₦airaland Forum

Nigerians and short term goals.. Reasons why most can't answer "WHERE WOULD YOU BE IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS"

I hope they also provide jobs which your school loans are meant for....

The Untold History of Garri


Before Garri Existed — How Cassava Crossed the Atlantic to West Africa


Garri is one of the most recognized foods in Nigeria today. Millions of people eat it every day, yet its story began thousands of kilometers away, on another continent. To understand the history of garri, we must first understand the history of cassava—the crop from which garri is made.


Before Cassava—What Nigerians Ate

Long before cassava arrived, the people living in what is now Nigeria already had a rich agricultural civilization.

Across different regions, communities relied on crops such as:

Yam

Cocoyam

Millet

Sorghum

Guinea corn

Rice

Plantain

Beans


Yam was especially important among many southern Nigerian peoples. It represented wealth, strength, and prestige. Annual New Yam Festivals celebrated successful harvests.

Northern communities depended heavily on millet and sorghum, while riverine areas cultivated local rice.

At this point in history, cassava simply did not exist in Africa.


The Birthplace of Cassava

Cassava (Manihot esculenta) originated in tropical South America.

Archaeological evidence suggests Indigenous peoples in modern-day:

Brazil

Paraguay

Bolivia

Peru


had already been cultivating cassava for over 8,000 years.

The plant became one of the most valuable crops in South America because it:

tolerated poor soils,

survived drought,

produced high yields,

could remain underground until needed.


This made cassava a natural food reserve.




Indigenous Knowledge Changed Everything

Cassava had one major problem.

Many varieties contain naturally occurring compounds called cyanogenic glucosides. When the roots are damaged or eaten raw, these compounds can release poisonous cyanide.

The Indigenous peoples of South America developed sophisticated methods to make cassava safe:

peeling,

grating,

fermenting,

pressing,

drying,

roasting.


These techniques removed most of the toxins while improving flavor and shelf life.

This knowledge would later shape the production of garri.



The Portuguese Age of Exploration

The fifteenth century changed world history.

Portugal became one of Europe's leading maritime powers.

Portuguese sailors explored:

the coast of Africa,

India,

Brazil,

Southeast Asia.


When Portugal claimed Brazil in 1500, Europeans encountered cassava on a large scale.

They quickly realized the crop had remarkable advantages.

Unlike wheat:

it survived tropical climates,

required little maintenance,

produced abundant harvests.


Portuguese traders saw enormous potential.


Why Cassava Came to Africa

Around the mid-1500s, Portuguese traders introduced cassava to parts of West and Central Africa.

This was not done primarily to create garri.

Instead, cassava served several purposes:

Feeding Coastal Settlements

Portuguese forts along the African coast required reliable food supplies.

Cassava could grow almost anywhere.



Feeding Ships

Long voyages needed food that would not spoil quickly.

Processed cassava products stored far longer than many fresh crops.



Supporting the Slave Trade Economy

This is where history becomes more complex.

European traders established the transatlantic slave trade, transporting millions of Africans to the Americas.

Large numbers of captives were held in coastal forts before embarkation.

Cheap, filling foods were needed to sustain them.

Cassava became one of several crops used within this broader trade network.

However, historians caution that early processed cassava in Africa was not necessarily the same as modern garri.



Was Cassava Introduced as "Slave Food"?

This question is often asked.

The answer is nuanced.

Cassava itself was not originally invented as slave food.

It had already sustained Indigenous South American communities for thousands of years before Europeans arrived.

However, once introduced to Africa, cassava became deeply connected to the Atlantic slave trade because it:

fed laborers,

supported plantation economies,

supplied food for trading posts,

helped sustain populations during difficult periods.


So while cassava became associated with systems built around slavery, its origins long predated slavery.


Cassava Reaches the Kingdoms of Nigeria

Cassava gradually spread inland through trade routes.

It entered regions that now form:

Lagos

Ogun

Ondo

Oyo

Edo

Delta

Rivers

Bayelsa

Akwa Ibom

Cross River


Farmers were initially cautious.

Unlike yam, cassava could not simply be harvested and eaten.

Improper preparation could cause poisoning.

As knowledge spread, communities learned safer processing techniques.



Why Nigerians Slowly Accepted Cassava

Cassava offered remarkable advantages.

During times of war or raids, farmers could leave cassava underground for months without losing the crop.

Unlike yam, thieves often overlooked it because it remained hidden.

Cassava also:

tolerated poor soil,

survived dry seasons,

yielded more food per hectare,

helped communities recover after famine.


These practical benefits encouraged wider cultivation.


Early Cassava Was Not Yet Garri

Although cassava had arrived, the familiar garri known today did not yet exist.

People prepared cassava in other forms, including:

boiled roots,

fermented paste,

dried flour,

local roasted products that varied by region.


The standardized method of fermenting, pressing, sieving, and roasting into crisp granules developed gradually over time.

Modern garri would emerge much later.

Ronaldo still remains a LEGEND, thank you for making me enjoy football while I watched with my dad.
Big respect to CR7

Principle Four: The Man Must Feed the Mind

The mind can imagine a destination, but it cannot walk the road.

That responsibility belongs to the person.

The mind is the architect.

The person is the builder.

The mind is capable of constructing a beautiful picture of the future, but every picture eventually asks a question:

"What evidence do you have that this future is possible?"

The answer cannot remain words forever.

It must become action.

This is why visualization alone is incomplete. A person may spend hours imagining success, yet if nothing changes in his habits, the mind eventually begins to doubt the very future it once believed. Imagination without evidence slowly loses its power.

On the other hand, action without vision is equally dangerous. A person may be busy every day, working tirelessly, yet if he does not know where he is going, his efforts become scattered. He moves, but he does not advance.

Visualization without action becomes fantasy, a mere wishful thinking


Action without vision becomes wandering.

Neither is sufficient on its own.

The mind creates destinations.

The person creates journeys.

Imagine that the mind is holding a map.

It points to a city in the distance and says,

"This is where we are going."

The person then begins walking.

With every step, the mind asks another question:

"Are we still going there?"

The answer is not given with words.

It is not a "One day, I go surely..."

It is given with choices.

Every decision either confirms the destination or contradicts it.

If a student says he wants to become a doctor but refuses to study science, his actions tell the mind that the destination is not serious.

If an entrepreneur says she wants to build a successful company but never learns finance, marketing, or leadership, her habits confuse the mind.

The mind believes actions more than intentions.

Actions are the language that convinces the mind.

This is why the person must continually feed the mind.

Every book read says,

"We are still going."

Every skill learned says,

"Prepare for what is coming."

Every hour of practice says,

"This future matters."

Every application submitted says,

"Expect an opportunity."

Every interview attended says,

"We are getting closer."

Every disciplined morning tells the mind,

"The destination has not changed."

Gradually, the mind begins to reorganize itself around this consistent evidence.

What once felt distant begins to feel familiar. Confidence grows, not because success has already arrived, but because preparation has become a daily reality.

This principle explains why identity often changes before circumstances do.

A person who consistently studies programming begins to think like a programmer before receiving a programming job.

An athlete begins living like a champion long before winning a championship.

A teacher becomes one through the daily discipline of learning, preparing, and communicating before ever standing in front of a classroom.

The journey educates the mind for the destination.

Every habit becomes another piece of evidence.

Learning.

Practicing.

Reading.

Writing.

Observing.

Speaking.

Working.

Serving.

Improving.

Each one silently tells the mind,

"Continue building this future."

There is another important truth.

The mind cannot distinguish between empty repetition and meaningful repetition. Whatever you repeatedly feed it becomes familiar.

If you repeatedly feed it fear, excuses, and defeat, it becomes skilled at expecting failure. If you repeatedly feed it knowledge, discipline, courage, and preparation, it becomes increasingly capable of expecting progress.

Therefore, feeding the mind is not merely about information.

It is about evidence.

Evidence that your future deserves preparation.

Evidence that your words are sincere.

Evidence that your destination is worthy of pursuit.

In time, the mind no longer sees your future as a distant dream.

It begins to recognize it as an approaching reality because your daily actions have continually supplied the materials from which that reality is built.

The mind creates the destination.

But only the disciplined person can supply the journey.

For the mind does not travel alone.

It walks only on the roads that a person's habits lay before it.

Why Schools and Parents Must Take a More Active Role in Students' Career Choices

BY WRITERX

Every year, thousands of young Nigerians graduate from universities with hopes of building successful careers. Yet, many soon discover that earning a degree is no longer enough to secure meaningful employment. According to Nigeria's education authorities, hundreds of thousands of students graduate from universities each year, while millions more compete annually for admission through JAMB.

Unfortunately, the economy is not creating jobs at the same pace, leaving many graduates unemployed or underemployed.

This reality should force us to ask an important question:

Are we preparing our children for the future, or for the past?

The World Has Changed

The world of work is changing faster than our educational system

Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation, robotics, and digital technology are transforming industries at an unprecedented speed. Jobs that existed ten years ago are disappearing, while entirely new careers are emerging every year. Even traditional professions are being redefined by technology.

Around the world, governments and universities are reviewing their academic programmes to reflect these changes.

Some institutions have merged departments, retired programmes with declining demand, and introduced new courses in AI, data science, cybersecurity, robotics, renewable energy, and digital technologies.

Education is no longer static—it is adapting to economic realities.

Nigeria cannot afford to ignore these global shifts.

Career Choice Is No Longer Just About Passion

For decades, children have been encouraged to "follow your passion."

Passion is important.

But passion without information can lead to disappointment.

Before choosing a course of study, every student should be asking questions such as:

What exactly does this profession involve?

Will this career still be relevant in ten years?

What skills will employers demand?

What are the employment opportunities in Nigeria?

Can this career provide financial stability?


What industries can I work in?

What additional skills should I learn alongside this course?

Sadly, many students never ask these questions.

Instead, they choose careers because a friend chose them, because someone admired a professional, because of family expectations, or simply because they do not want to spend another year preparing for JAMB.

Career decisions made under pressure rarely produce fulfilling careers.

Children Often See the Dream, Not the Reality

Young people are naturally influenced by what they see around them.

They admire doctors because they wear white coats.

They admire lawyers because they speak confidently.

They admire pilots because they fly airplanes.

They admire engineers because they build remarkable structures.

Yet very few truly understand the daily realities behind these professions.

They often know the title but not the journey.

Unfortunately, many Career Day programmes do little to close this gap.

Career Day Needs a New Direction

Having participated in Career Day programmes myself, I genuinely appreciate the effort schools make to expose students to different professions.

However, I have also noticed a major weakness.

Many career presentations sound more like advertisements than guidance.

Professionals often spend their time celebrating the prestige of their careers without discussing the realities.

Students should also hear about:

- the years of training required, courses and levels.

- the cost of professional development,

- the competitiveness of the field,

- entry-level salaries,

- employment statistics,

- industry challenges,

- technological disruptions,

- future demand,

- and the personal qualities needed to succeed.

The Nigerian child deserves honesty—not fantasy.

Career guidance should prepare students for reality, not merely inspire them.

Parents Must Return to the Conversation

Perhaps the greatest missing voice in career planning today is the parent.

Many parents leave career decisions entirely to schools.

Others leave it completely to the child.

Neither approach is enough.

Parents should become career partners.

Not dictators.

Not decision-makers.

Partners.

Children often lack the maturity and life experience needed to evaluate long-term consequences.

Parents, on the other hand, have years of experience navigating financial realities, changing industries, and economic uncertainty.



Their responsibility is not to force a profession upon their children but to help them ask better questions.

Career Decisions Must Match Strengths


Every child is different.

Some naturally enjoy solving mathematical problems.

Others love writing.

Some are creative thinkers.

Others enjoy fixing machines.

Some communicate exceptionally well.

Others prefer analysing information quietly.

Career selection should begin by identifying these natural strengths.

For example, a student who enjoys mathematics and logical thinking might discover opportunities in Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Statistics, Engineering, Actuarial Science, or Cybersecurity—not just the traditional options they hear about e.g Education

Likewise, artistic students should understand that creativity now extends far beyond drawing and painting.

Digital design, animation, game development, user experience design, filmmaking, content creation, and digital marketing have transformed the creative industry.

Years ago, I personally considered studying Fine and Applied Arts. However, I realised that technology was gradually transforming the creative industry, so I chose Computer Science instead.

It wasn't because I abandoned creativity—it was because I recognised where the world was heading. Today, I am both a Graphics Artist, Writer and A Data Analyst.



That decision reinforced an important lesson

Career planning should consider not only who we are today but also where the world is going tomorrow.

Schools and Parents Must Work Together

No single institution should carry this responsibility alone.

Schools understand education.

Parents understand their children.

Industry professionals understand the labour market.

Together, they can help students make wiser choices.

Schools should move beyond a one-day Career Day programme.

Students should complete career interest assessments, research occupations in groups, visit workplaces, interact with professionals throughout the year, analyse employment trends, and discuss how technology is changing different industries.

Imagine asking every Senior Secondary student one simple question

"Why do you want to study this course?"

The answers would reveal whether the decision is based on understanding, influence, pressure, or genuine passion.

That conversation alone could change a child's future.

We Owe Our Children Better

The greatest tragedy is no longer failing an examination

The greatest tragedy is spending four or five years earning a degree only to discover that the labour market has changed, opportunities have disappeared,

or the necessary skills were never developed.

Our children deserve better preparation than that.

The future belongs to those who prepare for it—not those who simply hope for it.

Schools must become centres of informed career guidance.

Parents must become active partners in career planning.

And together, we must ensure that every child chooses not only a course they love, but one that gives them the greatest opportunity to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

kpankpangolo:
If all these were true, why is sex sweet for women?

I just got back from a ban , I suppose tell you word way go make mod send me back but not tonight but try dey reason what you say

FIFA AKA
FIXING
IT
FOR
ARGENTINA

if you know you know

Dogalmighty17:
Where's proof that he was a yahoo boy? Or that he smoked colos for that matter? Was an autopsy done to determine the cause of death or the blogger is just stupid?

My thoughts exactly, this could also be murder but let's all blame drugs.

Principle Two: Specificity Gives the Mind Vision

The mind cannot pursue what it cannot define.

While the human mind possesses an extraordinary ability to imagine, it requires direction before it can organize thought into meaningful action. Vague desires produce vague images. Clear intentions produce clear vision.

Consider the simple statement:

«"I want a job."»

This desire is genuine, but it gives the mind very little to work with. What kind of job? Where? When? Doing what? With whom? How much does it pay? What does success look like?

The mind recognizes that a job is possible, yet it lacks a destination. Without a destination, it cannot construct a meaningful picture of the future.

Now consider a different statement:

«"I will become a Senior Data Analyst at Company AYX before December 10."»

Everything changes.

Suddenly, the mind begins filling in details. It imagines arriving at the office each morning. It sees a laptop displaying dashboards and reports. It pictures meetings with colleagues, solving business problems with data, receiving an employee identification card, introducing yourself as a Senior Data Analyst, and collecting your first salary.

None of these details were consciously listed, yet the mind naturally supplies them because the destination has become clear.

Specificity gives the mind something to see.

Vision gives the mind somewhere to go.

Without specificity, thought wanders. With specificity, thought organizes itself.

This is why architects begin with blueprints before construction.

A builder cannot construct "a building." He must first know its height, its dimensions, its purpose, and its design. The blueprint exists before the building.

Likewise, the mind works from mental blueprints. Every specific goal becomes a design from which the mind begins arranging attention, memory, imagination, and behavior.

Stephen R. Covey captured this principle in a simple but profound statement

«"Begin with the end in mind."»

The end does not merely provide motivation; it provides orientation. Once the destination is known, the mind instinctively begins searching for possible routes.

Modern psychology also supports this idea.

Research on goal-setting, particularly the work of psychologist Edwin Locke, has consistently shown that specific and challenging goals lead to better performance than vague goals.

A clear target directs attention, increases persistence, and encourages the development of strategies that move a person closer to the desired outcome.

Notice how people behave when preparing for an important event.

A student who says, "I want to pass," often studies without a clear plan.

Another who says, "I will score above 90% in Mathematics by the end of this semester," studies differently. They search for past questions, identify weak topics, create study schedules, and measure progress. The specificity of the goal shapes the specificity of the preparation.

The same principle applies to business, relationships, health, ministry, education, and every meaningful pursuit.

Specificity is not about limiting possibilities; it is about focusing possibility.

It tells the mind what to notice.

It tells attention where to settle.

It tells imagination what to construct.

It tells behavior what to support.

The clearer the destination, the easier it becomes for the mind to recognize opportunities that align with it.

Things that once seemed invisible begin to stand out—not because the world has changed, but because your mind now knows what it is looking for.

Therefore, if you desire to equip the mind, do not merely tell it what you want.

Tell it exactly what you are building.

The mind cannot faithfully construct an undefined future.

It builds from clarity.

Specificity creates vision.

Vision creates direction.

Direction influences action.

And repeated action is what eventually transforms vision into reality.

Principle One: The Mind Sees Words

The mind does not naturally respond to objects—it responds to meaning. Words are the carriers of that meaning.

When you hear a word, your mind does not first process ink on paper or vibrations in the air. Instead, it searches your memory for an experience, an image, a feeling, or an idea connected to that word. In a fraction of a second, language becomes imagination.

For example, say the letter "A." Most people do not picture the printed letter itself. They immediately think of an apple, an ant, an airplane, or another familiar object that gives the letter meaning. The symbol is quickly replaced by a mental picture.

Now compare these phrases:

- "A house."
- "A small white house with a red roof overlooking the ocean at sunrise."

The second description instantly creates a richer and more vivid image because it supplies the mind with more detail. The mind is able to construct what language describes.

This is why writers, teachers, advertisers, filmmakers, and great speakers carefully choose their words. They understand that words paint pictures before actions shape reality.

King Solomon wrote:

«"Death and life are in the power of the tongue." — Proverbs 18:21»

While this verse speaks primarily about the influence of speech, it also reflects a deeper truth: words have the power to shape thinking, influence choices, and direct lives. Long before actions become visible, words have already begun forming images within the mind.

Modern neuroscience offers a similar insight. Research in cognitive psychology suggests that the brain often processes language by activating many of the same neural systems involved in perception and experience.

In simple terms, when we hear vivid language, the brain partially "recreates" the experience internally.

This is one reason stories can make us laugh, cry, or feel fear even while sitting safely in a chair.

The Roman philosopher Marcus Aurelius observed:


«"The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts."»

Our thoughts are continually colored by the words we consume and repeat. The language we allow into our minds influences the images we carry, and those images quietly influence our attitudes and decisions.

This principle can also be seen in everyday life.

Imagine two job seekers.

The first repeatedly says, "I just need any job." His words are broad and undefined. His mind has little direction because the destination is unclear.

The second says, "By December, I will become a Senior Data Analyst in a technology company where I solve business problems using data."

Immediately, the mind begins constructing an identity. It pictures an office, a computer, reports, meetings, learning, interviews, and professional growth. The words provide the raw materials from which the mind builds a possible future.

This does not guarantee success, but it provides something essential: clarity. A clear picture helps direct attention, learning, and preparation toward a specific goal.

Therefore, the quality of your inner vision is largely determined by the quality of your language.

Poor words produce blurred pictures.

Rich words produce clear pictures.

Clear pictures shape focused expectations.

Focused expectations influence consistent behavior.

For this reason, the first step in equipping the mind is equipping the tongue. Speak with clarity. Describe your goals precisely. Give your mind enough meaningful language to construct a destination worth pursuing.

The mind sees only what words allow it to see.

This is not a marriage, the very fact she lets you do that shows that you guys are not even ready for marriage yet.

CharlesCNG:
Dear Sir,

This is a thoughtful response, but I think it still attacks a position I did not take.

First, I agree with you that Nigeria must aim higher than survival. No serious person should argue that selling akara or roasted corn is the ultimate destination for Africa’s largest economy. A nation must build manufacturing, agriculture, technology, healthcare, education, infrastructure and productive jobs.

But that was never my argument.

My point was that economic policy must operate at different levels. Macro reforms are necessary, but micro-support is also necessary. The fact that Nigeria needs factories does not mean the woman selling akara today should be ignored until those factories arrive.

You said ₦50,000 can help a widow restock her goods. That is exactly my point.

For that widow, restocking is not “lowering aspiration.” It is keeping her business alive, reducing dependence on credit, feeding her children and possibly growing from survival to stability.

No one is presenting roadside trading as the national development model. The argument is that, in a country where NBS reported 133 million people as multidimensionally poor, government interventions must recognise the immediate realities of poor households while broader reforms continue.

You also asked why leaders do not encourage their own children to sell akara. But that question misses the nature of targeted intervention. A scholarship is useful to a student. A tractor is useful to a farmer. Working capital is useful to a petty trader. Different people need different tools at different stages.

The real issue is not whether every Nigerian should sell akara. The real issue is whether a person already trading at that level can be strengthened by small capital. The answer is yes.

Even the World Bank’s recent analysis accepts that high inflation has eroded purchasing power and worsened poverty pressures, while also calling for both structural reforms and stronger social protection. That means Nigeria needs long-term growth and immediate cushioning at the same time.

So I agree with your larger aspiration. Nigeria must move people beyond survival. But people do not leap from poverty to prosperity in one jump. For many, the first step is stabilising the small livelihood they already have.

That is not celebrating poverty.

That is recognising reality while working toward something better.

Agreed.

Ofunaofu:
Look At Me Today, My Mother Sold Akara, I Carried Bananas On My Head To Markets In Plateau- Dare



A video that was posted on the official X account of Mic on The Podcast on Saturday, June 27, 2026 has captured the moment Sunday Dare, the Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Public Communication was saying he has sold Akara before.

This came after the First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu listed some businesses that Nigerians can begin with small capital.

In the video that surfaced online, Sunday Dare stated that there is nothing bad in selling Akara or roasting corn. He said he hawked bananas to several markets in Jos.


Sunday Dare
President Tinubu's Special Adviser on Media & Communications

My mother sold akara and bananas. I carried bananas on my head to the market in Jos. My mother sold oranges, and through this, they were able to train me.

- Sunday Dare, SA to President Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, on recent remarks by First Lady Remi Tinubu. pic.twitter.com/1S1loERp9Z

— Imran Muhammad (@Imranmuhdz) June 28, 2026

Mr. Sunday Dare, with respect, your argument is built on a false comparison.


The fact that you hawked bananas decades ago because your mother had limited means is a story of resilience—not a blueprint for national economic policy.

The question Nigerians are asking is simple

After over 60 years of independence, should Africa's largest economy still be measuring hope by how many people can sell akara and roasted corn?

If your mother sold akara because opportunities were scarce, shouldn't successive governments strive to ensure today's children have better options rather than celebrating the same hardship as progress?

You eventually became a journalist, minister, and presidential adviser.

Is that because government encouraged you to remain a banana hawker, or because you had opportunities to move beyond it?

Kindly answer this for me. Thank you.

CharlesCNG:
One of the biggest mistakes in Nigerian politics is assuming that everyone lives in the same economic reality.

They don't.

The debate over Senator Oluremi Tinubu's comments about akara and kuli-kuli exposed something deeper than politics. It exposed a disconnect between many middle-class commentators and the daily realities of millions of Nigerians.

To someone earning a salary every month, ₦50,000 may look insignificant.

To a widow selling akara, roasted yam, boiled corn, kuli-kuli or cashew nuts, ₦50,000 can be working capital. It is the difference between buying today's stock with borrowed money and buying it outright. It is the difference between surviving and expanding.

Years ago, I personally experienced this.

I gave five widows ₦30,000 each to buy cashew nuts. They repackaged them into smaller bottles and sachets for resale. Within three months, every one of them had repaid the money. We then revolved the same capital to another five women.

That small intervention did not create software engineers. It created sustainable micro-businesses.

That is the point many critics miss.

Not every Nigerian needs a laptop before they can be economically productive. Nigeria's economy is layered. A graduate may benefit from digital skills and technology. A market woman may benefit more from affordable working capital. A roadside food vendor may simply need enough money to increase inventory.

As food prices have risen, another trend has emerged. Demand for lower-cost prepared foods such as roasted yam, akara, bread-and-akara ("akara burger"wink, boiled maize and similar street foods has increased in many communities because they remain relatively affordable. That, in turn, has created opportunities for thousands of small traders operating with modest capital.

This is not an argument against technology or digital empowerment.

It is an argument against one-size-fits-all thinking.

Successful social policy recognises that poverty is not uniform. The needs of a graduate seeking employment are different from those of a widow selling vegetables, or a hawker financing her daily stock on credit.

Politics is ultimately about understanding people where they are, not where we wish they were.

If the opposition wants to become electorally competitive, it must spend more time listening in markets than arguing on social media.

The grassroots are not asking politicians to solve every problem overnight. Many are asking for something much simpler: enough capital to take the next step.

Sometimes, the journey out of poverty does not begin with millions of naira.

Sometimes, it begins with one basin of akara.

Dear Author,

Your post makes an emotional case, but it misses the larger economic issue.

No one is disputing that ₦30,000 or ₦50,000 can help a widow restock her goods or keep a small business afloat.

That has never been the point. The concern is the attempt to redefine economic survival as economic progress.

There is dignity in selling akara, roasted corn, or kuli-kuli. Honest labour should always be respected, I myself, have been there and I speak as a graduate as well.

What is unacceptable is presenting these subsistence businesses as the standard of hope in Africa's largest economy.

Nigeria has over 130 million people living in multidimensional poverty, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. The World Bank has also warned that millions more Nigerians have slipped into poverty in recent years as inflation and the cost of living have risen.

Against this backdrop, the aspiration of government should be to move citizens beyond survival—not simply make survival slightly easier.

You argue that "not everyone needs a laptop."

That is true but neither should everyone be expected to settle for roadside trading because the economy has failed to create enough productive jobs.

A nation develops when it expands manufacturing, agriculture, technology, healthcare, education, and industry—not when it celebrates the growth of subsistence enterprises born out of hardship.

Your example of helping five widows is commendable. It demonstrates compassion at a personal level. But public policy must be judged by a different standard.

Permit me to ask a few honest questions as follows

If roadside trading is the model of economic hope, why are political leaders not encouraging their own children to pursue it?

Why do those in government invest heavily in elite education, professional careers, and large-scale businesses for their families
while telling ordinary Nigerians that selling akara is enough?

Why has government revenue increased significantly since subsidy removal, yet millions still struggle with inflation,
insecurity, poor electricity, and declining purchasing power?

The issue has never been about looking down on akara sellers.

It is about refusing to lower the aspirations of over 200 million Nigerians.

There is a profound difference between helping people survive and creating conditions for them to prosper. Nigerians deserve policies that enable them to build businesses, create jobs, accumulate wealth, and improve their standard of living—not merely survive another day.

That is the debate. And that is the standard by which any serious economic policy should be judged.

The proposition that food can somehow be "overrated" is an intellectually untenable and physiologically incoherent assertion.

Nutritional requirements are not universally homogeneous; they are intrinsically contingent upon an individual's metabolism, health status, genetic predispositions, environmental conditions, occupational demands, and lifestyle choices.

What may appear superfluous or dispensable to one individual could constitute an indispensable dietary necessity for another.

Subjective preferences cannot supersede biological realities. Human nutritional needs exist along a vast spectrum, rendering blanket generalizations both reductionist and scientifically unsound.

The tendency to universalize personal dietary experiences reflects a profound misunderstanding of human physiological heterogeneity.

The age-old adage, "one man's meat is another man's poison," endures precisely because it encapsulates a fundamental truth about the diversity of human needs, tolerances, and circumstances.

Consequently, any attempt to trivialize or hierarchize food preferences based solely on personal anecdote is an exercise in intellectual myopia.
What nourishes one individual may be detrimental to another, and what appears excessive from one vantage point may be entirely justified from another. Such matters are far too nuanced to be adjudicated by simplistic personal opinion masquerading as objective fact.


Make nor body tag me, I dey inside school library with like five oxford dictionaries.

stuffs2002:
Las las the fraud and liar called Obi will be disgraced at the polls again in 2027

I am guessing you live in lake chad basin or sudan and not Nigeria where you don't know what government is or what it effects feels like on citizens.

Nemere2020:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i65L_Q3n2hw

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1EYtFqLVYq/

This statement reflects a troubling misunderstanding of the scale of Nigeria's economic crisis.

The goal of economic policy should not be to help graduates, skilled workers, and entrepreneurs survive by selling akara, suya, roasted corn, or kuli-kuli. The goal should be to create an environment where businesses can grow, industries can expand, and citizens can earn dignified and sustainable incomes.

There is nothing wrong with small-scale trading. Honest work deserves respect. However, presenting petty trading as a sufficient solution to widespread unemployment, inflation, and economic hardship lowers the bar of what Nigerians should expect from their leaders.

The real question is why millions of Nigerians, including university graduates and experienced professionals, are being pushed into survival-level enterprises.

Countries develop by creating jobs in manufacturing, technology, agriculture, services, and industry—not by celebrating economic conditions that force citizens into subsistence trading. A nation of over 200 million people cannot build prosperity on roadside akara business, how does selling akara help the nation at large?

If the economy is truly improving, where are the large-scale jobs? Where are the thriving industries? Where is the affordable electricity that helps small businesses grow? Where is the access to credit that allows entrepreneurs to expand beyond survival mode?

Nigerians do not need to be told that they can sell akara. Not everyone went to school with the intention of selling akara after 5+ years of higher education.

Thank you.

Birds peck at windows for several reasons:

1. They see their reflection

During breeding season, many birds become territorial.

A bird may see its reflection in the glass and think it is a rival bird invading its territory.

It repeatedly pecks or attacks the window to chase the "intruder" away.



2. They can see indoor plants or objects

Birds may spot plants, water, or food-like objects inside a house and try to reach them.



3. They mistake reflections for real habitat

Windows often reflect trees, sky, or vegetation.

Birds may think they are flying toward open space or a tree and approach the glass.



4. Curiosity

Some bird species are naturally curious and may peck at unusual objects, including windows.




How to stop it

Close curtains or blinds.

Place stickers, decals, or patterns on the outside of the window.

Hang reflective ribbons or wind chimes near the glass.

Move bird feeders either very close to the window (less than 1 meter) or much farther away (more than 10 meters).


If the bird is repeatedly pecking at the same window every day, the most likely reason is that it is attacking its own reflection, especially during nesting season.

Birds and window shopping are like 5 and 4 i think they can't see or no it is a window so their reflection to them might be like another bird who makes them curious and gets their attention.

Someone can fact check for us though

Is Mikel Oyarzabal Spain's Most Underrated Player Ever? 🇪🇸


While the spotlight often falls on stars like Lamine Yamal, Pedri, and Nico Williams, Mikel Oyarzabal quietly keeps proving why he's one of Spain's most important players.

Originally a left winger for Real Sociedad, Oyarzabal has evolved into a hybrid forward under coach Luis de la Fuente. He thrives in the half-spaces, links play, presses relentlessly, and creates room for others to shine.

What makes him special is his impact in the biggest moments

⚽ Scored the winning goal in the Euro 2024 final against England.

⚽ Helped deliver Real Sociedad's Copa del Rey triumph.

⚽ Returned from a devastating ACL injury in 2022 and came back stronger.

⚽ Has surpassed 120+ club goals for Real Sociedad and become one of Spain's most reliable scorers.

⚽ Recorded multiple goal contributions at the 2026 World Cup, continuing his remarkable form for La Roja.

The numbers are impressive, but they don't fully capture his value.

Oyarzabal's movement, intelligence, and ability to make everyone around him better give him a unique "gravity" that few forwards possess.

He may never dominate headlines, but he keeps deciding matches, winning trophies, and delivering when Spain needs him most.

Argentina had Di María — the selfless big-game hero who always showed up when it mattered though messi took the spot light. It seems Spain have found their own in Mikel Oyarzabal.

What are your thoughts?

reporter don stake over 1.5 odds with his life savings

Though i am not a fan of twins marrying twins, kinda an identity issue for me. But happy marriage life to them.

Dont get me wrong, I love twins but I think there is a lot of identity crisis in twins growing up, it can be very intricate.

ashawopikin:
Sauce kid phenom, posly TD, young6ix

Was scrolling to find someone to mention phenom and y6

Omo, you nor disappoint!

brain54:
Copy master aka copy cat...


Can't be make his points without copying from anywhere?


His own is to copy from any and everywhere. Never a tailor made solution or independently thought out solution.


Reminds me of my secondary school class mate chinedu that copied someone's examination answers inside out and even copied the person's name as well.


Teacher came to class and read out the copied scripts making the class erupt into uncontrollable laughter to the embarrassment of chinedu.


Ask obi how do we solve insecurity, oh let's copy from Singapore. How do we solve poverty... oh we copy from Egypt. How do we solve energy problem... see how it's done in Mars.



Copy and paste. With no single input!

Do you know the difference between the stomach and the brain?
It is the fact that an empty skull has no way of telling its owner it is empty.

terrezo2002:
Michael Jackson.
When the others die, you won't hear of them that much again. When they are no longer active, they lose their relevance.
I was surprised to see a little boy who wasn't born saying Michael Jackson was his favorite musician.

Just finished the Movie today, the movie is already breaking records in days some movies spent months achieving.

It is just amazing that even in death, he is still number 1

To every one who carries a nylon of rice or i indomie or collects a 1k, know that is your worth for the next four years of your life to the hands that gave you.

Well done, Suffer Season 2 Loading..

with which light?