The World As I See It
In the course of a full month, I wrote just one article. That’s an extremely low output compared with my writing frequency since this blog started. The hustle and bustle of the NYSC orientation camp provided a convenient excuse for not writing. Now that the camp is over, that excuse has expired. It’s time to write again.
Here’s my journey to Kaduna. Continue reading “Journey to Kaduna”
For two weeks I’ve been secure within the Kaduna State NYSC orientation camp, which some persons see as a semi-prison, while some others including myself, see it as a blend of fun, stress, boredom and excitement. Hiding under the excuse that camp conditions are not conducive for creative writing, my notebook has lain idle until yesterday when an encounter provided enough motivation for me to put pen on paper.
Nigerians started the year 2012 with a rude gift from the federal government. The President Jonathan-led administration had abolished the regime of petroleum subsidies, triggering a huge leap in pump prices. What followed was a series of protests that finally forced the government to backtrack, howbeit, not completely. The events of Jonathan’s final week in government show that despite the arguments and reservations about the subsidy policy, one thing is certain—it is not helping Nigerians. Continue reading “May We Finally See”
It is no longer news that petroleum products are currently scarce in Nigeria—an OPEC member and eighth largest producer of crude oil in this planet. The word “scarce” does not tell the full story. “Acute scarcity” portrays a better picture of the situation being faced by the giant of Africa.
The wedding invitation says the service would start at 10:00am prompt. You get there by 09:50; the church doors are locked. You wonder if you have missed the directions. The church doors are opened at 10:01. People start trickling in by 11:05, the service starts by 11:20, and the bride waltzes in at 11:40. Don’t look surprised. Welcome to Nigeria! Continue reading “A Time for Nigerians”
Dreams come in various shapes and sizes. They range from the good, the bad, the bizarre, and the incredulous. Dreams constitute an important factor that has propelled many “ordinary” individuals into the realm of achievers. However, a dream is meaningless without direction and a zeal to work towards it. That is why many persons never transcend from mere dreamers to achievers.
“Children are a heritage of the Lord”. So says a verse in the Bible. Every day, countless babies are born in various places around the world. The little baby’s tiny cries after exiting the womb bring joy to all around. The baby is the cynosure of its parents’ eyes. Who would even consider that some years down the line, there would be no love lost between them? Continue reading “Clash of the Titans”
At some important events, the National anthem is sung, with the pledge usually following soon after. The third line of the national pledge is a promise to serve Nigeria diligently. Over the course of a Nigerian’s lifetime, many opportunities would arise where national service is required. None is as organised nor as glamorous as the National Youth Service Corps.
Today is being celebrated in many countries as a day to remember workers, the proletariat, that drive the economy of any country. In Nigeria, it’s “Workers’ Day”. In some other countries, it’s “Labour Day”. The devotion of a day to workers seems to suggest that workers are highly considered. Is this really the case? Continue reading “Workers or Slaves?”
One, two, three, …, nineteen, tweenty, …, hondred.
In case you’re wondering, there’s no typographical error (by me) above. This is not an example of my fallibility. A serving national youth corps member actually used those spellings while entering results in the results’ sheet of a recent election. Continue reading “Hondred and Tweenty”
Jilomes 