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NIGERIA AT 50- Salient questions to ask

5 decades ago, a product was birthed
Celebration filled the air
Young and old crying for joy
Cities agog for what is called independence

I may not know the true meaning of independence
And I also acknowledge that no nation is and will be truly independent of one another
But I beg to ask the difference between liberty and isolation

While a school of thought views independence to mean liberty
Another take it as mere isolation
Towards what area are we tilt? - Isolation or liberty.

You may want to ask!
Why is Nigeria the beneficiary of the many donor agencies?
Why is Nigeria the recurrent scene in IMF, World bank, and many UN agencies
If truly we claim to have independence
Why are we usually the helped and not the helper?
Why are we the borrower and not the lender?

Because we need help
But needing help is not bad
But trading help is better
If only we have something to offer
Then we become a donor
Not necessarily of money
But we can trade to get foreign currencies
Not cringe to get them.
That is the true language of interdependence

But remember this saying
That we may not be where we want to be
But we are not where we used to be
We may not be in the sky scrapper community
But we are neither in huts or shallows

We may not be riding the best cars
But we are no longer riding the carts and the wheels
For this reason,
We have a cause to celebrate

50 years of learning lessons
They say a fool at 50 is a fool forever
Fellow compatriots, the fool will not be the name Nigeria
The fool will be the people of Nigeria
The fool will be you and I

So lets refuse to be a fool
Let’s rise up to build a better nation
Not by mouth participation
And public analysis
But by contribution with audacity
Making our stands sure and our positions firm
Integrity is the key

From the progeny of our national flag
We stand for faith unity peace and progress
Do you see a new Nigeria?
That is a measure of your faith!

Can we as Yorubas, Hausas and Ibos live together as one?
Are we going to do away with words like zoning formula and begin to adopt independent candidacy?
For all of a truth, what will be the essence of zoning formula, if Nigeria is one body?
Do you see a new Nigeria
Where your candidacy for elections will not be based on your money or origin of a particular state, but on the measure of your contribution and impact to that area?
Do you believe together we can achieve more?
That’s the measure of our unity?

Can we restore peace to Niger Delta?
Can we stop the jos crisis?
Can we drive on the roads without budgeting the N20?
Will you need to contest elections without using bullet-proof cars?
That’s the measure of our peace.

Do we have a strategic goal as a nation?
Are we moving towards that goal or just moving?
The closer we are to that goal, the more we make progress
But do we really know our strategic goal?
Where are we heading?

We hear of vision 2020…the 7 point agenda and the likes
Where is our strategy..
How do we get there?
What will be the responsibility of corporate offices?
What will be the responsibility of government?
What will be your own responsibility?

Let me close with this…
If a large ship wants to wreck in the middle of an ocean
And the ship is said to be independent
So it does not need any rescue
And the occupants are large but do not know what to do
What will you call that?
…..foolishness I guess
But we are not far from that.
we are large….the giant of Africa they call us!
we are skilled to save our ship!
If Nigeria is that ship on the verge of wrecking
We are the occupants…
And we do not need help from any where…
What shall we do….?
Everybody becomes the sailor
But with specific duty and contributions
What will be your duty in saving the new Nigeria?
What will be your duty in saving the wreck of Nigeria?
What will be your duty in saving your state?
More importantly, what will be your duty in saving yourself?
Nigeria needs you and I
Lets join hands to build a great Nigeria

(SONG)
We are the one …..
We are the people..
We are the one to make a new Nigeria
So let’s start working
There is a joy it brings to you
In shaping Nigeria
To be a better place for you and me

November 18, 2010 | 3:30 AM Comments  0 comments

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2009 INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY – THE ABUJA EXPERIENCE
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic


Just saw my friends tweet that he was on his way to the eagle square. “wow! That sounds nice” I thought.

I took off and fled like an eagle bird and headed for the eagle square, which plays host to many national and international events in the Country.

However, I got down and saw apparently no sign of celebration happening there. “let me get closer and see” I soliloquised. Moving some meters forward towards the entrance, I saw the contingents from some states of the federation scantily dispersed around the parking lots, rehearsing their lines and decorating their carnival floats.

Finally, I was at the right place. It was 11.00 am by my clock and nothing was close to happening. The participants present could not even fill one of the pavilion where the bullet-proof glass demarcations were located. I was thinking the programme could possibly be a late afternoon event but was soon disillusioned when the programme kick-started with the few contingents from less than 23 states of the federation at about 1.00pm. Then I began to ask the questions – why do we have so poor state representations at the event? Could it be that the rest states were not invited or the states could not honour such invitation? Whatever the answers are, one thing was clear, the event, an annual event, once in the year, with global reckoning could not have meant less in the eyes of the States Ministries of Youth.
Be that as it may, one would have expected that youths from within Abuja will troop in en-mass and celebrate their day. However, the apartheid attitude of youth indexed by their low turn-out in the event was a pointer to two facts - either the youths are not happy for some particular reasons and developments in the country, or the federal ministry in charge ever hesitated publicity. Even with that, what will it cost the ministry to write some schools in Abuja and surrounding states (Nassarawa, Benue, Kogi and Niger) or even the NYSC to mobilize a select few delegates to the event. Am sure the youth corpers will be particularly care to attend.


Still pondering on the answer? Well, let me help you by saying the mood and tempo of the speaker of the National Youth Parliament (NYP) demonstrated a lot answering clues to the questions. First, He didn’t sit at the VIP’s segment until he was introduced, while some friends encouraged him to agree with the plea to join the high table. Reluctantly, he joined and acknowledged everybody on the high seat.

Similarly, when he was invited to deliver his speech, he was the first and only person to speak (and not deliver speech) offhand and passionately from his heart. You could read it in his lips that he was far from happy. But at the same time, he enjoyed his speech, ata least by mentioning that education can nail boko haram and Niger delta if the ASUU situation is addressed. That accorded him applause and a few ovations from participants, for his boldness to speak frankly on the issue.

In all, Benue State, Rivers, and Delta States emerged with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions respectively in the carnival anniversary dance and march pass. While Benue went with the sum of one hundred thousand naira, Rivers went with seventy five thousand naira and Delta went with fifty thousand naira. The presence of the UNFPA Country director and her team who came before the minister could not go unnoticed or unapplauded.

August 14, 2009 | 8:50 AM Comments  0 comments

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THE BIGGER IS NOT ALWAYS THE BETTER: LESSONS FROM MY TRAINING
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

THE BIGGER IS NOT ALWAYS THE BETTER: LESSONS FROM MY TRAINING

Sometimes, the bigger is not always the better. The reason for this could not be far-fetched. After a thorough navigation of 4 major cities in Nigeria, I was finally lucky to be selected alongside one of my friends as one of the Industrial Trainees at the National Hospital, located in the heart of Abuja –Central Business District.

Hardly had I kick-started when I started grumbling about the work ethos, respect and potentials. I discovered that being a medical establishment did not distinguish it from the attendant bureaucracy, disrespect, poor co-ordination and management issues associated with many of its counterpart in the ministries.

I was particularly unperturbed with the no-pay policy, believing the experience I would acquire would compensate for my personal expenses. I was however shocked to the marrows at the level of exploitation of Industrial Trainees without commensurate experience garnered to cushion that effect. Students would carry out the physically demanding activities without even ‘knowing what we were doing’. We could not explain the theoretical and medical basis for our activities. At some point, all the students were having the same complaint- “they are not teaching us anything”.

Personally, the highpoint of it was when my laboratory Chief threatened to slap me for not ‘attending to all patients at a go’ I then gave it a re-think. Is it worth the course? With that, I gave it a probation time after which I would back out if changes were out of view. A week later, I approached my lab Chief for a day off to enable me submit some documents at school so that I would be assigned a school supervisor to visit me at my workplace.

To my amazement, he rejected my application, blatantly requested that I see my supervisor before he could do anything. I did understand he was following ‘protocols’. The same protocol was however waved for a colleague of mine who was apparently the errand boy for the laboratory chief – getting soft drinks and credit cards for his girlfriend when they visit. The colleague had verbally taken a 3-day off which was granted without having to write any of such letters or see any supervisor.

However, I was being careful not to be hasty at deciding, so I called one of my sisters and discussed with her. Her reply ”Akin, there’s no point still staying, just leave” gave me so much relief that I felt soothed. I then proceeded on my journey and had to deliver a presentation at a seminar on business development that weekend. That was another relieving experience for me sufficient to justify my travelling. Though I had financial bills to pay for that, I derived joy and satisfaction.

Call it a double blessing and I would agree. “Hello, would you mind joining my company at our holiday retreat we are having in Ada, Osun State? I have spoken to my boss about you and he is enthusiastic you’ll be speaking before his presentation”. That was the voice of my sister in a telephone call I received on my way to the school. For me, that would be hectic but delightsome. I sounded a big ‘yes’ not minding the rigours I would have to go through.

“Cookoo rooh koo” That was a beginning of a new day. I was meant to have the presentation in the morning so I quickly tidied up the last bit of it. We had a breakfast meeting with the organisers and it was wow! I arrived back into the hall some minutes to the termination of the first presentation. “I need a friend… I need a friend…” That was the opening for my presentation. It was so slamming that some of the participants came to tell me “I like the passion with which you deliver”. I didn’t actually expect less. It was a material that took me about 3 months to draft the content and design.

I learned from this that you receive comfort and accolades for doing what interests you and you get physical pains and derogation for forcing yourself into an unknown field. Too boring it was! Similarly, you’ll be ready to make sacrifices only for things that interest you, your passion. Thirdly, you get a surge of energy to get going in your field even when it is not ‘logically’ or ‘physically’ possible. Above all, I noticed when friends come to hear you are observing your training in Abuja, they scream. When they get to hear the establishment, they say ‘congrats man, you are the luckiest guy’ but when you compare their stipend and experience earned with yours; you’ll agree with me that big names are not big pockets or experience. In order words, the bigger is not always better.

August 6, 2009 | 5:41 AM Comments  0 comments

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RE: Professionalism of Highest Order
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Hi all,

It was quite interesting to read in papers of disgraceful acts of our politician in the hood. I mean it depicts the level of desperation and ardent stickling our Nigerian politicians are to politics. Not in good turn, but still interesting is the fact that the bean is cooked by politicians, eaten by politicians and spilled by politicians.

That may however not be surprising to any NAIJA person who's watched the trend of events in recent times, even though, still 2 years far from a new election. However, what may be of great concern is the way the media has been covering the events between the embattled house of assembly member and the Governor of Ogun state.

For God's sake, what gratifying reason whatsoever, would a national newspaper like Compass newspaper advance for publishing the whole picture of a man entirely nude. Not just would that act be called unprofessional but suspicious. Little wonders why some people came out with the position that the governor is the major stakeholder, I mean owner of the newspaper publication.

I the spirit professionalism, I think the Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ) has a lot of investigation to do into the conduct of that reporter. not just alleging him to be soponsored but digging his political interest. The Nigerian re-branding project is still on, and if some escapees are found on the edge of lawless acts, then the whole idea will be contrasting, particularly debranding.

Just let's do our own part
One thing I know for sure,
No mater your desperation in acheiving a feat,
You will only be buried with 2 feet -
Your left and posibly your right one,
That is if not amputated by law or stricken by sickness.
Best burials so far.

July 3, 2009 | 9:07 AM Comments  0 comments

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YES AT HEART, NO IN MOUTH…hiding your emotions
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

YES AT HEART, NO IN MOUTH…hiding your emotions

They’ve been together for 3 years running. Regarded as best of friends by all and sundry, the truth which they both admit, yet…
They have been nicknamed husband and wife, girlfriend and boyfriend, yet…
They have known each other so well to their houses and people, yet…
Well, you may say ‘why didn’t they define their friendship?’ - your guess is as good as mine.
Or how do you describe it if he’s been her chief adviser about her boyfriend vis-à-vis she is to him about his girlfriend.

This scenario is not strange to many of us. At least, if there were no gatecrashers, there would be no heart mangers (who cushions your heart when your boyfriend breaks it). Come to think of it, is there any word like boyfriends/girlfriends? It’s better made an issue of latter discuss.

Just one question keeps begging for ideal answers within my heart. Ideal – because I have had many answers already, but how ideal are those answers?

Why is it that when a guy asks a lady out, the answers are always pending? I mean pending – even if you’ve known each other for long, say three years. Just like the scenario above. The guy later asked her out and as usual – “I need to think about it”, was her reply. Even when she has thought over it severally in her imagination their entire three years of togetherness! Or is it possible that it never crossed her mind he could ask her out in the entire years? Funny enough, her ‘yes’ has been prepared in the last three years, why then would she say ‘no’ in the first place?

Not only did she delay for weeks, her mouth was friendly with initial ‘no’ while her heart was beating- ‘yes, yes…’ all this is the time!

It has become more of a law than principle to have ladies delay to communicate their usual initial ‘no’, expecting the guy to persist – sort of branding themselves while putting him in the ‘begging’ mood?
Hear their reasons: ‘Agreeing on the spot makes me look cheap and weak’. Good answer, but I’d rather it’s not ideal enough for the 3-year observing kind of guy. That cheap thing was a trash! In short, pending means ‘no’ especially if you still wait to be pestered and reminded over and over again.
Isn’t it funny? – Your best friend for 3 years. You think he doesn’t know what’s cheap in you or your weak points all these years? That’s not a point! Think about it.
Next, he asks why you are saying no. You want to be smart with him; hence you retort, “I’m already engaged”. Gosh! That’s another blunder you just committed. I may not know the right answer/excuse you could give to ward a guy off, but I am sure of one thing. Tell him you are engaged and you just opened the discussion game for him freely. “Of course I don’t expect a pretty lady like you, intelligent, vibrant…to be single at this age, except there is a problem you don’t want to discuss…” you can imagine a million ways he picks up from there. The truth is your answer was meant to ward him off but it is his most expected answer, to which he has rehearsed possible techniques to sort that out.

Some ladies also think it’s terrible to have such guy as a friend who’s not talking for three years. Well, you may be right but I challenge you – how many of you or your friends are not gatecrashers or gamblers in relationship? You don’t have bystanders who you just think – he would be a right click in case this one fucks up even if he never asked you out. You call it deputy or assistant boyfriend/girlfriend. Besides, you don’t marry your enemies, you marry from your friends and it could be any of them, no matter how close you think you are.
Before I run short of ink, a word for the ladies - remember the men are wired to be impatient naturally, so don’t delay or expect to be pestered to talk. The next time you see the guy, he may just be talking something else while you keep looking to his face, expecting him to ask again and again.

To the guys – abeg, no dey shield these ladies from prospects if you no dey do now. Allow guys who gree do some chance so the lady is not at loss. In short, stop shielding!
Do you think ladies who are interested should ask the guys out? Text first
Name /phone number to +2348066868276.

December 17, 2008 | 10:30 AM Comments  0 comments

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