GLOBAL PEACE AND SECURITY: ANY HOPE?

The issue of global insecurity has become a recurring decimal; resurfacing almost everyday, everywhere, attracting different reactions from various categories of the people in all parts of the world.

Bomb blast, missile or bomb testing, assassination, armed robbery, ethno-religious riots, kidnapping, coup de tat among others are typical news heard around the globe today, showing the level of threat and insecurity in the world, thereby making the world an endangered place.

In September two thousand, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted an eight point declaration referred to as United Nations Millennium Declaration. It encompasses peace, security and disarmament, development and poverty eradication, protecting the environment, human rights, democracy and good governance.

Under the Peace, Security and Disarmament Declaration, the United Nations disclosed that effort would not be spared to free people from the scourge of war, whether within or between states, which has claimed more than five million lives in the past decade.

Today, it is so difficult to identify a nation that is free from insecurity or conflict, most especially in the African and Asian Continents.

The lingering Niger Delta crisis is a big challenge to the Nigerian government to address, Darfur crisis in Sudan, America’s invasion of Iraq, the Taliban and Al Qaeda issue in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Israel-Palestine dispute, Russia’s attack on Georgia, political crisis in Kenya, Niger Republic, Zimbabwe, Guinea Bissau and Xenophobic attack in South Africa are just a few to mention, showing the level of violence and unrest across the world.

Speaking at a Symposium organized by the National Assessment Synthesis Team for the United States Global Research Programme, Professor Anderson George of Cambridge University debunked the notion that the United States is succeeding in addressing the problem of global insecurity.

The Professor explained that the futility of US-Mission in different countries now could be inferred from the alarming rate of emergence of new terrorism.
Therefore it there is any disturbing fear about terrorism it is that rarely do military forces defeat or obliterate it.

To strengthen campaign on the need for peace from local to international level, the United Nations dedicates every twenty-first of September as International Day of Peace or the World Peace Day. The day which was first celebrated in nineteen eighty-one, is meant to be a day of non-violence and cease-fire.

Hence, the day will remain fruitless unless the world body, United Nations, regional bodies like African Union (AU), ECOWAS, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Arab League and European Union as well as other international organizations like the Red Cross truly work towards promoting peace and security, by stressing the need for all countries of the world and international organizations to foster friendship, peace, justice among nations as well as fighting poverty at all levels.

Former United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, once said “if war is failure of diplomacy, then diplomacy both bilateral and multilateral, is our first line of difference. The world today spends billions preparing for war, shouldn’t we spend a billion or two preparing for peace?”.

No doubt, without peace, there would not be friendly relationship and without friendly relationship, there would not be development and without development, the whole world would not be conducive for all to live in.

It is very imperative for the United Nations to be truly effective without fair or favour in maintaining peace and security by providing resources and tools for conflict re-building and reconstruction to ensure peaceful co-existence of the whole world.

Community leaders, traditional rulers and government at all levels should strive towards ensuring peaceful co-existence in their respective societies.

IMBIBLE THE LESSONS OF RAMADHAN

“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you that you may become pious. Fasting for a fixed number of days, but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number should be made up from other days. And as for those who can fast with difficulty, they have choice to either fast or to feed a poor person everyday. But whoever does good of his record, it is better for him.

And that you fast, is better for you only if you know.

The above quotation as contained in chapter two verses one hundred and eighty-three to one hundred and eighty-four of the holy Qur’an is the commandment of Allah, the Exalted, on all Muslim faithful but with few exception.

For about a month, Muslim faithful across the globe have being fasting in line with Allah’s commandment to reap Allah’s maximum reward through their total submission to the will of the Almighty.

Indeed, apart from spiritual benefit, it has been established that other benefits derivable from fasting include, medical or health benefit, social and psychological benefits.

During this period of spiritual rejuvenation, Muslims move closer to Allah by reading from the glorious Qur’an day and night, cultivate good manners, eating and drinking with members of the family and share other things among friends, relatives and other members of the society, thereby promoting peace, love and enhance unity within and beyond each family.

It is also important to note that fasting is a period of learning self-restraint and patience. And with patience, Muslims are able to strengthen their resolve to worship Allah alone, with sincerity and also to cope with other world activities without much ado.

Apart from abstaining from eating and drinking during this period, Muslims also restrain their souls from greed and stinginess, telling lies, adultery, fornication, backbiting, impatience and hypocrisy, and instead seeking Allah’s blessings, forgiveness, mercies, reading Qur’an and making supplications day and night in order to seek Allah’s maximum reward.

However, if all the virtues and lessons accrued during this month are imbibed, no doubt, there would be peace of mind, love, unity, harmony and cohesion needed in the society.

If Ramadan lessons are properly imbibed, it would go a long was in helping the nation to achieve the desired development as every individual would be providing selfless but purposeful services to the nation.

We must therefore resolve to sustain the present good deeds like recitation from the Glorious Qur’an, prayers day and night as well as restraining from don’ts of the Almighty Allah, the Most High.

All wealth individuals should sustain giving alms to the poor and needy to better their lots as poor do not live during Ramadan alone while everyone must work towards promoting love, unity and peace within our various families and the society at large.

Above all, let the fear of God continue.

TACKLING THE MENACE OF CHOLERA IN NIGERIA

For a very long time, Nigeria has been bedeviled with series of communicable and non communicable diseases which have claimed several lives.

It is on record that on many occasions, diseases like polio, yellow fever, dengue fever, river blindness among others do erupt across the country, taking away great potential leaders.

In fact, it is hardly difficult for two months or so to pass in Nigeria without the outbreak of any disease across the length and breadth of the country.

Presently, there is outbreak of Cholera in about eleven states, which had claimed over five hundred lives. The disease is caused by a bacteria called Vibro Cholera which can be acquired by food or water contaminated by fecal material.

Today, Cholera is ravaging States like Osun, Borno, Kaduna, Katsina, Gombe, Taraba, Jigawa, Adamawa, Yobe and the Federal Capital Territory, making other States susceptible to the dreadful disease.

Confirming the ugly development, the Chief Epidemiologist in the Federal Ministry of Health, Doctor Henry Akpan said about six thousand suspected cases had been reported, while there were other reports in the media which said the victims are more than that.

Available records show that Bauchi State had two thousand, four hundred and seventeen cases and about one hundred deaths, while one hundred and twenty and sixty five deaths had been recorded in Borno and Katsina States respectively.

Medical Experts have however attributed the outbreak to lack of access to safe water and good sanitary environment, which, in fact, makes all States of the Federation susceptible to the outbreak of the disease.

The fact that the case has not been reported in some parts of the country doesn’t insulate such states from the disease.

Hence, government at all levels must therefore ensure proper supply of potable water and proper maintenance of public utilities, particularly toilets and boreholes with a view to guaranteeing sound environment and hygienic for all and sundries.

Attitudinal change also needs to be advocated among Nigerians on making their environment tidy at all times as well as ensuring that water, fruits and foods are safe before taking them.

Epidemiologists and sanitary inspectors must be employed and supported in all the seven hundred and seventy- four local government areas of the country, to increase surveillance, treatment and enlightenment campaign across the country.

Conclusively, it is necessary for the president to be proactive and develop long term mechanism that will put an end to this scourge of epidemic while comprehensive probe should also be made into how the money budgeted and released by governments and development partners like UNICEF,WHO,MDGS and the World bank on water supply are expended in the last ten years.

2011 GENERAL ELECTIONS AND TASK BEFORE THE NIGERIAN POLICE

Nigeria, since her independence in 1960 has conducted several elections which were believed to be marred with irregularities. These include ballot snatching, election rigging, riots and other forms of violence.

Elections in Nigeria have become synonymous with violence due to the attendant ugly incidents that have permeated and characterized the conduct of elections in the country.

Reports from both local and international media during and after the elections better explained the pathetic state of Nigeria during elections. It is so difficult to recall any election in Nigeria without shedding blood, making the country loosing several men and women of great potentials.

Though, violence and other forms of irregularities erupt in elections across the globe, the persistent irregularities in elections in the country call for concern and drastic measures needed to be taken to safe the situation.

Therefore, the Nigerian Police, established and empowered by section two-one-five of the nineteen ninety-nine Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is to among other things protect the lives and properties of all inhabitants of this country.

Equally, the Electoral act defines in clear terms, specific functions of the Nigerian Police at ensuring free, fair and credible elections. It is against this background that the role of the Nigerian police in electioneering campaigns, votings, counting or compilation of election results and other engagements in electoral process cannot be over-emphasized.
For a very long time however, the Nigerian police have been joined in many election petitions for allegedly aiding or abetting electoral malpractices across the country.

To ensure acceptable and violent free elections therefore, the Nigerian police must start training and equipping its rank and file now.

Signing the new Electoral Act into law, President Goodluck Jonathan promised that next year’s general elections would be conducted peacefully, as it is often witnessed in other parts of the world.

President Jonathan noted that signing the bill into law would serve as a clear signal to the doubting thomases of the administration’s commitment to free, fair and beyond reproach elections, come twenty-eleven.

Even with the recently released whooping some of money, seventy billion naira to the Force, it may not conduct free and fair elections if officers and men of the Police are not adequately trained ahead of the all important national assignment.

Though, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Lagos and Ogun States, Mr. Azubuko Udah at the Lagos NUJ Press Week revealed that the Police had started training its officers and men on how to deal with the twenty-eleven elections, much emphasis must be placed on their duties on the election days, in line with international best practices.

It is also important for the policemen to desist from being used as machineries by unscrupulous politicians to achieve their selfish interests if truly, there will be credible elections in twenty eleven and beyond. Other selected security agents must also be well trained alongside the Police, on how to handle restive mobs.

The Nigerian Police must observe the rule of law in all their dealings, by giving every Nigerian equal protection in exercising their civic responsibilities, with a view to making the elections acceptable to all Nigerians and the international community.

POLITICAL CRISIS IN AFRICA

Undoubtedly, Africa has had some difficult moments through transition
from colonialism to independence. For about fifty years many countries
within the continent had witnessed various crises, which had hitherto led
to instability in political and socio-economic spheres of the affected
nations.
In the period between nineteen sixty and nineteen seventy, the entire
continent was almost turned into a battlefield as a result of coups and
counter coups.
It may not be out of place to recall the incidence that ousted Sir Tafawa
Balewa and Doctor Nnamdi Azikwe as the Prime Minister and President of
Nigeria respectively.
During the same period, General Akrah overthrew the government of
President Kwame Nkrumah in Ghana, while Colonel Boumedienne in Algeria
also overthrew President Ben Bella.
Between nineteen eighty and now, changes of government through coup
d’etats had also occurred in Ghana, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Equitorial
Guinea and Niger Republic, to mention a few.
No doubt, the coup d’etats had made the military regimes to become the
most prevalent political phenomena in Africa more than civilian regimes.
In Nigeria for example, out of about fifty years of existence as a
sovereign nation, the military had ruled for twenty-nine years, leaving the
remaining twenty years for the civilian governments.
However, their incursion into existing democratic practice was always
attributed to the failure of democratically elected leaders to respect
the social contracts between them and the electorate.
Internal political problems, corruption, maladministration, favouritism
and nepotism, as well as tribal or ethnic factors were usually listed as
part of reasons for their intervention or taking over from civilian
governments.
It is therefore pertinent to note that their intervention have been
directly or indirectly linked with personal ambitions and the craving for
power by some specific key players, as it could be seen in the case of
Dahomey in nineteen sixty-five, Uganda in nineteen seventy-one and Togo
in nineteen sixty-three.
Up till today, the coups have not improved African economic conditions
rather, they have been source of political tension because the coups had
driven the continent into further suffering.
Hence, the recent bloodless coup d’etat in the West African country of
Niger Republic has also brought to fore, the phenomena of military
incursion in Africa. The coup had however generated wide criticism among
the international community.
It is a known fact that the former President of the country, Mamadou
Tandja altered the country’s constitution to remain in power beyond the
end of his second term in office. In addition, his government became
unpopular, and was criticized and condemned by the international
community to the extent that some countries and international bodies
severe their ties with the country.
To this end, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the
Africa Union (AU) and other relevant international organizations should
as a matter of urgency work towards ensuring democratic governance in the
country within the agreed six months as promised by the Junta.
The international bodies should also strive to create a practicable
institutional framework that would compel democratically elected
government in Africa to respect constitutions of their respective
countries and avoid clinching to power for selfish interest.
Electoral malpractices, bad leadership, corruption, nepotism and other
hurdles to democratization process in Africa should be checked to ensure
that the continent is safe for all to live in.

CHECKING THE INFLUX OF ADULTERATED AND COUNTERFEIT DRUGS IN NIGERIA

If there is any area where technological breakthrough has equally recorded very dangerous negative impacts on the citizenry, it is in the area of fake and or adulterated drugs. Just as technology has considerably enhanced the invention, production and application of diverse drugs to cure certain ailments across the globe.

Fake or adulterated drugs are produced and sold by unscrupulous individuals in concert with their local collaborators to produce mass fake drugs and dispense same across the world, particularly, the developing countries.

Scores of lives have been lost as a result of consumption of fake, adulterated or counterfeit drugs while many have been paralyzed or subjected to allergic reactions due to its consumption.

Counterfeiting occurs throughout the world, although, there are claims that it is more common some developing countries without regulatory or enforcement regimes.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than ten percent of drugs worldwide are counterfeit, and in some countries, more than fifty percent of the drug supply is counterfeit.

Counterfeit medications may also contain incorrect ingredients, improper dosages of the correct ingredients, or contain actual hazardous ingredients that are injurious to the health of consumers.

In two thousand and three, the WHO cited estimates that the annual earnings of counterfeit drugs were over thirty-two billion dollars.

Reports showed that many fake drugs came from the same countries that make normal drugs, in particular China and India. In the case of India, while it is against the law to sell fake drugs for domestic use, there is no prohibition on export of counterfeit drugs to any part of the world.

Also in China, the State Food and Drug Administration is not responsible for regulating pharmaceutical ingredient manufacture and exported by chemical companies.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria also disclosed that at least seventy percent of the drugs in circulation in Nigeria are fake and most imported from India, China, Pakistan, Egypt and Indonesia.

Indeed, the National Agency for Food and Drugs, Administration and Control (NAFDAC) established in two thousand and four to among other things regulate and control the importation, exportation, manufacture, distribution, sale and use of good drugs, bottled water and chemicals had done a lot to check the influx of counterfeit and other substandard products in the Country.

In June two thousand and nine, the Agency seized a large consignment of fake anti-malaria drugs with the label of ‘Made in China’ but found that the medicines were in fact produced in China and were imported in the African countries.

To save the country from being a dumping ground for fake drugs, a combined team of the Senate Committee and the National Agency for Food and Drug, Administration and Control (NAFDAC) recently paid a visit to China as part of Nigeria’s leading role in ensuring quality drugs for consumers.

Led by Chairman of the Committee, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, the working visit which preceded a similar one planned for India was a pregnatic step jointly taken by both organizations to tackle the hydra headed problem of influx of fake drugs and unwholesome processed food in which some unscrupulous Chinese Pharmaceutical Companies have been identified.

The visit is expected to serve as a new vista of opportunity between NAFDAC and Chinese Food and Drug Administration to close ranks and work together in eradicating the reoccurring problem of exportation of counterfeit drugs from China to Nigeria.

Thus, the National Assembly, Federal Ministry of Health, NAFDAC in collaboration with States, Ministries of Health must not relent in sanitizing the system by prosecuting and confiscate properties of these deliberate killers with a view to riding the nation of fake drugs and save endangering lives.

2010 FIFA WORLD CUP IN AFRICA SOIL

After years of skepticism over Africa’s ability to host an event of the magnitude of the World Cup, South Africa is hosting the four weeks global soccer fiesta, the first of its kind in Africa soil, since its inauguration eighty years ago.

No doubt, the entire World, particularly, soccer enthusiasts and analysts, are not unaware of politics that go alongside agitation or bidding for hosting of any football competition from local level to global level.

South Africa however began the great challenge in May two thousand and four, when FIFA President Sepp Blatter opened the envelope which revealed South Africa as the first African country to host the soccer World Cup in Zurich, Switzerland.

Prior to the announcement, South African Government had made seventeen guarantees to FIFA, in relation to the delivery of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Since FIFA’s announcement of South Africa as the host country of the World’s biggest soccer event, there have been series of criticisms, challenges and encouragements on the country’s preparedness in terms of infrastructure to host the World. Today, there is no question whether the Country is ready to host a spectacular and memorable event as all the thirty-two countries representing all the continents and sub-continents of the world arrived the rainbow nation.

Out of these thirty-two countries, six African countries, including host, South Africa, Nigeria, Cameroun, Ghana, Algeria and Cote d’lvoire are taking part in the tournament.

The rest of the qualified countries are Japan, the Netherlands, Korea Democratic People’s Republic, Australia, Korea Republic, USA, Brazil, England, Paraguay, Spain, Denmark, Chile, Germany and Italy.

Others are Mexico, Serbia, Switzerland, Argentina, Honduras, Slovakia, France, Portugal, Slovenia, Greece, Uruguay and New Zealand.

The four week event is expected to take place in eight of South Africa’s nine provinces, using ten stadia in nine host cities, while an independent consulting and accounting firm revealed that about four hundred thousand international tourists are expected to visit South Africa over the period.

Indeed, the World Cup is not only a landmark event, it is a defining event for its host nation because a lot of infrastructural projects had been put in place.

Economically, the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry has disclosed that the soccer spectacle is expected to inject about fifty-five billion rand into the country’s economy as well as create over four hundred and fifteen thousand jobs.

Speaking on the preparation of the country, former South African President, Nelson Mandela noted that the 2010 World Cup is a powerful creator of opportunity for all and must be used as a springboard for future.

According to him, the World Cup will help unify people, if there is one thing in this planet that has the power to bind people, it is soccer.

It is therefore imperative for the South African authorities to intensify efforts on its transport services, health-care delivery, safety and security, immigration, tourism sector, telecommunications services and administration of justice to check all impediments to successful hosting of the World on African soil for the first time.

All African nations participating in the fiesta must show their stuff and potentials.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) should also give necessary support to South Africa with a view to giving the World the best World Cup ever while other stakeholders in the continent should use the competition to proof that South Africa and indeed the African continent in general, is capable of organizing an event of this magnitude.

NIGERIAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ITS NEEDED AUTONOMY

Local government is that tier of government closest to the person, which is vested with certain powers to exercise control over the affairs of people in its domain.

According to the United Nations Division of Public Administration, Local Government is a political sub-division of a nation or state in a federal system which is constituted by law and has substantial control of local affairs, including the powers to impose taxes or use of labour for prescribed purposes. The governing body of such an entity is elected otherwise locally selected.

The third tier of government therefore is expected to play the role of promoting the democratic ideals of a society and coordinating development programme at the local level.

It is also expected to serve as the basis of socio-economic development in Nigeria because local government is a platform that those who have any interest in common, which they do not share with the general body of their countrymen may manage that joint interest by themselves and subsequently ensure representative and responsible government at the grassroot level.

Before the popular nineteen seventy-six Local Government Reform, local government were merely local administration without formal recognition as a tier of government. But the reform led to the codification of local government under section seven of Nigerian nineteen ninety-seven constitution and still takes section seven of the contemporary nineteen ninety-nine constitution.

Giving justification for the nineteen seventy-six Local Government Reform under Muritala/Obasanjo regime, the then Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Major General Shehu Yar’Adua said and I quote “The Local Government suffered continuous whittling down of their powers. The state governments have continued to encroach upon what would normally have been the exclusive preserves of local government, lack of adequate funds and appropriate institution had continued to make local government ineffective and ineffectual.”

Hitherto, local government cannot be said to have justified its establishment and its inevitable importance to the people at the grassroot level as a result of inadequate finance, inadequate skilled workers, poor revenue generation, corruption and maladministration, overstaffing, political instability and interference which in turn hinder autonomy of local government in Nigerian.

Observations have also shown that local government in Nigerian has not performed up to expectation because of wide-scale embezzlement by officials at the grassroots, perceived indiscipline among workers in the third tier of government.

Intrusion in local government affairs by the higher levels of government has contributed in no small measure to ineffectiveness of local government in Nigeria. Examples are abound from across the country where state Governor unconstitutionally dissolves the entire elected council’s officers, and such action therefore hinders smooth administration at grassroots level.

The fact that local government sustain itself based on revenue from federation account and allocation from state government as well as grant and subsidies form the higher authority make local government susceptible to undue influence.

To ensure that local government complement the effort of both central and state governments in Nigeria, the third tier of government should be allowed to actually fill the envious position as recognized by the nineteen ninety-nine constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Local government council should also be alive to its responsibilities by performing its statutory duties with a view to making local government serves as bedrock for national development as well as veritable ground to training future national leaders.

ELECTORAL REFORM AND FUTURE OF NIGERIA’S DEMOCRACY

While taking over the mantle of leadership of this great country in two thousand and seven, President Umaru Yar’adua admitted that his election was characterized with flaws. Thus, he immediately inaugurated a twenty-two man Electoral Reform Panel, headed by a former Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Mohammed Uwais, to carry out a comprehensive review of the country’s electoral system.

Inaugurating the Panel, President Yar’adua tasked the committee to work out a process that would enable the conduct of elections to meet acceptable international standard and make the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) truly independent in name and deed with a view to imbuing it with administrative and financial autonomy and a mechanism to reduce post-election tensions. This is by ensuring the resolution of election disputes before the inauguration of elected officials.

To meet the targets set up by the President and the entire citizenry with respect to elections in Nigeria , the Panel which had notable Nigerians toured the entire country to demand the inputs of Nigerians to electoral reform.

Undoubtedly, the Panel examined the electoral systems relevant to Nigeria ’s experience and best practices that will impact positively on the quality and credibility of the nation’s electoral process.

Hundreds of memoranda were received in which many called for a two-party system, adoption of option A4, using National Identity card for voting, suspension of the swearing-in of elected officers whose victory is being challenged in the tribunal and introduction of independent candidates to enable persons not interested in any political party seek elective positions.

As expected, the Panel submitted its report to the President and subsequently, electoral related bills are now before the two chambers of the National Assembly with a view to reviewing the two thousand and six electoral act and relevant sections of the nineteen ninety-nine constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

To this end, the Senate last week began a remarkable move with the approval of independent candidates in the next general elections. During a clause by clause consideration of the electoral bill, the Senate approved the amendment to section sixty-five of the constitution to pave the way for the emergence of independent candidates.

Series of amendments were also passed bordering on issues that will ensure the sanctity of the vote of the people, by ensuring more electoral transparency and also making sure that the Independent National Electoral Commission is truly independent. With the amendments, Persons willing to become the President or state Governor must be a graduate.

Speaking on the development, the Senate President, David Mark expressed confidence that the amendments would be replicated in the House of Representatives and in the thirty-six state Houses of Assembly.

Well, the actions of the Lawmakers are commendable, but all other impediments to credible, free and fair elections must be critically examined.

Nigeria , the giant of Africa , must do everything humanly possible to conduct free and transparent elections for others to emulate.

YES, IT'S TIME TO BE MORE UNITED

“We the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, having firmly and solemnly resolved: To live in unity and harmony as one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign nation under God, dedicated to the promotion of inter-African solidarity, world peace, international co-operation and understanding: And to provide for a constitution for the purpose of promoting the good government and welfare of all persons in our country on the principles of freedom, equity and for the purpose of consolidating the unity of our people.”

This statement, forms the preamble of the nineteen ninety-nine constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which commits every Nigerian to the pursuit of National Unity, irrespective of religion, ethnic and political affiliations.

It stresses the need for the citizens of this country to realize that irrespective of their place of origin, there is a rope that ties everyone together as Nigerian.

Ideally, people of a particular nation should share a common citizenship, common loyalty to the nation, common rights and common obligation or responsibilities for the stability of peaceful co-existence of the country.

It is also expected that there should not be discrimination of any sort in the application of the law, equitable share of protection and equitable share of amenities and facilities provided by government.

Citizens of a country are also to identify and be identified with some features that are common and unique to the country and the people
In Nigeria for example, all Nigerians are expected to be identified and to identify with the National flag, National Anthem, the National Currency that is Naira and Kobo, National Passport, National Identify Card and the National colour (Green White-Green) among others.

However, there are a number of deterrents to the realization of National Unity in Nigeria a secular State, with about one hundred and fifty million people, more than two hundred and fifty ethnic groups and multi-religious.

Ethnic affliction has been identified as a major impediment to national unity, because many people prefer to identify more with their ethnic groups, state or region than with the country.

Others are Multi-religious, uneven distribution of amenities, differences in language and the oppression of Minority by Majority or Vice Verse due to their access to power.

It is therefore necessary to improve the level of civic education and enlightenment of citizens on the need for peaceful co-existence and tolerance, with a view to curbing the spate of crisis in Jos, Plateau State, Niger Delta and other parts of the country.

Thus, there is the need for even distribution of amenities to all parts of the country, improvement on transport and communication facilities throughout the country to enhance mutual trust and understanding as well as more encouragement of inter-tribal marriages to enable couples to imbibe the spirit of tolerance and understanding of each others culture and custom, to make the country move united.

Traditional rulers, community leaders, political and non-political leaders as well as religious leaders should work vehemently towards promoting tolerance, unity and peaceful co-existence of the country for the realization of a National Unity.

NEED FOR DIVERSIFICATION OF NIGERIA’S ECONOMY

Nigeria, the most populous black nation with over one hundred and fifty million people and over three hundred and fifty-six thousand square miles land mass is blessed with abundant human and natural resources.

Prior to the discovery of oil in commercial quantities sometimes in the sixties/seventies, agriculture was recognized as viable source of revenue to the country and crops like Groundnuts, Cocoa, Beans, Rubber, Gum Arabic, Kola nuts, Cotton, Soya beans, Palm Kernel, Cashew nut and the likes were exported to Europe, America and other continents across the globe.

In the three main regions of Nigeria, that is, the North, South and the East, at least an agricultural product was largely produced and in commercial quantities, which enhanced the standard of living and economic status of the people.

However, for decades now, Nigeria’s economy had been dominated by the petroleum sector. Oil, being Nigeria’s single biggest source of income, is responsible for generating over twenty percent of Nigeria’s GDP and clearly, ninety-five per cent of foreign earning.

Indeed, if the type of adequate attention given to petroleum can be extended to mining, commerce, agriculture, tourism and other sectors of the economy, the socio-economic status of the country will improve.

There is no doubt that Nigeria has tremendous opportunities in mining and mineral extraction. The country has one of the best quality coal deposits in the world, with lowest sulphur content. Others are gypsum, barites, kaolin and tale, which if properly harnessed, will increase the country’s annual revenue.

The country is also blessed with tropical rain forests, savannah grasslands, mangrove swamps the sahel savannah and most especially, natural tourist sites like the Owu Water Fall in Kwara State, the steepest natural waterfall in West Africa and Esie Museum, also in Kwara State.

Others include Asabari Hill in Saki area of Oyo State, the Niger-Benue Confluence in Kogi State, Ikogosi Warm Spring in Ondo State, Argungu Fishing Festival and Yankari Games Reserve and its warm spring among others can be given priority attention to attract vacationers and visitors to generate huge amount of money to the country.

It is against this background that then Acting President and now the President of Nigeria, Doctor Goodluck Jonathan stressed the need for Africa to exploit the potential of its natural endowment to surmount threats of the global economic recession.

Speaking at the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the High Level Conference on Development of Agri-business and Agro-industries in Africa held in Abuja, Doctor Jonathan explained that the impact of the financial crises was evident in the crash in prices of Africa’s major export commodities.

Thus, Nigeria tapped and untapped resources in all the nooks and crannies of the country should be given adequate attention by way of diversifying the nation’s economy. This is with a view to reducing the country’s dependence on imported goods, improve industrialization, reduce unemployment and enhance the standard of living.

EMERGENCE OF TELEVISION IN AFRICA

Historically, the idea of matching radio signals with pictures to be transmitted on the air and received at home, began shortly after success was recorded in radio communication.

The efforts of a number of scientists and investors from Germany , USSR , United States of America , Britain and France finally led to the emergence of telecasting in the early nineteen hundred but the experiments had started in the eighteen hundred, when still and moving pictures were sent by wire and this led to development of the wire photo service.

In nineteen thirty , more than forty Engineers and Television inventors were brought together in Canden , New Jersey to merge their television research programmes together. The team tackled and solved all the outstanding problems relating to television system.

In Britain , the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) began a regular television service from New Alexander Palace station in nineteen thirty-six . Japan , too, was busy with its research, but this was halted by Second World War between nineteen thirty-nine and nineteen forty-five .

Nigeria joined the World of television in nineteen fifty-nine , when the Western region television broadcasting was born. The television started with the initiative of the first Western Region Premier, Chief Obafemi Awolowo who on the thirty-first, October, nineteen fifty-nine launched television broadcasting in Ibadan , the headquarters of the region. During this period, Chief Anthony Enahoro was the Minister in charge of Information.

In nineteen fifty-three following a walkout of the House of Assembly by the Awolowo-led Action Group over calls for a repeal of the Macpherson constitution of nineteen fifty-one-Governor Macpherson’s Colonial Government derided the walkout as immature on television and Chief Awolowo then asked for a right of reply. It is on record up till today that Politics and education were two developments accelerated the reality.

Speaking during the launching of the WNTV at Agodi, Ibadan , which incidentally was the first in Africa, the Late Sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo said the medium was meant to serve as teacher entertainer, and a stimulus to all to transform Nigeria into a modern and prosperous nation.

Though, the project was a regional one, it was designed to serve a pan-Nigeria goal. Indeed, Chief Awolowo went further to emphasize the informational and educational motive behind the founding of the WNTV by saying that his government intended to bring into people’s homes information about Nigeria and the outside world to enable Nigerians gain more knowledge about their society and the world at large.

On October first, nineteen sixty, the former Eastern Region started its own television broadcasting system. The motive for its establishment was also the need for formal and informal education while the Northern Region Government contracted with the overseas firms of Pye Limited and Granada TV Limited to build its own television service known as Radio Television Kaduna which was on air in nineteen sixty-two.

In nineteen seventy-eight, Western Nigeria Television transformed into what we now know as the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA). The then Military authorities took over the regional televisions and made them an authentic voice of the Nigerian government.

Also, in nineteen nineties, NTA’s monopoly on the Nigerian airspace was broken with the establishment of privately owned television stations and networks under General Ibrahim Babangida.

In due course, the television box became a popularly household item across Nigeria , with regional and state governments setting up their own television stations. Having set the pace, other African countries followed suit.

The advent of television transformed the Nigerian way of life, it expanded the scope of human expression and freedom and has served as tool not just for education and entertainment, but also the documentation of significant social and political history.

It is pertinent to note however that despite the increasing televisions across the length and breadth of Nigeria , the desired quality production and programming cannot be said to have been achieved when compared to other television stations across the globe.

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) should also ensure that its directive of seventy percent local content broadcasting is complied with to promote a broad range of positive objectives in the society.

Government should also create an enabling environment in terms of infrastructure and legislation for all parties involved to meet this particular goal as well as social objective envisioned by Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo fifty years ago.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN SCHOOLS

For long, many Africa Nations have made giant strides in expanding their educational systems. Some of then have expanded their systems especially at the Primary level in response to the 1961 Addis Ababa Conference that set for the continent the target of achieving free and compulsory universal primary education by the year 1980.

Others apart from this, see the achievement of universal primary education as a measure of international prestige and a symbol of emancipation. A good number of these nations have also expanded the facilities at the secondary and tertiary levels of education in the strong belief that such investments will yield high returns.

No doubt, the issue of quality is not however, peculiar to the educational systems of the developing world, even, some advanced countries have often expressed concern about the quality of their own educational system.

Some Nigerian communities have been playing a pivotal role towards developing schools in their environment, thereby enhancing educational quality and interactions between the community and the schools.

Considering the challenges facing quality education delivery in the country, it is evident that there is a compelling need for all stakeholders in the sector to make genuine and concerted commitment towards pooling together resources, intellectual, ability and capabilities towards ensuring that basic educational delivery does not become an overbearing task borne by an entity called “Government”.

Involvement of communities in the affairs or management of schools would no doubt afford teachers the opportunity to know more about the people and the life of the community. It will also afford them the opportunity to know the history, culture, norms, values, problems and needs, its resources in the form of men, things and places, its folklore, the interest groups in the Community and so forth, thereby enabling teachers to relate lessons to the environment of the school.

Thus, if Universal Basic Education Programme must succeed, it must truly be seen and implemented as the peoples programme and community participation will therefore serve as proof of the fact that ‘Education for All” is truly the responsibility of all and a means of achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Nigeria by the year 2015.

It is also on record that the NCE meeting of December, 2005 held in Ibadan , the Oyo State Capital, approved the Policy for he establishment of School Based Management Committees in all Universal Basic Education Schools in the Country. The initiative will enable community members the opportunity of playing distinctive roles in actualising interest and capabilities towards the improvement of Basic Education system and administration.

Although, establishment of School Management Committee (SMCs) in Nigeria dates back to the era of the introduction of missionary schools they were then established to manage and raise funds for the missionary schools. Until early nineteen eighties when government took over the schools and dissolved the SMCs, they were functional and coordinated.

Today, the involvement of parents in school matters in most of the communities is usually through the Parent Teacher Association (PTA). With a few exceptions, the traditional role of the PTAs has been that of making financial contributions to schools. These contributions being discouraged by some state governments in the country for some reasons are usually used for proving some needed facilities and procuring some materials and equipment that may be lacking in the schools.

The involvement of the community in the life of their schools has recently gone beyond mere financial contributions by PTAs, as educational development in some parts of the country are truly through communal efforts.

It is therefore imperative for the States Chapters of the Parent Teacher Association to co-opt other stakeholders in the Education Sector in enlightening, and sensitizing the public on the need not to sit on the fence but to stand up and contribute their positive quota to the improvement of quality teaching and learning in the State.

Undoubtedly, Girls education which tends to the promotion of gender equality in education is vital to development, and policies and actions that do not address gender disparities miss critical development opportunities.

According to the United Nations Educationally Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in two thousand and five, thirty years ago, girls represented thirty eight percent of primary enrollments in low-income counties and boys, sixty-two percent. Today the gender gap has narrowed with girls representing forty-eight percent and boys fifty-two per cent of primary enrollments.

Yet, the level of enrollment of girls are very low compared to their boys counterpart and if development could be achieved in all spheres of life, enlightenments on the enrollment of girls education must be intensified.

Indeed, gender differential access to school is usually caused by poverty, adverse cultural practices, schooling quality and distance to schools.

However, there are some emerging challenges that reduce girls’ enrollment in primary, secondary and tertiary education.

These challenges include HIV/AIDS, conflicts, emergencies and other fragile situations, gender-based violence and information technology gender gap.

Recalling the Millennium Development Goals of gender parity in primary and secondary education by 2005, no doubt, the goal failed abysmally in most regions.

Hence, there is substantial cause for optimism as most developing countries are no cause for closing gender gap in primary enrollment by 2015 if they continue at present rates of progress in enrollment and attendance rates.

It must be noted that Girls education yield some of the highest returns of all development investment, yielding both private and social benefits that accrue to individuals, families and society at large.

To this end, the popular wise saying of “when you education a man, you educate an individual but when you educate a woman, you educate a nation” should not be undermined to ensure positive result.

With this assertion, no doubt, an educated woman will impact positively on the family. Because, her education will greatly assist in reducing maternal and infant mortality, fight poverty and raise her children to become responsible members of the society, while responsible children coming from such responsible families will ensure a socially responsible society.

Statistically, a publication by a Non-Governmental Organization, Global Campaign for Education, States that girl make up about fifty-six per cent of the seventy-seven million children not in school in Nigeria .

Speaking recently in Bauchi at the commencement of the Nigerian Girl-Child Education Initiative, the Nigerian First Lady, Hajia Turai Yar’Adua appealed to Emirs and Chiefs in the nineteen Northern States to sensitize their subjects on the importance of the girl-child education.

Hajia Yar’Adua said the traditional rulers had a strategic role to play in encouraging parents to sent their wards to schools and promote growth, adding that educating the girl-child would enhance the socio-economic status of women in the Country.

It is therefore pertinent to step up efforts at educating the public on girl-child education with a view to attracting more parents to enroll their children after seeing the success of other girls while government alone should not be left along to empower women and reduce fundamental problems facing womenfolk.