The Nation Newspaper

Category: Online Special

  • World AIDS Day: Let’s fight the scourge

    World AIDS Day: Let’s fight the scourge

    By Moses Emorinken

    World AIDS Day is observed every 1st of December. It is a day dedicated to spreading awareness about the dreadful Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome ( AIDS ).

    The theme of this year’s World AIDS Day is “Right to health”. The World Health Organization highlights the need for all 36.7 million people living with HIV and those who are vulnerable and affected by the epidemic, to reach the goal of universal health coverage.

    Today, we join the World Health Organisation ( WHO ), United Nations ( UN ) and other global organisations to campaign for global public health.

    We also remember those who have lost their lives to the disease and commiserate with those that have lost friends, colleagues and family members.

    The battle against this disease is not a one-man fight but a collective battle to reduce its effect to the barest minimum.

    Whether we like it or not, we all share a common destiny, and as such must contribute our quota to securing and creating a safe and healthy society that we can all be proud of.

    Recent statistics from The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS ( UNAIDS ) reveal that in 2016, Nigeria had 220,000 new HIV infections and 160 000 AIDS-related deaths.

    There were 3,200,000 people living with HIV in 2016, among whom 30% were accessing antiretroviral therapy.

    Among pregnant women living with HIV, 32% were accessing treatment or prophylaxis to prevent transmission of HIV to their children.

    An estimated 37,000 children were newly infected with HIV due to mother-to-child transmission. Among people living with HIV, approximately 24% had suppressed viral loads.

    Also, globally, UNAIDS statistics revealed that:

    In 2016 (June 2017) an estimated:

    1. 20.9 million [18.4 million–21.7 million] people were accessing antiretroviral therapy

    2. 36.7 million [30.8 million–42.9 million] people globally were living with HIV

    3. 1.8 million [1.6 million–2.1 million] people became newly infected with HIV

    4. 1.0 million [830 000–1.2 million] people died from AIDS-related illnesses

    Major Populations most affected by HIV in Nigeria are:

    1. Sex workers, with an HIV prevalence of 14.4%.
    2. Gay men and other men who have sex with men, with an HIV prevalence of 23%.
    3. People who inject drugs, with an HIV prevalence of 3.4%.

    Nigeria’s HIV epidemic affects all population groups and geographic areas of the country. It is the second largest epidemic globally.

    We need to begin to take decisive actions as individuals, organisations and government to tackle this pervasive disease threatening our collective survival. The extent to which we can extinguish this scourge depends heavily on each of us.

    Although Since 2010, new HIV infections have decreased by 21% and AIDS-related deaths have decreased by 6%; there is still need for further research to improve the current available treatment plans.

    Difference between HIV and AIDS:

    HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This virus leads to infection and weakens the immune system.

    It is pertinent to know that HIV can be transmitted from one person to another. On the flip, AIDS is a condition that is acquired only after a person has contracted the HIV infection, and it is the final stage of the HIV infection.

    Mediums of HIV transmission:

    1. Unprotected sex (anal or vaginal).
    2. Sharing contaminated sharp objects like needles, syringes etc. Also, the use of unsterilized clippers for barbing and shaving hairs can be a source of contracting the virus.
    3. Receiving unsafe injections, blood transfusions, tissue transplantation etc.

    Treatment of HIV:

    HIV can be suppressed by the administration of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs.

    It cannot be cured at the moment, but its effect can be weakened, thereby strengthening the individual’s ability to resist infections.

  • A better Nigeria without oil and gas

    A better Nigeria without oil and gas

    Gold Minds Growers ( GMG ) is an empowerment initiative to change the mindset of Nigerians about the oil and gas sector, and to advocate the need to refocus our policies in the direction of “non-oil sectors” of the economy.

    This will be a significant step towards solving the perpetual problems of unemployment and idleness (especially amongst the youths).

    The programme with theme: “a better Nigeria without Oil & Gas” by Addright Oyetunji Empowerment Foundation, a non-governmental organization (NGO) was launched in 2013, founded by Ademola Issac Oyetunji who is also the president of GMG .

    The NGO which birthed Gold minds growers works in synergy with other well-meaning Nigerians, Government, Agencies, Organization and NGOs to transform Nigeria by utilizing their comparative advantage in other sectors such as Agriculture, Real Estate, ICT, Industries, Miming, Trade and commerce for Nigeria.

    Nigeria, was widely known and recognized across Africa for its economic strength, especially in Agriculture.

    Agriculture was the mainstay of the country for its foreign exchange. However, after the discovery of fossil deposits (crude oil) in Oloibiri (1956), our attention gradually drifted from agriculture. The giant of Africa began to sag in stature and lose its glory.

    According to Mr. Oketokun Tolulope, a member of GMG and a farmer, “I became a member three months ago and fully registered three weeks ago.

    “I got to know about this organization through social media.

    “It really falls in place with what I wanted because I have passion for agriculture; this seems to be an easy way to start. It gives a platform where you can do other work while other people are on your farm working for you.”

    Also, another member of the organization, Mr. Oluwole Otelade said, “I have been a member for three month.

    “I got to know about this GMG through bulk sms. At first I ignored it, however, the text kept coming and I show interest by calling the number.

    “I later met the Director who further explained and I gave it a trial out of risk. Have always been looking for a way to start agriculture my problem has always been about time, land, fund and how to start.

    “This organization has helped me a lot even when I’m not present. All I need to do is pay a certain amount, and they will in turn get people to help with the farming and monitoring.

    However, when it’s harvest time I have to be there physically.

    Presently I am into cassava and short term crops, like maize, melon, ugwu.

    While asking the participants about the economic future of Nigeria without oil and gas, this is what they had to say:

    Oketokun said, “Yes I think so we still have the coco house which was built with agricultural funds; we still have some pyramid in the north built with groundnut fund. Other infrastructures like roads were constructed with agricultural funds.

    “If every Nigerian can find something doing without depending on oil and gas, Nigeria will be rebuilt by Nigerians. The future sets of Millionaires are going to be from agricultural business.”

    Oluwole said, “There is something oil and gas cannot give. When you take from oil, it gradually reduces (obeying the law of nature), but when you take from agriculture you can replenish the soil nutrient; the more the farm area the higher the profit. I think agriculture is the way forward.”

    Bolaji Olayinka, a staff of one of Nigeria’s financial institution – First City Monument Bank (FCMB) also explained the partnership arrangement between GMG and the bank she represents.

    According to her, “this organization have a cooperate account with our bank FCMB. We grant SMA loans especially to farmers. FCMB is like a middle man between farmers and Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN ).

    “Every fully registered member of GMG has an account with us which means they can be given loan for farming. Before they can grant a loan the account should be above six month. This is an opportunity for farmers to get the much needed help for a successful farming business.”

  • How eating too much vegetables can turn your poop colour green

    How eating too much vegetables can turn your poop colour green

    Vegetables are great!

     

    Eating meals that contain vegetables is a very healthy practice. It is even recommended that you try to include them in your meals every day because there are many health benefits associated with them.

    Vegetables contain dietary fibre, which helps in digestion, contain several important vitamins and minerals and are a good source of water. Examples of vegetables are lettuce, broccoli, tomato, spinach, cucumber and cabbage.

    Vegetables keep you hydrated, improve your skin and help with weight control. They are also associated with a decreased risk of developing chronic diseases like hypertension, heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

    According to the World Health Organization, 1.7 million deaths per year are attributable to eating low amounts of fruits and vegetables. Also, eating inadequate amounts of fruits and vegetables causes about 14% of gastrointestinal cancer deaths, 11% of ischemic heart disease deaths and 9% of stroke deaths worldwide.

    It is recommended that you take at least 400 grams of fruits and vegetables every day to stay healthy.

    Now, this doesn’t mean you should take only vegetables. Because of the many benefits of eating them, some people take them in very large quantities or choose to stick with only vegetables as their only source of nutrition. This isn’t the best, this practice could come with some side-effects or can be outright dangerous.

    Today, we would be focusing how it affects your poop.

    Vegetables, especially the green ones can actually turn the colour of your poop green.

    You may be curious: how does this happen?

    Well, the answer lies in a special chemical pigment called chlorophyll.

    What chlorophyll is and how does it affect poop colour?
    If you studied agriculture at any level, you might have come across this word ‘chlorophyll’. Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in green plants that helps them trap energy from the sun for them to produce carbohydrates. It converts light energy into chemical energy. This process is referred to as photosynthesis. Photosynthesis also helps the environment by exchanging carbon dioxide for oxygen.

    When you eat green leafy vegetables like broccoli and spinach, the chlorophyll present in them could change the colour of your poop from brown to green.

    As a matter of fact, green foods like vegetables are the commonest reasons why going to the toilet for a ‘number two’ could produce a green coloured stool.

    You are more likely to pass green stools if you take these vegetables in large quantities like in the popular ‘juicing’ or green detox regimens. (By the way, doctors and dietitians do not support juicing to lose weight but a balanced diet and adequate physical exercise)

    What else causes green poop?
    Green vegetables are not the only reason why people may pass green coloured stools. Diarrhea, food dyes, some medications and intestinal illnesses could cause green poop.

    When a person has diarrhea, poop rushes through the intestines and there isn’t enough time for bacteria and enzymes to act on bile (a green pigment made in the liver that helps in digestion). Normally, when these enzymes and bacteria act on bile, they change its green colour to brown. This is why normal stool colour is brown. But in diarrhea, this decreased transit time of poop in the intestines could lead to green poop, sometimes accompanied by mucus.

    What are other stool colours?
    Apart from brown and green, poop could be red, black or yellow.

    Red stools that are bloody are usually a sign of bleeding from the lower part of the digestive system (like the large intestine, rectum and anus), while black stools usually signify bleeding from high up the digestive system from sites like the esophagus, stomach and small intestine.

    Yellow stools can be caused by a decreased production or release of bile caused by liver or gallbladder diseases. Pancreatic problems also lead to a decrease in an enzyme that breaks down fat, causing yellow greasy stools that have a foul smell.
    Takeaway
    While it’s very important to eat vegetables, moderation is key (as with most good things). There is a popular thought that you can’t have too much of fruits and vegetables, this isn’t true.

    Eating too much vegetables or going on ‘vegetable juice diets’ could come with side effects like green stools.

    A balanced diet is what is recommended by doctors and nutritionists. A balanced diet is one that contains foods from all the main food classes in correct proportions. The main food classes are carbohydrates, proteins, fats and oils, vitamins and minerals.

    Dr. Omiete Charles-Davies is the founder of 25 Doctors, a platform where you can chat with doctors online

     

  • How sustainable is the reintroduction of history in secondary schools?

    How sustainable is the reintroduction of history in secondary schools?

    The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history – George Orwell

    History was, to the bewilderment of many, scrapped in Nigerian secondary school curriculum back in 2009 by the federal government. What this meant at the time was that the federal government deemed it unimportant that pupils know the history of their country.

    The government in its most sacred thought, said there was a dearth of teachers in the field, and that students had no interest in learning the subject.

    Indeed, many believed the decision was a conspiracy in high places to keep Nigerians ignorant of their past.

    “Whoever came up with that plan to scrap history in our schools didn’t just wake up to take that decision; they thought it out, knew its implication on the future generation. They wanted us done with. They hated us, even before we were born”, says Ukamaka Evelyn Olisakwe.

    After almost a decade, the Muhammadu Buhari led government has revealed plans to reintroduced history back in secondary schools – this will take effect from 2018/2019 session.

    Why is it being reintroduced now? Are there now sufficient man power to handle the subject? Or perhaps, students are now showing interest in the subject.

    According to the minister of education, Adamu Adamu, “Somebody who doesn’t know his history is worse than dead”.

    This statement by the minister is a true testament of the worth of history as seen by the government but antecedents have taught us never to take the government on their words – as the stumbling block to the reinstatement of the subject has not been dealt with.

    As it stands now, the government has only announced the reintroduction of History but fail to tell the structure it wants to use to ensure that the custom of scrapping the subject does not repeat itself. How then does it hope to sustain this policy once it is implemented?

    On this plate, there should be an unravelling of the structure the government has in mind to ensure this sustainability. This will enable experts to scrutinize and critically examine it to ensure its validity and rationality.

    The government should also put in place innovative structures to make the subject entertaining and engaging as this will encourage pupils to always look forward to learning the subject.

    Secondary schools involved should hire experienced teachers of this subject, who will tell the students how important the history of the country is to their curriculum and to them as citizens of the country.

    The two main reasons why governments scrapped History are because there are not enough teachers to take the course and that students are not showing enough interest; for the former, government can partner tertiary institutions offering the course as their graduates could be given the chance to work as teachers in secondary school.

    Partnering tertiary institutions that offer the course to give their graduates opportunities to work in government school can as well solve the problem of indifferent attitudes students show during history classes.

    Another reason secondary school students show indifferent attitudes towards the subject is the belief that the subject is of no use to them, and that even if they went on to tertiary institutions to study history, they will become redundant.

    If the government can put all these recommendations (though not exhaustive) in place, it will ensure that history is not only restored, but seen as an avenue for the preservation of our cultural heritage.

  • Black Friday: A festival of dark and shoddy deals?

    Black Friday: A festival of dark and shoddy deals?

    By Moses Emorinken

    The recent frenzy that permeated and circulated every space – from social, terrestrial and print media is simply amazing…all in the name of Black Friday.

    Online buyers impulsively cherry-pick items such as home appliances, groceries, electronics, phones and laptops, and other similar appurtenances; they do so with the hope of getting the best deals in prices for the year.

    However, their already wide and bright grins sagged as their expectations were dashed to the ground in an epic humpty dumpty style.

    According to research in Consumer Psychology, humans are known to be the most impulsive creatures in this massive terraqueous globe we call earth.

    Our excessive desire to satisfy our insatiable wants have become a major preoccupation making us hustle and toil day and night or even borrow money that we do not have, to purchase things we do not need, in order to impress people who really do not care about us.

    What a wasteful expedition!

    In Nigeria, e-commerce sites like Jumia, Konga, DealDey etc., are amongst some of the major players in the Black Friday saga.

    Black Friday have wrapped its thick dark sheets around us just like the heavens wrap the horizons of the sky with “black” clouds before sending down the rain; the rain in our case is the purported discount promised us by a lot of these sites.

    Little wonder it is called Black Friday because of the surreptitious hoax deployed to legitimately defraud customers of their hard-earned mazuma without them knowing.

    Customers have been wooed and lured to believe they would have a blast and slash in the prices of their favourite items. However, just like the majority of gullible teenage girls who get deflowered before they clock 18, Nigerian customers have had their hearts broken, hopes dashed, and expectations dulled and lulled by the failed promissory love notes from these Casanovas called e-commerce stores. This is reminiscent to “daylight” rape and robbery.

    How do you explain the rationale behind a product being sold during the discount period, which is more expensive than it was a few weeks ago?

    They even have the effrontery to paste a former price against a discounted price and percentage off – we should be grateful…shey!?

    This is the case of Sharon: A customer who found a product on one of our popular e-commerce website. She identified the product, saw the price and took note of it; only to wait till black Friday to find that the product which she saw barely 2 weeks ago at N3,000 is now N4,000 at a “supposed” discounted price. This is absurd!

    Sometimes, what is most personal is most general; it’s almost certain that Sharon’s pitiable Black Friday story is the same narrative for so many Nigerian customers.

    Please, somebody help me…why call it ‘Black Friday’ when the promo lasts from a certain date to end on another date very distant from the start date; why call it Black Friday, why not Black Weekend?

    How do you call a bonanza period which lasts for days “Black Friday”? Meaning it was designed to start and end on that day (Friday) – not a second more. What we find today is a twisted narrated and semantics for a day of the week to be equivalent to the entire week or even more.

    Is someone trying to play on our intelligence?

    Haven’t we suffered enough from sleazy and corrupt politicians and government officials whose job description is to loot our collective patrimony all in the name of giving us the dividends of democracy?

    I think the new narrative should be that they (politicians) have promised to give us a Black Friday (instead of dividends of democracy) because Black Friday in Nigeria is reminiscent to exploitation.

    No wonder my friend’s grandmother never liked the idea of Black Friday (not because she is old-school), because regardless of the many good that comes with the day as practiced internationally, here in Nigerian, it is merely a show and a bauble.

    Locally, especially in the Yoruba parlance, one can literally translate it to – “Oja Ale”; meaning night market.

    A well-grounded and cultural person knows that nothing good really comes from Oja Ale.

    For those that are already primed to mould and throw balls of accusations at the writer, did you know that e-commerce websites in Nigeria usually rake in billions of Naira in turnover this period than they normally would in a quarter (three months) of their business year?

    It is certainly a festival of dark, black and shoddy transactions at the expense of the majority of the Nigerian people.

    It is high time the Consumer Protection Council ( CPC ) stepped up its game and live up to its mandate of protecting the people from heartless and unscrupulous bourgeoisies who are wolves in sheep’s clothing.

    Dear Nigerians, please think twice before picking those items from your favourite e-commerce stores; it is sometimes advisable to walk into a physical store to price and pick the items of your choice that you need and not being manipulated online to impulsively pick items that you don’t need, at a very exploitative price.

    Be wise!

  • …of love and self

    …of love and self

    Life has taught me to love everyone, especially myself.

    It’s funny right? No it’s not. Most people have talked about underestimating others and they never talked about themselves. What about you? How many times have you done that to yourself? I think am also talking about you and not me.

    But that’s true, how many times have I thought I couldn’t do something or reach a height?

    How many times have I, in my most factual and sincere mind with all compassion, what others call church mind, set limits that are far too less or low for myself? Countless.

    I respect others and appreciate them when they do something good. Not jealous or envious of their success or achievements but obviously I never did that to myself. If I did, I wouldn’t be writing this.

    That for me is bad, really bad. It erodes me of self-worth and personal dignity. I mean, what’s the point of lifting others when I myself am plugging down the trail. Am good, yeah even if no one tells me. At least if am not you wouldn’t read this article up to this point.

    But I have got to appreciate myself, even if just a pat on the back or an unusual meal once a while. I could just go to the movies, walk through the beach, buy a new cloth, do something unusual but not crazy just to say “thanks man, you are appreciated.”

    It’s not pride. It is self-esteem. Who am I to be humble when God has made me proud by creating such abilities in me, leading me to discover them and providing a means to express them?

    Sometimes selfies may be too much but they show self-worth. I show I am handsome (you put your own) if I take selfies and post them online. It doesn’t matter if someone likes it or not.

    What matters is that I see myself worthy of being online, my pictures are worthy of being seen by someone else. I may employ moderation but I will definitely do it, either you like it or not.

    So I will get on it, it may be once in a blue moon but I will do it. I have got to be celebrated, not just on my birthday and not necessarily by others, but by myself. It will sound boring right? I will try to make it as interesting as possible.

    That’s my new resolution.

    I love myself. Do you?

  • Inferiority: The African ailment

    Inferiority: The African ailment

    I wonder how long Africa will be plagued by inferiority complex, and fixated to the begging bowl, with all her rich cultural and spiritual heritage? Like the renaissance era of the developed countries, it is high time Africans built Africa.

    Although, one cannot draw objective conclusions about Africa using a small sample size – Nigeria. However, for the purpose of this article, the writer has decided to focus on Nigeria.

    So much for colour!

    The colour black, regardless of how deep and beautiful it can be have been unjustly associated with everything evil.

    In fact, the melanin of the African people is sometimes seen by racists as a weapon of destruction; for as long as you are black, you are automatically consider and adjudged guilty.

    Also, children are still being taught today that almost anything “black” is inherently evil, in fact, to our educators, it is perfectly okay to use the word “black” to describe evil. In accordance with this teaching, “a black person is considered the black sheep of the family, and should be black listed”, in accordance with this teaching, “illegal market is black market (as if only black people do such business).

    Sometimes the environment conditions the African child (in this case, Nigeria) to develop a low self-esteem relative to children in developed countries.

    The minds of the African child have been grossly polluted and destroyed by a powerful force, that powerful force is inferiority complex.

    Let us present a Nigerian medical doctor and an American medical doctor to a sick Nigerian, and ask him to choose the doctor to treat him, most likely he will choose the American doctor. Why? Because he has been educated to believe that white men are superior.

    Even by comparing the leadership style of African and American, one also observes another aspect of lack of self-confidence. Specifically, one notices that while American leaders wisely prioritise their investment options; considering local investments first before foreign investments. On the flip side, African leader squander their countries funds on “corrupt investments” in foreign lands.

    Why? This is because of the miseducation of the Africans minds; African soil is considered an “Unsafe haven” while America is “A safe haven”…what a lack of confidence!

    Bottom line: Polluted African minds accept that by nature, Africans are normal human beings while Americans are extra ordinary.

    No wonder a part of the letter by Lord Macaulay to the British Parliament in 1835 read “…if the Indians think that all that is English and foreign is good and greater than theirs, they will lose their self-esteem, and become what we want them to be – A truly dominated nation.

    Coming down to Nigerian leaders, who rob their own people only to deposit the loot in America and as a result of this, money that could be have been used to make “safe heavens” are being taken out of the county.

    What Nigerians do not know is that the “safe heaven” in America did not come as a result of wishful thinking, but is the direct result of tireless research engineered by true patriotism of its leaders and elites.

    Why can’t Nigerian universities make numerous discoveries? It is a shame that Nigerian universities can’t make razor blades, even water pumps, and yet we have PhD’s above the ground, let’s dream big.

    However, safe heavens will not emerge by miracle when teachers are being starved, library empty, research thoughtlessly abandoned, and universities senselessly shut down for several months each year due to strikes.

    Furthermore, Nigerian leaders and educators must stop using black as a symbol for evil, rather they should start teaching their children that black is beautiful just as any colour.

  • Let’s stop violence against women today

    Let’s stop violence against women today

    The world we live in is satiated with various malevolent practices; one of which is violence.

    Violence against women is regarded a hard crime propelled by bias.

    According to Kofi Annan, the Secretary General of United Nations ( UN ) in 2006, “violence against women and girls is a problem of pandemic proportions.”

    At least one out of every three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in their lifetime with the abuser usually someone known to her.

    Women all over the world are victims of various kinds of violent treatment from the society, especially men.

    Categories of violence against women include rape, domestic violence, sexual harassment, female infanticide (which involves the deliberate killing of female newborns), Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)- Female circumcision.

    Other forms include marriage by abduction, honour killing, sexual slavery forced prostitution and women trafficking.

    Sexual harassment is the cohesion of a sexual nature.

    It involves unwelcome sexual advances, request for sexual favours, verbal or physical harassment.

    Though there are laws against sexual harassment, but these laws do not forbid offhand comments or simple teasing.

    The International day for the elimination of violence against women was designated by UN on 17th December 1999,

    in honour of the Mirabal sisters.

    The Mirabal sisters – Patria Mercedes Mirabal Reyes,

    María Argentina Minerva Mirabal Reyes and Antonia Maria Teresa Mirabal Reyes were from the Republic of Dominican.

    They stood to oppose the dictatorship of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo (the Dominican dictator at that time).

    They were involved in secretive activities against his regime.

    All three of them were assassinated on their way home by Trujillo’s henchmen on November 25, 1960.

    Their demise became symbols of popular and feminist resistance.

    So in 1999, United Nations General Assembly chose November 25 to be the International day for the elimination of violence against women, with Phumzile Mlambo Ngcuka as the Executive Director of UN women.

    This day is celebrated annually worldwide.

    This movement started with the aim of raising awareness that women all over the globe are subject to all forms of violent practices; this is a pointer to the fact that the scale and true nature of the issue is often hidden.

    Some people believe that women should not do some kind of jobs because they are women (gender inequality). In fact, some totally go against women having a say in their homes or choosing who they want to spend the rest of their lives with (forced marriage).

    Others see them as punching bags that are readily available for them to vent their anger (domestic violence).

    This is why we should all arise to fight against this menace that it eating deep into our societies.

    Cases of domestic violence, rape and the likes should have weighty penalties which would serve as a lesson to others.

    It starts with you, whoever you are, wherever you may be, support the elimination of violence against our mothers, our sisters, our daughters and friends and the world be a better place to live in.

    Orange your world!

  • Unhealthy competition; it’s ills and ilks

    Unhealthy competition; it’s ills and ilks

    Competition is often considered to be the opposite of cooperation, however in the real world, the mixture of both is the norms.

    It can have both beneficial and detrimental effects.

    The human mind is wired for competition. Each individual is a champion on his/her own.

    Competition in itself can be a motivation condiment of achievement for any individual or group, however, extreme expressions of competition brings with it heinous and grotesque consequences.

    Like a line in a famous poem says “…there is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that the next person do not feel insecure.”  This lays credence to the fact that sometimes you have to be bold, decisive and have some modicum of competition in order to succeed.

    It exists in many aspects of life, from sports, school, jobs, and also amidst friends

    Competition, just like a coin has clear dichotomies; it can either be constructive or destructive.

    An overtly competitive environment is a breeding ground for resentment, envy and little or no accomplishment; because everyone is an island.

    In academics for instance, competition hampers the free flow of information and sharing of ideas amongst students. Study and healthy revision groups will definitely not be in existence in such environments.

    On the flip side, we have the congenial and accommodating arms of cooperation. With cooperation issues of differences and clear diversities become null and void because each individual or group of people are appreciated and utilized especially because of their sundry “diversities”.

    There is no limit to the aspiration of the human spirit if only we learn to tolerate and cooperate with one another. In truth, we all share a common destiny; our differences in character, skills, likes and dislikes are all wools used to weave the very fabric of our humanity.

    Making friends with peers is easy in a cooperative environment as it creates a support structure for students to reach out and help one another.

    Finally, regardless of the part of the divide of competition or cooperation you find yourself, it is important to apply moderation in all that you do.

  • How Prophet Iginla predicted Zimbabwe leadership crisis

    How Prophet Iginla predicted Zimbabwe leadership crisis

    Respected preacher and Senior Pastor of Champions Royal Assembly, Kubwa, Abuja, Prophet Joshua Iginla, known for his accurate predictions about national and global events without fear, has continued to score higher.

    The televangelist and had predicted the crisis first during the church cross over service this year, again on the 14th of May and 2nd of July, 2017 during his church services.

    In his words, “One of the African country needs to pray against military intervention, I don’t want to say South, North, East or West Africa but one of the African countries should pray against military intervention so that their democracy will not be truncated’.

    “I see military intervention. I don’t know why they are intervening but what they are intervening for is between God and the future.

    “This country has to pray so they don’t go back to where they are coming from”.

    Recall, on 14th November, 2017, Zimbabwe’s military leaders seized control of the impoverished Southern African nation, placing longtime leader, Robert Mugabe under house arrest and deploying armored vehicles to the streets of the capital, Harare.

    Analysts say it appears to be the climax of a power struggle between liberation-era figures loyal to the country’s ousted vice president, Emmerson Mnangagwa and forces faithful to First Lady, Grace Mugabe, wife of Robert Mugabe who is seen as vying to succeed her 93-year-old husband.

    The events on Tuesday 21st November, 2017 led to Robert Mugabe’s resignation as the president of Zimbabwe, ending his 37-year reign.

    Bro. Iginla however, noted that he is not particular about the removal of Mugabe but that the right person should take charge.

    He further commended the military for not staging a coup but simply intervening according to the message God gave to him concerning the crisis.