I am currently carrying out a research for a book to be published next year. Every information you provide will be treated as confidential.
Please list the ten most important things in your life in order of importance, using the format below:
The 10 most Importnat things in My life;
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Send your reply to comment section of this blog or to my email: tomak83@yahoo.co.uk, ashbon_4u@yahoo.com
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
MUCH ADO ABOUT WORLD BANK REPORT ON NIGERIA BANKING SECTOR
The recent World bank report on Nigeria especially that of the robust financial sector has been received with a lot of criticism by the Nigerian government that does not want to face the fact. The report explained that the high return form investment in the banking sector was not a true reflection of a balanced well functioning system. The criticism by the government through the deputy CBN Governor Mrs. Sarah Alade that the basis of analysis employed by the World Bank and it conclusion was based on outdated fact that are no longer in use to determine how an economy is performing is baseless. We all known that progress has been and we now have a robust economy but how many Nigerians are feeling these progress.
If we are to look at this report objectively, we have to conclude that it is absolutely right in its conclusion. Nigerian banks are declaring huge profit after tax year in year out with little to show for it contribution to the economy where they are operating. The corporate social responsibility of these banks is nothing to write home about compare to the jumbo profit they always declare every year. Their main priority is how to outdo each other in profit and capitalization.
The Central Bank of Nigeria has done a good job in the repositioning of the financial sector to becoming the toast of investors all over the world with the attendant increase in the nation GDP. Let take a look at some of the banks and how they have performed since the repositioning started. First Bank of Nigeria Plc recorded a profit after tax of N17.4bn for the year ended March 31, 2006 while the figure increased by over N3bn to N20bn in March 31, 2007. Zenith bank on the other hand has already posted a profit after tax of N15bn for the nine month ended March 31, 2007 which translate to an increase of 70 per cent above the N8.866bn recorded in March 31, 2006. UBA’s half year result is already N10.109bn from the N4.599bn recorded in March 31, 2006. Guaranty Trust Bank first quarter profit after tax result was put at N3.465bn which is 66 per cent increase form the N2.086bn as at may 30, 2007. This are just few of the mega banks, other banks declaring jumbo profit include Intercontinental Bank Plc, Oceanic Bank Plc, Access bank, and First City Monument Bank.
These mouth watering figures by the banks were rubbished by the World Bank report for not translating to a developed and well balanced society and also offering little credit to the society and I stand to fully support that motion. While these banks continue to grow in leaps and bounds, the main sector of the economy continue to degenerate largely due to lack of access to funds for developmental programmes.
Furthermore, we need to ask these questions, how many Nigerians mega banks has or had embarked developmental programmes in any part of the country? What has been their contribution to various foundations across the country? A dive into their annual report will reveal that most of them have no ongoing and completed community project anywhere in the country despite the huge profit they are declaring every year.
The impact of these jumbo profit are not been felt by the masses. 60 per cent of Nigerian are living below one dollar per day while the smallest Nigerian bank is making over N1bn as profit after tax every year. The truth need to be faced, the huge return in the banking sector is not a true reflection of a well functioning system.
Another claim also rubbished by the World Bank report was the claimed that Nigeria had one of the highest returns on investment in recent times and maintained that there were low returns on investment in Nigeria and explained that it is as a result of low ability of the private sector to appropriate and access returns.
What reason can one give for this rather lackadaisical attitude of Nigerian Banks towards their social corporate responsibility? We need to look at the fact that most of the profits they are making are primarily from foreign exchange transactions and investment in government securities and not from lending to common man on the street or deposit form ordinary Nigerians which hold little interest for them. Another excuse that might be given is the high volatile economic environment of Nigerian which makes the country a risky environment to operate business and lead to an increase in the transaction cost of doing business in Nigeria. But these factors has not stop them form declaring billions of dollars as profit every year, therefore the excuse hold no water.
No doubt the Nigerian Banking sector has experienced a boom in the past three years and the phenomenal economic progress recorded so far has been impressive but the sector and the government need to transform the growth into reality. Nigerians need to feel the impact of this growth, we don’t want to hear it on the radio or see it on the television we want to feel it.
The government with the banking sector should not always try to make things rosy when in actual fact they are not. They need to come together and fashioned a way to transform all these growth into reality for the ordinary Nigerian to feel it.
Dividend of democracy must be felt and not heard and see, it must be clearly evident in the citizens lives. The banks should wake up to their corporate social responsibility; they have not been impressive. Anything short of all these is unacceptable.
If we are to look at this report objectively, we have to conclude that it is absolutely right in its conclusion. Nigerian banks are declaring huge profit after tax year in year out with little to show for it contribution to the economy where they are operating. The corporate social responsibility of these banks is nothing to write home about compare to the jumbo profit they always declare every year. Their main priority is how to outdo each other in profit and capitalization.
The Central Bank of Nigeria has done a good job in the repositioning of the financial sector to becoming the toast of investors all over the world with the attendant increase in the nation GDP. Let take a look at some of the banks and how they have performed since the repositioning started. First Bank of Nigeria Plc recorded a profit after tax of N17.4bn for the year ended March 31, 2006 while the figure increased by over N3bn to N20bn in March 31, 2007. Zenith bank on the other hand has already posted a profit after tax of N15bn for the nine month ended March 31, 2007 which translate to an increase of 70 per cent above the N8.866bn recorded in March 31, 2006. UBA’s half year result is already N10.109bn from the N4.599bn recorded in March 31, 2006. Guaranty Trust Bank first quarter profit after tax result was put at N3.465bn which is 66 per cent increase form the N2.086bn as at may 30, 2007. This are just few of the mega banks, other banks declaring jumbo profit include Intercontinental Bank Plc, Oceanic Bank Plc, Access bank, and First City Monument Bank.
These mouth watering figures by the banks were rubbished by the World Bank report for not translating to a developed and well balanced society and also offering little credit to the society and I stand to fully support that motion. While these banks continue to grow in leaps and bounds, the main sector of the economy continue to degenerate largely due to lack of access to funds for developmental programmes.
Furthermore, we need to ask these questions, how many Nigerians mega banks has or had embarked developmental programmes in any part of the country? What has been their contribution to various foundations across the country? A dive into their annual report will reveal that most of them have no ongoing and completed community project anywhere in the country despite the huge profit they are declaring every year.
The impact of these jumbo profit are not been felt by the masses. 60 per cent of Nigerian are living below one dollar per day while the smallest Nigerian bank is making over N1bn as profit after tax every year. The truth need to be faced, the huge return in the banking sector is not a true reflection of a well functioning system.
Another claim also rubbished by the World Bank report was the claimed that Nigeria had one of the highest returns on investment in recent times and maintained that there were low returns on investment in Nigeria and explained that it is as a result of low ability of the private sector to appropriate and access returns.
What reason can one give for this rather lackadaisical attitude of Nigerian Banks towards their social corporate responsibility? We need to look at the fact that most of the profits they are making are primarily from foreign exchange transactions and investment in government securities and not from lending to common man on the street or deposit form ordinary Nigerians which hold little interest for them. Another excuse that might be given is the high volatile economic environment of Nigerian which makes the country a risky environment to operate business and lead to an increase in the transaction cost of doing business in Nigeria. But these factors has not stop them form declaring billions of dollars as profit every year, therefore the excuse hold no water.
No doubt the Nigerian Banking sector has experienced a boom in the past three years and the phenomenal economic progress recorded so far has been impressive but the sector and the government need to transform the growth into reality. Nigerians need to feel the impact of this growth, we don’t want to hear it on the radio or see it on the television we want to feel it.
The government with the banking sector should not always try to make things rosy when in actual fact they are not. They need to come together and fashioned a way to transform all these growth into reality for the ordinary Nigerian to feel it.
Dividend of democracy must be felt and not heard and see, it must be clearly evident in the citizens lives. The banks should wake up to their corporate social responsibility; they have not been impressive. Anything short of all these is unacceptable.
WHEN THE POOR SPEAK AGAINGST POVERTY
When on Tuesday, 16th October and Wednesday 17th October, 2007, 44 millions people in over 110 countries around the world with Africans making up 7.1 million of that figure, they showed the over 2billion poor people of the world are not indifferent to their condition and could take action if properly mobilised and involved.
This attempt entered the Guinness book of records is the largest number of people to stand up against poverty in 24 hours compare to last year figure of 23.5million people.
This attempt organised by the United Nations Millennium campaign (UNMC) and the Global call to action against poverty (GCAP) saw millions of concerned people of the world and activist alike standing up against poverty, inequality and supporting the millennium Development Goals. The main aim of this campaign is channelled towards the demands for a quick response to the global poverty crisis rocking the world.
The United Nation Secretary General, Mr Ban Ki-moon who also took part in the action at the UN headquarters in New York said “Today tens of millions of people are making their voices heard by standing up and speaking against poverty and for the millennium development goals. They are sending messages that call on their leaders to keep their promises. They are calling for the actions of citizens to be matched by the action for Governments in developing and developed countries alike, to demonstrate the political will required to end the scourge of poverty once and for all.”
Also of significance is the fact that Asia and Africa which account for 85 per cent of people suffering from extreme poverty i.e. those living under one dollar a day had the largest number of participants for the event. The richer countries accounted for less than 1 million for the total figure.
The poor have been able to show their frustration that we still live in a world where 50,000 people die daily from preventable diseases. Some important conclusions one can draw from these event are that the action stops them from being victims and empowers the poor to be agents of change in their conditions.
Furthermore, the stand up against poverty has showed that we need to put more pressure on our leaders to make our money work us. The people through this action are telling the government and all concerned leaders that they are ready to take actions against poverty.
It is important for everyone wherever we may be to take action and ensure that poverty is eradicated and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are met by 2015. It is not how many millions of people that stood up against poverty in the midst of plenty that count but what need to be done to ensure promises made by the world leaders to the poor, the marginalised and weak is fulfilled.
More and more people from poorer countries are now more active in ensuring the MDGs are achieved and surpassed. The ever expanding anti-poverty movement around the word like the UN millennium Campaign, Global call to action against Poverty (GCAP), International NGO partners in local , national, and community based organisation around the world are coming up from the poorer countries of the world.
The “Stand Up Against Poverty” campaign offers the centre stage to those directly affected to take action wherever they may be and for our leaders to do more in solving this problem because they have no excuse for not doing so.
This attempt entered the Guinness book of records is the largest number of people to stand up against poverty in 24 hours compare to last year figure of 23.5million people.
This attempt organised by the United Nations Millennium campaign (UNMC) and the Global call to action against poverty (GCAP) saw millions of concerned people of the world and activist alike standing up against poverty, inequality and supporting the millennium Development Goals. The main aim of this campaign is channelled towards the demands for a quick response to the global poverty crisis rocking the world.
The United Nation Secretary General, Mr Ban Ki-moon who also took part in the action at the UN headquarters in New York said “Today tens of millions of people are making their voices heard by standing up and speaking against poverty and for the millennium development goals. They are sending messages that call on their leaders to keep their promises. They are calling for the actions of citizens to be matched by the action for Governments in developing and developed countries alike, to demonstrate the political will required to end the scourge of poverty once and for all.”
Also of significance is the fact that Asia and Africa which account for 85 per cent of people suffering from extreme poverty i.e. those living under one dollar a day had the largest number of participants for the event. The richer countries accounted for less than 1 million for the total figure.
The poor have been able to show their frustration that we still live in a world where 50,000 people die daily from preventable diseases. Some important conclusions one can draw from these event are that the action stops them from being victims and empowers the poor to be agents of change in their conditions.
Furthermore, the stand up against poverty has showed that we need to put more pressure on our leaders to make our money work us. The people through this action are telling the government and all concerned leaders that they are ready to take actions against poverty.
It is important for everyone wherever we may be to take action and ensure that poverty is eradicated and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are met by 2015. It is not how many millions of people that stood up against poverty in the midst of plenty that count but what need to be done to ensure promises made by the world leaders to the poor, the marginalised and weak is fulfilled.
More and more people from poorer countries are now more active in ensuring the MDGs are achieved and surpassed. The ever expanding anti-poverty movement around the word like the UN millennium Campaign, Global call to action against Poverty (GCAP), International NGO partners in local , national, and community based organisation around the world are coming up from the poorer countries of the world.
The “Stand Up Against Poverty” campaign offers the centre stage to those directly affected to take action wherever they may be and for our leaders to do more in solving this problem because they have no excuse for not doing so.
BETWEEN NIGERIA LEADERS AND ETHICAL VIRTUES
The recent financial and leadership crisis rocking the Nigerian political scene has proved once again that all we have in Nigeria are leaders with no definite core values. Over the years the Nigerian society had been over ridden with no definite values thereby throwing the Nation into one that does not know where it is heading. One dictionary defines values as a principle or belief that influences your decision but the principles and beliefs guiding the average Nigerian leader are self centred.
There are some essential in fact Values that are fundamental. I think there are only three values that are truly fundamental -- that truly determine the kind of society we must have and the kind of lives we should live as individuals and that are permanent matters of permanent relevance. The three values I speak of are honesty, competence, and unselfishness. And of the three, honesty is the most important because, without it, competence is not attainable and concern for others is less likely by far because one is not likely to know, understand or sympathize with the position of others.
Honesty is foundational. Without it disasters occur, and without it there can be no competence. For competent thought and action depend on knowledge of the truth of a situation and knowledge of its actual facts. There was some level, of dishonesty with regard to our Independence, the civil war, political assassinations in the 80’s, the gulf war, revenues from the Oil booms, marginalisations, the Niger-Delta, the 2005 air crashes, the Nigerian politics, elections, financial misappropriations and our civic life in general. Had full-bore truth been the ruling factors in these matters, events like these would never have occurred. It was some form or level of dishonesty that created those situations. What is true of the public life is true as well of private lives. If we look back at our life, I would venture that, as often as not we will find that problems and traumas were caused by, or at minimum were necessarily accompanied by, some form or level of dishonesty.
Competency is a value whose necessity is widely acknowledged, and is ultimately one of the fundamental recipes necessary for the success of a society. The need for competence in order to achieve success is, I note, of peculiar relevance to public and private life today. We are always told that most of our problems are caused not by incompetence, but by failure of governmental organs to communicate with each other. We are equally told (as always) that the remedy is a new structure for intelligence operations. But the truth is that incompetence was the reason for the air mishaps, and all the new structures in the world won’t solve the problem we face if incompetence persists.
With regard to incompetence supposedly not being the reason for those disasters, we are told that nobody could foresee the use of outdated airplanes flying over our heads, nobody foresee the states of our road on which innocents souls were lost everyday, nobody foresee those pipeline explosions, nobody foresee the Lagos bomb explosion of January 2002 and other foreseeable disaster. Despite all these, nobody in the government could foresee those disasters. It is sheer incompetence. Incompetence was the reason for those disasters, and if it persists we will have more disasters of one sort or another. For the fact that incompetence leads to disaster is virtually a law of life. We need to inculcate the morals of competence in our lives.
Furthermore, the value of caring for others, not just for oneself (unselfishness) is spoken of favourably but is most often honoured in the breach in a Nigeria society where, since independence, unbridled greed has become the ruling principle and plutocracy and oligarchy have become dominant features. Many people find that unbridled selfishness is not a satisfactory way to lead a personal life, and at the civic and political levels it has in the past led or contributed to such shaking events as the civil war, ethnic rivalries and the various military coup d'état. No good can come to a society where lack of concern for others is the guide to action. There is need for us to have a conscious awareness of people living with us.
As the Nigerian society becomes larger and more complex, the need for value based leader is seriously needed. We need a leader who knows what he or she value. A leader that recognises the importance of ethical behaviour. A leader who can exhibit both their values and their ethics in their leadership style and actions. An average present day Nigerian leader had never identified their values in the society which make the mistrust the citizens have in them understandable. If leaders can identify and share their values, by living the values daily, it visibly will create trust.
There are some essential in fact Values that are fundamental. I think there are only three values that are truly fundamental -- that truly determine the kind of society we must have and the kind of lives we should live as individuals and that are permanent matters of permanent relevance. The three values I speak of are honesty, competence, and unselfishness. And of the three, honesty is the most important because, without it, competence is not attainable and concern for others is less likely by far because one is not likely to know, understand or sympathize with the position of others.
Honesty is foundational. Without it disasters occur, and without it there can be no competence. For competent thought and action depend on knowledge of the truth of a situation and knowledge of its actual facts. There was some level, of dishonesty with regard to our Independence, the civil war, political assassinations in the 80’s, the gulf war, revenues from the Oil booms, marginalisations, the Niger-Delta, the 2005 air crashes, the Nigerian politics, elections, financial misappropriations and our civic life in general. Had full-bore truth been the ruling factors in these matters, events like these would never have occurred. It was some form or level of dishonesty that created those situations. What is true of the public life is true as well of private lives. If we look back at our life, I would venture that, as often as not we will find that problems and traumas were caused by, or at minimum were necessarily accompanied by, some form or level of dishonesty.
Competency is a value whose necessity is widely acknowledged, and is ultimately one of the fundamental recipes necessary for the success of a society. The need for competence in order to achieve success is, I note, of peculiar relevance to public and private life today. We are always told that most of our problems are caused not by incompetence, but by failure of governmental organs to communicate with each other. We are equally told (as always) that the remedy is a new structure for intelligence operations. But the truth is that incompetence was the reason for the air mishaps, and all the new structures in the world won’t solve the problem we face if incompetence persists.
With regard to incompetence supposedly not being the reason for those disasters, we are told that nobody could foresee the use of outdated airplanes flying over our heads, nobody foresee the states of our road on which innocents souls were lost everyday, nobody foresee those pipeline explosions, nobody foresee the Lagos bomb explosion of January 2002 and other foreseeable disaster. Despite all these, nobody in the government could foresee those disasters. It is sheer incompetence. Incompetence was the reason for those disasters, and if it persists we will have more disasters of one sort or another. For the fact that incompetence leads to disaster is virtually a law of life. We need to inculcate the morals of competence in our lives.
Furthermore, the value of caring for others, not just for oneself (unselfishness) is spoken of favourably but is most often honoured in the breach in a Nigeria society where, since independence, unbridled greed has become the ruling principle and plutocracy and oligarchy have become dominant features. Many people find that unbridled selfishness is not a satisfactory way to lead a personal life, and at the civic and political levels it has in the past led or contributed to such shaking events as the civil war, ethnic rivalries and the various military coup d'état. No good can come to a society where lack of concern for others is the guide to action. There is need for us to have a conscious awareness of people living with us.
As the Nigerian society becomes larger and more complex, the need for value based leader is seriously needed. We need a leader who knows what he or she value. A leader that recognises the importance of ethical behaviour. A leader who can exhibit both their values and their ethics in their leadership style and actions. An average present day Nigerian leader had never identified their values in the society which make the mistrust the citizens have in them understandable. If leaders can identify and share their values, by living the values daily, it visibly will create trust.
CELEBRATING NIGERIA ANTI DRUG VICTORY
The recent arrest of a 45 year old man, Solomon Osula, for drug trafficking in October at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja and that of a 22-year old nurse, Emeka Ngozi, the same month at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos has reinforced the commendable efforts of Nigeria through the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the war against Cocaine and other illicit drugs.
Apart from the airports arrests, there had been report of arrests form other part of the country the recent been that of an 80 year-old-man, Malam Umar Abdullahi arrested in Kano for allegedly being in possession of seven bags of cannabis.
The success story was also corroborated earlier in the year by a report from the United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) world report for 2007 which describes Nigerian’s war on drugs as one of the most successful in the world.
According to the report, Nigeria through the NDLEA eradicated 255ha of cannabis in 2004 while the figure increased to 14,316ha in 2005. Also noteworthy is the increase in the number of arrest being made in connection with the illegal trade. The drug agency in 2003 made a total arrest of 2,490 persons, it rose to 3,700 in 2004. The figure for 2005 was put at 3,473 while it also increased to 6,323 in 2006. Arrest made in the first and second quarter of 2007 is nearing 6,000.
Looking at all these analyses and statistics on the performance of NDLEA in the eradication of this illicit trade one need to applaud the agency for a job well done. Their effort is worth all the commendations but a lot of works still need to be done and the support for all Nigerians is needed to put a stop to this menace.
Despite this great feat achieved by Nigeria, the practice of this illicit trade is still very rampart among many Nigerians who seems to be undaunted despite all the arrest that has been made. The importation and consumption of Cocaine and other dangerous drugs are still on the high side. Illicit drug trade is one of the most lucrative business in the world accounting for hundred of millions of dollars a year.
Nigeria is till among the major countries in Africa were marijuana is grown and also a major cocaine trafficking route to Europe via Africa as most of the arrest made so far has showed. Other countries known for this trade in Africa include South Africa, Malawi, Zambia, Swaziland, Ghana, Benin, Togo, DR Congo, Tanzania, and Morocco.
In summary since 2003, a total of 9,866.414kh of various types for illicit drug with cannabis making up over 96 per cent while over 1,031 persons has been arrested.
In furtherance of this great stride, the support of all Nigerians is needed form the Government, private individuals and organisation are needed in ensuring a good image for Nigeria. The judiciary also needed to liaise with the agency in order to ensure the speedy hearing and dispatchment of all drug related cases brought before it by NDLEA. Whoever is caught regardless of status should be punished accordingly. So far the judiciary has not performed badly in this regard but they should put in more effort.
The task to stamp out illicit drug trade from our society is a collective one, NDLEA cannot do it alone we must put out heads together and stamp out drug trafficking.
Apart from the airports arrests, there had been report of arrests form other part of the country the recent been that of an 80 year-old-man, Malam Umar Abdullahi arrested in Kano for allegedly being in possession of seven bags of cannabis.
The success story was also corroborated earlier in the year by a report from the United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) world report for 2007 which describes Nigerian’s war on drugs as one of the most successful in the world.
According to the report, Nigeria through the NDLEA eradicated 255ha of cannabis in 2004 while the figure increased to 14,316ha in 2005. Also noteworthy is the increase in the number of arrest being made in connection with the illegal trade. The drug agency in 2003 made a total arrest of 2,490 persons, it rose to 3,700 in 2004. The figure for 2005 was put at 3,473 while it also increased to 6,323 in 2006. Arrest made in the first and second quarter of 2007 is nearing 6,000.
Looking at all these analyses and statistics on the performance of NDLEA in the eradication of this illicit trade one need to applaud the agency for a job well done. Their effort is worth all the commendations but a lot of works still need to be done and the support for all Nigerians is needed to put a stop to this menace.
Despite this great feat achieved by Nigeria, the practice of this illicit trade is still very rampart among many Nigerians who seems to be undaunted despite all the arrest that has been made. The importation and consumption of Cocaine and other dangerous drugs are still on the high side. Illicit drug trade is one of the most lucrative business in the world accounting for hundred of millions of dollars a year.
Nigeria is till among the major countries in Africa were marijuana is grown and also a major cocaine trafficking route to Europe via Africa as most of the arrest made so far has showed. Other countries known for this trade in Africa include South Africa, Malawi, Zambia, Swaziland, Ghana, Benin, Togo, DR Congo, Tanzania, and Morocco.
In summary since 2003, a total of 9,866.414kh of various types for illicit drug with cannabis making up over 96 per cent while over 1,031 persons has been arrested.
In furtherance of this great stride, the support of all Nigerians is needed form the Government, private individuals and organisation are needed in ensuring a good image for Nigeria. The judiciary also needed to liaise with the agency in order to ensure the speedy hearing and dispatchment of all drug related cases brought before it by NDLEA. Whoever is caught regardless of status should be punished accordingly. So far the judiciary has not performed badly in this regard but they should put in more effort.
The task to stamp out illicit drug trade from our society is a collective one, NDLEA cannot do it alone we must put out heads together and stamp out drug trafficking.
Friday, February 2, 2007
Monday, January 29, 2007
Between wars and killer diseases
Except we don’t want to face it, the world powers are spending more on military than on humanitarian problems. We spend so much on war prevention, terrorism and military activities but spend little for humanitarian purposes.
The world is making progress in its fight against terrorism and other forms of war but very little progress in its fight against killer diseases ravaging the world. This imbalance is what I will like to call fundamental international selfishness. The number of people who have died from preventable-turned killer diseases is far greater than the number of people killed in all the wars of the 20th Century put together. An example is the influenza epidemic of 1919 which killed more people than the two world wars combined. The epidemic was rather on a small scale before the outbreak of the first world war. But it was given little or no attention because nations were busy preparing for the war until the epidemic struck the world mercilessly. Has the world changed?
There are six killer diseases ravaging our world with no known solutions largely because the world is not doing enough to fight them. HIV/AIDS kills more than three million people every year; diarrhoea kills more than two million annually; malaria is the cause of the death of almost two million people every year and worse still, most of its victims are children; measles accounts for loss of over half a million lives per year; pneumonia kills about two million children under the age of five every year; while tuberculosis causes over 1.5 million deaths every year. These diseases put together have killed an approximately half a billion people since the beginning of the 20th Century. To face the reality, these six undefeated foes still exist because the world wants them to continue to exist.
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria established in 2004 has asked the world governments for $13 billion to help curb these three major killers. Total pledges for the fund have so far been way short of the targeted amount, while annually worldwide, military spending is not less than an estimated $700 billion. If 20 per cent of this amount were spent on the fight against these killer diseases, the death rate would be drastically reduced. Even with the best of intentions, health authorities and scientists always find themselves handicapped in their fight against these diseases and world governments may not provide the necessary money.
The Alma-Ata Declaration of September 12, 1978 states, “All countries should cooperate in a spirit of partnership and service to ensure primary health care for all people since the attainment of health by people in any one country directly concerns and benefits every other country.” But what has been the world’s response to this declaration? The world’s follow-up has been highly disappointing. Health care is by no means universal and infectious diseases are still a threat to the health of billions of people on earth. The diseases often strike down children as well as adults in their prime of life while governments keep spending billions of dollars on wars and terrorism.
How then do we keep the balance in check on our spending and efforts at ensuring a better world? Nobody is denying the fact that the fight against terrorism and war prevention efforts are for the development of the world, but neglecting other equally important world developmental problems for military problems is unacceptable. Fighting for world peace through military spending and fighting to bring the spread of killer diseases are equally important. If there is a war, there will be new diseases and nobody will like that to happen. And if diseases continue to ravage the world, its economy will suffer.
Therefore, governments need to realise that as they spend on military purposes, they should spend on humanitarian efforts, particularly the fight against the world killer diseases. Take the case of ARVs for people living with HIV, for example. If the world is serious about providing ARVs for most of the affected people and reducing death rate, why should the governments and the manufacturing companies be selling ARVs to the developing world, the most affected?
All that health authorities, scientists and the world in general need to do to have headway in the effective fight against the killer diseases and other humanitarian problems confronting the world is for governments to pump at least one-third of what they are currently spending on military activities into the health sector.
The world is making progress in its fight against terrorism and other forms of war but very little progress in its fight against killer diseases ravaging the world. This imbalance is what I will like to call fundamental international selfishness. The number of people who have died from preventable-turned killer diseases is far greater than the number of people killed in all the wars of the 20th Century put together. An example is the influenza epidemic of 1919 which killed more people than the two world wars combined. The epidemic was rather on a small scale before the outbreak of the first world war. But it was given little or no attention because nations were busy preparing for the war until the epidemic struck the world mercilessly. Has the world changed?
There are six killer diseases ravaging our world with no known solutions largely because the world is not doing enough to fight them. HIV/AIDS kills more than three million people every year; diarrhoea kills more than two million annually; malaria is the cause of the death of almost two million people every year and worse still, most of its victims are children; measles accounts for loss of over half a million lives per year; pneumonia kills about two million children under the age of five every year; while tuberculosis causes over 1.5 million deaths every year. These diseases put together have killed an approximately half a billion people since the beginning of the 20th Century. To face the reality, these six undefeated foes still exist because the world wants them to continue to exist.
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria established in 2004 has asked the world governments for $13 billion to help curb these three major killers. Total pledges for the fund have so far been way short of the targeted amount, while annually worldwide, military spending is not less than an estimated $700 billion. If 20 per cent of this amount were spent on the fight against these killer diseases, the death rate would be drastically reduced. Even with the best of intentions, health authorities and scientists always find themselves handicapped in their fight against these diseases and world governments may not provide the necessary money.
The Alma-Ata Declaration of September 12, 1978 states, “All countries should cooperate in a spirit of partnership and service to ensure primary health care for all people since the attainment of health by people in any one country directly concerns and benefits every other country.” But what has been the world’s response to this declaration? The world’s follow-up has been highly disappointing. Health care is by no means universal and infectious diseases are still a threat to the health of billions of people on earth. The diseases often strike down children as well as adults in their prime of life while governments keep spending billions of dollars on wars and terrorism.
How then do we keep the balance in check on our spending and efforts at ensuring a better world? Nobody is denying the fact that the fight against terrorism and war prevention efforts are for the development of the world, but neglecting other equally important world developmental problems for military problems is unacceptable. Fighting for world peace through military spending and fighting to bring the spread of killer diseases are equally important. If there is a war, there will be new diseases and nobody will like that to happen. And if diseases continue to ravage the world, its economy will suffer.
Therefore, governments need to realise that as they spend on military purposes, they should spend on humanitarian efforts, particularly the fight against the world killer diseases. Take the case of ARVs for people living with HIV, for example. If the world is serious about providing ARVs for most of the affected people and reducing death rate, why should the governments and the manufacturing companies be selling ARVs to the developing world, the most affected?
All that health authorities, scientists and the world in general need to do to have headway in the effective fight against the killer diseases and other humanitarian problems confronting the world is for governments to pump at least one-third of what they are currently spending on military activities into the health sector.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
DON'T GO TO SOUTERN NIGERIA- US STATE DEPARTMENT WARNS
The US State departmnet has warned all it citizens that intends to travel to Nigeria to stay clear of the Southern Niger-Delta region of Nigeria. The place has been know to be very volatile due to the activities of the youth militants in that region of the country, they called themselves the Movemnet for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta (MEND) . The youth now specialises in kidnapping foreign workers of major Oil companies operating in that region, the latest be that of the British and American worker held hostage by the militants. A week befeore this , some filipinos were also capture and yet to be released.
The problem is given the Nigerian government sleepless night as they just can't succumb to the request ofthe militant who are asking for the release of one of their Leader Mr. Asari Dokubo who is facing trial for treason charges by the Federal governmnet and also for the release of former Bayelsa state governeor Mr. Deprieye Alameiysia who is been held for corrupt charges and also for increase revenue allocation to their area. These conditions the federal government can't succumb to. Therefore, for the interest of the foreign nationals in Nigeria, they just have to stay clear of that region now. He who has hear let him hear.
The problem is given the Nigerian government sleepless night as they just can't succumb to the request ofthe militant who are asking for the release of one of their Leader Mr. Asari Dokubo who is facing trial for treason charges by the Federal governmnet and also for the release of former Bayelsa state governeor Mr. Deprieye Alameiysia who is been held for corrupt charges and also for increase revenue allocation to their area. These conditions the federal government can't succumb to. Therefore, for the interest of the foreign nationals in Nigeria, they just have to stay clear of that region now. He who has hear let him hear.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Death Sentence for Nigerian In Singagpore
A Nigerian is to be hanged to death in Singapore after a court of Appela found him guilting of illegal drug possession and transportation. The Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo has pleaded with the Singaporian President on Tuesday to intefere in the matter for the death sentence to be change to imprisonment. But one have to asked why the begging or what do you think.
Former Nigerian Minister for Money Laundering trial In France
A former Nigerian Minister who served during the brutal era of late miltary dictator General Sanni Abacha is wanted for trial in france for Money laundering. He bought a lot of luxury aprtment with the loot and even got a saboteau for 12 million euro. He was living a live an average french man cannot boost of.
This case brought to the fore that many of the loot from Africa are still be used to do a lot things in the western world like buying luxury item or using them to invest. This man must be punished and send to jail.
This case brought to the fore that many of the loot from Africa are still be used to do a lot things in the western world like buying luxury item or using them to invest. This man must be punished and send to jail.
MILITARY SPENDING AND HUMANITARIAN SPENDING: KEEPING THE BALANCE
MILITARY SPENDING AND HUMANITARIAN SPENDING: KEEPING THE BALANCE
If you wake tomorrow morning and the first thing you will hear on the news is “The most wanted man in the world Osama Bin Laden Captured”, and another that says “ Cure for AIDS and it Vaccine found and also an effective Vaccine for Malaria developed”, be sincere with yourself which of these two news items will you celebrate more? Granted the two items are worth celebrating but if a poll is to be taking all over the world the news on the great terrorist Osama Bin Laden will receive the greatest celebration. Except if we don’t want to face it, the world powers are spending more on military than on humanitarian problems. We spend so much on war prevention, terrorism and military activities but spent little on humanitarian efforts.
The world is making progress in its fight against terrorism and other forms of war but very little progress in it fight against killer diseases ravaging the world. These imbalances are what are I will like to call the fundamental form of international selfishness. The number of people who have died from preventable turned killer diseases are far greater than the number of people killed in all the wars of the twentieth century combined till now. A case example is the Influenza epidemic of 1919 which killed more people than the two world wars combined worst still the epidemic was but rather on a small scale before the outbreak of the first world war but it was given little or no attention because they were busy preparing for war until it struck the world mercilessly. Have the world change? Absolutely No!
There are six killer diseases ravaging our world with no know solutions that are still existing largely because of the world ineptitude towards fighting them. They keep killing people more than any wars ever experienced on the face of this planet yet the world despite knowing that kept spending on preventing and fighting wars instead of focusing on preventing and halting the ever increasing onslaught of these diseases. HIV/AIDS kills more than three million people every year, Diarrhoea kills more than two million annually, Malaria accounted for almost two million victims every year and worst still most of it’s victims are children, Measles account for over half a million per year, Pneumonia killed about two million children under the age of five every year and lastly Tuberculosis caused the death of over 1.5 million people every year. These diseases put together had killed an approximately half a billion people since the beginning of the twentieth century. To face reality these six undefeated foes still exist because the world want them to continue existing.
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria established in 2004 asked the world governments for $13 billion to help curb these three major epidemics. Total pledges for this fund have so far been way short of the targeted amount, while annually worldwide military spending reached an estimated $700 billion! If 20% per cent of this spending on Military were spent on the fight against these killer diseases the death rate will be drastically reduced. Sadly, in today’s divided world, few threats are capable of uniting all nations for the common good. Even with the best of intentions, health authorities and Scientists always find themselves handicapped in their fight against those infectious diseases; world government may not provide the necessary money. The Alma-Ata Declaration of September 12, 1978 state that “All countries should cooperate in a spirit of partnership and service to ensure primary health care for all people since the attainment of health by people in any one country directly concerns and benefits every other country.” But what has been the world response toward this declaration? The follow up by the world on this declaration has been highly disappointing. Health care is by no means universal and infectious disease still threaten the health of billions of people on earth and they often strike down children as well as adults in the prime of life while governments keep spending billions of dollars on wars and terrorism.
How then do we keep the balance in check on our spending and effort for a better world? Nobody is denying the fact that the fight against terrorism and war prevention effort are for the development of the world but neglecting other equally important world developmental problems for military problems is unacceptable. Fighting for world peace through military spending and fighting to bring the spread of killer diseases to a halt are equally important. If there is war, new diseases might emerge and nobody will like that to happen and equally if diseases continue to ravage us the world economy will suffer. Therefore, governments need to realise that the more they spend for military the more they should spend for humanitarian effort like the fight against the world killer diseases. Take the case of ARV’s for HIV victims for example, if the world is serious about providing ARV’s for most of the victims and reducing the date rate why should the governments and the manufacturing companies be selling ARV’s drugs to the developing world who are the most affected.
All that health authorities, scientists and the world in general need to have an headway in the effective fight against killers diseases and other humanitarian problems confronting the world is for the governments to pump at least one third of what they are currently spending on military activities. They will see the result; it is clear that the only problem hindering our effort in eradicating diseases and other humanitarian problems as fund. If the funds can be provided there will definitely be a lot of progress in the world effort to stop theses killer diseases, is as simple as that.
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Africa Societal values and Leadership
REFOCUSING THE AFRICA SOCIETAL VALUES AND LEADERSHIP
The Africa society is growing more and more in size and economy and is probably among the fastest growing economy in the world. Over the years the African society had been over ridden with no definite values thereby throwing the Nation into one that does not know where it is heading. One dictionary defines values as a principle or belief that influences your decision. That is probably one of the best definition we can give to value.
There are some essential in fact Values that are fundamental. I think there are only three values that are truly fundamental -- that truly determine the kind of society we must have and the kind of lives we should live as individuals, and that are permanent matters of permanent relevance. The three values I speak of are honesty, competence, and unselfishness. And of the three, honesty is the most important because, without it, competence is not attainable and concern for others is less likely by far because one is not likely to know, understand or sympathize with the position of others.
Honesty is foundational. Without it disasters occur, and without it there can be no competence. For competent thought and action depend on knowledge of the truth of a situation, knowledge of its actual facts. Conversely, ignorance or distortion of the truth and the facts lead only to mistakes and disasters. Yet, for all the lip service paid to honesty -- and lip service is usually all it is -- it is relatively rare that one runs across a philosophy which holds that honesty is foundational and therefore is the single most important value of any. If one looks back over the years, it seems inevitable to conclude that much, even most or all, of our public problems stem from some level of dishonesty. Sometimes the dishonesty takes the form of outright lies. Sometimes its form is lack of disclosure of the truth. Sometimes it comes as spin. Sometimes it comes as a standardized words or phrases that sound good but are false and are used to cover up the truth. There was some level, of dishonesty with regard to our Independence, the civil war, political assassinations in the 80’s, the gulf war, revenues from the Oil booms, marginalisations, the ethnic and religious crises, the 2005 air crashes, the African politics and our civic life in general. Had full-bore truth been the ruling desideratum in these matters, events like these would never have occurred. It was some form or level of dishonesty that created those situations. What is true of the public life is true as well of private lives. If we look back at our life, I would venture that, as often as not we will find that problems and traumas were caused by, or at minimum were necessarily accompanied by, some form or level of dishonesty. Having spoken of the necessity of honesty let me now speak about competence.
Competency is a value whose necessity is widely acknowledged, and is ultimately one of the fundamental recipes necessary for the success of a society. The need for competence in order to achieve success is, I note, of peculiar relevance to public and private life today. We are told that the air mishaps of last year were caused not by incompetence, but by failure of governmental organs to communicate with each other. We are equally told (as always) that the remedy is a new structure for intelligence operations. But the truth is that incompetence was the reason for the air mishaps, and all the new structures in the world won’t solve the problem we face if incompetence persists.
With regard to incompetence supposedly not being the reason for those disasters, we are told that nobody could foresee the use of outdated airplanes flying over our heads, nobody foresee the states of our road on which innocents souls were lost everyday, nobody foresee those pipeline explosions, nobody foresee the civil wars of the 80’s and 90’s and other foreseeable disaster. Despite all these, nobody in the government could foresee those disasters. It is sheer incompetence. Incompetence was the reason for those disasters, and if it persists we will have more disasters of one sort or another. For the fact that incompetence leads to disaster is virtually a law of life. We need to inculcate the morals of competence in our lives.
Thirdly, the value of caring for others, not just for oneself (unselfishness). This value, too, is spoken of favourably but is most often honoured in the breach in a Nigeria society where, since independence, unbridled greed has become the ruling principle and plutocracy and oligarchy have become dominant features. Many people find that unbridled selfishness is not a satisfactory way to lead a personal life, and at the civic and political levels it has in the past led or contributed to such shaking events as the civil war, ethnic rivalries and the various military coup d'état. No good can come to a society where lack of concern for others is the guide to action. There is need for us to have a conscious awareness of people living with us.
As the African society becomes larger and more complex, the need for values based leader is seriously needed. We need a leader who knows what he or she value. A leader that recognises the importance of ethical behaviour. A leader who can exhibit both their values and their ethics in their leadership style and actions. An average present day Nigerian leader had never identified their values in the society which make the mistrust the citizens have in them understandable. If leaders can identified and shared their values, living the values daily, it visibly will create trust. A typical Values based leader that we need must have but not limited to the following characteristics: Ambition, competency, equality, integrity, service, responsibility, respect, dedication, credibility, teamwork, excellence, accountability, empowerment, efficiency, dignity, accomplishment, courage, security, compassion, and honesty. A Leader that can move the people from selfish concerns to serving the common good.
There are many professed leaders in the African society toady but who among them can we ultimately point to as possessing all the essential values of a good Nigerian leader? We need to think carefully before choosing our leader, we have had enough bad leadership it is time for change.
Against all Odds
AGAINST ALL ODDS
How time flies it is three years now since I left medical college. If time really heals hurts, I can’t tell, but sure, I don’t feel as sad as I was thirteen years ago. Coming out of Medical College with one of the best result in my set after almost a decade of a very challenging academic sojourn meant so much to me and it was really a great consolation for me. Though it would have meant more to me if my Parent had attended my valedictory ceremony, but of course they couldn’t have. Growing up without our mother wasn’t so difficult for my sister and I, aside the mother-daughter relationship we missed dad was everything to us. We didn’t know her well, she died when I was five, I still remember her gentle smiles and that thin voice, but at times she looked so frail. Frail mum was a ‘sicklier’ a sickle cell anaemia patient.
Dad had met mum during a seminar he attended in one of the neighbouring countries to us where mum hailed from. It was at a time she was already contemplating of coming to Nigeria. Aside being the only child, her mother was against her decision of relocating considering her health problem. My parents never had it so smooth getting married; dad’s parents were against it, not for any other reason but the fact that mum was a sicklier but sure dad’s mind was made up. This made him more or less an outcast in his family. That rejection was unfair. Is it a crime to be what one did not have a choice about? Mum was very sickly; her being a ‘sicklier’ was not her choice anyway.
I knew what genotype meant quiet early, mum was ‘SS’, dad was ‘AA’, so my sister and I are ‘carriers’ that is ‘AS’ genotype. So I took interest in medicine at a tender age. Today I am a medical doctor and if I have any regret is that dad is not here to see her daughter’s dream fulfilled. Dad died fourteen years ago. It was the most devastating period of my life. I just gain admission into the University. While my sister was also preparing to go in for music in one of the polytechnics, she had always wanted to be an expert in music she is gifted with a sonorous voice like mum’s.
Dad died of cancer. It came so unannounced; his death came like a flash of lightning. He was a very hardworking gentleman, an engineer, he was in fact a workaholic, so healthy and I cannot remember him ever falling ill all those years. I thought life was so unfair and I was so torn apart. I wasn’t surprised I repeated my first year and my aunt (dad’s only sibling) who we were putting up with then thought I wouldn’t be able to cope studying medicine if I started that badly. But when the heart is depressed to progress at that point in time it would take an extra ordinary effort and perhaps a divine intervention.
Sure, I repeated again in my third year, but I still kept on because my mind was up to become a doctor. During my years in school I had a glimpse into what could have been responsible for my father’s sudden death. And it should be a lesson to everyone reading my story. It is a pity that we are in a part of the world where preventive medicine is not popular, rather curative medicine is spent so much fortune on. I wonder how many people check their blood pressure regularly from the age of twenty-five. That may probably sound strange but it’s not out of place. There is a need for a regular check up, just like how cancer can be taken care of if diagnosed early so also are most terminal diseases.
Dad was never sickly nor was at anytime on admission in the hospital except for just that once that led to his death. My father lived with cancer for several years! Prevention is said to be better than cure; it is so good to be informed. In some other parts of the world, the same medical conditions people don’t survive here are survived or well managed over there. I look forward to the time when health issues are taking more seriously.
My sister is happily married with a child now. I will soon tie the nuptial knot with a gentle man of the same genotype with me, ‘AS’, ideally it means we might have an ‘SS’ child, but that can not be a barrier to us, medical science has risen to that challenge, which isn’t new in developed countries. But really should genotype be an issue to deprive one of spending the rest of one’s life with someone one loves and would be happy with if there wasn’t a way round it? Well may be for the sake of the child who might live his or her days in agony.
Whatever the negatives life has handed one, there are surely few positives, celebrate those few, after all without a positive and a negative terminal current wouldn’t flow. If only we know the strength inside us we will dare Herculean tasks. We are stronger than they think we are, more enduring and amazing. What you earnestly desire, ardently pursue will come to you, its only a matter of time.