₦airaland Forum

It is a truism, that leadership is often “the game changer” in the affairs of societies particularly when comparisons needs to be made on how well societies have fared over a period of time. To corroborate this, a native African proverb avers that “credit must be equitably given to the leadership either positively or negatively for a metaphorical desert land that turns into a thriving city and vice versa”

Leadership is conceptual yet practical. As a concept, leadership connotes someone or a system that drives, organizes, decides man and materials for the general /common good or wellbeing of the society. In other words leadership entails inspiring others to pursue the leader’s vision within the parameters or criterion which the leader has set, to the extent that it becomes a shared vision and a shared success. Leadership could be seen as a process by which a person influences others to accomplish an objective.

History tells us that ever since society decided to embrace the “social contract” by choosing those to lead them in one way or the other, there has been a need to institute or develop a method through which leaders are chosen or made. This need and the development of a method of choosing leaders represent the interphase between politics and leadership. And since leadership is derived from within the people, it means there must be people’s participation for the right type of leadership to emerge.

From this background, leadership that emerges from within the people is expected to deliver on certain deliverables. To Wit; the leadership must be imbued with vision on where it wants the people to go and how the people will get there. A crucial vision which leadership should be imbued with is that which seeks to elevate and emancipate the people, both physically (Body) and spiritually (Mind) such that people become easy to lead, and also assures them of a guaranteed future. This is where leadership has a tremendous role to play in human capital development.


What then is Human Capital Development?

We can hardly talk of human capital development without talking of human capital. Generally, human capital refers to the stock of knowledge, habits, social and personality attributes, including creativity embodied in a population, for that population to perform optimally. In other words, the collection of resources including knowledge, talents, skills, abilities, experience, intelligence, training, judgment and wisdom possessed individually and collectively by individuals within a population. These resources are the total capacity of the people that represents a form of wealth which can be directed to accomplish the goals of the nation or state.

The nexus or link between policy and human capital is what determines the development of human capital. The role of policy in the development of human capital can really not be underestimated. Policy for the purpose of this essay can be described as the basic principles by which a government is guided. In other words the declared objectives that a government seeks to achieve and preserve in the interest of the national community.

In formulating policies, governments or states needs to have a clear idea of what type of society they envision. It is this idea that guides and propels them to set certain frameworks in the policy that target or has a direct bearing to the lives of the people. Policy formulation involves developing strategies for dealing with policy issues which have been placed on an agenda. Policy formulation takes both the effectiveness and the viability or acceptability of proposed actions into account. Effectiveness refers to valid, workable strategies that address the situation, while acceptability refers to those strategies which are more likely to be put into action.

Since the people/population, in other words human resources are one of the most important resources, governments must explore or find ways in which such resources could be utilized optimally and one of the ways these are done is through human capital development. Hence, for progressive and development conscious governments, public policy should be tailored towards human capital development.

Governments (Policy Makers) the world over are beginning to acknowledge the critical role of increased investment in human capital, because a strong human capital base complements other investments and policies to boost productivity and economic progress. Most importantly, the confluence of rapid technological change, globalization and economic liberalization otherwise known as the New World Order has prompted governments (Policy Makers) in most societies to prioritize human capital development. The consequence(s) of human capital development can be quite manifold. A society with a high human capital development invariably has a higher percentage of its people highly skilled. Skills affect people’s lives, economic and social development in various ways albeit in a positive manner. When skills also abound in a society, the lines of inequality are blurred and social mobility is enhanced. As a matter of fact, empirical evidences show that investing in human capital is the single most effective way of not just promoting growth in the society but also of distributing its benefits more fairly. Also research shows that investing in human capital is relatively cheaper in the long run.

However, investing in human capital, by governments and policy makers is often faced with its own challenges. This is because human capital development policies require coherence and cooperation across all areas and levels of government and achieving this cooperation and ensuring it is fruitful is often a challenge to governments and policy makers. However in general terms, the responsibility for the transformation of raw human resource into a highly productive human resource otherwise known as human capital development still rests firmly on the shoulders of government albeit with support from the private sector. But the framework through which this is achieved is still a government function. Through this framework, it is expected that policies are focused towards promotion of human development, and subsequently economic development. Human capital is the backbone of economic development in every society. For instance, government may offer higher education to people at no cost. The government realizes that the knowledge people gain through education helps develop a society and leads to economic growth within the society.

The foundation of public policy is composed of national constitutional laws and regulations. Further components include both judicial interpretations and regulations which are generally authorized by legislations. Public policy is considered strong when it solves problems efficiently and effectively, serves justice supports governmental institutions and policies and encourages active citizenship. Now, for public policy to be meaningful it should be broadly targeted at human capital development, because of its multiplier effect on the society. It should also be specifically targeted at the indices or indicators of human capital development, otherwise known as the Human Capital Index (HDI).

The HDI is a summary measure of average achievement in key dimensions or areas of Public Health, Public Education, and Public Income (Decent Standard of Living). The health dimension is assessed by life expectancy at birth, the education dimension by mean years of schooling for adults aged 25 years and more, and expected years of schooling for children of school entering age. The income dimension or standard of living dimension is measured by the gross national income per capita. It is public policy that drives investments or attention into these areas. When a government through its policies invests massively or drives investments in the educational sector it inadvertently raises the literacy level, and also imbues the general populace with skills thus improving the quality of lives over a period of time. When public policy encourages massive investments in the health sector, ultimately the society benefits in the long run, as such things as mortality and morbidity are reduced to the barest minimum. Ditto for when public policy is geared towards improving the standard of living, the society benefits in the long run.

Hence the HDI can be used to question national policy choices asking how two countries with the same level of national income can end up with different human capital development levels. Consequently the social and economic dimensions of a people are based on the health of the people, their level of education attainment and their standard of living, which relies on how well Public Policy is formulated.

In conclusion the nexus between policy in general and public policy in particular, shows that the building of a society depends upon the development of the people and the robustness of such policies that drives development, especially in the key areas of education (literacy) health and increase in standard of living. The importance of the human factor in attaining meaningful socio-economic development in any given society cannot be understated. Human Capital Development is therefore associated with investment in man and his development and one of the biggest factors which drive this investment is government.

Since there is a general consensus that human beings represented by the people are the active agents and the most critical elements in National Development a society unable to develop the skills and knowledge of its people and utilize them effectively will be unable to develop anything else. It therefore behooves on public policy formulators often times represented by governments, to formulate appropriate policies that will harness, develop and utilize these skills and knowledge in people for the general good of the society.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/nexus-leadership-human-capital-development/

Tyviv:
Interesting

Yes, it is.

If you keep following superstition, you might remain with your problems for a longer time.

Have you tried reassessing yourself rather than blaming an inanimate object or a landlord that never begged you to move into his house?

Do you know the number of people that died building the things you currently benefit from starting from the country you live in?

My brother, shine your eyes to reality and stop looking for excuses- work as if you will never pray and pray as if you will never work.

HQuadreal:
Nice One.

Thanks.

Having a baby can be an exasperating experience. So, it is important for you to seek knowledge especially if you are a Nigerian mother. With this online trend of Googling everything, expecting mothers have access to thousands of materials at your fingertips. Hence, you have to be careful with the information you get online and you may have problems sieving the information.

In order to prevent any confusion, Jumia Travel has compiled a list of authentic baby websites where soon-to-be Nigerian mothers can get information. It important to add that you must visit your doctor regardless of the information you get on these websites.

Babycenter

Babycenter is a well-known website to get all information about having a baby. It is platform that follows you at all pregnancy stages-prenatal, natal and postnatal. It is a website every Nigerian mother should visit as soon as the baby bump appear.

Parenting

Parenting is perfect for first time mothers. It offers you everything you need to know about being a parent. The website features information like early signs of pregnancy, common causes of miscarriages and many other relevant parenting ideas.

What To Expect

With What To Expect, you can track your pregnancy weekly, interact with expecting mothers and know what is happening to your baby. You can also download the pregnancy tracker app.

Contraction Master

You may not know about when your baby will be conceived but you will definitely get signs of contraction (which means labor is near). Contraction master is a website that help pregnant mothers easily and accurately know the time of labor contraction. This will ensure that you will be prepared! You can also download the Android or iPhone app.

Baby Connect

Want to keep track of the activities of your baby? Then you should check out the baby connect website or download the app. So, if you want to drop your baby with a nanny, you don’t need to worry. You have to ensure that the nanny records her activities like feeding, changing diapers and the baby’s mood temperature. You can even track the game the baby is playing. Anyone authorized to access this information can view it. Obviously, you have to ensure the nanny is trustworthy before handing her your baby.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/5-baby-websites-to-help-expecting-nigerian-mothers/

Apple has had some trouble getting customers interested in the new iPhone 7 since its launch and that is justifiable, considering the economic hardship being faced by a majority of people in the society. While very many Nigerians have boycotted the stores vending this new model, there are a few who have defied all odds to purchase the smartphone. Jumia Travel, Africa’s No.1 hotel booking portal has done some research and found that these few individuals fall under certain categories. Read on to discover the 5 types of Nigerians who own an iPhone 7.


The super-rich

These set of people are not affected by the recession in the country. The have a lot of money and can afford anything that catches their fancy. Getting an iPhone7, to them, is just like buying bubblegum at the store. In fact, do not be surprised if they share this phone as souvenir at their events.



The wanna-be

This iPhone owner saved so hard to buy the iPhone as he wants to be regarded as high-class. He strongly believes that you have to dress the part to actually become the part, so he would do anything, including even changing his name to “iPhone7” to claim ownership of the iPhone.



The iPhone freak

The iPhone freak is excited about everything “Apple”. He owns not just the previous versions of the iPhone, he also owns an iPad, and iPod and Apple TV. He follows the company on social media and goes out of his way to challenge anyone who says anything remotely negative about Apple products. He may not be the richest person in the world, but he plans his finances and can even take a loan just to buy the newest iPhone.



The poser

This person does not really own an iPhone 7, but his facebook timeline and Instagram page is filled with pictures of him using the phone. Basically, anyone will swear he owns the phone, but in truth, he just poses with an iPhone that belongs to a friend or family member.



The IT guru

The IT guru believes that the iPhone is the best thing that ever happened to technology. He is extremely extra savvy and certainly uses his iPhone7 for much more than just receiving calls and face-timing. He uses it to remotely start his car and turn his neighbour’s TV on and off from across the street, thanks to his hacking endeavours.

http://www.opinions.ng/5-types-of-nigerians-who-own-an-iphone7/

Nigeria currently has 2 Super Eagles regulars in Chelsea’s squad and their current positions have changed dramatically from the way it was in the past few seasons.

Super Eagles captain, Mikel Obi has found himself frozen out of the Chelsea first team and even the substitution bench since he returned late for preseason preparations due to his participation in the Rio Olympics for Nigeria where he captained the U-23 to the bronze medal. It might be difficult for anybody to explain the exact reason Mikel has been given the cold shoulder by the Blues’ manager, Antonio Conte but we can assume he has watched Mikel in training and is not impressed which is quite surprising as he is Chelsea’s second-longest serving player after John Terry.

Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr paid a visit to Chelsea for discussions with manager Antonio Conte and technical director Mike Emenalo on the Mikel situation which is bad for the national team because its captain does not play regularly in the first team for his club calling to question his place within the Eagles. The unconfirmed response he got is that Mikel is free to leave Chelsea in January.

It is best at this time for Mikel to move forward to new and exciting challenges even if it is to go and get a big fat contract in China, it would be better than this Chelsea humiliation.

Still on the humiliation point, Victor Moses probably suffered greater embarrassment at Chelsea, between the 2013/2014 and 2015/2016 season; he was loaned to Liverpool, Stoke City and West Ham United making little impact at these clubs. However, with the start of this season and Conte’s adoption of the 3-4-3 system converting Moses from a winger to a wing-back, the proverbial ugly duckling has transformed into the beautiful swan. Moses has excelled wining the PFA Fans’ Premier League Player of the Month Award for November just yesterday and is already being linked with a move to Barcelona. He also delivered for the Super Eagles in the World Cup qualifier against Algeria scoring a very impressive brace in a 3-1 win that cements Nigeria’s strong position for qualification for the 2018 world cup.

Quite a transformation indeed and I just wonder how much further he can rise as a top star in global football. Time will tell but I congratulate Victor Moses for turning his career around after being hampered by years of injury and poor form, Mikel Obi can turn his career around too with a move away from Chelsea after spending 10 successful years at the club.


http://www.opinions.ng/mikel-moses-tale-2-ms/

Fashion trends change every time, in fact some people don’t repeat fashion trends or follow one for more than a month. There are a lot of trends and wears that were seen as top brands in the 80s that people of these days would never want to be caught wearing, but then again just as old wines are the best wines, so are some timeless fashion items and styles and these styles still exist amongst the “hip youth” and are seen as part of pop culture in recent times.

This list as compiled by Jumia market’s business intelligence team consists of items that basically every man has at least three to four items of; they are items that were in vogue decades ago, but because of their easy fit and designs they remain trendy,in 2016.

Truth is the simpler a fashion design is, the easier it is for it to stay trending over time, simple colors and designs hardly go out of style, and over the time they only experience minor changes, unlike some fashion items that are mere fads (big trends that last for a short time ) . Examples are the classic items shown on this list;

Suits: Suits have been in existence for a very long time and over the years they remain classic and are worn by almost everyone. They are formal, stylish and can be worn for corporate outings. Suits come in different styles; we have tuxedos and different patterns suits. There are no arguments that every man should have at least a pair or two.

Denim: Denim is a fashion trend that has been around for decades and it’s one that won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. Denims are jean-like materials; mostly blue or black. They’ve been around for a long time and are still very fashionable till date; it’s a casual wear that when matched properly can be worn to any occasion. Overtime, designers redefine denims styles bringing out new concepts to fit the modern fashion status.

White shirt: The emphasis on importance of a white shirt or white t-shirt cannot be overstretched. It has probably been in existence long before most fashion items. White tees and shirts are safe clothing; not too loud, can be worn to any kind of occasion and styled in different ways. White shirts are classic and adds variations to your outfit, white shirts and tee shirts would literally never go out of fashion. They could be teamed with all kind of colors and looks, whether corporate, casual or indoor wear. White shirts and tee shirts are never wrong.

Jerseys: I don’t think there’s need for a reminder on how old jerseys have been around for, or how relevant and trendy they have remained over the years; jerseys are worn for different reasons. For sport lovers all over the world, they are worn to show support for their favorite teams or just because of it’s a good look. Jerseys are perfect casual simple wears, they fit into any kind of foot wear, and are very comfortable.

Ray-Ban is a fashion accessory that you can never go wrong with. Ray bans and nerd glasses are on this list because, as modern as they seem to be, they’ve been in existence for a very long time, and seem like they are here to stay for an even longer time. Ray bans can be worn to any occasion, and even when it’s not so sunny people don’t mind just holding their original glasses in an original case. In modern times every sunshades lover must own a pair of dark shades ray bans or transparent ones.

Baseball hats: were first worn in 1860 by a baseball team called Brooklyn Excelsior’s, that’s how long and are still very in vogue till date They are normally used to advertise cities, logos, brands or sports teams. They were originally worn by athletes. Imagine a product that old, still very trendy and now is been used by corporate and social bodies to advertise, or just look swaged out. A pair of baseball hats to represent your city, sports team or company are still must haves till today.

Chinos -From the ancient transcending to semi corporate wear, chinos made their way on the list for their persistence in staying relevant in the fashion world. Chinos are still used in some schools, as a corporate attire, and also as a casual outfit. Its simple and versatile use has made its stay a prolonged one and they will remain a comfortable and hip cool option for pants trousers. Chinos are very safe, they are classics and they are a great choice for comfortable fashion.

Loafers: These were worn far back since the days, mostly by royalties as indoor shoes. Now they are worn as slip-on shoes/stay home, or for casual outings; it varies according to your style and preference. Loafers make for great casual as well as formal footwear. With all this features from an easy to use stylish shoe there’s no reason for them to ever go out of style.

All stars Converse, Chuck Taylors are unarguably one of the longest riders in the fashion scene. This brand is so special and deserves an award in the shoe hall of fame, not just because it has stayed relevant and trendy up till now, but it also has its old style. The first design of the all-stars are still the most preferred by most people; they are easy fitting, comfortable and can be worn with every casual look. From chinos, jeans or pant trousers, converse all-stars always remain a fashion item you can count on.

Timberlands saved for last, because of its heavy presence and significance in pop culture. Foot wears like timberlands ,all-stars and Jordan’s represent a culture that would be passed down to generations, they are very rugged looking, giving your feet confidence as you move them around. Timberlands are preferably worn with denims. Just like the converse, the most popular timberland products remains its first known item till now , that is the Butters Timberland boot. Timberlands are casual footwear worn when you want your presence felt. Over the years the timberland boots don’t look like they would ever be forgotten.

These fashion items have become part of society’s culture, they are items we saw with our older ones while growing up, got them when we got of age, and our kids would still wear them. Any fashion forward person should have at least three of the above-listed items. So when next you’re shopping and you’re looking for something that would always be fashionable, select from these items and be sure they’ll never fail you.

http://www.opinions.ng/fashion-items-stayed-trendy-2016/

Syndicated newspaper columnist and TV analyst, Mr. Tope Fasua, may be the first Nigerian to publicly declare interest in replacing President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso Rock in 2019.

The chartered accountant and economist made the declaration of his ambition to rule Nigeria in 2019 on his Facebook page on 26 November 2016. The Ondo state born social media influencer posted: “Tope Kolade Fasua for President, Federal Republic of Nigeria 2019. You best believe it. Stay Tuned.”

He made series of other posts as a follow up to the post, most notably:

Imagine 25-30 guys and ladies like me, spread across Nigeria. Over 40 years old, so constitutionally qualified for the role of the No 1 citizen. Quite educated. Knowledgeable and opinionated. Preferably pan-Nigerian in mindset; meaning they KNOW what to do with such a large population without breaking it up, and are ready and intelligent enough to sell constructive UNITY rather than the alternatives.

Imagine these sharp guys – and sharp ladies – from different parts of Nigeria. Give me 3 igbo guys or ladies, 3 yoruba guys or ladies, 3 kanuri and environs guys and ladies, 3 or 4 Hausa or Fulani guys and ladies, 3 or 4 from the Middle Belt and North Central (Kogi, Nasarawa, Plateau, Niger), in fact, from everywhere, whether majority or minority, for what Nigeria needs right now are these fairly young people who are connected with reality and modernity and are ready to stand up for their beliefs and convictions rather than sit and complain and further damage the country.

Now, imagine such vibrant people should step up and declare that ‘hey, no biggie, we can each do the job’ (and why not? In our fathers’ generation many military men and even civilians became governors of states at 27 or 30, they even led the country, so from whence comes our ‘wimpishness’?). These guys/ladies don’t have to be connected to each other for starters. But by their daily engagements, they begin to create awareness and give confidence back to the young, disenfranchised people of Nigeria bit by bit, and DEMYSTIFY LEADERSHIP in Nigeria (for there is too much mystery around it). These are people who understand the RISKS, but are knowledgeable enough to mitigate in many ways than one.

Imagine that at some point, we can get platforms to bring these disparate ‘contestants with no political parties’ together, for town hall meetings, televised debates, online chats etc, and rigorously test their ideas. Imagine that like-minded media businesses will give them an opportunity to air their views on critical issues at discounted rates?

THE RESULT: THE RHETORIC WILL CHANGE. THE NARRATIVE WILL CHANGE, AND THEY WILL BE THE TOPIC. Gradually even the poor people in the village – and they are not as unenlightened as we think – will sign up to the idea that yes, Nigeria is due for proper overhaul beyond who is ready to gift them garri, groudnut, salt, rice and 5 yards of cloth. They are even going through excruciating suffering and unprecedented disappointment with politicians of all hue presently, so that itself may be a blessing to the newbies. Nigerians seem to have tasted both sides of the ideology in Nigerian politics as formed from the beginning; and they aren’t finding the results funny.

So imagine that at some point, these youths could try and create a political party with a pan-Nigerian outlook, with crowdfunding or any other means, whereby people can rent very small but functional offices in at least 20 states of Nigeria. INEC will be forced to recognize such a party. Note, you must not use any word like ‘youth’ or ‘young’ in the party, but there are clever words that will depict newness and honesty of purpose.

Can they not continue reaching out to the 10million Nigerians on Facebook and another 5 on other social media? Did social media not partly win the Change we are under even though the young people were promptly dumped? CAN THE SUPPORT GARNERED ACROSS THE NATION AND BEYOND BY THESE YOUNG-ISH PEOPLE NOT BE COALESCED FOR THE FEW THAT STAND OUT? Yes, there will be those who are power-hungry, and those who will be moles to the old order. There will be all sorts of people and all sorts of quarrels but its all good. Even if this party will not win a presidency, it will alter something permanently in Nigeria. That was how change started – for good or ill – in most parts of Europe and even the USA. Note that Nigeria needs more CHANGE from the old ways than these developed countries.

And who knows, the idea could catch on properly and the people of this country would actually take back the country from the politicians who are using our times for a game of musical chairs where they have been taking turns. Who knows? It could work

But first things first, NIGERIA NEEDS YOU. Stop the cowardice. God is waiting for you. By all means He is. Or you don’t think he needs Nigeria to change from its wasteful ways?

So, can we find 25 people out of 170 million, who are wise enough, and angry enough, and caring enough? Sounds like a question they would have asked many centuries ago… in the time of the great prophets…

Mr. Fasua, who has been touted Malcolm Gladwell of Africa is an author of 3 books on political economy. He was a very vocal supporter of current President Muhammadu Buhari in 2011 and 2015 elections. He has serially expressed his disappointment in the performance of his man in the last 20 months.

Now, does Tope mean business? Time will tell.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/popular-analyst-tope-fasua-eyes-aso-rock-top-job-2019/