Mandela’s philosophy and Africa’s under-development

mandela & tyson

By Princewill Alozie

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela as a human being and as a phenomenon was never static. He lived up to the age of 95 years. He did not develop any particular philosophy with the title: Mandelaism. 

We can distil his political, economic, and social philosophy from his speeches, political activities and behaviour. His initial involvement in South African politics was based on the non-violence principle. This stance was changed to military intervention when he co-founded the militant Umkhonto we Sizwe with the South African Communist Party. He was eventually tried and imprisoned for life, on treason charges. After 27 years in prison, Mandela reverted to his former non-violence political philosophy. We can therefore say that Mandelaism encompasses: Freedom, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation.

Considering the report that no fewer than 91 Heads of State who attended Mandela’s burial on December 15, it is important to remember that it was the British Government in 1909, that passed through her parliament The Act of Union. This Act of Union handed over power to the whites in South Africa, while at the same time did not protect the owners of the land. Various White South African leaders articulated the view: “It is our aim to make South Africa, a white man’s country”. 

There was then the Native Land Bill under which about 1 million white South Africans will own over 90% of the land, while about 7% is left for the more than 4 million black populations who owned the land initially. The very productive, fertile land was confiscated by the white – ruled South African government. Despite this unjust social order, the African National Congress (ANC) as a political organization drew up in 1955 the Freedom Charter. The Charter states that

“South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white, and that no government can justly claim authority unless it is based on the will of the people”.

Chief Albert Lutuli canvassed for a better social order through non-violent channels. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The Non-violence philosophy Mandela embraced had a knock by one of the practitioners. Chief Albert Lutuli stated: “Who will deny that 30 years of my life have been spent knocking in vain, patiently, moderately and modestly at a closed and barred door? What have been the fruits of moderation? The past 30 years have seen the greatest number of laws restricting our rights and progress, until today we have reached a stage where we have almost no rights at all”. This statement was made in 1960. Fundamentally, not much has changed, even after the official end of apartheid policy.

Some tenets of Mandelaism could be drawn from Mandela’s defence speech at the Rivonia trial in 1964. Again, the charge that Mandela betrayed his revolutionary colleagues is not strictly correct at all times. The four and half hours speech, as summarized by Guy Arnold in his – AFRICA. 

According to that summary, which has been corroborated by other sources, Africans “want a just share in the whole of South Africa; we want security and a stake in society. Above all we want equal political rights, because without them our disabilities will be permanent”. What the Africans now have is “equal political rights”. If the emphasis had been on “equal economic rights”, then the charge of betrayal could stand. The above summary can fit in perfectly into the neo-liberal ideology that helps Africa march backwards in all spheres. It was this interpretation of the Freedom Charter that Mandela referred to in his historic declaration:

“During my lifetime, I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die”.

There are however, other interpretations of the ANC’s Freedom Charter different from Mandelaism. These include:

 “The People shall govern… the national wealth of our country, the heritage of South Africans, shall be restored to the people; the mineral wealth beneath the soil, the Banks and monopoly industry shall be transferred to the ownership of the people as a whole; all other industry and trade shall be controlled to assist the well-being of the people”.

It is widely reported that Mandela subscribed to the tenets of the ANC Freedom Charter even before he left the prison. That may well be so. There is need for an explanation of how the iconic anti-apartheid nationalist, who was prepared to pay the supreme price for the attainment of the tenets of the Freedom Charter will turn almost 360 degrees against the wordings of the Freedom Charter.

It is very possible that the intense negotiation with key ANC members, including Mandela before his release from prison, after his release and before he became the first black South African president, may have contributed to this shift. The presence of Thabo Mbeki, and Jacob Zuma were possible factors. Mbeki spent quite some time in Britain during the apartheid era, and drank deeply from the neo-liberal ideology that helped Margaret Thatcher dismantle the British economy and the economies where Britain had influence.

During Mandela’s rule, he and his team agreed to the independence of the Central Bank, and to the ceding of the position of Finance Minister to the person who held the position under the apartheid regime. In essence, the economy was in the hands of white apartheid disciples. The role of the big corporations in South Africa continued as usual without improvement for the masses. The emergence of World Bank and International Monetary Fund personnel as Central Bank and Finance Minister in a country that has accepted to implement all the dictates of the Washington consensus is tragic for socio-economic well-being of South Africa and for the entire developing world. Nigeria for instance, has a Central Bank Governor who is competing with the Finance Minister for the mismanagement of the economy. The Central Bank is autonomous and the World Bank functionary who is the Finance and coordinating Minister is virtually the political and economic head of government. President Jonathan in this regard is unwittingly kept aside from the effective leadership of Nigeria, while CBN and Finance Ministry run the country according to Washington consensus or according to the Structural Adjustment Principles which include the following: Fiscal discipline, reordering public expenditure priorities, tax reform; liberalizing interest rates; a competitive exchange rate; trade liberalization; liberalization of inward foreign direct investment; privatization; deregulation and property rights.

The implementation of these policies also referred to as neo-liberalism qualify to tag Nelson Mandela anti-people when he was the President, despite rhetoric’s that appear to make him look progressive! His resentful attitude to Robert Mugabe who is trying to teach white settlers and their foreign supporters that independence without land is meaningless. Mugabe had tried all the recommendations of the Structural Adjustment Programme with disastrous consequences for Zimbabwe. He decided to change gear for the good of the economy.

Direct and indirect sanctions against Zimbabwe ruined the economy. When you mention Mugabe, people quickly talk about his age and how long he has been in power. People do not try to find out if the imperialist sponsored possible alternatives are what the country needs. What is more, attempts are not made to find out the number of years and the undemocratic style of governance that prevail among friends of the owners of Structural Adjustment Programme. Have a peep at the whole of the Middle East in order to draw your conclusion. In terms of anti-imperialist struggle, Robert Mugabe stands very tall. Indigenous South Africans do not own the land and no serious attempt has been made to redress this anomaly.

The most damaging aspects of Mandelaism is the stance on Reparation and the Jubilee Debt Movement. The Jubilee anti-debt movement was canvassing for the cancellation, of the huge debt South Africa is assumed to owe. These debts are obviously odious. Some victims of apartheid filed lawsuits in New York against some corporations, and demanding reparation for the iniquities of apartheid. Both Mandela and Thabo Mbeki opposed the suits on the grounds that South Africa has its own reconciliation outfit; and that such suits and demand for reparation will frighten foreign investors. What is further puzzling is that the departing white rulers ensured that there is what Naomi Klein in THE SHOCK DOCTRINE called “reparation in reverse”. Patrick Bond’s Looting Africa will enable readers have continental outlook of what is happening to Africa, while Naomi Klein’s book touched many countries of the world.

Mandelaism as a philosophy of development and governance incorporates as Freedom, Forgiveness and Reconciliation.

•Professor Alozie teaches at Lagos State University, (LASU)

Nigeria: A Specimen of 100 Years Experiment.

founding fathers

Ogundimu Solomon, founder of Go On With One Nigeria (GOWON) Group, submits that ethno-religious conflicts and suspicions have been the bane of Nigeria after the ill conceived 1914 amalgamation, and the 2014 Centenary offers the nation another opportunity to renegotiate the basis for a New Nigeria…

Before Thursday Jan. 1st 1914, the entity called Nigeria did not exist. In its place was hugely diverse number of tribes and communities, some of whom had territory that overlaps the borders of present Nigeria. The ‘Niger Area’ referred to as Nigeria today is a creation of the British colonialists. There was no Nigeria until 1914, because it was in 1914, that Sir Frederick Lugard (Governor-General of Nigeria 1914 – 1919) amalgamated the Northern protectorate, Southern protectorate and the Lagos Colony, to make up our present day Nigeria. The utmost reasons for this amalgamation are not far-fetched; it was mainly for easy administration of the vast colonial territories and also for economic reasons. For the weakness of some regions may be covered up by the strong ones.

1914, was when it all started; the forceful amalgamation of the sovereign regions with different cultures, languages and religion, to co-exist under one umbrella. Lord Lugard  failed to understand that no two or three people can co-exist unless they agree to share common values like religion, history, culture, language, beliefs, aspirations, ethics, etc. The absence of all these nulli-secondus values in the formation of Nigeria have led to conflicts and instability in the Nigerian polity over the years, which invariably questions the existence of the state.

One major idea with the formation of Nigeria was that the British colonialists had an arrangement where they decided to use Nigeria as an experiment for a century (100 years) starting from 1914 according to the secret government document the
British left after independence. What was meant was that if at the end of the period of experimentation with the specimen Nigeria, it doesn’t work; the people have an option to go for another name and country. 2014, is the expiration of the 100 years stipulated for the amalgamation experiment. It is in this light that an African Intelligence Agency predicted in 2005 that Nigeria might cease to exist as a united country, or might become a “failed state”. 2014 is just some days away, and 2015 is two years from now, the clock is ticking for Nigeria.

Recalling an article written by Mr. Daniel Volman, Director of the African Security Research Project, that the Nigerian scenario was predicated upon a possible war in 2013. The 2013 war date, the article said, was a test of how America could respond to a crisis in Nigeria in the event that rival factions and rebels fight for control of the oil fields of the Niger Delta and the government was near collapse. Even with this, some Nigerians still think the disintegration of Nigeria is just an elusive prediction, even as the indicators for disintegration are very much glaring. No state can survive two civil wars; Nigeria already experienced one between 1967 – 1970 which almost led to the disintegration of the country, going through that experience again is not an option. So two things are involved, by 2014/2015, Nigeria would either break up or there would be a new Nigeria.

The major issues affecting the Nigerian state are corruption, lack of good governance, ethno-religious conflicts, political vituperations, electoral malpractices among others. All these highlighted problems can also be traced back to the way Nigeria was amalgamated and administered as a colony. According to Femi Falana (SAN), corruption is a product of colonialism. He stressed further that Nigerian elite sees how colonial  masters exploited the citizens for their personal enrichment, so, when power was handed over to them, they just built on the foundation that has already been laid by the colonial masters, which is leadership for personal interest and corrupt leadership. Corruption, since then has become a culture that has been passed on from one generation to another.

You may want to argue that Nigerian ruling class at independence could have chosen not to inherit corruption as a system of rule. But, it is high time you recalled that those that really agitated for the independence of Nigeria are not the ones that assumed the post of leadership at independence, unlike the case in the United States of America, in which the Commander-in-Chief of  the continental Army during the American Revolutionary War (1776 – 1781), one of the founding fathers, George Washington, was the first president of America, the second and the third president of America was John Adams and Thomas Jefferson respectively, who was part of the committee that drafted the declaration of independence, for the 13 states that initially formed United States. Which means the architects of America actually led the country and put all their dreams and visions to reality. But in the Nigerian case, the forerunners of the Nigerian nationalist movement, the likes of Herbert Macauley, Aivan Ikoku, Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikwe and Ahmadu Bello negotiated Nigeria’s independence from Britain. But when the British was handing over, the election conducted was said to have been won by Northern People’s Congress (NPC), because of the large support from the northern population, and also with the help of rigging by the colonial masters. Ahmadu Bello who was the leader of the party, nominated Tafawa Balewa to represent the party as Nigerian first Prime Minister. This ascertain the fact raised in the observation by Ray Ekpu that no elected president of Nigeria was ever prepared for the job, that is, our leaders so far are caught unaware.

It may interest you to know that Tafawa Balewa was pushed by Ahmadu Bello to come to Lagos while he tended to shop in Kaduna. Shehu Shagari wanted to go to the Senate, but the NPN’s (National Party of Nigeria) kingmakers diverted him to Dodan Barracks. Olusegun Obasanjo was still in prison when the godfathers pulled him out from the dungeon and put the crown on his head amid a mild protest. Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, a two-term governor of Katsina State, was heading for Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, for a teaching job when OBJ halted and wheeled him to Aso Rock. Goodluck Jonathan was just adjusting his seat as the governor of Bayelsa state when OBJ called him to higher duties as Vice-President to Yar’Adua. As Yar’Adua’s health failed, luck smiled on Jonathan and he became what he wasn’t ready for – President. Ekpu’s point is that no one among the elected Presidents spent years dreaming, studying, working, researching and networking in readiness for the top job. Notwithstanding these shortcomings in the country’s past and present leaders, the country continues to lurch on politically.

Then, Nnamdi Azikwe had to form a coalition government at the centre and Obafemi Awolwo, led the opposition party. The feeling, however, that the NPC were favoured by the departing colonial master and were imposed over others, increased the antagonism of the other groups and intensified their desire to overthrow the imposition. The struggle became very intense and led to the destabilization of the first republic as well as the distrust within the ruling class.

The major problem that has intensified every other problem in Nigeria is the ethno-religious identification of the citizens. For a country like Nigeria, parading more than 600 ethnic nationalities and boasting of over 500 languages, it should not be a surprise that its politics is hostage to tribalism feeling, as most people identify with, and are loyal to their ethnic groups, rather than the country. This diverse nature of the Nigerian state is as a result of the 1914 experimentation on the territories that make up the country. Ethnicity is not the only means of division in Nigeria, as has religion as its counterpart. That is why Nigeria is usually regarded as deeply divided states with political issues that are vigorously or violently contested along the lines of the complex ethnic, religious and regional divisions in the country.

According to the 2003 Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey, 50.5% of the population is Muslim and 48.2% is Christian, only 1.3% is associated with other religions, that is why Nigeria is regarded as the Islamo-Christian nation in the world. And as Agbaje (1990)   has correctly established, the colonial administration underwrote Islam in the Northern part of colonial Nigeria, and used it as the basis of political authority in local administration.   And according to Mimiko (1995), religious antagonism in Nigeria reached its peak in 1989, when IBB made Nigeria a member of the Organization of Islamic Countries. This move was seen by Christians as a ploy to turn Nigeria into an Islamic state against the spirit and the letter of the constitution. And over the years, Christianity and Islam have created a history of conflict or violence. This includes a war of words motivated by conflicting beliefs.

A pattern of largely discernible ethnic suspicion and intrigues that has existed prior to independence in 1960, led to the military coup d’etat of 1966, the traumatic civil war between 1967 and 1970, mutual distrusts afterwards, the annulment of June 12 1993 presidential elections and the incessant ethno-religious skirmishes that are presently threatening the very fabric of our nascent democracy and national existence. The high point of the crisis in Nigeria seems to have been the civil war but since transition to civilian rule in 1999, there has been a rapid increase of conflicts in the country. In addition, the political elites have always sought to manipulate the multifaceted and multifarious identities (ethnic, regional, minority-majority, and religious divisions) especially during political competition and this has given rise to conflicts and instability in Nigeria.

In all, the reason for the incompatibility, division and distrust among Nigerians, is not as a result of a natural intolerance among the citizens, but the nature of amalgamation and administration of the country by its colonial masters. Since the geographical expression called Nigeria  is just a 100 years experiment which is set to expire next year, then it is time for Sovereign National Conference for Nigerians to discuss whether we will remain as a country and under what conditions so as to pave way for a new Nigeria.

THE CHRISTMAS CONTROVERSY. Theological Perspectives.

Christ at birth

Is Christmas an accommodation to paganism?  Are there valid reasons for avoiding this celebration?  In this essay, we will evaluate the various objections to celebrating Christmas and determine whether these objections are legitimate.

  Objection #1: It is observed that birthday celebrations recorded in the scriptures have negative consequences.  When Pharaoh had a birthday celebration his baker was put to death.  When Herod celebrated his birthday, John the Baptist was put to death. When the sons of Job were supposedly celebrating their birthdays, they were all killed. It is therefore concluded that that we should avoid birthday celebrations including that of Christ.

    This is a Non Sequitur argument. A Non Sequitur is where the conclusion does not follow from the premise. To say that bad things happening at a birthday celebration means that such celebrations are bad in general is a Non Sequitur. Bad things happening at a birthday celebration do not translate into birthday celebrations in general being bad.  It does not logically follow.

     Objection #2:  It is seen that the Christmas celebration was established on a date when the Roman world had a celebration in honor of the sun god.  It’s concluded that to celebrate the birth of the Son of God on this date is to really be celebrating the birth of the sun god. This is another Non Sequitur argument.  It doesn’t follow that because pagans worshiped the sun god on December 25th that we are doing the same when we celebrate the birth of the Son of God on that date.  Christians do not celebrate Saturnalia. They worship and celebrate Jesus Christ coming into the world as the Savior of mankind.  Christians do not worship Baal, Sol, Osiris, Horus, or Mithra on December 25.

    Objection #3: The celebration of Christ’s birth on December 25th is seen as illogical as it is believed Jesus Christ could not have been born anywhere near that date. Evidence is offered for Christ’s birth taking place during the Feast of Tabernacles in the fall.  It is seen from scripture that Christ began His ministry when He was about thirty years old. His ministry lasted three and one-half years and ended when He was crucified at the time of the Passover in the spring three and one-half years later. Backing tracking three and one-half years would take us to His ministry beginning in fall and going back thirty more years would take us to a fall birth.

      It is pointed out that John the Baptist was conceived in early summer based on when His Father, Zacharias, was thought to have finished serving in the temple.  Since it is believed that John was conceived in early summer, he would have been born nine months later in the early spring. The scriptures show that Christ was born six months after John. Six months after a spring birth for John takes us to a fall birth for Jesus.

    The scriptures show Joseph and Mary going to Bethlehem to be taxed and finding nowhere to stay. It’s concluded that it must have been the time of the fall Feast of Tabernacles as Jerusalem and all surrounding towns such as Bethlehem would be filled with people looking for a place to stay.

     The scriptures show shepherds were out in the fields at night when Christ was born and therefore it is concluded this could not have been in the winter when the shepherds would have had their flocks indoors.

      Let us examine these objections to celebrating the birth of Jesus on December 25th.  It is true the scriptures say Jesus was about thirty when He began His ministry. What the scriptures don’t tell us is how close to thirty He was. Was it within several days, several weeks or several months of being thirty?  If it were within several months it would create problems for establishing his birth at the time of the Feast of tabernacles in the fall of the year.  The truth is, we just don’t know for sure when Jesus Christ began His ministry.

      The argument that Christ was born in the fall because John the Baptist was born six months earlier in the spring is based on certain assumptions made about the time John’s father Zacharias served in the Temple and the time that his wife Elizabeth became pregnant with John. These assumptions have been argued back and forth for centuries with nothing conclusive being determined.  Furthermore, if one counts back from the time the temple was destroyed in A.D. 70, Zacharias would have been serving at the temple in the first week of October.  This would place the birth of Christ at the end of December or in early January.  Some Christian groups believe the correct date is January 6th.  Therefore, to use the time of Zacharias service in the temple as proof of when Christ was born becomes very problematic.

     In regard to there being no room in the inn; we can’t be sure this was because of Bethlehem being overrun with people.  It could simple have been that Mary was ready to deliver, needed to find a place quickly and since there was no room in the particular inn that they stopped at, they used the manger.  We just don’t know for sure what the dynamics were that led to the manger birth.

     Even the matter of the shepherds supposedly not being in the fields in winter is problematical. Some ancient Jewish sources indicate that some shepherds and their sheep stayed in the fields all winter long.  In Genesis 31 we see Jacob complaining to Laban about suffering from the cold at night while shepherding his sheep and goats.  While it can get chilly at night in mid-winter Judea, it is still a Mediterranean climate and therefore nothing like people experience in the Northern Hemisphere.

    It is often pointed out that Christmas is way too commercialized.  People eat too much, drink too much and party too much.  Many people focus on the secular aspects of Christmas and pay little attention to the birth of Christ.  All of this is true. But we have the power of choice.  We can choose not to eat too much, drink too much, party too much or get involved in the secular and commercialized aspects of Christmas. There will always be people who abuse celebrations and stray far from their original intended purpose.  This does not make such celebrations wrong, in and of themselves.  I have personally attended festivals such as the Feast of Tabernacles, a scriptural based observance, and observed people eating to much, drinking to much and carrying on in ways that did not reflect the intent of the festival.

     Several years ago I attended the Christmas program at a Christian School were my two oldest grandchildren attend. The entire program was focused on the birth of Christ.  I also attended the Christmas program at the public school where my youngest grandchildren attend. Here the entire focus was on Santa Claus.  The name of Jesus wasn’t even mentioned.  This is a prime example of following the intended use of a celebration on the one hand and totally straying from such use on the other hand.  Misuse, however, does not make a particular celebration wrong, in and of itself.  With Christmas, as with all Christian celebrations, we have to choose whether we use the occasion to worship God or only serve ourselves.  We can certainly choose to celebrate the great event of Christ’s birth while avoiding the secular involvements.

    Without the birth of Christ there would have been no crucifixion and resurrection of our Savior.  We would not have a Savior and therefore we would have nothing to look forward to beyond this physical life.  The birth of Christ is central to our Christian belief system. It is the foundation of the gospel.  The Kingdom of God exists because of Christ.

     When Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce that she would give birth to the Son of God, Gabriel said that the child that would be born would preside over a Kingdom that would never end.  The Kingdom is a present reality for us today because of what took place in a small town called Bethlehem in Southern Judea over 2000 years ago.

    The Christ event involves many things.  It involves the ministry of Christ. It involves His death and resurrection.  It involves His ascension to the Father and his return.   But it all starts with His birth.  To celebrate the birth of Christ is to celebrate the beginning of our salvation.  When the angels announced the birth of Christ to the shepherd’s, they announced that a Savior had been born.  The angels are seen as rejoicing because of this.  It is more than appropriate that we two rejoice because of knowing that a Savior has been born.

  Celebrating the birth of Christ is not a commanded observance. Neither is celebrating the crucifixion or resurrection. A decision to join or not join in the commemoration of these events is a matter of choice.  Christians observe these events because these events are central to the Christian belief system. I trust that this examination of the issues surrounding the Christmas celebration will provide the information necessary to make an informed choice.  

Courtesy of " A PRINCE KELLY UDEBHULU CULTURAL HERITAGE POINT"

Nigeria Overtakes South Africa as Continent's Largest Economy

Kelly O. Udebhulu

Nigeria’s economy largest in Africa as rebasing boosts GDP to $405bn

December 19, 2013 

In about three weeks from now, when the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) releases the rebased Gross Domestic Product (GDP) it will show that Nigeria has overtaken South Africa as Africa’s largest economy, which will have great economic and geopolitical implications.

This is according to emerging markets focused investment banking firm Renaissance Capital, whose team of analysts were in Abuja, over the weekend.

“We are revising up our estimate of Nigeria’s GDP by 53 percent. The NBS has nearly completed its work, and our new estimate is that a 45 percent  to 60 percent uplift is likely, and we are taking 53 percent as the mid-point figure. We expect the data in January,” said Renaissance Capital analysts led by Charles Robertson, its global chief economist and head of macro strategy, in a research report released yesterday (Dec 18).

“This means Nigeria, at $405 bn in 2013 would be the largest economy in Africa, ahead of South Africa at around $370 bn.”

Other impacts of the rebasing include the possible reduction of growth rates to 5 – 6 percent from 6 – 7 percent, and an increase in GDP per capita to $2,400 from around $1,700, in essence moving Nigeria into middle income economy territory.

“Sectors that may show the biggest upward revision range from Nollywood to IT and telecoms, while we think agriculture will shrink from around 40 percent of GDP to 25 – 30 percent of GDP,” said Robertson.

The rebasing will show public debt shrinking  to 13 percent of GDP from 20 percent of GDP. Public external debt would be below 2 percent of GDP, while the current account surplus may still be 5 percent of GDP which will leave the sovereign in a good position to borrow if needed.

According to Rencap “In a Fed tapering world, these revisions make Nigeria look good, but credit rating upgrades (Ba3/BB-) are likely to be constrained by the most competitive presidential elections Nigeria will have seen since democracy returned in the 1990s.”

The NBS is seeking to change the calculations of Nigeria’s GDP, using a new base year of 2010 to give a better indication of the size and composition of its economy.

Most governments overhaul GDP calculations every few years to reflect changes in output and consumption, such as telecoms, financial services and internet usage, but Nigeria has not done so since 1990 (about 23 years) suggesting that the previous GDP framework underestimated economic activity.

The numbers will have new implications for investors and the geopolitics of Nigeria’s place in Africa.

“We would be very surprised if recent and pending investment decisions are taken on the basis of the 1990 national accounts,” said FBN capital research analysts led by Gregory Kronsten, in a note released in August.

“The new GDP series will however be tracked by potential investors, such as suppliers of consumer goods and services,” Kronsten said.

Nigeria already hosts the second largest debt and stock markets in Africa, behind South Africa.

Its stock market is valued at $77 billion, while the secondary market bond trading volumes, ”certainly exceed those of Egypt and Morocco and represent around 20 percent of South Africa’s turnover,” according to Samir Gadio, an emerging markets strategist, at Standard Bank, in London.

Overall – Nigeria’s debt, budget and current account ratios will look among the best in Africa and in the emerging markets (EM), once the rebased figures are released, notes Robertson.

“We like Nigeria in the coming quarter – though we see domestic bond yields up a little, at around 13.5 percent on average. Nigeria is going to rise from 14 percent of MSCI frontier markets to around 20 percent in May 2014 which could attract equity investors wanting exposure to frontiers and/or Africa. We expect the NGN to remain at 160/$ until June 2014.  But we are still nervous for the second half of 2014,” Robertson said.

Leonce Ndikumana: Nigeria revises economic data and will displace S.A. as Africa's largest economy. -   November 5, 13

http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=10954

PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION. A CASE STUDY FOR MASS COMMUNICATION

By Kelly O. Udebhulu.

It is a fact that education is knowledge and without knowledge amounts to ignorant. I got to know that without education which is learning and acquiring of professional and other service skills,  building a life that is successful and prosperous is a mere passive dream. I trust the ideology that educational teaching should be vocational and practical oriented in order to meet other life challenges once a student graduates from the institution which will help to fix some life challenges accordingly.

My view towards education is that it must be dynamic  in terms of contemporary teaching which draw inferences from the past and focus on the future, by this, one can be able to affect the lives of others in the cause of inter-relational exercise among all human beings.

It is good and convincing enough to teach and learn under a clean, safe, open and supportive environment so that learners acquire the vital aspects of developing tolerable-behavioral instincts voluntarily and consciously. To really achieve the desire objectives in education, bringing in diversity of teaching methodologies and techniques must be respected. Nourishing, protecting and strengthening the human personality in a specially prepared learning environment of people, tools, ideas and nature, creates a person who has

 “an eye that sees, a soul that feels, and a hand that obeys.”

Just in my case, I know that it is only education and degree in mass communication from one of the known and respected universities in the World will elevate me to touch my World peacefully and humbly as I desire.  I often wonder whether or not education is fulfilling its purpose. Education must also train one for quick, resolute and effective thinking. To think incisively and to think for one's self is very difficult. We are prone to let our mental life become invaded by legions of half truths, prejudices, and propaganda.

 Educated people must think logically and scientifically. Even the press,  in many instances do not give us objective and unbiased truths. To save man from the morass of propaganda, in my opinion, is one of the chief aims of education. Education must enable one to sift and weigh evidence, to discern the true from the false, the real from the unreal, and the facts from the fiction. This again make it possible to continually support youth education. For example, communication courses have basic principles and skill, these principles and skills must be student-teacher approach friendly and the student is inspired to become fully professional, independent and mature before the World. Truth is bitter but honorable in a sane environment.

My philosophy of education has emerged from my experiences as a student of English Language and Social Studies then, a public relations professional and a contributing writer at various newspapers and magazines. My philosophy of education is highly personal, based on my professional, educational and life experiences.

One of my primary goals is to help my immediate and extended populace appreciate the importance of a well-rounded knowledge of the world around them.  I shall/will strive to instill in people a sense of social responsibility, both as professionals and as human beings.  As aspiring journalist and communication professional, I want my populace to understand that they can make a real difference within today’s society.

It is my job to help people appreciate information they shall possess within the journalism and mass communication industry and the responsibility associated with possession of this power. I understand how important it is for college graduates to enter the job market with the ability to contribute immediately.  Toward this end, tutors should put every effort to arm  students with practical knowledge that will help them become critical thinkers and problem solvers within the workplace.

Education is a daily process and schedules at times make it difficult for the zealous ones to acquire their desired educational know-how to achieving the set objectives. Hence, the option of distance learning must be encourage in all ramifications. As distance learning can usually be completed on one  own schedule, it is much easier to complete distance learning courses while working than more traditional educational programs. Having a job while schooling gives you more income, experience and stability while completing your degree giving you less to worry about and more time to focus on your studies. To a family person who wishes to remain with children, take care of his/her family without absent from work and family keeping, distance learning must be encouraged.

Bob Samuels sketches in Inside Higher Ed, describing ODL:

"The web also creates the illusion that all information is available and accessible to anyone at any time. This common view represses the real disparities of access in our world and also undermines the need for educational experts. After all, if you can get all knowledge from Wikipedia or a Google search, why do you need teachers or even colleges? In response to this attitude, we should recenter higher education away from the learning of isolated facts and theories and concentrate on teaching students how to do things with information. In other words, students need to be taught by expert educators about how to access, analyse, criticize, synthesize, and communicate knowledge from multiple perspectives and disciplines."

An emulative leaf drawn from the recent ceremony and celebration of life of  an icon, who was a lawyer by professional, who touched the World through his simplicity, vibrant struggle against discrimination, forgiveness instinct and tolerance. He was able to achieve this aim through the education as a trained lawyer. Who this icon was that I admire greatly? He is late Nelson Mandela of all nations. Education is the key to the World stage.

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the World."...Nelson Mandela.

To prevent corruption with force is impossible. It requires orientation and knowledge focusing towards the disadvantages of corruption on children, infrastructural development, World peace, among others. This can only be achieved via educators who are equipped to pass such knowledge through writing of articles, seminars, public lectures, leadership training, socio-economic gathering, socio-politico events, et cetera. Dong Lianghui, daughter of the late Chinese communist political leader Dong Biwu, recently said in an interview that corruption can mainly be attributed to lack of education about principles and values.

"...a lack of principles and values might lead to the spread of corruption in society if the country did not take serious measures to fight against it..,  that juvenile crime can be traced to a lack of good education..."--Dong Lianghui.

Take for example; a child of 2-3 years of age learns a language by itself but in next 10 years of schooling, it is not able to learn a single other language. The only reason for this is that the child learns its mother tongue by the Natural System Of Learning, which involves observation, practicing it further and acquiring the skill . We found that this method of learning is effective. The  system of  learning while doing, in real life situation  involves doing community service work in real life as part of education. Thus students learn while doing development work , in sense, development works gives the student opportunity to learn.

It is noted that diverse philosophy of education emerges daily, despite the differences, idealistic and realistic philosophies are deeply concerned with the three chief areas of belief: reality, knowledge and value. All beliefs are focus towards two principal objectives:

1. To prepare students to be productive, contributing members of the society.
2. To teach the young, the essentials they need to live well in the modern world.

Conclusively, I recommend that strengthening the foundations for various technologies involved in mass media like computer applications, respective software and hardware in print, radio, television, internet and the likes shall enable the students to work in various media like print, radio, television, internet, and in related fields. Students can start a full-fledged career in journalism or venture into freelancing upon completion of mass communication courses in the higher institution of learning.



Reference:
               Understanding Montessori: A Guide for Parents (2009)
                 By Maren Schmidt M. Ed, Dana Schmidt.

               Journal of Dong Hua University, Volumes 18-19 (2001).

                INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION, 4th edition (2013)
                By Ronald Woods, Robin Barro
.

ESAN PEOPLE, WHERE IS OUR IGBABONELIMI ?

By Prince Kelly Udebhulu.

Esan people are the inhabitants of Edo Central Senatorial District of Edo State, Nigeria, known for a particular dance culture, called Igbabonelimi (Acrobatic Masqurade Dance). When I was a child, the memory still fresh and alive in me but the physical presence of this particular dance culture of Esan People declines gradually, Why ?

It was from this Igbabonelimi dance ceremonies, communities exchanged gifts, marriages, settled communal disputes and the rich Esan People contributed to the maintenance of route parts to neighbouring villages, paid young man's pride price because he performed very well, young sons and daughters of Esan land grasped their values as best among tribes.

At Igbabonelimi dance ceremonies, outsiders and visitors from other tribes visited Esan land especially as from the month of September through December, Esan People were reverend, Esan People meals were tested and eaten to satisfaction, our mode of dressing were copied, our beautiful and eloquent language were learnt by other tribes, Our trading flourished, paving ways for settlers to resident in Esanland and contributed to our known inter-tribal marriages.

Before the arrival of the OKPODU (comendian among the masqurades), The crowd surged with energy and vivid animation. electrified participatorial charm everywhere. There will be an infectious spirited aura of being present at a historical ceremony, gripped with raucous partisan feverishness as the OKPODU emerged. All at once, thousands of voices rang out with the thunderous echo: “HAYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!”  

Waoh, Asono ( normal charismatic dance steps with melodious songs) entertained the crowd. Proud children, both Beautiful and handsome in outlook gave out maximum honor to the Isighele (community head) and other dignitaries present. At the ceremonies and after the ceremonies, Sorrows vanished, future life partners were chosen, misdemeanours were checked and holiganisms were minimized among youths.

TODAY, we hardly see nor hear the sound of Igbabonelimi dance in Esanland, we sometimes see it performed at cities not villages anymore, these ones seen in the cities these days only watched by old men and women, chldren from Esanland, who will hardly identify as Esan Children because of their English Ñames, "MICHAEL JUNIOR", "MABEL PETERS", see this proud part of Esan dance culture as primitive and outdated. What A Pity!

We have many disadvantages we inherited from lack of Igbabonelimi dance ceremonies in Esan Land today. As our culture and value diminish everyday so our pride and opportunities vanish gradually. Children from the same family don't know one another any longer, ironically marrying one another unknowingly because no more visit to the village with children to participate in the anual Igbabonelimi dance ceremonies where counsins, uncles, nephews etc know one another. What A pity !

We still have hope ! Our children will know the culture, our food will be tested and eaten by other tribes, our value and pride will be revitalized, our desired development will come, Individual-comm unal development will be actualized IF we bring to life the declining Igbabonelimi dance. We should allow and encourage the igbabonelimi dance ceremonies in our respective communities, Igbabonelimi Dance Exchange ceremony whereby communities inter exchange should be encouraged. Our Enigies and Isigheles should organise free for all environments in every community to encourage our sons and daughters to visit home with children and return back to cities safely without bad experiences that will make the children never to go back to the village again !

Thank you my People. ESANOKPEBHO, AKUGBE AHU.

....To be continued

By Prince Kelly Udebhulu

 www.vicuma.net

You can tweet to @princekelly75

Alhaji DOKUMBO ASARI INTERVIEW

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GxvW9EO_Zdk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GRJvodfx12o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=KNxvPUNWTyY