2014 International Literacy Day (Aired News-Commentary)

CHECKING THE DANGERS OF ILLITERACY AS THE WORLD COMMEMORATES THE INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY, TODAY MONDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2014

   

According to BBC English Dictionary, Literacy is ‘the ability to read and write’. Over the years, there have been several definitions of literacy by various schools of thought. In some quarters, it is described as a fundamental right and a foundation for lifetime learning, better well-being and livelihoods. 

Surely, literacy is a driver for sustainable and inclusive development. It is a tool for personal empowerment and a means for social and human development. In the same vein, it is an instrument of empowerment to improve one’s health, income and his/her relationship with the world.

Literacy is at the heart of basic education for all, and essential for alleviating poverty, eradicating child mortality, curbing population growth, achieving gender equality, as well as ensuring sustainable development, peace and functional democracy. Thus, educational opportunities and other academic prowess depend solely on literacy.

Honestly, we need to be able to read and write in order to get through our basic daily tasks or activities, such as writing a shopping list, gaining admission into any school, and securing a job opportunity. No doubt, literacy opens up a window of opportunities to every one of us; and it is very essential to our individual and national developments.

Since it is only a literate community otherwise known as a dynamic community that has the ability to exchange ideas and engage in debate, it is of no need saying that literacy is the only tool that can guarantee a healthy and hearty living, and an encouraging development among mankind.

Illiteracy, however, is an obstacle to a better quality of life. As a societal cankerworm, it has yielded several uncalled and inconsequential stigmatizations among humanity, both in the past and present, thereby leading to series of unimaginable and uncontrollable violence or crises.

Indeed many people in the world have derailed in their various pursuits due to illiteracy. An illiterate person, whom is considered as a vulnerable being, is exposed to numerous maltreatments or abuses, including humiliation, stigmatization, intimidation, extortion, drug abuse, just to mention but a few.

Frankly, the dangers of illiteracy cannot be overemphasized; it has led to several social, economic, cultural, religious, and political mayhem at various levels of human endeavours. Unequivocally, illiteracy has subjected humanity to uncountable vices, and has remained the major cause of the increasing rate of abject poverty as well as several severe illnesses which often result to the death of the victims.

Taking cognizance of the fact that over 775 million adults in the world lack minimum education, coupled with the acknowledgement of the real dangers of illiteracy in any society, the commemoration of the International Literacy Day came into existence by the effort of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The International Literacy Day was proclaimed on November 17, 1965 by UNESCO; it was first celebrated in 1966. The aim of adopting the initiative was to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals and the international community at large; and to raise public awareness on the extraordinary value of the written words coupled with the necessity to promote a literate society.

Today Monday September 8, 2014, the world over is commemorating the International Literacy Day as stipulated by the United Nations. It is a day that calls for the promotion of literacy at all levels in order to totally eradicate the lingering dangers of illiteracy across the globe.

For over sixty-six (66) years, UNESCO has worked tirelessly to ensure that literacy remains a priority on national and international agendas through its formal and non-formal literacy programmes worldwide. Till date, the organization is earnestly striving towards realizing the vision of a literate world for all.

Part of the Millennium Development Goals regarding Universal Education is aimed at ensuring that every human being, especially a child, has the opportunity to make a better life. Unfortunately, too many children in the world today grow up without this chance because they are denied their basic right to even attend nursery or primary school.

Lessons learnt over recent years have shown that, meeting the goal of universal literacy calls not only for more effective efforts but also for renewed political wills, and for doing things differently at all levels – locally, nationally and internationally, irrespective of the challenges that might be faced.

As the world marks the annual Int’l Literacy Day today being September 8, we are expected to contribute our quota towards ensuring that everyone around us understands the essence of having a literate society which would go a long way to combat the various dangers of illiteracy that is earnestly tarnishing our socio-economic image. ‘A stitch in time saves nine!’

  

      COMR. FRED NWAOZOR

Public Affairs analyst & Social activist

_______________________________

              +2348054719437    

2014 Int'l Day of Charity (Aired Viewpoint)

THE NEED TO END THE UNKIND ATTITUDES AMONG MANKIND AS THE WORLD MARKS THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF CHARITY, TODAY FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

It is widely noted that ‘God loves a cheerful giver’, which simply implies that one who gives freely and cheerfully will definitely receive his/her reward from God, in abundance.

Charity, in a concise term, is a kind or generous attitude towards other people. In the same vein, it can be defined as money, gift, or time given to poor or less-privileged people. Some typical examples of charity include:

v Raising funds for the benefit of a certain person or cause.

v Contributing manual labour to help build a house for a low-income family.

v Setting aside half of your coffee money per month and granting that money to an organization that helps the needy.

v Donating food, clothes, and other basic requirements to the motherless-babies homes, from time to time.

v Asking friends and family to donate money to a specific charity organization rather than getting you gifts for birthdays and other anniversaries.

No doubt, charity contributes to the promotion of dialogue, solidarity and mutual understanding among people. Thus, it is the duty of everyone to live toward its uplift since it helps to foster a society filled with peace and harmony.

Today Friday September 5, 2014, the world over is marking the International Day of Charity. In recognition of charity’s key role in alleviating humanitarian crises and human suffering, in 2012, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly designated September 5 of every year as the International Day of Charity.

The date was chosen in respect to the anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa whose life and good works for some of the poorest of the poor and the downtrodden while on earth inspired several people across the world. In other words, the adoption of the day for the commemoration of the International Day of Charity was in honour of the Late Mother Teresa, because the deceased Amazon dedicated her life to the poor and other disadvantaged people around the globe.

The idea of the International Day of Charity was proposed by Hungary with the aim of creating a universal platform to raise awareness on the importance of benevolent giving. Upon the initiative of Hungary, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution by consensus to designate 5^th of September, the anniversary of the passing away of Mother Teresa, as the International Day of Charity.

The resolution was co-sponsored by the forty-four (44) Member states representing all the five regions of the United Nations. The cross-regional support of the initiative reflects the universal recognition of charity and the apparent relevance of selfless giving or services in today’s world.

In his introductory speech, the Permanent Representative of Hungary to the UN – Mr. Csaba Korosi, highlighted that charity as a way of thinking, provides real social bonding and contributes immensely to the creation of inclusive and more resilient societies. According to him, ‘Charity can alleviate the worst effects of humanitarian crises, supplement public services in health care delivery, education, housing, and child protection. It assists the advancement of culture, science, sports, and natural heritage. It also promotes the rights of the marginalized and the underprivileged, as well as spreads the message of humanity in conflict situations.’

The first commemoration of the Day was held in the year 2013 at the UN Headquarters in New York, U.S.A; the event featured various panel discussions on the role of charity in poverty alleviation and in promoting access to clean water and sanitation in general, with distinguished guest speakers from the philanthropic community including the United Nations Foundation.  

Therefore, the International Day of Charity is a day to remember those who are less advantaged, and to take appropriate actions to help them. The UN set aside September 5 of every year as that day, so that, we all would act collectively in order to alleviate the suffering and pains of the less-privileged around us.

However, bear in mind that many people are doing charitable work every day, either individually or collectively. Needless to state unequivocally that, everyday is a golden opportunity to assist those in need; devoting our time coupled with money, would help to end these lingering unkind attitudes found among mankind.

As the world marks the second commemoration of the annual International Day of Charity as well as the anniversary of Late Mother Teresa, today September 5, I urge every individual and organization worldwide to use this opportunity to promote their own projects and encourage charitable activities in their respective communities or societies.

 

      COMR. FRED NWAOZOR

Public Affairs analyst & Social activist

_______________________________

              +2348054719437   

 

Addressing The Uncalled Quest For Materialism (Aired News-Commentary)

ADDRESSING THE UNCALLED QUEST FOR MATERIALISM AMONG MANKIND AS WE EMBRACE ANOTHER ERA OF EMBER MONTHS

       The three basic needs of man remain food, clothing and textile. It is also worthy to note that the three major desires of any sane being are wealth, fame and power. It is pathetic that presently mankind has derailed profoundly as regards the avenue being embraced towards obtaining any of these three desires.

       Quest is a long search for what one desires; it can also be described as an extreme passion attached to what someone wants or whatever he/she wishes to possess. In the same vein, materialism is an act in which one thinks that money and other possessions are the most important things in life.

       On the other hand, those months that mark the end of any annual calendar, which invariably start from September and end with December, are referred to as ‘Ember months.’ The term ‘Ember’ is not unconnected to the suffix that accompanies most of the months in question.

        Frankly, the manner in which most people, Nigerians in particular, parade themselves during the Ember months has become worrying and devastating to all concerned, that, if proper and drastic measure is not taken by the appropriate authorities or institutions, it might degenerate into an unimaginable state of doom.

        The uncalled and unnecessary quest for materialism among mankind, especially during the Ember months, is one of the major causes of the various lingering social vices taking place in all nooks and crannies across the globe. The current alarming increase of death rate is attributed to some of these vices, which include cultism, armed robbery, thuggery, prostitution, kidnapping, drug trafficking, assassination, and what have you.

         I’m of the view that this ongoing alarming quest for materialism, which is quite appalling and disgusting, is mainly attributable to inconsequential rivalry, greed and/or lack of contentment. This simply means that the anomaly is a product of man’s inability to face reality in every circumstance.

        Inconsequential rivalries are those competitions that are not called-for or that might seem unreasonable and barbaric. On the average, politicians or established business men often indulge in this practice. It is usually observed among the aforementioned set of people during campaign era or when battling over supremacy as the case may be. Some youths also indulge in this act in order to showcase to the world that they belong to the ruling or most powerful class thereby proving that they are ahead of their contemporaries.

        On its part, greed or lack of contentment has also contributed negatively to man’s intolerable quest for materialism which often sets the period that leads to any festive season, such as the Ember months, ablaze. Greed has indeed brought humanity to a state of mockery, and has succeeded in tearing several unions or societies apart. Considering this fact, it is needless to say that, for decades now, greed or lack of contentment has remained a menace to the world in its entirety.

        As we embrace another era of Ember months, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that the commemoration of the forthcoming festive seasons, X-mas and New-Year precisely, takes place in a peaceful atmosphere so that every one of us would be filled with unquantifiable ecstasy. Therefore, I call on various governments, the non-governmental organizations, religious institutions, the media, and all well-meaning individuals to do everything humanly possible towards ensuring that these Ember months will bring nothing but a blessing to us, and the world in general.

        I’m also using this avenue to urge those who are already part of any of these uncivilized and disgusting acts as well as those who intend joining the chorus, to exonerate themselves from the ungodly behaviour and seek for the face of the Almighty, because it is only the fear of God that can guarantee a remarkable wealth, power or fame.

 

       COMR. FRED NWAOZOR

Public Affairs analyst & Social activist

_______________________________

             +2348054719437