Naija for life!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
AGAINST ALL ODDS!
The time is 10: 20 pm. I’m just finishing a plate of spaghetti when I look up and see the opening montage of a new programme, (at least one I’d never watched before) being run on AIT. It’s titled “Against All Odds”. It turns out to be a programme highlighting the travails and sufferings of certain Nigerians and how they coped and survived against all odds.
Particularly moving was the story of one Chuks. He was born with a physical disability which effectively left him with what I could describe as half of an arm. That is to say, the right arm is just a few inches long; his left arm is missing the whole upper arm. Every other part of his body is apparently normal.
Indeed the sight of him is sure to provoke some concoction of emotion. However one just needs to hear him speak. The eloquence and intelligence his speech exuded was in stark contrast to the appearance of his body. In fact I was taken aback and had to put aside my nearly finished plate of food. This was really interesting. Not only did he sound so intelligent, he also sounded so confident, so full of life and so devoid of the self pity that one would expect.
This young man, it was subsequently revealed, had lived his life like any other normal human being. As a child he would run around with his mates, play football, stomp around in puddles. His disability left him wanting in the coordination and balance required for such activities, so he was always falling. And those falls were really bad for he had no hands to break his fall.
Yet, surviving a very transient period of depression, he went on to attend mainstream schools like Yaba tech, Unilag, pursuing and completing courses in Fine and Applied Arts, and Urban and Regional Planning. He didn’t stop there but decided to go beyond the bounds of his academic achievements and really pursue his dreams.
Today this young man hosts his own TV show that focuses on the challenges the disabled face in Nigerian society. This is a very remarkable and indeed inspiring story. I mean I had to take a good look at myself and see how I had so far under achieved by comparison. I had to ask myself, “What are my perceived disabilities?” - A chronic lack of funds? If my young man (just a year older than me actually), could overcome the lack of two good hands, then, my dear reader, I have no excuse. Neither do you. Mind you overcoming his disability doesn’t mean he got his two hands back. But rather that in spite of being handicapped, he was living a life of achievement and fulfillment.
Therefore stand up today and be determined to survive against all odds!
Particularly moving was the story of one Chuks. He was born with a physical disability which effectively left him with what I could describe as half of an arm. That is to say, the right arm is just a few inches long; his left arm is missing the whole upper arm. Every other part of his body is apparently normal.
Indeed the sight of him is sure to provoke some concoction of emotion. However one just needs to hear him speak. The eloquence and intelligence his speech exuded was in stark contrast to the appearance of his body. In fact I was taken aback and had to put aside my nearly finished plate of food. This was really interesting. Not only did he sound so intelligent, he also sounded so confident, so full of life and so devoid of the self pity that one would expect.
This young man, it was subsequently revealed, had lived his life like any other normal human being. As a child he would run around with his mates, play football, stomp around in puddles. His disability left him wanting in the coordination and balance required for such activities, so he was always falling. And those falls were really bad for he had no hands to break his fall.
Yet, surviving a very transient period of depression, he went on to attend mainstream schools like Yaba tech, Unilag, pursuing and completing courses in Fine and Applied Arts, and Urban and Regional Planning. He didn’t stop there but decided to go beyond the bounds of his academic achievements and really pursue his dreams.
Today this young man hosts his own TV show that focuses on the challenges the disabled face in Nigerian society. This is a very remarkable and indeed inspiring story. I mean I had to take a good look at myself and see how I had so far under achieved by comparison. I had to ask myself, “What are my perceived disabilities?” - A chronic lack of funds? If my young man (just a year older than me actually), could overcome the lack of two good hands, then, my dear reader, I have no excuse. Neither do you. Mind you overcoming his disability doesn’t mean he got his two hands back. But rather that in spite of being handicapped, he was living a life of achievement and fulfillment.
Therefore stand up today and be determined to survive against all odds!
Friday, September 12, 2008
The reality of the NIGER-DELTA!
Guys you just have to check out this site. Dont wanna break any copyright laws otherwise I'd have posted pictures for you to see Niger Delta as it really is. Awesome pictures I must tell you. But, you will see them for yourself. Enjoy.
What is education?
I noticed an interesting trend on the poll I created, about what Nigeria's main problem is and I couldn't pass up making a comment or two. Education(or the lack of it) seems to be winning all the votes.
Though its still early, and not so many votes have been cast since it was created, I must say it's hard to argue with that point. It has been said, "the people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..." Indeed a hell of a lot of Nigerians haven't had the priviledge of a good education, while some simply refuse it, probably cos they dont know its value.
However I will also pose this question and I hope someone will have a suitable answer. What is good education? How is it that some of our so called 'elite' are the very perpetrators of the decay and corruption we see in today's Nigeria? Is it enough to just go to school, get a master's degree and start a life/career? I mean some folks are not illiterate but with all their qualifications and degrees, they aint contributing nothing! Does going to the best schools guarantee that one will make the kind of decisions that will benefit society?
I'm not trying to say education isn't important. but I just wonder if there isn't something more crucial. Well don't mind me and my curious mind. If anyone reads through and has more light to shed on this issue please don't hesitate. I have a feeling something good is bound to come out of this discussion. If we get all the facts straight, one day we might be able to argue our points on a stage that will not fail to get the attention of one or two folks who can really influence the way things are happening in our beloved naija. You dig?!
And please, keep voting!
Though its still early, and not so many votes have been cast since it was created, I must say it's hard to argue with that point. It has been said, "the people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..." Indeed a hell of a lot of Nigerians haven't had the priviledge of a good education, while some simply refuse it, probably cos they dont know its value.
However I will also pose this question and I hope someone will have a suitable answer. What is good education? How is it that some of our so called 'elite' are the very perpetrators of the decay and corruption we see in today's Nigeria? Is it enough to just go to school, get a master's degree and start a life/career? I mean some folks are not illiterate but with all their qualifications and degrees, they aint contributing nothing! Does going to the best schools guarantee that one will make the kind of decisions that will benefit society?
I'm not trying to say education isn't important. but I just wonder if there isn't something more crucial. Well don't mind me and my curious mind. If anyone reads through and has more light to shed on this issue please don't hesitate. I have a feeling something good is bound to come out of this discussion. If we get all the facts straight, one day we might be able to argue our points on a stage that will not fail to get the attention of one or two folks who can really influence the way things are happening in our beloved naija. You dig?!
And please, keep voting!
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
MOTHER IS CRYING...(1)
She wails as though mortally wounded
Tears of blood flow from her sad eyes
Her neigbors watch, all confounded
But they can not hear her sad cries
Dignity is gone, beauty is lost
Her face turned towards the skies
Her children have left her dark and desolate
What shall we do? Mother Africa cries
© Shawn A, 2008
Everyone knows the value of a good mother. And every good child knows that whatever good fortune he achieves in life, tribute must go back to the hands that fed him when he was small and insignificant.
For as many who recieved their nature and nurture from the bosom of the dark continent, and for as many whose origins can be traced to Africa, it is only right that honor be given to whom honor is due. What manner of offspring would, in the time of his prosperity, forget the home he came from and spend his fortune for a foreigner? Imagine a daughter spending her earnings only on the family of her husband, neglecting the needs of her own people. Such a one would be attracting a curse. Abi I lie?
Specifically today, I'm talking about the societal phenomenon popularly called "Brain Drain", the migration (loss is a word I'd rather use) of Africa's intellectual resources to other countries.
“The emigration of African professionals to the West is one of the greatest obstacles to Africa ‘s development". United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
“By failing to offer greener pastures for its own intelligentsia, [Africa] is committing suicide.” Professor Edward Ofori-Sarpong Pro-Vice Chancellor, University of Ghana at Legon
The problem of brain drain has reached quite disturbing proportions in certain African countries with Ethiopia ranked first in the continent in terms of rate of loss of human capital, followed by Nigeria and Ghana.
Over the past 10-15 years, about 50% of Ethiopians who went abroad for training did not return after completing their studies. According to the IOM, Ethiopia lost about 74.6% of its human capital from various institutions between 1980 and 1991. While Ethiopia has 1 full-time economics professor, there are more than 100 Ethiopian economists in the United States.
According to the estimates of the Presidential Committee on Brain Drain set up in 1988 by the Babangida administration, Nigeria, between 1986 and 1990, lost over 10,000 academics from tertiary education institutions alone. Total estimates, including those who left public, industrial and private organizations are over 30,000. 64% of Nigerians in the United States aged 25 and older have at least a bachelor’s degree.
In 1997 only, more than 1,000 professionals left Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe National Association of Social Workers estimates that 1,500 of the country’s 3,000 trained social workers left for the United Kingdom over the past 10 years.
Basically. African countries are funding the education of their nationals only to see them end up contributing to the growth of developed countries with little or no return on their investments.
See the rest of this document-http://web.ncf.ca/cp129/factsandfigures.pdf
Also check out-http://www.emeagwali.com/interviews/brain-drain/education-in-africa-brain-drain-problem-worldnet-africa-journal.html
Lack of adequate and skilled human resources has been identified as a major barrier to effectively tackling the heavy burden of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in African countries. In the health facility where I work for instance, we barely manage to get by on the grossly inadequate numbers of staff we have presently. How easier it would have been to achieve our targets, and deliver optimum quality healthcare to our HIV positive clients if skilled hands in adequate numbers were on deck.
Of course we cannot ignore the issues that underlie this phenomenon. Mother Africa is bedevilled with problems that make "staying at home"very unattractive for those who have the will and the means to escape to greener pastures. Various factors are responsible, such as poor wages, unsatisfactory living condition, under-utilization of qualified personnel, discrimination in appointments (as seen in african countries) as opposed to better working conditions and career opportunities, sufficient funds and support for research, higher standards of living and political stability (in more advanced countries), to mention a few.
These are heavy issues that cannot be ignored. However the question then should be not how to stop the brain drain, but how to turn its effects in favor of Mother Africa.("then it should no more be called brain drain but brain gain")
I have very recently being conducting a personal study on human resources strategies for attracting and retaining suitably qualified personnel in the public sector of african countries. Details of the study will be published in subsequent posts( so help me God).
However I would like responses to the question of human resources and brain drain as a factor in the development of various sectors of our existence. Is the trend irreversible? How can we alter the effects of this drain?
How can we console Mother Africa, wipe away her tears and restore her dignity and beauty?
Tears of blood flow from her sad eyes
Her neigbors watch, all confounded
But they can not hear her sad cries
Dignity is gone, beauty is lost
Her face turned towards the skies
Her children have left her dark and desolate
What shall we do? Mother Africa cries
© Shawn A, 2008
Everyone knows the value of a good mother. And every good child knows that whatever good fortune he achieves in life, tribute must go back to the hands that fed him when he was small and insignificant.
For as many who recieved their nature and nurture from the bosom of the dark continent, and for as many whose origins can be traced to Africa, it is only right that honor be given to whom honor is due. What manner of offspring would, in the time of his prosperity, forget the home he came from and spend his fortune for a foreigner? Imagine a daughter spending her earnings only on the family of her husband, neglecting the needs of her own people. Such a one would be attracting a curse. Abi I lie?
Specifically today, I'm talking about the societal phenomenon popularly called "Brain Drain", the migration (loss is a word I'd rather use) of Africa's intellectual resources to other countries.
“The emigration of African professionals to the West is one of the greatest obstacles to Africa ‘s development". United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
“By failing to offer greener pastures for its own intelligentsia, [Africa] is committing suicide.” Professor Edward Ofori-Sarpong Pro-Vice Chancellor, University of Ghana at Legon
The problem of brain drain has reached quite disturbing proportions in certain African countries with Ethiopia ranked first in the continent in terms of rate of loss of human capital, followed by Nigeria and Ghana.
Over the past 10-15 years, about 50% of Ethiopians who went abroad for training did not return after completing their studies. According to the IOM, Ethiopia lost about 74.6% of its human capital from various institutions between 1980 and 1991. While Ethiopia has 1 full-time economics professor, there are more than 100 Ethiopian economists in the United States.
According to the estimates of the Presidential Committee on Brain Drain set up in 1988 by the Babangida administration, Nigeria, between 1986 and 1990, lost over 10,000 academics from tertiary education institutions alone. Total estimates, including those who left public, industrial and private organizations are over 30,000. 64% of Nigerians in the United States aged 25 and older have at least a bachelor’s degree.
In 1997 only, more than 1,000 professionals left Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe National Association of Social Workers estimates that 1,500 of the country’s 3,000 trained social workers left for the United Kingdom over the past 10 years.
Basically. African countries are funding the education of their nationals only to see them end up contributing to the growth of developed countries with little or no return on their investments.
See the rest of this document-http://web.ncf.ca/cp129/factsandfigures.pdf
Also check out-http://www.emeagwali.com/interviews/brain-drain/education-in-africa-brain-drain-problem-worldnet-africa-journal.html
Lack of adequate and skilled human resources has been identified as a major barrier to effectively tackling the heavy burden of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in African countries. In the health facility where I work for instance, we barely manage to get by on the grossly inadequate numbers of staff we have presently. How easier it would have been to achieve our targets, and deliver optimum quality healthcare to our HIV positive clients if skilled hands in adequate numbers were on deck.
Of course we cannot ignore the issues that underlie this phenomenon. Mother Africa is bedevilled with problems that make "staying at home"very unattractive for those who have the will and the means to escape to greener pastures. Various factors are responsible, such as poor wages, unsatisfactory living condition, under-utilization of qualified personnel, discrimination in appointments (as seen in african countries) as opposed to better working conditions and career opportunities, sufficient funds and support for research, higher standards of living and political stability (in more advanced countries), to mention a few.
These are heavy issues that cannot be ignored. However the question then should be not how to stop the brain drain, but how to turn its effects in favor of Mother Africa.("then it should no more be called brain drain but brain gain")
I have very recently being conducting a personal study on human resources strategies for attracting and retaining suitably qualified personnel in the public sector of african countries. Details of the study will be published in subsequent posts( so help me God).
However I would like responses to the question of human resources and brain drain as a factor in the development of various sectors of our existence. Is the trend irreversible? How can we alter the effects of this drain?
How can we console Mother Africa, wipe away her tears and restore her dignity and beauty?
Sunday, September 7, 2008
THE NIGERIAN SPIRIT
“All my country has is spirit. We don’t have petroleum dollars...or great wealth in the ground...or the support of a worldwide opinion that looks favorably on us. All Israel has is the spirit of its people. And if the people lose their spirits, even the United States of America cannot save us”- Golda Meir, former Israeli prime minister.
The will to succeed is many times the single most important factor in the success stories we read about today. Thomas Edison was said to have made an astounding ten thousand attempts to create the filament light bulb. He didn’t allow the evidences of his failure to discourage him or else I wonder where we would be today without the electric light bulb.
The will to succeed is many times the single most important factor in the success stories we read about today. Thomas Edison was said to have made an astounding ten thousand attempts to create the filament light bulb. He didn’t allow the evidences of his failure to discourage him or else I wonder where we would be today without the electric light bulb.
In today’s Nigeria, there are so many proofs of a failed political and economic machinery- corruption in high and low places; a police force that has virtually become a terrorist entity; poverty and unemployment; rising crime rates; the ‘Never-Expect-Power-Always’ phenomenon; pothole-ridden roads that are guaranteed to wreck your new shock-absorbers, ethno-religious fracas etc.
Across the seas, Nigerians have earned themselves the image of a corrupt, dubious and conniving people. Two years ago, a report by the Merchant Risk Council(MRC), a coalition of over 200 leading online merchants around the world placed Nigeria second on the global electronic fraud list behind Yugoslavia, thanks to our zealous credit card schemers and online crooks. No, Nigeria is surely not the worst or most sinful nation on earth, but in our case, our misdeeds have cast a shadow over the more commendable and decorous things about us.
Looking beyond our failings, we see Nigerians making exemplary achievements both at home and abroad. We have produced great mathematicians, literary giants and renowned artists. In the music industry, we have the likes of Sade Adu, Seal, Fela Anikulapo-kuti etc. In the area of sports, we have distinguished ourselves by a unique flavor of football that is at best times, a delight to watch. Nigerians can be found everywhere great things are being done. There is a certain Remi Adefarasin making a name for himself in the esteemed American movie industry. Our own Agbani Darego brought the Miss World crown to Africa for the first time in the history of the competition. And now Nigeria can boast of her own GSM telecommunications outfit- Globacom, comparable to any other telecoms giant in the world.
This is the message: there is a Nigerian spirit that is better than what people have said it is. We have something within us that is greater than the ignominy that we have earned over the years. For too long we have allowed that spirit to be corrupted by the spirits of selfishness, greed and corruption. We have permitted negativity to influence our hearts and minds.
The spirit of a people is the mind of the people. What is the popular mindset of the Nigerian people? Edmund Burke said, “Tell me what are the prevailing statements that occupy the minds of young men and I will tell you what is to be the character of your next generation”
For so long we have allowed our minds to play host to the notion that we are a corrupt people, devious and full of greed. Indeed that may be the picture we see around us, but change can only come if we renew our minds about our country.
Let me use the fine art artist to illustrate my point. The average artist duplicates what he sees in his environment. On the other hand, a very creative artist can create something out of nothing, beauty out of ugliness. All he needs is a brush and a blank canvas. It is evident that Nigerians are among other things a creative people. Together we can create a better Nigeria out of the ugly one we have now. It will surely take time. Nevertheless, we can succeed. Forget about those people presently corrupting and looting this country. Their generation will soon pass away and the baton of responsibility will be passed to you. What will thou do with it? Will you allow the prevalent spirit of corruption and selfishness consume you too? Or will you permit that creative, indomitable and excellent Nigerian spirit within you manifest for your good and the good of all Nigerians?
The choice is yours!
Rising Above Limitations
Sometimes we are weighed down by perceived limitations. They may be real or imagined, great or small. Grand ideas and glorious dreams are stifled by inner doubts, lack of confidence and seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
This writer knows what it means to live beneath the dark clouds of apparent limitations. For years I saw myself as being hindered by finances, family, lack of opportunity and exposure. But when I heard of Cohbams Asuquo one day, I had to ask myself, “What could be more limiting than the lack of sight?”
Blind from birth, located somewhere in the vivacious city of Lagos, Nigeria, this chap has evolved to become an acclaimed and sought-after music producer and song-writer, comparable in many respects to the great Stevie Wonder. I mean you’ve gotta wonder how a blind guy manages to play the guitar and keyboard so well, or work on a laptop computer or music editing console, chunking out mega hits on the daily, for groups like Maintain and Rooftop MC’s.
And just listen to him speak. In spite of the inability to read by sight, he sounds more eloquent, more put together and more intelligent than brothers who got four eyes in front of them. Obviously this guy has been ‘seeing’ things. Now he lives the kind of well-oiled life that others envy.
So tell me, are there any limitations in life? Are they really real or all in your mind? Consider the likes of Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, Bishop David Oyedepo, and Bill Gates etcetera. Their stories are bound to inspire you and make you see that your present circumstances and limitations are only very illusory. They grew up in dearth and suffered fiery opposition from men. But they considered these mere phantasms, mirages that were bound to vanish and wilt under the force of their dreams.
I have to conclude at this point that the only restrictions we have are the ones we acknowledge in our minds. Nothing is impossible. All things are possible to him that believes and to him that is willing to persevere until his change comes. And it will surely come because no condition is permanent. Where you are today is where you thought you’ll never be. Tough times never last, but tough people do.
This writer knows what it means to live beneath the dark clouds of apparent limitations. For years I saw myself as being hindered by finances, family, lack of opportunity and exposure. But when I heard of Cohbams Asuquo one day, I had to ask myself, “What could be more limiting than the lack of sight?”
Blind from birth, located somewhere in the vivacious city of Lagos, Nigeria, this chap has evolved to become an acclaimed and sought-after music producer and song-writer, comparable in many respects to the great Stevie Wonder. I mean you’ve gotta wonder how a blind guy manages to play the guitar and keyboard so well, or work on a laptop computer or music editing console, chunking out mega hits on the daily, for groups like Maintain and Rooftop MC’s.
And just listen to him speak. In spite of the inability to read by sight, he sounds more eloquent, more put together and more intelligent than brothers who got four eyes in front of them. Obviously this guy has been ‘seeing’ things. Now he lives the kind of well-oiled life that others envy.
So tell me, are there any limitations in life? Are they really real or all in your mind? Consider the likes of Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, Bishop David Oyedepo, and Bill Gates etcetera. Their stories are bound to inspire you and make you see that your present circumstances and limitations are only very illusory. They grew up in dearth and suffered fiery opposition from men. But they considered these mere phantasms, mirages that were bound to vanish and wilt under the force of their dreams.
I have to conclude at this point that the only restrictions we have are the ones we acknowledge in our minds. Nothing is impossible. All things are possible to him that believes and to him that is willing to persevere until his change comes. And it will surely come because no condition is permanent. Where you are today is where you thought you’ll never be. Tough times never last, but tough people do.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)