THE FARMER AND THE SEEDLING; THE NATION AND THE CHILD
MAY 27TH, 2016
INITIATIVE FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT.



As far as farming id concerned, the seed/seedling is indispensable. The farmer aims for bountiful harvest which of course he can only get with the right seedling. To this end, knowing fully well that his output of produce depends on his input of seedlings, the farmer takes extreme care to see that the seedling is nurtured in the correct soil environment so that when planted and grows into maturity, that seed yields output in multitudes.

The farmer-seedling scenario is the same as that of the Nation-Child. The prospects, successes and the entire future of a nation depends on the child and its population of young people. The Nation’s constituted authorities, governance system, production, social institutions, civil life and sustainability are carried into successive generations by successive children who grow to replace worn-out, aged and old people.

The future productivities of the nation also depend on the current state of the child. For this, just as the right seedling gives the farmer bountiful harvest so does the properly nurtured child improve and sustain the growth and development of the nation.



But the seedlings are not always free from pest…
.
Because the farmer understands that the seedlings must be kept clean from pests otherwise he has nothing to plant; for this reason he takes measures to treat and nurture the seedlings into healthy plants. The TOMATO scenario in Nigeria today will better help us get the import.
This also plays out for the nation and the child. The African/Nigerian child today is faced with both domestic and external threats that have made them an endangered species. These threats include


Child/infant mortality: where thousands of children die before their 5th birthday anniversary due to absence of or improper medi-care.


Poor parental attention: in most contemporary families, children do not get to see their father and or mother for up to 3 days a week on a monthly average. They are deprived of that bonding that draws them from threading wrong paths.

Child labour: many children especially of the orphaned and less privileged homes are left at the mercy of careless households who have converted them into commodities and ‘beasts of burden’. They are forced to do hard chores that are beyond their physical capacities, sent into the wild streets to hawk goods exposing them to rapists and ritual mongers.

Gender bias: this very one plays out more as an offshoot of cultural inclinations and practices where one gender (male) is revealed strictly preferred to the other (female) as a result of which there is disparity in the quantity and quality of care given to them.
These imply that the child is neither safe at home nor in the streets.

Actions required of government and the domestic households.


The future generation is unsure and insecure as long as these threats continue to exist. The government and the households owe it as an obligation to protect the child and insure the future of this nation.


It has been observed that government performs to average in policy formulation but very poor in terms of implementation.
We therefore, as concerned individuals and stakeholders through our organized body (INITIATIVE FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT) call on the government and the domestic households on this day of our children day celebration to rise up to the rescue of the Nigerian child. We implore the government to revisit existing laws and policy on child safety and growth as a matter of national urgency put them into action; or create them where none exists.


These laws and policies should aim at large investments into the education of the child to accommodate the millions of out-of-school children in Nigeria. It should also incorporate values reorientation aimed at fighting gender bias and promote equality. In addition, it should prescribe and provide enforcement mechanism for stringent punitive measures for rapists, child traffickers, and other threats to child life.


The households are not left out, parents should ensure to spend quality times with their children as the basic and primary training ground for the child.
Civil society organizations also have a role to play by executing action plans that direct attention and create more awareness on child right.



Our lovely children and young people, we love you and will always do our best to make sure you are protected. Happy children day celebration to you from all of us at IYD



written by me......

moderators, please move to appropriate section and give this article wider publicity by taking it to frontpage..........lalasticala please.

at least we still have groups and individuals who would look these politiciansbin the eye and tell them the truth point blank without fear if favor.

MEETING OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS WITH HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI, AT THE ASO VILLA, ABUJA, 2ND MAY, 2016.
AN ADDRESS BY MOST REV. IGNATIUS A. KAIGAMA, ARCHBISHOP OF JOS AND PRESIDENT, CATHOLIC BISHOPS' CONFERENCE OF NIGERIA.


Your Excellency,
On behalf of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), we the Archbishops and members of the Administrative Board, the highest decision making body of our Conference are here in person to congratulate you our President on your election as the leader of our great country and to express our solidarity and willingness to collaborate with you and with your administration in which we see hope for a greater Nigeria.
We recall with great delight your speech in February 2015 as a presidential candidate to us, the Catholic Bishops, which had the theme: "One Nation Bound in Freedom, Peace, Unity and Love”, in which you re-affirmed your commitment towards ensuring that Nigeria remains a multi-religious state where every individual is free to practise his or her religion of choice.

CHURCH-STATE COLLABORATION IN THE RECONSTRUCTION OF POST BOKO HARAM NIGERIA.


We commend your efforts in the fight against Boko Haram and against corruption. We encourage that justice be done according to the rule of law, with no sacred cows to be spared. These two monsters which you are tackling pretty well have threatened to destabilize Nigeria and to cripple our national growth and development. Although many people have been killed, many others rendered homeless and are without adequate means of livelihood, we commend you for being quite successful so far in repelling the insurgence from decimating Nigeria by halting its further advance.
Our Conference, using our Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria , CCFN, and our Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) have been doing what is within our limits to bring relief to the displaced persons. Notably, the Catholic Bishops of Maiduguri and Yola as well as Bishops in other parts of the country have hosted large numbers of Internally Displaced Persons. The CBCN sent a delegation to Cameroun with substantial relief materials to give succor to thousands of Nigerians taking refuge there. Some of our priests are currently residing there with the refugees to give them hope and spiritual/pastoral support. We hope your government and our Conference will continue to collaborate in respect of caring for the displaced persons. So we ask that whatever measures are being put in place by the government for rehabilitation and reconstruction we who have been involved from the beginning will be brought on board to share the concrete experience we have of what these our brothers and sisters have been going through. We believe that picking up the pieces of the havoc by Boko Haram will require that all hands be on deck. We would like a wider discussion on the issue of our partnership with State Governments in matters of the rehabilitation of the displaced persons and the reconstruction of their communities.

FARMERS/HERDSMEN CONFLICTS AND KILLINGS IN ALMOST ALL ZONES OF OUR COUNTRY.


The Agatu killings, the Nimbo killings and many other killings in Benue, Taraba, Nassarawa, Ondo, Edo, Delta and elsewhere should be seriously investigated, with the perpetrators unmasked and decisively dealt with. Our people cannot continue to live in perpetual fear of attacks by fellow Nigerians with criminal intent. Happily, we understand that you have ordered some investigations into the Agatu and Nimbo killings. For a more permanent peace between herdsmen and farmers in our country, some streamlining is necessary for the good of the cattle rearers in the North and for the welfare of farmers in the South and elsewhere in Nigeria.
Cattle ranches should be created in states known for cattle breeding, with adequate water and fodder provided and nurtured. Farmland for root crops and other plants should be protected for their specific products in states known for such. This will reduce or eliminate clashes stemming from trespassing. We certainly need these two sectors to supplement our near-total dependence on oil. But the fact that armed attacks and wanton killings have become a national threat, it should be declared an insurgency and treated as such, with the aim of dislodging the insurgents from occupied communities by the security/military operatives.

CHURCH/STATE PARTNERSHIP IN EDUCATION.


We believe that the national and State Governments have a duty, and in some cases have actually committed themselves by law, to fund the education of all children, from Primary 1 to JSS 3. In fact this is in the Federal New Policy on Education, under the 6-3-3-4 scheme. We wish to humbly remind your administration what you owe to all children, not only those in public schools. We are also demanding that children under our care who are citizens of our great country, in our faith- based institutions should enjoy similar privileges and not suffer any form of deprivation or discrimination because they happen to be in institutions run by faith-based organizations. There was a time when a healthy relationship existed between government and faith-based organizations in running schools and health institutions. Today, all sorts of levies are slammed on our institutions and the children. Instead of supporting faith-based institutions as is done in other countries, we experience what seems to suggest that mission schools are some sort of unhealthy competitors and the students are less Nigerian than those in public schools. As a way of improving holistic education we plead with the government to generously co-fund education/ health care of faith-based organizations while insisting that high standards be maintained. The government support for non-state actors should be increased against the background that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) require broad partnerships and the government alone cannot achieve the vision of the SDGs.
Our Catholic schools are more than private schools in the conventional sense; they are ‘Mission Schools’. The schools were not founded as profit-oriented establishments even if beneficiaries have to pay for services for the provision of quality education and the development of the institutions. Moreover, Catholic Mission Schools are not discriminatory. In addition, some children and wards of parents and guardians who cannot afford such quality education that the Mission schools render are also enrolled at the expense of the Church.

FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND THE DIFFICULTY OF GETTING LAND APPROVAL FOR CHRISTIAN RELGIOUS PURPOSES IN SOME PARTS OF THE NORTH


Your Excellency, we still recall in your speech, your firm commitment towards ensuring the right of Nigerians to their religious beliefs, which includes and not limited to, the right to erect places of worship. We bring to your notice that sad enough, Christians are still unable to erect places of worship in Federal Universities in the northern states. After forty years, Usman Dan Fodio and Bayero Universities, for example, have out-rightly denied Christians access to lands already allocated in the plans for the erection of Churches, in spite of there being so many mosques built by the university authorities. Similarly, it is such a herculean task for Christians to obtain certificates of occupancy to build Churches in some northern States. We urge you to kindly encourage State governments to kindly enforce the freedom of religion enshrined in our Constitution.


THE ECONOMIC SITUATION: OUR PEOPLE ARE GROANING.

The harsh economic situation in which our people are living presently is being felt everywhere. In many States, workers are worrying about their monthly salaries, many pensioners are crying for many months for unpaid pensions, while so many self-employed and non-employed persons and family dependents are groaning for their daily meal. As we thank you for the bail-out funds to cushion this hardship in various States, we urge you to ensure that these monies are used mainly to take care of salaries, pensions and their basic human needs.


CONCLUSION: OUR PATRIOTIC ASPIRATIONS AND COMMITMENT

Your Excellency, we are genuinely concerned about turning our country around and committed to helping this government make this happen. The issues mentioned above are nagging areas of concern for us as leaders of the Catholic Church. What we say applies to the Christian community in general. National stability and cohesion remain sore points against the backdrop of the indiscriminate loss of human lives in Nigeria. Life which is sacred is being taken at the whims and caprices of criminals or religiously confused or misguided individuals and groups. It is no good news for us and for our national image that people are kidnapped or killed without the slightest compunction.
Your Excellency, please be assured of our fervent prayers as you and your team struggle to overcome the multi-dimensional challenges facing us in the country. With God all things are possible. We remain optimistic that things can only get better. We are aware that to eat an omelet the egg must first be broken. We pray that the current economic hardships being faced by Nigerians due to the decline in oil prices and based on the desire to reposition things is temporary and hopefully, Nigerians will soon smile, based on the repeated assurances from you. We wish you a happy, peaceful and fruitful tenure and once again, please always count on our support for the common good of our country.


+ I. A Kaigama
Catholic Archbishop of Jos
President, Catholic Bishop’s Conference

Ugwuanyi posed a promising leader, but his handling of this Herdsmen issue and others has exposed his flaws and incompetence.

Gov. Ugwuanyi's Press Conference on the recent attack on the people of Nimbo Community in Uzo Uwani L.G.A by Suspected Fulani herdsmen. Friday April 29, 2016


My Dear People of Enugu State,
Four days ago on Monday April 25, 2016 many of our brothers and sisters in Nimbo in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of the state were murdered in cold blood by suspected Fulani herdsmen who have been grazing their cattle in that area for a while now.
May their souls rest in peace. Amen.
On Sunday, April 24, 2016, by 7 pm, the night before this carnage took place, I got security information from Uzo-Uwani Local Government Transition Chairman, Hon. Cornell Onwubuya that such an incident was likely to take place in the state.
I immediately summoned a meeting of the State Security Council which commenced by 10 pm.
The meeting was attended by the following:
1. Garrison Commander Brigadier General Olufemi Akinjobi who normally represents the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division Nigerian Army
2. The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Nwodibo Ekechukwu
3. The State Director of Department State Security Services (DSS), Mr. M. Abdul Malik
4. The State Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr. Lar Stephen
5. Representatives of the Nigerian Air force, Federal Road Safety Corps and Nigerian Prison Services, who attended as observers.
From the side of government were, myself, the Governor, the Deputy Governor, the Secretary to the State Government, the Chief of Staff, the Chairman, State Traditional Rulers Council and the Honourable Attorney General of the State.
In the meeting, we received assurances from the Commissioner of Police that the Area Commander of SARS was on ground in Nimbo.
-That the Anti-Terrorism Unit was at Nimbo
- That he was in contact with the Kogi State Commissioner of Police and reported suspected herdsmen grouping at Odolu in Kogi State preparatory for an attack on Nimbo and Abbi communities
- That Police mobile force and conventional police were already drafted to Nimbo and Abbi communities.
- That he was in touch with the Area Commander, Idah, ACP Ikegwuonwu and had linked him with the Area Commander, Nsukka, ACP Monday Kuryas.
Both men according to the CP reported that there were no traces of suspected herdsmen in Nsukka or Idah.
-That he ordered the Area Commander, Nsukka to redeploy to Nimbo.
-That the Garrison Commander on his part assured the meeting that Military was already deployed to Nimbo.
Let me state that the State Government provided logistics for these deployments.
After receiving these assurances of deployments to Nimbo, I felt quite confident that we had done everything possible to forestall an attack on Nimbo. I have deliberately narrated what transpired at the Security Council meeting fully conscious of the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution pertaining to my oath of office. I am doing this in due discharge of my duties as Governor.
Sadly, in the early hours of Monday reports of this carnage reached me. More disturbing was the report that the attack of innocent and defenceless citizens were carried out at about 6 30 am.
Further reports available to me indicate that apart from the killing and maiming of innocent and defenceless citizens of Nimbo a Church was also burnt. Following this development, I engaged the security agencies in order to ensure that the Nimbo area was secured from further attacks that might escalate the situation.
On Tuesday, April 26, 2016, I visited Nimbo in order to establish firsthand the extent of carnage. My visit to Nimbo was revealing. I came face to face with the wounded and bereaved. I saw burnt and damaged personage of Christ Holy Church. I saw a traumatized community in shock and despair. I saw a dead body. I wept. I wondered what has become of our quest for a united, peaceful and prosperous nation. Our first national anthem had a phrase which went thus: “though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand.”
Only two weeks ago we gave a posthumous award to Alhaji Umaru Altine, a Katsina born Muslim who was elected mayor of Enugu before the Civil War, in the period that Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was leader of the NCNC.
Now in less than three months, violent clashes have occurred in Enugu State in Awgu, Nike, Abbi and Nimbo between suspected Fulani Herdsmen and our people.
This situation cannot be allowed to continue.
For this reason, I sought audience with His Excellency, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Our discussions were frank and cordial.
I am very grateful to the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari for his prompt and decisive reaction to the incident in Nimbo. The President came out with a clear and unmistakable condemnation of this dastardly act and gave clear and definite directives to the security agencies to fish out these criminals and bring them to justice.
I have called you today not just to brief you on what has happened so far but to discuss in depth with you on what we must all do to prevent the occurrence of such incidents in the future.
So long as we are Nigerians, we cannot live in isolation but those who come to Enugu must respect out values and not engage in such dastardly act as we have witnessed recently.
I am at once, constituting a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the immediate and remote causes of all the violent occurrences in the State associated with suspected Fulani Herdsmen and recommend appropriate measures that will be put in place to prevent future occurrence.
What happened between 6.30am and 7.30 am on Monday 25th April, 2016 despite assurances from the Security Agencies? Only the Security Agencies can answer this question.
Finally, all security agencies in the State are hereby directed to continue to ensure that lives and property of the people of the State and all its residents are protected.
Thank you and God bless you.
Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi
Governor, Enugu State


Facebook handle.

fuckerholic:

Ok is there no APC in ND ?
Why that level of betrayal from someone like him ?
Do you know how close he was with Jonathan to the extent of almost becoming a godfather to him ?
I am not saying he shouldn't decamp as the political jobber Nigerian politicians are but at least he should have not insulted the jonathan

Human beings are dynamic in behavior, we change according to circumstance. If circumstance warants clark to change his views about Jonathan, he is free. Leave him to his conscience.

fuckerholic:
Another Judas in Niger delta..second to amaechi

Seems that unless you are for Jonathan, you are a Judas in Niger Delta.........hmmm

He was digging a loo for his dog in his garden, a
54-year-old man from West Kilbride in Ayrshire,
Scotland, known as Phil Coby, discovered
something strange which turned out to be a rock
with an apparition that looked just like the regular
image of Jesus Christ with long hair and wearing a robe. The discovery of the rock which was made before the

Christmas day on Thursday, December 25, 2014 is
already making waves as people referred to it as a
‘natural phenomenon, verging on a miracle.’ Coby who showed his son the rock after the discovery
disclosed that his son confirmed it was an image of
Jesus Christ. According to Metro UK, Mr Coby found the dirty
rock at a depth of two-and-a half feet in his back
garden.
Although he categorically stated that there might
really be no reason for the discovery as suspected.
‘It was buried next to the roots of the trees. It
must have been found for a reason. Other people
might have thrown it away but I gave it a good
rub,’ Mr Coby said. ‘I showed it to my son and asked “who is
that?” He said “Jesus”








naijaparrot.com/photos-man-discovers-rock-that-has-an-image-of-jesus-in-his-garden-in-scotland/

Young03:
good move Bt...

the old people who refused to inject fresh blood into the party just to stay relevant. Now, by chance or design, they are finding their way out. I really see a new and viable PDP. My point is, PDP should not beg any of these stock of old blood to stay because, as long as they remain in PDP, a new and fresh generation will never be born.

john4reala:
, wow am climbing our electric pole now

So this light we dey enjoy no reach your side Abi your state na Fee Dee Fee ?.......loll

Storeburn:

color=#770077]Ok[/color]

Storeburn........how market.

this sudden romance between Buhari and Saraki leaves more to be seen. The last time I checked Saraki was still facing a court trial.......or has the corruption mantra made a new course ?

18:28 09/10/2015 Abuja -

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has
reacted to the resignation of the former Federal
Minister of Information, Edwin Clark from the party.
The party said it is not disturbed by the decision of
Clark to dump the party, reports New Telegraph. The party through its National Publicity Secretary,
Olisa Metuh said Clark is old enough to take any
decision, which he considers good for him. He said the party would not be making any statement
on Clark’s resignation. He also said the party is not bothered by the
statement credited to Clark that former President
Goodluck Jonathan lacked the courage to fight
corruption.
Clark had on Wednesday announced his resignation from PDP and retirement from partisan politics Clark is the third PDP leader to bid goodbye to the party in 2015. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former
chairman of the party, Bamanga Tukur has earlier in the year resigned their membership of the party.


m.news24.com/Nigeria/Politics/News/PDP-reacts-to-Clarks-resignation-from-the-party-20151009

OCTOBER 9, 2015 : JOHN AMEH AND OLALEKAN
ADETAY


Details emerged on Thursday on discussions between President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the National Assembly during Wednesday’s late night meeting in Abuja. Findings showed that at the meeting, the first between Buhari and the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, on states matters, Buhari sought “soft landing” for budgets. Others who attended the meeting from the Senate included the Senate Majority Leader, Ali Ndume; the Deputy Majority Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah; Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio and Minority Whip, Philip Aduda. Those who attended from the House of Representatives included the Deputy Speaker, Yusuf Lasun; and House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila. They all arrived the venue in a convoy at about 8.45pm. However, the meeting started by 9.15pm. The 2015 supplementary budget, expected to come to the National Assembly soon, was said to be an issue he sought the cooperation of the legislature to pass without hitches. The supplementary budget will later be followed by the 2016 budget. “There were discussions on why the supplementary budget has become necessary. “Both sides discussed in a very warm atmosphere where the President urged support for his administration, an official of the National Assembly informed The PUNCH in Abuja. The PUNCH gathered that Buhari made a case for the supplementary budget to augment provisions for recurrent spending, particularly the payment of workers’ salaries. “It is meant to be a budget of augmentation and the President told the National Assembly leaders so,” the official stated further. It was also learnt that Buhari urged “friendly disposition” by the National Assembly toward executive correspondence to the legislature. “This particular request seemed not to be unconnected with the President’s ministerial list, which is already before the Senate,” the source added.

The National Assembly had passed the budget in April with a crude oil benchmark of $53 per barrel. However, oil has sold far below the budgeted figure for months

www.punchng.com/news/buhari-seeks-saraki-dogaras-support-for-budget-2016/

joefredd006:
word !

Sure

a nairalanders facebook independence broadcast


https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1660986074181114&id=1620477694898619



DEMOCRACY AND NATION-BUILDING ; YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE FUTURE.
Democracy is a type of government adopted by the
people in pursuit of their collective goals and
aspirations. It goes beyond this and cut across areas
especially those of how they make their choice of
leaders who in their conviction is capable of leading them towards those aspirations.
The democratic process is correlated with naation-
buildin g concept because they both border on collective coexistence based on freedom.
Nation-building has to do with putting proper people in place, establishing institutions and cultivating habits
that sustaine the freedom earlier fought for and
gained; savouring and protecting the independence,
prestige and honour of our common and shared
norms.
People in the past whom we now revere and hold sacred for their dogged fight to free us from from
colonial servitude, have laid the steps for nation-
building so that we of the freedom days can take it up, protect it, live it, preserve it and pass it on from
one generation to the next. These steps were as then
and still are: honesty, patrotism to fatherland, unity,
harmony, tolerance, empathy, etc. And of course
these are the basic essentials that sustain any
community of people. Looking back at the antecedents of our heroes past,
we have no neglect pondering recent developments
in our politcal and economic landscape. In the past,
there may have been questions on corruption, political
and economic despiration, sectional and religious
tendencies, etc but they were minimal when compared to now. Millions of citizens go to bed hungry
and not even sure of tomorrow's bread but, a single
individual can boast of a wealth almost comparing
with our collective national annual output. There are
no jobs for people (qualified graduates and skilled
artisans) but, a person wants to keep sitting on a position until death even though not on the ground of
proven competencies. These and many more cast a
lot of questions on our actions both as individual and
as communities in keeping with national aspirations,
our future is bleak because we have lost direction.
Youth and the Future It is no longer new stating that the future of any nation
is its young people because they are a representation
of national productive and existencial potentials. The
contemporary Nigerian youth is not self-aware and
therefore is not capable of seeking self-developmen t. Before self-developmen t, self-awareness means that the individual has had a ''to and fro''
reflection about him/herself and about his/ her existence in the community during which discovery
has been made as to potential capacities and
strenghts and weaknesses. Self-development is an
effort at transforming the self in a way as to to
eliminate potential threats (weaknesses) to potential
capacities (strengths). It may not wrong then to assert that the contemporary Nigerian youth is not fully
capable of securing the future...so then, there is a
threat to the future generation.
But why are these so ?
Our social, political, economic and religious institutions
are weak, some are resting on wrong principles and philosophy that constitute perpetual hinderance on
the growth, advancement and sustainability of the
Nigerian Youth.
Our political institutions are full of individualistic
tendencies that has relegated nationalism to the
background. Our social institutions are full of imported ideologies that have destroyed our initially sacredly
held moral norms. Our economic institutions are under
the perpetual torture of corruption and
mismanagement. Our religious institutions breed
fanatical ideologies that pose threats to unity. These
are the incidents that have put the youth in a precarious state denied of every opportunity for self-
awareness and evelopment because we have no one
to look up to for mentorship.
What do we do ?
There are a lot to be done but, it will take us time to
arrive at the 'eureka' point. Young people must rise up and confront the challenging issues of contemporary
times because the future and dignity of this country
depends on how we face these challenges.
We must open up ourselves to to avenues that create
opportunities that help us define ourselves, first as
human beings and then as strategic members of the community.
Then we submit to self-developmen t through which we develop attitudes and build up capacities that will
help us take upt the task of nation-building . It is only then that we can ready ourselves to serve as checks
on the anomalies in our political, economic, social and
religious institutions.
Self-developmen t here means that we are now ready to turn our back on being used as agents
of political and economic despiration, vendeta,
terrorism, militancy, kidnapping, thuggery, character
defamation etc.; keep away from corrupt practices
and all those who promote them.
Imagine a Nigeria with a self-aware and self developed YOUTH.
ORJI JOSEPH OGBONNA
1ST OCT. 2015
ABAKALIKI, NIGERIA.



FynestBoi please.....

a nairalanders facebook independence broadcast


https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1660986074181114&id=1620477694898619



DEMOCRACY AND NATION-BUILDING ; YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE FUTURE.
Democracy is a type of government adopted by the
people in pursuit of their collective goals and
aspirations. It goes beyond this and cut across areas
especially those of how they make their choice of
leaders who in their conviction is capable of leading them towards those aspirations.
The democratic process is correlated with naation-
buildin g concept because they both border on collective coexistence based on freedom.
Nation-building has to do with putting proper people in place, establishing institutions and cultivating habits
that sustaine the freedom earlier fought for and
gained; savouring and protecting the independence,
prestige and honour of our common and shared
norms.
People in the past whom we now revere and hold sacred for their dogged fight to free us from from
colonial servitude, have laid the steps for nation-
building so that we of the freedom days can take it up, protect it, live it, preserve it and pass it on from
one generation to the next. These steps were as then
and still are: honesty, patrotism to fatherland, unity,
harmony, tolerance, empathy, etc. And of course
these are the basic essentials that sustain any
community of people. Looking back at the antecedents of our heroes past,
we have no neglect pondering recent developments
in our politcal and economic landscape. In the past,
there may have been questions on corruption, political
and economic despiration, sectional and religious
tendencies, etc but they were minimal when compared to now. Millions of citizens go to bed hungry
and not even sure of tomorrow's bread but, a single
individual can boast of a wealth almost comparing
with our collective national annual output. There are
no jobs for people (qualified graduates and skilled
artisans) but, a person wants to keep sitting on a position until death even though not on the ground of
proven competencies. These and many more cast a
lot of questions on our actions both as individual and
as communities in keeping with national aspirations,
our future is bleak because we have lost direction.
Youth and the Future It is no longer new stating that the future of any nation
is its young people because they are a representation
of national productive and existencial potentials. The
contemporary Nigerian youth is not self-aware and
therefore is not capable of seeking self-developmen t. Before self-developmen t, self-awareness means that the individual has had a ''to and fro''
reflection about him/herself and about his/ her existence in the community during which discovery
has been made as to potential capacities and
strenghts and weaknesses. Self-development is an
effort at transforming the self in a way as to to
eliminate potential threats (weaknesses) to potential
capacities (strengths). It may not wrong then to assert that the contemporary Nigerian youth is not fully
capable of securing the future...so then, there is a
threat to the future generation.
But why are these so ?
Our social, political, economic and religious institutions
are weak, some are resting on wrong principles and philosophy that constitute perpetual hinderance on
the growth, advancement and sustainability of the
Nigerian Youth.
Our political institutions are full of individualistic
tendencies that has relegated nationalism to the
background. Our social institutions are full of imported ideologies that have destroyed our initially sacredly
held moral norms. Our economic institutions are under
the perpetual torture of corruption and
mismanagement. Our religious institutions breed
fanatical ideologies that pose threats to unity. These
are the incidents that have put the youth in a precarious state denied of every opportunity for self-
awareness and evelopment because we have no one
to look up to for mentorship.
What do we do ?
There are a lot to be done but, it will take us time to
arrive at the 'eureka' point. Young people must rise up and confront the challenging issues of contemporary
times because the future and dignity of this country
depends on how we face these challenges.
We must open up ourselves to to avenues that create
opportunities that help us define ourselves, first as
human beings and then as strategic members of the community.
Then we submit to self-developmen t through which we develop attitudes and build up capacities that will
help us take upt the task of nation-building . It is only then that we can ready ourselves to serve as checks
on the anomalies in our political, economic, social and
religious institutions.
Self-developmen t here means that we are now ready to turn our back on being used as agents
of political and economic despiration, vendeta,
terrorism, militancy, kidnapping, thuggery, character
defamation etc.; keep away from corrupt practices
and all those who promote them.
Imagine a Nigeria with a self-aware and self developed YOUTH.
ORJI JOSEPH OGBONNA
1ST OCT. 2015
ABAKALIKI, NIGERIA.

i have read what all of you have posted, they are your individual opinions and mine is my opinion as well.
I must put it to us that I aint a front page freak, I am a creative media and online forum user, I only engage in constructive actions.
In online forums, there are very important conducts that drive people's participation and once those conducts are betrayed there is a chain reaction.
look at this scenario.............you search for information, got one, a very good one at that. You followed the normal procedure to make a thread, the expectation is that it gets to front page to reach the wider audience and inspire you to do more.
the moderator ignores it, someone else comes up with the same item on a later date after yours have been trending and straigth to front page.
Will your complaints not be genuine ?
But

i am beginning to ask myself what really nairaland stand for, because the moderators are rather becoming ''immoderate'' if there is a word like that. Apart from triggering disharmony among forum members through thier actions and inactions, they encourage ''literary theft''.

I created a topic in this section on 17th Aug but it never went to the front page' but now on 17th Sept the same topic was created in this same section and is already on the front page in less than 72 hours.

This is the tread i created www.nairaland.com/2532562/hear-what-mother-told-daughter

To Seun, with all respect your person and status, i think you should up the conduct of the moderators except if nairanland has some hidden agenda. Thank you.

SAMBARRY:
good night ogbanje

good morning SAMBARRY. Hope you had a blissful night.......have a nice day.

SAMBARRY:
the one your paternal grandmother gave me was the one I had. Ode oshi

hmmm..........you know what, I dont do shit, I respect people 'course I got good upbringing, so I dont throw tantrums. Everything is about choice but every choice aint voice. Thanks anyway.....#no harm.

SAMBARRY:
Shoroniyen

no wonder he hit you. Ode iya passing foolishness to the daughter. Mshewwwwww x50

did you say foolishness ?

wonder what kinda upbringing you are getting.

RealAdewole:
she should av add your husbie may love football more than he loves you

i bet you have not come across a female football addict........they are worse than men

SAMBARRY:
Shoroniyen

no wonder he hit you. Ode iya passing foolishness to the daughter. Mshewwwwww x50

i hope you aint female, otherwise i weep for you

My daughter,you are now a wife and soon you'll be become a mother too.God bear me witness that i taught you how to cook and do other house chores.I taught you to respect men and to explain your anger when necessary but if you do otherwise,i know you,not as a daughter but as my fellow woman. My daughter,you see this your husband? He is a gentleman but don't take advantage of that.Don't bring out the beast in him. My daughter,you see this mark on my forehead? Your father gave it to me.He tolerated me everytime but on that day,He came unexpectedly.It wasn't his intention but i dared him and he hit me just once My daughter,Men hate it when you use the word "YOU CAN'T DO IT".He sure can do more than but he's just protecing yo from harm. My daughter,whenev er there is an arguement or misunderstandin g,try drinking water.You can't talk when you have water in your mouth. Now,you have two families.You are very lucky.Tolerate and appreciate them just as you did here. Learn to welcome other people's kids and soon,children will sorround your table with love. You see that my big pot? I bought it when i still had no child but i always cooked with it to feed those children who had nothing to eat. Learn to show hospitality.Wel come a visitor and at least,offer a glass of water.Don't discriminate.Do n't shatter your husband's family.instead, bring them together. Learn to appreciate little efforts and soon,they'll learn to do more. Today,you are wearing a wedding gown and you look so beautiful in it but there is still another gown you need to wear.That is the MATERNITY gown. I wore it and you shall wear your's too. When you have a misundertanding ,don't come back here.Sort things out and build a happy home.I built mine and your father enjoyed me. Men like food.They like both the kITCHEN food and the BEDROOM food.Don't deny him any of the food all because you had an arguement. If the ones i taught are not enough,learn more!

.

Today is the Students' Faculty Association election at EBONYI STATE UNIVERSITY ABAKALIKI. A Nairalnder is contesting for financial secretary........check out his poster.........

More details of the election coming up............

Full text of what Obama and Buhari said when they met today
Below is what President Obama said to President Buhari and his entourage...

Well, it’s a great pleasure to welcome President Buhari and his delegation here to the Oval Office for his first visit since the historic election that took place. Nigeria is obviously one of the important countries in the world and one of the most important countries in the African continent. Recently, we saw an election in which a peaceful transition to a new government took place. And it was an affirmation of Nigeria’s commitment to democracy, a recognition that although Nigeria is a big country and a diverse country with many different parts, nevertheless the people of Nigeria understand that only through a peaceful political process can change take place. President Buhari comes into office with a reputation for integrity and a very clear agenda, and that is to make sure that he is bringing safety and security and peace to his country. He’s very concerned about the spread of Boko Haram and the violence that’s taken place there, and the atrocities that they’ve carried out, and has a very clear agenda in defeating Boko Haram and extremists of all sorts inside of his country. And he has a very clear agenda with respect to rooting out the corruption that too often has held back the economic growth and prosperity of his country. On both these issues, we’re looking forward to hearing more about his plans and how the United States can partner with Nigeria so that Nigeria ends up being an anchor not only of prosperity and stability in the eastern part of the continent, but can also be an outstanding role model for developing countries around the world. And we very much look forward to talking about security issues, how we can cooperate on counterterroris m. We’re looking forward to discussing how we can be helpful in addressing some of the corruption issues that have held Nigeria back, and unleashing the incredible talent of the Nigerian people. We all recognize that some of the best businesspeople in the world are from Nigeria, and they thrive as they travel to other countries, but we want to make sure that they’re also helping folks thrive in Nigeria. We’re also going to have an opportunity to talk about some of the other areas where Nigeria has taken leadership — in public health issues, fighting tragedies like Ebola. Nigeria has an outstanding track record working with us to eradicate polio, and that gives us a framework and a template to continue to work on public health issues throughout the western part of Africa, as well as throughout the subcontinent. We’ll have a chance to talk about issues of climate change, electrification . As many of you know, Power Africa is one of our top priorities, making sure that we’re electrifying the continent so that it can grow faster and more people have access to the power that they need. So we’ve got a busy agenda, but I want to emphasize how much I appreciate President Buhari’s work so far. I’m looking forward to seeing him put together his team so that we can do everything that we can to help him succeed and help the people of Nigeria succeed. Because if they’re successful and doing well, that will have a ripple effect not only in West Africa, but throughout the world. So thank you very much.

What President Buhari said
Nigeria will remain ever grateful to President Obama and the United States for making Nigeria to consolidate its gains on a democratic system. The visit of the Secretary of State, when he visited Nigeria to see the President and the whole government of Nigeria, see the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission for Nigeria, and saw the operation was very clear and a positive trend that saw us through for this credible election we had. And the maintenance of pressure by the United States, mainly, and Europe, to make sure that the elections were free, fair and credible led us to where we are now. It would have been almost impossible if the United States did not maintain the pressure on the former Nigerian government, but they would not accept anything less constitutional as far as the processes of the election are concerned. We will ever remain grateful to you because there are fundamental objectives that are identify all of Nigeria’s people’s Congress — security, economy, employment especially of youth, and then fighting corruption. We are extremely happy that the United States had made it absolutely clear before the election that they are prepared to help Nigeria in this aspect. And this is why I am here, and I am very grateful for the invitation Mr. President extended to me. Thank you very much, Mr. President.

Ikpeabujo:
NAME IKPEABUJO VICTOR EKENE
DEPARTMENT; CEM
COUSRE:MAGANMENT
REG NUMBER;14/0070/CEM
lucky pls is me help na sumbit my own am forwardin ma own tomorow

are you alright ?

efilefun:
NO INSULT!!! But I think Ebonyi should merge with another state, Ebonyi should be a local government not a state.


Dude below me needs hypo bleach and enough MARYKAY to cover his tribal marks

when they tell you people to at least ''take a walk'', you will remain in your small whole to spew out what you dont know.
For your information, Ebonyi landmass is larger than even LAGOS and the population can safely be put at 3.8 Million, not the 2006 fraud called census that put the population at 2.3 Million, still with almost 89 percent indigenous population.
You have no knowledge about Ebonyi State to make that assertion.
If you want to know about Ebonyi State, I will gladly oblige. ''No insults''

awards are sometimes not completely free from bias but the organizers can put paid to that by being meticulous in assessing the nominees...........kudos to the initiators.