Analysis I Criticism And Nation Building

CRITICISM AND NATION BUILDING

         

By Fred Nwaozor

 

Criticism can be defined as the expression of disapproval of someone or something. In the same vein, a critic of a person, policy or system disapproves of them and expresses such view publicly.

         

One who writes reviews and expresses opinions about books, films, music or any art work having considered it carefully can equally be referred to as a critic. Hence, it’s all about expressing a contrary view about something or someone in strong terms.

          

The last time I checked, criticism remained a matter of flushing out certain thoughts, policies and/or attitudes, or trying to change them. It is to show that things are not as self-evident as one believes.

          

Thus, criticism ensures that what is accepted as self-evident will no longer be accepted as such. It suffices to say that observance criticism in any society is a matter of making facile gestures or remarks difficult.

           

Criticisms are veritable recipes in any area of human endeavour. For instance; in steward-client relationship, if the latter has a criticism to tender, it means he or she wants to give feedback on the services being rendered to him/her, thereby creating an opportunity for the former to learn more about the person he is working for and how to convert them into a satisfied client member. Same measure is applicable in a trader-customer relationship.

           

Similarly, in business venture, working or partnering with someone who is patient and able to receive as well as act on criticism signifies that both parties involved can work towards a better or greater outcome. Furthermore, in movie production, criticism enables the producer to know what his audience actually wants.

          

If one always thinks he is right but doesn’t get feedback from anyone else, he wouldn’t know if he is really doing well. Whether you are selling, servicing, performing, or leading, listening and acting on those honest views or reactions will tell you precisely what is good and what could be done better. Perhaps, you can use the information to change your performance, exhibition or product, as the case may be.

          

In public service, criticism has the tendency of guiding the public servants away from bad practices, and towards good and acceptable ones. It would enable the said workers to take a step back or have a rethink with a view to making amends or adjustment where need be.

         

The socio-political arena is not left out while discussing the inevitable role of criticism in nation-building. Undoubtedly, a little constructive criticism from the members of the public such as the civil society groups, the electorate, the religious organizations, or what have you, channelled towards the political office holders can yield the anticipated change in the country or society in question.

         

Considering the positive impact of constructive criticism, there is no gain reiterating the fact that it is indeed a welcome gesture or required factor toward the socio-economic development of any nation; hence, ought to be sustained. To this end, there is need for us to acknowledge that the language we use in response to criticism is vitally important.

           

Whenever criticism is tendered by any concerned individual or group, the recipient is expected to try at all cost to avoid getting into an argument. Instead, they should turn the exchange into a discussion on how to resolve the predicament. Such approach would keep the door open for the required change.

           

Also, criticisms are not meant to be taken personally. Even if one feels he or she is being criticized unfairly, he shouldn’t retaliate with an extreme knee-jerk reaction. Such response will worsen the situation and can even harm the person’s reputation as well. Therefore, it is essential to always remember to not be offended by someone’s remarks even if you think it is a personal attack.

          

On the other hand; having noted the enormous significance of constructive criticism in nation-building, there is also a compelling need for the critics to be mindful at all times when tendering their criticisms. They ought to know when to tender the criticism and how it ought to be presented.

           

It’s worthy of note that some critics lack the orientation on when and how to present their criticism. This set of persons invariably tender their contrary opinions as a form of antagonism thereby making the supposed recipient misunderstand the gesture.

           

More so, critics are meant to comprehend that criticism is expected to be accompanied by the presumed remedy to the anomaly that is being criticized. Most so called critics usually end up raising a cloud of dust in the name of criticism.

           

Unequivocally, a criticism that is not tendered with a presumed solution to the problem being criticized is simply a mere noise that is intended to cause a pandemonium or controversy rather than addressing the situation at hand.

         

In view of these assertions, everyone at all levels including political leaders, followers, craftsmen, traders, businessmen, teachers and public servants, as might be the case, is expected to take criticism seriously regardless of the circumstance in order not to abuse the remarkable tool.

        

Criticism is arguably a veritable device but is required to be deployed reasonably and selflessly. Think about it!

Comrade Nwaozor, a policy analyst & rights activist, is 

National Coordinator, Right Thinkers Movement

_________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador            

DeckTeck I Periodic Table And The New Elements

PERIODIC TABLE AND THE NEW ELEMENTS

           

By Fred Nwaozor

For those who are science-inclined, particularly chemists as well as Chemistry-oriented students and researchers, four new chemical elements were officially and permanently added to the Periodic Table of elements on 30^th November 2016, thereby creating a new face in the world of physical sciences and technology in general.

          

The Periodic Table is a tabular arrangement of chemical elements in columns and rows in accordance with their atomic numbers – number of protons, electron configurations as well as recurring chemical properties.

          

The order of arrangement signifies periodic trends. The vertical columns are known as ‘groups’ whereas the horizontal rows are called ‘periods’. Within each row (period), the elements are metals on the left and non-metals on the right.

           

Earlier in January 2016, it was announced that four new elements had been discovered, subject to earn a permanent spot on the periodic table with elements 113, 115, 117, and 118 rounding out the seventh row. At the time, they all had temporary names and symbols. But at the moment, they enjoy new and permanent names namely, Nihonium, Moscovium, Tennessine, and Oganesson.

          

Teams of researchers from the United States (US), Russia, and Japan have been credited with the discovery of these new elements, thus were given the naming rights – which come with some basic criteria.

          

As stipulated by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), the body responsible for confirming the discovery of new elements, any new element must be named after any of the following: a mythological concept or character, including an astronomical object; a mineral or similar substance; a place or geographical region; a property of the element in question; or, a scientist.

          

The scientists first synthesized the new elements between 2002 and 2010, but it wasn’t until December 2015 that the IUPAC officially recognized the discoveries. Then in June of 2016, the scientists who discovered the super-heavy, highly reactive elements sent IUPAC their suggested names for the elements, based on the aforementioned guideline.

           

After a five-month waiting period when members of the public could ask questions about the new elements or tender contrary view if necessary, as the tradition requested, which expired on 8^th November 2016, the foursome were unanimously approved by IUPAC, formally filling their boxes in Chemistry’s most fundamental table – the Periodic Table.

           

Nihonium of atomic number 113 is with symbol Nh, Moscovium of 115 has symbol Mc, Tennessine of 117 goes with symbol Ts, whilst Oganesson of 118 has symbol Og. Nihonium was derived from ‘Nippon’, a Japanese word meaning literally Japan.

           

Moscovium honours the Russian capital city, Moscow.  Tennessine is named after the state of Tennessee, USA known for its pioneering research in Chemistry. According to IUPAC, Tennessine is in recognition of the contribution of the Tennessee region to super-heavy elements’ research.

           

This marks the second US state to be honoured on the periodic table, following California – referenced by Californium (element 98), which was discovered in the 1950s. Similarly, Hassium (element 108) was named after the German state of Hesse.

           

Oganesson is named after the 83-year-old Russian physicist, Yuri Oganessian. History has it that this is barely the second time a new element would be named after a living scientist. The first time such occasion occurred – when in 1993 a team at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory proposed naming element 106 (Seaborgium) after the US nuclear-Chemistry pioneer, Glenn Seaborg – it led to huge controversy.

           

At the time, an IUPAC committee rejected the proposal after passing a resolution that elements were not to be named for living scientists, but the name was later allowed after further critical deliberations.

            

One may wonder why these four elements took so long to make it on the periodic table. Unlike the classics, such as Gold, Iron, and Aluminium, these new elements are not found in nature. They are synthetic elements that can only be created in the lab, and they decay so fast after synthesis. For years, the teams behind their discovery didn’t have an opportunity to get a proper look before they morphed into something else entirely.

           

Kosuke Morita from Japan, one of the scientists that discovered Nihonium, said “For over seven years, we continued to search for data conclusively identifying element 113 but we just never saw another event. However, I was not prepared to give up as I believed that one day, if we persevered, luck would fall upon us again.” Hence, the persistence eventually yielded an absolute success.

           

It’s worth noting that the heaviest element in nature remains Uranium, which has 92 protons. But heavier elements that have more protons in their nucleus can be created via nuclear fusion. The way elements are made nowadays is by shooting a beam of an existing element at another element, and then seeing what happens when they collide.

            

It’s interesting to acknowledge that the Japanese team is now focused on inventing element 119 and beyond. So hopefully, soonest, a dragonian element might be invented.

           

Based on the new incredible development, it’s needless to reiterate that it is high time researchers, teachers and students changed their Chemistry-related text books and research materials. It suffices to say that the country’s schools’ curriculum in regard to Chemistry and other related subjects must be reviewed towards effecting the aforementioned change.

           

Above all, it has become compelling for the government to endeavour to encourage the research works of our various institutions to enable them put the country’s name on the world map as regards scientific discovery. Think about it!

Comrade Nwaozor, a tech expert, policy analyst & rights 

activist, is National Coordinator, Right Thinkers Movement

______________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com 

Twitter: @mediambassador                  

Opinion I Who's Imo Next Executive Governor?

WHO IS IMO NEXT EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR?

        

By Fred Doc Nwaozor

 

The last time I checked, it had conspicuously become compelling for the above question to be tendered before our presence owing to the way and manner everyone has been thriving in recent times.

         

If your thought is as good as mine, then you would wholly agree with me that, at the moment, no other language is understood across Imo State and Nigeria at large, except the language of politics bordering on who becomes what as we approaches the next interregnum.

         

Taking Imo for instance, the most or greatest political position in the state remains the governorship seat. Invariably, whosoever occupies the said post is constitutionally recognized and addressed by all and sundry as the number one citizen of the Eastern Heartland.

          

Little wonder, every discerning mindset looks forward to assuming the position at all cost. And presently, countless Imolites are doggedly aspiring to become an eligible occupant of the position which is domiciled in the state’s seat of power known as the Douglas House.

          

Today, you would hardly see anyone concentrating on any other business, activity or consignment except involving in discussions that have to do with who becomes the next executive governor of the state. Even in various offices situated in any formal setting, every staff is usually seen indulging him/herself in political talks surrounding on who should be the next number one citizen of the state.

         

It suffices to say that the above topic is not unconnected with the current happenings across the length and breadth of the ancient state. At such a time like this, it has become imperative to ask ourselves this question towards ensuring that we do not make any iota of mistake at the fast approaching polls.

         

But, before we answer the question at hand, it would be very vital to equally consider some other pertinent issues. We need to comprehend that tendering the apt answer to the enquiry requires an absolute consideration of some facts, which could be tagged as inevitable.

         

In view of this, we need to adequately take into cognizance that in choosing someone to serve as a governor from every available aspirants, the issue of service must not be swept under the carpet.

        

When I mentioned ‘service’, I meant the ability to serve others; the ability to see yourself as a steward. One of the qualities of a good and sound leader is the act of seeing him/herself as a servant, not a superior. A rational leader must be willing to see himself as an ‘errand boy’.

         

So, if you must choose someone to function as the executive governor of the state, we must be ready to consider the person’s readiness to operate as a servant. In other words, humility ought not to be ignored in such case. It takes only a humble individual to properly serve the general public irrespective of the circumstance.

         

Another issue we mustn’t take for granted is the aspirant’s background or antecedents. It would be a sin and irrational to select an unknown person to serve as the governor of the state. Hence, in making such decision, you shouldn’t forget the need to dig properly towards ascertaining the main root of the aspirant.

        

We need to know and understand what he has been able to achieve in the past, and the means through which he actualized the goal. Therefore, means and goal are in question here. Accomplishing a certain lofty aim is one thing, but the means through which such motive was accomplished is another factor that shouldn’t be overlooked.

          

In the present Nigerian society, many are noted as prosperous and successful individuals. And such persons are being celebrated by everyone who understands what it means to submerge all odds toward emerging a successful person. But as we celebrate, it is equally noteworthy to comprehend that becoming prosperous through dubious avenue does not pay, hence should be condemned by anyone who means well for himself and the society he belongs.

         

Against this backdrop, ascertaining the antecedents of any of these numerous aspirants must include his achievements in life and the avenue through which such was recorded. Taking closer look at this factor would save us from any lamentable situation after the emergence of the chosen one as the governor of the state.

         

So, as we are so keen in choosing among these countless guber aspirants who to succeed Governor Rochas Okorocha, there are factors that must not be compromised in the process. We need to note that any attempt to ignore such unavoidable factors is liable to causing us an untold situation that we shall live to remember.

        

The question before us remains; who is Imo next executive governor? For such a question to be aptly attended to, we are expected not to be biased in any way. In other words, we must jettison anything that would make our mindsets to function one-sided. It suffices to say that the question can only be answered by discerning mindsets.

        

Whether we like it or not, the point is that we must not shy away from attending to such a question at such a critical time like this. It’s worthy of note that, paying an attention to the enquiry would enable us not to make any silly mistake come 2019.

         

At this juncture, I urge us to think wisely before tendering the answer to the above question. A word, they say, is enough for the wise. Think about it!   

Comrade Nwaozor, a policy analyst & rights activist,

is National Coordinator, Right Thinkers Movement

___________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador