Man's quest for Materialism

MAN’S QUEST FOR MATERIALISM


As a social analyst/activist, the last time I checked, greater percentage of the entire Nigerian population, emigrants inclusive, was made of individuals gifted with different laudable talents. On the contrary, most members of the aforementioned percentage (class) are yet to discover their respective talents. And some who has discovered theirs find it very difficult to embrace them due to lack of contentment coupled with indulgence in inconsequential rivalry. To some of us, I may have been speaking Greek; but my points are very clear and comprehensible.

In the early morning of last three Sundays, 1st of September precisely, I received a phone call from a bosom friend who resides in Ghana. Firstly, he verified the present physiognomy of the Nigerian society as regards the long awaited ember months period. Furthermore and lastly he asked me to apply extreme carefulness in the forthcoming days of the year in regard to my writing/activism profession, stating that the said period is always associated with fathomless temptation especially in a country like Nigeria. Based on the former, verily I informed him that the look of the country remains same owing to the fact that the usual social culture/tradition of the major occupants has not change. Then on the latter, I told him that carefulness remains my watchword regardless of the circumstance.

In the same vein, immediately after the phone conversation, a text message came in from another close friend residing in Calabar, Cross-River State coupled with other numerous text messages of similar content from several friends and fans. In the sms, he was wishing me tremendous successes in my various endeavour as we just embarked on the most tempting period of the year.

Conclusively going by the above stated reactions from my friends, you’ll rightly comprehend the fact that anyone who were born or bred up in Nigeria is occupied with the knowledge/mentality that the ember months usually go with different tempo which is often accompanied with series of temptations. To me, any concerned individual/observer who decides to take up such perspective as a case study may end up tagging it as a fallacious one because personally, I’m of the opinion that the famous ember months are just like any other months in the calendar. Meanwhile, let’s ride on!

Quest is a long search for what one desires; or can be said to be an extreme passion attached to one’s want(s). On the other hand, materialism is an act in which one thinks that money and other possessions are the most important things in life.

Taking Nigeria, and Africa in general as a case study, most people believe that life is all about acquiring wealth or property. If not, how can someone in his real senses dream of owning different classic of cars in existence; more so, how can a person think or have a passion of being the president/leader of his country for the rest of his life? I’m just thinking aloud, therefore your answer might be inconsequential.

Brethren to be candid and precise, life is all about leaving a footprint on the sand of time. Thus, it doesn’t matter how long one lives here on earth but how well. Yes it’s no longer news that everyone, including myself prays to live long or to witness his/her old age. Though such attribute is consequential and worthwhile; but I put it up to you that what matters most is what you would be leaving behind. Therefore, the latter ought to be of paramount importance to us. On this note, I sincerely ask all of us; what are we leaving behind when we eventually depart from here or what will you be remembered for; is it the hundreds of cars you drove or the series of aircrafts owned by you? At this juncture I urge us to search our various consciences.

It baffles my person and it’s as well disgusting the manner in which most of us, the youth to be precise long for mere material possessions which makes them end up indulging in several vices. It’s appalling to note that most of those people who indulge in such act is gifted with unique and charming talents.

The only way we can boycott these lingering inhuman acts is to embrace contentment, detest unnecessary rivalry and above all, being God-fearing. We must learn to be satisfied with whatever we’re blessed with irrespective of its amount/value, and try as much as possible to avoid some inconsequential rivalry. Yes some competitions are necessary whilst most are usually based on issues that don’t really matter. We should endeavour to concentrate on the necessary ones or those that are called for by promoting or sticking to our respective talents. Above all, in all our endeavours, we must not forget that there’s a supremacy that controls/oversees whatever we do here on earth.

We’re already occupied with the mentality that the ember months attract alarming rate of man’s quest for materialism. Based on this widely accepted ideology, I wish to inform us that the ember months are not in any way a problem to us or any society, rather, we remain our problems. In other words, we’re our plight. Think about it!



COMR. FRED NWAOZOR

frednwaozor@gmail.com

National Engineering Workshops

THE NEED TO INTRODUCE NATIONAL ENGINEERING WORKSHOPS FOR THE UNDERGRADUATES IN NIGERIA

The drastic persistent state of decay in the Nigerian engineering sector that seems perpetual may look like a mere dramatic scene to the eyes of the myopic viewers, but it could have a pernicious influence on countless generation to come if urgent and adequate care is not taken.

The insistent insouciance among the citizenry or the concerned group is another sensitive and pathetic lapse attached to the aforementioned economic shortcoming. Needless to say that, a country tagged as a ‘giant’ by many quintessence of knowledge filled with tremendous intellectual depth appears sympathetic.

Engineering, according to BBC English dictionary, “is the work involving in designing and constructing machinery, electrical devices, or roads and bridges.” On the other hand, a workshop “is a room or building containing tools or machinery for making or repairing things”. Thus, an engineering workshop is a well equipped building established solely for the purpose of engineering activities. It could be set up (established) anywhere such as at the industry/factory, university, polytechnic, or the road side, as the case may be.

Engineering, as we can testify, is a professionally oriented and technical intensive discipline being studied in the most Nigerian Universities and Polytechnics, and all over the higher institutions in the world.

You will agree with me that, over the years, our engineering sector has been deteriorating and decaying due to the flopping of our industries with the half-baked engineers (scientists) from the Nigerian Universities and Polytechnics. Most of these engineers are unemployable, and this has been detrimental to our economy. One may boldly say that the major cause of this is lack of seriousness showcase by most lecturers, or the introduction of bribery and corruption in our various schools. But, this may not be exactly the fundamental cause of the occurring scenario. Honestly, the rot is being experienced as a result of inadequate or non technical know-how undergo by the engineering students (undergraduates) in various higher institutions in the country.

Nigeria, as a giant of Africa, should be producing the most experienced and qualified engineers/technologists, but the reverse remains the case. This is due to the lack of sufficient attention and improper management by the government.

There is only one way out. Well equipped workshops should be established in each of our existing universities and polytechnics that studies engineering, and should be properly monitored. Also, some standard national engineering workshops should be set up. They should be located to several strategic points in Nigerian, so that, the graduating students would undergo a one year compulsory technical training after the completion of the required course works in their respective schools. Such students shall also be qualified to participate in his/her project work after the completion of the compulsory programme. On the other hand, these national workshops should as well be properly managed by the government in order to maintain its standard, and to be internationally recognized.

The above programme would enhance the existing quack knowledge of our engineering students thereby making them to become world-class engineers after graduation, rather than the technical impact of the already existing Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (S.I.W.E.S). Even, most students dodge the so-called SIWES or Industrial Training (IT). They prefer indulging in other activity that would fetch them money during the stipulated period for the training. There is also need to revive the SIWES because it shall serve as a worthwhile basis for the compulsory technical programme. The school authorities should endeavour to send delegates from time to time to any firm/industry an IT Student might claim to be, irrespective of the location or distance from the school in question. At this point, the government is also expected to support the institutions financially. It should continually fund the universities/polytechnics in regard to logistics inconveniences.

The compulsory one year engineering training shall be similar to that of the medical/pharmaceutical and law sectors. But the routine shall be a bit different from the law sector because that of the law is elective; that is, if you would like to become, or to be addressed as a practicing lawyer after the completion of your university programme, the choice is yours, unlike that of the medical and pharmaceutical programmes, housemanship and internship respectively.

So, the one-year engineering programme shall be strictly compulsory. Therefore, shall be considered by the government as a prerequisite for any graduating engineering student to participate in the on-going National Youth Service programme.

If the above routine is taken, the incessant problems faced by the engineering students in our various schools will surely belong to the history book. So definitely, the routine (measure) shall serve as a placebo. Think about it!



COMR. FRED NWAOZOR

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God-fearing Home

BUILDING A FORMIDABLE GOD-FEARING HOME


“Rome was not built in a day” as it’s popularly cited. Also, “a journey of a thousand miles must begin with a step”. Above all, ‘to be forewarned is to be forearmed”.

Most times, the best way to begin or to issue an advice is to present it as a warning. Yes, the wise thinkers have come to realize that, the most suitable and reliable method of teaching is to package your facts in form of warning. That makes it, the topic or the teaching, looks more serious. Here, we’re discussing or about discussing a formidable God-fearing home; and how such phenomenon could be actualized.

A home is a place where one lives. It’s also the area or country that one comes from or lives in. Here, our interest lies in the former.

A home is an institution. The immediate members of such institution are father, mother and child/children. This institution (home) is derived from, or is a product of a certain institution (marriage) instituted or inaugurated by God Himself. In other words, since marriage was installed by God, its product(s) should be regarded or seen as a sacred entity. Thus, a home is a sacred institution. And every member of such institute ought to be sacred.

Considering the journey that ascertains a complete home, one could vividly figure out that, such institute was not built in a day. So, it seems to involve a journey of a thousand miles which must begin with a step. What we should be asking ourselves is; where does the first step of such journey lies? Brethren, I wish to volunteer the only answer to the given question. The first step to the journey lies in ‘courtship’.

Courtship is an activity in which a man and a woman spend a lot of time together because they are intending to get married. A male and a female that intend to become a couple must try to know each other better prior to such mingling stage by initiating a period of courtship. This instrument (courtship) shall enable the persons in question to know themselves very well. And during such moment, if there’s anywhere any of them has lapse(s) or a loophole; it can be amended amicably provided they truly love each other.

Both persons can also use the period to educate themselves, and as well, tell themselves how they would like their children to look like or to be. This is the best avenue both parties could acknowledge the efficacy of moral upbringing of children/kids. Believe me, the best way to actualize your dream to the fullness is to initiate, and as well implement a proper plan. Yes, you must learn to draft the plan of any project you have in mind; it’s the best way such project could be ascertained if God is truly by your side, or in support of the proposed project. Honestly many had derailed and also failed in their various endeavours due to lack of project initiative or planning. Let’s ride on!

So if truly you care to have a formidable God-fearing home, you must start by telling yourself the truth. Don’t ever deceive yourself; always be frank and honest. I bet you, if you can boast of such quality as you court with your partner, you’ll leave no stone unturned to ensure that he/she emulates the glittering and worthwhile idiosyncrasies. And if both of you can boast of the quality, believe me, the journey has begun; and definitely, the sky must surely be your stepping stone.

Let me quickly draw your attention to a popular Igbo adage that says, “agbo adiyi amu ihe di mkpu-mkpu.” This means, a snake does not reproduce or give birth to a short being/thing. Yes, one can only give what he has; there’s no two ways about it even if you’re a magician. Frankly speaking, it doesn’t require any magic; it’s natural. And till death do us part, I’ll continue to tell/remind you that ‘nature’ is very powerful.

Then if by the special grace of God, you both end up a couple, you shall encounter no problem while implementing the techniques/tactics that ascertain a happy home because you had already planned towards it. Another Igbo adage says, “aya akara aka adiyi eri nwangboro.” That is, a war that was announced doesn’t consume a cripple person.

What am I saying in essence? Since you had trained yourselves during the courtship to be God fearing, then it’ll take no stress from you to transfer such qualities to your offspring(s) whenever God blesses you (the union) with any. At this point, it would be no news to you as a couple that, the best way to start training your child is to ensure that he is being drawn closer to the content(s) of the holy Bible or Quran, as the case may be.

Brethren, if a child acknowledges the real content of the aforementioned tool (holy writ) as he/she grows, he must ensure that he sticks to the mandates or instructions of the religious tool (instrument). If a child can grow up to differentiate the right from the left, then a solid/formidable God-fearing home has been actualized since every member of the family (home) can boast of living a life worthy of emulation.

At this juncture, I strongly believe that I have succeeded in convincing you on the fact that, the key that leads to a formidable God-fearing home lies in our hands. Think about it!



FDN NWAOZOR

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