The Nation Newspaper

Tag: neglect

  • The neglect of Tiv culture

    The neglect of Tiv culture

    Sir: Culture generally describes the behavioural patterns of people within a certain geographical enclave. Culture therefore entails peoples’ modes of dressing, eating habits, value system, taboos and norms. Culture has direct correlation with the traditional practices of the people within a region.

    The Tiv, an ethnic group in the North-central Nigeria belong to the Bantoid group of languages. It is widely believed that the Tiv came from the East, specifically from the Congo Basin area. They` are homogeneous people. They constitute approximately 3.5% of Nigeria’s total population, numbering over six million spread through Nigeria and Cameroon.

    The Tiv are the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria. A greater percentage of them live in Benue State where they are the largest

    Ethnic group, some in Taraba State where they are the second largest, and others are found in Nasarawa, Plateau, Cross-River, Niger and FCT, where they are minorities. Some are in the Republic of Cameroon.

    The Tiv culture is regarded as one of the richest heritage in Nigeria, Africa and the whole world. But today, their culture has been neglected as a result of influx of Western culture and civilisation.

    The stupendous neglect of our cultural values by our educated youth knows no bound. Children born and bred by Tiv parents prefer speaking English language to the Tiv language. The once cherished dialect (Zwa) is now neglected. Most Tiv families, especially those in diaspora, have long ignored the use of the dialect (Zwa Tiv) in their homes thereby alienating their children from their heritage. This has given rise to a trend where children and adults of Tiv extraction are completely oblivious of their language.

    Educated sons and daughters of Tiv Awange now dress like Europeans. Anger, Tugudu, Chado, Ivavtyo, Gbevwa etc which are some of the beautiful dresses cherished by our forefathers are now abhorred by the educated youth. The Swange dance which futures prominently on television have now been replaced with Kukere, Makosa, Hip hop and other foreign music.

    It is high time we came to our senses by moving towards reviving our dying cultures. Our Tiv traditional cultures must survive against all the odds!

     

    • John Akevi,

    Bauchi

     

  • Child abuse: A societal problem?

    Child abuse is the physical, sexual or emotional mistreatment or neglect of a child or children.

    Child maltreatment could also be described as an act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or other caregiver that results in harm, potential for harm, or threat of harm to a child.

    Child abuse can occur in a child’s home, or in the organizations, schools or communities the child interacts with.

    There are four major categories of child abuse: neglect, physical abuse, psychological or emotional abuse, and sexual abuse.

    Physical abuse involves physical aggression directed at a child by an adult. Most nations with child-abuse laws consider the deliberate infliction of serious injuries, or actions that place the child at obvious risk of serious injury or death, to be illegal. Physical abuse is the intentional or non-accidental production of a physical injury.

    Child sexual abuse on the other hand is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent abuses a child for sexual stimulation.

    While emotional abuse is defined as the production of psychological and social deficits in the growth of a child as a result of behavior such as loud yelling, coarse and rude attitude, inattention, harsh criticism, and denigration of the child’s personality.

    In many parts of the world, particularly in the developing countries, innocent children are subjected to hardship all in because of poverty.

    Some parents or caregivers are in the habit of beating, biting, blaming and yelling at their children all because they want to correct them of their wrong deeds.

    Children are often punished for behavior they are too young to control. Abusive parent has failed to understand the need to imbibe in the children the desired qualities and ways of life.

    It shouldn’t hurt to be a child. Many children who should be in school or with their parent to receive parental care, love and protection are on the street, on the highways hawking to earn a living or to help their parent.

    Many children had been exposed to sexual act and other anti-social behaviour through this.

    Abused children believe they don’t have values; they cannot affect the world around them hence they angry, dejected and depressed.

    Abused children are likely to experience generalized anxiety, depression, truancy, shame, suicidal and homicidal thought or to engage in criminal activity and promiscuity.

     

  • ACN spokesman decries neglect of ethnic group

    The Publicity Secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has urged governments in Kwara State to carry along the Igbomina in the scheme of things.

    He decried the relegation of the ethnic group in the state.

    Alhaji Mohammed enjoined the Igbomina at home and in the diaspora to take their position in the scheme of things.

    He spoke in Ilorin at the 10th anniversary of the National Association of Igbomina Students.

    Represented by a chieftain of the ACN in the state, Ayansola Atolagbe, the ACN spokesman said: “We need to be more focused as a people known for industry, honesty, hard work, decorum and sense of purpose. This is the time for unity. We should speak with one voice politically.”

    He said the carefree attitude of the Igbomina in politics would affect the socio-economic development of the area.

    The 2003 governorship candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Kwara State donated N100,000 to the association, which also launched its almanac.

    His representative pledged to donate N25,000.

  • Electoral campaigners protest neglect

    Members of the ‘Door-To Door Volunteer Campaign Group’ in Lagos State are protesting their alleged neglect by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The group, led by Gabriel Oguntola, claimed that it worked for the election of the President in the state in the 20 pre-existing local governments.

    The Coordinator for Alimoso/Festac, Pa Ayoola Omobolaji, said members of the group laboured in vain because they were not compensated by the President.

    He said members of the group were not demanding money from the President but scholarships, loan facilities for small-scale businesses and appointment into government agencies.

    “We approached the duty with patriotism and a clear sense of purpose. The conspiracy against the President was too much and masses were educated and sensitised on the need to give him a chance because of his transformation agenda. Many spent their pensions on the project. The President scored over one million votes in Lagos. The feat was achieved by some people who participated in the door-to-door campaigns. They deserve compensation”.

     

  • Ijaw, Itsekiri fault neglect of environment

    The people of Warri Federal Constituency in Delta State have decried the absence of environment from the list of 43 key issues voted on in the public session on the review of the 1999 Constitution.

    Speaking at the Federal Government College, Warri, venue of the session hosted bythe lawmaker representing the area, Daniel Reyenieju, the people lamented that the environment, one of the key issues affecting the Niger Delta, was not listed.

    An environmental activist, Temi Brown Dibofun, said the region is submerged in oil pollution because of unguided oil exploration and activities of international oil companies.

    He said: “The ecosystem in Warri and the Niger Delta is becoming a disaster zone.

    “If we must continue to survive, we must have an enabling law dedicated entirely to a sustainable environment.

    “It is not out of place to demand that a fresh environment should be made a constitutional right for all Nigerians, especially those in this area.”

    The Igba of Warri Kingdom, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, also decried the Yes/No format of the template for voting.

    She said: ”It is not right for us to come and say yes or no to all issues.

    “We may not be lawyers, but we are learned.”

    Mrs Lori-Ogbebor said the people should be allowed to make inputs and not tele-guided.

    Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and Reyenieju calmed frayed nerves with a promise that a stakeholders’ session would be held before the final process of the review.

  • ACN govt ‘ll not neglect rural areas, says Akeredolu

    ACN govt ‘ll not neglect rural areas, says Akeredolu

    the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate in Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has reiterated his commitment to develop the rural areas.

    He urged the Ilaje people not to relent in their push for power shift at the poll this month.

    Akeredolu sympathised with the oil producing communities for the dearth of social infrastructure in the area in the last four years. He promised to stop the neglect “of the goose that lays the golden egg.”

    The ACN governorship candidate whose campaign train was at the riverine communities at the weekend, was welcomed by thousands of enthusiastic supporters.

    Many followers of the ruling Labour Party (LP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who had defected to the ACN, received brooms and the party’s flags from the ACN leader and pledged their support.

    Accompanied by his running mate, Dr. Paul Akintelure, the Campaign Director, Tayo Alasoadura, Women Leader, Erelu Modupe Johnson and Chief Olu Taurose, the ACN standard bearer visited Ugbo, Amoye, Obenla, Upete, Ayetoro, Urunna and Ogbonla.

    “You voted for Chief Obafemi Awolowo and you did not regret it. You voted for Chief Adekunle Ajasin and you did not regret it. You voted for Chief Adebayo Adefarati and you did not regret it. Vote for me on October 20 and I assure you, you will not regret it,” Akeredolu told the crowd at Igbokoda.

    He paid tributes to traditional rulers, community elders and grassroots leaders who he said have maintained an abiding faith in the cause of freedom for all and made life abundant since the days of Awolowo.

    He said their dream of repositioning Ilaje and Ondo State would be realised by the ACN.

    The lawyer said it was sad that no road had been built and rehabilitated in the neglected Ilaje communities, despite the huge money made from natural deposits by the government.

    He described the marginalisation as a wicked act by those who have closed their eyes to pity, assuring that relief was at hand.

    Akeredolu said: “We have a new crop of selfless, patriotic and dedicated leaders who are compassionate.

    They have embraced the transformation of their states and region with a passion. Gone are the days of avarice and graft in the Southwest. There is much work to do. No sacrifice is too much to make for our people; our fathers and mothers, our youths, our farmers, our petty traders, our artisans and peasants.”