigeria. Amazingly, being a science-oriented student, Fred Nwaozor intended to study Medicine but he willingly gave up the longed nurtured dream for Engineering because he couldn’t afford forfeiting or doing without Mathematics which was his best subject while in secondary school. As a growing child, he was preoccupied with series of fantasies which included becoming an astute societal leader as well as emerging as one of the world’s respected activists cum humanitarians. Since childhood, he had been known for his quiet but smart and brilliant nature, which had fetched him several favours and opportunities from mentors, relatives and associates. Above all, one unique idiosyncrasy peculiar to his person since childhood remains his ability to create/initiate ideas, which had attracted countless and endless accolades from his fans and friends.   

Education:

Comr Fred Doc Ndu (FDN) Nwaozor – the Media Ambassador as he’s fondly called by his fans and friends, who invariably strive for excellence and precision at all times in all positions and circumstances attaining professional distinction and proficiency in line with his life objective cum philosophy had his basic education in Santana Nursery/Primary Boarding School, Awo-Omamma, Imo State, Nigeria before proceeding to State High School Oyewole – SHSO (now known as State Senior High school Oyewole), Agege, Lagos State, Nigeria where he acquired his Senior School Certificate. Furthermore, he bagged a Bachelor of Technology – B.Tech (Hons) in Physics/Electronics in 2008 from the prestigious Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Imo State, Nigeria; thereafter, he participated in the Nigeria’s compulsory National Youth Service Programme. During his final year in the university, his degree project work was on ‘Design, Construction and Testing of Electronic Power inverter (EPI)’ – an individual research work that exposed him into the actual mechanism behind Power/Electricity supply. He later opted for various professional honours in ICT to include Cisco Certified Network Associate/Engineer (CCNA) in 2010 from a globally recognized firm – KarROX Computer Education & Training Institute for Information Technology, Owerri, Nigeria; Certificate in Microsoft-Office Suite in 2010 from Goshen Computer & FOREX Institute Owerri (an affiliate of the University of Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria); Certificate in Multimedia, Web Design, Graphics & Animation also in 2010 from Quest Taid International Ltd, Nigeria; among other numerous professional honours both in ICT and beyond.

Skills:

Fred Nwaozor is gifted with several skills/talents including writing, creative thinking, oratory, presentation of public commentaries, activism, blogging, and humanitarianism, just to mention but a few. Among all, he can boast of a skill in Autocad/Archcad; designing, testing, installation and maintenance of various electronic circuits and devices.

Career/Profession:

Fred Doc Nwaozor, a prolific writer/poet, creative thinker, public affairs analyst, researcher, civil rights activist, social crusader, versatile blogger, veteran columnist, controversial media commentator, humanitarian, motivational speaker, entrepreneur as well as a chartered technologist, came into limelight in 2007 via presentation of media commentaries during his six months Industrial Training in Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) while in the university having discovered his writing talent far back in 2005. As a prolific writer/poet, he has over sixteen books in different areas comprising prose, drama, poetry, inspirational, among others, to his credit. Among his creative compilations is a trilogy titled, ‘Expensive Expedient, Horrible Hut, and Real Repentance’ respectively. To say the least, he obviously has over five hundred (500) published articles/essays to his credit. Presently, he’s a freelance columnist and guest writer/contributor on different fields including Public affairs cum civil matters, Sports, ICT, Crimes as well as short stories to several national daily newspapers in Nigeria such as the Punch, the Guardian, New Telegraph, the Sun, the Nation and the Authority Newspapers; he commenced his writing career in 2007 concurrently with the Announcer Express and Newspoint Newspapers  – local tabloids based in Owerri, Nigeria coupled with other local tabloids too numerous to mention before he proceeded to the Whitepaper Newspaper, also a local tabloid based in Owerri, in 2010 where he established a regular fascinating weekly column on Public matters titled ‘Fancy Facts’ – a column that is still awake till date in spite of his current countless writing commitments; needless to say that he is no doubt an enigma. He’s also a guest writer on News Commentaries to various radio stations across Nigeria to include Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Abuja otherwise known as ‘Radio Nigeria’; Orient FM – a subsidiary of Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC), Owerri; Heartland FM Owerri, Voice of Delta (VOD) FM – a substation of Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS), Asaba, Delta State; and Unity FM, Awka, Anambra. In addition, he is a renowned contributor to uncountable programmes presently existing in various Nigerian radio stations such as ‘Radio Link’, Issues of the Moment, Politics Nationwide, Police Diary, Anti-Graft Hour, Talk Junction, among others – all peculiar to the FRCN; alongside that of other stations situated all over Nigeria including Issues of Blaze FM - Oraifite, Anambra state, Matters Arising of Orient FM Owerri, Issues of the Moment of Heartland FM Owerri, ‘Frank Talk’ & ‘Convince Me’ both of Voice of Delta – Asaba, various programmes on Radio One FM - Lagos State, and a host of others. More so, he had in several occasions played guest to several radio/TV programmes on many thought provoking issues.

He’s a Blogger par excellence; since 2013 he established his Blog entitled ‘Fred Nwaozor’s Blog’ – where he publish most of his works, he has been relentlessly publishing series of research-oriented works done by his person. The intriguing part of his mind-blowing Blog is that it comprises different areas such as Public matters, crimes, sports, current affairs, as well as creative works like short stories, poetry and inspirational quotes manufactured by him. Being a creative thinker, motivational speaker and a gifted orator, he had been invited both in the past and present to various public lectures, seminars, workshops, conventions, conferences, and what have you, to do justice to what he knows how to do best. His inspirational instinct motivated him to established a Centre named Docfred Continental Special Clinic – DCSC (Centre for Counselling, Research, & Career Development) based in Owerri, Imo State, where he counsells people on different areas of human endeavour such as leadership, citizenship, marriage and relationship, as well as grooms talented young ones in various careers.

As a trained and chartered technologist, he had always dreamt of being an employer of labour rather than the reverse. Owing to this aspiration; in January 2012, he came up with a firm named Docfred Enterprises that majors in Engineering, ICT and Media consultancy, which was later in the year, September precisely, duly incorporated with Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as DOCFRED (NIG.) ENTERPRISES. The company, which is still maintaining the status quo, is operating vigorously across the country and beyond.

Professional/Academic Affiliations:

FDN Nwaozor who is affiliated to several notable professional societies including Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), International Society of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), Nigerian Institute of Physics (NIP), and Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) Alumni Association, is an regular contributor to numerous international journals among which are:            

 *International Journal of Engineering & Science Invention (IJESI)

 *International Journal of Engineering Research & Applications (IJERA)

 *International Journal of Modern Engineering Research (IJMER)

 *Quest Journals Inc.

 *Int’l Organization of Scientific Research - Journal of Engineering (IOSR-JEN)

 *International Journal of Engineering & Science (IJES)

 *Int’l Journal of Latest Research in Engineering and Tech. (IJLRET)

 *Int’l Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering & Management (IJAREM)

 *American Journal of Engineering Research (AJER).

Social Affiliations:

As an ardent humanitarian and social crusader, so far, Comrade Fred D.N Nwaozor has founded many social and humanitarian organizations to include Oru Youths Platform (OYOPLA) - defunct, Imo Fans Fortress (IMOFAF), Nigerian Solidarity Network (NISON), and Fred Nwaozor Foundation (FRENOF). FRENOF, which is a global civil rights society, is targeted to render succour to the less-privileged as well as stand as a voice to the voiceless in any country where it is established. The veteran comrade is also currently affiliated to innumerable social bodies, both local and international, including the Orluzurumee Cultural Union (OCU), Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Rotary International (RI), and Amnesty International (AI).

Appointments/Honours:

Based on competence and trustworthiness, the Media Ambassador was in January 2014 appointed as the Special Adviser (SA) on Media & Publicity to the then Transition-Committee Chairman of Oru East Local Government Area (LGA) – the LGA where he hails from. Furthermore, he was appointed/recognized as the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media & Public Affairs to the Commandant General of the Imo State Civil Guard Corps (IMCG) – a paramilitary body in the Eastern Heartland (Imo State, Nigeria) founded by law. He has bagged too many awards in line with his dogged and unrelenting efforts toward the uplift of humanity and society at large; while on campus, in 2008 to be precise, he was recognized as the most distinguished student leader and humanitarian. Still on campus, he was also nominated and duly endorsed as the Commandant of Nigerian Red Cross Society, Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) Detachment in 2006 – a position he held till 2008 when he graduated from the university.

References:   

http://sunnewsonline.com/news/intensifying-awareness-on-diabetes/

http://newtelegraphonline.com/derailed-homosapien-2/

http://thenationonlineng.net/unending-atm-conundrum/

http://punchng.com/combating-malnutrition-in-nigeria/

2015 Int'l Day of Persons with Disabilities

ENCOURAGING PERSONS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES AS THE 2015 INT’L DAY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IS MARKED TOMORROW THURSDAY DECEMBER 3

      

Today December 3, the world over is commemorating the 2015 International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The United Nations (UN) Decade of Disabled Persons was held from 1983 to 1992 to enable governments and organizations at all levels to implement measures to improve the life of disabled persons all over the world.

      

On October 14, 1992, as the decade drew to a close, the UN General Assembly proclaimed December 3 of every year as the International Day of Disabled Persons. This day was first observed on December 3, 1992. Subsequently, on December 18, 2007, the Assembly changed the observance’s name from the ‘International Day of Disabled Persons’ to the ‘International Day of Persons with Disabilities’. The new name was first used in 2008.

      

Disability is the consequence of an impairment that may be physical, sensory, mental, cognitive, emotional, developmental, or some combination of these. A certain disability may be present from birth, or occur during a person’s lifetime.

      

Disability is an umbrella term covering impairments, participation restriction, and activity limitations. An impairment is a plight in one’s body function or structure; a participation restriction is a problem experienced by a person in involvement in life situations; whilst an activity limitation is a difficulty encountered by an individual in executing a task or action.

      

This implies that disability is indeed a complex phenomenon, reflecting an interaction between features of a person’s body and features of the society in which he/she lives or belongs. For instance, various forms of chronic disease may also qualify as disabilities.

      

Some advocates object to describing certain conditions such as deafness, vision impairment, or autism as disabilities, arguing that it is more appropriate to consider them as developmental differences that have been unfairly stigmatized by the society. In the same vein, others argue that disability is a result of exclusion from mainstream society and not because of impairment.

      

The term ‘disability’ broadly describes an impairment in a person’s ability to function as an individual, caused by changes in several subsystems of the body or in mental health. The degree of disability may range from mild to moderate, severe, or profound. A person might also be suffering from multiple disabilities. Irrespective of the degree or nature of the disability, it can be measured objectively or subjectively.

      

Considering the causes of disability, the condition could be inherited or genetically transmitted; congenital, meaning caused by a mother’s infection or other diseases gotten prior to or during pregnancy as well as soon after birth, or via embryonic/fetal developmental irregularities; it could also be acquired, such as conditions caused by illness or injury; or even of unknown origin, as the case may be.

      

Currently, there are several classes of disability including Physical disability, Sensory disability, Vision impairment, Hearing impairment, Olfactory and gustatory impairment, Balance disorder, Somatosensory disorder, Intellectual disability, Mental disorder, Pervasive developmental disorders, Developmental disability, among others. Whichever type that is involved, it is worth noting that an individual with any form of disability can function as effective as, even more effective or efficient than, able-bodied individuals if given the needed support or encouragement.

      

Against this backdrop, based on our individual/corporate social responsibilities, we are expected to always endeavour to do everything within our reach and humanly possible to ensure that persons living disabilities at our respective jurisdictions are duly given a sense of belonging starting from the classrooms to working places with a view to strengthening nation building.

       

At the various institutions of learning, from primary to tertiary level, rather than discriminating the said set of people, they are meant to be given special attentions by the teachers and management of the schools. For instance, those suffering from vision impairment such as the albinos are supposed to be provided with special sunglasses and also meant to sit at the front of their classrooms or closer to the board. Such treatment ought to be replicated during their various examinations, either internal or external.

      

Similarly, during electioneering eras, the electoral umpire is expected to make a different arrangement towards the sensitization or orientation of the electorate with disabilities in line with the nature of their challenges. And, on the election days, the persons in question deserve a preferential treatment throughout the polls to enable them cast their votes properly as demanded.

      

More so, it is no longer news that in the labour market as well as political settings, the degree of discrimination faced by persons living with disabilities is presently on the rampage. In view of this, there’s a compelling need for the legislators to enact a strict law that would stipulates a basic statutory percentage of persons with disabilities expected to be found in any public sector, or a certain minimum number of persons with disabilities that must be employed or appointed in the civil service or political arena, as the case might be, in accordance to the directive of the United Nations.

      

More pathetically, it is obvious that recently, several prospective students with disabilities such as HIV/AIDS or physical challenges of most citadels of learning across the country especially the private tertiary institutions are invariably deprived of their chances of securing admission thereby making most of them lose interest of furthering their education. Undoubtedly, the level of post-traumatic stress disorder attributed to the aforementioned stigmatization cannot be overemphasized that if adequate and drastic approach is not taken by the appropriate authorities towards ending the anomaly, it is liable to degenerate into an untold societal menace soonest.        

      

Above all, acknowledging the fact that persons with disabilities easily fall victim of any disaster or crisis owing to vulnerability, there’s no need reiterating that they are meant to be attended to, or treated as a priority during any disaster management. To this end, any personnel/expert involved in the management of any form of crisis ought to ensure that individuals with disabilities that are resident in the affected area are first attended to as well as duly catered for before any other resident.

      

As Nigeria in its entirety joins the rest of the world to commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, I’m using this medium to enjoin every Nigerian and civil society organization to at all times in their respective capacities endeavour to protect the rights of the teeming persons living with disabilities found within our various societies. We can actualize this by confronting any norm or perception that condones any kind of discrimination against them. Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor  

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NYSC and the Antics of Delta State Govt

NYSC AND THE ANTICS OF DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT

 
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is a paramilitary scheme established by law on the 22^nd of May 1973 after the Civil War with a view to restructuring and strengthening the Nigerian state as well as creating a stronger solidarity among the teeming members of the country.

   
The scheme is statutory for every Nigerian graduate both home and in the diaspora whose age falls between eighteen and thirteen regardless of the country in which the university or polytechnic he/she attended is situated, provided it is a recognized institution.

     
The programme is generally made up of three main phases to include the Orientation Camping, the Place of Primary Assignment (PPA), and the Community Development Service (CDS) respectively; in addition to the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) initiative, which was newly introduced to enable the corps members become self-reliant the moment they are done with the programme irrespective of their respective disciplines.

     
The ‘Orientation Camping’, which is exclusively a core paramilitary training, enables the corps members to be physically and mentally prepared to face the tasks that await them. Similarly, the PPA phase, which creates a platform for them to be posted to various establishments – probably private, state or federal owned firms, immediately after the camping exercise in respect to their qualifications, is definitely an avenue for them to extensively practice whatever they have studied on campus.

     
Whilst, the CDS phase is designed to ensure that each of the corps members, either individually or collectively, contribute his/her quota toward the development of their host communities. On this platform, the corps members are expected to look inwards and examine the actual needs of the communities involved.

      
To cut the unending story short, since the NYSC scheme has proven beyond any reasonable doubt to be a worthwhile scenario, it is no doubt imperative for the crusade regarding its sustenance to be duly intensified. Suffice it to say; any sane or rational Nigerian needs not to be reminded that everyone has a quota to contribute towards actualizing the aforesaid sustenance.

  
On the contrary, it is obvious that most stakeholders in the country are not currently living up to the expectation toward ensuring that the scheme in question is considered or absorbed as juicy by its countless participants. Such amusing gesture continually displayed by various well-meaning individuals really calls for a public outcry.

     
I’ve earlier advocated that it was high time the monthly allowance of the corps members, which is ubiquitously #19800, is reviewed. Undoubtedly, taking a painstaking look at the ongoing economic situation in the country coupled with the fact that most of these corps members are not provided with accommodation spaces at their places of primary assignment, there is a compelling need for the government to review the said allowance, which I often refer to as peanut, for the interest of the ‘corpers’, their various families and Nigeria at large.

     
It is even more devastating to acknowledge that the leadership of most states across the federation is not helping matter in regard to improving the welfare of the corps members posted to their states, knowing fully well that they are not directly under the care of their parents or guardians as the case may be. The one that shocked my imagination was the recent report I received on Delta State from one of my lovely nieces who just concluded her National Youth Service Programme in the said state, in October 2015 precisely, under the aegis of the 2014 Batch C.

      
The lady in question was, after her orientation camping section, posted to one of the secondary schools in the state. And, as the tradition of the NYSC demands, a corps members assigned to any state owned ministry, department or agency is meant to statutorily receive a fixed monthly stipend, in addition to his/her basic federal allowance (#19,800), from the state government. The amount to be received is to be variously decided by the state governments as it would suit their purses.

      
That of the Delta state is five thousand naira (#5000). According to my niece who meritoriously served in a secondary school situated in the state’s Capital Territory, Asaba, she never received any penny starting from December 2014 when she resumed duty till October 2015 when she rounded off the programme. Though the poor girl remained patient and optimistic throughout the period because she learnt that sometimes the payment is made in bulk or per annum, usually at the last month of the service year, but pathetically she didn’t even receive payment for a single month.

      
It was during their passing out ceremony that the Deputy Governor of the state in the person of Barr Kingsley Otuaro who represented the governor – Sen Ifeanyi Okowa who was unavoidably absent assured them that their monies must be remitted to their bank accounts as soon as they depart to their various destinations thereby pleaded with them to bear with the government, stating that the ‘regrettable’ delay was due to the present economic challenges faced by the state.

      
Owing to the seemingly or ostensibly candid assurance given to them as I was told, I thought it wise to give the state a benefit of doubt before unleashing my grievance via the media, but what actually triggered my venom was when the victim in question rightly informed me a couple of weeks ago that she just got an alert for payment of only one month wage, which is #5000, deposited to her account rather than the awaited #55,000 owed her. It sounds so absurd but it’s indeed a reality. Honestly, If I wasn’t directly affected, I would have been sceptical over the ordeal.

      
It is pertinent to note that other states are not left out while discussing such manner of antics or melodrama witnessed under the NYSC scheme. Few months ago, it was on the news that some aggrieved corps members serving in a certain state situated in the South West region took to the street to protest over the non-payment of their monthly state allowances.

      
As an activist or an agent of positive change, I’m under an obligation to speak or react whenever necessary without much ado, which is not unconnected to the oath I willingly took the day I joined this (the activism) race. To this end, I sincerely urge our leaders to be very conscious and extremely mindful of how they parade their leaderships, acknowledging the fact that the law of Karma would always prevail at the long run. Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

Follow: @mediambassador

          

      

Int'l Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women

COMBATING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AS THE WORLD MARKS THE INT’L DAY FOR ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

     
Today Wednesday November 25, the global community is commemorating the International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women. From November 25 – the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women to December 10 – the Human Rights Day, the sixteen (16) days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign is a time to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world.

      
A woman can be defined as a female human being. In the same vein, violence is defined as a behaviour involving physical force or emotional maltreatment intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone/something. On the other hand, a society is an organization of people who have the same or similar interest/aim; the overall people in a particular area or locality can also be referred to as a society.

      
Undoubtedly, no society in existence can be said to be complete if a woman is yet to be found in it, regardless of its nature or size. We can testify to this fact by considering how a woman came into the world. Of course it is no longer news that having created man, God the creator thought it wise to form a woman from the rib of a man; this was so because God realized of what benefit a woman would be to a man in any society/arena he finds himself.

      
A family for instance – a nuclear family precisely, which remains the smallest society on earth, can never strive successfully or attain to its anticipated height if a woman is missing. Realistically, a family cannot be formed in the first place if a woman is nowhere to be found.

       
And along the line having created or formed a family with the help of a woman, if she eventually dies, the affected family will live to suffer the vacuum her eternal demise has created. This implies that, psychologically, no widower can boast of being a happy man, especially a situation where the late wife left some kids behind.

       
Sometimes even when the widower has gotten married to another woman, provided the late wife left some indelible footprints behind such as the kids or that she was made up of some irreplaceable features, he shall remain in an unending emotional trauma until he is being compensated with one thing or the other by the Almighty.

        
Ab initio, the womenfolk has been considered to constitute the integral part of the wider society. It is obvious that a social gathering or union cannot achieve an effective and efficient goal if the women are not carried along.

         
It might sound a bit controversial but the truth remains that nature had ordained woman to be the most attractive being in any society she happens to be a member or a part of; this is the reason whenever a social group of people intends to pay a courtesy visit to a certain office holder, if they fail to include at least a woman among the delegate, the said outing might end up being fruitless. Why? Simply because the presence of a woman has a natural tendency of arresting the heart of any man irrespective of what the man in question is made up of.

       
The political terrain is not left out. Surely, any man occupying a political position would boldly testify to the fact that his beloved wife is the reason he is striving assiduously and successfully. Suffice it to say that, a woman is indeed in charge of any leadership position even when her impact seems invisible. The   advisory role, both morally and otherwise, a woman plays in the life of a political office holder who happens to be her spouse supersedes whatever advice or counsel he receives from his employees/appointees, or friends and well-wishers, as the case may be.

       
Considering the church, which is an institution as well as one of the oldest societies across the globe, there is no need reiterating the fact that its sustainability from the onset has been possible owing to the effort of the womenfolk. A woman has been proven to be more pious than a man; this is why she remains the engine room towards the uplift of our children’s spiritual lives. And we are all aware that someone or a family whose spiritual life is porous is apparently living like a tree without a single root. Due to the fact that a woman is closer to the church than a man, the easiest way to conscientize a married man toward the uplift of a church is by winning the heart of his wife, since it is obvious that a woman has the key to a man’s heart.

       
Frankly, the role of a woman both in her immediate and wider society cannot be overemphasized. From the aforementioned facts, it can be pinpointed that without a woman, the children cannot be properly raised, be it morally, academically, religiously and what have you. Similarly, without a woman, a man’s social, political and emotional life shall remain incapacitated and in shambles.

     
Acknowledging this fact, it is noteworthy that as Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, it is our civic responsibility to ensure that women or girls whom are ubiquitously vulnerable owing to their nature are duly respected as well as safeguarded with a view to strengthening our respective societies and the nation at large. We can contribute our individual quotas by always being conscious of the fact that women are obviously the backbone of any existing society.

     
It is estimated that about thirty-five percent (35%) of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual violence by a non-partner at some points in their lives. However, some national studies show that up to seventy percent (70%) of women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner in their lifetimes.

     
Violence against women is a human rights violation; it is a consequence of discrimination against women both in law and in practice, and of persisting inequalities between men and women. Unarguably, violence against women/girls impedes progress in many areas of human endeavour including poverty eradication, curbing contagious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, strengthening peace and security, thereby crippling nation building.

     
Surely, violence against women and girls, which continues to be a global pandemic, is not inevitable; thus, prevention is possible and essential too. Everyone has a responsibility to prevent and end violence against women and girl children, starting by challenging the culture of discrimination that allows it to exist.

     
Similarly, there’s also a compelling need for our legislators to enact a strict and formidable law that would holistically address any form of violence against the members of the womenfolk. The proposed law ought to ensure that anyone at all levels found guilty of any violence against the said group to include rape, battering, female genital mutilation, subjection into prostitution, and what have you, is thoroughly penalized or meant to face a capital punishment. There is no better time than now. Think about it!    

     

COMR FRED DOC NWAOZOR

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