Ignorance as a way of life

Some people choose wisdom,

Some choose discipline

Some choose the path of ignorance

Not that they are ignorant

But they choose to act like they are

After all, its not what you know that counts

But what you do with what you know

A man might know the ills of smoking

And even think about it while he is smoking

He might know the ills of unprotected sex

But still dive "skinless" into the laps of a stranger

So is there any difference between one who is truly ignorant

And one who knows but refuses to act on what he knows?

Or maybe he only thinks he knows

True knowledge is like a light

That’s shows the way to go when on unfamiliar terrain

Choosing ignorance is like choosing to enter the darkness

Shunning the light

Doesn’t seem right, or natural

But think about it for a moment

Are we not all guilty of this crime?at some point or another

Have we not chosen our own way

Rather than the higher way?

So why do we do it?

Is it indiscipline, or laziness?

Is it some form of inherent nature?

Is there an intrinsic spirit of rebellion in everyman?

Or are we naturally primed to self destruct?

For some this may be true

But for others, they choose the path of wisdom

They tread the hard and narrow path of discipline

They abhor ignorance and seek for light

To illuminate their way

Why do they do this?

Is it an inborn spirit of obedience to truth?

Or simply a genuine love for self

Or love of life?

Or a hatred of everything that reduces the dignity of life?

Well, the way of man is mysterious

And the deeds of man are manifold

Some choose wisdom

Some choose discipline

Some choose the way of ignorance

What will you choose?

Pray For Nigeria

Sometimes all we can do is just pray.

Pray for the sick and poor. I see them all around me. May God have mercy on us all.

Pray for our leaders. Whenever you get fed up with all their thoughtlessness and evil doings...just pray.

Pray for our youth. It ain't easy to be all you were meant to be in todays Nigeria...but with prayers, doors will open for you and me.

Pray for widows and orphans...may God's mercy and grace shield them from harsh society.

Pray for better roads, better power supply, better hospitals...better society.

Pray for Naija...Why? because God does answer prayers.

Sometimes, it's the only thing left to do!

Naija for life!

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!

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.

http://www.chrishondros.com/work_int/nigeria/nigeria_06.htm

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!

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?