2014 World Food Day (Aired Viewpoint)

A CLARION CALL TO UPLIFT THE NIGERIA’S AGRICULTURAL SECTOR AS THE WORLD MARKS THE WORLD FOOD DAY TODAY THURSDAY OCTOBER 16, 2014

No one has ever boasted of living a healthy life without an adequate food on his or her table. This implies that a healthy living is not unconnected to consumption of required and adequate food.

Food which remains one of the three basic needs of man on earth can only be acquired by continual indulgence or thorough participation in agricultural practices.

Agriculture is simply the act of farming. In a nutshell, farming is the activity of growing crops and/or raising animals on a certain piece of land in a given area or locality.

No doubt, agriculture is an integral part of human existence considering the fact that it is the only means that can guarantee the three paramount needs of man, which are food, clothing and shelter. Of course without agriculture, no one can boast of a clothe or even a shelter. In view of this, agriculture has indeed proven to mankind that it is the epitome of life which was initiated by God himself.

Several countries in the world depend solely on agriculture as regards their internally generated revenue. And those countries jealously safeguard it because they acknowledge that it is the most affordable source of revenue.

Unequivocally, if well harnessed, agriculture is considered as the most important revenue source due to its unending fruitfulness or benefits coupled with easy accessibility that is attached to it. Among all, the fact that no one can live without food is enough reason to say that the positive impact of agriculture on mankind cannot be overemphasized.

The above facts have proven to us that agriculture can function as a revenue source as well as a means of survival to any nation. Suffice to say; sustenance of agriculture remains one of the prime desires of any country in existence.

Due to its challenges, which include access to mechanize farming, undesirable topography, poor climatic condition, unavailability of land, insufficient funds, et cetera, many potential farmers or interested individuals in most developing nations like Nigeria, have over the years lost interest in agriculture thereby endangering the socio-economic status of the nations involved. It is no longer news that lack of participation in either subsistence or commercial farming among the populace of a certain country leads to malnutrition as well as tremendous decline in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country in question.

The most devastating aspect of loss of interest in agriculture is the apathy observed amongst the youth due to their eager quest for white-collar jobs. Frankly, the current lack of participation of most youths in agriculture has contributed immensely to the ongoing scarcity of food witnessed in several nations in Africa and other developing nations across the globe.

History indicates that between 2011 and 2013, a total of eight hundred and forty-two (842) million individuals or about one in every eight persons in the world, were estimated to be suffering from chronic hunger; which simply implies that the said set of people were not regularly getting enough food for themselves to carry out their active life activities.

Due to the unavoidable impact of food on mankind, the World Food Day (WFD) was established during the 20^th General Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) in November 1945. During the conference, all the Member States of FAO resolved that October 16 each year should be commemorated as World Food Day; the Day was meant to coincide with the anniversary of the founding date of the organization (FAO).

The Hungarian delegation led by the former Hungarian Minister of Agriculture and Food, Dr Pal Romany played an active role at the said conference; he suggested the idea of celebrating the World Food Day worldwide. The first commemoration of the World Food Day took place in the year 1946; and since then, the Day is being observed annually in more than one hundred and fifty (150) countries, raising awareness of the issues behind poverty and hunger.

As the world over marks the World Food Day today, I’m using this medium to urge the Nigerian government to wake up from its slumber with the view of ensuring that the country’s agricultural sector is totally and thoroughly uplifted. This can be made possible by providing adequate support for any genuine potential farmer in the country.

I’m therefore soliciting that, the federal government alongside the various state governments through a formidable and reliable Agency, should intercede on behalf of the Nigerian farmers to ensure that the commercial banks are always willing to allocate either soft or hard loan to any potential indigenous farmer. Also, adequate farm land must be provided by any concerned government.

On their part, the farmers in question ought to continually validate membership of all their members and also encourage the intending ones to register, so that through the body, the government or any individual can easily assess all the practicing farmers as well as ascertain the genuineness of anyone who claims to be a farmer.

Above all, the various governments must endeavour to own and manage many mechanized farms in different localities with the motive of supplementing the private owned ones, which would go a long way to see that plenty food is found on our tables thereby creating avenue for diverse revenue sources and more employment opportunities.

 

            

FDN NWAOZOR

Public Affairs Analyst & Rights Activist

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http://facebook.com/fred4nwaozor
Twitter: @fdnnwaozor
+2348028608056

Unending ATM Conundrum

THE UNENDING ATM CONUNDRUM

     

Brethren, I sincerely commend you in your entirety for your steadfastness and relentless efforts towards ensuring that the prime motive of this crusade is totally actualized in spite of the ongoing challenges. This implies that, we really comprehend the essence of this race.

       

 Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have considered coming up with this theme on today’s edition. But I thought it wise that it was high time I did, owing to the fact that disclosing my opinion on the theme in question was long overdue. Thus I decided to have a rethink in order to save us from the anticipated nervous wreck, which is tantamount to unimaginable state of doom.

   

My last trip to Lagos State ushered in a scene which I thought only existed in my home state, Imo. In fact, that of Lagos is even more alarming. Initially, I was of the view that I was only viewing a mirage, not until I walked closer to the exact spot of the scene.

   

Having parked my car at the designated spot in front of one of the commercial banks situated at Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos State, I was majestically taking a walk towards the location of the bank’s Automated Teller Machines (ATM), till my panoramic view disclosed a scene which was not unlike the just concluded Independence Day parade that took place in Abuja. My intention was to assess some cash via the ATM, but the unthinkable crowd I encountered or I sighted from afar gave me an instant discouragement.

       

 Yes my morale was instantly dampened because the fathomless number of persons, which formed an unending queue that seemed like an Independence parade, was meant to use the machines before me. Honestly, I calmly walked back to my car and drove off because I knew there was no how I could use any of the machines in less than three hours interval. I thank God for the shock absorber He imposed in my system; if not, I would have fainted at the moment I sighted that deceptive parade. Afterwards, I managed to visit other neighbouring banks for same transaction; all to no avail.

      

Let’s face the reality. It is no longer news that the use of the Automated Teller Machine, which is popularly recognized by its acronym ‘ATM’, is really giving the Nigerian society an unbearable nightmare, that if proper and drastic measure is not taken soonest by the apt authorities, the conundrum is liable to constituting a financial mayhem to the totality of the populace found in the aforementioned society. Let’s ride on!

       

Frankly, a lot needs to be done regarding the use of ATM in Nigeria. The country requires more accurate and efficient technical know-how in the country’s banking industry as regards ATM operations. Of course if we must tell ourselves the gospel truth, you will agree with me that so many challenges are currently faced by the users of the machine in question.

        

Technical irregularities or hitches such as out of service, temporarily unable to dispense cash, issuer or switch inoperative, unreasonable seizing/withholding of transaction cards, among others, which are often encountered while using the ATM must be addressed in earnest. The ridiculous technical anomalies which include debiting an account without any withdrawal made by the owner, is the most devastating aspect of the ongoing ATM conundrum in Nigeria and other developing nations.

     

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which is the mother-bank of all commercial banks in Nigeria, as well as that of other affected countries, is expected to intervene at this juncture. We have suffered greatly; therefore need the intervention of the CBN to ensure that the country’s dream of seeing an arena filled with thorough cashless banking is duly actualized.

      

Inter alia, the routine of loading torn or damaged naira notes in the machines must be put to stop by the CBN. How could notes that are meant to be burnt or replaced be loaded in the ATM thereby creating avenue for frequent circulation of torn naira notes? Does it imply that the country’s Mint and Printing section is incapacitated?

Above all, the various branches that are currently making use of only one Automated Teller Machine (ATM) must as a matter of urgency construct at least two more ones in order to decongest the banking premises/arena thereby curtailing the chances of being invaded or attacked by armed robbers.
        

The CBN alongside other concerned groups like the civil society really needs to take an urgent and severe step towards ending the various lingering abnormalities faced or practised by the commercial banks in regard to the use of ATM; else, it is likely to cost us an unavoidable setback in near future. Think about it!

 FDN NWAOZOR

frednwaozor@gmail.com  

+2348028608056

Twitter: @fdnnwaozor           

2014 World Teachers' Day (Aired News-Commentary)

THE NEED TO ENCOURAGE THE TEACHING PROFESSION AT ALL COST AS THE WORLD MARKS THE 2014 WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY, TODAY SUNDAY OCTOBER 5

    

No doubt, every right thinking person eagerly wishes to know what he/she does not or is yet to know. Such attribute can be referred to as ‘Man’s quest for knowledge’.

In the same vein; for anyone to acquire any form of knowledge, he must be taught by someone or something. In a situation whereby the knowledge recipient is being taught by a non-human such as book, internet or as the case may be, it is worthy to note that that material or avenue through which he acquired the knowledge was invented by someone or a human.

Someone who imparts knowledge to other person(s), directly or indirectly, is generally referred to as a teacher. In a concise term; a teacher is someone who teaches others better ways of doing something or a better way of living. He can also be described as someone who helps or contributes meaningfully in the uplift of someone else’s educational status/level. In other words, teaching is simply the act of imparting knowledge.

This singular fact has proven to us that anyone can be identified as a teacher, considering the relationship that exists between the persons involved. But it would interest us to acknowledge that, there are those or group of persons who embrace teaching as a profession. This set of people could be regarded as institutional teachers.

 In most cases, the institutional teachers are the ones that are often recognized as ‘teachers’ owing to the fact that they are the only persons that bring out their time, energy, resources, and what have you to the fullness, to ensure that knowledge is fully and duly obtained by its seekers. Among all, anyone who practices teaching or who takes teaching as a profession, must had passed through a certain professional educational training in any higher citadel of learning.

In most nations, it is disheartening to note that this set of people known as teachers whom had contributed immensely to the socio-economic development of the nation, are treated poorly or badly as regards payment of salaries and other incentives. It is even more pathetic and disgusting to note that in some quarters, these persons whom are meant to be the leading professionals are regarded as second class if not third class citizens.

If the truth must be told, then we all must agree that it is only an insane man that is yet to comprehend the fact that teachers are the building block of any nation. Needless to say; they remain the rudiments or foundation on which any nation is built.

In view of the unavoidable impact of teachers in any society, in 1994, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) reached a unanimous resolution that October 5 of every year should be observed by all the UN Member States as World Teachers’ Day. The annual World Teachers’ Day, which is aimed at mobilizing support for teachers as well as ensuring that the needs of future generations would continue to be met by teachers, was first commemorated in the year 1994.

According to UNESCO, World Teachers’ Day represents a significant token of the awareness, understanding and appreciation displayed for the vital contribution that teachers make to education and global development. On its part, Education International (EI), which is the global union federation that represents education professionals worldwide, strongly solicits that World Teachers’ Day ought to be internationally recognized and celebrated around the world.

As the world over marks the 20^th anniversary of the World Teachers’ Day today, the civil society and other stakeholders are expected to encourage the teaching profession by ensuring that the following conditions are reached by any employer:

v Good and enticing employment conditions including appropriate contracts, salaries, and prospects for career progression and promotion.

v Conducive and charming work environment.

v High quality pre- and in-service training.

v Effective management to include a teacher’s recruitment and deployment.

The international community and various governments need to stand firm and united to support teachers as well as quality learning worldwide, especially in those countries where the highest number of out-of-school children exists. In this regard, they are meant to acknowledge that an education system is only as good as its teachers.

Above all and most importantly, the various existing Teachers’ Unions or organizations are also expected to support their respective governments in the area of maintenance of sanity in our schools. By so doing, anomalies like mediocrity, laxity, truancy, among other nonchalant attitudes of some teachers would be totally eradicated.

The above measure if properly implemented would enable any teacher anywhere in the world to proudly identify him/herself as a ‘teacher’ regardless of the circumstance.

 

 

             COMR. FRED NWAOZOR

Public Affairs analyst & Civil Rights activist

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                 +2348028608056