₦airaland Forum

Even though I have acclimatized (somewhat) to the western culture, it still feels out of place seeing a Nigerian doing the dishes with a baby strapped on his back.

Scenic and picturesque.

Nigeria will be a major technology hub
From GODWIN TSA Abuja
Wednesday, October 20, 2010


•Emem Andrew
Photo: Sun News publishing
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Emem Andrew, a young scientist who recently distinguished herself as the valedictorian of the 2010 class of the NASA-backed Singularity University, NASA Research Center, California US, was selected as one of 80 students from 1,600 global applicants for admission to the university. Andrew who described herself as a Technology Evangelist believes in the next 50 years Nigeria will be a major technology hub.

How did you feel being selected valedictorian for your class at Singularity University?
We had to give a one-minute pitch to be selected. We were six speakers and I was very nervous because the competition was quite good. So I was very humbled and grateful when my classmates selected me to speak on their behalf.
How has your Singularity University experience changed your expectations of Science and Technology?
I now see science and technology as a tool that can be used to solve problems for humanity. A lot of the intractable problems in Africa that we have been unable to solve; poverty, hunger, sanitation, water, health etc can be solved through the use of technology. We should not only be consumers of technological products, we should also be innovators and manufacturers to be able to have sustainable solutions.

How can Africans and Nigerians in particular derive benefits from these fields considering the dearth of infrastructural support like electrical power and internet connectivity?
We can still derive benefits from nanotechnology, computing, artificial intelligence, biotech and engineering because of our infrastructural problems. The problems of electricity and internet connectivity can all be resolved using technology. In fact in the next decade we will be harnessing solar energy more and more for our electricity needs due to advances in manufacturing and material science. The cars of the future (within the next 10-20 years) will all be electric powered. Experts forecast that the last fossil fuel driven passenger car will be built in 2030. To progress Africa and Nigeria must embrace technological solutions because of and not in spite of our infrastructural problems. We can use technology to leapfrog the limitations of technology.

Is there some short cut through the grit of building our technological capacity brick by brick, i.e. some speedy form of knowledge/skill/competence acquisition module that can fast-track Africa along the path of progress?
The answer to that is yes. It is easy but we have to do a lot of hard work. The beautiful thing about technology is that when it is learnt, it becomes almost second nature. Too much is not required just the brain power, tenacity and hunger to solve problems and then ‘viola’ we are there. We don’t need to know all the ‘old’ technology; we can start using today’s technology, modify it for our environment and solve problems for our continent and humanity.

What would you say should be the priority of Nigerians, and many Africans, after half a century of post-colonial existence?
Our priority should be taking responsibility for our today and our future. We should stop the blame game. After 50 years we can no longer blame the colonial masters. We should forge our destiny, face challenges, solve problems and evolve into a strong self reliant continent, a partner in the progress of humanity and not just the charity case of the world. We should take leadership as the cradle of not only humanity but also civilization and write a new chapter for a better future.
Are there any silver bullets to rid us of recurrent health challenges like cholera, meningitis and malaria? Also, what hope is there for people living with HIV?
I would cautiously say YES.

One such silver bullet would be ‘Water’. More than 80% of communicable and deadly infections plaguing Africa is caused mostly by our lack of access to good drinking water and inadequate use of water in sanitation. If we can fix the problem of water, then we could fix most of these diseases and where they might occur we will be able to manage them better with therapies which are available and effective today. Combinations of innovations in biotech and nanotech could produce simple membranes which we could use to desalinate water cheaply. In addition, solar power will help us heat water before usage and reduce the risks of ingesting harmful bacteria.

On HIV, I would want to commend the countries of Europe and United States of America who have been very aggressive in attacking this problem in our continent. It is, however, strange that in Nigeria and in the continent we do not have any research led by Africans that would produce a cure for this infection. I believe that we will be able to create biovores, tiny organisms that will mimic a human cell and introduce them into the body of HIV infected candidates, these biovores will be more attractive to the virus than the ordinary human cells and the HIV virus will inject themselves into the biovores and will end up being eaten up and ejected from the body. This will be possible within the next 15 – 25 years. We will also have regenerators that will replace dead cells and make them more resistant to virus attacks. In the near term we can be more effective in prevention by creating vaginal rings for women and imbue these rings with hormones and medications, which could work to prevent cervical cancer and minimize sexually transmitted diseases including HIV.

This could be achievable within the next 5-10 years. There is also ongoing work on a vaccine for the virus so this virus is being attacked from all angles, prevention and management of infected patients. So my encouragement to all my brothers and sisters is if you are positive, live positively, very soon we will beat this virus and if you are negative, use a condom and when the vaginal ring is available, use that too and make intelligent choices when it comes to sexual partners. Remain faithful to your faithful partner. If in doubt, use a condom.
What is your vision for Nigeria in the future?

Energy: By the year 2060 everyone in Nigeria will have access to steady, reliable electricity supply because we will all use solar power. Oil will no longer be the primary source of energy and revenues from oil exports will shrink to 15% or less of all national revenues.
Transportation: By 2040 all the cars in Nigeria will be electric driven, however the road infrastructure will still be inadequate to carter for all the cars. More reliance will be on rail, water and air travel where we can leapfrog expensive road construction. By 2060 most people will live in Mega cities and work from home or satellite office sites near their homes due to the use of technology.

Education: We shall achieve 99.99% literacy as the use of smartphones become ubiquitous, prominent universities like MIT, Oxford, Stanford, Harvard, Lagos Business school etc will offer their courses online and for free. The cost of internet connection will be virtually free and everyone will be able to connect and get educated. We will become a hub for foreign students especially Africans in the diaspora who would want to reconnect with their roots.
Poverty: It will be redefined as people living on the equivalent of $8 a day. Extreme poverty as we know it will end. We would have tackled the problems of hunger and water supply through the exploitation of technology in food production and water desalination.

Population: We will be a country of at least 300 million people. Our life expectancy will be as high as 98 years for children born within a decade of 2060.
Technology: Nigeria will be a major technology hub in the world both in innovations and manufacturing. The next Einstein will come from Nigeria or from the continent. Evidence is the current Nigerian kids in Britain all attending high school and universities at record early ages.

Health: Innovations in genetics, biotech and nanotechnology will create biovores that will eat up virus infected cells and also cancer cells, in addition, we will also have regenerators that would replace dead cells. HIV will be a thing of the past just like smallpox is today. Health care solutions will be delivered mostly online and we will have access to the best care possible within and outside our country.

Politics: We will remain a force in the continent and as early as 2019 will have more credible leaders who will chart a new course for Nigeria and the continent. Economic states of West Africa will form a strong EU equivalent by 2030 as African leaders gain more credibility and the people are lifted out of poverty.
Civic Society: As revenues form oil dwindle, government will be forced to raise taxes and aggressively collect taxes to run the country. Citizens will demand more accountability from the elected and will aggressively pursue all ‘forgotten’ stolen monies of past politicians and military dictators. As African leadership credibility increases, there will be pressure on foreign countries who harbor the loots from Africa and other present third world countries to return these monies and in most cases with penalties and apologies.

Social: Nigerian citizenship will be bestowed on children based on either the father or mother’s country of birth, or both could also be used. Laws will prohibit state of origin and only recognize place of birth as place of origin.
Ethics: Society will struggle with acceptance of computer - human interfacing (by 2040, computers will be embedded in the human brain to increase the common intelligence) this will be a more radical change compared to the use of smartphones. Religious organisations worldwide will resist the change but as more people opt to be interfaced, it will be more difficult for individuals to operate and compete without being interfaced.

http://sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/oct/20/national-20-10-2010-020.htm

Boarding school experience: Here is another gist of mine

In my ss1 at Obot Idim, a secondary school very close to Uyo and my ancestral home, I was alerted by my friend, Ini, that seniors were beating up junior students.  So, I decided that I wont return to boarding house. That would have been easy, because, my parents who worked in town, could simply drop me off on their way to work, since my school is situated close to the expressway. My parents said no way. My mom whupped me badly, while my father basically ignored me. I had no choice but to move back to the dormitory. Prior to my departure, I was given my boarding school fees.

Here was the plan: That same friend of mine used his boarding fees in renting a room in the village of Afaha, thus he became a day student. The money, if managed prudently could stretch to the end of the term. He invited me to join him, and just at the last minute, I back out and paid my boarding fees. Whuppings and food deprivation were the norm in boarding house while my daystudent friend grew plump and rosy. He would mock my decision for not joining him. Eventually, he started missing classes and finally, ran out of money and dipped into his school fees (remember that one was seperate from barding fees) His parents found out about it and repaid it. Another guy, Etim, who was his rooommate was publicly disgraced by his parents when they realized he wasnt in boarding house. Immediately, they went to their offcampus residence, pulled him out back to school. Omo, come and see the spectacle that day. It was a sight to behold. Students laughed so hard by this spectacle of him parading on campus with his trunk box on his head while his disappointed father remarked with astonished breathe, "Etuk . . .  emi akeme adi sin owo idip (my small son is capable of impregnanting a woman) The guy was short (we used to call him portable) and very brilliant, so his parents were highly disappointed and shocked by his conduct.


Exams were over and the teachers informed us that for the first time, our results would be announced/read publicly in the chapel. However time was against them, so were given a date to come by and get the feedback of our examination results. That day, I arrived on campus and we were convenened in the chapel. One by one, the Principal (or one of the high ranking administrators) called out each names and their grade. Tension filled the room and then my name was called out. I heard "Pass" and oh my! I was greatly relieved that I would be moving to the next class. When I got home, my dad asked me, "did you pass?" And I said "Yes, I did" and he simply did not believe me. When they received the report card later on, they were in talks that I should repeat, because my grades did not exceed their expectations. Completely disagreed with them, and received my senior brother's backing. There was no way I was gonnna repeat SS1, and I think I threatened that I wont attend school again.

Back in SS11, I went to my former class to visit another friend of mine. There, I saw my friend who had invited me to live with him in his bunk off campus. Unfortunately he had failed his exams and had to repeat the grade. When he saw me, the guy was livid at me, and ordered me out of his class.  A physicial confrontation ensued. Namso was mad at him. But for me and that guy, that was the end of our friendship.

That same year, still in ss11, ss1 students were assigned some chapters to read for their Geography examinations by their Georgraphy tutor, Mr. Isang. Unfortunately, his nephew who lived with him stole a copy of the question sheet and showed it to his friends who probably showed it to their friends and so on. In the examination hall, one of the guys brought out that same sheet of paper (expo) and was immediated nabbed. When word got out that the expo had leaked, Mr Isang was mad and so cancelled the examinations and in turn, culled out questions from different chapters he hadnt assigned to the students. His aim was to punish them and the students, justifiably (the innocent ones) were hopping mad. But there was nothing they could do about it. The outcome of the result this time around was a debacle.

I was very fortunate that I had made the wise decision to move to ss11. Assuming I had stayed back as my mother wished, I probably would have repeated ss1 again.

kokoye:
I remember my cousin who'd just transferred from a school in Geneva to FGGC Akure. My mom spent extra time on her since she was an 'oyinbo' girl going to a girls' boarding school in akure. She went to the school with more than enough stuff.

- She came back after 2 months with the same underwear she had been wearing for almost three weeks - said she never tooks them off cos the rest were stolen so she did not want the last underwear to suffer the same fate.

-  Also came back looking for snakes to kill - said she'd gotten used to having snakes crawl up on her at night . . .or one sharing the pillow with her.

- She must struggle with yam slices. She'd been used to hammering away on the almost uncoooked slices in school before she could get a bite.

Her 'oyinbo' butter melted in less than 2 months.

She was traumatized.

kokoye:
I remember some guy's bunk was moved from the room into the middle of an open field with him fast asleep. Imagine his craze when he woke up to a full view of the sky.

I think a similar incident happened in my school.

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-16091.128.html

What's the big deal here? Afterall, all humans share the same genealogy stretching back to Adam and Eve.

acabado:
I want to use this medium to say thank you to everyone. You have truelly lifted us up with your patronage. As a result we were presented with the award BEST CAKE DECORATOR on the 3rd of october 2010 by Effizzie Magazine during its style and effect award.
You can visit www.acabadocakes.net to read more about us and view our past works in sugar artistry.

Congrats. I like the designs on your cakes.

guddsid:
no one beats OBJ in the corruption game , under OBJ's military regime Nigeria had the oil boom and while other countries where enjoying the dividends of their own oil boom , we Nigerians couldn't find a single good thing which OBJ did with the oil money , it was also under OBJ'S military regime that Nigeria totally abandoned our agricultural sector and relied solely on petroleum and finally the excess crude fund scandal in OBJ's democratic regime  ,  i am not saying IBB is a saint and neither am i trying to vindicate him but when  building a house the foundation has to be built first and as far as i am concerned the "foundation" of corruption in Nigeria was built by OBJ and then the shagari regime came in and capitalized on it and finally IBB placed the "building blocks" and "roofed" the building ,  a few years later OBJ came back to "paint" the building   , now IBB wants to come back to "renovate " the building .

Agric was abandoned, yet Obj's farm, Otta Farms is reputed to be one of the biggest in West Africa, if not the biggest. To me, both men are one and the same. IBB introduced SAP which led to economic hardship in the country. It would be a shame if that man is elected President of Nigeria.

Pot calls the kettle black.

Questions on Nairaland.

Happy independence day to Nigeria.

slap1:
But which one is 21 year old. . .is this man not up to 28 years, at least, from this pic?

Thought so too.

busted

Never underestimate the value of an extended family. Three of my cousins who live abroad just lost their father and its our uncle who is handling the burial plans on their behalf. But for him, it would have been very very difficult for them. The western culture that is strictly nuclear, dont you see what happens in the long run when the children age out and they rely on dogs for companionship.

I'd say have a close relationship with extended family members if only they have your interest at heart. I love the extended family structure back home, cos I have benefitted from it immensely. No, dont take them for granted. What I dont like is when people get money from their uncles and aunts in their younger days, and when they become all grown up and successful, they suddenly adopt shun the extended family system. Not fair.

LONDON – Even a monarch needs a little help from time to time — especially when the cost of heating those drafty old palaces spirals past $1.5 million a year.

But a request for assistance from a government fund that provides subsidized heating to low-income Britons has caused a spot of bother for Queen Elizabeth II, long one of the world's wealthiest women.

Her Majesty's application in 2004 was politely turned down by the government — in part because of fear of adverse publicity — and quietly forgotten until The Independent newspaper published the correspondence Friday after obtaining it via a Freedom of Information . . .


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100924/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_queen_s_bills

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-12286.0.html

Since the Ashanti's of Ghana are mainly matrilineal, I read somewhere that their men, particularly, the wealthy ones, attach extreme importance to the welfare of their sisters sons (their nephews)

Very interesting.

Akpabio has executed notable projects in this nation. I am impressed.

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-79330.32.html

Read the insight from Megacash

High_Chief:
I really wish this Bill would be passed and implemented. It will go a long way to force those thieves to develop that country and enact rule of law. And pls IBB should be the first on that list cos since his "looting" career Nigeria has suffered a major set-back.

That man brought Nigeria down financially and we havent been able to recover since his introduction of SAP and 'legalizing' corruption.

Senegal tackles child-beggar tradition
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Story Discussion By ADAM NOSSITER • New York Times | Posted: Monday, September 13, 2010 12:00 am | No Comments Posted

Font Size: Default font size Larger font size Share DAKAR, Senegal • The judge spoke quietly, and decades of custom were quickly rolled back: The Muslim holy men were to be punished for forcing children to beg.

The sentence handed down in a courtroom Dakar last week was gentle, only six months' probation and a fine for the seven marabouts, or holy men. Yet the result could be a social revolution, in the eyes of some commentators. By government decree, and under international pressure, Senegal has forbidden the marabouts to enlist children to beg on their behalf.

Outside the crowded courtroom, a dozen or more white-robed marabouts sat in an anxious conclave on the ground to discuss their colleagues' predicament. More than 40 had shown up in support, and they knew the stakes. If the government follows through, thousands of children could be released from a practice that human rights groups condemn as exploitation under the guise of education but that religious leaders defend as essential for keeping their enterprises afloat.

A singular and ubiquitous feature of the landscape here seems about to change: the flocks of ragged boys known as talibes, who tender begging bowls to motorists and pedestrians on behalf of the marabouts.

The bowls are sometimes no more than old tin tomato cans. When they return to their rudimentary living quarters in the evening, they must turn their coins over to the marabouts, or face severe punishment.

Three weeks ago, after the government announced its ban, the police began rounding them up, along with other beggars. The children, in turn, led the authorities to their marabouts, officials here said.

"It's an abusive use of children," said Ibrahima Thioub, a specialist in Senegalese history at the Universite Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar. "These kids in the street don't learn the Quran."

Tidiane Balde, a spokesmen for the marabouts at the courthouse last week — each of them has around 40 to 100 talibes — countered: "They don't have the means to feed the talibes. So they have to send them out."

The custom is so ingrained that many Senegalese, even if they do not quite approve, continue to roll down their car windows and flip coins into the children's bowls, sustaining the practice. The government, dependent on support from powerful Muslim brotherhoods with large popular followings here, has only just begun to tackle the problem. There has been no popular pressure to do so. The outrage has come mostly from abroad.

So prosecuting the marabouts is a major break with precedent, Thioub said.


http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/article_bdcf01a0-6509-5b10-976a-88d246387d23.html#Scene_1