Big for nothing

I was going through an article written by Emeka E, Okafor and I came across a sentence that really amazed me. It goes that Nigeria is a country which has everything and produces nothing, and Japan is a country which has nothing and produces everything. Indeed he has hit a nerve. He is absolutely right. In terms of natural and human resources, Nigeria tops other African countries. And we can very well say that Nigeria is one of the richest in Africa also. One just has to go through records to know the amount we earn every single day from petroleum. To get a little idea, Nigeria is the sixth largest exporter of crude oil and has extensive reserves of natural gas, solid minerals and forest resources. In terms of human resources, well the population is almost hitting 180 million. So among this 180 million, where are all our scientists, innovators, etc? Why are we ranked among poor countries with all these resources? Who is to blame? The leaders, citizens, the land itself? Is it a cause that we cannot change our destiny in that continent for better?

My friend just came back from Nigeria and was sharing with me how he was amazed at the display of wealth in Abuja. He said he saw a young girl driving the latest Mercedes Benz that is yet to be released. Indeed there is wealth but only a few control and have this wealth. I think it is disgraceful for our leaders to let this trend continue. The wealth should be adequately used so that none will lack any necessary social amenities or infrastructure. Why will young university boys and girls be happy when they see some people display wealth and know that they will never have the same chance only through crime and corruption?

Mind your language

I was sat on the bus yesterday on my way home after spending few hours at university trying to get some inspiration for my theses. I always see different characters on the bus. Sometimes, I even think it is just dangerous to look at anyone on the bus in case they get/have a different idea on their mind. So I always carry a newspaper to bury my head in it. Like I have written some time ago, I have been a victim of unprovoked attack on the bus some months ago (by my fellow Nigerians!!!! Can you imagine)? I have been traumatised by that event. I even had to get counselling as I found it difficult to understand why my fellow Nigerians will attack me. I came to a conclusion that they must have been high on drugs. No other explanation befits such an attack.

So I am always weary when I see young black boys on the bus because of their erratic behaviours. So yesterday, these two scruffy looking boys got on the bus, before they even sat down, they were (mind my French) efing and swearing. The language they were using was just shameful. They were not different from the boys that attacked me, so again, I buried my head on a paper so I don’t get noticed (as some of them are so chicken to pick on boys, so they chose a very fragile person to attack). These black boys continued swearing, using languages that should not be used in public. You could see the disapproving looks on people on the bus. I started to wonder to myself, if these boys want to make it in life and come out of the stereotype associated with young black males. Why can’t they get education? After all it is free for them in this country. Why can’t they take advantage of what is there for them? Every time we hear how young black people say they are not given equal opportunities, they are not considered for good jobs etc. My take on that is why should you be considered if you do not work extra hard to get it? Why should you be considered if you are not good enough? How can such boys on the bus get good jobs if they cannot make simple sentence in English without efing and swearing? It really baffles me why some black people carry a chip on their shoulders blaming others for the misadventure in life. If you want it, work for it, if you want it, strive for it. Don’t live up to your stereotype which is what many do. Why be a gangster? Why kill? Why not make a difference? I may be naïve about events on the streets but I really believe that if change needs to be made in black communities, certain changes needs to be made in personal lives. Go get an education, go to school, read books, research, go that extra mile, work hard for what you want, live a good life. Many of us do so why can’t we all do it?

Reflection

Sometimes we seat and reflect on our lives, our achievements, disappointments, and what we want out of life. Sometimes I do ask myself what is my role here on earth? I really want to get down and achieve what God wants me to do. In the course of living life, we go through happy times and not so happy times. We meet people who will do anything to help us get there and people who will want to destroy that dream through any means. We sometimes go through pains, disappointments, betrayal and sometimes joy, happiness and a feeling of achievement in the course of just being alive. We love, admire, lust, brave, hate and go through all the emotions that we do go through in life.

Life is great. But some might say for a few. Why must we think it is great for a few? Why not for all? Well, some might say if it was that great, why do some people commit suicide? Why do some of our loved ones have to die? Why is it I am not among the rich? Why am I not married? Why don’t I have children? Why does my children hate me and do things that bring shame to me? Why are blacks so hated? Why is Africa still backward? Why are there many people dying of hunger, HIV, pain etc? Why do we go to war? why is there poverty?

These questions are sometimes and most times not easy to answer. When my most precious dad went to be with the lord, I couldn't ask the question why? I was too afraid of what God would think of me. I was afraid because everyone said to me in everything, give glory to God. I couldn't really mourn cause I was so afraid that God would be angry with me. I would cry but when I think of how God sees me, I dry my eyes and continue to have faith in HIM because he said he is now my father and would take care of me. Sometimes, I would pray so hard for something and really have faith and then, I don’t get what I have prayed for. I get really down and inside me, I would want to ask God, well you said you’ll give me what I want, so where are you? I must confess there was a period I hated God. I couldn't’t bear to pray to him cause I thought if he was so great, why am I in pain. But one thing that keeps me so grounded in God is that when all my hopes are gone, he comes through and you know that prayer that I thought he didn’t answer me comes to pass. I can say there is no prayer I have prayed that God has not answered me. It might not be in the moment I wanted it but it sure does come through and at the right time.

So now, I have learnt from experience, God never never deserts his children. When we think we cannot go through with life, when we think the pain is just too much for us to bear, when we think all hope is gone and there cannot be a miracle in this world to see us through, God comes through.

It is Good Friday, I am reflecting on God’s amazing love for me. I am reflecting on this man that loves me so much that he gave his only son Jesus to die for me so that I can be save, so I can be healed, so I can live life and live it abundantly, so that I can achieve my dreams and bring glory to him. It is a love so unconditional. I am not perfect, I might not be the best looking girl in the world, but this man loves me just the way I am, he says to me everyday how beautiful I am, he shows me love by protecting me, by giving me good health, by protecting my family and those I love. He loves me even when I disappoint him over and over again, even when I am being bad, even when I said I will not pray to him again, he forgave me, brought me closer to him and whispered to me, “I still love you”. Doesn’t it bring tears to your eyes?

Just like we think our dreams have died or when we think of giving up, just remember Jesus died too and just as He rose on the third day, so will our dreams, our passions and our visions. Our dreams will rise again, our hopes will rise again and as long there is life, our faith in ourselves, what we do, our dreams etc will live again. For those who are Christians, have a wonderful Easter and for those who are not, I hope you enjoyed the write-up and can understand where I am coming with my faith. To you all have a brilliant weekend. Life is really great, don’t you think so?

Matters arising

Our very own African princess Lindi Mngaza will be among the latest apprentices hoping to be hired by Sir Alan Sugar. Lindi I hope you make us proud. Now that you are on TV, you are the ambassador people are seeing. Represent us well. I hope you show what a brilliant person you are and what a great personality you have. Shouting, fighting and being arrogant will not take you anywhere as a young black woman rather wisdom and sensibility is what you need to succeed. All the best girl.

Going to other matters, illegal immigrant david Ayinde is jailed for rape and attack on a young prostitute. He raped this girl who has been living a desperate life and left her to seek help naked on Manchester streets. This heartless man has been jailed for six and a half years. Do you know I wonder why a well abled man, will leave his country for whatever reason and say that his new job is to commit crimes. Rape is such a horrible experience that no one should be wished to experience it. Now the judge also wants this horrible monster to be deported back to a country that can do away with another hardened criminal. Why cant we just send him somewhere? Now he will go back to Nigeria raping and terrorizing other innocent citizens. Men like him give black people a bad name (though that should not be the case). He is a stereotype and has lived up to his title. I hate the fact that he is from Nigeria. Nigeria has gone through a lot of bad press that all we need now are good citizens and ambassadors.

latest apprentices

Our very own African princess Lindi Mngaza will be among the latest apprentices hoping to be hired by Sir Alan Sugar. Lindi I hope you make us proud. Now that you are on TV, you are the ambassador people are seeing. Represent us well. I hope you show what a brilliant person you are and what a great personality you have. Shouting, fighting and being arrogant will not take you anywhere as a young black woman rather wisdom and sensibility is what you need to succeed. All the best girl.

The sleeping giant

I honestly love reading and getting myself acquainted with events in Nigeria. I also enjoy reading articles by Dele Momodu and Simon kolawole. Infact they have just written amazing articles on the way Nigeria is. The fact is that this sleeping giant needs everything to make it wake up and take its position in African matters. I was in Nigeria some months ago and the same issues still existed. There was no constant supply of electricity, the roads were just horrible with pot holes (in fact one cannot call it road anymore). There were stories of how armed robbers cause mayhem to families and the story goes on and on. And did I make mention of the driving there? Some people were driving like animals. I think there should be a legislation on which people are allowed to drive on the road for the safety of the innocent pedestrian or well trained driver. All these problems have been laid on our leaders for failing to steer the country into development path.

When people tell me that they are having fun in Nigeria, I really marvel at how we still have that positive attitude in us to still laugh when all things around us seems to go on the negative path. There are Nigerians who are so hard working and talented. I am really proud of those but there are some, whose fathers, brothers, mothers, aunties, sister’s name it have contributed in bringing this wonderful country down. For public money stolen, these thieves bear the loss of a child on their head that could not eat, go to hospital with up to date equipment. I even think these corrupt individuals do not have any shame at all. they have the best houses, their children go to the best schools, they travel all over the world and one thing you can still smell in them is their mediocrity outlook on life.

I also think that something needs to be done about the population of that country. Why keep increasing when the means to support is limited? I hope and pray that Nigeria wakes up. I pray that the whole of Africa will stand up and take their position in world affairs.

Ignorance, race and so what I am black?

I watched this program yesterday on BBC called all white in Barking. Wow! What an eye-opening program. I found it very intriguing yet extremely disturbing. This program brought out a fear in me of the human nature. It is a program about the disturbing nature of integration and racism in modern day, multi cultural Britain. I fear for all those who think coming to the UK or any other developed country is the answer. Many of us left our countries for different reasons. Some left for further education, others for jobs, better life etc. No matter the reason, we all have one thing in common which is the fact that we are all considered as immigrants. One of the most disturbing comments by one of the people interviewed on the program is their description or perception of the African person. In light of this, one cannot help but see their ignorance. To one family, every black person is Nigerian and because of the way “Africans” are perceived, they would not want any Africans to stay in UK but would rather prefer Eastern Europeans because they are more of their own. Ignorance exhibits itself in that they cannot even differentiate that Africa is made of different countries and even the Nigeria they talk about is made up of different ethnicities, colours, beliefs and customs. One tends to overlook the fact that some of these ignorant xenophobic people who talk about immigration and how their country is been flooded by immigrants forget that their country contributed to the way Africa is now (please read how Europe underdeveloped Africa by Walter Rodney). I will not go into that topic now. They forgot that we tolerated slave trade; we tolerated colonialism, all our goods, raw materials etc was used to develop their precious country of today. Our men even fought in the wars for their country.

I can understand one of the interviewees’ anger with Nigerians. His daughter’s boyfriend and father of his grandchild beat and abused his daughter. No one supports an abusive man no matter what colour. Some of the interviewees said that Africans are arrogant, well so are some English people and people from other nationalities. I mean what does he expect? Blacks are also humans free to be whoever they want to be. Should blacks live just to please “some people”? Where was it written? Who says one race is more superior to the other? I believe we should all respect other peoples way of life, belief etc. some have conducted experiments to rubbish the black race, well, that is their own cup of tea. I believe I am who God says I am. Made in his Image, destined for great things so who is it that shall say otherwise? I love who I am. I am not like any white person neither am I like any black person. We are all different in who we all are.

One of the participants in the program said he did not believe in the mixture of races. That Whites should be with their own and black with theirs. I say totally rubbish. Who does he think he is? I respect his opinion. He can be with whom he wants to. To my opinion he is out of date and time. People of mixed marriages and mixed parentage have come a long way and do love who they are and accept who they are.

My happiness is that these people making most of these traumatizing comments are getting old. I am happy the younger generation are more tolerant and open minded than some of these old people. I have some of the most wonderful friends in the UK who are English. I am so happy with my life and the beautiful people around me who are of different ethnicities, races and countries. I believe the younger generation will have a better life without such hatred and ignorance around.

For every program like this, it annoys me when I see pictures or videos of African children on TV channels raising funds for African children. Some times I ask if they are patronising us Africans. Sometimes I am like are they mocking us by showing these pictures and videos of children in poverty. I know some might mean well but I think it is high time such cliché clips end.

The only way out of this misrepresentation and false impression is for Africa to get up and develop it self. It has everything, human, material resources. Use it then. Shame how we leave our children to starve, shame other countries has to show horrible pictures of our children to raise funds for their survival. What are we going to do? Well, be the best in anything you do. If you are in education, excel, if you are into science and technology, excel, no matter what you are doing, excel in it and tomorrow we will make a difference one way or the other.
Hope you had a lovely weekend?

Accomplishment

I would like to share with you that I have gotten my 25 meters swimming badge. I am so excited. I could not swim some few weeks ago but now, I have done 25 meters. My next goal is to achieve the 50 meters and then start swimming properly as a form of relaxation. I was so proud of myself and had this feeling that I have accomplished something. I never really feel something is too big for me to achieve. I put all my heart into something if I want to achieve it. My friend always says I have got this determination about me and I really see it in every thing I do.

From determination to articles I love to read and you may find interesting. See Dele Momodu’s write up on Why Nigeria Must be Rescued Fast: The Pendulum also Simon Kolawole’s writ up on Who’ll Tame These Armed Robbers? http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=105382. I really enjoyed each article and really hope our leaders do read some of the brilliant write ups by our very talented writers.
Hope you are having a lovely week? God bless

Fair Play?

Hello everyone, hope you are having a very relaxed weekend? I was going through some articles in the Nigerian newspaper and saw some stories that really made me ask what type of mind do some people have? This particular story is about Miss Sandra Iwu who is Miss Galaxy Beauty. This story is over her unpaid entitlements and rights. She apparently said that she was deprived her entitlements which included a car, travel expenses, payment of salary and basic support she needed during her rein as queen.

The article did not cover the other side’s story but I think that young girls who are trying to make it in the fashion world or any other sector should be supported and encouraged to achieve their dreams. No dream is irrelevant and if she was crowned miss galaxy, then she deserves every entitlement due to her and she has every right to make complaints and be sad about this. The lady miss Iwu has just spoken about ought to put reports right and prove that she has got integrity and is trustworthy as a businesswoman. Her attitude proves why many people are a bit sceptical dealing with “some” Nigerian so called business people.
Still talking about business people, our own business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, is the world’s 334th richest man. This was published by Forbes, an American magazine which lists 1,000 billionaires across the globe. Dangote is said to be worth $3.3 billion. He is said to be the only Nigerian on the list and the first time a Nigerian is making the (dollar) billionaire club. He is one of the seven Africans listed.
A big congratulation to Nigeria for that. We have the capability to do more, to make more impact in the world. It is good news someone from Nigeria made it. I am very proud of the country for this and I hope there will be many more Nigerian billionaires published next time on Forbes (A big Amen to that). I hope that people in Nigeria begin to see the need to support small enterprises, support our own local industries. It will help create jobs, incomes, facilities, innovation name it… we can definitely make it. Don’t you think? Have a lovely day.

Non governmental Organisations

Hello all, I have written another piece on Non governmental organisations. I would like your thoughts on it.
NGOs’ play a momentous and influential role in almost all sectors of African issues. Their functions extends from natural disaster participation to proposing projects and schemes to aid poorer and marginalised groups in society. They have fought against harmful customs like the female genital mutilation, helped bring awareness on issues of HIV/AIDS, and awareness to the events in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria. In Nigeria, NGOs’ are performing activities that might have been well performed in their absence by government, especially those activities aimed at improving the welfare of the people (Igoe, 2005).
Do you agree? I would like to have your views on this. Have a lovely day.

Abstract

Hello all, I have managed to write my dissertation abstract and I wanted to share it with you all for comments on what to add and what to take off. Is it too broad, do you have any information on NGOs involved in construction in Nigeria? Any information will help me. Thanks all.

Abstract

Technology is acknowledged as one of the major determinants of economic growth, and technological deliberation in any given economy plays a vital role in the progress of that nation (Radosevic, 1999). Community based activities permeate into the activities of Non Governmental Organisations (NGO). Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) are known for their community development activities like building schools, hospitals, water facilities, road facilities. The objective of this research is to examine the process of technology transfer through NGO’s community development activities. Data used is mostly qualitative from academic journal articles, conference papers, government reports, development magazines and NGO websites. The purpose of the research is to explore links between technology transfer within the context of NGO’s activities and its application in the construction industry in Nigeria. There is a dearth of literature investigating how Non governmental Organisations through community development activities contribute to technology transfer.

Facts about Nigeria

Hello everyone, today I am busy writing some paper for a conference in Prague. I came across some data on Nigeria and decided to share it. Do you know that Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa with a population of about 128.7 million people (World Bank, 2007)? According to the World Bank 2007 report, Nigeria has the second largest economy, with a GDP of US$51.7 billion that is behind South Africa, which has the biggest economy with a real GDP of US$152.3 billion (2004). With huge amount of human, natural and mineral resources, Nigeria possesses the potential to join the worlds growing economies like China and India. The country’s economic advancement is partly hindered by over dependence on oil and traditional sectors, such as agriculture and services. Nigeria’s economic structure remains undiversified. Oil exports account for 95 percent of total exports, while manufacturing accounts for less than 1 percent (World Bank, 2005). Small and medium-size enterprises have suffered due to Lack of demand for their products and services. There are ineffective linkages between industry and research institutes and universities. The relationship between universities and government remains strained over implementation of agreement. As a result of this strain, the unnecessary strikes by university academic and non academic staff; therefore crippling the educational system. The lack of political will and technical know-how to translate raw materials into finished goods and maintain existing machinery combine to hinder economic growth despite being blessed with untapped resources including oil wealth.

Despite the fact that Nigeria is a member of the Organisation of petroleum exporting countries and is the sixth largest oil producer in OPEC (Madujibeya, 1976), the country is ranked as the twenty sixth poorest in terms of human poverty (Elijah & Uffort, 2007; Madujibeya, 1976; report, 2007/2008; UNDP, 2007/2008). World Bank (World Bank, 2005) reported that in 1980s and 1990s, Per capita GDP in Nigeria was among the lowest in the world costing it decades of development. It was estimated in 1980 that 27 percent of Nigerians lived in poverty.

I hope this information builds some desire for Nigerians all over the world to help steer that country towards greater heights. It has got the potentials. The data is there to support this but some aspect of our culture, beliefs and orientation needs to be changed in order to get to where we want to (DEVELOPMENT). I hope this article gives you information on what a great country Nigeria is but crippled by the greed and corruption of a shameless few.

Mother's day

Hello Everyone, Hope you all had a lovely weekend rest? I pray this new month and the rest of the following months bring you all the good things you wish yourself. Today is mother’s day. I hope all you mums had a wonderful day and your children spoilt you all rotten? I got my mum a bouquet of flower, non-alcoholic wine, and a card. She really did love it. In this time that we give our mum’s all the love, I hope we remember those who need some love, those mums whose children don’t care for them, those who a text message will make their day. I have a very lovely lady that I love very much too. She lost her beautiful daughter to sickle cell. I will be sending her a text and telling her that I do love her and have her in mind. She really does appreciate it. Africa needs to appreciate the mothers and what they do for the continent. They really contribute in their little way. Mind you that women (mothers) are the mum’s of our future leaders.