The Danger Of A Single Story...

Truth be told I just wanted to post something on 11/11/11, but it didn't work out as planned. After trying time and time again to post this video directly from my system with no success, I gave up and slept off. Well I'm awake now trying to do some other stuff and then it hit me: "post this video from YouTube". I did so and it worked, Yay! It's technically no longer 11/11/11 but the message is still the same... Here, Chimamanda is talking about the dangers of seeing things from just a single viewpoint, the dangers of limiting Nigeria to just a single story. Watch it to the end, Download it if you need to and Enjoy!!
Speaking Engagement: TED Global 2009

Education....

Okay I stumbled upon this video by Fela Durotoye, a couple of days ago while rearranging my files and well the video struck a chord especially towards the end. I also found kinship wih the part where he spoke about great teachers, do you have any great teachers?....I think I do. While deciding to post Fela's video, I suddenly remembered this video by Sir Ken Robinson, in it he talks about education too (He's is quite hilarious especially the part where he's talking about the 36-month old child with no achievements. I hope as you watch you'll get some ideas....Enjoy!

Freedom From Self

     It’s a privilege to share my thoughts in this honourable blog to individuals that have braced up to join this young great revolutionist in this seemingly unending subject matter, ‘NIGERIA’.

I was recently involved in a really informative debate. The debate was on the subject: agriculture and oil. I debated for agriculture and from that debate the subject matter, freedom from self was born.

Before independence, Nigeria desired independence....after independence we celebrated independence and now we do not know what exactly we are seeking for but all we know is that we are seeking something. I’m sure that I’m speaking with inquisitive minds right now and as such I choose to believe that you must have asked yourself why Nigeria desired to get her independence. A very common answer is that they desired freedom. After independence while trying to celebrate this new achievement, the same need before 1960 was not met, this is freedom!

You might actually be wondering right now what this analyst is talking about........I request that you still borrow me some seconds.

The basic truth and need that Nigerians have been seeking for before and after independence is freedom from self. This is as a result of having little or no iota of belief in oneself not to think about the entire nation. It is a struggle between self. Nigeria is a coming together of persons. Until these persons break free from this self freedom mentality...then it remains the unsolvable need.  

I end with a proposition to Nigerians that believe there is no future for Nigeria.... try thinking about yourself as though you alone make up Nigeria. What would you do to make yourself satisfied and happy....think the same thing for 5...10...20...persons.....you’d see that Nigeria still has a future and then you would agree with me that its a battle of self freedom.

To the others who are on the same page with me guess what.......it would soon be count down to the Nigeria of our dreams...............

My last words on this, ‘ignore that you have a leader....lead yourself as you are the government....would you allow your territory fail?’

Ochy

Time Is Of The Essence

     When I picked up my pen to write this particular piece, I was weak.....it had been a long day, I had classes from 8am-7pm, had a meeting that was supposed to hold for 8pm and it was already 9pm and there was no sign of life to indicate that the meeting was going to start anytime soon, and sincerely I was not particularly glad. That was when this subject matter came to me....the essence of time in initiating the change we must see in Nigeria. I was chatting with a colleague earlier today and he was like.... “The future of Nigeria that we envision is not gonna happen in the next 10, next 15 years”. And I don’t know about you but I want to see this change happen in my time, the Nigerian system we operate today is very fragile, the room can come crashing down around our ears anytime. That’s why I feel the urgency to reiterate this message today (my friend Ochy has written on something similar).....TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE

The change we seek is not in the saying but in the doing; we can’t keep talking about this change, we have to make it happen .The individuals in key positions may not see the need for this change or they may not be willing to see it happen, probably they have so much to lose if this corrupt system sees its end. But I see the need for this change; I hope you can see it too. I’m doing what I can from my end, what about you? This change is going to come and I have made up my mind that I’m not just going to stay put saying something like: “Na so dem dey talk am since”. I am going to play my part and I want you to do the same, I implore you to the same; there is a way to initiate this change from your end, all you have to do is to search for it and you’ll find it.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!!!!

Happy new month to y'all, I wish you speed and strength even as you go about your duties this month....Take Charge