Enlightenment
Get informed, delighted and enlightened!
Friday 6 September 2013
JOKE OF THE DAY!
To those who've experienced it before: Slapping to death a mosquito that sucks at your leg -that's SUCCESS! Listening to the rumbling sound of hunger in your stomach -that's MUSIC! Passing through a closed tunnel in search of "light at the end of the tunnel" -that's HOPE! Falling/jumping off a rock cliff to verify "The Call of Wings" -that's FAITH! Crying after a tooth has been pulled off -that's TEARS OF JOY! (After all, "the end justifies the means") Beating a child until they cry in order to correct their misbehaviour -that's LOVE! Praying for 24/7 uninterrupted electricity in Nigeria -that's PRAYING AMISS Confronting armed robbers at night with only a torchlight and a pen -that's COURAGE! (After all, isn't the pen "mightier than the sword"?) Piloting a helicopter the first time you've ever entered one -that's ADVENTURE! Singing the National Anthem each morning you wake up -that's PATRIOTISM! And finally ... after reading this and u no smile/laugh and share it to your friends -Haba na! Are you TELEPATHIC? Go see your doctor! (Everyone knows this is a joke.)
Tuesday 2 July 2013
ASUU AGAIN??
ASUU commences nation wide strike today
The Academic Staff Union of Universities ,ASUU, on Monday declared that it has commenced an indefinite nationwide strike.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Monday declared that it has commenced with immediate effect a “comprehensive, total and indefinite” nationwide strike.
The Union National President, Dr Nasir Isa Fagge made the declaration at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) after their National Executive Council meeting held at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State on Monday.
Fagge was quoted saying, “We are embarking on indefinite strike nation wide because the Federal Government reneged in the Memorandum of
Understanding MoU signed with ASUU in 2009 to pay lecturers their earn allowance.”
Understanding MoU signed with ASUU in 2009 to pay lecturers their earn allowance.”
The unionist said that the government had also reneged on the Memorandum of Understanding it signed with the union in December 2011.
In his words, “Before now, there has been this issue of the implementation of the key issues contained in the 2009 agreement we entered into with the
Federal Government.
Federal Government.
“We have had several meetings and deliberations to let government understand why these issues must be resolved but it is like the more we meet
and deliberate, the messier the issue gets.
and deliberate, the messier the issue gets.
“One of the issues that needed to be addressed was basically that of the academic earned allowance. This earned allowance and other issues had dragged on until government then agreed to write an MOU with the union.
“But as we speak, there has been nothing to show that government was committed to an MOU it also willingly wrote to better the university sector. It is in this regard that we are embarking on an indefinite strike.”
He also added that in 2009, the Federal Government made a law to pay each lecturers N12,500 per month as earn allowance which it never did since 2009.
Fagge said that having waited patiently for the government to swing into action to no avail, the NEC of the union decided to meet, deliberate and come up with the action.
Speaking further on the new development, the Chairman of the
University of Lagos chapter of the union, Dr. Karo Oghenekaro, said that the Federal Government entered into the
MOU with ASUU after the union suspended its strike two and a half years ago adding that FG’s penchant for reneging on agreements was not acceptable.
University of Lagos chapter of the union, Dr. Karo Oghenekaro, said that the Federal Government entered into the
MOU with ASUU after the union suspended its strike two and a half years ago adding that FG’s penchant for reneging on agreements was not acceptable.
He explained that the government had
made essential laws on some of the burning issues such as the 70 years retirement age of lecturers as well as the pension commission.
made essential laws on some of the burning issues such as the 70 years retirement age of lecturers as well as the pension commission.
According to him, government, however, is not forthcoming with other pressing demands such as the earned allowance.
He noted that the academic earned allowance was expected to take care of excess work load carried out by the lecturers such as examination officers,
deans and supervision of post graduate, masters and other programmes.
deans and supervision of post graduate, masters and other programmes.
He said, “I want to say that not all lecturers are entitled to this allowance, but as we speak, not a single lecturer under the aforementioned categories has received any such allowance.
“What we are demanding as the earned allowance is not more than N12,500 per person, yet government is saying it cannot afford such.
“Government was actually thinking of the cost implication of everything but after much deliberation, government agreed to sign the MoU and said it had set aside N100 billion to take care of all the burning issues.
“However, government came back to us and pleaded for a reduction and we decided to step the cost down to 80 per cent. That not enough, it also appealed for another reduction to 50 per cent.
“This 50 per cent, government said, will be a one off payment. That it was from that 50 per cent that we shall take care of everything, including the earned allowance. This did not go down well with us and so we decided to meet and take the decision we have just taken.”
According to him, the Nigerian tertiary education sector is where it is because of inadequate funding. He said that one of the reasons why there were no foreign scholars in the system was because of the poor wages.
He added, “When we agitate about earned allowance, we are also using it to as a means of attracting foreign scholars so it is not all about our personal interest. We are also using it to address the issue of brain drain in the system.
“As it were, our best brains are all drifting into industries and other sectors that will pay them better, rather than ploughing back into the academic sector. To us, it is all about looking at a bigger picture and putting things in the right place.”
The union leader said that the decision to embark on the strike was painful but that there was no going back until government takes positive steps to address their demands.
This news update is brought to you courtesy of DailyPost Nigeria (www.dailypost.com.ng)
Saturday 29 June 2013
UNN POST UTME UPDATE!
UNN 2013/2014 SCREENING EXERCISE FOR ADMISSIONS
UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA
OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR
2013/2014 SCREENING EXERCISE FOR ADMISSIONS
The University of Nigeria, Nsukka hereby invites candidates who made her either their first or second choice in the 2013 Universities Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and scored 180 or above for screening.
The screening will be conducted at the Nsukka campus of the University as follows:
DAY ONE DATE: Thursday 18th July 2013 |
DAY TWO DATE: Friday 19th July 2013 |
FACULTIES: Morning Session Faculty of Health Sciences & Technology Faculty of Medical Sciences |
FACULTIES: Morning Session Faculty of Business Administration Faculty of Education Faculty of Environmental Studies (including all candidates who applied for Surveying & Geoinformatics) Faculty of Law |
Afternoon Session Faculty of Agriculture Faculty of Biological Sciences Faculty of Dentistry Faculty of Engineering Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty of Physical Sciences Faculty of Veterinary Medicine |
Afternoon Session Faculty of Arts Faculty of the Social Sciences (including all candidates who applied for Public Admin. & Local Govt.) |
ONLINE PRE-REGISTRATION
a) Eligible candidates should pay a processing fee of Two thousand Naira (N2,000) and obtain a scratch card for online pre-registration at any branch of;
- First Bank of Nigeria Plc,
- Diamond Bank Plc,
- Union Bank Plc, in the major cities of the Federation, and the
- University of Nigeria Micro-Finance Banks at Enugu and Nsukka.
b) Online pre-registration commences on Monday July 01, 2013 and ends on Friday July 12, 2013. Those who fail to register within this period will not be screened.
With the scratch card, candidates should access and complete the University of Nigeria 2013/2014 Post-UTME screening form online at www.portal.unn.edu.ng.
Note: First Choice Candidates must not scan any passport photograph on their forms. However, Second Choice candidates should upload their passport photographs on their online application forms.
c) All candidates are required to bring the following for the screening exercise:
i. A copy of ONLINE form duly completed;
ii. 2013 /2014 JAMB slip;
iii. HB Pencil and Eraser.
No GSM handsets, calculators or any other extraneous materials should be brought into the screening halls.
Information on the Venues for the screening will be made available at the campus and on the University of Nigeria website, a day to the screening dates.
BLIND CANDIDATES
Blind candidates should register online, but they are not invited to the screening exercise.
Candidates may also visit the University of Nigeria website, www.unn.edu.ng, for this information.
The details of the Screening Exercise for Direct Entry candidates would be announced later.
(Sgd.)
A. I. OKONTA, FCAI, FIIA
REGISTRAR
Monday 20 May 2013
HOW TO WIN SCHOLARSHIPS
IN NIGERIA
WOW! Wow!! Wow!!! It’s so great to be a winner;
so wonderful and exciting to win a scholarship! Isn’t it? Of course, it is; you
then become a “big guy/girl”. I can understand that a lot of students do apply
for and sit for scholarships exams very often and yet don’t get to be
successful winning any. Well, take heart my dear, it does happen. Personally, I
don’t really like the phrase “how to...” it sounds quite “scammalous” to me. I’d prefer the title “winning scholarships...”
or doing this or that and not really how to do them. (Well, that’s by the way) In
this column, I will be giving you useful tips and hints on how you can win the
scholarships you apply for, to study here in Nigeria (and even abroad!). First
of all, why do you need this scholarship? A lot of students, whose
parents/guardians can comfortably and conveniently pay their fees, are some
times the ones who apply for and win these scholarships. Many of them use the
money for “flexing things”. I am not in any way against some students applying
for them; for wise students, they use the grant for “investments”. Also,
winning a scholarship is like a prayer answered for some indigent students for
whom these scholarships, I suppose, were originally meant for.
Now, let us get to work! I will be writing
more from an individualistic viewpoint; by God’s grace, I am a scholarship
recipient as well –Agbami 2012 Scholarship Award of #100,000 per session. How
then did this happen? First of all, you must understand that information rules
the world (and truly it does!). I could not have applied if I didn’t know that
such a thing existed. Some students make the mistake of waiting for the
information only from the radio, newspaper, television, peers, etc. Note this: good things come to those who wait, but
better things come to those who work for it! Numerous reputable companies
in Nigeria usually make provisions of scholarship awards as part of their
social responsibility. Your ability to get updates on time is very necessary. Don’t waste your time! You should rather subscribe to websites –such as
Nairacareer, Scholarship Resource, myschoolcomm.com, etc- to receive latest
updates and information on these scholarships, based on your requirements,
STRAIGHT TO YOUR MAILBOX! This is not a cure-all actually; you still have to keep your ears to the ground (and your
eyes on the net and notices). There are some “smart” guys around also who could
help you find what you are looking for; it wouldn’t be outlandish to patronize
them (at a little pay sometimes). Well, thanks that now such information is
quite very accessible by many cause it spreads like WILDFIRE on campus.
When you have got the information you want,
it is your duty to provide ALL necessary documents required of you by your host
(both originals and photocopies) during the application, and keep them safe. Try
to register much earlier before the deadline; I don’t really know why, but just
try. By this time, you don’t need anyone to tell you that you must prepare real
hard –READ! (i.e. if you are short-listed). What then should you read? Most
scholarship exams are usually IQ questions, demanding to know your ability to
reason and take decisions within a limited time. As a result, you need to add
to your kit books on (especially) GMAT and GRE questions involving Verbal
Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning/Mathematics, Logical Reasoning, and even
ABSTRACT Reasoning! Also, you have to be versatile; try to be current in the
affairs of life for questions could as well come from current affairs.
Don’t overwork
yourself! You are going for an exam, and so you need to be healthy. Eat
good food, rest well the night before the exam, and feel confident and hopeful
as you go out to write the exam. Make sure you have all required documents with
you, be at the exam centre minutes before the exact time and never be afraid of
those supervisors and machines (yes, most scholarship exams are written with
computers). Do not also be carried away by the “confused” looks on fellow
candidates. Be focused, as well as relate well with others after the exam to
get more info regarding the results and updates. Don’t play around! Skip those questions you
consider are wacky and answer the ones familiar to you. If there is still time,
go back and try to answer those you skipped. Remember to read the instructions
carefully!
Finally, in fact, actually, you should not
neglect the God-factor. To be frank with you, I never really prepared hard and
yet I won! Grace differs. Commit everything that day in prayers to God (I don’t
intend to sound religious, but that’s the truth!)
Now you get going and are on your way to
making your dreams come true. Good luck!!!
(Thanks for all the comments in
the last edition; by God’s grace, I am PLUS 1 today! Join me celebrate. God
bless us all!)
NEWS!!! ENLIGHTENMENT SERIES
ANNOUNCES A LITERARY COMPETITION ON THE TOPICS:
1) PERFECTION –CAN I EVER BE
PERFECT?
2) THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW –WHEN IS TOMORROW?
RECHARGE CARDS TO BE WON BY THE
BEST TWO WRITERS FOR EACH TOPIC; THE BEST WRITEUPS WILL BE POSTED IN SUBSEQUENT
EDITIONS
SEND
IN YOUR ARTICLES AND CONTACT TO THE CONTACT BELOW:
Watch out for another
edition of Enlightenment Series next week Monday.
<www.skola93.blogspot.com>
Skola:
+2348138404469, skola.chidi@gmail.com.
My
father, my Father!
We
are so sorry for late posts, please bear with us.
“And Elisha saw it, and
he cried, ‘My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the horsemen
thereof!’” (2 Kings 2:12a)
Hello, good day and
welcome to another edition of the Enlightenment Series. How was your weekend?
Splendid, I guess! Some of the last week’s comments on the topic HALITOSIS are
relayed thus: “Nice”
–Iam-switch. “Very
informative, keep it up!” –Theodore Uzoamaka. “Informative” –Kachi. “We need more of
these” –Jaypee. “A nice write-up; bravo, boy!” –St Melchizedek II. “I enjoy
reading your article! Keep it up!” –Osinachi Michael. Thanks
a lot; it was very rewarding! Feel free to participate in this periodical by
sending in your article.
Today, we have another
interesting topic to talk about. The first paragraph above is an excerpt from
the Bible story which we know about –the taking of Elijah into Heaven. Now,
let’s consider the two characters mentioned. Elijah was a prophet of God whom He
used mightily to correct his people the Israelites and bring them back to Him.
He, Elijah was able to command fire from Heaven, famine and rain on the land,
disgrace the worshippers of Baal, run faster than a chariot, and even divide
the Jordan. Such a mighty prophet! Yet, he became insecure and wanted himself
dead but was told by God to raise Elijah as successor. Elisha, a rich animal
farmer, left all and followed Elijah to be tutored/mentored by him and was able
to receive a double portion of Elijah’s anointing. Truly, Elijah was his
father.
Who is my father? My
father naturally is that man who was involved in the process of my existence
and is identified as a parent toward me, performing the functions and
responsibilities of a parent toward me. Of course, my father is usually many
years older than me. My father could also be that man whom I look up to for
direction, advice and mentoring. Now, talking about my natural father, what is
my relationship with him like? He’s my father because right from birth, he’s
been the fatherly face and voice over me. I stay(ed) in his house; he pays/paid
my fees, feeds/fed me, clothes/clothed me and teaches, talks and advices me. I
reciprocate by rendering him my unreserved obedience, loyalty, respect and
compliance –sometimes even when he’s wrong.
Let’s assume all these
happened while I was still nwata n’ulo
nna m (a kid in my father’s house). Now, I think I’ve grown and therefore
need no longer to reciprocate my father his deserved and desired benefits. Ok,
let us say, as a kid perhaps from a Christian home, I was introduced to another
Father. I was told He’s the Creator of the whole earth and is worthy to be
praised, glorified, respected, obeyed, loved and feared. As I grew, my Father
told me that for me to be His child, I’ll have to believe and accept His only
begotten Son –Jesus Christ. I accepted the condition and then began to know
more and more about my Father; how He loves, protects, provides, preserves,
directs and chastises me. I also came to know I should reciprocate by serving
and obeying Him and loving my fellowmen –shikina!
Then I also realize
that I’m still under the influence of my father –as a son/daughter of the soil-
as long as he’s still alive. I recognize some similarities in the ways both
fathers relate to me and sometimes some “clashes/conflicts/differences”.
Sometimes, my Father tells me to do this, and my father is not in support. My
father also instructs me to do that which is sometimes not in tandem with my
Father’s will. I’m now left in a dilemma; but my Father tells me that I should
obey my father and authority over me (Eph. 6:1-2, Rom. 13:1) and my Father’s
word tells me to obey Him rather than men (Acts 4:19).
Of course, if I had
remained a sinner, I’d have to battle for an alloyed patriotism to 3 fathers
–the 3rd being the devil, who is in fact more demanding than the other two! Let’s leave him out of the
matter now. Now, I ask, “Can I claim to have a perfect/good/right relationship
with my Father when I don’t with my own natural father? Is it possible to say
I’m completely happy or fulfilled when both fathers always “clamour” for my
100% allegiance, inasmuch as my father was also created by my Father? Is it
proper to make my Father glad in me but become a sorrow to my father? Which of
them should be given primary priority when making/taking very important
decisions of my life? Don’t I have a right to follow my own will? ” I need your
answers please! My father here could also
mean my people, origin, identity group.
N.B: This write up is not the personal
state of the author, but is written especially for those who are in like
condition to find the way forward. For example, non-Christians converting to
Christianity, or a catholic converting to another denomination, or a
(prospective) missionary/business person without parental support, or an issue
in choice of career, marriage, etc. Please comment wisely (Christians
especially).
My view: Ask your
Father to direct you to the right mentors that will help guide you accordingly
–someone like you needs right, godly mentoring. I do not also think that your
father will be in contrast with your Father if he is also your Father’s son,
because he is used by your Father, alongside other mentors, to shape you up to
be the best you should/ought to be. Nevertheless, it has to be your Father
first before your father, inasmuch as you have a right/will, and also a duty of making your father glad and be
his worthy successor, for if not for him, you would not be existing or be where
you are now (no matter your current status) –think about all those investments
he has made in your life all these years. God bless us all!
Watch out for “How to
win scholarships in Nigeria” next week Monday. <www.skola93.blogspot.com>
Wednesday 15 May 2013
HALITOSIS
Definition:
Halitosis,
also known as bad breath, is a condition which occurs when noticeably
unpleasant odours are exhaled in breathing. The bad smell is usually caused by
chemical molecules containing sulphur which are produced when bacteria that
live in the mouth breakdown protein in the diet. According to Wikipedia, the
intensity of the bad breath differs during the day and is usually worse upon
awakening (i.e. “morning breath”) because the mouth is exposed to less oxygen
and is inactive during the night.
Bad breath, as we know,
is something quite detestable among many people and could cause certain social
repercussions. It is quite annoying, limits communication and favourable
association/relationship amongst individuals, friends, associates, relatives,
and even between spouses and strangers; a majority of the population are
usually affected by this condition at one time or the other.
The information
contained here seeks to render the issue as a social condition with medical
reference and would not in any way act as a substitute for the medical advice
of your own health care professional. (I am not a health care professional –I be Engineering student o- but feel
this researched information would be needful. Oko Emmanuel, in our last edition
says, “Man originated from the grave”; thanks to others who made their comments
as well.) A lot of us dislike being accused of having bad breath, no matter how
sincere the person might be, and yet many of us prove incapable of pinpointing
to those who have it to their faces that they do. Why then is this so?
According to Sam, a student, “If it’s my friend, I’ll tell them right away; if
a stranger, hmm... I’ll just maintain!” Another, a career-person has this to
say: “In fact, it’s not user-friendly!” Having looked at this as a social
condition affecting a lot of us, it would be appropriate that we seek ways to
ameliorate the condition of our mouths.
Causes:
A
lot of factors are considered causes of halitosis. Some of these are listed
below:
1)
Systemic
diseases –such as kidney failure, lung
infections, diabetes mellitus, carcinoma, renal infections, etc., can be at the
root of (chronic) halitosis. However, these are extremely infrequent in the
general population, and individuals afflicted by such often show additional
symptoms than bad breath.
2)
Tooth
decay and gum disease –waste products from
the anaerobic bacteria growing below the gum line have a foul smell and have
been clinically shown to produce a very intense bad breath.
3)
Smoking
–this is one of the most common causes
of bad breath, especially because it can lead to gum disease.
4)
Mouth
–there are over 600 types of bacteria
found in the average mouth, many of which produce high levels of foul odours
mainly due to the breakdown of proteins into individual amino acids. Dry mouth
can be caused by general illness, medicines and simply not drinking enough
fluid.
5)
Tongue
–this accounts for 80-90% of all cases of mouth-related bad
breath. Large quantities of naturally-occurring bacteria are often found on the
posterior dorsum of the tongue, where they are relatively undisturbed by normal
activity. This part of the tongue is relatively dry and poorly cleansed, and
provides an ideal habitat for anaerobic bacteria.
6)
Nose
–in this case, the air exiting the
nostrils has a pungent odour that differs from the oral odour. This may be due
to sinus infection or foreign bodies in the nostrils.
7)
Food
–garlic, strong spices and herbs,
usually are the favourite culprits; including some other foods.
8)
Esophagus
–this is usually due to ageing food
retained in the esophagus. Improper closure of the esophagus allows air to
enter it from the stomach and gases escape to the mouth.
9)
Stomach
–this, according to most researchers, is
a very uncommon source of bad breath, except in belching.
Diagnosis:
How do I know that I have bad breath?
1) Self diagnosis –smelling one’s breath,
or asking a close family member/friend (confidant) to help. One popular home
method is to lick the back of the wrist, let the saliva dry for about 1 minute
and smell the result. Another, scrape the posterior back of the tongue with a
plastic disposable spoon and smell the resulting residue.
2) Professional
diagnosis –laboratory tests used in dental offices such as Halimeter, Gas
chromatography, BANA test, β-galactotestsidase, etc., can be used to carry out
professional diagnoses of halitosis.
Management
and treatment: As a rule, effective treatment is
not always easy to find for chronic halitosis. However, something can still be
done as measures to manage it:
1) Maintaining
proper oral hygiene –this is in fact the best approach to this condition.
Activities including daily brushing, and gentle cleaning (not scrubbing) of the
tongue surface (twice daily), flossing, and periodic visits to dentists and
hygienists, should be maintained.
2) Gargling
with an effective mouthwash –especially right before bedtime. Mouthwashes may
contain active ingredients that are inactivated by the soap present in most
toothpaste. Thus it is recommended to refrain from using mouthwash directly after
tooth brushing with paste. Mouthwashes often contain antibacterial agents
including cetylpyridinium chloride, chlorhexidine (which can cause temporary
staining of the teeth), zinc gluconate, essential oils, and chlorine dioxide. A
new approach for home treatment of bad breath is the use of oil-containing
mouthwashes and two-phase/component (oil: water) mouthwashes. Essential oils
have been found effective in reducing halitosis, and are being used in several
commercial mouthwashes.
3)
Eating a healthy breakfast –especially
with rough foods which help clean the very back of the tongue.
4) Chewing
gum –chewing sugarless gum can help with the production of saliva and
thereby help reduce bad breath; since dry mouth can increase the buildup of
bacteria leading to bad breath. This helps in cleansing the mouth and washing
away oral bacteria. Chewing may also help after eating certain meals,
especially those rich in proteins.
5) Of course, smoking should, if
possible, be quit, since it is one of the most causes of bad breath.
Delusional
halitosis (Halitophobia): This is a condition
in which one worries or fears about bad breath –fear/worry of having bad
breath. This tends to affect young men and could be linked to depression,
diffidence, etc.
Finally, bad breath is something we all
worry about. It would be nicer if there were pleasant odours everywhere out
there, for a healthy society is also a wealthy society.
Expect
another exceptional write-up same day, next week on the topic: My father, my
Father!
Watch out! <www.skola93.blogspot.com>
Sunday 28 April 2013
THE
ANIMAL CALLED MAN (2)
Hullo once again,
friend and good day. It’s another Monday today as we continue in our quest of
finding the way forward. Last week, we had a little exposition on the topic as
we discussed some of the characteristics of Man and his origin. I also
appreciate the comments made by some of our readers: Essien, Consider,
Anonymous, etc. –it was really rewarding. So we continue; I still hold to the
view that man was not originally created as, or to be, an animal. Yes, we are
not animals! However, let us hear what others have said so far.
Olusegun Obasanjo
(1998), in his book “This Animal Called Man”, attempts to examine Man’s
existence on earth and the purpose and ways to achieving that purpose in this world
and in the next world to come. Having man as his focus, he says that man can
best be understood through the appreciation of God. According to him, “the
universe is of unfathomably great immensity, seemingly great in confusion, held
together and controlled by God of infinite power, intellect and majesty”.
Obasanjo asserts that the purpose of Man on earth is “to live to the glory of
God”, but unfortunately, Man has turned out to be a disappointment to his
Maker. He also argues that it is through faith that Man conquers his “lower
animalistic nature and instinct”. (Cited by Uzor Maxim Uzoatu;www.cnenigeria.com/als/october1999.htm)
Pico della Mirandol, a
philosopher of the Renaissance, in his Oration on the Dignity of Man says that
“when man philosophizes, he ascends the chain of being towards the angels, and
communion with God; and when he fails to
exercise his intellect, he vegetates
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oration_on_the_Dignity_of_Man).
The root of this dignity lay in his assertion that only human beings could change
themselves through their own free
will <Emphasis mine>; this therefore implies that Man tends to lose
his dignity when he fails to exercise his intellect, which is one faculty of
the soul (nothing more, nothing less!). This “exercise” of course should always
be geared towards positivity, possibility, productivity/usefulness, and not
negativity, wickedness or evil. When Man fails to exercise his intellect, he
therefore is tagged a/an (real) animal, a fool, an idiot, and stupid, useless,
mad, worthless!
But I ask; is his
failure to exercise his intellectual powers enough reason to make Man lose or
deny him his dignity? Perhaps, the founders of UNN who sought “to restore the
dignity of man” would help us answer this. Is the toilet cleaner in our hostels
not worthy of this same dignity just as we who are “learned” are? Are the
barrow-pushers, bricklayers, beggars and hawkers, (local) cobblers, tailors, carpenters,
farmers, traders, security personnel, and the poor, including their children, not
also worthy of having this same dignity which we who are “better off” have?
Please note that I am not trying to condone poverty or laziness. This is
because, “Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands
to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an
armed man.” (Prov. 6:10-11, 24:33-34, KJV). Actually, the statement by George
Orwell is right, that “all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others” (as a result of
social stratification).
What then have we been
saying all this while? Let us rethink on our attitude towards the different
human beings we meet on daily basis, irrespective/regardless of their facial
disposition, class, physique and/ or background, inasmuch as they consist of
different characters, temperaments and personalities. (We need “tactics” to
handle each of them differently) This is because another thing I have learnt
about this life is that the people whom we think matter now, may not matter in
the future and the people whom we think do not matter now, may matter in the
nearest future. You want some respect and affection right?? Why don’t you give
same to others? (Didn’t they say that
respect is reciprocal?) Lucky Dube, in one of his tracks says, “Be good to
the people on your way up the ladder cause you’ll need them on your way down”.
This is because they are beings who can Move,
Respire; who get Nutrition from food; who feel Irritation and have emotions; who must Grow; who of course Excrete; who can Reproduce, and who of course will Die one day. If you do not have a reason to respect the dignity of
the animal called Man, then do so based on the reasons stated above. Note also
that you can only be complete (restore your dignity) in Christ, if you accept
and walk with Him. (No apologies for sounding thus!)
Finally, in conclusion (tautology intentional), I believe this
article has in one way or the other provided another stepping stone to the way
forward. To add more stepping stones, kindly send your write-ups to the contact
below. We must find the way forward!
This
topic is actually a very broad one and cannot (categorically) be fully
exhausted in these few pages. You may wish to enlarge it. Expect another
exceptional write-up same day, next week on the topic: HALITOSIS
Watch out! <www.skola93.blogspot.com>
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