CONSENSUS FOR TRUE CHANGE IN NIGERIA

In the months that have elapsed and the one coming to a gradual close, there have been instances of political clamour and rancour among several partisans. Some of these differences were eventually resolved while others were simply calmed by deeply-rooted stakeholders and kingmakers within the political arena. Conclusively, the foremost political parties in Nigeria have selected their choice aspirants and the time when Nigerians will decide or anoint those who would lead us by mid-2015 is at hand.

The preliminary electoral process which mainly involved the selection of political aspirants in diverse parties were closely observed by young persons around our beloved country. In previous times, young persons were predominantly known to participate in electioneering processes as useable political vices such as violent thugs and aggressive vagabonds. But that story is experiencing a gradual change. It is interesting to note that many youth, particularly from the entertainment industry, made efforts to vie for government positions on the platform of various parties. This action shows that the youth in Nigeria have increased their awareness of civic responsibilities and are ready to gradually receive the baton of leadership. Asides the fact that the youth now constitute the vast majority of the working class or workforce in Nigeria, they are the most unemployed and underemployed Nigerians. Yet, they stand out as a key portion of the electorates.  Therefore, any strategic aspirant who truly desires election or re-election in 2015 must have youth issues both in agenda and at heart.

It is a joyous thing to know that Nigerians are eager to get to the polling booths and vote during the 2015 elections. However, the responsibility of government through its agencies and regulators must help them fulfil that desire. Elections should be free, fair and safe. Citizens should be able to arrive at voting centres and fully enjoy the right to vote and be voted for. Observers must be available at polling booths to assess the standard of actual electoral activities and accompanying events. Already, it is being said that young Nigerians are biased about the outcome of the primaries conducted at various parties. This is because many young aspirants were unable to get the party ticket that should grant them the opportunity to be elected into their desired offices. For instance, the two biggest parties in Nigeria have more politically renowned aspirants representing them at the legislative and executive arms. Even at the gubernatorial level, only a few young aspirants or candidates preferred by the youth have been able to receive nomination tickets.

                While it is our ultimate desire to see our nation prosper with visible evidences at the grassroots, the youth want younger persons to take up responsibility at the gubernatorial and legislative arms of government. In fact, they would really like to see a situation where a female vice president would emerge and definitely long to see a time when a president that is aged 45 years or less would lead Nigeria. It has happened in other countries and continents, and Nigeria being the big brother in Africa can create this paradigm shift. The essence here is not to imply that the quality of leadership is proportional to the actual age of leaders. Rather, it is to remind leaders that the children who were informed that they are the leaders of tomorrow have grown up. The children of yesterday are seeking for the manifestation of unfulfilled promises. They want to know if things in the coffers of leadership are actually as they hear or not. They want to practically understand why things are the way they are. They want to see how they can help solve some of the existing challenges. They are not in a haste to lead Nigeria but they are thirsty to start leading. Haste implies overthrowing leadership but thirst means transfer of baton.

                But leaders must be reminded that lack of voice is not the same as the absence of potential. It is only because the voice of reason is still calming their hearts that the voice of courage has not spoken with corresponding action. But when the youth are pushed beyond their limits, no amount of call for consensus would be able to restore what it may cost their leaders. So, the ultimate consensus here is to alert the two biggest political parties that matter that young people want to matter. They want to see the change that APC is proclaiming and what to experience the Transformation that the incumbent Mr President is using as his campaign theme. If you really care, show us that you care.

Rendition

This day is next to the last 24hours that will usher in a new month. New blessings await me in the new month and the next year.

It is with much gladness that I bless the name of the Lord my God for His bountiful blessings. I anticipate a new month of good tidings and a new year of manifold prosperity.

The things which I found difficult in earlier times this year will become easy. In fact, things are already becoming easy for me.

I appreciate the Lord for the joy that has continually increased in my life. The joy of the Lord has been my strength. His mercy is prevailing over judgement. His grace is not far from my reach. His wealth has remained among the promises that will manifest.

I have become one of those whose lives will transform the status of nations and inspire hopefulness. For in spite of the many challenges that I have faced, the Lord has not allowed me to waste away. He has not taken away the heritage of a noble child from my life. Of course, God has many children but I consider myself one of His favourites.

So, what shall I do than to give Him thanks? To appreciate Him for what He has done and will yet do? To conquer doubt about the brightness of my future which is hidden in Him? To continually give thanks for what He will yet do?

I am grateful to God for everything. He is the best God that ever is. I am blessed in all of the earth because His Joy is my strength and He is the lifter up of my head.

Many lessons were learnt this year. Many blessings will manifest following. Amen.

Writing and Working

Recently, I watched a documentary on the history of slave trade in Nigeria on TV. The emphasis of the historical account was on Bonny and other oil-producing areas of the country. Quick mention was made of the culture of the slave masters of Opobo, Igala and other riverine niches. The interactions of their chiefs with slave masters from within Europe and its environs were discussed, including the letters they wrote. The documentary explained how certain ethnic rulers who benefitted from the trading of their own kind stilled the anti-slavery efforts of enlightened cohabitants of Bonny Kingdom from inception into the colonial era.

The enlightened ones mainly came into Bonny as foreign explorers, itinerant humanitarians and pro-colony officers from England. Others were born into the land as transcultural hybrids of unofficial Afro-British couples, an outcome of copulations between some enlightened aliens and the original dwellers of Bonny Kingdom (even when considered unpopular by the kinsmen of the more enlightened). The minority were enslaved indigenes who became liberated physically and intellectually after receiving freedom from various foreign masters. The latter had the courage to support anti-slavery based on the enlightenment that was acquired during their time with the foreigners. Altogether, the three groups produced individuals that saw the need to fight for the cause of enslaved Nigerian men, women and children during the pre-colonial.

The lesson learnt from the documentary is the value of education.

Education is linguistically valued as one word. Yet, its worth is huge enough to make the difference between slavery and freedom, turmoil and consensus, dehumanization and development, raging terrorism and coordinated inter-action, chaotic survival and hopeful living, leadership and rulership and whatever extremes may result from the promotion of illiteracy. In this case, illiteracy is not only the absence of education or knowledge but also the presence of the will to quit informal and formal means of learning and strongly support the existence of illiteracy in the society.

The pictures of enslaved persons as shown through vivid graphics in the documentary revealed the depth of subjugation that innocent men and women can experience, given the lack of power to physically and intellectually request for freedom. Yet, there are human beings with the same physiological makeup as you and I who do not have the simple benefit of knowing that colour, race, religion and sex are secondary characteristics of human existence; that whether or not we base our segregation on these things, new beings will forever be borne into earth with the same template of human flesh and skeleton.

It therefore appears to me that an educated mind will benefit more from the availability and application of knowledge than it would if it decides to embrace illiteracy in any its diversities. Only a person who knows can reason why or why not. Sometimes, the limits of a person’s knowledge are the constraints of his internal and external creativity. Educating a person promotes him intellectually, increases his or her potential value and nurtures a reasoning that is more beneficial to the society than otherwise. And what is the society if not all that is external is to a person’s body but helps him remain a cultured being?

Perhaps, that is why I continue to write words while working. Some have likened me to Engineer Herbert Macaulay. Others have recommended the published thoughts of Chief Awolowo. But to me, to grow is to be enlightened. To be enlightened is to know no mental slavery. To read words from good sources, even the Holy Bible. To feed my mind with what can cause me to reason more on how my existence can benefit others and I. To understand the meaning of life as a process that involves many choices and to attempt to formally and informally educate myself on how to successfully balance the differences that sex, religion, race and colour may harbour. That I may write and yet work, without shame.

Testifying of the Lord’s Goodness

Sometimes, I ask myself if I am doing the right things. I ask myself this because the decisions I have had to make in recent times are not the same as the ones I had to make last year and the year before.

I ponder and realize that I have friends, family and a very caring God who is so jealous to preserve me and prosper me.

I am not the most spiritual guy. Yet, He makes sure that His Holy Spirit does not abandon his duties regarding me. I am not the most handsome but He ensures that the most intelligent and beautiful ladies are my friends. I am not the wisest, yet He gives me an aura of respect among wise men.

I realize that my future is bright. Regardless of whatever doubts may exist in the mind or heart, the will of God is to move me into the realm of abundance where I have need of nothing because I lack nothing good. That when I want to have something, arrangements have already been made for it to come into my possession.

I am therefore grateful to God that the spate of depression and spiritual wickedness that has succeeded in cutting down the future of many young men, has not overcome me. Indeed, I have boasted in flesh before and mouthed in my own strength in times past. But now, my boasting is in the Lord. My mouthing is based on the power, riches, strength, grace, honour and health that He gives.

I have become a sign unto many, a wonder to great men and an international icon in the making. My generation, even to the ends of the earth, is blessed because of me. The stone which the builders rejected has now become the chief cornerstone. This is the doing of the Lord and it is marvellous in my eyes. Praised be the King of all creatures and the universe.

Deciding the Undecided

Recently, I realized the importance of human perspectives and how to balance them with a sense of commitment. A man that always strives to have a good conscience before man and God will be rendered vulnerable to situations where he finds it difficult to make decisions that hurt either God or man. This experience may not occur simply because the man is emotional. It may happen because the man needs to learn how to actualize the politics of human relations and godly reverence effectively.

A commitment is a decision that is made as a fundamental guiding principle based on a person's ideology. When a person makes a commitment, whether based on a personal decision or sense of spiritual responsibility, the weight of fulfilling that commitment automatically sums up and hangs on their neck either as a burden or continuous task.

Therefore, it is necessary for such a man to communicate the commitments existing in his life to key human acquaintances and the almighty God who are the ultimate stakeholders to whom he is accountable. Failure to find or create a situation where such communication efforts produce timely results may lead him to make an indecisive decision. This is the type of decision that is made when a person's perspective does not get checked properly and it may result into unexpected or complicated circumstances. Hence, men and women of commitment must take heed.

Perspectives are meant to change; especially when they will solve problems for most of the people concerned. That is why they are called perspectives, that is, views that are held by a person which are subject to change when the need to solve problems arise. This experience is a common trend for persons who are interested in the subject of leadership in every society that esteems the rights of the individual.

So, the lesson here for young leaders is to analyze situations in ways that are not conventional, communicate with stakeholders in a manner that strategically conveys the weight of commitment made and choose the problem-solving approach that leads to a decisive decision.

Wishing you a great time in the month of August,

Ayodeji

Don't Give Up! But Look Ahead! ---Letter from St. James

Courtesy: 123rf.com

Of recent, I have been having cloudy thoughts. Thoughts that are not in line with the original thoughts I used to have. Sometimes, I feel like a stranger to myself. I ask myself, who I have become. "Is who I am gradually becoming, this young man who is no longer ambitious, who I am actually supposed to be? Is this place where I have changed (whether expectedly or unexpectedly) where I am supposed to be at this point?"

The truth of the matter is, I am shy to admit to myself what the facts are. I should be afraid that some of my dreams are appearing far. But I am not. This is a great source of concern to my real self. When a young man gets to a point where he has to move on and he keeps thinking he has to remain stuck, then he assumes a new but rather unpleasant position in a valley. This valley is a point or place where he endures the night and awaits what is next. He is expecting something better, something brighter, something else, and most times, somewhere else.

I have been coming across the quote, "If you don't like where you are, move..." This quote has been coming to me in different dimensions and I keep wondering if some of the people who transmit this message actually have the power to read my innermost mind.

Considering the past and present, I want to move. No doubt. But I want to move in the right way. I want to follow my heart without feeling guilty or creating offences where they should not exist. I want to get what I want without appearing ungrateful. This has been a point of continuous deliberation and an unending source of concern. My thoughts have traveled to and fro like the pendulum of a lost clock. But I need to find myself again. Yet, it seems like the point of rest where I desire to go is something I need to figure out. I have been attempting to figure it out. Yet, it appears like there's still something missing. 

Courtesy: 123rf.com

Many times, I feel like a man who has lost trust and confidence in the promises of his present atmosphere. Maybe it's because I value trust and confidence. Should I not value them? Or, is it because trust and confidence are rare in the present-day society? Can I trust again and have confidence again in this environment? These are a few of the questions which trusted answers are yet to resolve.

However, I believe that my eyes are open to see the doors that would open so I can move on. And once that door opens, I will yank the it ajar (with much courtesy) and say thank you to everyone. Then shall I step into the next place of promise to commence the next phase of life.

So help me God.

Timmy Dakolo's song is great reminder for all youth who have something burning within; something they want to become, do or achieve. If you've lost touch with your sense of commitment to your purpose or passion, you should try it out. 

A link to the song has been shared below:

Can African Tech Startups Catch Up? --by Yimika Ilori

And at the end of the day, the internet is all about software.

-Marc Andreeseen

Research has shown that every company will revolve around software in future. An average person may relate to a smartphone as a proof of technology or a simple device that combines software and hardware together an interesting way. But it is beyond that.

All emerging countries have at least one resource that is a delight of developed countries. Each of them has something that is more important than the basic factors of production namely, land, labour, capital and entrepreneur.

As a matter of fact, when I consider the relationship between emerging countries and developed ones, landmass (or land) and population (which accounts for labour size) do not appear as classifying factors. Otherwise, Britain would be ranked among the least developed countries of the world. Regarding the third factor, capital, a Forrester Research report has argued that corporate software assets will be more valuable to a business than its financials. In order words, software will be the enabler of financial gains and brand growth. And concerning the fourth factor, someone who takes the risk of starting and running a new enterprise is referred to as an entrepreneur and such a person must understand that technological advancement in form of software development has now reinvented the factors of production.

Be it a custom software that needs to be developed from scratch or an off-the-shelf application that requires some tweaking, the primary issue is the ability of the software to meet a required need. Yet, all it takes for an individual to learn the skills includes interest, passion and dedication, provided that power supply, internet access and a computer are available.

Before the era of mechanization and industrialization, agriculture was the economic backbone of powerful countries. Subsequently, there was a move into the industrial revolution and machines and engines became the sustaining components of economies that made countries stand out. Today, what makes a country outstanding is the intangible value that its citizens can add to it and the world at large.

Countries like Israel, Brazil, China and India have emerged with techie startups or small businesses whose activities rely on and promote information technology. Based on the novelty of their creative services, many of these startups are being acquired by huge corporations around the globe such as Google, Facebook, IBM and Microsoft. But I wonder when African startups will join this league of corporation-acquired startups. For instance, less than 12 months ago, Google acquired 11 startups and none of them was an African tech startup.

Please do not get me wrong, as I am not implying that Africa lacks creative startups. We certainly have great startups. In fact, I have worked and gained priceless experience in more than one startup already. However, I believe that the solution to poor recognition of African startups internationally does not lie with the startups themselves. It lies with the next generation, and precisely, those who are presently in primary and secondary schools.

I think it would be awesome if software and computer security programs were introduced into some primary and secondary school syllabuses and taught to kids who show early techie interests.

The axiom that it is easy for a child to assimilate words, pictures and images faster than an adult readily comes to mind here. If in doubt, you could simply make an easy enquiry through a Google search and confirm these ideas. 

Nevertheless, if a solution cannot be implemented to address this issue and influence the explosion of tech startups in Nigeria and Africa, then it may be safe to conclude that the disruptive innovation and techie gap between developed countries and most African countries will continue to widen.

Yimika Ilori is a techie who takes pleasure in his spare time by writing articles and short stories. His articles have been published on Nuggets for Nobles and CFA Leverage amongst several other e-platforms. He blogs at www.larntan.com and can be reached through the same.

Other articles written by Yimika include:

How does “His Excellency” come into play in Nigerian Politics?

Village Mentality: The Chief of Africa’s Problems

How Agbada Reflects a Politician’s Thinking

What Matters More Than Money?

Some experiences bring greater joy than the luxury of having all the money in the world. That was the main lesson I learnt in Steven Spielberg’s War Horse, a movie whose release date coincided with the Christmas Day of 2011.

A former course mate, Sewa, once opined right in front of Micom Laboratory at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology that we were all in school because we wanted to have money. It was a statement that I quickly challenged because I believe wisdom is better than money. “Sewa, I do not concur with you.” I said. “Some of us are not here because we want to have money. We are here because we want to acquire universally respected knowledge and build up wisdom through the application of such knowledge.” But Sewa explained that it was because our parents or sponsors were financially capable that we could pay tuition fees. And wasn’t Sewa right? Was it not because someone was responsible for our fees that we were in school? What can you actually do today without the defence of money? Can you get quality education or acquire relevant skills without giving something in return? Perhaps, Sewa was right in a way but wrong in another.

He was right because it is true that most people go to the university because they want to get a good job or build a great career after school. Again, the intention of getting a job is to have a means of livelihood. Now, a means of livelihood is nothing other than a source of income or what a person does to add value to the society and receive cash equivalence in return. Though it is not all those that go to school that eventually get to have money (depending of what “having money” means to each person), it is true that level of income generally tends to vary with level of education or valuable knowledge. Therefore, it is true that people actually go to school because they want to have money.

On the other hand, Sewa was wrong because he generalised. First, some people just went to school because everyone in their family was educated. For them, it was just the usual thing to do lest they become odd in their family. Second, it is not everyone that did not go to school that lacks money. Many half-educated persons have proven that skill acquisition or possession of valuable information may be more important than university knowledge. Third, if a person’s hope for getting university education is money, then the frustration of widespread unemployment could make them commit suicide after school. People have committed suicide because they could not get a job; whereas the essence of life is not to get a job but to add value.

Yet, there are other factors such as government’s decision, favourable or likable personality, inherent gifts, uncommon family or parental support, divine intervention, geographical location and technology of the day, which truly influence each person’s ability to find and use opportunities that would influence their socio-economic status.

Therefore, the point here is to understand that though education is important in the 21st century, it is equally important to possess the skills that are required and valued in societal systems. Then maybe the most important thing would be to find what you can do with your own existence on earth and discover how it relates to other people. Then, try to add value to the society from that angle as much as possible. It may involve making all the money you can make and it may not. But the supreme sign of knowing that you are doing the most important thing is a deep-rooted feeling of fulfilment in your heart; the kind that would remain even if you were brought into your last day on earth.

The Futility of Commonplace Revelation in Nigeria

Knowledge is useless if it does not solve problems or make life easier. Therefore, the cliché, “A problem that is known is already half-solved” does not sound better than an unintelligent line in the context of our beloved country, Nigeria. This may sound embarrassing but it is the truth.

It was in Nigeria that I learnt the word "UP NEPA" as a 3 year-old. I was just in primary school when I learnt the difference between a grinding machine and a power generator. Unfortunately, I learnt it by the experience of a noisy environment and not by education. I also witnessed fuel scarcity as a teenager and have had to walk when there was no other option. Yet, I was told that there are countries that do not produce Oil and do not experience fuel scarcity. Similarly, I have been hearing of leaders looting the monies of the Nigerian people since I was a child and it is a shame that I still do. But this is not my experience alone as millions of young Nigerians have shared in the experience of these commonplace challenges. May I ask our leaders whose minds are set on the events of 2015 if these legacies are going to be inherited by the next generation?

I believe that the world is not a perfect place –and if it was once perfect, it no longer is. While we remain grateful for countless blessings, it is obvious that each day comes with its own token of conflicts, crises and calamities. News and personal encounters of preventable vehicular crashes, diverse acts of unwarranted human terrorism, needless socio-political clashes, endless health issues, recurrent environmental degradation and continuous natural disasters now loom on a weekly basis. These happenings are globally shared because they are mainly caused by humanity. Even in the case of natural disasters, we are culpable because we have persistently upset the state of nature. Hence, the world, which should serve as a comfortable habitat, is taking a gradual, vengeful turn and responding to all of our undue actions with budding venom. That is why experts are struggling to salvage what is left and restore our beloved habitat to its cosy, protective and stable form. And every nation is trying to reduce the amount of imperfection that they introduce to the world.

Nonetheless, it is not encouraging that the giant of Africa seems to be making a snail’s progress. Nigeria is a country where the people know what their problems are but are unable to solve them. We know our challenges and complain about them everyday because of the sufferings that they bring.  Yet, the problems remain with us like a moulded shell; some of them just seem insurmountable for our leaders. However, it is not because the problems are too difficult to overcome that they persist. Rather, it is because men and women like you and I and everyone we both know have refused to solve them –through one means or the other, whether directly or indirectly – that they persist. We seem to understand why things are not working but cannot manage to emerge with the solutions. In cases where the remedies have been implemented, some among us have gone back to destroy them either for selfish reasons or because they do not realise that we all own these infrastructures and resources. We have had some of these problems for decades and the excuse of colonial misguidance is waxing off quickly. Our leaders know what these problems are so why can’t we all solve them?

Are we lacking the power to overcome our brand of political recklessness? Is anti-corruption too much as a price to pay? Are we unable to control ourselves and the penchant for self-aggrandizing agendas? Are we truly united? Should where a leader is originating from matter if we are truly Nigerians? Can we not truly unite and break the barriers to the realisation of a better country? Our parents have told us stories of a better yesterday that we cannot reconcile with the travails of this day. Do we have to go through such cycle again? We are praying to God to let change happen. We are seeing that change happen gradually. But we are sometimes moved to wonder if the changes we are seeing are mere mirages. By praying for a better Nigeria, we are asking God for a miracle that is possible. Yet, it will come with a price and will not happen without us.

If we will reap the seeds of change that we seek, we must sow seeds of courageous actions and corrections. We must realise our collective failure and check our motives and transform our habits. We must take responsibility for our nation and communities and homes and rebuild good ideals. That is how to overcome the futility of the commonplace revelation of problems and deliver solutions.