The Nation Newspaper

Category: Online Special

  • Shell, bio bean launches initiative to power buses with biofuel

    Shell, bio bean launches initiative to power buses with biofuel

    Shell and bio-bean are helping to power some of London’s buses using a biofuel made partly from waste coffee grounds, a development that has triggered renewed challenge to Nigerian beneficiaries of Shell’s LiveWIRE programme to join in the innovative search for bright energy ideas.

    This latest Shell-bio-bean collaboration is part of Shell’s #makethefuture energy relay, which supports entrepreneurs turning bright energy innovations into a positive impact for communities around the world.

    Managing Director, The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, says he is excited about emerging energy ideas through innovations and collaborations supported by Shell’s LiveWIRE programme, and sees the potential of smart energy ideas being developed in Nigeria.

    “By continuing the conversation on providing a wider, more sustainable mix of energy resources for the world’s growing population, Shell is provoking thoughts on tomorrow’s solution, and I see the potential for a replication of the bio-bean technology in Nigeria where more than 275 million cups of coffee are consumed in a year,” he said. “It is an indication that by rethinking our approach to waste, we can create smarter cities and a brighter future for our country.”

    The bio-bean inventor, Arthur Kay, is a recipient of Shell’s LiveWIRE Innovation Award, which supports young entrepreneurs with pioneering ideas to create a brighter energy future. He described the bio-bean technology as “the fuel of choice for households looking for a high-performance, sustainable way to heat their homes – and now, with the support of Shell, bio-bean and Argent Energy have created thousands of litres of coffee-derived B20 biodiesel which will help power London buses for the first time.”

    In its 14-year history in Nigeria, Shell’s LiveWIRE has produced hundreds of entrepreneurs who benefited from business training and start-up grants, making them employers of labour. Three of the past beneficiaries were recently nominated for the 2017 Shell group Top 10 Innovators award where two of them — Precious Adeho, owner of Emobella Engineering Nig Ltd, and Atalor Ngozi Deborah of De-rahbs Energy Services won in the merit category.

    Nigeria has also benefited from innovations and inventions from Shell’s LiveWIRE with the building of Africa’s first human and solar powered football pitch at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Lagos, unveiled in 2015 in collaboration with global music star, Akon. The pitch uses Pavegen tiles invented by young British entrepreneur and Shell LiveWIRE beneficiary, Laurence Kemball-Cook, to convert power from footsteps into renewable that lights the pitch at night.

  • World Television Day: A peek at the past

    World Television Day: A peek at the past

    The past is not the past if it is not past. One cannot look back at something he hasn’t walked past, literally. So when we look back in retrospect, what do we often find? Fond memories? Maybe.

    The truth is, our memories sometimes are so distorted that even bad memories are shrouded in good ones so when we look back, we just smile.

    Similarly, as the world looks back in remembrance of the day television was invented, it doesn’t remember the days it lived without the ‘idiot box’, rather it calls to mind the joy and thrill television brought the whole world.

    From the very day Eadweard Muybridge won a bet against the former governor of California, Leland Stanford, a widespread hunger to see motion picture on a device other than what was simply projected on the screen, was born.

    Indeed, the world lived in such high expectations, but it wasn’t about 56 years later, in the early 1920s, that the first mechanical television was demonstrably used to depict films.

    The whole world was happy and mad at the same time. Television was the new gold. They wanted it, they prayed for it, but once it arrived, they could not own it. It was too expensive and only the rich could afford one.

    That was in the past. Now, all that is gone. Television is now so cheap even those widely perceived as poor can afford to have two sets in their homes. No one could have possibly seen this at the time.

    But late Chief Obafemi Awolowo saw it. He was, for a certainty, a seer – a seer of some sorts. He looked and saw beyond the accusation that television was a major cause of indolence. He saw the massive potential that the device had in informing, educating and transmitting cultural heritage.

    Little wonder he wasted no time in helping to usher in the first television station in Nigeria, nay, the first in Tropical Africa. Nigerians started buying the device. Western Nigerian Television ( WNTV ) began broadcasting in the Nigerian South-west region in 1959.

    This was extended to the eastern and northern regions within four years. The result today is the multi television channels we now have.

    We can watch a documentary of the damages done in World War I and II, as well as some important events in the Nigerian history because of television. We can learn how to speak good English and know which behaviour is acceptable and which is not in our locality because of television.

    We learn how to dress well and behave ourselves in social settings because depictions on television tell us so.

    We sit in the comfort of our homes and watch live events in other continents. This forms in part, the basis by which Marshall McLuhan, the communication scholar, was inspired to assert that the whole world has been retribalized.

    In his words, the world is a global village. He was not amiss. TV had shrunk our world and has become to man, an indispensable companion.

    When people come back from work nowadays and are looking for something to relieve them of the day’s stress, most turn to their television sets. Oh, how Integral TV has become in our daily lives! Some people don’t even feel like their day is complete without latching on to one or two programs they follow everyday.

    Yes, TV has become a very important part of our society. What is more important, however, is that television has undergone several changes from what it used to be in the 1920s. First, it went from the black and white version to the coloured version.

    Then it slowly went from analog to digital. It is now slowly undergoing a more profound change in form of little portable gadgets. We now have a ‘TV’ of some sort in our palms and pockets.

    Our smart mobile phones are not only redefining the traditional TV as we know it, but are also serving as a prototype for what future television devices will look like.

    Of course, future television devices will be mind blowing just as we would consider what we have now fifty years ago to be equally mind blowing. Television holds yet, massive potentials. But as we await more mini versions of TV, let us take a peek at the past and appreciate the journey television has made to the present.

  • World Hello Day

    World Hello Day

    With the concerted efforts of Brian McCormack, a Ph.D graduated from Arizona State University and Michael McCormack, a graduate of Harvard University, the World Hello Day was first celebrated in 1973.

    It was an event dedicated to encouraging settling of conflicts through communication and not force.

    It preaches that world leaders should shift from the ancient way of resolving conflicts which is always a fight or war to communication.

    In a bid to make sure everyone got the message of the World Hello Day, the McCormack brothers mailed 1,360 letters in seven languages to government leaders worldwide so they could participate.

    Any person can participate in World Hello Day simply by greeting ten people or more.

    This demonstrates the importance of personal communication for preserving peace.

    World Hello Day was begun in response to the conflict between Egypt and Israel in the fall of 1973, known as the Yom Kippur War.

    People around the world use the occasion of World Hello Day as an opportunity to express their concern for world peace.

    Nigeria, the most populated country in Africa and the seventh in the world has more that 500 tribes and this in a way has divided.

    We have been set apart on different stands. Religiously we are on three most popular feet. Politically, we are on countless feet. Our diversity is so interesting but it has, instead of making us appreciate each other separated us.

    On the rise now is the agitation in the South East is a move for secession. An action that will disintegrate this great, one but divided country more.

    Today is a day we can breach this gap and redefine our lives. It is time to keep our differences and see them as our diversity and strength. We can just do that with a ‘hello’, especially today.

    The first celebration gained the support of 15 countries and since that time, it has been celebrated by people in 180 countries of the world.

    We believe that the world can only thrive and become a better place when there is peace and not war.

    If you do believe the same thing, then show it by saying Hello to ten or more people today.

    Make sure they are people you have not said Hello to before, especially people from other tribes. Let us make the world a better place with just ‘hello’.

    Go on with it, it is the World Hello Day. Cheers!!!

  • Valid hacks for maximizing your employees

    Valid hacks for maximizing your employees

    If an organisation wants to walk FAST, it can walk alone; but if it must walk FAR, its best bet is in its employees.

    Once you employ a man, you employ his family. This statement holds true in any society regardless of its literacy rate, technological advancement, or economic system.

    This is because any person who seeks to be gainfully employed pursues, not just his own well-being, but that of his immediate family or in cases where such an individual is a loner bereft of family encumbrances, his future well-being.

    Getting the best out of that individual means his employer must motivate him in more than one front. And such motivations must come from a proven method which has been channeled through a perennial hunt for novel ways to increase his power of imagination, resourcefulness, creativity, and productivity.

    Similarly, in the quest for organizations to achieve set goals, it is however, important to note that maximum participation is required. And for any organization to achieve maximum participation from its employees, they have to give their maximum support in return. This support can come in the form of salary raise, and it may also come in form of training.

    This is necessary because every organization seeking to be relevant must continue to train and retrain their staff in order to keep up with trends and industrial innovations.

    Staffers lagging behind in terms of training may not be able to keep up with the dictates of time, which may consequently discourage and make them lose interest in their jobs.

    Another way the support can come is in the way of employee welfare. This can also come in form of paid sabbaticals, tangible allowances, flexible salary schemes and bonuses.

    Motivation in terms of monetary reward is not enough, this is essentially why Douglas McGregor’s Theory Y underscores the importance of an effective reward system which eschews considerably from the monetary reward scheme.

    An employee who has spent a considerable amount of years in an organization needs to be constantly self-conscious of his weighed value to his employers. This awareness can be permanently planted if, according to McGregor, rewards are put in place to address higher needs such as self-fulfillment.

    In fact, when an employer successfully exploits this reward system, McGregor added that the employee will seek out responsibilities himself and not wait for them. More than all the aforementioned points is an enabling environment for the employee to thrive.

    There are more “bosses” than team players in most organizations today. Bosses in quote because these individuals overtly dwell on criticizing their employees. They are constantly harping on the mistakes and weaknesses of their staff. Instead of being guided, the employees are teleguided. Instead of focusing on how to leverage on the strengths of their staff, employers use their weaknesses to talk them down.

    This kills the morale and any potential the employee might have in contributing meaningfully to the growth of the organization. The employee draws back from making any input because he knows it will be met with stiff dismissal and cold rebuff. The harmful impact this will have on his productivity is better imagined.

    All these shows that the employee clime on this side of the globe happens to be one particularly hardwired to ensure the certainty of failure. Most employers have assumed the sordid habit of not paying employees’ salary on time, but has made it a gleeful hobby to owe them for months.

    Added to this is a widespread red tape and superfluous bureaucracy quite inessential in this age of borderless maps. How then do you expect a modicum of motivation from the employees?

    Imagine, for a moment, a boss who talks a lot. He doesn’t hold regular meetings with his staff and once he does, he hardly takes any opinion contrary to his own. Once a staff says something that negates his view, he immediately creates a wall.

    Again, he asks too much of everyone. He expects his staff to do a job he or she is not trained for. He employs a staff as a script writer, but sometimes, he or she does the job of a human resource officer; and there is no commensurate reward for the additional work.

    And this is a job the staff should be prepared for before he or she is asked to do it. How would such an employee cope in such an environment? We must note that no working environment is perfect, but there are working environments that does not bring out the best in the employees.

    Being a leader does not mean that you have to be in the front all the time, it has gone beyond that. Leadership is all about achieving results using other people.

    Therefore, it is the inalienable function of management to mine the latent potentials in its employees through policies which will help the employees see themselves not only as workers, but also as major contributors to the overall success of the organization.

    This shows that for the employees to thrive and to reach their full potential, all the aforementioned barriers need to be removed from the working environment.

    Management should also encourage their staff to take on added responsibilities (in tandem with extant trainings) that they are okay with. This will help them apply and effectively put to good use the trainings they receive in their organization from time to time.

    Not giving a trained employee more responsibility is like buying a Corvette, which is a sports car, and only driving it 10 miles per hour. It means you’re ignoring all the potentials and even misusing the car.

    What’s the point of buying a sports car if you’re not going to put your foot to the pedal! This is the case when management does not allow the employees more opportunities to explore and do more in the organization.

    Regular meetings with the employees is also important. This is usually the point where all forms of challenges hampering work progress is discussed and fresh ideas are juggled. If all these are done, no employee should expect his employer to perform below par.

  • Building congenial parent-child relationship

    Building congenial parent-child relationship

    At the heart of many sad and pitiable stories around the globe is a poor parent-child relationship.

    Fruit bearing is the hallmark of every legitimate union between husband and wife. Marriage wouldn’t be as blissful or interesting as it should when one of the most interesting condiments of the union is missing – children.

    Children are the fruits and blessings of any marriage. The moment a woman puts to bed, the news of her birth literally sets everyone into a celebration mode.

    As a child grows and goes through the biological stages of development from childhood into adulthood, they begin to display irrational juvenile tendencies.

    From time immemorial, mothers have been the closest to their children, right from when the child is in the womb, take their first step until they become able to delineate between right and wrong; to make their own choices.

    Unfortunately, in most cases, that close relationship between the mother and child begins to fade away the moment the child becomes self-aware, and can recognize good from bad, left from right.

    No matter how grown a child is, or mature they (children) think they are, parents should for no reason leave them to their whims and caprices.

    Even parents whose parents are still alive from time to time get cautioned and advice from their parents.

    How did a once congenial and cordial parent-children relationship get disrupted? Questions to children – How well do you know your children?

    Do you know what your children are going through emotionally? Or what exactly they are thinking of? Who’s oppressing or interesting them? Do you have ideas of whom they move with or call their friends?

    Please, I ask again, what kind of relationship do you have with your sons and daughter?

    Dear parents! Try building a close relationship with your children so much so that they feel free to tell you anything and everything bothering them.

    Ordinarily, parent should be the closest and easiest persons to communicate with but many parents pay little or no attention to their children not to talk of having productive conversations with them.

    The paucity in the relationship between parents and their children is the primary cause of the overexposure of these wards to wrong and harmful information and advice from irresponsible people and peers.

    In this side of the globe, especially in our culture, a good child is for the father and the bad for the mother; and of course no mother wants to be accused of not training her child well.

    Therefore, mothers, make every little moment you get with your child count – for every change in their facial expressions, behaviours, attitudes and even choice of diet means your attention is needed; they sometimes would not come straight to tell you, but need you to ask them.

    Parents, regardless of the urge to sometimes be judgmental of your wards in the bid to correct and advise them, try to resist this urge because it will only drive a wedge and increase the lacunae between you and your wards.

    Mind you parent, don’t judge them nor use what they’ve told you against them because if you do, they won’t speak nor tell you anything that’s bothering them again.

    If you don’t have a close relationship with your child, try as much as possible to create one.

    Make them feel they can always run back to you when the need arises. Go as far as hanging out with them; you can gist, watch movies, eat and drink and do fun things to further build and develop your relationship.

    Once you are able to build this relationship with them, some silly and preventable juvenile mistakes can be reasonably avoided.

    Make them your best friend and pay more attention to them than you would with your friends.

    I can almost hear our adorable children singing – parents listen to your children, for we are the leaders of tomorrow…

    Start by investing in their future, and always remember to create time for them.

  • Celebrating National Press Day

    Celebrating National Press Day

    National Press Day ( NPD ), is celebrated across the country on every 16th day of November. The National Press Day is symbolic of a free and responsible press in the country.

    Just as Nigeria commemorates the day, NPD celebration takes place in  many countries of the world including the US, UK and India.

    Similarly, the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) celebration holds every May 3rd. This commemorative day however, is celebrated world wide.

    NPD imperatively calls for reflection on among others, free press, the role of the press in enhancing a more viable democracy and essentially a participatory press in the rising world of social media.

    The press, as matter of fact, needs to be free from all forms of censorship or control that may hinder its duty of and responsibility of holding the government accountable to the people.

    It is instructive to note that the press at this umpteenth time needs to be developmental-oriented and setting agenda for national peace, cohesion and development.

    In light of this, the United States Consul General,  Mr. John Bray earlier this year, advocated for more freedom for the Nigerian press in carrying out its “watch dog” duty for the society and holding government accountable to the people.

    Mr. Bray made the plea in Lagos while giving a keynote address at the 2017 World Press Freedom Day (WPFD)  celebration which held at the Lagos television auditorium, Agidingbi, Ikeja.

    The theme of this year’s WPFD was “Critical Minds for Critical Times: Media’s role in advancing peaceful, just and inclusive societies.”

    He noted that the press deserves more freedom because an unfettered press is essential for democracy to thrive.

    The consul general however, said the United States understands that with more freedom comes more responsibility.

    He added that advances in technology and increased reliance on social media platforms as sources of information make the accuracy and objectivity of your reporting crucial.

    He urged journalists to check and double check for facts before putting out their stories saying adequate increases their personal credibility and the reliability of their platform.

    “Be thorough in your research and strive to look for every side of a story before you hit send,” he said.

    He said the role of the press  as the government’s watchdog was key to the system of checks and balances that is fundamental to the smooth running of every democracy.

    Bray stated that according to Reporters Without Borders, more than a third of the world’s people live in countries where there is no press freedom.

    “Most of them are quasi democracies, with systemic deficiencies in the electoral process, or countries where there is no system of democracy at all.
    Working under such conditions, journalists risk everything to hold regimes accountable.

    “Before my arrival in Nigeria four years ago I had read about the courage and sheer doggedness of the Nigerian press in the dark days of military dictatorship.  In my time here, I have seen that you are still the voice of the forgotten.

    “You have not lost your thirst for the truth or your willingness to go wherever a story leads you, thereby contributing to transparency, accountability, and good governance in your country,” Bray added.

    Governments at all levels need to unconditionally and  strongly supports freedom of the press because  “an unfettered” press is essential for  democracy to thrive.

    Fortunately or unfortunately, Nigeria’s Freedom Information Act was passed in May 27, 2011 and has yet to be amended since then even in the face of lots of outcries for its amendment.

    This backdrop had been described as detrimental to the desirable free press in Nigeria.

    On media law and ethics in the digital age,  Mr. Oluyomi Lords, Nigeria Institute of Journalism ( NIJ ), argued that the failure of the Nigeria media industry stemmed from the failure of the Nigeria constitution.

    Calling for the amendment of the sections establishing the media and the role of the Press – Sections   39 and 22, Lords said the sections  must be amended because they are limiting the performance of the Press.

    He however, expressed optimism that the amendment will make the Nigerian stronger and help resolve among others issues of litigation, defamation, remuneration and corruption.

    A free press is the cornerstone of a vibrant democracy and that is why government must be fully committed to upholding freedom of press and expression in all forms.

    The media space must be used more and more to showcase the skills, strengths and creativity of our people going by  this age where we are witnessing the rise of social media and news being consumed through mobile phones.

    We strongly believe that these  advancements will further the reach of the media and make the media space even more democratic and participatory.

    The hard work of our media, especially the reporters and photojournalist, who tirelessly work on the ground and bring forth various news that shapes national as well as global discourse must be appreciated.

    The role of the media in giving voice to the voiceless is commendable and must be  acknowledged. However, the press should increase the public participation and ensure that press freedom will be protected by his government

    The press should be helped to function as a moral watchdog to ensure that not only the press maintains the high standards expected from the industry, but also guide against overbearing  influence or threats of any extraneous factors.

    The functions of journalists essentially include maintaining the high standards of press which is expected from them. The press must not be brought under  pressure of any force. The basic concept of self-regulation of the Press Council has been articulated by Mahatma Gandhi.

    The Nigeria Press Council  as a unique entity should exercise an authority over the instruments of the state by safeguarding the independence of the press.

    The council should facilitate more seminars, discourse and conferences on the occasion of National Press Day. More public discourses must be geared towards attacks on the freedom of the Press and Right to Information

    The role of media in crises situations (Sub-Topics)– Constitutional Crises, Political Crises, Economic Crises, Social Crises, Security Crises and Threats to the Freedom of the Press on Internal and External should be widely covered.

    Media professionals should be educated on the role of Media in nurturing awareness of fundamental duties among citizens and the role of media in preserving rich composite heritage and tradition of the country and in promoting democracy.

    We need to enlighten people on the media’s role in arousing popular conscience to promote peace, harmony and brotherhood transcending barriers of ethnicity, religion and sectional interests.

    Role of Media in preparing people to cope with disasters is another topic that can not be overemphasised.

    Also, projection of women by media in present day context and occupational hazards faced by media persons in conflict situations on the NPD event should be discussed.

    The occasion will motivate every member to be more responsive, responsible and proactive.

    Media persons should continue their excellent tradition of constructive journalism, displaying highest standards of professionalism in their duties.

    The media play a crucial role in shaping the society and has also become a bridge between the government and the citizens. The consistent coverage by all forms of media on diverse issues of the society creates a immeasurable impact and thus making it one of most important of professions at present.

    The press is one of the foundation stone of democracy and its freedom is an essential pre-requisite in a world of challenging phase of media reporting today.

    The media should continue to play their vital role in creating a new Nigeria which is strong and prosperous; free of secession, crimes and insurgency.

    As we felicitate with the Nigerian press on the successful celebration of this day, it is our hoping that our media continue to represent the voice of the people particularly the oppressed in the country.

  • Nigerian women, Owanbe and Aso Ebi

    Nigerian women, Owanbe and Aso Ebi

    Owanbe in Nigeria is something that can never be overemphasized.

    This is because, despite the fact that it is an expensive celebration, it comes with loads of happiness and merriment, this is why some would do everything in their power to make it worthwhile.

    Ówànbę is a Yoruba word gotten from the sequence Ó-wà-ní-ibę which literally means “it is here”, but the connotative meaning is “the party is happening here”.

    Customarily, when a Nigerian mentions “Owanbe”, such person is referring to a typical Yoruba party, but now most people use the term Owanbe to generally describe Nigerian parties- regardless of the tribe or ethnic group.

    Common types of Owanbe includes wedding parties, birthday parties, retirement parties, coronation ceremonies, celebration of life (burial for old people), and so on.

    One interesting thing about an Owanbe is the Aso Ebí (uniformed clothing).

    When the date for an Owanbe is fixed, the celebrant will sell a fabric (native) with matching headgear that has been picked; everyone attending that event is meant to wear it- this cloth is called the Aso Ebi.

    It is so easy to point out friends and families of the host at the venue of the party.

    This is because you would always find them dressed in the Aso Ebi.

    It could either be lace, George or an Ankara fabric.

    The women are the ones that daze us with various extravagant styles of the Aso Ebi that are often posted on Instagram and published in fashion magazines.

    Usually, the tribe of the celebrant determines the kind of Aso Ebi. For instance if it’s an Igbo wedding, the Aso Ebi will be: a George wrapper and a blouse with the normal headgear (Sego), but if it’s a Yoruba wedding, we’ll have lace and Aso Ofi head gear grace the occasion.

    At a typical Owanbe, you would find women slaying in their beautiful outfits, men in Atiku, enough food, drinks and souvenirs for everyone,

    people spraying money, a Disk Jockey ( DJ ) and a live band to entertain people with music.

    Nigerian women and Owanbe are inseparable, except of course, when the world has finally come to an end.

    However, what some people have failed to realize is that an Owanbe does not have to be so elaborate for people to attend.

    Owanbe is meant for people to celebrate and make merry, it should not seem like a competition.

    Whether it is a big party or not, everyone is meant to be happy

    and it is an avenue to meet distant relatives and highly recognized dignitaries.

  • The International day for tolerance

    The International day for tolerance

    “Law alone cannot secure freedom of expression, in order that every man presents his views without penalty, there must be spirit of tolerance in the entire society.” – Anonymous.

    The International day for tolerance is a time for people to learn about recognizing and respecting the rights and beliefs of others. It is also a time of reflection and debates on the negative effects of intolerance globally.

    Live discussions and debates take place across the world focusing on how various forms of injustice, oppression, racism and unfair discrimination have negative impacts on the society.

    Many educators use the theme of today to help students understand issues centered on tolerance, human rights and nonviolence.

    This day can be traced back to the 50th anniversary of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO ) on November 16 1995. Member States adopted a Declaration of Principles on Tolerance.

    The Declaration affirms that tolerance is neither indulgence nor indifference. It is respect and appreciation of the rich variety of our world’s cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human.

    Tolerance recognizes the universal human rights and fundamental freedoms of others.

    Driving home the essential values and condiments of the International day for tolerance, it is pertinent that as a people we see the strength in our diversity regardless of the upheaval in various parts of the country; the agitations of the Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB ), the Niger Delta militants or even the devilish sect – Boko Haram in the North.

    We share a collective destiny as a people, therefore, let us join hand together and create a congenial country that posterity will be proud of.

    People are naturally diverse; only tolerance can ensure the survival of mixed communities in every region of the globe.

    This day is an opportunity to speak out on human rights, laws, especially with regard to banning and punishing crimes and discrimination among minorities.

    Finally, today is committed to strengthening tolerance by fostering mutual understanding among cultures and people and this is more important than ever in this era of rising and violent extremism and widening conflicts that are characterized by a fundamental disregard for human life.

  • …of friends and friendships on campus

    …of friends and friendships on campus

    “I don’t really miss people.”

    “Are you joking? What about those times you say, especially to the female friends of yours that you miss them.”

    “I only said that to keep the conversation going. I don’t really mean them, not that I deceive them though.”

    That’s a candid expression by Tunji, a six-month old graduate of the University of Ibadan when he was asked about his friends back in school and if he missed them.

    That brings to mind the true worth or value of campus friendship. Is it just meant to stop in the campus or probably after some days after the whole campus thing?

    So many people are friends simply because of a circumstance or situation. Oh, she has a material and I need it, so let me ensure that we are on talking terms before I ask her about it. Then afterwards what happens, nothing!

    “I see now that most of the friends I made then were just because of the situation at hand. Now I can’t say I have friends, though I thought I had some in school. It’s as if I will always make friends and dump them. If possible, I wouldn’t even make any at all, ” Tunji said.

    You may not have seen any sense in what am saying. Just take a hike and think about your friends now, definitely something brought you together, what then happens when what brought you together elapses? Chasm?

    Don’t you think you can feel the same way Tunji is feeling now? Or you are the real culprit of the menace.

    Someone thoughtfully said that no one goes to the opposite direction of where his or her friends are headed. What happens when you don’t even have friends, when you are alone as Tunji perceived himself to be, what direction would you go?

    “I know I need friends but am just tired of momentary friends, especially the female friends. They never reach out to one first, I don’t know if they thought I would take them for granted if they do.” Tunji continued.

    I know the number of times I have complained about my friends not doing anything to keep our friendship, especially the females. Even the guys too sometimes are the same. Some would even say they are busy and I will be like, so I’m the jobless one.

    No friendship can last if only one party contributes to its survival. We all need friends, and we mostly need them under some circumstances, but what about when the circumstance is off, no more friendship?

    “What even makes me angry at myself sometimes and makes me feel I’m selling myself cheap is when I have no rest of mind if I haven’t called someone I remember I have spoken to for a long time. I don’t have peace until I call the person and that to me is a punishment for a crime I didn’t commit. I wonder if they ever felt that way too.” He lamented.

    Friendship is so important that we can’t overemphasize it. It is the fabric that holds this world together. No two true friends will ever act in order to make the other fall. Assume that Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump are friends, no one will ever abuse the other. There wouldn’t be an old or a short and fat person.

    If making friends is easy but keeping them a bit hard, then it’s time we focused on keeping, not just making to meet our immediate need.

    Take out time to reach out to friends, you may be hurting someone if you don’t. Never say you are busy to call, it costs nothing to take out one minute to say Hi. Start today!

  • Raw Plantain helps the heart function well

    Raw Plantain helps the heart function well