CREATIVE BLOCK
This is killing
This hiatus is not consensual
Thought and process seem
To have taken flight
If man lives to think
And he thinks to live
Can I be said to be
A dormant or forlorn soul?
Plagued by a restless spirit
Housed in a contemporary body?
The blank page, the bare stage
Are the chief conspirators
Fueling this burning rage
I think volumes
That I desire to share
I see visions
Begging for form,
Devoid of fanfare
But in this present discourse
All I can do
Is sit and stare
But there is still
Life in the blood
Even if it is spilled
The wheels of life grind
Ever so slowly but surely
Though the fire may be out
The embers are prime possession
I must fan them again
To initiate a conflagration
That will consume despotic notions
Standing in its path
Bring down walls of doubt
To feeble to withstand
The might of its light
At tunnel’s end
Shall be a renewal and a song
Where writer meets matter
Where the creation embraces creator
And we hold hands
To pen tales
On the sands of time
Saturday, February 26, 2011
AN OPINION
A NATION’S VISION AND CERTAIN DYNAMICS
NIGERIA AIMS TO BE AMONGST THE TOP TWENTY GLOBAL ECONOMIES BY THE YEAR 2020(WHICH IS LESS THAN A DECADE AWAY FROM NOW).THIS LAUDABLE OBJECTIVE IS ENCAPSULATED WITHIN AN ACTION FRAME WORK KNOWN AS THE NV 20:2020 DOCUMENT. THE VISION SEEKS TO EXPAND THE NIGERIA’S ECONOMIC BASE, SHORE UP HER FINANCIAL STANDING, INSTITUTE MODERN INFRASTRUCTURE AND FRAME WORKS,OPTIMIZE HER HUMAN AND MATERIAL RESOURCES AS WELL A S A HOST OF OTHER INTENDED GOALS. However, we must pause and place this national vision in a proper and broader context. For Nigeria to break into that esteemed circle, it means that she must at least, as a matter of necessity, displace an existing member nation with the twentieth largest economy. Therefore, common sense dictates that the spotlight must be beamed on the nation that is currently occupying our dream economic destination. A detailed study must be embarked upon to reveal the reason(s) why that nation is where it is; critically analyzing her economic and financial institutions, government policies and programme on her human and material resources, budget control and planning as well as a gamut of other development indices. In addition, an analysis shall also be conducted on other nations aspiring to break into that global economic bracket.
These series of investigations should give us the needed framework to properly stress test our operations; drawing the line between unattainable national projections and sound, calculated and realizable economic goals! I hope that you will join me on this journey of discovery, as we see how best we all can bring Nigeria to that place of socio-economic and political bliss!
NIGERIA AIMS TO BE AMONGST THE TOP TWENTY GLOBAL ECONOMIES BY THE YEAR 2020(WHICH IS LESS THAN A DECADE AWAY FROM NOW).THIS LAUDABLE OBJECTIVE IS ENCAPSULATED WITHIN AN ACTION FRAME WORK KNOWN AS THE NV 20:2020 DOCUMENT. THE VISION SEEKS TO EXPAND THE NIGERIA’S ECONOMIC BASE, SHORE UP HER FINANCIAL STANDING, INSTITUTE MODERN INFRASTRUCTURE AND FRAME WORKS,OPTIMIZE HER HUMAN AND MATERIAL RESOURCES AS WELL A S A HOST OF OTHER INTENDED GOALS. However, we must pause and place this national vision in a proper and broader context. For Nigeria to break into that esteemed circle, it means that she must at least, as a matter of necessity, displace an existing member nation with the twentieth largest economy. Therefore, common sense dictates that the spotlight must be beamed on the nation that is currently occupying our dream economic destination. A detailed study must be embarked upon to reveal the reason(s) why that nation is where it is; critically analyzing her economic and financial institutions, government policies and programme on her human and material resources, budget control and planning as well as a gamut of other development indices. In addition, an analysis shall also be conducted on other nations aspiring to break into that global economic bracket.
These series of investigations should give us the needed framework to properly stress test our operations; drawing the line between unattainable national projections and sound, calculated and realizable economic goals! I hope that you will join me on this journey of discovery, as we see how best we all can bring Nigeria to that place of socio-economic and political bliss!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
OPINION
NORTH AFRICA, NIGERIA AND HER 2011 ELECTIONS
Over the last few weeks, widespread uprisings, revolts and protests in the North Africa and indeed the Arab World have resulted in the deposing Of Presidents Ben Ali of Tunisia and Hosni Mubarack of Egypt respectively! Although the causative factors of the uprisings in both countries were different- while the Tunisians want the enthronement of liberal democracy, the Egyptians were bent on seeing Mubarack out the door- the consequences are the same! And the reverberations are being felt in other parts of the Arab world; with tensions on the rise in Yemen, Bahrain, Tunisia and Libya. In addition, a major morale in this saga is that change is always inevitable and that the will and aspirations of the people are supreme! And that brings me to the subject of Nigeria! Can the current trend in North Africa be replicated here it the most populous black nation on earth? Given the legendary docility of the average Nigerian- especially toward issues of state and governance- it would be an uphill task mobilizing Nigerians to take to the streets in mass protests, against perceived imbalances in the governance of the nation!
However, there is a platform that Nigerians can express their desire for change and that avenue is the 2011 General Elections. So instead of taking to the streets, Nigerians must take to the ballot box. The power of the single vote must be exercised in its entirety and must be protected. Exercising such powers will entail carrying out detailed background checks to unearth the suitability or otherwise of candidates seeking elective offices. The uprisings in some countries in North Africa commenced at the behest of the common person; there were no promptings from opposition parties, civil society groups or non-governmental organizations. The same must be replicated here in Nigeria! Nigerians must amass in groups and press for deep-seated amendments to the nation’s constitution in areas such as the provision of social security and welfare package, a periodic assessment bill for public officials and so on!
In protecting our votes, we must cast them only for candidates that scale pre-determined parameters and shun the lure of exchanging our votes for financial and/or material inducements! Any candidate or party that canvasses for votes by financial inducements cannot, by this very act, mean well for the electorate.
In summary, we can begin our own revolution by ensuring that our votes put only officials of integrity, vision, passion and a willingness to serve the masses in public office! As the uprisings in North Africa have shown, power ultimately lies in the hands of a people! They and only they, can determine the fate of that nation!
Over the last few weeks, widespread uprisings, revolts and protests in the North Africa and indeed the Arab World have resulted in the deposing Of Presidents Ben Ali of Tunisia and Hosni Mubarack of Egypt respectively! Although the causative factors of the uprisings in both countries were different- while the Tunisians want the enthronement of liberal democracy, the Egyptians were bent on seeing Mubarack out the door- the consequences are the same! And the reverberations are being felt in other parts of the Arab world; with tensions on the rise in Yemen, Bahrain, Tunisia and Libya. In addition, a major morale in this saga is that change is always inevitable and that the will and aspirations of the people are supreme! And that brings me to the subject of Nigeria! Can the current trend in North Africa be replicated here it the most populous black nation on earth? Given the legendary docility of the average Nigerian- especially toward issues of state and governance- it would be an uphill task mobilizing Nigerians to take to the streets in mass protests, against perceived imbalances in the governance of the nation!
However, there is a platform that Nigerians can express their desire for change and that avenue is the 2011 General Elections. So instead of taking to the streets, Nigerians must take to the ballot box. The power of the single vote must be exercised in its entirety and must be protected. Exercising such powers will entail carrying out detailed background checks to unearth the suitability or otherwise of candidates seeking elective offices. The uprisings in some countries in North Africa commenced at the behest of the common person; there were no promptings from opposition parties, civil society groups or non-governmental organizations. The same must be replicated here in Nigeria! Nigerians must amass in groups and press for deep-seated amendments to the nation’s constitution in areas such as the provision of social security and welfare package, a periodic assessment bill for public officials and so on!
In protecting our votes, we must cast them only for candidates that scale pre-determined parameters and shun the lure of exchanging our votes for financial and/or material inducements! Any candidate or party that canvasses for votes by financial inducements cannot, by this very act, mean well for the electorate.
In summary, we can begin our own revolution by ensuring that our votes put only officials of integrity, vision, passion and a willingness to serve the masses in public office! As the uprisings in North Africa have shown, power ultimately lies in the hands of a people! They and only they, can determine the fate of that nation!
Saturday, February 19, 2011
ZONE POETICA
WHAT SHE IS DOING (DEDICATED TO CHIMAMANDA ADICHIE; AUTHOR OF THE NOVELS PURPLE HIBISCUS AND HALF OF A YELLOW SUN AND WINNER OF THE 2007 ORANGE BOOK PRIZE)
She teaches us to
Number our days
To wonder at
How far we have wandered
Too indifferent
To be bothered
About our states
So so withered
She advocates a
Clean swipe of
Our hearts’ slates
Therefore, we bid you our daughter
Do these and much more
She comes as an emissary
With peace offerings
From a land
Where she has learned
And is willing
To teach us all
How to live
And love again
To make the sincere move
From a factitious civil war
To strong brotherhood
Therefore, we bid you, our daughter
Do these and much more
She sounds the alarm cry
That we are being
Battered and bruised
With an eroding sense
Of self and worth;
Our common patrimony stolen
In exchange for
HALF OF A YELLOW SUN
That shines at half-mast
At our sorry cast
She rouses us to rise
And fight for our rights;
The coveted wreath
Of a PURPLE HIBISCUS
Therefore, we bid you our daughter
Do these and much more
She teaches us to
Number our days
To wonder at
How far we have wandered
Too indifferent
To be bothered
About our states
So so withered
She advocates a
Clean swipe of
Our hearts’ slates
Therefore, we bid you our daughter
Do these and much more
She comes as an emissary
With peace offerings
From a land
Where she has learned
And is willing
To teach us all
How to live
And love again
To make the sincere move
From a factitious civil war
To strong brotherhood
Therefore, we bid you, our daughter
Do these and much more
She sounds the alarm cry
That we are being
Battered and bruised
With an eroding sense
Of self and worth;
Our common patrimony stolen
In exchange for
HALF OF A YELLOW SUN
That shines at half-mast
At our sorry cast
She rouses us to rise
And fight for our rights;
The coveted wreath
Of a PURPLE HIBISCUS
Therefore, we bid you our daughter
Do these and much more
SEARCH LIGHT
Another Word for Nigerian Manufacturing
Yes in this episode, Je vous prsente (French for –‘i present to you; learning the language bit by bit) another made -in- Nigeria product that can compete favorably with its peers locally and abroad! It is also a bar of soap with the brand name- SPIN. Manufactured by Oriental Investments Ltd, Plot No 129, Apapa Road Iganmu Lagos, its packaging is eye-catching and elegant, it lathers lavishly and here is the catch- it serves both as a laundry and bath soap. However, i believe the manufacturers can improve on its fragrance, in order to enhance its appeal! So here again, fellow Nigerians, is another fine testament to the ‘Proudly Nigerian’ mantra, in our march toward actualizing the VISION 20,20:20. Now, the ball is in our courts !
Yes in this episode, Je vous prsente (French for –‘i present to you; learning the language bit by bit) another made -in- Nigeria product that can compete favorably with its peers locally and abroad! It is also a bar of soap with the brand name- SPIN. Manufactured by Oriental Investments Ltd, Plot No 129, Apapa Road Iganmu Lagos, its packaging is eye-catching and elegant, it lathers lavishly and here is the catch- it serves both as a laundry and bath soap. However, i believe the manufacturers can improve on its fragrance, in order to enhance its appeal! So here again, fellow Nigerians, is another fine testament to the ‘Proudly Nigerian’ mantra, in our march toward actualizing the VISION 20,20:20. Now, the ball is in our courts !
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
SEARCH LIGHT
A WORD FOR NIGERIAN MANUFACTURING
In our avowed march to becoming the twentieth largest economy in the world by the year 2020, the phrase ‘Proudly Nigerian’ just hit me with the force of lighting! And this happened when I patronized two home (in our lingo-NAIJA) made products! However, do not misunderstand me! I am not a sales representative of the firms producing these products neither am I on a publicity drive; what I simply intend to create an awareness that good things are happening here before our very eyes! Now to the products in a bit of detail. The first is a bar of soap-with the brand name Blue star- which was smooth to the touch, lathered lavishly and left a pleasant after-wash fragrance on clothing! The second, a fruit drink with the name FUMMAN FRUIT DRINK, manufactured by Fumman Agricultural Products Ind. Ltd, Ibadan , Nigeria was simply too Nigerian to be true! The flavour i drank was mango and it seemed that i had personally extracted the juice from the fruit myself! It tasted fruity and rich, devoid of the usual taste of preservatives associated with these drinks!
Now to the crux of the matter; if we are to reach that zenith of economic and socio-cultural prosperity, we must consciously seek out manufacturing concerns and products (made in Nigeria of course) that adhere to the high standard of quality and- here’s the magic word - PATRONIZE them! From government to businesses to households, we must dig in and play our parts in this drive for development and industrialization! I hope to make this unveiling of quality, made- in- Nigeria products, a regular feature in this blog.So spread the word, that no matter where you are, all you manufacturing firms, the high quality of your products will find you out!
In our avowed march to becoming the twentieth largest economy in the world by the year 2020, the phrase ‘Proudly Nigerian’ just hit me with the force of lighting! And this happened when I patronized two home (in our lingo-NAIJA) made products! However, do not misunderstand me! I am not a sales representative of the firms producing these products neither am I on a publicity drive; what I simply intend to create an awareness that good things are happening here before our very eyes! Now to the products in a bit of detail. The first is a bar of soap-with the brand name Blue star- which was smooth to the touch, lathered lavishly and left a pleasant after-wash fragrance on clothing! The second, a fruit drink with the name FUMMAN FRUIT DRINK, manufactured by Fumman Agricultural Products Ind. Ltd, Ibadan , Nigeria was simply too Nigerian to be true! The flavour i drank was mango and it seemed that i had personally extracted the juice from the fruit myself! It tasted fruity and rich, devoid of the usual taste of preservatives associated with these drinks!
Now to the crux of the matter; if we are to reach that zenith of economic and socio-cultural prosperity, we must consciously seek out manufacturing concerns and products (made in Nigeria of course) that adhere to the high standard of quality and- here’s the magic word - PATRONIZE them! From government to businesses to households, we must dig in and play our parts in this drive for development and industrialization! I hope to make this unveiling of quality, made- in- Nigeria products, a regular feature in this blog.So spread the word, that no matter where you are, all you manufacturing firms, the high quality of your products will find you out!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
CURIOUS CAT
(1)There are five trillion trillion atoms in one pound of iron.
(2) Russian roulette is a dangerous game in which one shoots at one head’s head with a gun containing a bullet in only one its chambers, without knowing if it will fire or not.
(3) A flying swan can overtake a cheetah at full pelt.
(4) The Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York U.S.A is the largest tennis stadium in the world.
(5) When attacking, a rhino lowers its head and charges, reaches speeds of up to 50km per hour. Its horn, capable of immense blows is not a true horn attached to the skull. It grows from the skin and is made up of keratin fibres.
(2) Russian roulette is a dangerous game in which one shoots at one head’s head with a gun containing a bullet in only one its chambers, without knowing if it will fire or not.
(3) A flying swan can overtake a cheetah at full pelt.
(4) The Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York U.S.A is the largest tennis stadium in the world.
(5) When attacking, a rhino lowers its head and charges, reaches speeds of up to 50km per hour. Its horn, capable of immense blows is not a true horn attached to the skull. It grows from the skin and is made up of keratin fibres.
SOUL SAYINGS
Excerpts from Coca Cola’s award winning 1996 annual report to its shareholders:
A billion hours ago…
Human life appeared on Earth
A billion seconds ago…
The Beatles changed music forever
A billion Coca Cola’s ago…
Was yesterday morning
Our Challenge:
To make a billion Coca Cola’s ago be this morning!
A billion hours ago…
Human life appeared on Earth
A billion seconds ago…
The Beatles changed music forever
A billion Coca Cola’s ago…
Was yesterday morning
Our Challenge:
To make a billion Coca Cola’s ago be this morning!
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