Tools for Human Coexistence

FOUR VITAL TOOLS AVAILABLE FOR HUMAN COEXISTENCE


Brethren, for human beings to coexist harmoniously irrespective of the nature of the relationship and their individual status, there must be certain tools/parameters that should not be taken for granted. And they are: kindness, appreciation, commendation, and apology.

During the creation of mankind, he was furnished (garnished) with various idiosyncrasies that discharge the above spices/recipes to ensure the sustenance of human existence.

Let’s take our time to factor out the basic definitions of the stated tools considering the context this edition is representing, or where the writer is coming from. Kindness is the quality of being gentle, caring, and helpful. Appreciation is the expression of gratitude over a certain kind gesture displayed by someone. Commendation is the praise(s) someone receives from someone else or group of persons due to the remarkable act displayed by him. While, apology is something that you say or write in order to tell someone that you’re sorry for having hurt him or caused him trouble.

Let me begin with kindness. In a nutshell, this really has to do with caring; and caring is affection, help, and sympathy. So for one to be referred to as a caring person, he must be affectionate, helpful and sympathetic. We must try to showcase our caring quality to each other at all times. That’s where love comes in. Thus, we should ensure that we love our fellow creatures. This’s why the Holy Bible instructs every living soul to love his neighbour like himself (1Jn 4:7-8). We must respect the Almighty because He’s the Supreme Being, and as well good. In other words, if you truly love yourself, you must ensure that everyone around you is treated with kindness. You shouldn’t be selfish or greedy. You can only boast that you love someone when his/her happiness is very important to you. And, it’s only love that can ascertain unity. If we don’t love ourselves, we can’t be united. Frankly speaking, most social ills or deviant acts experienced in our society today are not unconnected to lack of love. Therefore, we must cultivate the habit of being kind for the betterment of any society we find ourselves.

I wish to switch over to appreciation. This factor may carry a definition different from the one stated above depending on the context of the debate or deliberation. In this edition, we actually mean, the discharge of gratitude. Many are yet to embrace the importance of this tool (appreciation). Phrases such as, “Thank you, God bless you, or may God reward you,” may seem meaningless to us, but they’re deeply meaningful. If you receive any gift from someone, don’t hesitate to say, thank you or any of the above. You’ll lose nothing if you discharge such phrase, rather, it’ll add a lot to what you already have. Believe it because it’s a fact. Honestly, a sincere gift comes from the heart. And anything that comes from or lies in the heart is being controlled by love because love is an action of the heart. So no matter how little a gift might be, don’t fail to appreciate it. Even if you don’t like the gift, do not allow your countenance to inform the donor that you’re not comfortable with it. In this case, the most mature thing to do is to accept the gift with a cheerful look which would automatically shows that you welcome the kind gesture. Having collected the gift, you may have someone else around you who would cherish the item more than you expect. We all are not same or equal, by choice or material possession respectively. That’s how we were created; naturally, we’re being guided by such rule or phenomenon. Such approach (appreciation) is also applicable if one does something nice to you or any of your relatives.

Let’s talk about commendation. The similarity between this and appreciation is that both lay emphasis on eulogies. But the difference lies in the language, and the occasion at which they’re required. Commendation is used when the effort or kind gesture is received either directly or indirectly. That is, sometimes you may not have any personal dividend from the effort (gesture). For instance, when a brother or cousin of yours just finished building his home or place of residence, courtesy demands that you go to him and say, well done! Such effort could only be beneficial to you indirectly. But the fact remains that, there’s no personal benefit attached to it. Thus, unlike appreciation which goes or comes up only when the gesture in question is beneficial to your person, commendation could be used/cited in various circumstances. In other words, commendation could be used in several kinds of circumstances. Summarily, we ought to continually commend (appreciate) one another; our siblings, parents, children, and/or leaders. You can even commend yourself each time you undergo something challenging.

Let’s take a ride to apology; the last on my list, but not the least. In the same vein, the phrase “I’m sorry,” should be the action of the mind and heart, and not that of the mind alone. Meaning; it has to do with reasoning and total submission. Apology usually comes or set in when one must have done something wrong. And, it’s only a reasonable person that realizes when something is or goes wrong. That’s where mind comes in. But there’s more attached to the action of the mind, which is honesty and compassion. And, this’s the action of the heart. You don’t just say ‘sorry’ each time you go wrong because you feel that would soothe the mood of the recipient. In addition, you’ve to express that with extreme sincerity. It’s only a sincere apology that showcases true remorse. And a true remorse shows that, such would not repeat itself. Let me quickly draw your attention to a very remarkable scene of one of the American (Hollywood’s) seasonal films, Prison Break, I took my time to watch; in that scene, one of the characters states that, “If you wanna restore dignity, you need to take action. Making amends requires much more than saying, I’m sorry. It means learning to change. The most important thing is that, you display honesty, courage and compassion when you extend your apologies. You need to earn your forgiveness…” Let’s always embrace the use of sincere apology which has the tendency of saving many from apoplexy. More so, one can say that he’s sorry even when he truly knows that he never did something wrong to the partner in question. Mind you, ‘I’m sorry’ doesn’t really mean that you were wrong; it simply means that you adore the friendship/relationship and would never want to lose it.

Brethren, I bet you, our entire existence here on earth can never be successful and fruitful as we anticipate if we fail to embrace the four tools/parameters discussed above. Honestly I’m not here to mesmerized your mood, but to put you in the right direction. Think about it!

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FRED D.N NWAOZOR

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Politics & Society

POLITICS AND SOCIETY: INTERWOVEN HERITAGE


According to BBC English Dictionary, “Politics is the actions or activities which people use to achieve power in a country or organization.” It is also “your beliefs about how a country or society should be governed.” On the other hand, “A society is an organization for the people who have the same interest or aim.”

The above definitions have proven to us that, politics and society are intertwined. This is possible because, they have something in common which is ‘people or man’.

Any given society is dominated by man, and politics is experienced or practised by man. Therefore, we could simply say that, both phenomena have something in common. This analogy makes politics to be closely related to any given society in the world. In a nutshell, politics or politicking can only take place in a society, and nowhere else. Thus, any society witnesses the impacts of politics on every bit of man’s struggle, because, politics as a discipline takes place only in a society and it’s being practised by man who is the major constituent of any society.

Furthermore, politics is strictly dependent on a society, and vice-versa because, a society will never be accommodating if politics which is aimed at achieving man’s wants or desires is not being practised in it. So, man whom is known as one who has a dominant position in a society is in a better point to determine or predict the subsequent nature of his immediate society. And , this cannot be achieved without the application of politics. In other words, politics and society are interdependent.

Any society in which politics is not being practised should be referred to as a dead society, because a society with zero-politics would not experience leadership struggle, or man’s struggle for survival which is done with political acumen. More so, a society without a leader is aimless. So there is no atom of possibility of having a society with zero-politics.

The above fact would be what led to the popular quote of the late famous philosopher, Plato, which states that, “Every human being is a political animal.” As we all know, every society is made of human beings and other creatures, as the case may be. Thus, a society with zero-politics or with no trace of politics does not exist. Q.E.D!

Politics in many ways, has impacted positively towards the betterment of any society. By it means, life has been easier for mankind to pass through. It has made him to be able to pursue his goals by the means of a wonderful plan or strategy. If a proper or adequate plan towards the attainment of a certain height/point is being initiated and carried out, you will agree with me that, there would be a near possibility of taking the dream in question to the history book. Since we all have dreams, therefore in one way or the other, we tend to embrace politics knowingly or unknowingly.

Apart from the positive impacts of politics on mankind, and the society at large, it had also impacted negatively to the well-being of man on earth. In the world today, politics has been abused in the highest order. It is through politics or by politicking that most of the global crises take place. It has led to so many calamities such as election rigging, the use of politics as a business platform, hiring of thugs during elections, insecurity experienced by many genuine aspirants, to mention but a few. Though the above societal odds are mainly caused by the institutional (practising) politicians. That is, those who have been accustomed to politicking, or whom politics has become their way of life.

Institution of politics has led to loss of millions of lives. In any existing country in the world, each day there’s a tendency of losing a soul due to politics because there’re thousands of organizations in each of these countries. Of course, virtually all organizations practise leadership struggle; except family whose leader has already been ordained by God. In addition, any organization comprises of several desirous individuals; the aim of every desirous person is to become a leader. And, leadership cannot be achieved without observing politics.

Therefore I put it up to you that, politics is not just a developmental instrument but as well a menace to any society. In other words, it can also be referred to as a dirty game. Nevertheless, for the fact that politics/politicking has led to so many social-vices should not make us forget so soon that, our entire welfare is strictly dependent on it. That is, politics has proven to us that without it, we cannot properly articulate our ideas or feelings which is the most fundamental means to any societal development; because without an idea, one cannot have a plan. Suffice to say that, an idea is the bedrock of the implementation or initiation of any plan/project, system, or law as the case may be. And it’s only by proper implementation of a certain plan that, a better or conducive society could be actualized/witnessed.

On the above note, one ought to at all times acknowledge the fact that, anything that seem to have an advantage must surely have a disadvantage. Thus, merit and demerit are also interwoven.

At this juncture, I wish to state unequivocally that we have succeeded in coming up with a fact that, every individual on earth is an initiate in the world of politics. Or what do you think?



FRED D.N NWAOZOR

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Unemployment in Nigeria

THE DEVASTATING EFFECT OF UNEMPLOYMENT


Please if I don’t say, “welcome,” don’t forget that you’re highly welcome. Such necessary and very important approach (welcome) could easily skip one’s mind due to the mood of this edition. Though going by the caption of the edition, any full-fledged Nigerian might decide to overlook the context because it’s no longer news. But believe me, it sounds horrible to the ears of those who know where we’re from and where we’re actually heading to.

Barely two days ago at about six thirty in the morning (6:30 am), I received a phone call from a good friend of mine after saying my usual morning prayers. After our usual phone interactions coupled with some jokes, he hurriedly informed me that the Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan lacked adequate advisory crew; thereby, had failed Nigerians. He added that, as the President of the country, he (Jonathan) was visionless. Still on the phone conversation, I tried to understand the angle he was coming from by asking him to expatiate his hypothesis. You know as an analyst, you shouldn’t expect me to be informed in a hurry.

My friend went further to back-up his antagonistic theory with few facts. Though he concluded by telling me that, he loved Goodluck Jonathan, as a person, with tremendous passion; stating that he had been following his foot-steps right from his (Jonathan’s) class/lecture room days. In his opinion, one of the vital points he made was that he anticipated that, Mr. President’s primary aim would be to revive the education sector since he had been in the system. He said that if the issue of education decay and power instability could be adequately tackled, the reoccurring scene of unemployment would be a thing of the past. He added that, from his imagination or experience, there would be no time Nigeria as a country could boast of employing all youths/graduates in the country because the available manpower or labour force will continue to supersede the existing industries (ventures) due to overpopulation and rapid increase of immigration. From his view, the only answer to our plight is self-reliance which could only be actualized by sustaining adequate education coupled with skill acquisition, and above all, power stability. Due to time frame, he promised that there would be a second phase of the discussion in regard to unemployment.

Injecting antagonism/criticism in any existing system may not mean that you’re against any individual rather, a particular administration or policy just like that of my friend as stated above. Thus, a certain criticism could be positive/constructive or negative (destructive). If the former becomes the case, mind you, it helps to strengthen a given system or administration; and that is the angle where most activists are, or had been, coming from. So don’t be myopic. At this juncture, I wish to begin my analysis based on the context of this edition.

Unemployment is a situation or circumstance in which people are willing and able to work, but there is no available job for them. In a concise sentence, someone who is unemployed wants to work but cannot get a job. For over the years, Nigeria has been singing this chorus that is detrimental to the health of her citizenry. In other words, a deadly catastrophe.

As a patriotic analyst, my optimum interest in any existing societal ill which I’m deliberating on lies in the cause(s), and the remedial measure(s) that ought to be taken. On this note, I wish to unequivocally state that, the basic causes of the aforementioned disease/phenomenon are lack of adequate education or skill acquisition and insufficient (inadequate) power supply. I quite agree with my friend; he was really coming in the same direction with me. Brethren, many had spoken on this issue (unemployment), many are still speaking, while many are yet to speak. It’s my time to analyze. Yes, I had been watching like a watch dog or mere onlooker; it’s high time I spoke as an Apostle of God.

On one fate occasion, I was privileged to interact with one of the participants who happens to be my old time friend right from my university days. Along the line, we ventured into the issue of unemployment. From his point of view, nepotism is one of the major factors that have been posing threats the Nigerian labour market. He further stated that if nepotism is not duly eradicated, the issue of unemployment would generate an untold scene in the nearest future. As an analyst, I wasn’t meant to disprove him, rather, give him a listening ear and as well create a cordial and harmonious relationship throughout the discussion.

Yes, nepotism has been a cankerworm in our labour market. But frankly speaking, it should not in any way be considered as one of the causes of unemployment in Nigeria; needless to say, it’s the major cause as it was viewed by my dear friend. Because, if there’re millions of job opportunities available for the unemployed youths/individuals, unemployment would never in any way be attributed to nepotism. The only avenue it (nepotism) affects the economic system or our labour market is that, most time jobs meant for qualified individuals/graduates are being provided for less qualified applicants thereby promoting quackery.

Due to over-population and its consistent tremendous increase in Nigeria, the only answer to the reoccurring question(s) on unemployment is nothing but ‘self- reliance’. Yes, if every able and reasonable youth in the country can boast of being an employer of labour instead of an employee, then the problem of unemployment has been solved. Making individuals to be job creators rather than hunters is the best and simplest way the above economic predicament could be put to stop, because the actualization of concentration (establishment) of industries/firms owned and managed by the government remains a mirage. Even in the advanced or western nations, it has never worked. For instance, about seventy-five (75%) of the industries in Germany are owned and maintained by the citizens or individuals. But how can this be actualized in Nigeria? Let’s ride on!

For one to be self-employed, he/she must acquire a certain skill. And if such skill leads to possession of a certain venture or enterprise, it can’t be adequately or effectively managed if instability of power supply is experienced in the system. Believe me, total overhaul is required in the Nigerian educational and power sectors. And, complete revolutionary theory must be applied or adhered to, to ensure that tangible result is yielded. On this note, I recommend the book, 'Scentic Scenarios' by Fred Nwaozor to the concerned authorities/agencies. The book gives an insight on the most suitable avenues that ought to be followed by the Nigerian government to ensure that Nigeria witnesses a better and developed socio-economic state/arena.

Nigeria ought to tell herself the truth and embrace a worthwhile scenario that would lead to the nation’s paradise that is long overdue. Most importantly, a collective effort is intensely and drastically required to insert a full stop to this persistent jaundiced appellation that has caused many to live far below the poverty line, one dollar per day, as was stipulated by the United Nations (UN). Think about it!

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COMR. FRED NWAOZOR

frednwaozor@gmail.com