₦airaland Forum

- Texxapete and Beaf

Just a suggestion- if you guys can loose the ego conflict and eloquently deliver your arguments without insults, your plights might be a little more resounding!

There are often more than one side to every argument. While in this case, it could be perceived that some savor any notions that suggest negativity about Nigeria, some are hasty to point fingers. How productive can such an argument be?

what does is it matter whether Luggard's testimonies about Nigeria were genuine or politically motivated. Luggard's opinion at best is non-scientific and should not be sort in finding either causes nor answers to our problems. The reality we face at the moment is unmistakeable and undeniable - we are pervaded by numerous issues that can be resolved only if we can collaboratively find solutions.

Now, looking forward, i would hope that we can dedicate our passion to debating solutions rather than dwelling on sentiments, either favorable or unfavorable.

According to CIA factbook https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/ (which is think is the closest to a reliable source)

From this, i don't see Nigeria's economy to be astronomically far off from SA as the author of this thread suggests,  In addition, the potential of a nation with a huge labor force advantage (though grossly underutilized still) should never be underestimated.

[table][tr][td]
[center] SOUTH AFRICA [/center]
GDP (purchasing power parity):                         
$489.7 billion (2008 est.)
$476.4 billion (2007)
$453.3 billion (2006) 
GDP (official exchange rate):   
$300.4 billion (2008 est.) 
GDP - real growth rate:   
2.8% (2008 est.) 
GDP - per capita (PPP):   
$10,000 (2008 est.) 
GDP - composition by sector:   
agriculture: 3.4%
industry: 31.3%
services: 65.3% (2008 est.) 
Labor force:   
18.22 million economically active (2008 est.)   [/td]
[td]
[center] NIGERIA  [/center]
GDP (purchasing power parity):   
$338.1 billion (2008 est.)
$318.7 billion (2007)
$299.5 billion (2006) 
GDP (official exchange rate):   
$220.3 billion (2008 est.) 
GDP - real growth rate:   
6.1% (2008 est.) 
GDP - per capita (PPP):   
$2,300 (2008 est.) 
GDP - composition by sector:   
agriculture: 18%
industry: 50.9%
services: 31.1% (2008 est.) 
Labor force:   
51.04 million (2008 est.)    [/td][/tr][/table]

So how about if the education ministry came up with a plan for the education sector, the agric ministry did the same, and so on and so forth? because this is what the information ministry is trying to do.

- Good point

I think with collaborative efforts and initiatives by all ministries, "rebranding Nigeria" led by the information ministry would make more sense. When isolated, her argument could easily be misunderstood as a mere propanda about an illusive, beautiful nation called Nigeria. Hence she needs to warn that her initiative would meaningfully compliment ongoing effort to rebuild Nigeria's failed infrastructures - if indeed ongoing efforts to rebuild genuinely exist!!!

- Semovita
- Boiled (irish) potatoes
- Milk
- Akara (except with bread)
- Pap
- Cold tea

Having 20 first class graduates makes it look like those that went to public schools are dullards.

No, it only indicates that public schools should check their professors mode of teaching and skills.

Nigerians are, largely, very intelligent people. I have hardly met a Nigerian that studied in the US that did not finish with good grade standing. Or perhaps, is it that foreign schools just simply enjoy awarding good grades.

It's quite suprising that we think its far fetched for a "competitive" school to produce an increasing number of students graduating with first class degrees. Is it not the professors job to lecture student and quiz them based on the what they have been taught? if that is the case, what's the big doubt about the 20 student graduating with a 1st class degree!!!!

@kudaisi

-- Nice initiative, more grease to your elbow

-- Thanks for all feedback

I really love the energy I see on this thread.

I think regardless of how this competion is carried out the outcome will be good. We can eventually assist the winners (1st, 2nd, 3rd) in participating in some other establshed competitions -- e.g http://www.topcoder.com/tc

I personally, would not be able to compete due to my heavy work\career schedule, however, I would try to contribute with any little way i can.

I think it would be more worthwhile if several project options are provided for competitors to choose from. There are a few advantages with this approach over competing on a single project idea.

1) The competition will produce several creative project that can be made available as opensource\freeware via a website (like sourceforge) (perhaps Nigeria's first opensource website), or better still it springs up a programming competition portal
2) It will encourage more developers to compete, focusing more on their areas of expertise or preference
3) Fairness -- you will have options to choose what project suits your background best

Another option will be to select from projects that will provide innovative solutions to some challenging problem rather than a "show-off" on re-invention the wheel. Example could be designing, optimizing or implementing of algorithms that can offer solution to reallife problems - like Dijkstra's, Euler's, Network flows, huffman coding tree etc. optimizing and implementing this kind of algorithm can present better solution that will replace how network, traffic problems (etc) are being solved.


---Just a thought

Good find McRen-

That site is very resourceful and the "Audacity of Hope" speech is quite gripping

Quite gripping indeed. This video unveils a lot about the Nigerian "decay" in a subtle but provocative way. WE MUST all share responsibilities in mending our dysfunctional yet beloved nation by raising constant awareness, and leading crusades that will bring about change.

@edayo

Here is my point, A solution is only as good as the (skill/experience/knowledge/integrity/vision etc of the) people who put it together, and yes although the technology utilized will have impact, its not the key to the issue, the people who created it are,

-- good job, I think that's sufficient to drive the nail home.

isn't that the case in Nigeria - except for some occassions when workload is high?

None

-- Almondjoy

Hmmmmmmmmm! Thank you sir! Bobo Osi is not a Nigerian. He just has an "igbo" name! Get over it!

Alright then, he is not Nigerian -- you win

Hearing him talk during a pre-super bowl game anaysis, showed there was nothing Nigerian about his accent arrrrrrrrrrrrralll.  A bet ma last farthing that this dude has never stepped into Africa not to talk of Nigeria.

-- So because YOU couldn't sense a Nigerian accent when you heard him means that he isn't?

See? I wonder why the ones in Nigeria or Nairaland do not look like this?

I think I give them both a run as far as money isn't a factor, lol

These amputees will ultimately become liabilities to the state, This is madness at its finest.

-- BigB1

As you have mentioned earlier " we are all free to express ourselves in any manner we desire", so I urge to respect that notion and let others express their disinterest or disapproval in anyone whatsoever. You can also express your opinions without dishing out insults.

Thank you for you cooperation

Midas02 --

I call a spade a spade and it will be unfortunate if someone chooses to see it as an insult or arrogance.

No one is saying you should not point it out when you are convinced another person is wrong. We only ask that you keep your manners as well. You can always disagree with other peoples opinion without getting too personal. I am sure that you do not present your views this manner at work even when you perhap run into an employee that comes accross to be ignorant. You ought to simply express your point and let the management team decide. Same approach could be applied here.

-- Middas02


I think  you both (yourself and Ivvie) had good arguments. Personally, I think your arguments were more convincing. However, I would suggest that in the future you should refrain from getting personal whenever you are involved in an argument. As far as I am concerned I liked how you both presented your arguments and they were enlightening and perhaps educative.

The facts can be cross checked and deduced by anybody who has the slightest inclination in science and mechanics.

But it is alway nice to provide (perhaps non-savvy) readers with references.

OpeLovely:
1) An ulterior motive (sex)

-- I find it interesting that you consider sex to be an "ulterior motive"? -- I would rather consider it to be inherent, LOL Hmm, I wonder what else could be an "ulterior motive" these days!!!!

What database server are you using?

As far as functional testing of the application, I can't really help you much. I think you need to work on the presentation -- Fonts, color, images etc. My advice is that you look at some successul HRMS or Human Capital Mangt softwares already out there. Use this other successful software as a standard.

SayoMarvel - Nice one for helping the guy out!

I doubt that most programmers end up working with their first (learned) programming language. Many schools utilize simple or primitive programming languages to BRIEFLY introduce programming to students then they switch to other advanced languages. To determine which generation of programming language is the most suitable in learning programming is outside the scope of this thread. Criticizing the poor guy's choice of programming language doesn't help his situation either, If in the first place you do not know if it is a school requirement.

So the Role of the Nigerian Army is still to maintain order in the society abuse civillians rather that to protect and defend the Nation?

Madness,

I have also been wondering the same: if Nigeria CAN ever get better with the current state of mind of our generation. For a while I've been optimistic, but lately, I'm beggining to doubts if our generation will witness tremendous improvement in (atleast) the crucial sectors: economic, power, health etc.

So it pleases you to know that we might not be the first on the list, but still one of the worst? Would it not be even better if we were no longer considered as a corrupt nation by the rest of the world?

Why would you want to settle for less?

@Maleeq -- Good advice

SayoMarvel:
If your final year project involves writing a program. You can contact me on marvelindaclub@yahoo.com or 08034651376. I will develop it for you at an affordable price.

So when he graduates and finds a job, he will also have to pay you to do his job for him?


Parallel computing is an interesting project as YNot suggested -- my senior project was on software Implementation of Shared Memory Parallel computer. I will advice that you only go into this kind of project if you have a mentor (perhaps a faculty member at your school) otherwise you could be very lost if you are not determined.

I think you should highlight your interest and skills, and choose a project that will help you develop in these areas.

Here are some topic you can look into:
[list]
[li] Network (Client\ Server) programming -- using sockets[/li]
[li]Online School Library system - where  you can check out and check in book, search for, place hold on available book, etc.[/li]
[li]Electronic (course) Registration System -- I think your school will appreciate a prototype incase they don't use\have any  online registration system at the moment[/li]
[li]Implement a traffic system that can ease heavy traffic in Lagos or any city of interest [/li]
[/list]

Let me know if you find any of these projects interesting, I will be glad to assist or point you in the right direction in getting you started.

Enjoy

Where are those who desire change genuinely?

I'm defn. one.

Not those who complain because they are not yet in the position to steal.

LOL

I like that.