Demeaning Reading Culture Among The Youth

DEMEANING READING CULTURE AMONG THE YOUTH

Brethren, have you ever in your lonely mood imagined being blind? I know the question might sound a bit weird considering the gravity of the imagination in question. Please don’t get me wrong; I’m only trying to fathom a certain vague phenomenon that’s presently telling on my person.

Penultimate week during a moment of solitude, I took my precious time right in my humble abode to romance over some ongoing anomalies passing through most societies in the world. Prior to that moment, I was personally and deeply affected by the said factor, which I lately tagged ‘a societal canker’.

Honestly, some of us who found ourselves in the writing profession (field) may on a very fateful day decide to quit or take an eternal leave from the field. I’m glad you actually know the difference between French leave and eternal leave; therefore there’s no need throwing more light.

Of course if writers are not being read by their target audience, then the writing profession would be considered to be worthless by the writers themselves. Same scenario is not unlike seeing a fashion designer whose wares are not being admired by the members of the public.

Frankly, the current demeaning reading culture among the youth is not only negatively affecting the writers, bloggers, journalists, or as the case may be, but the society at large. No doubt, it has eaten deep in the blood vessel of the countries concerned.

The lack of reading habit found amongst our teens is solely attributed to the aforementioned anomaly (culture). Yes, how do you expect the teenagers to appreciate reading whilst the set of people they are meant to look up to is nothing to write home about as regards reading?

Without mincing words, our youths have really derailed in regard to reading, education generally. None of them, or only a few, wishes or thrives towards actualization of academic success via hard work; rather, they prefer indulging in impersonation, examination malpractice, sorting, among others. It is even more pathetic to notice that the so-called parents or guardians seem impervious to these naughty and shameful acts. Let’s ride on!

Even those who spend virtually twenty-four (24) hours daily on the social media find it difficult to digest any educative or informative article/opinion, instead they prefer going through series of gossips, pornographic images, silly write-ups and what have you, as well as watching several indecent movies.

In spite of the fact that the newspapers, magazines and other periodicals can also be read or accessed on the internet or the social media, still you hardly see any youth that takes time to digest the contents of any publication online. The idea of publishing the softcopy of news bulletins online was considered worthwhile by the publishers owing to the fact that many people could not afford to purchase a hardcopy of any of the newspapers/magazines; yet our young ones find it difficult to be informed by those costless news. It is really disheartening.

Each time I remember that my country, Nigeria is taking a lead in this absurd and disgusting tradition, I end up shedding immeasurable bloods. It is no longer news that most Nigerians are invariably misinformed and/or uneducated; this is why they often indulge in inconsequential and childish discussions or debates thereby constituting societal mayhem.

Mind you, being educated doesn’t imply that one had successfully spent some desirable or required number of years in a certain citadel of higher learning. Being educated simply means that the person in question is knowledgeable or learned. And such knowledge is not acquired by attending classes, rather by indulging in enormous study and research works. Thus, learning is not all about attending classes but telling yourself that you ought to know that which you’re yet and meant to know.

At this juncture, I call on various concerned groups and stakeholders such as the civil societies, religious bodies, inspirational speakers, teachers unions, to carry out a holistic crusade, either individually or collectively, with the aim of elevating the level of reading habit among our young ones. They can actualize this by organizing series of seminars, workshops, conventions, conferences, et cetera towards sensitizing the people involved on the dangers of lack of information or knowledge as well as illiteracy.

I want to tell you unequivocally that anyone who lacks knowledge is simply like a blind man. And knowledge or appropriate information can never be acquired by shying away from reading. Think about it!

 

FRED NWAOZOR

frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056     

2014 World Diabetes Day (Aired News-Commentary)

THE NEED TO INTENSIFY AWARENESS ON DIABETES
       

Diabetes is a lifelong medical condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high. It is often caused by the insufficiency or lack of the hormone known as insulin, which is produced by the pancreas – a gland found behind the stomach.

The amount of sugar in the blood is controlled by insulin. When food is digested and enters the bloodstream, insulin moves glucose out of the blood and into the cells where it’s broken down to produce the required energy.

However this implies that, if one has diabetes, his/her body is unable to break down glucose into energy; because there’s either not enough insulin to move the glucose or the insulin being produced doesn’t work properly.

There are two main types of diabetes namely: Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. The former is usually more delicate than the latter which is far more common.

In Type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin. As no insulin is produced, the victim’s glucose level increases, which can seriously damage his body’s organs. Type 1 diabetes is often regarded as Insulin-dependent diabetes; it is also sometimes recognized as Juvenile diabetes or Early-onset diabetes, because it mostly develops before the age of forty (40) or usually during the teenage years.

If one is diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, he would need insulin injections for the rest of his life. He would also need to pay very close attention to certain aspects of his lifestyle and health, to ensure that his blood glucose levels stay balanced at all times.

Type 2 diabetes takes place when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it cells don’t react to insulin. This type of diabetes is generally known as Insulin-resistant diabetes. Since Type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition, the patient may eventually need medication mainly in the form of tablets.

Type 2 diabetes is in most cases associated with obesity. Obesity-related diabetes is sometimes referred to as Maturity-onset diabetes owing to the fact that it is more common in older people.

During pregnancy, some women possess high levels of blood glucose, which makes their body unable to produce enough insulin to absorb it all. Such condition is known as Gestational diabetes and it affects up to 18 in 100 women during pregnancy. Pregnancy can as well make existing Type 1 diabetes worse.

Gestational diabetes can increase the risk of health problems developing in an unborn baby, therefore it’s very necessary for a pregnant woman to keep her blood glucose levels under control. In several cases, gestational diabetes develops during the second trimester of pregnancy, which is weeks 14 to 26, and disappears after the baby is born. But the truth remains that, women who suffer from gestational diabetes are at an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.

The general symptoms of diabetes, which often take place simultaneously, are as follows:

v Feeling very thirsty.

v Urinating more frequently than usual, particularly at night.

v Feeling very tired.

v Weight loss and loss of muscle bulk.

v Cuts or wounds that heal slowly.

v Blurred vision, caused by the lens of the eye becoming dry.

v Itching around the private part or frequent episodes of thrush.

Type 1 diabetes can develop quickly over weeks or even days. Whilst, many people may have Type 2 diabetes for years without realizing it because the early symptoms tend to be friendly.

Statistics, according to World Health Organization (WHO), show that about 347 million people worldwide are presently suffering from diabetes. In 2004, an estimated 3.4 million people died from consequences of high fasting blood sugar. The most devastating aspect of diabetes is that, almost half of the people suffering from it do not know that they have the disease. In view of this, WHO stipulates that diabetes would be the 7^th leading cause of death by the year 2030.

Many more people worldwide have blood sugar levels above the normal range, but not high enough to be diagnosed as having diabetes. This is referred to as Pre-diabetes. If your blood sugar level is above the normal range, your risk of developing full-blown diabetes is increased. Thus, it’s absolutely very important for diabetes to be diagnosed as early as possible because it would get progressively worse if left untreated.

In general, diabetes carriers are advised to eat healthily, take regular exercise and carry out regular blood tests in order to ensure that their blood glucose levels remain balanced. Above all, they are also advised to maintain a very cordial relationship with their doctors or health experts.

Penultimate two weeks, Friday November 14 precisely, the world over commemorated the 2014 World Diabetes Day. The World Diabetes Day, which is an annual and international commemoration, was instituted in the year 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) to help in raising public awareness on the dangers and control of diabetes.

World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations (UN) Day in 2007 through the passage of the UN Resolution. The day was chosen in honour of the birthday of Frederick Banting who along with Charles Best first conceived the idea which led to the discovery of insulin in 1921. The campaign attached to the World Diabetes Day draws attention to issues of paramount importance to the diabetes community and keeps diabetes firmly in the public spotlight.

As the global community commemorates the World Diabetes Day anniversary, I’m using this avenue to urge the general public to endeavour to live a life that would exonerate them from contracting this dreaded disease that has claimed hundreds of millions of souls as well as maimed several lives both in the past and present. They can achieve this by ensuring that they consume balance diets or by staying away from constant intake of starchy or sugary foods without supplementing them with other required classes of foods.

The sufferers of the disease ought to also note that they can live as long as possible if necessary precautions are always taken, or if they continually stick to the modus operandi surrounding the disease, such as eating healthily, indulging in regular exercise, carrying out blood tests regularly, and consistent intake of the prescribed drugs or frequent consultation of a physician, among others.

Yes diabetes has no absolute cure but it can be prevented, or managed if contracted; thus it is worthy to acknowledge that we have every opportunity to live without the disease or live healthily if being attacked by it. Think about it!

 

         COMR FRED NWAOZOR

Public Affairs Analyst & Rights Activist

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             +2348028608056  

 

My Candid Note To Nigerian Critics

 MY CANDID NOTE TO NIGERIAN CRITICS

Brethren, I want to let us know that we have the right and every opportunity to bring a positive change or revive any anomaly taking place around us. In other words, the change we anticipate or seek for lies in our bare hands. Honestly it is a fact.

It amuses me each time I see most of us who wish to embrace positive change without making any effort or contributing towards actualizing their anticipations. How could one intend to have something without doing anything in respect to the attainment of his/her goal? Doesn’t it sound crazy? Well, let’s leave the dead to bury the dead.

Some weeks ago during my stay in Lagos State, I was passing through one of the major streets situated in the state; and before I could get to my destination, I sighted at a certain vendor spot along the street in question. The gathering was really generating an enormous pandemonium. Out of curiosity, I decided to reduce my motion in order to ascertain the essence of the uproar. Summarily, it was all about the $9.3 million scandal which the current President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) – Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor is allegedly involved.

Having gotten the headline from the roadside analysts, I didn’t bother absorbing the detail of their respective opinions because I was of the view that it would be all about condemnation all in the name of ‘Criticism’.

Most times our so called critics piss me off when I see them condemning a certain anomaly instead of criticizing it. Frankly, we still need to comprehend the difference between condemnation and criticism. And, this is our prime interest in today’s edition.

Criticism is simply an expression of disapproval of someone or something. It can also be described as a comment in which you say that something has a particular fault. From my individual perspective, criticism is a serious and thorough examination coupled with judgement on a certain scenario or an achievement made by someone. In the same vein, a critic ought to be referred to as a person or professional who publicly expresses his/her opinion about an accomplishment or a certain scenario with the aim of restoring normalcy. Let’s ride on!

There are so many things Nigerian critics need to know. There are basic factors that must be considered by a critic if he/her intends to put up a criticism on any occurrence. Thus, anyone who addresses him/herself as a ‘Critic’ is expected to note some crucial facts that surround the practice (criticism).

First, we must understand that criticism is a profession; and a worthwhile one. Therefore any critic is a professional. And, we must note that a society can never thrive successfully without the contribution of the aforementioned professionals – that’s the critics. Yes, every society requires critics to function adequately.

Secondly, any critic must always be willing and ready to proffer remedy to anything he criticizes. Of course the paramount interest of any critic must be to restore normality if he/she feels that aberration has taken place. You cannot just indicate a fault or flaw without rendering solution on how the flaw (anomaly) would be addressed.

Thirdly, we must understand fully that criticism without the aim of restoring normalcy is simply worthless. Such criticism is known as ‘destructive criticism’; therefore it is only targeted at constituting upheavals in the society in question. Rather than solving the alleged problem, destructive criticism invariably ends up heating the polity excessively.

We shouldn’t be fast in condemning anything we tagged ‘unacceptable’; we are expected to thoroughly think over something before setting up an antagonism. A critic’s opinion is highly needed in any area of life such as politics, economy, education, and what have you, but he must be ready to tender reasonable suggestions and ideas with the view of creating a better and more conducive atmosphere. Needless to say; only a constructive criticism is needed in any circumstance.

Definitely, we have the right and every opportunity to bring a positive change or revive anything we see as an abnormality taking place around us but we must be willing to contribute our quota towards actualizing such dream or goal. And mind you, such change can never take place by tendering condemnation or destructive criticism; rather, a constructive one. Think about it!

 

FRED NWAOZOR

frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056