The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Managing

  • Managing your stress

    Stress is one of the commonest illnesses that exist. The sad thing about stress is that most people undergoing stress, very often do not recognise that they are suffering from the disease entity called stress. Such a person may ascribe the consequences of stress to some other imaginary illness. Further, a third party such as wife, husband as the case may be or a relative may be blamed for the virtual breakdown that the victim suffers from.

    What is stress as an illness? When we talk of stress, we are referring to a clinical disorder. Stress in our case is distinct from stress that physicists or mechanical engineer or civil engineer may refer to. However the principle behind the various definition of stress is the same. Also, the consequences of stress which is a breakdown of the bearer of stress be it mechanical or human is similar.

    With this in mind, let us now consider what amounts to human stress condition. When demand outstrips the resources or supply that is required to meet the said demand, then a state of stress has been established.  It may be over demand on one’s time, energy or attention.

    What causes stress? The demand that I mentioned above could come from any source. It may be financial stress in which case, the monetary requirement to meet some conditions is far short of what is required. In that case, the person may fall into a disorder of stress. On the other hand, stress, may be due to matrimonial issues such as sexual demand of one partner, behavioral issues of one or both partners. Stress may also be due to employment demands. The job or school work may be busy or complex against the knowledge and time of the employee. Such employee may be in considerable stress to meet the fulfillment and time constrained associated with the job. Stress may be due to physical or mental illness that refused to get resolved. Chronic illnesses may give rise to stressful experiences as the victim struggles on daily basis to get well and fully functional. Some persons may be stressed by the human condition, the world affairs and the chaos that the world is going through. Wars, rumors of war, stampede, political upheavals, insecurities, natural disasters and man-made events could all lead to stress for a lot of people. It may look ordinary to some but traffic congestions are stressful to most if not all of us.  Family issues, recalcitrant children, bothersome siblings and troubles from extended family may all lead to unwanted illness of stress. Bereavement, divorce, separation and unemployment are all known causes of stress.

    What are the consequences of stress as a human disorder? The result could be both physical and mental. Mentally, the sufferer experiences tiredness which is not explained by any investigation. Such individual may be going from one doctor to the other or going from one diagnostic centre to another without producing any evidence of illness. Sleep could suffer in terms of early waking, poor ability to fall asleep, and poor retention. Sleep manifesting as short sleep and frequent waking are some features of stress. Easily getting irritable or becoming a ‘short fuse’ may be noticed by the marital partner, family members or co-workers.  People around stressful people are often afraid of commentaries and they describe their relationship as ‘walking on egg shell’ around person suffering from stress: this is because of the irritability of the sufferer and intolerance at this stage. Sexuality and fertility may be impaired by stress.

    Stressful people do suffer from anxiety, self-isolation, avoidance, odd behavior such as shouting inappropriately, sweating in the palms, and the rest of the body. Also, untreated, stress may lead to depression and to more serious mental illness of psychosis.

    Physically, stress may lead to peptic ulcer, joint and muscle pains or what may seem like arthritis, headache, diarrhea, constipation and weight loss. Appetite may change to give rise to weight gain and obesity.

    Treatment for Stress: There is a lot that you can do to deal with stress and also to prevent and treat the illness.  In terms of prevention, you may need to get yourself organised to get your work scheduled in a kind of ‘to do’ list. You can then execute each item according to their importance and prioritise the work too.

    Further, try and resolve conflicts at work, at home, with partners, spouses, family members and friends. Also, there are some worldly problems that you definitely cannot deal with. Stop bothering yourself about what is beyond you. Accept the fact that, some issues are outside your control. Prayer helps too. Some individuals find meditation as well as reflexology helpful.  Avoid comfort eating to resolve stress.

    In the meantime, try to engage in regular, structured and planned exercise.  Exercise has been shown to reduce anxiety, boost mental energy, improve sleep, relax muscles and above all reduce stress as well as prevent cancers.  To benefit, exercise must be regular and purposeful.

    If all these fail, then, you may need the intervention of medical doctors and even specialist doctors or psychologists who are skilled in the art of dealing with stress. Hospital admissions may be called for. Medication may also be used as may be necessary. Other necessary therapeutic measures may also be used depending on the circumstances. Good luck.

  • Managing IPoB

    Managing IPoB

    •Utmost restraint on both sides; definitely not show of force, is the way out 

    It is unnerving that the presidency has chosen the path of deathly show of force in handling the testy matter of Nnamdi Kanu’s so-called Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB). Last week, the Nigerian Army hierarchy had announced what it terms ‘Operation Python Dance II’ (Egwueke); a partial military lockdown of the five southeast states of Nigeria.

    The first edition of this needless show of military might in an already embittered civilian enclave at a period of year-end festivities turned out to be an unwarranted provocation. Though the army explained that the exercise was grounded in such noble motives like conducting anti-kidnapping drills, mounting of road blocks and cordons, and a show of force to curb the rising threats to national security in the southeast part of the country; the result was a far cry from the intent.

    If the army had done a thorough evaluation of the first operation, it would have realised the futility of it: that it only succeeded in further alienating them from the people of the zone. The excruciating traffic snarl occasioned by the myriads of road blocks; the molestation of innocent citizens and resultant extortions by soldiers were the sour fruits of the first outing.

    If the first one was a near debacle, the current edition of the ‘Python Dance’ seems to portend catastrophic auguries. Even before its take-off, it is already recording bloody casualties and deep controversies. There is no doubt that this operation is targeted at the activities of the separatist IPoB across the southeast.

    As has been reported, the first port of call of the soldiers is the precinct of the IPoB leader’s residence which, as to be expected, has provoked the ire of the young man and his supporters leading to skirmishes with soldiers. A curfew had to be imposed on Abia State, the centre point of the crisis and it is anyone’s guess what else may follow if reason does not prevail, especially from the Federal Government.

    We must state here in the most unequivocal of terms that Nnamdi Kanu has crossed the lines and needed to be brought under some check by the Federal Government. First, he is under bail and has severally violated the terms of that bail. Worse, he has committed fresh offences which may tantamount to treason by raising what he called Biafra Security Service (notwithstanding that it may be merely a band of misguided youths clothed in cheap black T-shirts).

    This is not acceptable. There can only be one sovereign in a sovereign enclave and any agitation for separation must be under the law of such sovereignty. We also believe that government must act and quickly too to curtail the invidious activities of IPoB and its leader.

    Having said all that, the Federal Government has acted rather impulsively if not precipitously by choosing the rather deleterious option of throwing in troops in the fray as a first option. Since IPoB posed no immediate danger of armed insurrection, we thought government would have exhausted the existing court bail process. It could also have charged Kanu to court for fresh treasonable offences.

    By this process Kanu would have had to appear before the court. In the event that he refused, government would have chalked up more moral, legal and political points in the eyes of right-thinking people and even the international community to eventually move against him.

    Further, even in the event of having to apply force on who would have then been termed a dissident, we still do not see why government would mobilise the Nigerian Army in a matter that would have been better handled by the police and the intelligence corps.

    We call for caution, extreme caution especially on the part of the Federal Government. Now that this matter has been brought to a knife-edge situation, we must ensure that it does not escalate. Agitation for self-determination is no crime under any charter known by the civilised world. Needless to add that Nigeria cannot afford another civil carnage; we therefore urge utmost restraint and wisdom on both sides.

  • Managing risks in agro-food chains

    Dangote tomatoes processing factory in Kano was shut down in 2016 due to unavailability of tomatoes. This was caused by a tomato disease that ravaged northern Nigeria. I wondered why Dangote Group could not do a risk analysis for their plant before take-off. If they did, it should have been obvious that disease is a big risk factor in agro-food chains. It would have made them to prepare a plan B – importing from neighbouring countries? Maybe they thought “It will not happen in Jesus name”, as Nigerian Christians often say, hence, were caught off-guard. This intervention is for actors in the agri-food sector in Nigeria (farmers, trader, processors, wholesalers, retailers and consumers), operating in our risky environment, surrounded by unforeseen events.

    “If I knew that broiler chicken prices were going that high, I could have reared more chickens.’’ Such a statement is common with value chain actors, who never foresee the future, and regret their poor judgement. Making decisions would be easy, if we are sure of the outcome.  However, decision-making process in agribusiness is not easy. Outcomes may be better or worse than expected. Nonetheless, we must make decisions and act, even with the risks. So, what are the risks?

    Agro-food value chain risks are numerous. They include: Production risks from excessive or insufficient rainfall, extreme temperatures, pests, and diseases, technology change that may fail; threat of obsolesce of machinery; asset risks (fire and theft), and non-farm sector developments. Price and market risks occur in situations where farmers plant crops and rear livestock but at harvest for sale, prices crash, or a sudden increase in input prices, after production had been planned, based on lower prices.

    Institutional risks emanate from sudden changes in policy and laws that affect agriculture e.g. laws guiding pesticide and drug use, ban on agricultural imports, government prices, income programs, tax, credit, and environmental policies.

    Human risks result from change in business objectives or illness and death of the agribusiness owners.

    Financial risks deal with how a firm’s capital is obtained and financed e.g. increase in interest rate and erosion of owner equity value.

    Occurrence of risks create impacts. Negative impacts create increased costs, reduced sales, prices and profits. There are positive impacts too. Good agribusinesses take risks to achieve better profits. The riskier the business, the higher the profits. The risk takers carefully manage risky but potentially profitable situations. So, who are the risk takers?

    Based on risk-taking behaviour, actors can be identified as risk avoiders, daredevils, adventurers and calculators. Avoiders are very cautious, expecting the worst to happen and never take avoidable risks. They miss economic opportunities and are contented just surviving. Daredevils take unnecessary risks, ignore facts and fail, for lack of precaution. Adventurers take challenging risks with excitement and actively look for opportunities to do so. They may keep the stakes to reasonable levels through business planning. Adventurers take risks, if financial survival is not at stake, but under external pressure, may become less cautious. Calculators understand they must take risks, yet, recognize different degrees of risk in situations. Before acting, they gather information, realistically analyze the odds, and try to reduce risks to acceptable levels. Most farmers are calculators. So, how do calculators manage risks for better profits?

    Good risk takers in agro-food chains manage risks in several ways:

    Choosing low risk activities by undertaking only part of farm activity with low risk e.g. planting climate resilient and disease resistant crops and rearing disease resistant livestock.

    Enterprise diversification through engaging in many farm enterprises at a time, so that if one fails, others will succeed e.g. mixed farming.

    Geographically dispersing production by spreading agribusiness activities across locations to avoid negative impact of localized weather and business environment.

    Selecting and diversifying by selecting production practices that are effective in different situations e.g. prophylactic drug use, to prevent disease outbreak and periodic maintenance to avoid machinery breakdown.

    Maintaining flexibility in marketing and financial decisions but specialization hinder flexibility.

    Obtaining good market information from commodity markets, outlook information and chatting services. The market information must be combined with other actions.

    Participating in government programmes for protection from downside prices through price support, loan programs, target prices, and in-kind payments.

    Spreading sales by making several sales of a commodity in year, instead of once, to guarantee average prices that are close to season average price.

    Forward contracting through input and output forward contracting to guarantee annual price stability.

    Hedging by giving up the chance of a very high price to be protected from a low price.

    Options trading provides actors secured price insurance. Options will not always guarantee a profit but allow agribusinesses to share in favourable prices.

    Insurance provides specialized liquidity and protection against specific losses. Insurance buys protection through payment of premium e.g. medical disability and fire insurance for buildings.

    Maintaining reserves to provide liquidity during adverse times e.g. inventory reserves (stored grain).

    Pacing investments by postponing capital expenditures, withdrawals for consumption and taxes.

    Acquiring assets through leasing rather than purchasing.

    Limiting credit and leverage by putting limits to loans. Limits are imposed by the entrepreneur or lender.

    Off-farm jobs held by actors to increase the firm’s capacity to bear risks and supplement income.

    Effective risk management entails anticipating difficulties and planning to reduce the consequences, by protecting actors from negative impacts of their decisions. In gaining protection, part of the potential gain is given up as risk management costs. Usually, chain actors prefer avoiding losses and benefiting from favourable events simultaneously. This is can be difficult to achieve. The trade-off is to manage risks effectively without unduly sacrificing gains. To achieve optimum results, integrated risk management strategies, that combine different risk responses, should be used. This is because no single risk response can provide protection from all risks. But, the strategy should reflect your goals, personal and financial circumstances.

     

    • Dr. Ingweye is of Department of Animal Science,

    University of Port Harcourt.

  • Managing IDPs

    •Laudable gesture from South Africa but…

    That the Federal Government has been lax in managing the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) is not in doubt. Reports emanating from a number of the camps have been that of misery, squalor and the most abject of human conditions.

    In shelters in Abuja and other parts of the north, basic amenities like kitchen, water, electricity, clinics and classroom blocks are almost non-existent. Some camps have been shown to be derelict and unfit for human habitation while food supply and security have posed serious challenges both for managers and inmates.

    We have had cause to raise some of these points here a number of times, calling for a more articulate and professional handling of the IDPs problem that has beset the country since the upsurge of the Boko Haram terror about five years ago. However, as the activities of the terrorists were intensified with more villages sacked early last year, the number of displaced people rose rapidly across the country.

    More camps were also hurriedly set up but without the requisite facilities and support services. We were not surprised however by the reports emanating from two camps in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) recently. Two bodies: the South African High Commission working in collaboration with the Nelson Mandela Institute (NMI) were apparently moved to intervene in the IDPs affairs.

    As part of the activities to mark the 2015 Nelson Mandela International Day, they had produced and distributed no fewer than 400 identity cards for the IDPs in Area 1 and New Kuchingoro camps of the FCT. Some of the details contained in the identity cards include name and photographs of the displaced persons. Other information include: state of origin, identity card number, signatures and location of the camp.

    Apart from procuring identity cards for IDPs, the team led by the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Mnguni Lulu, also presented what they called support Booths which would serve as information-cum-administrative centre for each camp. These are intended to ease the administration of the IDPs camps as well as ensure effective dissemination of information. Essential items like generators and food stuff were presented by the South African team.

    The envoy noted that his country would continue to support Nigeria and her efforts to contain the Boko Haram menace. Their visit to the camp, according to him, was to improve the quality of lives of the displaced and to promote the legacy of Mandela. He promised that the embassy and the NMI would replicate the gesture in other camps within the FCT for the overall good of the displaced.

    This kind gesture of the South Africans is worthy of commendation and their especial courage to break diplomatic bounds and take needed help to hurting humanity is particularly worthy of note. We hope other countries would emulate this noble gesture and push through official barriers to ferry relief and succour to where they are sorely needed.

    On the other hand, we urge the Nigerian authorities, especially the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and all concerned in the affairs of the IDPs to wake up to the enormous task of managing compatriots who are caught in the crossfire of an insurgency. We wonder how the IDPs have been managed all these years without such basic tool as identification. If the ones camped in the FCT are lacking such basic requirement we shudder at the state of the camps in far-flung areas of the country.

    Apart from the funds voted for taking care of the IDPs, many kind-hearted Nigerians and international organisations would be willing to lend a hand if called upon and if they can observe a professional and accountable management of the problem.

    Lastly, it is common knowledge that no part of the country is still under the control of the insurgents. We therefore urge the handlers of the IDPs to begin to work towards resettling them back to their towns and villages from whence they were displaced. This is the next line of action and it should be done with utmost diligence.

  • Ebola: Managing public information

    Strategic communication remains a critical success factor or element of any human endeavor, issue or institution.  Strategic communication is a well-planned and well-coordinated means of passing well-designed messages from an individual or institution to its identified stakeholders or general public at the right time, in the right quantity to achieve well-defined objectives.

    Strategic communication, therefore, involves a carefully-planned and systematically delivered message with the purpose of creating a desired understanding, goodwill, support or behaviour for a particular course of action, policy or programme. Information is power, and must be used appropriately to achieve desired results.

    My submission here is that there is acute need to apply strategic communication or effective information management in dealing with the current outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus dDsease (EVD) in Nigeria; and indeed in all the countries where the disease has been reported.

    For now, raw information, in my considered view, is just being dished out unprofessionally, insensitively, without weighing their implications and imports, sociologically and psychologically on the people and residents of Nigeria. What is flowing into the public space is unguarded, unprocessed information that has capacity to aggravate the sad situation we have found on our hands.

    While CNN and the US health officials are dishing out positive information about how the two infected Americans, Dr. Kent Brantly’s and Nancy Writebol’s conditions have significantly improved after receiving a medication of an experimental drug, ZMap at the   Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, their Nigerian counterparts are unmindfully reeling out frightening information about the number of Nigerian doctors and nurses that have been infected, how many persons are being quarantined or isolated, how there is no cure for Ebola, blab bla bla! What exactly is the objective for this kind of information dissemination?

    Top government health officials have inadvertently engaged in much misinformation and outright poor information management about the Ebola outbreak in Nigeria. There is the urge to rush to the press to announce something. Such unprofessional information (mis)management has only achieved widespread tension, fear and panic among health workers, immigration officers, airport and airline workers, family members of sick persons and the general public.

    This would eventually degenerate into stigmatization of anyone who falls sick especially as the symptoms of EVD are same with those of common illness in Nigeria such as malaria, typhoid fever, diarrhea, etc. Very soon many clinics and hospitals may close down for fear of their personnel contracting the disease. Many bereaved persons may become afraid of burying their dead and leave the corpses to decompose in their homes. Already, many people are no longer shaking people’s hands. I’m told that many medical personnel have started absenting themselves from work because of the fear of contracting Ebola.

    Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu gleefully announced that a Nigerian doctor who attended to late Sawyer has tested positive to the deadly EVD, and three other health workers have become symptomatic of the disease. Lagos State chapter chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Tope Ojo, equally announced that the matron of the hospital who also attended to Sawyer was showing symptoms of Ebola virus.

    This kind of unprofessional information dissemination has heightened the apprehension about this Ebola epidemic.  More worrisome is the fact that government is not saying anything about measures being taken to save the lives of those who have tested positive to the disease.  We are only told how they are being isolated … to die or to recover!

    Such hopeless information has also impacted negatively on Nigeria’s image outside the country. Just last week, a South Korean university (Duksung Women’s University) rescinded an invitation for three Nigerians to attend an  international conference it was co-hosting with the United Nations; and a group of South Korean medical volunteers called off a trip to West Africa amid growing concerns about the spread of the deadly Ebola virus.

    One of the misinformation already dished out about the Ebola disease is that it has no vaccine or drug; therefore it is incurable; that anyone who contracts the disease will die. This is not exactly correct. A search at the website of the World Health Organisation (WHO) shows that many people have survived this disease in Liberia, Sierra-Leone and Guinea where the disease broke out about March this year.

    According to WHO, as at July 23, a total of 1,201 cases of the disease and resultant 672 deaths had been recorded in the three West African countries (Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone), which gives a case fatality rate of 55-60%. This statistics was updated on August 4, by WHO, showing more cases and more deaths, with one death of a Liberian, Patrick Sawyer in Nigeria, but the fatality rate remained around 55%.

    A WHO bulletin showed that many patients have survived the disease as a result of prompt medical care and intensive supportive care. According to WHO, the patients who are frequently dehydrated need intravenous fluids or oral rehydration with solutions that contain electrolytes. This is one piece of good news! Pray, when a government health official continues to emphasize that Ebola disease has no cure or vaccine, what does he intend to achieve with that message?

    It is not surprising that during a recent visit to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, the Director-General of WHO, Dr Margaret Chan, emphasized on the need to “improve information and communications systems in an effort to strengthen sensitization and promote community participation, taking into account cultural contexts.” Effective communication or proper information management is key to fighting the scourge of the Ebola epidemic.

    We need to control or guard the dissemination of information about the disease. Government needs to upgrade its public enlightenment and education programme about how to prevent the spread of the disease; send those infected to the US hospital; provide needed laboratory facilities; provide appropriate testing facilities at entry points; and go the whole hug in researching the effectiveness or otherwise of our own bitter kola in providing the needed cure for this deadly Ebola disease. We need action and a message of hope.

     

    • Dr. Nkwocha is head of corporate communications for a multinational company in Nigeria.  

     

  • Managing tourism

    Managing tourism

    Tourism is now a major engine of growth and development contributing significantly to Gross Domestic Product of many nations.

    Arising from the Earth Summit in 1992 organised by World Commission on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, sustainability has become a major ingredient for development.

    This book takes a cue from the publication of the World Tourism Organisation ( Indicators of Sustainable Development of Tourism Destination a Guidebook) to further help and inform Policy Makers and Destination Managers to obtain as much information as possible to guide their decision making process.

    To further articulate and interpret the subject matter, a set of component issues are provided including its performance indicators and verification to allow deeper knowledge. Sustainable development of tourism is applicable to all forms of tourism without exception.

    Tourism destination cannot exist without tourism product. Tourism products are the assets of the local community. They include complimentary attractions such as natural resources (beaches, waterfalls, mountains, ecosystems and landscapes) cultural and historical resources (festivals, historic sites, museums, local food) infrastructural facilities (roads, marinas, airport terminals) and support services ( tour operations, courier services, insurance, tourist information office etc).

    These attractions are planned in an integrated manner with the community aspiration and their active participation. The planning also involves creating partnership with other stakeholders such as travel agents, the tour operators, the hotel owners, the transporters  and owners of the heritage sites to mention but a few.

    These attractions are planned in an integrated manner with the community aspiration and their active participation.  The planning also involves creating partnership with other stakeholders such as the travel agents, the tour operators, the hotel owners, the transporters and owners of the heritage sites to mention but a few.

    There should be fundamental principles of creating tourism products, its development guidelines, planning process and marketing strategy.  Planners are encouraged to develop as many as what to see and what to do because tourism products are amalgamation of attractions, because the more of what to do and what to see; the more the visitors are attracted to the destination.

    The author made reference to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation and the United Nations Environmental Programme, which set out twelve aims towards achieving sustainable development through tourism.

    From the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Human Development Report of 2003 reviewed in 2011 and 2013 respectively, it was reported that these aims are set to reduce poverty in the world.   Already over 1.2 billion people are in extreme poverty level.  More than two-third of them live in Asia, half of them are in South Asia while one fourth reside in Sub-Sahara Africa.  The larger majority of the poor live in medium and large size countries.  More than sixty percent of the event world’s poor reside in just five countries and other less developed nations live in hunger and malnutrition, lack access to good health, water, housing, education and basic skills.

    The book tourism development is recommended to some of these countries as a means of combating poverty thereby reducing their poverty level and improving their quality of life.

    The overall objective of the concluding part of the book is to identify specific policy areas for which policy implementation can be formulated to reduce poverty and improve the well-being of the people.  The policy area articulated include conservation of physical integrity, visitor’s fulfilment, economic viability of tourism enterprises, its local prosperity, employment opportunities and the impact on the wellbeing of the local population.

    Visitors appeals are the attractions of the destination which could be natural, cultural, historical and manmade.  Maintenance and conservation of the attractions with respect to local circumstance are subject to policy formation.  Government is encouraged to develop appropriate policies that will bring about deliberate actions towards sustainable development.

    Sustainable development of tourism requires sound planning as well as protection and management of key elements such as destination assets, involvement of the local community and other stakeholders.

    Where no plan exists in a locality, it becomes imperative to identify possible assets and collate data on all elements associated with tourism potentials and threats.   Where a plan exists, then evaluate current tourism plan, issues and objectives to improve upon the existing system and initiate plans in consonance with sustainable development of tourism.

    The chapter is designed to provide in-depth study on destination planning and development by throwing more lights on tourism and planning, destination elements and characteristics, types of planning approach, destination development and control including parties that make tourism work at a destination.  Policy Makers and Destination Managers are encouraged to understand the planning process in tourism and what makes tourism work sustainably in a destination.

    Who has the mandate to plan and manage tourism destination?, the author asks.

    He went further in the publication to describe tourism as multi-sectorial and multi-discipline where no single entity (stakeholder) can lay absolute acknowledge to its management.  It bore on the importance of destination managers to understand the policy behind sustainability.

    The highlight of the success of the any destination is based on the following:

    •Emphasis on poverty reduction and increase on the quality of life of the local residents;

    •Protection of unique ecosystem, heritage sites and places of memory.

    •Establishment of the role of private sector in the planning, financing, implementation and ownership of the tourism operations;

    •Ensuring that the poor play active  role in the supply of goods and services including management of destinations;

    •Development of effective marketing and promotion strategies;

    •Co-ordination of essential government services;

    •Creating awareness among the stakeholders and the local community;

    •Ensuring implementation of regulation and control throughout the destination area.

    Tourism Destination Management; A Guide for Policy Makers and Destination Management gives an insight into the roles of various stakeholders and the Destination Management Organisation in the overall management of the destinations.

    Tourism destination is a place where visitors spend atleast one night. It covers a geographical and administrative boundary where products and services are offered to the visitors.

    Visitors in turn absorb complimentary and experiences, and share same with other (friends, families, colleagues and group).  These complimentary and experiences are expectations.  They could either be interesting or unpleasant.  It is a place where several actors and stakeholders nest, network and offer their services.  They are not limited to the following; public authorities, destination management organizations, transport operators, accommodation providers, heritage conservators, travel agent, tour operators, tour guide, financial institutions, other ancillaries and service providers including the host community.

    Destinations vary depending on their assets and unique attractions.  While issues affecting one destination may be similar to the other but several destinations are distinct in their attractiveness.  This chapter is designed for tourism professionals and managers of destinations to understand and appreciate the complexity, flexibility, similarity and uniqueness of destinations.

    It is certainly possible that issues affecting cultural heritage sites in the areas of protection and conservations are likely to have similar issues of ecosystem and biodiversity with beaches and coastal zones.

     

  • Managing your home (2)

    Managing your home (2)

    Dear Reader,  last week, we learnt man’s placement in the home. God designed marriage and family life to be successful. Well, you may say that every family has its own problems, but that is not necessarily the truth. From searching the scriptures, I have evidence to back up my claims that it is quite possible to have a hitch-free family here on earth. It is possible!

    This week, we shall be looking at those scriptural evidences briefly.

    After the fall of man, NOAH’s family was the first to distinguish itself in an evil generation. He was such a successful married man that God singled him and all the members of his family out, in the midst of destruction. God’s Word says:  And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation (Genesis 7:1).

    It is amazing that a man can succeed in family life, even before the dispensation of grace. That is to say that even before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and the era of grace, a man had won God’s favour by his commitment to his family. God’s Word says: But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord (Genesis 6:8).

    If Noah could make it, then you and I have no excuse to fail in our families. There is no reason for pressure, tension, or frustration because Jesus has already paid the price. He was our perfect substitute. He has been wounded, bruised, beaten, humiliated, spat on, etc, so that we may enjoy glory and honour in our homes. That is why no man has any excuse for beating his wife. None whatsoever! In as much as you cannot beat yourself for inefficiency in any circumstance.

    ABRAHAM, the father of Nations, was a very successful married man. In those days when the law had not been delivered, Abraham was still faithful to his barren wife. Even before he became the friend of God, he had a successful marriage. His contact with God did not reduce his commitment to his family, rather it enhanced it.

    He was a man God could count on to command his family to follow after Him.  God’s Words says: For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgement; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him (Genesis 18:19).

    If truly we are children of Abraham, it should be for us ‘like father, like son’. That’s why Isaiah 51:2 says: Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.

    It is time to resemble our father, Abraham, not only in a life of faith but faithfulness to build our families following God’s blueprint. If Abraham did not have problems in his family, you should not import problems to your family. It is about time you walked in the footsteps of your father. If he made it, so will you!

    SIMON PETER, one of the foremost apostles and right-hand man to Jesus, during his earthly walk, was a successful married man.  God’s Word says: Have not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? (1 Corinthians 9:5).

    It is possible to doubt whether Peter was married or not, because there is no record of a day his wife came to the crusade ground to challenge him for not fulfilling his marital obligations! I believe that one major reason he could fulfil his course with joy was because he had peace at home. His marriage was not an obstacle to his ministry or vice versa.

    If Peter could make it in spite of the tight schedule Jesus ran, we have no reason to fail. God’s Word says: And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever. And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them (Matthew 8:14-15).

    These are proofs that success in family life is a reality, and only fools doubt proofs. So, we have a responsibility to apply ourselves to the principles of God’s Word, which form the blueprint for marital success. Marital success shall be your portion in Jesus’ name!

    If you are not born again, you cannot be entitled to the peaceful married life that God has reserved for His children. You become born again by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Saviour and Lord. If you desire to be born again, say this simple prayer in faith: Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. I believe You died and rose on the third day. Forgive me of my sins.  Cleanse me with Your Precious Blood. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour.  Now, I know I am a child of God.

     

    Congratulations! You are now born again! Till I come your way next time, please call or write, and share your testimonies with me through: Email: contact@faithoyedepo.org and Tel. No: 07026385437, 08141320204.

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all the Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building a Successful Family, The Effective Minister’s Wife, and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

  • Managing your home (1)

    Managing your home (1)

    Dear Reader, it is with great joy that I welcome you to this life-transforming and inspiring teaching via the Word of God.  It is my prayer that at the end of this teaching, your life and family shall be transformed to the glory of God in Jesus’ name! This month, I will be sharing with you on Managing Your Home.

    God made the human family an unbeatable team and established them as gods on the earth; but because Adam failed in family management, he lost control and was sent out of the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:23). May you not be sent out of your place of destiny, in Jesus’ name. This is why this week, I will be sharing on Man’s Placement in the Home.

    Your placement in the kingdom of God, as a man, is determined by how well you rule your home.  If you cannot rule your house well, God will not allow you to rule His church, because He knows that you will not succeed at it. See what the Bible says about those to take up responsibilities in the Church. One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God? (I Timothy 3:4-5). Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well (I Timothy 3:12).

    If you can’t rule your house well, there is a limit to how far you can go in the things of God.  This same truth is repeated twice in the same chapter, showing its importance.  How well do you rule your home?

    To rule the home well, the man must be a loving leader, not a taskmaster.  Love is a necessary ingredient that a man must possess for effective leadership.  Christ rules the Church with the rod of love.  For the man to succeed, he must rule his home with the same rod. In fact, it is a scriptural commandment for the man to love his wife, as Christ loves the Church (Ephesians 5:25).

    Remember, Christ loves the Church and gave Himself for us, even while we were yet sinners.  Did I hear you say, “But I am not Jesus Christ?” God’s Word says: I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works… (John 14:12, NLT). So, if you are a follower of Christ and believes in His ministry, then you must also love your wife sacrificially, unconditionally and limitlessly.

    Don’t forget, love is not love until it is expressed. Therefore, to sincerely show that you love your wife, express it to her in words and in deed. When you demonstrate your love to your wife, you will be able to govern your home with ease.

    Clearly, if you must not suffer the kind of dethronement Adam suffered, you must have your home directly under your control. If your family fails, it is your fault and you will be held responsible by God. Even though God knew that it was the devil that deceived Adam and Eve, and gave them the fruit, which Eve ate before Adam, yet it was Adam that God called upon (Genesis 3:9).  Why?  Because God had already committed the management of the home into his hand.  The management of your home shall not fail, in Jesus’ name!

    God’s Word says: For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning… (Romans 15:4).  That is, in order not to make the kind of mistake Adam made, so that you do not suffer what he suffered, ensure that there is no communication breakdown between you and every members of your family.

    However, it is not enough to rejoice at the great authority that God has vested in you, as the head of the home, but to live up to the responsibilities attached to it. This is because some men boast to be the head of the family, without being responsible for the success of anything in the home. Anything happening to the body is felt most by the head.

    Have you ever thought about this: you as a man occupy such a strategic position that can influence and determine what the lives of other family members will be like? Therefore, live up to expectation, so that Christ can be magnified, not only in your life, but in your home as well.  Don’t let God regret making you the head of the home!

    The grace of God is the utmost requirement to effectively manage your home. This grace is only available to you when you surrender your life to Christ. This is done by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Saviour and Lord. If you are ready for this new birth experience, please say this prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. I believe You died and rose on the third day. Forgive me of my sins.  Cleanse me with Your Precious Blood. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour.  Now, I know I am a child of God.

     

    Congratulations! You are now born again! Till I come your way next time, please call or write, and share your testimonies with me through: Email: contact@faithoyedepo.org and Tel. No: 07026385437, 08141320204.

     

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all the Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building a Successful Family, The Effective Minister’s Wife, and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

  • Managing success

    We are an interesting country to behold. We make simple things look very difficult. We think more about ourselves than what we can contribute to our country. And this trend didn’t start today.

    The story from Germany ahead of the friendly against Mexico is disturbing. We are being told of our players seeking to play for clubs rather than our dear country. This is not the first time this has happened. And we are not capable of stemming the tide.

    We have thrown our arms up, but my fear is that we may have burnt our candles at both ends. I had thought that with the European season coming to a close, our players would assemble in Germany to plot the country’s strategies towards ensuring that we make the 2016 World Cup in Brazil.

    But that is not the story. Ahmed Musa has opted to play in the Russia Cup finals rather than participate in the Mexico friendly. Musa told the Super Eagles secretary that in the event that the Russia Cup final clashes with the Mexico friendly, he would play for his club.

    Could Musa have had the temerity to contemplate such a move if he were a fringe player in the squad? Is it not through Nigeria’s matches that he got the Russian deal? Is the Mexico friendly not meant to provide the platform for the players to understand themselves before the crucial 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Kenya in Nairobi on June 5 and Namibia in Windhoek on June 12?

    The flipside to the Musa story is what are the Mexicans doing for the game? Mexico’s big stars such as Manchester United’s Hernandez aka Chacharito, want to play the game. The Mexicans have three crucial World Cup qualifiers and they are in the Confederations Cup. For them, the Nigeria friendly is an opportunity to prepare for both tournaments.

    Stephen Keshi definitely needs God’s grace to have a full house of committed players for the Mexico game.

    Musa is not alone in the choice of clubs over country. Agency photographs showed John Mikel Obi and Victor Moses boarding the flight with their Chelsea mates to the United States. Obviously, they are out of the Mexico game.

    Moses, who played Chelsea’s last Barclays English Premier League game against Everton, is said to be nursing an injury, according to a letter purportedly sent to the NFF by Chelsea’s doctors.

    The question is: when did Moses sustain the injury? Was Moses not the person who headed down the pass that resulted in Chelsea’s goal against Everton last Sunday?

    We all saw him play the game. At no time did he fall down or collide with anyone. He walked off the pitch in celebration? Or could this be another conspiracy between the player and the club?

    Our players must stop insulting our sensibilities with their conduct. Chelsea couldn’t have listed Moses in their squad to the United States if he was injured. By the same token, John Mikel Obi can’t just wake up in the US to say that he is fatigued and can’t play the Mexican game. If so, what is he doing with Chelsea in the US? When last did Mikel play for Chelsea to necessitate the purported fatigue story he is selling? Did he not struggle to be fit for the Europa Cup final?

    Mikel’s history of boycotting games played on undulating pitches around Africa is legendary. When he didn’t play Chlesea’s closing stages games, I knew he would opt out of the game. I knew that he would not play the World Cup qualifiers because he wants to participate at the Confederations Cup, where he hopes to battle midfield supremacy with the bigger boys of the game.

    The story of Kalu Uche’s injury is weird. He even wrote to say that he was injured. Not one report revealed that he was. Is this his payback for Keshi for missing the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations held in South Africa? Kalu Uche is Nigeria’s highest goal scorer in Europe this past season. His injury would have been the biggest news. Anyway, let us see how Keshi fixes this “injury” puzzle.

    However, I’m worried about the silence from the NFF. Ordinarily, these unexpected withdrawals ought to elicit comments from it. Unfortunately, the NFF has cast an indulgent eye on the matter. Times past, it would have directed the players to report to Germany for the Eagles doctors to ascertain the veracity of their claims.

    NFF doesn’t want to interfere in this clay-pot-and-rat setting. It is leaving the matter for the coach to handle. I hope this doesn’t signal Nigeria’s ouster from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

    My fears are not unfounded because the boys could miss the stiffer of our two World Cup qualifiers against Kenya on June 5. And we would be in big soup because Moses and Mikel are the pivots of the team in the absence of recuperating Emmanuel Emenike.

    Curiously, the manner in which the coaches have handled players who played in the past has been awful. The coaches have made the players dispensable, such that no one would honour any late invitation.

    The dropped players sulked over their exclusion from the AFCON winning squad. This setting has tied the coaches’ hands in terms of seeking for substitutes, except they resort to the home-based. Therein lies one of the problems with our 2014 World Cup qualification ticket.

    If the coaches had cultivated the habit of talking with the players while with their clubs, it would have been easier for them to foil this late exclusion from the Mexico game.

    The coaches are shocked that the players didn’t give them any hint about their plans. How could they when their views are not sought before invitations are made?

    What is clear is that Keshi has lost the players’ confidence and trust. They are not ready to die for him. They feel he will dump them the way others were dumped, if their form drops. So, they would rather spend quality time with their clubs or proceed on their vacation.

    Perhaps, if Keshi had honoured the truce meeting scheduled in Abuja by the NFF before he left for the United States on vacation, the players would have laid their grievances on the table. All the issues would have been resolved and we would have had a fuller camp with our best players contending for positions.

    Keshi has assured us that there is nothing to worry about. I believe him because we have the talents. Yet the questions I want to ask Keshi are – when will the rebuilding of the Super Eagles stop? Won’t Keshi tell us some day that Moses is not in his plans? Will the Big Boss not shut out Mikel from the Eagles over this surprise change of heart?

    Eagles are suddenly a tournament team. They need to be in camp for long periods to gel. I had thought that the 14 days before the June 5 tie against Kenya would serve the purpose.

    Many people will argue that Moses, Mikel, Kalu and, indeed, others are tired from the season’s matches. True. How about those who are in the camp? Most countries eager to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil have scheduled warm-up games for their teams ahead of the qualifiers. Yet stars such as Frank Lampard are with Chelsea and would play in the friendly against Brazil at the end of the month.

    No ambitious country goes to a soccer war with her best players sitting at home. If they were injured, then their absence is tenable. Where they opt out of the country’s matches on spurious grounds of being injured only to star for their clubs, is a slap in our faces. And it is grossly unacceptable.

    If they knew that they won’t be available, they should have discussed their decisions with the coach before the list was submitted to the NFF.