British Rail Careers
Osakwe Emman Professor
NAVIGATION nation by shame TODAY FOR TOMORROW celebrity
SOCIAL STUDIES As a Pilot
17TH In the series of inaugural lectures Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria.
Delivered by
Osakwe Emman Professor
BSc (NIG), M.Ed. (Philadelphia) MA (London) Ph.D (Ibadan)
Professor of Social Studies and dean of the School of Graduate Studies,
Delta State University, Abraka.
On Thursday, February 26, 2009
© Copyright 2009 Delta State University, Abraka
All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or by any means, photocopying, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise without the prior permission holders of copyright.
ISBN 978-33872 – 7-4
Published February 2009 by
Delta State University, Abraka,
Delta State, Nigeria.
Printed
Press Justice and Jeco Publishers Ltd.,
Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
Prologue / Preface
The teacher turned professor of + Famous … + Nigeria will become
(A Love Song to my husband and Nigeria New)
And he said: "I married in May!
"I do not do such a thing no teacher marry" said Ms. May
Dreg professions: teachers – Disqualified
However, most tellingly, long the voice of the class! – Qualified
That teacher is now treated, is Professor, prophet and priest.
The oil palm, broom and a sponge, soup Banga – processed palm
By fire, through water, the cutting blade, the decomposers – Processed
As kero, diesel, gasoline, cream, jelly, raw balm – Processed
Emman Osakwe, Professor processed, a voice heard beyond
Beyond the rostrum of the United Nations.
Treaty by pain, deprivation, denial, then ridiculed,
Today's speaker mounted the platform, here it comes:
My husband, my manager, my father
Transformed by the fire, through water, has denied his due
The teacher Teacher Teacher
Is a teacher, teachers of teachers of teachers.
Promotion refused to peak during ten!
My co-parent, persevering through the years!
As diamond processed carbon, Prince patient peacemaker
The teacher in charge of knowledge:
Intellectual and divine, has a message:
Nigeria is the treatment by shame –
Shame of corruption, greed seriously like!
Shame of maladministration and mismanagement
Anarchy, yielding great giant poverty of affluence
Shame monumental waste of resources
Shame of the wickedness and impiety religious
Treatment with the shame of our reputation desired:
Our country celebrates, yes our country;
My native land, land of my pain, my land of shame
Land of birth, the land of your pain, the land of your shame
Load too long after independence, fragile as the eaglet
For this eaglet fragile, ready to fall, unable to fly,
Become the great eagle in flight
famous bird does not fly, but soar –
My native land, the land of your birth, the land of our birth
Land of my glory, the earth your glory, glory of our land –
Nigeria is your name!
Mabel Osakwe Ejima (2009)
President, English
Delta State University, Abraka
Courtesy
The Vice-Chancellor,
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Admin)
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)
The provosts, Asaba and Oleh Campus,
The Acting Registrar,
The thrifty
The Chief Librarian,
The Provost, College of Health Sciences,
Dean of the Faculty Education,
Deans of Faculties of others
Teachers and other members of the Senate,
Department Heads and other academic colleagues,
Members of the administrative and technical
My Lords Spiritual and Temporal,
Members my family, nuclear and extended,
My in-laws,
Distinguished Guests,
Gentlemen of the press,
Delsuites Grande
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Preamble
I feel very honored and privileged to be called to the 17th Conference of the inaugural Delta State University, Abraka. I thank God for granting us mercy trip this gathering and I think we will all safe in Jesus' name – Amen.
Do you buy and read the newspapers today? How the spirit of many plays and stories bloody? What is the last on militancy and criminality in the Niger Delta? How painful! You can try to divert your attention from the issues of depression and feed your mind with the dream becomes reality Obama and therefore ours. Yes, welcome on this forum! For this God is given an opportunity for us to reflect and discuss social issues like those raised earlier welcome this recommendation. Sorry to say that I have the monopoly of speech in this debate is why it is called conference. But free your mind to travel along as drivers of social studies of our voyage, out of shame from today to tomorrow Fame.
INTRODUCTION
The first thing to pay attention to the nature and purpose of social studies and how it serves as a vehicle to answer questions of our time. In short, social studies is to learn to live and participate in this world, a given time and place where we have the following formula:
SSE = PSPT
P = People
S = Society
P = place
t = time
This conference is a discourse on a deep aspect of my academic expertise, and my contribution to the study social as a field of knowledge, will be guided by the formula as SSE indicates the nature and social sciences.
Here then, P is the Nigerian people, S denotes the Nigerian Society, p designates a geographical entity called Nigeria and Nigeria does mean yesterday, today and tomorrow. In this presentation yesterday, Nigeria involves pre-colonial Nigeria in the days before the 2nd Republic, while now extends Nigeria Republic of the 2nd period to date.
We recognize that the public is not only interdisciplinary "dress", but also a group diverse "city." Attempts will be made, then to operate in the defined area.
Affects all social studies facet of human existence: the man himself as a product of nature and man as a social product feed, resulting from social life, political, economic and physical. Social studies has long been identified as a real tool or an opportunity reshapening society. (Lawton and Durfour 1973 Osakwe 1993) The nature, content and scope of social studies, it is a manly instrument to develop a new social contract – the political order. This teacher taught majorly in this field of social studies and has 20 publications related to the current discourse. Four of these are listed here:
Osakwe, EO (1992) "Social studies and the military in Nigerian politics Nigerian Journal of Social Studies Review Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 89-91
Osakwe, EO (1993a) Education for Citizenship: The Hub of Social Studies, Nigerian Journal Examining social studies. Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 23-38.
Osakwe, EO (1994a) Education for citizenship in a multiethnic society: an overview of teaching. Studies in Education Vol. 2. No. 1. April. Pp 60-64.
Osakwe, EO (1994b) Teaching Strategies for teaching Social Studies: Using examples and non-exemplars Nigerian Journal of Social Studies, Vol. III, No. 1 & 2 pp. 49-55.
In Nigeria, social studies has found its expression in the school system after the 1969 Conference of the National Programme. The subject is oriented Construction of individuals and hence the construction of the nation (Osakwe 1993). The potential of social sciences are not yet fully exploited in our quest to one of desirable socio-political and economic.
Social Studies is concerned about human relationships. The world is constantly evolving and social studies remains a veritable instrument for examining these changes, whether positive or negative. Social Studies revolves around man (People) and everything that impinges on them.
Fields of Studies guidance
The knowledge included in social studies is related to important generalizations about human relationships, institutions and problems, with the support of the facts to ensure that these generalizations are clearly understood (Osakwe and Itedjere 1993). Social Studies examines issues and problems in a holistic perspective – Thus solving a problem or question, social studies examines the historic, cultural, sociological, economic, physical and others. Unlike the vertical concentration is evident in most subjects, social studies adopts a spiral approach horizontal analysis of computer problems. Social Studies, has strong affinity with the social sciences, but should not be regarded as an amalgam of social sciences.
Social Studies Education is a means of providing young people a sense of hope in the future and confidence in their ability to solve social and environmental problems of individuals, their community, state or nation.
On this occasion, the conference an aspect of my subject which is of public interest and academic – Navigating the country, through shame today at Fame of Tomorrow: Social Studies as a pilot.
Addressing the issues of yesterday, today and Tomorrow automatically provides three segments of the speech: Nigeria Nigeria yesterday, today and tomorrow in Nigeria.
NIGERIA – Yesterday
It is simplistic to solve the problems of nation building in Nigeria today without paying attention to because of our past and the past world as it affected our past and present.
Mr Vice-Chancellor, Sir, the education system we have inherited our colonial masters, although criticized for alienating our culture produces disciplined individuals and peoples whom we regard as the pillars of our democracy and national development. Our education system was once very structured, organized and predictable. Was the time when education was fully the responsibility of government or agencies of the mission. Educational institutions have been enough staff, equipment and surveillance has been effective. The academic calendar has been stable, with virtually no disruption. A participant in the system was able to predict when he / she will graduate. High not a candidate in due course was never the fault school or institution, but the inability of students to work hard enough to graduate as planned by the establishment education. The period under review was marked by the students of primary and secondary schools to put on uniforms that were effectively uniform. There was no provision for students doing their own seats / offices or residents, by providing their own bed. Laboratories in secondary and tertiary institutions have been comparable with what obtained in other parts of the world.
His moral education is an integral part Education in 1970 and late 80s in Nigeria. Relationships between pupils and teachers, students and teachers and students and teachers at different levels of education has been a very great professional. Incidents of misconduct investigation were very rare and anyone found to compromise the integrity of the examination was quickly processed. Incidents of students negotiating with their grades teachers or lecturers and teachers call "incentives" were virtually nonexistent. During the period under review, academic standards in universities in Nigeria of the first generation was commendable and comparable to that obtained in the most advanced countries of Europe and America. The period was marked by massive exchange of staff from universities abroad. Our universities real international focus and reputation, with staff and students from different regions of the world. Apart from the international perspective of our universities and academics, university professors were highly respected and have been at the top of social rating. Okech (2008) notes rightly giving the title of "professor" has attracted much attention. The office of the Vice-Chancellor has been very reverred. The Vice-Chancellor was more respected than any appointed by the government.
Most Nigerians have gone through higher education enjoy form of financial support either by the government. Education is a useful and has been regarded as the key that opened the door success and glory.
The indolence, theft, prostitution, ostentatious living, greed, oppression, inequality social and spatial have been considered extremely shameful of the past in Nigeria. It was a common practice, for example, for the seller to leave newspapers in the porter's lodge that students have been accepted to give up the money and take the papers. Similarly, the product of Rag date have been used for charity as expected. vices were frowned upon and there were a greater sense of responsibility among citizens, including holders public office. workers reported to their duty stations on time and stayed at work until closing. School and other institutional doors were closed at 8 pm and stayed until closing. Absenteeism was an aberration and a something serious frowned. There was freedom of political association, although the political divide was along the three main ethnic groups, with the exception of the Middle Belt that had its own political identity. It was possible for relatives belonging to different political parties and yet live in harmony. The example of Ikokus can attest to this fact – that the father and son belonged to two opposing parties.
Humans are generally political animals. The ability to organize people in groups with the political motive is a basic instinct inherent in the human. Nigerians are very articulate political beings. It is the practice of traditional and political community has always been with us. There was a merger between tradition and modern social life and political parties. Since culture is not static, traditional practices also adjusted to accommodate new challenges and developments, including intercultural contacts with its implications. The social life of a people and their political culture, largely affects many other areas of life. Nigeria is a political amalgam. This is indicative of the cultural plurality of the country. To a large extent North is much more politically articulate and responsive. This probably accounts for the practice so that our brothers in the North are still with their radios and Listening to local and international news, and always informed. Social life and political parties is not a function of education West. Some southerners despite their level of education, are still politically naive and can not read or understand the political horizon. Nigeria Economy during this period was very stable and has been articulated on agriculture. This was the era of groundnut pyramids. Nigeria is the largest producer of peanuts, rubber, palm oil and almonds, soybeans, beniseed and also an important producer of cotton, the first 2nd largest producer of cocoa. It was in this period that Malaysia came to Nigeria to get our oil and rubber plants to try their country. We know where the two countries stand today in the production of palm oil and rubber.
Solid minerals like coal, Tin and columbite have been exploited in economic quantities and Nigeria is known to be a major global player in the production of these minerals. The dynamism of the economy has been strengthened by the discovery of black gold (oil) in Nigeria. Gradually, the focus began to shift from agriculture to oil … … …. mainstay of the Nigerian economy. The Nigerian currency was strong and highly sought during this period.
Exchange rates between 70 and 80
Nigerian British American German
N1 PD Stg U.S. $ 3.64 DM
- £ 0.615 $ 1.51
The figures above present a vivid picture of the strength of the naira at the moment.
Nigeria has been well served by road, rail, air to sea during this period, there were over 95,000 km of paved roads and 3,200 km of railways narrow gauge. Nigeria had two international airports in Lagos and Kano. The two parts of northern and south of the country has attracted major investments in infrastructure development, particularly in the highways and feeder roads, and some measure of social services such as electricity, water supply, hospitals, schools and colleges. This period was marked by staff of the Department of Public Works (PWD) for compensating the grass by the roadside to provide long distance and clear vision for drivers and other road users. Roads have been regularly maintained – even then, the roads were narrow and sometimes wind, they were motorable throughout the year.
Nigeria Airways has been the pride of West Africa. It rose above other companies air in the sub-region. Nigerian pilots were known for their courtesy, competence and confidence. Their takeoff and landing has been remarkable and without jerks and gasps. Nigerian Airways flies constantly to Europe, Asia, USA and several African roads without blemish. The DC 10s, 737, 707 and 747 were constant on international routes while the small aircraft used on the premises (Internal) roads. Closer home here, the waterway from Sapele Obiaruku by the river was navigable Ethiope and building materials were transported through this channel.
Security of lives and property has was a very large extent guaranteed during this period. It is possible to travel through the night without fear of thieves. Travel at night was preferred by a number of Nigerians. armed robbery was rare and it was easy to track down criminals. It was not fashionable to engage in crime because there was a general rejection of the company or disgust for anyone who was known to be a deviant criminal or social.
Nigeria today
Today, Nigeria has swapped dignifying the values of diligence, patriotism, high ethical standards, its abundance of natural resources of old habits for glory colloquially referred to as the "Nigerian factor": the continuation of injustice, lying values, rampant corruption and gross mismanagement. Today, Nigeria is mortally ill with deliberately self-inflicted wound. Most of what is happening today in Nigeria amounts to national shame, our pain and shame. The shame is the more evident in our political life "New" which is marked by violence leads to loss of lives and property, massive rigging and assassinations. Beneficiaries unworthy are quick to make efforts to convince and confuse the masses in support of the result of their political exploits. Almost immediately, the approval is precipitated from all over the country, particularly from some members of the Christian and Islamic clergy and other leaders pontificate on selfish illusion governments and leadership are selected and ordained by God and that we should accept things as they are to save our nascent democracy. But Peace without justice can not withstand the test of time and is an invitation to anarchy.
Contrary to what occurs in Western democracies and other political systems stable, where election results are reported within 24 hours of the close of polling stations in Nigeria, it could take three days. In some situations ridiculous as local elections are even smaller geographical entities manage, it must still days before results are officially released. This practice leaves room for slide handling and panel beating numbers. Despite all this, the figures are released as ridiculous results. In some cases, there are more votes than the number of registered voters. multiple voting are not uncommon. The ruling of the Edo State revealed that fictitious voters voted and some others have voted repeatedly including expected voters across the Atlantic.
The foundation of any democratic state is stable and functional electoral process. This should be considered the key issue in a country like ours. The electoral process is a political choice by the people. Besides market gossips and hallway discussions, voting is the only activity that demonstrates the extent of citizen involvement in politics. when it is free and the ballot secret location, direction and amount of individual participation out boldly in their true form.
In a survey conducted by the master conference in 1998, the degree of apathy expressed by young people was striking.
possible participation percentage national elections
S / NO
CATEGORY
NUMBER Students respond to each category
TOTAL NO OF STUDENTS
Percentage of total
1.
Indifferent or undecided
162
250
65%
2.
Yes or interested
63
250
25%
3.
No or not interested
25
250
10%
The foregoing has been nearly a decade before the 2007 election monumentally fraudulent, but the figure reveals high alienation or disillusionment with politics and the electoral process among youth. In most cases, this alienation or apathy leads to a high political level, lack of interest. effective participation of citizens depends on knowing how the system actually works.
Our citizens have not been systematically exposed to methods of operation of our political system. Many our youth have been left to wander aimlessly in Nigerian politics. The result is misinformation or smothering the political instinct of youth to national affairs.
Our electoral process and the attendant protest is unprecedented results in the annals of elections in any part of the globe. Many Nigerians now believe that an individual vote does not count – that results are predetermined. This has led to apathy and discouragement on the part of serious much of the electorate (See Osakwe 1998 Ogini 2008). On June 12, 1993 election, adjudged to be the case free ignomity was canceled with the chagrin of Nigerians. Since then, the situation has worsened. It is understandable that cynicism now much closer to election and the electoral process by many Nigerians.
Another disturbing dimension in this discourse is that politics in Nigeria is no longer considered a service road, rather it has become a means of domination Fast wealth, and public recognition. This has led to the emergence of policies reached the twisted mind on the expectation of political electorate. Their lifestyle is marked by flamboyant life, luxury cars, including vehicles flak, escorts sirens and intimidation all perceived opponents and those who refuse to recognize their new found position and wealth that they find difficult to manage. What we witnessing today is a replay of the biblical saga Haman-Mordecai. Haman, an upstart political paid a huge sum of money to ensure that the entire Jewish race is eliminated just because Mordecai the Jew will prostrate themselves before him.
It is a sign of political immaturity try to use political expediency to settle scores. It is a sign of shame and reflection of the struggle against a complex. The policy must be a very exciting part of our national life, but it is now a matter of life or death, sometimes send chills down the backs of the populace. This is Therefore, the organization or the conduct of elections in Nigeria is the war and many lives have Gone with the elections in Nigeria.
Assassinations policies
Between 1999 and 2009, 39 cases of policy – motivated murders were reported in the country. The timing of these killings revealed it is generally more widespread in the years preceding the election year and regular elections. For example, there 17 cases of murder between 2002 and 2003, 9 cases were recorded between 2005 and 2007 (another pre-election and election period).
Political murders – 1999-2009 (- representation graph)
During the most recent elections in Nigeria, firearms were used freely. In the crisis of November Jos / December 2008, more than 500 lives were lost in the chaos that dragged this election. Several of those hospitalized were Injured shot. How does that compare with what prevails in other parts of the world, where election results are respected and the electoral process is conducted in an orderly fashion?
A common feature of the political terrain in Nigeria is the issue of recycling of individuals and families – Provide the impression that there is some eternal mandate that these individuals and families should always be there. How to explain a situation where some actors policies that were contemporaries of the Sage Late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, are still hovering in the corridors of power. There are individuals who have remained in flirting policy throughout the 29 years of military rule in the democratic era in Nigeria. What a shame that nearly two years after the general elections 2007, there are still many yet to be resolved in court cases.
It is a fact that since the disputed elections, Nigerians various efforts have been united in seeking a reform process that the waters of the tree in a transparent, free and fair election to eliminate the resentment that greeted the results of the April 2007 polls and has literally created hatred and anarchy.
How long Nigerians living with this level of rancor and uncertainty? When transparent elections are conducted so that the end the loser is still fast to concede defeat and congratulate the winner? In the U.S. elections Nov. 4, 2008, Republican candidate for Presidential, John McCain has graciously conceded victory to the Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama in less than 24 hours after the polls. The winner and a loser in the American elections did not have to wait for the boss to announce the election results of the election results the most famous in the world. They are based on the results as announced live on cable network news (CNN).
It is instructive to note here that the National Television of Nigeria, the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) had live coverage of the U.S. election. Why has it not been possible to cover our direct national elections. Some international observers were denied entry and their relationship aback by our electoral authorities, but the Nigerians went to Ghana to monitor the elections! Our electoral process is not transparent and acceptable. It is still to be done to national and international.
CORRUPTION
Corruption is used here to refer a condition or state of deception, irregularity, illegitimacy, illegality or injustice directed towards the acquisition power, money or position for private profit and sectional.
Corruption has become endemic in Nigeria and a culture system corruption would be to generate a corrupt society. A society and people are naturally a kind, except there is a cultural radical surgery or there is a new direction following the time: remember the formula for Social Studies. The Nigerian society has a very fertile ground for practices fraud, which led to the institutionalization of corruption. A corrupt society in the sense of Lewis (2008) produced corrupt leaders and supporters; corrupt leaders to copy or create corrupt institutions and corrupt institutions create a multiple compromised systems. This may explain why there institutions has little facility or system that is free of corruption in Nigeria. nuns are not exempt from this. Corruption indeed is the worst enemy of Nigeria prevent people take advantage of huge natural resources. Corruption is detrimental to growth. It increases income inequality and poverty reducing economic growth. It also promotes and supports the unequal distribution of asset ownership and unequal access to education (Olajide, 2008).
Despite the creation of anti-corruption agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Practices Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) corrupt practices have continued to manifest in several ingenious ways and forms known in Nigeria. This monster called corruption has continued to be the scourge of leading the country towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Recently, during an interactive session with the House of Representatives Committee against drugs and narcotics and financial crimes, the director of Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), has alleged that some Nigerians have benefited from lower world prices and has been traveling the world day and night to acquire properties with the money stolen in the country. The perpetrators of this crime know how to beat all the mechanisms put in place to check their criminal activities. Our image has been seriously affected by the activities of corrupt Nigerians. Corruption among Nigerians is also evident in Internet fraud and the famous advance without fraud (aka 419). A number of innocent Nigerians and foreigners have been Victims of Internet and Advance fee fraud. A number of young people today live big and fat on the proceeds of corruption and fraud.
Nigeria's image was severely dented around the world as a result of fraudulent practices of some of our citizens. Many Nigerians languishing in prisons in a number of countries – some of those who have not been as fortunate, were executed by the authorities of countries where they committed atrocities. The war against corruption seem to have had attention during the regime of Obasanjo. Yar Ardua's administration promised that there would be no sacred cows in his administration's fight against corruption. However, his war against corruption came into skepticism and cynicism serious after the redeployment of the former president of the anti-corruption agency and its many vicissitudes thereafter, which led to his dismissal. This is a very sad commentary and sends a wrong message to Nigerians and the international community.
Tempo anti-corruption crusade is gradually blocked and some observers was really concerned because the suffering of the masses, they feel have been caused by some individuals which diverted the money for the welfare of the masses for personal gain. One apparent reason why corruption has continued to invade the length and breadth of Nigeria may be that the three branches of government lip service to its eradication.
Corruption has done damage to politics and generality of our people is immeasurable and invaluable. The unease pervades all strata of society, including public institutions. According to Notice of the Day November 5, 2008, and nothing works in Nigeria because of corruption. Many roads are in a deplorable state, even if attempts are made to rehabilitation of roads, corruption will not allow a thorough and lasting.
Education and corruption
Sexual harassment has become so widespread in Nigerian higher education. It is a very worrying state of the situation. The issue of sexual harassment in schools has attracted the attention of a number of academics – (Osakwe 2008 Igborgbor 2008 Okech 2008). Sexual harassment is a manifestation of power relations and most girls and women are sometimes at the reception. Sexual harassment is not limited at any age level – some ancient scholars have been known to indulge in the game awful. Some academics have lost their jobs resulting from the offense. Some continued to operate and parade of girls and brag about how public their sexual escapades. Girls and married women have been traumatized, all in order to acquire a university degree or other higher education institutions. closely related to the issue of sexual harassment is the corruption of our educational system from primary to university level. Pupils and students are obliged to pay a levy or the other. Signature of the referees report, leave the form of course, the map data – all attract illegal charges. There is some time in the history of Nigeria,
Teachers at all levels of education earned great respect by the members public. Seen as honest advice, disciplined and morally above, then it was more fashionable to find a teacher whenever a public position that called a person of great integrity has become vacant. They had the aura of saints and their admirers always been right whenever they had the opportunity to bring their experience and knowledge to bear on public affairs. However, this August integrity class university appears to have taken his leave the country continues to stink of corruption (Aghedo 2008).
In the last two years, three teachers have paid the price for the sexual exploitation of girls and had to be disgraced out of office. There are many more waiting to be dishonored. academic corruption has assumed various dimensions ranging from plagiarism, victimization, the stifling of academic freedom, erosion Officers at the production of foot soldiers / "hostage taking academic" – By which the university under a junior colleague experienced have no choice but to tender their master. The academic freedom that once characterized the university system Erosion is rapid and gives way to politicians Campus dangerous cliques and other interest groups – whose interests are more things other than academics.
Examination malpractice has also become a major issue plaguing education in Nigeria,. The phenomenon has become monstrous and only take very bold and ruthless measures to erase. The unfortunate situation is that some people who are supposed to answer this question are products of examination malpractices themselves.
- examination malpractice among Gender is not limited, both boys and girls are in the business.
Transport and Corruption
The airports do not need facilities, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) can not locate the sites of wrecks air. The newest location has defied several months later by hunters. The railway lines remain dysfunctional – some lines Railways are now used by traders to display their wares.
General attitude to corruption
People more bitterness and express shock whenever they hear billion Naira theft of public money because it is now everyday reality. For example, it was reported that in one month, a governor in a state past N1bn (one billion naira) in its state of security issues – a state where there was no war, no breakdown of law and order.
The state of corruption Nigeria is now a product of inconsistent and irregular war against corruption – After being beaten to a status quo by General Murtala Mohammed between 1975 and 1976, monitoring, as Buhari / Idiagbon and later by Nuhu Ribadu would have brought the monster to its knees. But the period intermediary between Mohammed Buhari and General Babangida set that prevailed between 1985 and 1993. Contrary to the regime of Buhari who came hard on the looters of funds public many of whom have been sentenced to various prison terms, Babangida returned the assets of various officers and restored in the ranks of officers redundant. Call the reward of corruption! This story is repeated once more, if the vicissitudes of Nuhu Ribadu is allowed to continue. Call sorry for the fight against corruption! The war against corruption at the moment is asleep.
Corruption and power sector
Two thousand (2,000) megawatts of electricity was produced in 2008, against the 3,000 generated in 2003. These figures are ridiculous. Africa South with a population of 60 million euros, generating 45,000 megawatts and the government of South Africa seeks to increase its capacity to 60,000. How Nigeria can still claim to be the giant of Africa? Our industries and small-scale enterprises to provide their own electricity – how can they break even in the face of exorbitant production costs mainly due to lack of regular public feeding. How Nigeria's industrial dreams can be updated in light of current energy challenges. Despite the President's plan to declare the state of emergency in the electricity sector, things have not improved. small scale businesses, artisans and more Independent Nigerians were forced to close their shops for non-availability of energy.
It has been reported (Tell-December 8 in one month (November 2008), the worsening power situation forced the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to announce the loss of capacity 800 MW – In the same period, the Sapele Power Station has been completely extinguished and the plant in Lagos Egbin was operating "at capacity reduced. "Exactly 10 days later, PHCN reported an additional loss of 200 MW. All these elements have been responsible for the rationing 12 time zones, power rotation to maintain system stability and ensure equal distribution of limited output generating plants operating. Under the rotation plan, PHCN divided the country into zones. Each zone receives electricity for 12 hours, and even this is not a guarantee that light will come. There are areas / sections of the country where a power failure is more regular than the public power supply. Even the "promised" Additional 6500 MW by 2009 is far from our electricity needs should Nigeria.
We are also informed (Tell-December 2008) Each university spends over N120 dollars a year on diesel. What a colossal waste of money were reinvested in other critical areas university administration. Not many universities in Nigeria can even afford to spend this huge sum of money for electricity. This course does not include regular electricity bills PHCN.
CORRUPTION AND IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRY
The steel industry has swallowed billions of dollars since the 1980s – but there is nothing to show for it. The federal set the Ajaokuta and Delta steel mills, along with three rolling mills in domestic Osogbo, Jos and Katsina. The steel mills and rolling mills have been able to meet the aspirations of Nigerians steel, mainly because of corruption and beaurcactic bottlenecks. What we have now is more like museums steel instead of steel plants. How can we explain the astronomical cost of imported iron and steel products when we are supposed to be producers of the product? In some plants, components and spare parts are not produced in any part of the world. The computer's components are totally obsolete leaving engineers to cannibalize the existing components, to the point that there has nothing to fall back on.
The Minister of State overseeing the Department of Mines and Steel Development, recently pleaded with Nigerians to be patient with the pace of development, stating that, "theirs is not a go-slow government." Unfortunately Nigerians can not help thinking that the present and the past administration has no clear policy on how to restructure the steel industry and position it to take industrial Nigerian offshore. How long Nigerians await the launch of an efficient iron and steel industry? Many Nigerians were sent to Europe, Russia and Japan to be trained for the steel industry. All these high-caliber staff been laid off in the face of the privatization policy of the last administration. Some steel mills have been contracted out to partners Political associates of the government business of the day.
The steel industry is the foundation of any genuine technological and industrial development of any nation. Nigeria can not afford to remain a perennial importer of steel products. This sector should contribute significantly to economic development of Nigeria. It seems not to be a clear roadmap that would lead Nigeria to become a major player in the development Steel on the African continent. How the dream of making Nigeria one of the top 20 world economies by 2020 is realized? How can this be achieved when the primary steel plants have been privatized into the wrong hands? Control of the primary source of steel (Liquid and flat) is the control of industrial development of the nation. The steel industry is a key area of economic development should not be left in the hands of foreign investors or indigenous.
The rail line dedicated Delta Steel Company, Aladja, Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and Nigerian Iron Ore Mining Company Itakpe are not yet complete – that is until the total value of business can never be achieved. The railway project, like many other government projects is more like an abandoned project which already suffers depreciation fast. The Niger River is yet to be dredged and the Escravos estuary is not yet cleared. liquid steel can never be produced without any Ajaokuta these things are put in place.
EXTRA JUDICIAL KILLINGS
A question that has bothered many Nigerians and made me chilling citizens have to do with the extra-judicial killings. A number of families have been traumatized due to the loss of their loved ones in incidents riparian extrajudicial killing. The unfortunate aspect of this development is that the evidence is either completely erased or the victims are portrayed as criminals – The dead can not speak for himself. Some examples support the point here – almost two decades, Nigerian star athlete was killed Dele Udo during a police check point. It has also been the lot of a number of innocent Nigerians at different checkpoints Police across the country at one time or another. In 2002, some traders traveling along the Okene – Lokoja Highway have been intercepted by police who discovered they had a lot of money on them. The police handcuffed the traders and get on the bus and set it on fire, while having lost millions of Naira. One of the traders have miraculously survived and escaped and reported the incident. Police were arrested late, tried and sentenced accordingly. A renowned journalist, Bayo Awosika death in circumstances bordering on extrajudicial killings. It was alleged that he died after his vehicle struck a police van and then tumbled several times before landing to another part of the road. Despite the request Sommersault, there was no tooth on the vehicle, the parking brake of the car was still Bayo on, and there was a piece of firewood under the car. The post-mortem examination revealed that the young man died of a wound missiles – that is, it has was hit by a fast moving metal (ball). Could we have another murder case in court. The case of John Abah citizen in Benue State is still very cool. On November 14, 2008, shots fired by a team of police patrol killed him, the young man had gone out that evening to relax with his friends when his life was shortened. The incident that led to his premature death is traceable to a rift between the victim and a police officer at a tavern public. In 2006, police killed a young man in the same city – Oturkpo, during a protest from residents in PHCN establishment due to power failure.
On December 2, 2008, the authorities in Lagos State University, have been forced to issue a press release on the shooting of his students. This was following the shooting November 25, 2008 4 University students who had gone to the identification local governments. from the rapid reaction of the authorities in Lagos State University, the Governor of the State came into action. Police lost were arrested and then released. One student turned finally succumbed to his injuries, despite the combined efforts of the State Government of Lagos and Lagos State University to save his life. The question is for how long Nigerians satisfied with this barbaric and senseless killing of its citizens by people who are supposed to protect? The murder of a student in Athens, Greece beginning in December 2008 triggered protests by students and teachers from several consecutive days. The killing of a Brazilian in the United Kingdom during a raid of terror led to the prosecution of the officer concerned. In December 2008, a woman was killed in Ogun State – it was taken for an armed robber. The police made efforts spirits to explain away the fact that the woman was an armed robber. A young man was shot by police outside a bank in Benin City for engage in a fight in front of the bank – this incident took place in January 2009. In the same month of January, a young man was shot dead by police in Lagos in unexplained circumstances. Some commercial drivers have been victims of police shootings or other forms of brutality to their refusal to some of their money illegally "toll usual.
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
Following the Millennium Declaration United Nations which was adopted at the Millennium Summit held in New York, September 6th – 8th, 2000, Nigeria committed to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. These objectives were measurable targets for making improvements in the lives of the poorest citizens of the world.
Goal I: Eradicate extreme poverty And Hunger
Poverty still millions of Nigerians can look ahead. The degree of hunger is evident in funerals, weddings and other social events where free food and drinks are served extensively by a privileged few. In these meetings, several uninvited guests scramble for food. Worse yet, these are teenagers who milling anxiously wait for those served, to leave the remains for them is to eat or take away. Many of our youth have become scavengers in the midst of abundance assumed.
According to Bolatito (2008), poverty exists where people can not afford to meet their basic needs. These can be defined in a narrower sense than the needs necessary for survival, or largely reflecting these needs with the standard of living in the community. poverty describes a situation where peoples' resources (material, social and cultural) that limited to exclude those people from the minimum acceptable way of life. Poverty is multidimensional (Bolatito 2008), it includes poor people's access to public services and infrastructure, unsanitary environment, illiteracy and ignorance, poor health, insecurity, poverty and powerlessness and social exclusion, including low levels of household income and food insecurity.
Between the period 1980 to 1996, the proportion of poor people has increased from 28.1% in 1980 to 65.6% in 1996. This, in terms of number translates 17.7 million poor people in 1980 and 67.1 million people in 1996. It is estimated that by 2015, between 30.1 million and 40.4 million people would be alive in poverty in Nigeria.
According to the African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD 2005), Nigeria with an annual income per capita to just $ 300, is one of the 20 poorest countries in the world. It is estimated that Nigeria was up 3% and the national savings rate is about 15%. In among other challenges of the decay of infrastructure and corruption, how can Nigeria achieve the Millennium Development Goal number one?
Since independence, Nigeria has steadily decreased in the group of countries with low human development, characterized by a (HDI) coefficient below 0.5 (on a scale of 0-1). With a score of 0.470, Nigeria ranks low 158th, where countries such as Eritrea Senegal and the best price. It's a shame very big indeed. How can we say that the Benin Republic and Rwanda are higher in scale that Nigeria in GDP per capita.
Table 1: Human Development Index 2005 Nigeria
value HND
Life expectancy at birth (years)
Literacy rate Adult
(% 154 years and more)
Combined primary, secondary and tertiary gross enrollment ratio (%)
GDP per capita (PPP)
1. Iceland (0968)
1. Japan (82.3)
1. Georgia (100.0)
1. Australia (113.0)
1. Luxembourg (60,228)
156. Senegal (0499)
163.Botswana (48.1)
102.Algeria (69.9)
136.Nepal (58.2)
158.Rwanda (1,206)
157.Eritrea (0483)
1653.Cote d'Ivoire (47.4)
103.Tanzania (United
Republic of) (69.4)
137.Equatorial Guinea (58.1)
159.Benin (1.141)
158.Nigeria (0.470)
165.Nigeria (46.5)
104.Nigeria (69.1)
138.Nigeria (56.2)
160. Nigeria (1,128)
159.Tanzania (United Republic of) (0.467)
166.Malawi (46.3)
105. Guatemala (69.1)
139. Bangladesh (56.0)
161. Eritrea (1,109)
160. Guinea (0456)
167.Guinea-Bissau (45.8)
106.Lao People's Democratic Republic (68.7)
140.Yemen (55.2)
162. Ethiopia (1055)
177.Sierra Leone (0336)
177.Zambia (40.5)
139.Burkina Faso (23.6)
172.Niger (22.7)
174.Malawi (667)
Human Development Report 2007/2008 Sheets by Country – Nigeria
Table 2: Selected indicators of human poverty for Nigeria
Index Human Poverty Index (HPI-1) 2004
Probability of not surviving past age 40 (5) 2004
Adult illiteracy rate (% aged 15 and over) 2004
People without access to an improved water source (%) 2004
underweight children by age (older 0-5%) 2004
1.Chad (56.9)
1.Zimbabwe (57.4)
1.Burkina Faso (76.4)
1.Ethiopia (78)
1.Nepal (48)
27.Yemen (38.0)
12.Congo (Democratic Republic of (41.1)
34.Lao People's Democratic Republic (31.3)
8.Congo (Democratic Republic of (54)
22. Angola (31)
28. Burundi (37.6)
13.Guinea-Bissau (40.5)
35. Guatemala (30.9)
9. Fiji (53)
23.Maldives (30)
29. Nigeria (37.3)
14.Nigeria (39.0)
36.Nigeria (30.9)
10. Nigeria (52)
24.Nigeria (29)
30.Malawi (36.7)
15.Cote Ivory (38.6)
37.Tanzania (United Republic of) (30.6)
11.Madagascar (50)
25.Sri Lanka (29)
31.Rwanda (36.5)
16.Uganda (38.5)
38.Algeria (30.1)
12. Mali (50)
26. Philippines (28)
108. Barbados (3.0)
173.Iceland (1.4)
164.Estonia (0.2)
125.Hungary (1)
134.Chile (1)
Development Report human 2007/2008 – Country Fact Sheets – Nigeria
Tables 1 and 2 summarize the sordid state of affairs with respect to elevation of poverty in Nigeria to the world. How achievement is MGD1 opposite the poverty line drug in Nigeria?
GOAL 2: Achieve universal primary education
The National Policy on Education (2004, revised) states that "the government recognizes education as the best tool to make national development. The Basic Education Commission Universal (UBEC) is faced with the responsibility to ensure that Nigeria has achieved the goal of universal primary education by 2015. How to achieve this noble objective in the face of non-cooperation of several States of the federation, by not responding to respond to requests for access to their funds for the State Universal Basic Education program? Less than 50% of states in the country have been able to comply by paying their counterpart funds. Until this is done, these failed states and, by extension, the country will be unable to meet the objective 2015 date for achieving universal primary education. This could be responsible for the lackluster attitude of many government services towards the realization their share of the obligation in this regard? Is that education is undervalued by the current democratic actors or the conditions of access Fund does not allow for the usual enormous financial seeps into the wrong hands?
Nigeria has also approved the conference Jometien on Education for All (EFA) by 2000, which set goals for early childhood care and development, education primary, lower secondary and adult literacy. The trend gross enrollment ratio (GER) shows considerable fluctuations in numbers between 1991 and 2000. numbers have increased significantly between 1990 and 1994 from 68% to 86%. Subsequently, the enrollment dropped to 81% in 1995 and 70% in 1996. Therefore, Nigeria has not attained the goal of EFA Jometien 2000.
The Universal Basic Education (UBE) directive stipulates that each primary and junior secondary school should have a general science laboratory to meet the elementary science and domestic science, a airy toilet for a maximum of 40 pupils or students per toilet, and a teacher to teach or manage 40 pupils or students. These conditions can be obtained by this in our schools is a utopia, and may not be possible, even in the year 2015. Very few schools have the appearance laboratory. The bushes nearby to provide sanitary facilities in some of our schools.
Goal 3: Promote gender equality equality and empower women
The objective of this goal is to eliminate gender disparities in education Primary and secondary education by 2005 and at all levels of education no later than 2015. The indicators are:
– Ratio of girls to boys, in primary, secondary and tertiary.
– Ratio of literate women to men 15-24.
– Proportion of women employed in non-agricultural
– Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament.
Gender disparity manifests still strongly access to primary education, secondary education leading to unequal access to employment (Millennium Development Report 2004)
It is estimated that 50% of the Nigerian population are women and girls, but disparities between the sexes in access to primary, secondary and tertiary back to the pre-colonial Africa has its roots in traditional culture. Will the goal of gender equality and empower women to be achieved by 2015. The answer is obviously negative. The company must be prepared to deal with gender stereotypes and acceptance that the female can aspire to greater height than if the company permits. The secular concept of women as being just there to make children happy to meet the men folk should be dropped. Women excel in whatever career choice to go in, they are very good and better managers of the home and society. There should no discrimination between the sexes on the job, whether public or private.
GOAL 4 – Reduce child mortality
The National Goals Report (2004) noted that little progress has been made in reducing infant mortality. Estimates from the National Demographic Survey 2003 and Health Survey put under five mortality from 217 to 1,000 with large variations regional. urban and rural areas were under five mortality from 243 per 1000 and 153 per 1,000 respectively. The projection of the objective of the study, is that there must be a reduction of two thirds (2 / 3) of less than five years by the year 2015. In other words, Nigeria should be able reduce under-five morality to 49 per 1,000 in 2015. It is highly unlikely that Nigeria will meet the 2015 goal of reducing child mortality two-thirds (2 / 3).
The main obstacles to achieving the MDG goal 4 are limited access to health care facilities health (poverty), HIV / AIDS and poor maternal health. Good health care costs money and it is not within the reach of poor, unfortunately, the majority of the Nigerian population. Corruption and greed has not yet allowed for the free health care for the poor. Unfortunately, members of the government that must ensure high-class medical facilities in our public health institutions have failed in their responsibilities. These are the same people who can afford to travel abroad for any evils.
Availability of health care facilities, 1996 – 2000
(People Per'000)
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
Number of doctors
0.212
0.207
0.201
0223
0.22
Number of hospital beds
0.677
0.643
0.613
0.575
0.639
Table depicts the state of very scary health care facilities in Nigeria. What are the forces on the ground to ensure that the situation changes radically in the positive direction until the year 2015?
GOAL 5: Improve maternal health
The objective this goal is to reduce maternal mortality rate of mortality by three quarters between 1990 and 2015. Even if there was a slight decrease in mortality kindergarten since 1990, the level is still high at about 1,000 per 100,000 live births in the late 1990 to 2001. The national rate of maternal mortality was 704 per 100,000 live births, with considerable regional variations (MDG Report 2004)
Maternal mortality in Nigeria, as in Most developing countries are usually attributed to women's powerlessness and unequal access to employment, finances, education, based healthcare, and other resources.
Challenges to achieving MDG Goal 5 include early pregnancy, harmful cultural practices, lack of health personnel and other infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. Nigeria accounts for 10% of deaths maternal (UCAID 2008).
52,000 women die each year from Nigeria maternal complications. Lanre-Abass (2008) stated that the majority of births in Nigeria (66%) occur at home. A smaller percentage of women receive postnatal care, which is crucial for monitoring and treatment complications in the first two days after delivery. Nigerian health system has been disrupted by problems of quality of service, including hostile attitude of some health personnel (doctors and nurses), lack of skills, infrastructure degradation, scarcity essential drugs and counterfeit medicines.
Goal 6: HIV / AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Estimated that over 4.5 million Nigerian adults and children living with HIV / AIDS in 2008. Cumulative deaths from AIDS in 2008 was approximately 4.2 million people. These are startling figures that should disrupt a group of people (Osakwe 2008). The age groups most affected by the virus include 20 to 29 years, while the regions with the highest rates are the North Central, North East and South-South zones. It is shocking that the University treated 10,800 people living with HIV between January and October 2008.
Several factors contribute to the spread of HIV / AIDS in Nigeria, This includes sexual practices of networking such as polygamy, a high prevalence of untreated sexually transmitted diseases (STIs.), low use condom, poverty, low literacy levels; poor health, stigma and irresponsible sexual habits. Prevalence Malaria in Nigeria has remained high, and this is due to the abundance of blocked drains and dirt that AIDS, malaria vectors. An estimated one million deaths occur each year from malaria in Nigeria. The fact that we have an insufficient number well-trained medical personnel to implement programs such as National AIDS remains a major challenge to achieving the objective 6 of the MDGs.
GOAL 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
Nigeria is still grappling with the challenge of environmental sustainability. There are still major problems of land degradation, pollution, flooding, erosion, desertification, inefficient use energy resources, loss of biodiversity, environmental disasters and deforestation. There are still problems of access to improved sanitation facilities in Nigeria, which can be attributed to poor implementation of health and housing and related policies, standards high poverty, low awareness on issues related to environmental sustainability and general improvement in rural areas. Why perennial gully erosion in the South-East, parts of Delta and Edo challenged attention – instead, agricultural land and buildings are removed each year, cut off roads and separate communities, children and adults are swept away by floods. How is it explained that in the 21st century, even in some campuses, students defecate anywhere and for worse in some women's hostels! "Short-made" has acquired a new meaning of this anti-social behavior. Students defecate in polythene bags and even behind black their rooms or leave the toilet ends. Sometimes, the human waste is washed into gutters and drains, creating health risks. Excavations for the construction and building sand may not be as obvious an environmental risk as short notice, but without resorting to excavation of the consequences on the environment leaves a lot of pain and anguish for the people. Some Nigerians are daily contributing to the degradation of the environment and threat to life and property by their recklessness and the environment – the hostile activities.
GOAL 8: Develop a partnership World Development
Nigeria has continued to play a leading role in regional cooperation initiative
About the Author
Mabel Ejime Osakwe (2009)
Chair, English Language
Delta State University, Abraka
Skate – Boner’s Career, Part 005: Rail Fest, Smith Securigrind, Dill Kinked Manny, etc.