REVAMP-YOUR-ROOT

"Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country" - John F. Kennedy.

Education system in Nigeria today, needs a total overhauling and restructuring. We can only achieve this by triggering a "REVAMP YOUR ROOT" programme. This reform which is self-induced is required to improve the performance of our primary, secondary and tertiary education in the country. Abysmally, the nation entered the 21st century insufficiently prepared to cope or compete in the global economy, where growth is based even more heavily on technical and scientific knowledge. It is also a well known fact that the inadequacies always observed among many undergraduates and graduates alike is as a result of the inadequacies associated with the primary and the secondary education system in Nigeria.

What do I mean by Revamp Your Root? This is a proposed revolutionary measure which I suggest will take us back to our alma mater - primary and secondary schools especially where we were groomed to become what we are today and make positive impacts. We can help them in diverse ways: Provision of books for library; Provision of infrastructural effects; Scholarship; Bursary in form of cash; Provision of sporting materials; Agitation for government intervention etc.

We can not afford to leave the destiny of this nation in the hands of a moribund government that is self-seeking, insensitive and timorous. We/you can achieve this as an individual or group as we are already doing in Aquinas College Akure (ACA). Kudos to the initiators. Converge virtually or physically and discuss what you can do for your Primary and/or Secondary school. Just take a stroll to these schools...you will be marveled at the level of dilapidation and retrogression that have engulfed them. Go and see that library that you left behind, check the laboratories, the classrooms, the sport pitches etc. You may unwittingly shed tears by virtue of what you will see. Unto government, we can wait no more.

For instance, UNESCO has recommended that 26% of the total budget of a nation should be allocated to education. But Longe Commission of 1991 observed that the percentage of recurrent budgetary allocation to education in Nigeria has never exceeded 10%. Hmmm...are you saying that the present government is allocating more to education? It is a blatant falsehood. On paper, yes, but the implementation is defective for political reasons that are precipitated by corruption.

For an educational system to be classified as functional and effective, it must be all encompassing and all embracing. Thus, a well focused and define pattern of educational system that is all embracing should be fashioned out where vocational and technical education will be well developed and every child given the proper and kind of education he or she desires, base on the psychomotor, cognitive, and affective domain. And that is my clarion call to you this morning:

Embrace the "REVAMP YOUR ROOT" programme and play a laudable developmental role in your alma mater - primary and/or secondary school. And we would be glad to read your testimonies and stewardship accounts here. I am compiling mine.

Remember, if God be for us, no government can be against us.

Thank you.

...Had I know on time.

Most of the times we seldom know or feel the grace of God upon us.

G.R.O.W

This is an acronym that has been keeping me going through the thick and thin of life. I desire it.

Hypocrisy in the Land

Nigerians are wonderful people. No wonder they are called "good people of great nation". We are very good at praising the dead, those that we predominantly criticise when they are alive. I wonder why every Nigerian that matters now speak good of Chief Emeka Ojukwu who engineered the cession of Ibo people from Nigerian with a mission to form their own country called Biafra.

Now they call him hero, warrior, nationalist. But is Ojukwu really a nationalist? Did he worth that appellation? But that is the song of the hypocrites.

When Subsidy Subsides...

In the weeks to come we shall experience more opposition that will greet the Federal Government proposed removal of fuel subsidy in Nigeria.

It's 365 days old!

It is easy to concentrate too much on cynical activities of criticising people in positions of authority with a neurotic mindset of followership and abrupt submissiveness and miss the profound realisation of leadership qualities that are deposited in us individually. Are our leaders really better than us in terms of intellectual capabilities? Are they lettered than we do? What is the difference between you and the "elected" personality representing your constituency at the legislative chamber? Nothing, you say? Then what are we doing to better our lives when the supposedly trustees are not to be trusted any longer? We have a lot to do individually and collectively.

The foregoing inspired me to embark on the project called JUST Leadership Foundation 365 days ago. Soon, I realised I do not need a title to become a leader, a voice, an epitome of influence and inspiration in this generation. The most universal and powerful temptations a leader can face are instant gratification, recognition and applause, title and improper use and lust for power. We can only surmount these temptations when we live a just life. A life that glorifies God our creator. We should remember always that are all leaders in our various capacities hence seek God's guidance. Someone once told me "it is not easy to lead". Then must we die a follower. The Holy book decreed us to be head and never the tail. But it is sad thing to note that most of us are wagging our tails perpetually because we do not want to leave our comfort zone.

No doubt, the weekly Vitamins for the mind and Reflections have blessed many lives (mine inclusive). It is instructive to restate that the intent of JUST Leadership Foundation is to tinker us and set us apart for greatness and monumental leadership roles in the future and now. We are all living testimonies.

As we enter into this new season of leadership, may we all be fulfilled in all our aspirations and endeavours.

Happy reading, thinking, and leading.

Multiple Policies, Less Result

At 51, Nigeria is wallowing in the ocean of multiple ideas and even suggestions from her western allies but she gets little to show for it. A nation that is blessed with intellectuals is begging for help on how to forge ahead from various problems that are militating against her.

When the Government of Nigeria introduced subsidy on premium motor spirit some years back it was hailed as a good policy but today the story has changed and we are on the verge of abandoning the policy.