Wednesday 29 November 2017

LAGOS AND THE JOURNEY TOWARDS 2020


Tayo Ogunbiyi

In Lagos State, the challenge of development is faced in the context of global economic impact as well as its status as a mega city. The current administration in the State is evidently focused on the implementation of several job creation and wealth generation programmes as well as the development of physical and social infrastructure and improvement of the State’s economy through implementation of proactive policies and programmes.

The passion and determination of the state’s leadership is to truly make Lagos the Centre of Excellence and African socio-economic development hub. The policy thrust, therefore, is focused on poverty alleviation and sustainable economic growth through infrastructural upgrade and development to emphasize fiscal responsibility.

The current government in the State is aware of the reality of the development index daily staring the State in the face, against the background of available human and material resources. For instance, despite the relocation of the Federal Capital to Abuja, Lagos continues to exhibit immense economic attributes. It attracts an enormous human population that occupies a land area of about 3577 square kilometers, thereby making the State the most densely populated and smallest in land size in the country.

Available records show that Lagos State contributes about 12% of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is comparable, only, to Rivers and Delta States which are Oil-Producing States; and we are the leading contributor in the Non-Oil Sector with average contribution of 19% which is equal to the contribution of 13 States put together. Moreover, Lagos State hosts over 60% of the manufacturing/industrial sector, which, if properly harnessed will be a major driving impetus for national growth.

In Lagos, the journey towards 2020 will, no doubt, be marked by economic reforms which are necessary and reflective of desirable social–economic progression.  Available demographic indices and macro–economic policies indicate that development will be propelled by the manufacturing and financial services sectors, tourism, agricultural and allied industries, construction, telecommunications and information technology, as well as, trade and commerce.

Of course, it is obvious that all of these, small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) hold the key towards achieving accelerated socio-economic growth.  At the launch of the first Lagos State Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Fair, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode affirmed that the best way to revive the national economy was to evolve a conscious development of its micro, small and medium enterprises sub-sector. According to the Governor, there was the need to put in place policies and programmes that would boost local production, encourage consumption of same and stimulate exports, to diversify sources of earnings and conserve the nation’s foreign exchange.

In order to create the conducive environment that will actually stimulate the encouragement of made-in-Nigeria products, the Lagos state government has domesticated the Federal Government’s policy on MSMEs. Similarly, the Ambode administration recently inaugurated the state Council on MSMEs for proper coordination of the MSMEs in the state. The Council would identify MSMEs operating in the state to help enhance their productivity and enable them to serve as the bedrock for the economic development of the state. With a sound MSME base, the seven critical sectors pointed out above, no doubt, have the potential of growing the state’s economy in double digits which will impact on the attainment of speedy economic growth, not only for the State but the country at large. 

The cornerstone of growth and development in the State has been the continuity by which subsequent governments have engendered smooth transition in governance and the vision of the leadership in government.  Currently, it has been discovered that the instrumentality of the all inclusive governance philosophy of the Ambode Administration  has been very profound in the re-tooling of  vision, projects, policies and programmes to transform the lives and wellbeing of the people.

 An integral part of the State development’s agenda is infrastructure upgrade which is anchored on road rehabilitation and construction of new roads, creation of an integrated mass transit programme with emphasis on road, rail and water transportation, improvement in environment through physical planning with the intention of making Lagos State a model City-State as well as a shelter  agenda that aims for the provision of affordable mass housing schemes through facilitation of liberalized mortgage system and the development of new satellite towns.

Its health programme is premised on the expansion of wards, development of primary healthcare programme, deepening of blindness prevention programme, strengthening of emergency medical services and the enhancement of medical personnel welfare. The educational agenda include the establishment of millennium schools in all local government/local council development areas, rehabilitation and maintenance of existing schools and libraries, curriculum review, the enhancement of teachers’ welfare and the development of skills acquisition, vocational and technical education.

With regards to food security, the State is poised to facilitate sustainable food production and processing, empowerment of farmers/fishermen cooperative societies, support for strategic food preservation and farm settlement development. Of course, all this can only be made feasible through a revenue enhancement policy that is based on diversification of revenue sources, widening of tax net, effective revenue collection mechanisms and development of database.

Currently, efforts are geared towards transforming the State Civil Service for effective service delivery. This is being done by the Office of Transformation, Creativity and Innovation (OTCI), a platform for the reform of the public sector to serve the people of the State better. There are also plans to provide a platform for sustainable economic growth by working towards an integrated transport system that will include efficient public road transport, including its critical mass infrastructure development, enhanced healthcare service delivery, achievement of universal basic education by ensuring that school-age children are registered in schools and the overall attainment of targets under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

However, it is important to state that the State’s revenue profile will have to grow to accommodate several of her increased commitments.  This, indeed, is why government is determined to ensure that there are no tax leakages in the State and bringing in more people into the tax net by encouraging voluntary self assessment and payment of taxes.

As Lagos State marches towards the ‘magic’ Year 2020, the State government is poised to build a society whose commitment to law and order is unmistakable and unequivocal. But then, it will require an even greater commitment to law and order not only to sustain what have been achieved but also to develop upon it. Therefore, more investment in security and safety to further reduce crime is quite essential. This is where the active involvement of the private sector and other well meaning stakeholders in the Lagos project is quite indispensable. 

Ogunbiyi is of the Lagos State Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

LEADERSHIP “ETHOS” AND WORKPLACE PRODUCTIVITY


Dr. Akintola Benson Oke

 Peter Reilly, famous organizational productivity consultant and author once asserted that: “Regardless of what title you hold or role you play in your organization, there is something in you that knows that no matter what good ideas or strategies the experts generate . . . those ideas go nowhere without leadership”.

According to Reilly, the key element in whether a plan, programme or strategy succeeds or not is directly related to the effectiveness of leadership. 

This amply underscores the import of leadership in any organization. But then, it needs to be stressed that leadership is not only about title or authority or having a great personality, or being an orator. The great philosophical thinker, Aristotle spoke of ‘ethos’ as a type of leadership in which a leader influences others to change their values and thus their performance.

‘Ethos’ is not what a person says or promises, but it is their way of being in the world, their presence and comportment that affects how others follow them and whether they are open to their ideas. In essence, Aristotle’s position is that the leadership that matters is the one that enhances productivity and positive change. This position is quite important because individual productivity is irrevocably tied to organizational productivity.

It is, however crucial to state that one factor that is critical to both leadership and productivity is time. John Rompton, online marketing guru, argued that because there are only so many hours in the day making the most of your time is critical. He was actually echoing ancient wisdom commonly regarded as axiomatic and yet routinely ignored notwithstanding that classic and long-gone thinkers and philosophers have espoused them.

One of such business titan who echoed the wisdom of the ancient thinkers and philosophers was Mr. Steve Jobs, founder of Apple Computers, who, in his famous speech to the Yale University Convocation, emphasised that everybody’s time is limited. Thus, the most important reason why the issue of productivity should be taken seriously is because time is limited and we have to make it worthwhile.

Of course, productivity is also important in many more ways. Andy Core, an author and speaker on Work-Life Balance, Wellbeing, and Peak Human Performance has explored how productivity impacts an organisation and its major stakeholders. He posited that the organization’s customers are the first to benefit from a productive workforce. According to him, productivity in the workplace will often translate into acceptable service and interaction. This total client experience is the key to satisfying key stakeholders and almost all highly productive organisations use this to gain customer loyalty. When a customer is loyal to your business, they will share their experience with others, which is a marketing advantage coming out of high levels of productivity.

The organisation itself is second in line to benefit from increased productivity, according to Andy core as the employees themselves are an investment, and like any investment, they should yield a healthy or worthwhile return to the organisation. Therefore, when employees are highly productive, the organisation achieves its goals of investing in them in the first place. Productivity also helps to motivate the workplace culture and boost morale thus producing an even better organizational environment.

In same vein, employees will equally benefit from increased productivity in the organisation because when an organisation becomes successful, incentives are bound to be made available to the employees. This will serve as motivation to the employees. Indeed, productivity in the workplace is an important aspect of every organisation and when all stakeholders understand this concept, success is just around the corner.

It is, therefore, important for every critical stakeholder in an organisation to consider how to make each moment count in their own interest and in the interest of the organisation. On this matter of increasing productivity, John Rompton said: “There are two ways to increase your output--either put in more hours or work smarter. I don't know about you, but I prefer the latter.”

Working smarter has now been established as better than working harder. Also, behavioural scientists have found that while being more productive at work is not rocket science, it does require being more deliberate about how one manages one’s time. John Rompton formulated some strategies that could boost productivity in the workplace.

The first strategy is to track and limit how much time you spend on tasks. You may think that you are pretty good at gauging how much time you are spending on various tasks. However, some research suggests only around 17 percent of people are able to accurately estimate the passage of time.

The second is to take regular breaks. This may sound counterintuitive, but taking scheduled breaks can actually help improve concentration. Some research has shown that taking short breaks during long tasks helps maintain a constant level of performance; while working at a task without breaks leads to a steady decline in performance.

The third strategy is to set self-imposed deadlines. While we usually think of stress as a bad thing, a manageable level of self-imposed stress can actually be helpful in terms of aiding focus and helping to meet set goals. For open-ended tasks or projects, try giving yourself a deadline, and then stick to it. You may be surprised to discover just how focused and productive you can be when you are watching the clock.

Another useful strategy is to follow the "two-minute rule." Entrepreneur Steve Olenski recommends implementing the "two-minute rule" to make the most of small windows of time that you have at work. The idea is this: If you see a task or action that you know can be done in two minutes or less, do it immediately. According to Olenski, completing the task right away actually takes less time than having to get back to it later. Implementing this has made him one of the most influential content strategists online.

Another suggested strategy is to quit multitasking. While we tend to think of the ability to multitask as an important skill for increasing efficiency, the opposite may in fact be true. Psychologists have found attempting to do several tasks at once can result in lost time and productivity. Instead, make a habit of committing to a single task before moving on to your next project.

As a matter of fact, your productivity will be well-served if you give up on the illusion of perfection. It is common for many people to insist on attempting to perfect a task. The reality however is that nothing is ever perfect. Rather than wasting time chasing after this illusion, bang out your task to the best of your ability and move on. It is better to complete the task and move it off your plate. If need be, you can always come back and adjust or improve it later.

Finally, I wish to close with John Rampton’s profound question: “Every minute of your life is gold. Are you treating it that way?”

Dr. Benson is Honourable Commissioner for Establishments, Training & Pensions, Lagos State

Tuesday 21 November 2017

LAGOS-IBADAN EXPRESSWAY TRAGEDY AND THE ‘EMBER’ MONTHS’ MYTH


Tayo Ogunbiyi

According to reports, five persons died and many others were seriously injured in an early morning compound road mishap at the famous Kara Bridge, just by the Lagos end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Viewing the gory scene of the tragic event through various media platforms was quite distressing. Three of the victims died instantly while the other two died in the hospital.  Reports had it that about 55 people were involved in the accident, 40 men and 15 women.

An account of the incident revealed that a tanker laden with 33,000 liters of ago (diesel) ram into a stationary truck carrying brewery products. The resultant oil spill on the road resulted in the multiple crashes involving some trucks and cars. Conservatively put, not fewer than 16 vehicles, comprising eight trucks and eight vehicles were involved in the multiple crashes allegedly caused by the spilled diesel on the road.

As if the lives that have been wasted through the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway gruesome incidence weren’t enough for that day, reports had it that two other people died in another accident which involved a collision between a truck and a train in the Fagba axis of Lagos State, on same day. So, it was a rather busy day for men and officials of the Lagos State Emergency Agency, LASEMA, who had to move immediately from that incident on the Kara Bridge straight to Fagba for rescue operation.

Characteristically, many have tried to establish a connection between these bloody incidences and the usual ‘ember’ months’ tragic jargon.  The so called ‘ember’ months, which refer to the last four months of the year from September to December, are naturally regarded as tragedy prone period. This belief is so entrenched in the consciousness of the people that various religious groups and other relevant institutions regularly organize special prayer sessions and seminars with a view to minimizing ember months’ havoc.



The reality, however, is that the so called ‘embers’ months are not really spiritually jinxed as many might want to swear they are. Tragedy occurs in ‘ember’ months just as it does in every other month of the year. Ascribing needless spiritual and mythical undertones to tragic happenings during the ‘ember’ months could just be the usual Nigerian way of trivializing issues. Rather than clothing the ‘ember’ months in a garb of gratuitous mystery, the pragmatic way of explaining dreadful events during these months is more human than mythological.

The truth is that there is usually an increase in the tempo of public, private and corporate activities during this period.  Religious bodies are equally not left out of the frenzy of the season as they organize various events during the period. The ‘ember’ months are always the busiest on our roads for obvious reasons and the tumultuous air of festivity do not really help matter. It is a period when people are in so much haste to make all the money they have not made since the beginning of the year. Hence, commercial drivers, who usually embark on five trips per day, capitalize on the aura of festivity to go for ten trips. This, naturally, comes with its fatal consequences. It is only logical that when there is a mass exodus of people from one place to the other, there is bound to be a measure of uncertainty and disorder.

The bottom line, therefore, is that tragic occurrences are bound to happen during the ‘ember’ season because of the intensity of human activities. In a bid to be part of the various end-of-year activities slated for the period, a lot of people throw caution into the wind by disregarding critical safety issues. Vehicles are driven irresponsibly. Alcoholic drinks are consumed with reckless abandon while social outings are organized as if tomorrow will not come. The atmosphere, during the season, is often filled with unusual allure and jollity. It is in the midst of this hilarity that avoidable human blunders that result into diverse kinds of misfortunes usually occur.

Hence, it is imperative for everyone to, first and foremost, have a changed perception of the ‘ember’ months. Hence, conscious efforts must be made to disrobe the months of every garb of unfounded mysticism. It is only when we are convinced that the dangers associated with the months are human rather than mythical that we could really make considerable progress in averting disasters during the months.

Therefore, enforcement of existing laws and attitudinal change is central to making any progress. Sadly, law enforcement agents are also involved in the mad ‘ember’ months’ rat- race. In a bid to make some ‘extra’ buck to furnish special festive ‘necessities’ , they usually engage in treacherous compromise that encourages law breakers to go un-punish. The result, of course, is the continuation of avoidable circle of pandemonium and sorrow.

Consequently, as we march towards the end of the year, we must modify our views on the ‘ember’ months. We must not get involved in any pointless extra-ordinary  end of the year ‘rush’ that could endanger our lives and , indeed, those of others. Those who have to organize social events to correspond with this period should do so bearing all safety precautions in mind. Commercial drivers and other road users must respect the sanctity of the human life by observing required road safety measures.

Perhaps, more importantly, relevant government agencies must step up enlightenment campaigns as well as enforcement strategies to guarantee that ‘ember’ months’ crashes and other related tragedies are reduced to the barest minimum. In this respect, the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, should be commended for their various ‘ember’ month’s safety strategies, in Lagos and adjoining States.

However, there is a need for them to intensify efforts in this direction while more appropriate government agencies should also come on board the ‘ember’ months’ re-orientation and re-awareness project. Presently, the Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy is embarking on an ‘ember’ months’ responsiveness campaign across the State. The objective is to change the attitude of the people towards these months and offer key safety tips.

As it has been previously affirmed, it is critical to re- affirm that tragic happenings during ‘ember’ months are promoted by reckless human actions. It is only in living modestly and responsibly that we could avoid the dangers and hiccups that are generally associated with ember months. If only we could rid ourselves of our usual ‘ember months’ excesses, we would discover that nothing is actually wrong with the months.

Ogunbiyi is of the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja

Monday 20 November 2017

TOWARDS A BETTER DEMOCRATIC CULTURE IN NIGERIA


Dennis Erezi

 For many Nigerians, democracy in our land has not really lived up to its universally acclaimed status. Indeed, not quite a few people are of the view that democracy has failed the nation. So glaring is the failure and so painful are the betrayals of the true fathers of democracy in the country, some of whom had to pay the supreme price in order to ensure that democracy is deeply entrenched in our political culture. 

In a land that is abundantly blessed with enormous resources and potentials, it’s only a few that are connected to the powers that live in affluence while the majority wallows in abject poverty. Poverty , maternal deaths, unemployment , insecurity, corruption, electoral malpractices, unstable power supply, lack of good drinking water and poor road network among others have continued to be the blight of our beloved nation.  In some states, workers are being owed months of salaries while pensioners suffer same fate, leading in a few cases to needless deaths.

Considering all this, it becomes quite essential for one to take another look at Abraham Lincoln's simple, concise and universally recognized definition of democracy as: "the government of the people, by the people, and for the people".  Lincoln’s definition is a theory that emphasizes the nitty-gritty of democracy, which is all about the people.  Hence, a democracy is built on the equality of the people; the freedom of these people to associate with one another for the realization of their ideals and the defense, promotion of their interests, giving the freewill to citizens to exhibit their legitimate rights. It is, therefore, a system of government that is absolutely centered on the people.

The literal meaning of "democracy" comes from a combination of two Greek words, demos (people) and kratos (rule), and at its core is a concept that emphasizes “democracy is a form of government in which the people rule”. The term originated in Athens and was a part of the standard classification of regime forms that distinguished rule by one (monarchy), several (aristocracy) and many (democracy). However, beyond the literal meaning of democracy, there have been considerable debates over the criteria that distinguish democracies from non-democracies.

It can be argued that democracy is a system of government that makes the opportunity to participate in the process of decision making open to all who are willing and interested. It is also a system of government that recognizes individual rights, as well as a system of representation and electoral system based on the principle of one man one vote and one vote one value.

When the phrase "dividends of democracy" came in the nation’s political lexicon in 1999 after the termination of military rule, many did not realize its power to affect and infect the possibilities for political perception in Nigeria as well as Nigerians' view of obligations and responsibilities in a democracy. Today, however, the phrase sits atop the hierarchy of politically significant and oft-deployed concepts; it enjoys the acceptance of pro-government propagandists and opposition intellectuals alike.

The unfolding democratic experience in Nigeria provides a practical theory of autocracy being craftily deployed along with other performances of power that bastardize or mimic the democratic concepts of popularity, consent, and public acceptance. The mix of these symbols have forced blackmail and insinuation which led elected officials to invent and reinvent ways of performing power that are a depressing throwback to military rule and one-party dictatorships.

When power is fully personalized as is gradually becoming the case in Nigeria, the result is that the destiny of the person of the leader and that of the state are conflated. And this is manifest not just in the occasional rhetorical outbursts of self-interested political officials, having at the back of our minds that absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Corruption constitutes one of the greatest challenges and threats to the consolidation of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. The incidence of corruption in the country reached a crescendo in 2004 when a German based non-governmental organization called Transparency International in its 2004 Corruption Perception Index(CPI) report projected Nigeria as the 2nd most corrupt country in the world(132nd out of 133 countries surveyed).

The way forward is for the war on corruption to be pushed beyond political propaganda, nepotism, intimidation and witch-hunting of political opponents. Government must muster sufficient political will to punish any corrupt public officer, irrespective of his or her status in the society. In addition, legislation should be enacted by the National Assembly, stipulating stringent penalty for corruption related offences.

Also, aside tackling corruption headlong, our democracy must be able to guarantee all universally accepted norms of freedom. Democracy will not bear the expected dividends when voices of dissent are muzzled and government cannot be held accountable. Transparency in governance, freedom of expression, freedom of choice, respect for the rights of the minorities, and the legitimacy of opposition are among significant features of democracy. Therefore, everything must be done to ensure that these critical elements are well preserved in our democracy. 

It is also important that the people, who in real essence are the embodiment of democracy, take control of the entire process. They must understand that democracy is not just about election. Most often, the electorates go to sleep immediately after an election. But then, this is wrong. The people need to be alert and ensure that elected public officials do not take electorates for granted.

The people must always insist on good governance while also putting on creative cap of self-empowerment. The family unit, social organisations, schools and colleges and the media must help people to overcome the shackles of helplessness in the face of our daunting problems.

 Yes, it is true that our expectations are not really being met in terms of dividends of democracy. Nevertheless, our democratic setbacks may not yet entitle us to reject democracy altogether or to be receptive to non democratic options. If democracy is working for other nations, it should for us. All we need to do is to play the game according to the rules and we shall get expected results. God bless Nigeria.

Erezi is a student of National Broadcast Academy, Ikeja, Lagos

ROBERT MUGABE AND THE TALE OF TORTOISE


Tayo Ogunbiyi

In different parts of Africa, local folklore is a way of life, especially in the rural areas. Most of the evenings are enjoyed with children listening to various fascinating folktales. Aside their huge entertaining perspective, local fables also teach several morals that tend to help shape children into holding the right standpoints in life. Of all local tales that are told across Africa, the ones revolving around the tortoise seem to be quite thrilling. By casting tortoise in the mould of a shrewd, tricky and sly character, tortoise stories are always full of intrigues and suspense.

However, one thing that recurs in all of tortoise tales is that the animal often ends up being a victim of its own deceitful designs. In one of its famous accounts that I could still very much recall, tortoise was about to embark on a journey and was asked about when it would return from the trip. Characteristically, its response was quite intriguing: “Not until I am disgraced”. And that was exactly what happened.

There is, of course, a huge parallel between the aforementioned tortoise tale and the story of (erstwhile?) Zimbabwean strongman, Robert Mugabe. According to tales coming out of the country, Zimbabwe's military leaders have seized control of the poor southern African nation, placing its life-leader, Robert Mugabe, under house arrest and deploying tanks to the streets of the capital, Harare.

In a dramatic televised statement in the early morning of the day that saw Africa relapsed into the Stone Age, a Zimbabwean army spokesman denied that a military takeover was underway. But the situation bore all the trappings of a coup: The military was in control of state TV in Harare, there was a significant army presence at the international airport, and Mugabe has not been seen in public. The Military official further explained that the president and his wife were “secure”, adding that they were targeting a ring of government plotters following a power struggle that saw the vice-president flee the country last week.

The address came hours after several loud explosions echoed across central Harare and troops seized the headquarters of the ZBC, Zimbabwe's state broadcaster. Several cabinet ministers, including local government minister Saviour Kasukuwere and Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo, and Mugabe’s nephew Patrick Zhuwayo, were reportedly arrested. There was allegedly a brief gun fight outside Mr Chombo’s house. All three are part of the G40 faction of Zanu-PF which is loyal to Grace Mugabe, wife of the president, who was being lined up to take over from her husband after the vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa was recently fired last.

To some keen watchers of event in Zimbabwe, if Mugabe is eventually overthrown from power, it is merely a tale of good radiance to bad rubbish. Robert Mugabe, 93, has been the country’s ruler since 1980. Undoubtedly, Mugabe has defined the history of his country. Born in the colonial era, he actually witnessed the various complications of colonial rule in his native land.  He was at the forefront of a bitter struggle to end white minority rule in Zimbabwe.  He was imprisoned for 11 eleven years by the colonial government for their anti-colonial activities. As providence would have it, he had the rare honour of leading his country to independence and actually became the first post -colonial black leader of the country.

As good as his anti colonial exploits were, Mugabe was however beclouded by a faulty sense of judgment after becoming his country’s leader. He launched a ceaseless attacks on all whites in the country, majority of whom controlled the country’s economy.  Unfortunately, Mugabe’s onslaught was not only against the whites in his country as the various black opposition groups, opposed to his prolonged stronghold on power, have had to contend with serious realties of his iron hold on power.

Rather than concentrate on policies and programmes that would usher in the much needed prosperity for his people, Mugabe was majorly preoccupied with building a fortress for himself. Regrettably, he didn’t do much to improve the worsening economic condition of his people who continue to live in abject poverty as all economic indicators keep pointing to a nation on the brink of socio-economic collapse, no thanks to Mugabe’s uncompromising and tactless stance towards western creditors.

It is rather sad that by perpetuating himself in power, Mugabe has rubbished every effort he made in the past towards fighting colonial overlords in his country. The assumption that no one else but him could steer the ship of the country, at 93, is nothing but a charade as he is no super human. The tragedy of the African continent is that most of its leaders, especially those who have little or nothing to offer the people, have continued to tow the ignoble path of authoritarianism. Is it not funny that most of the leaders’ whose stay in power have pauperized their people would rather prefer to die in power rather than giving opportunities to others with fresh ideas to rule?

 For those who argue that Mugabe’s prolonged hold on power is as a result of the love and affection his people have for him, they need to be reminded that Mandela was equally held in high esteem by South Africans across racial divide. But the difference is that he knew when to quit. That is one of the hallmarks of a great leader. 

A good leader should know when to quit. Perhaps, more importantly, a good leader must invest quality time and resources in developing new crop of leaders for the purpose of progress and stability. This is where Mandela differs remarkably from Mugabe and other similar sit-tight African leaders. At 93, isn’t it so obvious that Mugabe needed a break? But no, to him, power has become nothing but an obsession. Historically, leaders like him always have eccentric wives that spur them on in the macabre naked dance. Having ruled (misruled?) his country for 37 years; does it not speak volume of his frame of mind that he was lining up his wife as his possible successor?

 To him, it is no longer about the good of the people but about what he thinks is good for the people. Though military putsch isn’t actually a civilized option, in-spite of Mugabe’s excesses. But then, Mugabe was himself not too good at civility. The truth of the matter is that Zimbabwe and her people deserve a brand new beginning. Perhaps, this could be it!

Ogunbiyi wrote in from Ikeja, Lagos.

SO THAT SADIQ DABA WILL LIVE


Tayo Ogunbiyi

In the 70s and 80s, when there used to be quite a few television stations in the country, the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, was then the leading TV Station in the land. In those days, everyone depended on the NTA for news, reports, entertainment among others. It is particularly in entertainment that NTA really carved a niche for itself. Consequently, some soap operas shown on the station became popular nationwide. Prominent among such soaps were Village Headmaster, The Masquerade, Cockcrow at Dawn, Supple Blues, Mirror In the Sun, Ichiokwu, Winds of Destiny, After the Storm and many others. These were all very captivating television drama series that were fashioned to mirror our country’s peculiar and diverse religious and socio-cultural setting, while also providing huge entertainment for the teeming viewers. As it is usually the case with didactic works, most of the series had numerous moral lessons that highly imparted on the society.

Though all of the soaps were quite fascinating and enthralling, one particularly found Cock Crow at Dawn quite breathtaking.  A rich educational and entertainment serial that aired weekly on the NTA network, Cock Crow at Dawn was developed and financed by NTA and United Bank for Africa, UBA to promote widespread interest in farming. The idea was part of the effort to increase awareness about the need to diversify the country’s economy by returning to agriculture which used to be the mainstay of the nation’s economy. UBA came on board the project as part of its agricultural credit scheme. The immensely talented Peter Igho wrote and developed the serial. The choice of location was Sabon Garin Tarria, a rural setting about 20 kilometers from the coal city of Jos in Plateau State.

As it is always the case with such popular soap operas, certain characters that are able to interpret their roles skillfully will eventually become the face of the drama series and as such become very famous national figures. In the case of Cock Crow at Dawn, one of such characters is Sadiq Daba who played the role of Bitrus, a rather naughty boy in the drama series. Tall, thin and amiable, Daba is a veteran television broadcaster, presenter, actor, director and producer who dazzled Nigerians with his immense talent in the late 70s through the 80s and early 90s.

Aside his role in Cock Crow at Dawn, Daba equally featured in a couple of other drama series which include ‘Rooster Crow at Dawn’, ‘Behind the Clouds’ and ‘A Place like Home’, ‘Soweto’ and ‘Moment of Truth’.
Widely travelled and educated, he studied at the St. Edwards College, Sierra Leone, NTA/TV College, ABU: Mass Communication and later went on training tours to Germany, U.K. etc. Perhaps, in contemporary time his latest act is his as Waziri, a nosy police officer, in the award winning Kunle Afolayan’s movie, October 1st, which incidentally won him several individual awards across the world.

But then, as things stand right now, these are not the best of time for Daba. At over 70 years, when he should take a break from the hustle and bustle of life to enjoy the rewards of his hardwork, Daba is battling for dear life. According to reports, the ace broadcaster has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, barely months after he was hospitalized for months due to leukemia, a cancer of the blood cells that has no known cure. However, with adequate medical care or a blood marrow transplant, the disease can be managed.

Naturally, the financial implications of such medical treatments are always quite enormous and as such Daba could do with some help from well meaning Nigerians. We can all celebrate this amazingly talented compatriot by rising up to help him in every way we could. We should not wait until he dies before coming out to eulogize him as it has almost become customary with us. This is his hour of need and we should demonstrate our humanness by stretching forth our hand of love, brotherliness and love towards him. 

Members of his primary constituency in the entertainment industry should especially show the way forward by coming out to rally round him. Being one of the industry’s founding (grand) father, Daba’s colleagues need to come together and demonstrate their benevolence towards him. Nigerians are typically kind hearted and we must bring this to bear in our response to Daba. He has given us much to cheer about while his was in sound health, now is the time to pay him back.   

It is, however, rather imperative to stress that, perhaps, the best way to honour this illustrious entertainment guru would be for governments across the country to raise the bar in terms of health care delivery. All tiers of governments across the country must invest massively in the health sector such that every Nigerian, irrespective of social status could have access to quality medical care.

We must work hard to reverse the trend where only a few privileged ones that have the wherewithal could travel abroad to access quality medical care. If top government functionaries by virtue of their official positions could be flown abroad at public expense for medical treatment, then what happens to millions of hapless compatriots who do not have the resources to do same? Are they already condemned to avoidable death?

The strength of every nation is its people. It is the people that help to give impetus to every policy, programme and activity of government. Nations that are desirous of spectacular growth and development don’t joke with the health of their citizens. Ours should not be an exception. As a nation, our human resource remains our most essential development index. Therefore, government and all stakeholders should do all they could to ensure that the health of the citizenry is not in any way jeopardized. 

Ogunbiyi is of the Lagos State Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

LAGOS DEVELOPMENT AND IMPERATIVE FOR TAXATION


Adeola Ishola-Lemomu

Taxation is a critical component in the smooth running of any government and society. Taxation enables government to source for required funds to provide social amenities such as good roads, transportation system (rail, water etc), improved health care systems and security among others.

Tax serves many purposes for the government such as wealth redistribution.  When the rich is made to pay more, this makes more funds available for government, while the poor are only expected to a minimal amount that is commensurate to their income.

Its origin dates far back in the history of human societies. In ancient Egypt, Pharaoh’s tax collectors were known as scribes.  In ancient Greece, during war times, the Athenians imposed a tax referred to as eisphora.   No one was exempted from the tax which was used to pay for special wartime expenditures.

In contemporary world, tax has become a huge source of revenue earning for governments.  Taxation makes government accountable to the citizens as the process of budgeting, economic planning and public spending is closely related to taxation.  Government is compelled by the law to make all these processes a matter of public knowledge and such information is readily available on request.  Thus, taxation enhances the transparency and accountability of government and government spending and revenue generated. 

Being a cosmopolitan city with teeming challenges associated with its huge population, Lagos State is required to spend a lot of resources in providing adequate security to lives and property so that normal business activities and social life can be conducted smoothly in an atmosphere of peace, orderliness and respect for the rule of law.  These can only be made possible through funds generated from taxes paid by the citizens.

The huge population of Lagos also means that more waste will be generated daily.  Waste disposal in a megacity like Lagos State can be quite complicated as it has other dire consequences on health, environment, safety and general wellbeing of the city.  Poor waste disposal practices have been known to negatively affect the biodiversity and wellbeing of other living organisms in rivers, lakes and other water bodies in our immediate and remote surrounding.  The huge amount of money that Lagos state spends annually in keeping these wastes off the streets and ensuring that they are properly and safely disposed, comes from taxes paid by the citizens.

It is, however, understandable that willingness towards compliance to taxation has always been a problem throughout history.  Even in the time of Jesus Christ, people were known to have complained to the Messiah about the burden of having to pay taxes to the Roman government.  They were probably expecting him to validate their desire to circumvent the law by withholding their taxes.  However, Christ’s response is recorded in Matthew 22:21 where he made that famous comment: "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's."

It is clear that a major reason why people are a bit lethargic towards payment of taxes is because they are often sceptical about the judicious use of their hard earned money. But then, it could be safely affirmed that in Lagos in the current democratic dispensation (1999-date), there have been tangible manifestations of government’s shrewd deployment of state’s resources. This could be seen across almost every sector in the state, especially in the area of public health, public transportation, the environment and infrastructure upgrade. 

Presently, the Ambode administration is making concerted efforts to take Lagos state to a new level of prosperity. The recent strides of the administration readily attest to this. For instance, in order to enhance the quality of health care delivery in the state, government has provided numerous mobile care units’ ambulances as well as transport ambulances to various General Hospitals in the state. To improve security in the state, government has also procured brand new power bikes, armoured tanks, and a helicopter to support the State Police Command in ensuring a safer Lagos. This is in addition to the acquisition of several new squad cars for the Special Operation Service which is expected to coordinate community policing in the State. In order to provide soccour for it retirees, the state government have paid billions of naira to offset pension arrears owed pensioners since 2010.

However, as good as the efforts made so far to have all taxable adults in the tax net; it is regrettable that only about 3million Lagos residents out of a taxable adult population of about 12million pay their taxes. Thus, whilst everyone is taking the benefits of democratic dividends in the State, the burden of funding is squarely placed on quite a few. This is inequitable, un- sustainable and unfair.

It is therefore not out of order that Lagos State government has, reiterated its commitment and resolve to wield the big stick against tax defaulters.  The government has made it clear that a life without tax is a lie as no nation or state can effectively thrive if its citizens pay lip service to issues of paying their statutory taxes. The point here is that there is no magic wand that can bring development without money. It is noteworthy that the most successful democracies in the world where governments are accountable to the people are those societies with a strong tradition of paying taxes.

In-spite of the current steady strides of the Ambode administration, it is quite apparent that much still need to be done. Being a melting point of people from diverse parts of the world, Lagos has peculiar infrastructure needs. There is, perhaps, no other state in the country that contends with as much pressure on its infrastructure as Lagos does. This is why taxable Lagos residents must partner with the state government through prompt and willing payment of taxes in order to attain the Lagos of our collective dream.

Ishola-Lemomu is of the Lagos State Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja

NIGERIAN CHILDREN AND POOR MEASLES VACCINE PENETRATION


Rasak Musbau

The World Health Organization (WHO) just rolled out a most worrying statistics — that Nigeria, with 3.3 million children, tops the list of the world’s most unvaccinated children against measles. Following closely on Nigeria’s heel are India (2.9 million children), Pakistan (two million), Indonesia (1.2 million), Ethiopia (0.9 million) and Democratic Republic of Congo (0.7 million).

An airborne virus, measles is transmitted by respiratory droplets from the nose, mouth, or throat of an infected person and a leading cause of death among children world-wide. In Nigeria, Measles is the fifth leading cause of under-five child mortality and 50 per cent of deaths of all vaccine preventable diseases. Measles infection and mortality was found to occur all year round irrespective of whether it was rainy or dry season, reinforcing measles endemicity in this part of West African. In 2016 alone, Nigeria witnessed 183 measles outbreaks affecting 158 local government areas (LGAs).

What is worrisome to health authorities in the country and should be of serious concern to everyone is that the measles virus can spread in a person four days before the onset of the telltale rash, making people with the virus to become contagious ever before they are actually aware that they had measles. Another fact that makes measles virus really scary is that it can live on surfaces for up to two hours and in an unimmunized population, one person with measles can infect 12 to 18 others.

This is way higher than other scary viruses like Ebola and HIV. With Ebola, one case usually leads to two others while in the case of HIV; one case leads to another four.  A person with measles can cough in a room, and — if you are unvaccinated — hours later, you could catch the virus from the droplets in the air that they left behind. This accounts for why everybody must be a change agent and social mobiliser propagating measles immunization rather than being merely contended after getting our own children vaccinated.

According to the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), the horrible mathematics of measles looks like this: one out of every 20 children with measles gets pneumonia; one in 1,000 will develop encephalitis (swelling of the brain); and one or two in 1,000 children will die. The optimal age for infantile measles vaccination is an important health issue since maternal antibodies may neutralize the vaccine antigen before a specific immune response develops. Delaying vaccination, on the other hand, may increase the risk of complicated disease. Getting only one dose of the vaccine instead of the recommended two also seems to increase people’s chances of getting measles if they are ever exposed.

However, as a child approaches 14 years, incidence of measles reduces to 0%, confirming WHO’s position that measles is a childhood problem and of huge concern in developing nations such as Nigeria. Usually, after an incubation period of 10 to 12 days, measles comes on as a fever, cough, stuffy nose, and bloodshot and watery eyes. Loss of appetite and malaise are equally common signs of measles. Several days after these initial symptoms, an uncomfortable spotty, rash begins to spread all over the body, starting on the face and neck, and moving downward. The rash usually lasts for three to five days and then fades away.

In uncomplicated cases, people who get measles start to recover as soon as the rash appears and feel back to normal in about two to three weeks. But up to 40 percent of patients have complications from the virus. These usually occur in children under-5, in adults over 20, and in anybody else who is undernourished or having low immunity.

The most common complication from the measles is pneumonia, which accounts for most measles-related deaths. Less frequently, measles can lead to blindness, croup, mouth ulcers, ear infections, or severe diarrhea. Some children develop encephalitis (swelling of the brain), which can lead to convulsions, loss of hearing, and mental retardation. Again, these complications mostly arise in people whose immune systems are already weakened because of their age, pre-existing diseases or malnutrition.

With a vaccine, measles is prevented through the combination of MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) shot. Immunity from the vaccine lasts for decades. The vaccine is known to be extremely safe and very effective. It contains a live but weakened version of the virus, and it causes the immune system to produce antibodies against the virus. Should you be exposed to actual measles, those antibodies will then fire up to protect against the disease.

The measles virus could theoretically be wiped off the face of the planet, never to infect another human again. That is because it fits the profile of diseases that can be eradicated. People, and not animals, are the only carriers of the virus (so eradication wouldn’t require killing off an entire animal species).

Addressing over 40 media practitioners recently, the Executive Director of the NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib pledged that the upcoming measles vaccination campaign will be the best ever implemented by the country. Dr Shuaib confirmed that the 2017-2018 vaccination campaign is planned to be conducted in phases by geographical zones from October 2017 to March 2018.

Nigerians must not only maximize opportunities of this planned vaccinations, we must avoid playing politics with it, the result of which is endangering the future of innocent children. Everything should be done to ensure the upcoming campaign reaches all eligible children. Great lessons should have been learnt from past mistake when vicious propaganda prevented was employed to confuse ignorant parents and compromise health of our children.

For governments across the country, more budgetary provision should be made for this measles vaccination efforts so that infrastructures will be in place that will also serve as a frame-work for other vaccine-preventable disease interventions, as the health institutions are weak at the primary and secondary levels, especially in remote and rural areas. Maintenance of cold chain for vaccines should also be a priority as temperatures vary, and so does the time taken to get to some vaccination locations which reduces vaccine quality as a result of thawing. The local government authorities are encouraged to ensure improved sanitation within the community; good sanitation is a recipe for good health and ultimate preventive measure against diseases.

The life of every child is very important and anything that will ensure its survival must not be treated with a kid gloves. With measles, poverty and ignorance can’t be an excuse any longer. Measles vaccine is free all over the country and governments at all level are also doing their best in creating awareness.

 Musbau is of the Features Unit, Lagos State Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja

WOMEN AND THE THREAT OF DIABETES


Tayo Ogunbiyi

Diabetes Mellitus is a life-long disease noticeable by elevated levels of sugar in the blood either because the body does not produce enough insulin or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced. Insulin is the principal hormone that regulates uptake of Glucose from the blood into most cells. It is released into the blood stream by beta cells found in the Islet of Langerhans in the pancreas in response to rising levels of blood glucose, typically after eating.

Globally, diabetes has become a huge medical concern. Though the disease is prevalent across the world, experts have predicted that there would be an upsurge in its occurrence in Asia and Africa due to the trend of urbanization and the dynamism of lifestyle change.

Relevant statistical data has shown that as at 2010, an estimated 285 million people had Diabetes Mellitus. Scarily, experts have predicted that this figure would almost double by 2030. In Africa, an estimated 14.7 million adults had the disease in 2011.  With an estimated figure of 1.7 million, Nigeria has the largest number of people living with diabetes in Africa.  Sadly, this number is expected to rise to 4.8 million by 2030.

It is in an attempt to promptly deal with the disease and the threat it poses to mankind that the World Diabetes Day is celebrated annually. Globally, the Day is held on November 14 of every year to draw universal attention to the reality of the threat posed by diabetes to the well being of millions of people across the world. The Day was launched in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in reaction to the increase of diabetes around the world.

By the 2016 edition, the Day was being commemorated by over 230 IDF member associations in more than 160 countries as well as by other numerous global stakeholders. Traditionally, activities lined up to mark the Day often include diabetes screening, media campaigns and numerous other social events among others.

Each year, the World Diabetes Day commemoration focuses on different themes and factors that promote the risk of diabetes and its complications. Deliberately, this year’s edition, with the theme: ‘Women and diabetes - our right to a healthy future’, has been particularly chosen to focus on the increasing rate of women with cases of the disease.

The essence is to promote the significance of affordable and reasonable access for all women at risk for or living with diabetes to the necessary diabetes drugs, technologies, self-management education and information they require with a view to attaining best possible diabetes outcomes as well as strengthening their ability to avoid type 2 diabetes. Without a doubt, every woman with diabetes requires reasonable and equitable access to care and education to better manage their diabetes and improve their health outcomes.

The fact that this year’s World Diabetes Day focuses mainly on women is an indication that quite a reasonable number of women are becoming increasingly vulnerable to the disease. Research has shown that two out of every five women with diabetes are of reproductive age, thus accounting for over 60 million women globally. According to available WHO record, there are currently over 199 million women living with diabetes all over the world. This, of course, is a staggering figure. But then, experts opine that the present figure is very much likely to increase to 313 million by 2040.

To further underscore the threat posed by diabetes to the well being of women across the world, it has been discovered that the malady is now the ninth leading killer of women globally, causing 2.1 million deaths per year. Women with type 2 diabetes are almost 10 times more likely to have coronary heart disease than women without the condition. Women with type 1 diabetes have an increased risk of early miscarriage or having a baby with malformations.

As a result of socio-economic conditions, girls and women with diabetes experience barriers in accessing cost-effective diabetes prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and care, particularly in developing countries. Socio-economic inequalities expose women to the main risk factors of diabetes, including poor diet and nutrition, physical inactivity, tobacco consumption and harmful use of alcohol.

Two out of every five women with diabetes are of reproductive age, accounting for over 60 million women worldwide. Women with diabetes have more difficulty conceiving and may have poor pregnancy outcomes. Without pre-conception planning, type 1 and type 2 diabetes can result in a significantly higher risk of maternal and child mortality and morbidity.

Equally, 1 in 7 births is affected by gestational diabetes (GDM), a severe and neglected threat to maternal and child health. Many women with GDM experience pregnancy related complications including high blood pressure, large birth weight babies and obstructed labour. A significant number of women with GDM also go on to develop type 2 diabetes resulting in further healthcare complications and costs. Stigmatization and discrimination faced by people with diabetes are particularly pronounced for girls and women, who carry a double burden of discrimination because of their health status and the inequalities perpetrated in male-dominated societies.

To ensure that the rate of occurrence of the disease among women becomes reasonably low, women living with diabetes should have access to pre-conception planning services to reduce risk during pregnancy.  Also, they should have access to physical activities that are geared towards improving their medical status.  In same vein, pregnant women must have unhindered access to screening, care and enlightenment to attain better health effects for mother and child.

Similarly, Type 2 diabetes prevention strategies must focus on maternal health and nutrition and other health behaviours before and during pregnancy, as well as infant and early childhood nutrition. Antenatal care visits during pregnancy must be optimized for health promotion in young women and early detection of diabetes and GDM.

It is also crucial that screening for diabetes and GDM is integrated into other maternal health interventions and services at primary healthcare level to ensure early detection, better care for women and reduced maternal mortality. Healthcare workers should be trained in the identification, treatment, management and follow up of diabetes during pregnancy. Women, as mothers, have a huge influence over the long-term health status of their children.

Other measures that can be employed in the control of this disease in addition to insulin include maintenance of a healthy body weight, adding beans and other legumes like peas and lentils which are rich in protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals to diet appear to help people with type 2 diabetes improve their blood sugar control through binding of cholesterol, keeping it from being absorbed in the guts [intestines] and lowering risk of heart disease. Regular exercises are also very essential to prevent obesity. Also tobacco and alcohol consumption should be avoided while fruits and vegetables intake as well as losing of excess weight, if obese, should be encouraged.

Ogunbiyi is of the Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

ACCELERATING NIGERIA’S PROGRESS


Rasak Musbau

Who is denying that Nigeria has structural problem? It is quite evident that the major issues with our country revolve round our disheveled structure, weak institutions and scrawny values. The country has proved too large and inefficient for the centralized management of many of our institutions. Central control of many vital institutions and major sources of revenue have stifled the democratic context within which federation thrives best.

 It is this anomaly that defines the mismanagement of our institutions and infrastructure. To correct the anomaly and ensure efficient working of the nation’s institutions, every patriotic Nigerian wants a true federal system, where each component unit or region is imbued with attributes of a semi-autonomous entity.

 At this point in time, however, beyond restructuring and true federalism, there are certain attitudinal problems which have to be addressed simultaneously if we want real growth and development. All too often we show no sign of understanding that we are, each and every one of us, relevant and important to the fate of our country. Instead of drawing on our own resources, we are forever looking up to someone else, forever searching for good leaders to see us through. 

 Our bane is our resignation to being eternally passive objects of other people’s will, begging on our knees for our rights and entitlements. We want government to stop corruption and yet continually urging motorists to settle corrupt police officers on the road because we cannot sacrifice five minutes delay. We beg, induce and compromise public institution for all form of things and yet still wonder why things are not changing.

Second, we need serious and practical commitment to sharing the burdens and the rewards of citizenship with equity. We often think we are getting justice only when persons from our region are in a position to dominate and oppress others. Once in that position, we hardly ever muster the discipline and objectivity to allow that others have rights. Those who complain vociferously that they are oppressed by the regional distribution of power have no qualms about being oppressive in states that they control; those who complain about being oppressed in their state dish out oppression in generous doses in local government areas under their jurisdiction.

The implications of these tendencies are very grievous. Since for us, political relations invariably reduce to domination and subordination, defeat in political competition is unthinkable, and by the same token, restraint in the pursuit of political power is anathema. Consensus-building and peaceful coexistence are impossible for they demand a disposition to share and a willingness to submit to the demanding discipline of justice.

Thirdly, we must do away with parochial loyalty if we want the country to move forward. Many are more committed to lobby the political executive to ensure that their sons and daughters in the public service get undue favour. Also erring public officials are sometimes protected on the basis of connection with highly placed personalities. This practice therefore has not only served as an incentive for unethical conduct in the public service, but has also de-emphasized the issue of competence and merit. This accounts for lopsidedness in appointment into crucial national institutions and agitation for restructuring.

Fourth, we have to beat the habit of preying on others and consuming without producing. Most politicians view politics as a major industry and a main route to power and wealth. How to make the state or local government under them viable economically is of less concern to them. Invariably, the ruling class is committed to the decadent existing social order which though furthers their class interest, marginalizes the people.

It has now become imperative for us to have renewed education and new attitude to overcome our national problems. We have been turned into perpetual blamers. We blame government, them ‘up there,’ over us ‘below.’ No matter how much less power we feel we have, we are not utterly without power. What we need now is for every one of us to become a leader. We have to start doing the right things and insisting public officers adhere to basic tenets of ethics.

We must educate ourselves that democracy is not just about election but what we do every day. It is not about what is done for us, or done to us, but what we do daily. We must discard all dangerous tendencies of mutual distrust and total lack of confidence in our nation and seemingly inbuilt attitude by many to hate the country. It is dismaying seeing fellow citizens putting up dispositions that show absolute hatred for the country in the guise of fighting those in government. One is not saying that identifying with one’s nation is synonymous with blind followership, but we must embrace basic patriotic inclinations.

26th President of United States of America, Theodore Roosevelt once explained that: “Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country. It is patriotic to support him insofar as he efficiently serves the country. It is unpatriotic not to oppose him to the exact extent that by inefficiency or otherwise he fails in his duty to stand by the country.”

The solution to Nigeria’s problem is neither in sabotaging its economy under any guise, nor in blind loyalty to kinsmen or brethren in faith at the helm of public administration. These are unpatriotic acts. It is however important for one to admit that it is not possible to ignite fire of commitment from citizens whose welfare has become nobody’s business.

This is why Nigerians should always insist on good governance while also putting on creative cap of self-empowerment. The family unit, social organisations, schools and colleges and the media must help people to overcome the shackles of helplessness in the face of our daunting problems.

The media should start projecting models of real powerful people in their news reporting. Here, one is not referring to celebrities, or politicians and CEOs of the corporate world, but real entrepreneurs who started small and grow progressively. These are what will ignite power of, if he can, I can rather than sustaining culture of powerlessness arising from celebration of looters, political and social impostors.

Finally, the following words of anonymous Chinese poet are quite instructive: ‘Hope cannot be said to exist, nor can it be said not to exist, for it is like the roads that cross the earth. In the beginning, there were no roads, but when many people pass one way, a road is made.’ In our case, when many are ready to let the change begin with them, we shall see real change. We should all be the man that will be proud of this country, and the man that this country will be proud of. This is how to move the country forward.

Musbau is of Features Unit, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja