Valuing in a Vacuum

Also published in DAILY TRUST

 

Unlike elsewhere, where national honours are reserved for some exceptionally competent people able to think outside the box to achieve exceptional results that would significantly add real values to some critical sectors in human or at least their nations’ endeavours, in Nigeria the criteria, essence and objectives of awarding national honours hardly if at all seem to consider that.

Deadly Silence

Also published in DAILY TRUST

Amid the severe poverty ravaging particularly the North Eastern Nigeria, and while people in Yobe state in particular were struggling to provide the little they could in order to create some festive atmosphere to mark the occasion of the recent Eid Al Adha, Boko Haram launched its deadliest attack so far, killing more than hundred, maiming many more and causing huge material losses.

Neglected Aspect of Hajj

Also published in DAILY TRUST

Hajj is obviously one of the Pillars of Islam, and Muslims from all over the world aspire to perform it as many as possible, even though it is obligatory only once in one’s lifetime, and only to those who are fit and wealthy enough to undertake it for that matter.

Triumph of Mediocrity

 Also published in DAILY TRUST

The persistent leadership failure in Nigeria has predictably led to the triumph of the culture of mediocrity over the culture of excellence and efficiency in all aspects of life in Nigeria.

In almost everything, hardly if at all anyone expects excellence or efficiency, as it is hardly if at all anyone cares to observe it either. Services (if any) are scantily provided, products are poorly manufactured, works are inefficiently done and enterprises are barely managed. Mediocrity has become too entrenched in Nigeria’s culture to the extent that,  insistence to perform efficiently or expect excellence  in everything is tantamount to naivety.