Today is Nelson Mandela International Day!

SUING FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE AS THE 2016 NELSON MANDELA INTERNATIONAL DAY IS MARKED TODAY, MONDAY JULY 18

     July 18 each year, the world over celebrates the Nelson Mandela International day, or simply the ‘Mandela Day’, in hour of the late icon Dr Nelson Madiba Mandela who happened to be the first democratically elected President of South-Africa. The day, which is being celebrated annually and internationally, is an event organized by the United Nations Department of Public Information (UNDPI).

     It was endorsed by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in November 2009 to mark Mandela’s birthday, thereby creating awareness on the need for everyone to support selfless service to humanity which helps to uplift peace and justice and to free mankind from all sorts of bondages. The day isn’t a public holiday, but specifically a day to honour the legacy of Nelson Mandela and his values, through volunteering and community services. The remarkable event was first celebrated by the UN in 2010. However, other groups began celebrating Mandela Day on 18^th July 2009.

     The Mandela Day is a global call to action that celebrates the idea that each individual, regardless of status or age, possesses the power to transform the world as well as the ability to make an impact on any society he/she finds him/herself. This implies that we are expected to strive relentlessly towards bringing a positive change wherever we find ourselves.  

      In the world over, just as everyone constantly and persistently prays to have peace, so do we pray for justice in all our endeavours. In the same vein, whosoever that is faced with any kind of bondage, either spiritual or physical, shall never have rest of mind until he/she regains freedom. This is to say that, every man is consistently striving towards actualizing unalloyed peace, justice, or freedom, as the case may be.

     The above assertion signifies that no man wishes to encounter any form of bitterness in any field of endeavour, on a daily basis. This is the reason the global community through the effort of the United Nations (UN), came up with the ongoing International Nelson Mandela Day to ensure that everyone considers peace as a priority towards societal and human-capital development.

     It’s not anymore news that the late Nelson Mandela, while on earth, gave sixty-seven (67) years of his life to the struggle for human rights and social justice. As a founding member of the then ruling democratic party in South Africa known as the African National Congress (ANC), Mandela was arrested in 1962 and sentenced to life imprisonment. He spent twenty-seven (27) years in prison but remained unstoppable in leading strategic revolution against apartheid government.

     Interestingly, when Nelson Mandela was elected the President of South Africa in 1994, he did not call for vengeance or retribution against the whites; rather, he led a sensitive reconciliation movement that amazed all the African as well as International politicians. Furthermore, he campaigned for peace, unity and love among South Africans irrespective of race or tribe. Because of the astonishing character of the late icon, the UN General Assembly in 2009 proclaimed the annual International Nelson  Mandela Day.

     So, as the world over commemorates the Nelson Mandela International Day, there’s need for collective support and solidarity by all and sundry from all walks of life irrespective of race, age, background or status toward ensuring that peace and justice are sued at all costs. In view of this, the international community is urging us today to devote at least sixty-seven (67) minutes of our time to helping others. By devoting 67 minutes of our time – one minute for every year of Nelson Mandela’s public service, people can make a small gesture of solidarity with humanity and a step toward a global moment for good, which we all anticipate.

      Hence, take action, inspire change, and mobilize the human race to do more in order to build a peaceful, sustainable and equitable world. This is the best tribute we can pay to an extraordinary man who embodied the highest values of humanity while on earth and ensured that we saw ourselves as one indivisible body.

      Reportedly, UN staff around the world have made a difference through a variety of activities in the past, such as supplies to school children, preparing meals for the elderly ones, helping out in an orphanage, cleaning-up parks, delivering computer literacy seminars and workshops, and what have you. Also, in New York of the United States of America (USA) for instance, UN staff volunteered their time on 17 and 18 July 2013 to help rebuild homes that were destroyed by Hurricane Sandy.

     We can as well contribute our own quota to public service by individually or collectively indulging in any of the following humanitarian activities, but not limited to:

v Make a new friend; get to know someone from a different cultural background because it is only through mutual understanding we can rid our communities of intolerance and xenophobia.

v Read for someone who can’t; visit a local home for the orphans and the less-privileged.

v Help someone get a job; prepare a CV for them and help them acquire the required interview skills.

v Take a little time to have a chat with the terminally ill people and bring some sunshine into their respective lives.

v Get tested for HIV as well as other Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and encourage your partner, colleagues and friends to do so too.

v Donate blood, wheelchair, or cash to someone in need.

v Lastly, but not the least, buy a few blankets, or grab the ones you no longer use in your home and give them to someone in need.

   Frankly, we all are expected to unanimously support this remarkable life-touching event globally recognized as Nelson Mandela International Day, because the life and times of the celebrity in question, Dr Nelson Madiba Mandela were no doubt worthy of emulation. Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

(TheMediaAmbassador)

-Public Affairs analyst & Civil Rights activist-

Chief Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research

& Career Development - Owerri

______________________________________

http://frednwaozor.blogspot.com

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

Twitter: @mediambassador

2016 Youth Skills Day

NTENSIFYING SKILLS ACQUISITION AMONG THE YOUTH AS THE 2016 WORLD YOUTH SKILLS DAY IS MARKED ON FRIDAY JULY 15

     On Friday July 15, the world over celebrated the second edition of the World Youth Skills Day. The Day, which is aimed at enhancing the youth’s ability in order to make informed life and work choices, was established by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on November 11, 2014. World Youth Skills Day was initiated in the UN by the effort of the Sri Lanka Representative. The UN General Assembly calls on Member States to observe the day in an appropriate manner.

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

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

     Skill can be classified into three major parts including cognitive skills, technical skills and interpersonal skills. A cognitive skill deals with ideas; technical skill is the ability to handle things or a certain human endeavour effectively and efficiency. Whilst, interpersonal skill is the ability to relate with people around you usually in business or work places. There are hundreds of thousands of skills in existence such as sporting skill, cultural skill, installation skill, maintenance skill, manufacturing skill, management skill and what have you.

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

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

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

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

     One may have envisioned a smooth rise to the top when he commenced his business, but the truth is that he will surely encounter crisis or challenging situations. Whether it has to do with shortage of money or the loss of his facilities to a fire disaster, he must acquire the skills that would enable him to remain calm in times of turmoil and maintain his ability to make adequate decisions. This step is very vital because the affected person can learn to triumph when it looks like he could be defeated. Needless to say that skill acquisition in decision making remains an inevitable tool while carrying out a business strategy.

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

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

     To this end, there is need to encourage our young ones to be acquainted as well as acquire proficiency in one skill or the other within their reach. The schools can help in this regard by ensuring that the pupils or students regularly create time for guidance and counselling during their school hours. A good counselling would enable each of them to discover their potential skills or abilities thereby making them develop an interest in that area. The parents and guardians on their part should not hesitate to boost the morale of their children or wards in any skill they are fit in by providing all the needed materials or facilities for them to excel.

     Inter alia, there is an urgent need to revive the various technical colleges and commercial schools situated across the federation that are currently moribund. And at the tertiary level, the Entrepreneurship Studies, which are usually done by the undergraduates as General studies, ought to be taken more seriously by the various school managements. More so, the ongoing Industrial Training (IT) and Teaching Practice (TP) schemes being observed by the Universities/Polytechnics and Colleges of Education respectively must be intensified by the concerned authorities. Above all, the various cultural heritages across the country need to be revisited with the aim of harnessing the required ones; this will go a long way to discover and reawaken thousands of skills among the youth.

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

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

(TheMediaAmbassador)

-Public Affairs analyst & Civil Rights activist-

Chief Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research

& Career Development - Owerri

______________________________________

http://frednwaozor.blogspot.com

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

Twitter: @mediambassador

Ongoing Demolition By Imo State Government

ONGOING DEMOLITION BY IMO STATE GOVERNMENT

     The last time I checked, various demolitions were ongoing at strategic locations in Imo State, the Eastern Heartland to include, among others, MCC/Uruata road, Mbari street as well as Amakohia/Akwakuma road, all in Owerri Capital Territory owing to proposed road dualization. According to the state government, the action was necessitated by the acknowledgement of the fact that several structures coupled with shanties, both commercial and residential, were built on ‘unauthorized’ sites, thereby constituting colossal nuisance on the affected major roads.

     Though there’s intention to bring down every structure defacing the outlook of the state, particularly its capital city, the government disclosed penultimate week that so far only ‘shanties’ had been demolished. This report was occasioned by the claims of most Imo residents, which had gone viral, that most befitting structures had already been brought down by the government agency in-charge of the exercise.

     It’s noteworthy that since the said exercise began, series of reactions cum counter-reactions have been generated in various quarters within the state and beyond by concerned citizens and activists. Majority of the wailers are of the notion that the Imo State government has derailed going by the manner in which it commenced the exercise. Lest I forget; most of those affected by the ongoing initiative have cried foul that they were taken unawares by the government.

     A notable personality from the state in the person of Capt Emmanuel Iheanacho who happens to be one of the victims of the initiative had stated that the programme was solely targeted at witch-hunting his person. Capt Iheanacho whose house is situated along Orlu road by Amakohia, Owerri and had been marked for demolition insinuated that the exercise was initiated to achieve a personal motive contrary to the government’s claim that its aim was to make Owerri an ultra-modern city.

    The recent Imo gubernatorial contestant under the aegis of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) went further to disclose that the government could not in any way convince him that the exercise wasn’t targeted at his personality. According to him, he could not fold his hands and watch the government intimidate him, though urged the governor Chief Rochas Okorocha to have a rethink over the initiative.

     However, this piece was informed by the obvious fact that I needed to tell the governor what he needs to know. The governor needs to realize that those structures that were allegedly built illicitly were authorized by the government before they were erected. One of the statutory functions of any state Ministry of Land, Survey and Urban Planning, or as the case may be, is to ensure that prior to the erection of a proposed building on a certain state road, it (the proposed structure) alongside the proposed site must be duly approved by the ministry.

     Even if the approval in question wasn’t granted by the present administration, the bone of contention remains that there was an approval issued to the applicant or the intended landlord. So acknowledging the unarguable fact that government is a continuum, the current administration is meant to abide by the initial approval issued, regardless of the administration that took the decision.

     To this end, the Rescue Mission Administration is required to plead with the various landlords to dance to its tune if it was later discovered by the said administration that those structure weren’t properly erected, and the government must as well be willing to meet the conditions to be named by the landlords. Hence, in this case, the various landlords ought to be regarded as the prime determinant, unless in the case of the shanties whereby their owners never sought for any authorization before they were erected.

     Then, if the landlords of those affected structures didn’t seek for approval before putting up the structures, the government should be blamed for such anomaly. Yes. Such lapse ought to be blamed on the government for allowing those buildings to be erected inappropriately. And don’t forget, government is a continuum; in other words, irrespective of the administration that condoned such illegal act, the present administration would definitely share in the blame.

     So at this point, what the government is expected to do is to embrace dialogue with the eligible owners of the affected buildings where the former is required to be as well as remain submissive as long as the dialogue phase lasts. And such gesture was meant to be embraced before making the initiative public. I know the landlords wouldn’t in their real sense assent to the government’s proposal for their respective houses to be demolished taking into cognizance the efforts and resources they sacrificed when the buildings were variously being built. But if they eventually concur with the government in the long run, they would of course ask for a reasonable compensation.

     The government needs to unequivocally comprehend the language of due process. Most times, a certain government would be loaded with laudable and commendable policies or inborn projects, but the way in which the government intends to implement the policy plays a major role towards arriving at the anticipated success room; this is why governments at all levels are meant to be extremely mindful of their respective implementation mechanisms.

     Come to think of it; it the Imo government is sincerely willing to get rid of shanties in every nook and cranny of the ancient state, precisely Owerri, why is the famous ‘Ama Hausa’ still seeing the light of the day in spite of all the wails from various quarters? It’s even more painful and devastating that the place in question is situated at the heartbeat of Owerri metropolis. When I cried foul sometime ago as regards the anomaly, I was told by a government official that a permanent site was being built for the Hausa community, thus they would soon leave the nauseous present arena. Who is deceiving who? Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

(TheMediaAmbassador)

-Researcher, Blogger, Public Affairs analyst & Civil Rights activist-

Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research

& Career Development - Owerri

_____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

Twitter: @mediambassador  

Okorocha And The Hungry Pensioners

OKOROCHA AND THE HUNGRY PENSIONERS

     The last time I checked, a hungry man remained an angry man. This is the reason a hungry kid would invariably be seen in a destructive mood.  Indeed, any hungry kid would use any means to get the attention of his/her mother or anyone who takes care of him/her.

     It’s not anymore news that two weeks ago, on Thursday 16^th June 2016 precisely, the Imo State pensioners took to the streets of Owerri to protest for the backlog of pension arrears owed them having sensed foul play from the side of the government that’s bound to protect their welfare. The said protest was duly planned by the leadership of the victims in question and it was conducted as planned.

      I overheard some residents lamenting that the pensioners overstepped their boundary during the protest. According to the ignoramuses, the protesters weren’t meant or were forbade to block the major roads in the state in the course of the protest. They went further to state that the leaders of the protest deserved an assault from any relevant enforcement agent.

     The so-called commentators failed to comprehend two basic facts that necessitated the protest. One; the aggrieved people are being owed for over one calendar year now. Secondly, they aren’t just citizens of this state but senior citizens whom are meant to be treated with maximum attention by any one or group whatsoever. Suffice it to say that they undoubtedly exercised a reasonable patience before taking to the street, thus deserve kudos.

     Another rudimentary factor we are yet to understand is that, the aforesaid persons are not just hungry but extremely angry. I wonder how we expect a retiree who hasn’t been paid for over a year to cope. If not that most of them have some children or wards they depend on as regards feeding in their respective homes, I’m afraid, they would have all given up the ghost by this time especially at this very moment we’re been faced with astronomical economic hardship.

     For the obvious fact that these people are very hungry, we ought to equally expect them to be very angry because no doubt ‘a hungry man is an angry man’; there are no two ways about it. We should be thanking God that they never sought the support of the workers who are still in service prior to embarking on the much-talk-about protest. Yes, acknowledging the fact that every worker remains a potential pensioner, he/she is required to be aggrieved over the ongoing maltreatment received by the teeming senior citizens, hence the NLC may decide to join them in the protest. Of course, we are not unaware of the implication of such action.

     So those who lamented that the pensioners prevented workers from going to their various offices having blocked the major roads ought to note that the senior citizens can as well lobby the workers to stay off their respective offices. No doubt, they possess the muscle to carry out such action provided nobody is injured or killed in the process. In other words, blocking the major roads or streets should be seen as a very minor step taking into cognizance that this set of persons is extremely angry. Try and be in their shoes at least for a second; by so doing, you would understand a glimpse of what they are passing through.

     Most times I pity my mum who retired over two years ago, in March 2014 precisely, but yet to receive her gratuity let alone the pension arrears accruable to her. Though she’s blessed with children that are equal to the task when it calls for taking good care of her, she remains unhappy on a daily basis that she’s being deprived of her entitlements. I’m very close to her; hence, I truly comprehend how exactly she feels regarding the aberration. Frankly, you wouldn’t understand how it pinches one who wears such shoes unless your feet embrace it. It’s even more amusing and pathetic to note that my mum is an ardent fan of Governor Rochas Okorocha.

     With all due respect; right now, if I see the governor in my dream, I wouldn’t hesitate to tag it a nightmare. Of course, you wouldn’t expect my person to see a man who makes my beloved and darling mum cry daily as a friend.  I can’t compromise such feeling, not even in my grave. It’s more devastating to acknowledge that the woman in question is a health personnel; needless to say that she had vigorously helped in saving millions of lives while in service. Now, which is the apt time for the government to appreciate her assiduous and meritorious services, she experiences the contrary in spite of the fact that what she’s longing for is hers.

     My dad on his part is equally a pensioner; every now and then, they would be asked to go for verification without minding if they even have the transport fare that would convey them to the venue for the exercise. More painfully, after the exercise, nothing would be done. For crying out loud, pensions are the result of the continued savings made by these individuals while in active service, thus as a civil rights activist I see no reason they should be deprived of such right. Even the ongoing economic meltdown or getting rid of false pensioners from the payroll shouldn’t be a tangible excuse for such denial. Unequivocally, such deprivation anywhere in the world isn’t unlike robbery.

     At the moment, Imo State could boast of a good number of infrastructures to an extent, still the people in it are immensely crying foul. The state is seemingly smiling but its stomach is virtually empty; that’s ‘suffering smiling’. There’s provision for physical infrastructure, but none for stomach infrastructure. So who would be alive to enjoy the former? Too many questions seeking for an answer.

     As much as I appreciate Gov Okorocha for his intention to totally get rid of the ‘ghost pensioners’ whose names are littered on the pension payroll as we were told, I also plead with his Excellency to note that the prolonged wait is becoming very unbearable; hence, unacceptable. Provision of a biometric database, which is the only way to get rid of ghost workers or pensioners, as the case may be, can only last for a short while. For the umpteenth time, we can’t continue to rob Peter to pay Paul. Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

(TheMediaAmbassador)

-Public Affairs analyst & Civil Rights activist-

Chief Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research

& Career Development - Owerri

_____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

Twitter: @mediambassador