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IGNORANCE, POLITICAL IRRELEVANCE AND THE PERSISTENT QUEST FOR RE-STRUCTURING THE NIGERIAN POLITY, 1999-2021

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THE CALLS FOR RESTRUCTURING  I chose to speak on the topic: Ignorance, political irrelevance and the persistent quest to re-structure the Nigerian polity, 1999-2021.  I selected this topic because, I think my late friend would have been deeply agitated by what is being aired on many of the private radio and television stations and written as front pageheadlines in most of the private newspapers, especially in the last one year. Then the social media is choked up with all sorts of news, opinions and reports about the division of the people, in the country and its imminent collapse!!  Sometimes, after reading these gloomy materials, you may even feel that the situation is so hopeless that when you go to bed, you may wake up in another country called, Biafra, Oodua or Arewa republic!!  In fact, some foreign countries, like the USA have predicted the collapse of our country by 2015 and they still continue to think that we are a failed state on its way to the final crush!! However, we have

20 WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH - Kristen Lee Ed.D., LICSW

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We’ve crossed the threshold into a new decade. There’s a lot of resolution advice swirling, but not all of it is evidence-based or realistic. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global mental health crisis. It projects that, by the next turn of the decade in 2030, lifestyle and stress-related illness will surpass communicable diseases. Here are 20 strategies to practice regularly to shield and sustain you: 1. Recognize you are not a robot or machine. Humans are beings, not doings. We’re not meant to be on 24-7. You are not above the laws of science, which emphasize the importance of breaks and replenishment. 2. Practice mindfulness. Be fully present in each moment. Avoid rash judgment of emotions and sensations. Relish in the positive. Recognize negative situations will shift. 3. Prioritize sleep. Sleep deprivation leads to poor moods, concentration, and health. Endless studies point to the critical nature of sleep on outlook, performance, and functioning. 4. Avoid self-

18 YEARS FOR UNIVERSITY ENTRY: UNIVERSITY IS FOR ADULTS, NOT FOR CHILDREN

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UNIVERSITY IS FOR ADULTS, NOT FOR CHILDREN Prof. Mamman Tahir, the Minister of Education, stating what we all know but have refused to comply with, has now been turned into a debate by those who do not quite understand the implications of sending children, instead of adults to tertiary institutions. It's not a debate. It's our National Policy On Education. It's called the 6-3-3-4 system.  Let me explain it as one with over 40 years experience in all levels of education. Children have a lot to learn at home before being sent off to Primary School for formal education. My personal opinion had been, and still is that, sending a child away from home BEFORE the age of three , is child abuse. You may decide to send your baby early to Nursery. The child starts Nursery 1 at 3 years, Nursery 2 at 4 years, Transition at 5 years. This means the child starts primary school at 6 years of age. The child spends 6 years and finishes when s/he is  12 years old.  S/he goes to Secondary sch

THE ROLE OF OPPOSITION PARTIES IN A NATION

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Every democracy, across the world, has a ruling political party. They also have political parties who presented canditates in the federal, state and/or local elections but failed. In the UK, the opposition party, forms a shadow cabinet, aimed at playing a positive role for the benefit of the United Kingdom. Generally, the opposition has some significant roles to play but such roles must be played in such a manner, that the overall interests of the people, are well protected. Here are some: 1. Constructive criticism: Opposition parties can provide valuable feedback and suggestions to the ruling party on policies, legislation, or government actions. This constructive criticism can help the ruling party improve their decision-making process and avoid potential errors. 2. Bi-partisan collaboration : Opposition parties can work with the ruling party to find common ground and collaborate on specific issues or policies. By putting aside partisan differences, opposition parties can contribute

DOCTORS AND OTHERS ARE LEAVING UK, USA, CANADA, INDIA, ETC. NOT JUST NIGERIA.

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  They have been leaving before I was born. By the time my grand children become grand parents, MIGRATION will continue to happen. Yes, it's called "Migration". In Nigeria, where EVERYTHING; from the straying of a husband or wife, to too much rainfall is blamed on the government, its the fault if Mr. President. People have always moved; locally and internationally. Its not new. It seems more now, because the world population is also growing by the minute.  In Nigeria, there are British, Canadian, American, Indian, etc., DOCTORS. Again, it's called "MIGRATION". Their nationals are not cursing out their governments. Free citizens of the world have the right to relocate to other nations. Even though there are more people leaving the US and the UK than Nigeria, a search online, would mostly throw up the exaggerated Nigerian figures.  We must learn to stand with our nation, always. When we go out there, cursing our nation and bringing down her image by painting h

BUHARI ADMINISTRATION - POLICY HIGHLIGHTS OF 2022

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2022 is President Buhari’s final full year as President. Here are the policy highlights of his administration for the year: a year that somehow pushed Covid-19 aside with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a shock move (at least to me) whose geopolitical, economic and humanitarian waves continue to be strongly felt, almost a year later. It will remain the big story into 2023, until of course something even more momentous replaces it, which in a post-Covid world doesn’t seem like such a farfetched prospect any longer. Let me make it clear that the list below is by no means a complete one, which means that I will be updating it regularly. So it’s best to keep checking back, if you’re interested in the list (why would you be here anyway, if you’re not interested :) So, here we go: Infrastructure, Investment and Economic Diversification: It was a year of completion, in many regards. Important infrastructure projects, like the Lekki Deep Sea Port (the  deepest  Deep-Sea Port in Nigeria, and a