The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Playing

  • Playing on the world stage

    Two young Nigerians – Gideon Olanrewaju and Miss Omotoke Olowo – got the rare opportunity of leading strategic conversations on education at the ongoing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States. They are among those selected to engage world leaders on how to deliver quality education to the world’s 260 million out-of-school children. WALE AJETUNMOBI writes.

    ABOUT 260 million children and young people, globally, are being deprived of education, according to statistics by the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF). The statistics showed that some 400 million children have only primary school education, with no incentives to study beyond that level.

    Propelled by the statistics, the UNICEF warned world leaders of the growing threats to education. These threats,  it said, did not arise from lack of schools, but because of the rising trend of disaster, violence and insecurity, which led to the displacement of families.

    The report noted that failure to provide learning opportunities for the uprooted children has profound consequences for individuals and nations. This deprived population is scattered across conflict zones, with most of the victims in Africa.

    In 2015, more than 28 million children were forced out of their homes because of violence and insecurity; some 27 million children of primary and lower secondary school age were said to be out of school in 24 conflict-affected countries.

    With these statistics, can Africa surmount the challenge of poverty and improve access to quality education in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN)?

    Some young activists, including two Nigerians -Omotoke Olowo and Gideon Olanrewaju – proffered solutions to these problems before world leaders at the ongoing United Nations  General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City, United States (U.S.).

    The activists engaged leaders in drafting the plans to deliver quality education to the 260 million out-of-school children.

    Omotoke, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Autism Awareness in Nigeria, and Gideon, founder of Aid for Rural Education Access, are attending the UNGA as part of education charity aimed at propagating the #WritetheWrong campaign, which they started from Africa, to the world.

    “The #WritetheWrong campaign aims to tackle the growing global education crisis,” said Gideon at the UNGA forum on education, which was attended by high-level business executives and dignitaries.

    They included former United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister  Gordon Brown, the UN Deputy  Secretary-General, Mrs Amina Mohammed, and a foremost humanitarian and former First Lady of South Africa Graca Machel.

    At the meeting, which was hosted by the Global Business Coalition for Education, Gideon said: “The world is at the crossroads, going by the statistics that over a quarter of a billion children and young people are not in school. If this problem is left unaddressed, education crisis could leave half of the world’s 1.6 billion children and young people out of school or failing to learn the most basic skills by 2030.”

    He warned world leaders that young people would hold them accountable for their actions or inactions to move education forward.

    Gideon said: “Where I grew up, most people simply did not have access to quality education. In rural communities like mine, which is many miles away from big cities, the government simply didn’t seem to consider education a priority. Where they did, often there wasn’t funding available to make quality education delivered to everyone who needed it.

    “This did not happen in a small or poor country; this happened in Nigeria, which has one of the highest GDP in Africa. It was when I went to England to study that I was able to dedicate my time to organisations like Theirworld, and to my own education programmes through which I am helping to provide quality education to marginalised communities in Nigeria and South Africa.

    “I am lucky to be able to do this. But, there are millions of children and young people in Nigeria, and hundreds of millions worldwide, who are being denied the opportunity to learn and contribute to the growth of their communities and the world.

    “At best, this is condemning future generations to poverty, denying them the skills needed to improve their lives and their communities. At worst, this is leaving them vulnerable to forced labour, forced marriage, trafficking, armed conflict, and terrorism. These are problems not just for them or their communities, but for the world.”

    Omotoke said: “The world can attest to the fact that Mr Gordon Brown and his wife, Sarah, are passionate about helping children and young people get the education needed to live independent and poverty-free lives. Personally, I have been impressed by their commitment to help marginalised children and those with learning disabilities, who have previously been forgotten in the global education debate.

    “Sitting in a meeting with you to discuss challenges facing education and driving conversation to proffer solutions, I am sure, would bring about more action to address the problems in most of the disadvantaged countries and regions.

    “The higher costs involved in supporting children with special educational needs have been a barrier for many governments. I hope the increased funding for global education that charities such as Theirworld, Plan and Save the Children, are calling for will be used to support every child to get educated.”

    Gideon urged the forum to consider the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO’s) recommendations, saying increasing finance remained essential to closing the annual funding gap needed to support education which the low and middle-income countries (LMICs) face.

    During the session tagged: Global Business Coalition for Education, Gideon also addressed leaders of topmost educational organisations and funding partners, including UNICEF, UNESCO, Global Partnership for Education (GPE), Education Cannot Wait, Dubai Cares, and World Bank among others.

    Gideon said: “We must be united in our belief that next-generation thinking and next-generation partnerships are required to achieve the 2030 global goals for education, what tangible actions, innovations and new ways of working can create disruptive, systemic change and unlock the potential of young people in the wake of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

    “All points raised by the Director General of UNESCO, John Fallon, Head of UNICEF and Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Cares are important. And I would like to make sure that as we seal partnership and take actions we can take. My peers are the youth generation and my friends are the ones who are facing an uncertain future and lack of investment in skills.”

    The proposed International Finance Facility for Education (IFFEd), Gideon said, is a fund that will provide more affordable stream of finance for LMICs that want to invest in education. He added that the UNESCO’s proposal for generating multi-billion dollar fund for education was aimed at drawing $10 billion dollars for education by using donor guarantees to leverage lending from multilateral banks.

    Over 1.7 million people worldwide have signed a petition in support of IFFEd. Top-notch UNGA attendees also spoke in support for the finance facility.

    The UK Minister for International Development Penny Mordaunt, said: “The UK stands ready to support this important work,” urging influential politicians attending the General Assembly to “get the job done”.

    Ms Machel described the initiative as “the single largest investment in human capital history”, while Jim Yong Kim, the head of the World Bank, signalled the bank’s support, saying: “Make no mistake – investments in education have much bigger returns on investment than investments in infrastructure.”

    Despite significant advances in education across the globe, experts at the General Assembly argued that over a quarter of a billion children were out of school, revealing statistics, which said one in five children don’t have a basic education.

    Sarah Brown, president of Theirworld, a global children’s charity organisation, said: “Many people are simply not aware of the scale of this crisis. Children out of school face a dire future of exploitation, child labour and early marriage. If leaders fail to act now an entire generation will miss out on an education.”

  • Playing the flattery game

    Playing the flattery game

    When you say what you don’t mean, it could lead to a problem. When you don’t say what you mean, it could also lead to a problem. It is not surprising that the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, had a problem trying to clarify what he said about Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

    During a meeting the governor held with traditional rulers in Ibadan, the state capital, on March 1, Oba Adetunji had said: ”The Yoruba don’t appreciate themselves except to abuse and criticise. But when someone has done well, we must say it. I am talking about what I have seen so far. In view of this, I would have loved him (Ajimobi) to go for another term, if not that the constitution does not allow it. The governor has performed very well. He has recorded unprecedented achievements worthy of commendation. This is the only way to spur him into greater performance for the benefit of the state.” Ajimobi became governor in 2011 and will complete his second term in office in 2019.

    The king’s commendation was curious, considering that the governor had displeased him by installing 21 new kings in his domain. The installation was recently annulled by an Ibadan high court.

    Clearly, what Oba Adetunji said was clear enough. Interestingly, a few days later, he laboured to explain what he had said and why, while hosting hundreds of Ibadan indigenes at his Popoyemoja palace as part of activities marking this year’s Ibadan Week.

    A statement by his spokesman, Adeola Oloko, said:  ”As a monarch, I have no power over the election and re-election of anybody, not to talk of tenure extension, which is unconstitutional. Besides, when I was exchanging banters with the governor, I was only cracking a joke with him as a son and subject. Even, if Governor Ajimobi offended us, it would be indecorous on my part to address him harshly. Besides, there is a subsisting judgment over the controversial chieftaincy review, which awaits compliance. About four or five suits relating to the matter are still in court and have not been withdrawn.”

    In other words, Oba Adetunji didn’t mean what he said. In other words, he was merely playing the flattery game. Why did he say what he didn’t mean when he should have known that it could be misunderstood?  Say what you mean, and mean what you say.

     

     

  • Playing the ostrich – all over again

    Playing the ostrich – all over again

    Thursday last week, Minister of State for Petroleum Ibe Kachikwu – as if to remind Nigerians that fuel scarcity which sneaked into town in December is not about to dissipate any time soon – directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to ensure that petrol queues were cleared in Abuja before Sunday.

    The minister, as reported by Vanguard, also stated that the queues have been persistent because logistics and policy issues that could end the scarcity are largely unaddressed:

    “I can tell you behind the scenes, a lot of meetings are taking place because the fuel queue issue is both logistics and policy issues.

    “We will need to address fundamental policy issues to enable it go away especially in the area where the pricing is showing differentials between the landing and sales price.

    And then, as if to remind that our chief of state is not entirely indifferent to our tears and supplications, he would also add almost superfluously: “The president is obviously very committed to keeping the price of petrol at where it is because he realises and sympathises with the sufferings of Nigerians.

    Now, let’s take the issues one by one – starting with why the directive was specific to Abuja and not nationwide.

    The minister had a ready, interesting answer: The maiden edition of the international oil and gas conference and exhibition tagged the Nigerian International Petroleum Summit (NIPS) holding from Sunday February 18 to Friday February 23: “I will hate for my colleagues to come and see the fuel queues so my directive to NNPC would be to get these queues out of Abuja”.

    By colleagues, he meant the attendees at the summit most of whom, already too familiar with our literature of ineptitude, would hardly notice in any case. Never mind that this is what the ordinary citizen has had to put up with for nearly three months running; as far as the minister was concerned, the PR disaster of having the capital city of OPEC’s sixth largest exporter of crude suffer a weeklong lockdown while the summit lasted would seem by far more than the most of excruciating pains of an anguished citizens can assuage.

    So, over to you Abuja folks; enjoy the respite while it lasts! As for the rest of the country – with notable exception of Lagos where official price still bears the semblance of ruling the market, that is, if you don’t mind the inconveniencing queues at the filling stations –market forces have long been calling the shots with petrol in some parts of the country selling for between N200-N250 a litre.

    At issue is why the nation’s pumps have been coming in drips despite the so-called massive intervention of the national oil corporation, the heroic efforts of the duo of Kachikwu and Maikanti Baru, and the legendary empathy of the chief of state with the sufferings of the people. By now, we have seen enough of the maverick psych-ops of the men of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and their daily rounds of sealing fuel stations; the endless finger-printing between the leading actors in the fuel supply chain – NNPC, Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPMAN) and Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria (IPMAN) as to who to hold responsible for the crisis. We are also familiar with the statistics routinely rolled out showing that the country has enough white products to last her many lifetimes, not excluding the calm assurances of those in the position to do so that good times are already at the door. Yet, the problem has not gone away.

    In fact, that the minister is still talking about “logistics and policy issues” three months after the symptoms of the familiar disease resurfaced would seem to indicate how far the government and the major institutions in the fuel supply chain would prefer to live in denial rather than put the cards on the table.

    Call the problem a good one if you may, it is a well-known fact that the current fuel price of N145 per litre was set when oil sold for $35 per barrel. Today, oil prices have since neared $70 a barrel just as the foreign reserve has been on a steady upward climb. At the last count, it was said to have hit $42 billion plus. Unfortunately, while exulting in the build-up of the foreign reserves, Nigerians may have shut their minds to the corresponding upward pressure on domestic fuel prices and consequently the steady relapse to the pre cost-recovery regime of fuel pricing particularly at a time of continuing reliance on imports.

    And so when the minister says that the president is “very committed to keeping the price of petrol at where it is because he realises and sympathises with the sufferings of Nigerians”, it can only be that the president is only too aware that the current fuel price math –elegantly framed by the minister as ‘differentials between the landing and sales price’, no longer adds up! The question here is what his administration has done to address the issue beyond playing the ostrich, hoping perhaps the problem will disappear by itself!

    To be sure, no one has yet called for a review of fuel prices. The much that has been said is that the situation is delicate – and so requires thoughtful, deliberate policy actions. This is even more so since major importers have long stopped the trade precisely because doing so at current price is as good as a one-way fare to bankruptcy. And the consequence? A space yielded exclusively to the national oil corporation – a burden that it has been unable to discharge – owing to twin factors of logistics and cash.  It certainly says a lot about the priorities of the administration that it has been practically Missing In Action (MIA) since the cost-recovery template was set in May 2016.

    That being the situation hardly merits a denial. But what do we hear? Denials and more denials from the NNPC and the federal government. Not even when the situation calls for the opening the treasury vaults to bridge cost-price recovery gap. Ostensibly for fear of giving anything away, the government’s price fixing agency – even the Petroleum Products Prices Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has gone as far as yanking the price template element off its website as if doing so will restore things to normalcy!

    So much for the love of fatherland, it needs to be said at this time that the only crimes worse than denial is the secrecy and potential rip-off foisted by the current regime of under–recovery of fuel costs.  Perhaps, the government and the NNPC will yet inform Nigerians of the existence of a piggy bank permitted for such operations outside of the law. Until then, it stands to reason that someone, somewhere, may actually be breaking the law!

    And now I ask: Is the National Assembly MIA too?

  • Playing to the gallery

    Playing to the gallery

    It was no time to show showmanship, but a showman will always be a showman. Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, who became a federal lawmaker after succeeding in the entertainment sector, put up an entertaining show in the Senate chamber on January 17.

    A report said: “The session came on the heels of Tuesday’s 14-day ultimatum for Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris to fish out the perpetrators of the New Year’s Day massacre in Benue State. Over 70 people killed in the mayhem were buried in a mass burial in the state capital, Makurdi, last week.”

    Senators spoke about solutions. Murray-Bruce, representing Bayelsa State, came up with a solution that sounded like a problem. According to the report, Murray-Bruce “noted that if the executive arm of the government wanted the Senate to do its work, Senate President Bukola Saraki should immediately be appointed President so that he could deal with issues decisively. He added that Saraki seemed to be the only person concerned about the worsening security situation.”

    Murray-Bruce was quoted as saying: “It seems to me that Nigeria is becoming a lawless country; a country with no rules and regulation, a country where laws are not adhered to.” Please note the lawmaker’s words. Ironically, he then went on to suggest a lawless approach.

    Perhaps the separation of powers makes no sense to Murray-Bruce, even when he is a beneficiary of the system. If the concept made any sense to him, he would not have said what he said.

    This is what he said: “It is as if the Senate is now the executive arm of government…If the people responsible for the protection of lives and property in Nigeria cannot do their job, what happens in civilised countries, they are fired… let us appoint the Senate President to be the President of Nigeria.  Let us do the job of the executive because it doesn’t make any sense… If Saraki is the only one interested, let him become the president of Nigeria and that solves the problem. We cannot continue like this.”

    The public image of the Nigerian Senate under Saraki is a subject better avoided here. It is enough to say that the senator’s effort to whitewash the Senate failed.

    The performance by Murray-Bruce is called playing to the gallery. It proffered no sensible solution, but was an exaggerated display of concern.

  • Playing god

    •Except for foreign loans, the Federal Government cannot interfere in transactions between state governments and local banks

    It is true that the downward plunge in the international price of crude oil has had very serious negative implications for Nigeria’s economy. Indeed, so critical is the situation that the crude oil price benchmark of $78 per barrel, adopted for the 2015 budget projection, has been lowered to $73 per barrel.

    Yet, it is no less true that no level of government can exonerate itself from part-responsibility for the profligacy and fiscal irresponsibility that have made Nigeria ill-prepared to absorb the shocks, resulting from dipping international oil prices.

    This is why the Federal Government’s grandstanding and ‘holier-than- thou’ attempt to hold other levels of government responsible for the unsavoury economic situation is most unhelpful, to say the least.

    The Federal Government’s latest stance in this regard is its reported directive to banks in the country to obtain the approval of the Federal Ministry of Finance before granting loans to any state government. This measure is purportedly to check alleged abuse of the money market by some state governments.

    Of course, we appreciate the responsibility of the Federal Government for the overall coordination and management of the national economy. However, the government at the centre is entirely deluded if it assumes that it has managed its own share of accruals to the national treasury with a higher degree of discipline and transparency.

    Today, the Federal Government is statutorily entitled to 56% of all revenues remitted to the Federation Account and distributable to all tiers of government. On the other hand, the 36 state governments and the 774 Local Government Councils share 44% of accruals to the Federation Account.

    The implication is that each state and local government accesses less than one per cent of funds shared from the Federation Account. Yet, neither the Federal nor most of the other levels of government can show any appreciable level of development commensurate with the quantum of funds they share at their monthly allocation jamboree.

    No level of government is, therefore, qualified to try to paint the others black as the Federal Government tries to do in this instance.  This is even more so because the Federal Government’s failure to effectively discharge its responsibility of securing the country’s oil supply pipelines has considerably worsened the economic crisis.

    Thus, despite yearly contracts worth N5.06 billion awarded to former Niger Delta militants to protect oil pipelines, the theft of the country’s crude oil continues on an astronomical scale; with the consequence of drastically reducing the funds remitted to the Federation Account.

    The revenue accruing to states thus continues to fall monthly, with many states now owing a backlog of salaries to workers. Therefore, to make it virtually impossible for states to access the money market for short-term loans for development purposes, which is the implication of the new Federal Government directive, can only inflict further injury on the national economy.

    The Federal Government’s directive to banks, as regards loans to state governments, negates the spirit of federalism. As an agency of the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Finance has no business guaranteeing domestic loans to state governments. Such powers can easily be abused in an immature and overly partisan political process like ours, with negative implications for development.

    Rather, the country’s money market should have clearly stipulated guidelines and regulatory laws for granting loans to private and public entities, including the Federal Government. The operations of the money market must be guided by the laws of supply and demand, rather than the partisan proclivities of any arm of government.

    What the emergent frightening economic scenario calls for, from all levels of government, is greater discipline, transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.

  • ‘We need level-playing field in APC’

    ‘We need level-playing field in APC’

    House of Representatives aspirant Otunba Rotimi Ajanaku has advised the All Progressives Congress (APC) to provide a level-playing ground for aspirants.

    The aspirant, who is eyeing the  Ibadan Southwest /Northwest  Constituency slot, told Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi at Ibadan that only equity, fair play and justice can sustain the party.

    Declaring his ambition at the governor’s residence, Ajanaku, who organised a rally to mark his declaration described the APC as a popular party that should be nurtured by justice.

    He appealed to the governor to prevail on the party leaders to provide a level playing field for aspirants, stressing that APC will wax stronger by conducting transparent primaries.

    Ajanaku reiterated his loyalty to the party, saying that he has no plan to defect to another party.

    Also speaking at the event, the student union leader of the Federal Collge of Agriculture,  Mr Ishola Adewale, said: ‘’We have confidence in Ajanaku and the reason we are supporting his ambition is that Ajanaku has asssited our union.

    “We strongly believe that he has what it takes to be a federal legislator..”

    A chieftain, Mr  Babatunde Tijani, said: ‘’We want Ajanaku to contest  for the House of Representatives because he will perform in the House. He is a grassroots person. He is a great mobiliser.

    He added: “He was not given the party’s ticket on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria. But, he has remained loyal.”

    Ajimobi said:”I can understand party members’ feelings. I am using this forum to assure everyone that this time around, there would be a level playing ground for aspirants wishing to contest .

    “All aspirants would be subjected to transparent, fair and credible primary election. This time around, all aspirants would have to prove themselves. Party delegates would decide on aspirants so that we can have a better candidate that would represent us in the general election come 2015.

  • Aper Aku stadium: Expatriates commences work on the final stage of the playing pitch

    Expatriates who specialise in coconut fibre are currently working on the Playing pitch of Aper Aku stadium, the home of Lobi stars in Makurdi.

    When Sportinglife visited the stadium , workers were seen laying the shock absolving system, preparatory for sand, then, coconut fibre and cock before the grassing.

    Shock absorbing system on a football pitch enhance the performance of players and keep it cooler. It’s also gives comfortability players and reduce injury. However, Sportinglife observed that the stadium contract had no provision for springer which control ball behavior.

    MR. Ebi Egbe, the contractor handling the upgrading of the Aper Aku told sporting life that ,his firm would use the period of the completion of the stadium to and the state government to installed springers in the stadium .

    Chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria ( SWAN) Comrade Uja Emmanuel advised the Benue state government as a matter of policy to extend the contract to covering maintenance and installation new running track for a period of 10 years to for proper monitoring .

    Comrade Uja stated that from experience , government spent billions on projects but lack of maintenance led to decay of same projects .

    The SWAN chairman advised Governor Gabriel Suswam to used the National Stadium Sulurere, Lagos, as an example ,which was one of the best ,but now in decay for lack of proper maintenance and extend the contact for the upgrading of Aper Aku to cover maintenance.

    Governor Gabriel Suswam said he would give soccer loving people of Benue state a new stadium as a parting gift of his administration .

  • I have been playing around

    She isn’t so keen

    I have been in a relationship with a girl I met on a plane about two years ago. As soon as I saw her I knew that she was the kind of woman that I wanted to marry. We got closer and I liked almost everything I saw and heard about her and her immediate family. However, I realised that I am the only one making efforts to make the relationship work. On her part, there is a non -challant attitude and I wonder if things would work this way. Bala

     

    Response

    Happiness is not something that is ready-made. You just have to work towards it on a daily basis. If what you want is a healthy relationship, then you must work towards it. It is about two people who truly want to work together to create something meaningful out of life. Love is great when spoken, but greatest when shown. You need to do little things daily to show your loved ones that you care.

     

    I have been playing around

    My fiancée sent a letter to me last week telling me that she was no longer interested in the relationship. Her letter took me by surprise but I guess her reasons are genuine. She stated that she had stayed too long in the relationship and found that I wasn’t showing some level of commitment because I was dating other women. Well, I thought I was just doing what the other guys were doing and that I still had time to play around a little. However, she is the one that I love and wish that she would take me back. Do you think that she would come back if I apologise and promise to change my ways? Henry

     

    Response

    You cannot eat your cake and have it back. If she continues to hang around and you finally decide to marry another person, then you would have succeeded in ruining her life. The truth of the matter is that, there cannot be a relationship without commitment. You cannot win a heart unless there is loyalty, understanding, patience and persistence. If you are sure that you are serious, then go back to her and propose to her right away.

     

    Didn’t get my mother’s approval

    Please I need your advice. I have been in a relationship for about three years and we want to marry each other. But my mother is against it because he is not from my state. He is a Yoruba man and I love him so much. Please what can I do? I do not want to lose him. Amara

     

    Response

    Even though it is important to respect the wish of your mother, your needs also matter. You can’t ignore your feelings especially when you have found what you really want. Plead with your mother to change her mind. Sometimes, you just have to do what’s best for you, your life and not what is best for someone else. So, you have to say what you need to say and let her know how you feel about this guy. If you do not speak up now, you may live to regret losing the one you love.

     

  • What you don’t know about playing

    As a child, I played a lot without restriction. But as I grew older, my perception changed; I began to see play as children’s pastime. From my environment, I learnt that a growing mind should get involved with activities that are meant for mature minds. I never knew that my perception of playing was absolutely wrong and that I was not being fair to myself until I got this information that I would love to share with you.

    However, there is a general perception about playing. In psychology, play is a range of voluntary, motivated activities normally associated with recreational pleasure and enjoyment. Play is most commonly associated with children and their juvenile-level activities. Play is what we all see as the business of childhood. They are the times we jumped about when we were children forgetting who we really were and what the whole world was about. We would usually just lose ourselves in the moment and have great fun with our friends, our dolls and toys or even have mummy and daddy joke around with us, allowing us free rein to experiment with the world around us and the emotional world inside us. We’d usually just assume different roles moving from superhero to daddy and mummy, to police officer with ease, experimenting with diverse identities, and explore a variety of scenarios and outcomes.

    Growing up has changed us and our perception about play. Children who play are believed to be calm and happy. Playing makes them smarter and open minded, intelligent and gives them the ability to relate better with their environment as they grow older. Play gives your child a sense of control, especially imaginative play as he interprets the dramas of everyday life and practices the rules of social behaviour. But as much as we believe that play is for children, play can also be a useful adult activity. Many of the most prominent researchers in the field of psychology (including Jean Piaget, and Sigmund Freud) have viewed play as endemic to the human species. These psychologists all had strong beliefs on how important play was on human development. Many research methods were performed to prove their theories. Play is often interpreted as frivolous; yet the player can be intently focused on their objective, particularly when play is structured and goal-oriented, as in a game. Play can range from relaxed, free-spirited and spontaneous through frivolous to planned or even compulsive activities.

    As frivolous and spontaneous as play can be, play drives some of humanity’s greatest achievements. Washington State University neuro-scientist, Jaak Panksepp, believes that diminishing classroom playtime could be what is responsible for the recent rise of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder which is a type psychiatric disorder in which there is a problem of attention, hyperactivity and acting impulsively in a way that is inappropriate for a person’s age.

    In the aspect of communication, in 1981 study showed that students in the pre-school level use more complex languages while playing make-believe than during ordinary conversation. Generally speaking, the larger a mammal’s brain, the greater its tendency to play, according to a 2001 Journal of Comparative Psychology study that correlated play with relative brain size, according to Pennsylvania State University anthropologist. Garry Chick, men act playfully to signal non-aggressiveness to a potential mate, while women do it to evoke youthful fertility. Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, reported last year in nature that playing NeuroRacer, a video game designed for their study, boosted both long and short term memory in participants as old as 79.

    In young children, play is frequently associated with cognitive development and socialisation. Play that promotes learning and recreation often incorporates toys, props, tools or other playmates. Play can consist of an amusing and imaginary activity alone or with another. Some forms of play are rehearsals or trials for later life events, such as “play fighting”, pretending social encounters such as parties with dolls, or flirting.

    Modern findings in neuroscience suggest that play promotes flexibility of mind, including adaptive practices such as discovering multiple ways to achieve a desired result, or creative ways to improve or reorganise a given situation.

    While playing might look like a child’s thing, it has the potential to serve as an important tool in numerous aspects of daily life for adolescents and adults. Not only does play promote and aid in physical development (such as hand-eye coordination), it also aids in cognitive development and social skills, and can even act as a stepping stone into the world of integration. Researchers have found playing to aid in the aspects of problem solving, skill building, overcoming physical and mental challenges the individual might be facing in his or her life. Play builds the imagination.

    Playfulness has also been the basis of major scientific discoveries and some of humanity’s greatest achievements. Albert Einstein formulated his special theory of relativity after imagining himself chasing a beam of light.

    Conclusively, play is not for children alone. It has a lot to do in the lives of every individual ranging from mental and physical development to socialisation. At some points in our daily lives, we all feel the urge to live in the moment and have some fun by getting involved in some sporting activities like chess or just hang out with friends. one should always remember that restricting one’s self is detrimental to the health because playing relieves stress and aid positive thinking.

     

    Abibat, 400-Level Mass Comm., UNILORIN

     

  • Playing by the rules

    In a bid to sanitise advertising, the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) has clamped down on those not registered with it. Some stakeholders believe that APCON’s action is right, others think otherwise, reports ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI.

    Many practitioners were caught unawares by the action. After several warnings, the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) clamped down on those practising advertising, but not registered with it. Its action, it said, was pursuant to its fifth code which spells out those who can practise the trade and their qualifications.

    Relying on the law establishing it, the council officials and policemen swooped on advertising firms which it claimed are harbouring unregistered practitioners.

    Those grilled by the police, according to APCON, include Product Manager, Samsung Mr Manomahan Chandroth; Marketing Manager, Radio Lagos Mr. Kayode Adunmadeyin; Commercial Manager, Top Radio Omololu Omigbule, Head of Client Services, Blue Seal Communication Yemi Egbebiyi, Strategy and Business Executive of DDB Lagos Fifemayo Aiyesimaju; Marketing Manager of Multi-Choice Nigeria Akinola Salu and Head, DSTV Media Sales Holeka Maringa.

    Stating the reason for the action, APCON’s Head, Planning, Research, Corporate Affairs and Strategy Mr. Ralph Anyasor, said: “After several sensitisation visits to advertising establishments and warning notices, the body has commenced the arrest and prosecution of offenders.”

    He said APCON would ensure due process in handling the matter to send the right signal to stakeholders that the reform has come to stay. The council said police investigation would be the first step in the prosecution of those perceived to be engaged in illegal practice.

    Reacting, DDB CEO Mr. Ikechi Odigbo told The Nation that the agency’s lawyer is engaging APCON on the issue. He said none of the firm’s men was arrested. Odigbo added that any irregularities regarding the agency’s professional membership have since been addressed. APCON’s action, he said, would make people take its reform serious.

    The Public Relations Manager, DStv Caroline Oghuma, said none of the company’s staff was arrested. “To begin with, none of our staff has been arrested by APCON. Mr. Akin Salu who you mentioned does not work in a marketing or advertising capacity and Kholeka Maringa, who is the Deputy General Manager, Media Sales is based in South Africa.”

    Multichoice, she said, is working to ensure its marketing and advertising workers comply with required laws. “We are working to ensure that our marketing and advertising executives are compliant as required by law,” she noted.

    The Legal Adviser, West Africa, Samsung Senibo Bara-Hart told The Nation that none of its product managers was arrested.

    “To our knowledge, there has only been an inquiry made by the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, which is fact-finding in nature. It is, therefore, incorrect to allude to the arrest of any Samsung staff for any illegality as no such thing has occurred.”

    APCON’s move has generated reactions from stakeholders, including the umbrella body for some of the firms, Advertising Association of Nigeria (ADVAN). Its President, Mr. Kola Oyeyemi, told The Nation that APCON is empowered to arrest illegal practitioners.

    “They have the law that backs them up against illegal practitioners. The issue is that people should embrace self-regulation, rather than allowing themselves to be handled in a crude manner. If practitioners embrace self-regulation, we will have minimal intervention like this,” Oyeyemi said.

    Before APCON embarked on the crack down, Oyeyemi said ADVAN had been educating its members about the reform. APCON, he noted, also engaged stakeholders to prevent the use of the “big stick.” “The industry was educated about the reform to the best of my knowledge. Stakeholders were engaged. Secondly, I think that when such reforms are done and stakeholders refuse to comply after being engaged, then they are open to such clamp down,” he added.

    Endorsing APCON’s move, the Managing Director of Harmony Concept, Mr. Kayode Oluwasona, however, advised that it should engage stakeholders more.

    “It’s a good thing I think. The advertising industry has been bastardised for so long that you really need such sanity. To be seen as an industry regulator, APCON needs to be taken serious and this move will make people see them as being serious. It should be sustained, but APCON should continue its engagement process so that it would not be found wanting by those who would claim ignorance of APCON stakeholder’s engagement activities,” Oluwasona said.

    APCON Chairman Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi said the council is not against foreigners or practitioners. The reform, he said, is in the interest of the industry and the economy.

    Akinwumi explained that the introduction of the code of practice would help to strengthen regulation and ensure professionalism. He said under the new regime, APCON has undergone transformation, which resulted in the fifth code that has since become a law. The new law would enable APCON to regulate the sector and make it more productive, he said.

    “The council has also developed various frame works for the relevant licensing procedures, which would follow the approval of the code. For the first time in the history of Nigeria, advertising practice has become professionalised like medicine, law, engineering etc. and charlatans can no longer practise unhindered. APCON has government’s full support and backing to enforce compliance. Under the law, APCON can prosecute defaulters, and if such people are found guilty, they stand the risk of paying a hefty fine or being imprisoned or both,” Akinwumi said.

    The Managing Director, Noah’s Ark, Mr. Lanre Adisa, said the reform would help stabilise advertising and attract more funds and investors.

    “It should help advertising business to be more profitable to investors. There are all sorts of intruders that make the business not profitable for investors. But the APCON reform is a welcome development,” he said.

    To encourage compliance, APCON has reinstituted the Advertising Standards Panel Best Practice awards.

    The Chairman of the Advertising Standards Panel, Mr. Ade Akinde, said the essence is to encourage advertisers, their agencies and the media to comply with provisions of the Nigerian Code of Advertising Practice and other advertising laws.