Okorocha's Friends, and Enemies Within

OKOROCHA’S FRIENDS, AND ENEMIES WITHIN

       The last time I painstakingly checked, the Imo Chief Executive Officer, Governor Rochas Okorocha was yet to realize those whom are truly his friends as well as those that earnestly look forward to witnessing his downfall. Suchlike mindset isn’t peculiar to the said leader; suffice it to say that virtually every leader not just in Nigeria, but across the globe, often fall victim of such circumstance.

       I wouldn’t be doubtful that the governor would strongly assert that Comrade Fred Doc Nwaozor tops the list of his greatest enemies in the state. I won’t equally be surprised if I hear, or overhear, that the governor sees the said analyst and activist in his nightmares. Of course, everyone is liable to experience numerous nightmares, thus the governor wouldn’t be an exception. It’s worth noting that nightmares are often attributed to what one’s, the victim’s, mindset is preoccupied with. In other words, the content of your mindset mainly determines the nature of nightmare you would, or liable to, experience.

       The point is: Fred Doc Nwaozor, likewise other constructive critics cum activists, cannot gladly watch the governor derail or indulge himself in acts that could tarnish his highly revered image. Such idiosyncrasy is arguably an attribute of a good friend or well-wisher, as might be the case. But, owing to misconception, which isn’t unusual, the critic may be misunderstood. It’s only someone who truly cares about your person that would always tell you what you need to hear, not what you want/intend to hear.

       We need to comprehend the difference between need and want. The latter is that thing you earnestly wish to embrace or possess; that thing/quality which you pray vehemently for. Whilst, the former is that thing you are supposed to have or possess; that thing/quality your entire system requires or deserves, particularly regarding health issues. It’s high time we started acknowledging that it is not everything one desires he/she is actually meant to have/possess. Sometimes, if not most times, we are prone to asking for something that won’t augur well for our persons.

       Hence, a good and genuine critic/activist is expected to tell you what you need to hear, contrary to a false one who would invariably wish to tender eulogies. A genuine activist won’t only criticize constructively, but would go extra mile to proffer remedy to what is being criticized. It’s appalling that leaders at all levels usually tend to mistake a genuine critic/activist for an enemy. This is the reason such leaders end up fighting mere cloud of dusts whenever they declare war against such kind of critic, or each time they see them as their enemies.

       It’s painful to acknowledge that in most cases, those ones you see as your friend are among those who can’t wait to see you dead. It’s even more devastating to note that that person you entrusted your major portfolios to remains the only one, or one of the major individuals, who frantically look forward to embracing your downfall. In one of Shakespeare’s series entitled ‘Julius Caesar’, which was named after the protagonist in the play, it was King Julius Caesar who exclaimed “Et tu Brute” meaning literally “Even you Brutus” when he realized that one of his trusted allies in the person of Brutus wanted him dead.

       It was Simone Schwarz-Bart that stated, “Men are strong, women are smart; but no matter how smart, their bellies are always there to betray them, and that’s their downfall.” On a similar note, in his words, Oscar Wilde unequivocally said, “Yet each man kills the thing he loves… Some do it with a bitter look, some with a flattery word, the coward does it with a kiss, the brave man with a sword.” No wonder G. K. Chesterten stated thus, “The Bible tells us to love our neighbours, and  also to love our enemies; probably because generally they are the same people.”

        I thought it wise to come up with this critique towards telling Gov. Okorocha what he needs to know, so that, he won’t attempt to chase shadows in the name of ‘fighting enemies’. I wanted his Excellency to understand fully the best way to describe an enemy as well as a friend when the need arises. I wanted him to comprehend that friendship lies in the heart; it is an action/product of one’s heart. It isn’t defined by one’s countenance as it is widely presumed. Those, in the past, who succeeded in defining people based on their physiognomies, failed woefully in the long run. This is what I candidly wanted the amiable governor to acknowledge.

       Your friends are not those persons in your household, while the people who are seemingly outside the house are seen as your enemies. Most times, your enemies are within while your real friends remain those who are ostensibly outsiders. So, we shouldn’t get it twisted. Your friend is not that person that shares your bed/room with you; rather, that person that sincerely shares your feelings. He is that person who understands that you are erring and take appropriate steps towards calling you to order. Mind you: he/she could employ any means to call you to order; he could involve unfriendly approach with a view to achieving such motive. In such situation, what matters most to him/her is to ensure that you didn’t derail.

        At this point, I urge the governor not to contradict the above definitions cum descriptions, so that, Imo wouldn’t be held hostage by the so-called friends. A word, they say, is enough for the wise. 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 

Towards Actualizing Hazard-Free Atmosphere

TOWARDS ACTUALIZING A HAZARD-FREE ATMOSPHERE

       

      The last time I checked, every September 16 remained the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. In other words, yesterday, the global community commemorated the 2016 anniversary of the laudable event. In respect to the sustenance of the widely observed Montreal Protocol, on 19^th of December 1994, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly proclaimed September 16 of every year as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. The day focuses on the importance of protecting human health and the environment in general.

     The ozone layer is a fragile shield of gases that protects the earth from the harmful ultraviolet radiation or rays of the sun as well as helps to keep it (the earth) warm, thereby helping to preserve lives on the planet. The ozone layer is composed of ozone, a molecule made up of three oxygen atoms bonded together by a covalent bond – ozone has the chemical formula O3. The ozone layer is essential because it filters harmful ultraviolet radiation as it travels from the sun to the surface of the earth. These ultraviolet rays can harm both plant and animal lives.

      The ozone layer is located in the stratosphere, a region of the atmosphere that is about 10 to 50 kilometres above the earth. The stratosphere comprises approximately 90 per cent ozone. The ozone layer, which is part of the stratosphere, is comprised of the major atmospheric gases nitrogen, oxygen and argon, but also contains a significantly higher concentration of the trace gas ozone than the other layers of the atmosphere. The trace gases include carbon dioxide, neon, helium, methane, and the manmade chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). The CFCs reaching the stratosphere from the earth’s surface have become a cause for global concern because of the role they play in the chemical reaction that removes ozone from the atmosphere.  

      Mankind have, over the decades, been bewildered by so many environmental hazards and challenges. Currently, the worst of all is mainly attributable to depletion of the ozone layer. A number of commonly used chemicals like halocarbons and/or organic compounds have been found to be extremely damaging to the ozone layer. Halocarbons are chemicals in which one or more carbon atoms are linked to one or more halogen atoms such as fluorine, chlorine and bromine. The halocarbons containing bromine usually have much higher Ozone-Depleting Potential (ODP) than those that consist of chlorine or others.

      The manmade chemicals that have provided most of the chlorine and bromine for ozone depletion are methyl-bromide, methyl-chloroform, carbon-tetrachloride, and families of chemicals known as halons, chlorofluorocarbons and hydro-chlorofluorocarbons. Also, the damaging impact of organic compounds like carbon-monoxide on the ozone layer cannot be overemphasized. Some of the human activities that result to this environmental menace are bush-burning and industrial combustion.

      The scientific confirmation of the depletion of the ozone layer prompted the international community to establish a mechanism for cooperation to take drastic action to protect the ozone layer. This was formalized in the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, which was adopted by twenty-eight (28) countries on 22^nd March 1985. In September 1987, this led to the drafting of the Treaty on The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, which was duly signed by all the UN Member States.

      The fundamental aim of the Montreal Protocol is to protect the ozone layer by taking severe measures to control total global production and consumption of substances that deplete it, with the ultimate target toward their elimination from the basis of developments in scientific knowledge and technological information.

       In view of the steady progress made under the Montreal Protocol, in 2003, the former UN Secretary-General Mr. Kofi Annan stated thus, ‘Perhaps the single most successful international agreement till date has been the Montreal Protocol.’ Similarly, during the 2013 commemoration of the Day, which was marked with the theme ‘A healthy Atmosphere: the Future we want’, in his message to the world, the current UN Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-moon commended all who had made the Montreal Protocol such an outstanding example of international cooperation. He went further to urge governments, industries, civil societies, and other partners to apply the same spirit to the other great environmental and developmental challenges of our time.

     The phase-out of controlled uses of ozone depleting substances has not only helped to protect the ozone layer, but has contributed immensely and significantly to global efforts of addressing climate change. This year’s commemoration of the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is calling for greater awareness regarding the Ozone Layer’s preservation in order to fully actualize the aim of this remarkable globally recognized crusade that requires the effort of all and sundry.

      As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to celebrate the 2016 as well as the 22^nd anniversary, we are expected to contribute our quota with a view to ensuring that we actualize an atmosphere or environment that is totally free from any harmful substance. We can achieve this by embarking on or sponsoring, as the case may be, all forms of awareness campaigns targeted toward thorough sensitization of the general public on the dangers inherent in the uncalled domestic cum industrial acts.  

      Nigeria as a country can encourage this annual event by implementing severe policies that would help to eradicate all the activities opposing the preservation of the ozone layer such as bush burning, inapt use of generators and other household mechanical devices, coupled with other industrial practices that exhibit carbon-monoxide (smoke) alongside other substances that negatively affect the ozone layer. A strict and formidable law, to be enacted by the legislators, would help to rigorously address the aforementioned anomalies, if duly implemented.

      It’s noteworthy that only a sound value system can guarantee a viable environmental condition, and such cannot be actualized without adequate policies and reorientation. People need to fully comprehend that, excessive amounts of ultraviolet penetration pose both health and safety risks for all organisms, including humans; that, without a protective layer of cloud cover, organisms are vulnerable to the sun’s rays, which can cause skin cancer and contribute to the development of cataracts.

      These rays equally reduce the ability of organisms such as plants and phytoplankton, to reproduce. It may also disrupt the reproductive cycles of fish, shrimp and other shellfishes. On the other hand, air pollution prevents the ozone layer from blocking excessive heat emitted by the sun, which in turn warms surrounding environments, thereby resulting to glacier melt and ice thaws. These, among others, are some vital and basic facts people need to be sensitized on. The Information ministry in collaboration with its Environment counterpart, via the effort of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), would be of immense help in this regard.      

      Considering the social and economic implications of the ozone-layer’s depletion, it’s needless to reiterate that stringent measures and regulations are required with a view to ensuring that the ongoing environmental degradation becomes a thing of the past, towards actualizing a complete hazard-free atmosphere. Think about it!

 

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

(TheMediaAmbassador)
-Researcher, Blogger, Public Affairs analyst & Civil Rights activist-
Chief Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research
& Career Development - Owerri
_____________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
Twitter: @mediambassador 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Impact of Computing on Routine Office Works

IMPACT OF COMPUTING ON ROUTINE OFFICE WORKS

     Computing is simply the activity of using a computer and writing programs for it. It can further be described as any goal-oriented activity that requires as well as benefits from a mathematical sequence known as algorithm, through the use of systems (computers), among other devices alike. The major fields that involve computing include: Computer science, System engineering, Software engineering, and Information technology.   

      Information Technology (IT), or computing generally, has become a veritable and integral part of every business plan coupled with day-to-day office works. From multi-national firms who maintain mainframe systems and databases, to small establishments that own a single computer, IT obviously plays a key role.

      The impact of computing on everyday activity in the office is so vast. Adequate use of computing can enable any firm, regardless of size or status, to handle its human resources effectively. A sound computing would enable the firm to boast of viable and reliable database of the overall staff alongside their designations. It would also help the company to update the database in terms of death rate, employment, transfer, maternity leave, or what have you. By so doing, the establishment would invariably realize the worth of its workforce towards boosting efficiency and job control. The Nigeria’s human resources, for example, can only be aptly handled via computing.

      Similarly, with a proper use of computing, employment process would be carried out expressly by the human resources department. With IT, also known as information systems, job seekers can apply without getting to the firm/office involved, thereby avoiding foreseen congestion that could compound office stress or workload. And, having applied, the various applicants can be easily and properly assessed via the use of computing. We must acknowledge that manual system of interview is no longer in vogue if we intend to get it right, especially in the area of Aptitude Test.

      Management coupled with communication among the staff or between the existing branches of an establishment cannot be overlooked while discussing the essence of computing. Part of management is gathering and disseminating information, and IT can make this routine more accurate by allowing managers to communicate rapidly. Emailing is quick and effective, but the managers can use information systems even more efficiently by storing documents in folders that they share with the employees who need the information. Such activity can be aided with adequate use of networking system.

      Furthermore, how you manage your firm’s operations depends on the information you have. Information systems can offer more complete and recent info, allowing you to operate your firm/office more efficiently. You can use IT to gain a cost advantage over competitors, or to differentiate your firm’s content by offering better customer service. For instance, sales’ data give you insights about what customers are purchasing and let you stock or produce items that are selling well. Hence, with guidance from the IT, you can streamline your operations. Additionally, apt use of IT would enable the firm to easily reach out to the public via advertisement, thereby boosting sales or services, as the case may be.

      Computing can equally help you make excellent decisions by delivering all the required information. Decision-making involves choosing a course of action from several alternatives and carrying out the corresponding tasks. If you can boast of accurate and up-to-date info, you can make the choice with confidence. If more than one choice seems appealing, you can use the available information system to x-ray different scenarios. For each possibility, the system can calculate key indicators such as costs, sales/services, and profits, toward helping you determine which channel gives the most beneficial result.

      Record purposes are not left out. Your establishment needs records of its daily activities for financial and regulatory purposes, and for ascertaining the causes of problems towards taking corrective measure. Computing enables the firm to store the needed documents as well as revisit histories, communication records, and operational data. The trick to exploiting this recording capability is organizing the data and using the system to process and present it as useful historical information. You can use such information to prepare cost estimates and forecasts, and to analyze how your actions affected the key indicators of the firm.

      In spite of the overwhelming positive impact of computing on routine office works, mainly in the areas stipulated above, it’s quite appalling that several establishments or parastatals across the country are yet to embrace the routine. To this end, governments at all levels and other relevant stakeholders are expected to make investors and public servants see the routine as priority with a view to embracing a society where every activity would be done at ease, and in an orderly manner.

     Though the roles of computing in office works can’t be overemphasized, it’s worth noting that a wrong use or application of it can cost the user an untold loss. Thus, every establishment enjoying the services must endeavour to regularly consult professionals as well as train its staff on various computer skills. The impact of computing in the present society remains inevitable, but its wrong use ought to be avoided at all cost. Think about it!  

 

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

(TheMediaAmbassador)
-ICT/Engineering Consultant, Researcher, Blogger, Analyst & Activist-
Founder/CEO, Docfred (Nig.) Ent. - Owerri

____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

http://frednwaozor.blogspot.com
Twitter: @mediambassador