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By Salisu Uba Kofar-Wambai

It is no longer a front-page story that phone robbery has become a mammoth calamity in Kano state. And it’s gradually spreading like cancer to other parts of Northern Nigeria. One trait peculiar to Northern Nigeria as a geographical entity is that new trends quickly spread and gain ground like wildfire without being questioned. This is precisely what occurred with kidnapping cases.

 If one has no guiding principle, one will always be carried away in imitating others, whether good or bad actions. Phone robbery is now a trend. Many caught in the act would testify that they were not such but got tempted by what others were doing and getting away with it. What a society!

However, unsuspected members of the public have lost their phones, valuable properties and above all, their dear lives and some got injured as a consequence of this brutal and barbaric act. And 95% of the confessions of the wrongdoers have shown that they’re drug addicts and Indian hemp smokers.

Unfortunately, phone users can no longer display their phones or pick up a call because those robbers are somehow like invisible elements and can appear with their life-threatening weapons to pounce on you, which include thorny knives, hatchet, long sharp metals and have you. Often, any attempt to resist their advancement will land one in trouble of losing his life or getting a severe injury that may eventually threaten his health and life. The victims of this are uncountable in Kano and other parts of the North.

However, our legal system is not helping to curb the menace either. Many caught red-handed are seen getting their freedom back. At the same time, those arrested for capital offences are languishing in prisons without meeting appropriate punishment measures on capital offences. And the politicians who have just finished using these thugs and other undesirable elements of society are also contributing a lot in this direction.

Politicians employed them in their recent campaigns as a strategy for winning elections. After the campaigns and elections, they usually leave them alone after spoiling them with vast amounts of free money from the state treasury to enjoy. Those thugs have nowhere to turn in the absence of such goodies but to terrorise unsuspecting and innocent citizens.

Before this, society had its traditional way of dealing with truants and miscreants. The schools of “Yan Mari” are used to shackle those children and disassociate them from the public so that they were given moral remedy of teaching them Quranic recitation, training them on new religious upbringing, and making them off drugs. Owing to the weakness of this system, the Federal and State governments abolished the system by tagging it “gross human rights abuses and violations” instead of helping them to improve and enhance it.

Nevertheless, what’s on everyone’s lips now is that since the government has failed in checkmating the catastrophes, let’s employ jungle justice that everyone caught in the act should be maimed and killed on the spot to serve as a deterrent to others. But can our society accept this? The sanctities of our moral and religious upbringing won’t allow us to think like Lagos Area Boys of burning suspected thieves with tyres alive. Instead, we need to think of more civilised methods.

First, most perpetrators of this act are Indian hemp smokers and drug addicts. So, what are we doing to mitigate it? We allow Igbo drug traffickers to make our state their paradise. And in turn, they are every day, every minute spoiling our young men (and women) who are our future.

Secondly, we haven’t built rehabilitation centres to change these criminals to develop positive characters and morals so they can be reincorporated into society again. And those built were closed down for the greedy notion that the government could no longer feed them. Sad!

Thanks to the new legal thinking, such suspects will be tried as armed robbers from now on. But all these measures cannot solve the problem in toto until we fight Indian hemp and drug smugglers. We can only end up killing our children and still, others joining. Parents also have to do more for their kids.

May Allah guide our children and us all, amin.

Salisu Kofar-Wambai wrote from Kano and can be contacted via salisunews@gmail.com.

By Bilyamin Abdulmumin

Days ago, a picture of a beer advert on a bus with the caption: “ba barasa a cikin wannan giyar” dramatically attracted public attention. First, it appears the translation was outright flawed. The English direct translation may read thus: the alcohol doesn’t intoxicate.

Every native or one conversant with Hausa would find it difficult to wrap his head around this Hausa translation. So, some think it was out of the sheer cheap labour that the South African wine industry relied on the online translator to land them into the translation comatose. It might also be the usual case of giving the advert to the wrong agent or hiring a non-native to advertise the product.

Forget it; even if you are a professor in a particular language but happen to be not native or brought up in that typical language culture you will end up harming the advert than promoting it. One such advert that went wrong recently was that of one famous company, which read: “ko wanne zubawa, muhimmanci da ya wuce gwaji”. The equivalent English version read, “Every drop treasure beyond measure” What a rape to language!

As promoters of products, one can never dare associate the advert with alcohol in Hausa or any Islamic land; else, the result will be a mass exodus from the product. The brewing companies are still recuperating from the wound their Maltina product suffered because the same company is producing it as beer.

One factor that even fans the fire of controversy is that alcohol, beer/wine, and intoxicants are used interchangeably as the same thing: giya/barasa. So it becomes meaningless to try to separate one from another: that is to say, the beer contains no alcohol, alcohol is not intoxicated, or the alcohol is non-drunken. In the Hausa language, as long as it is alcohol there is nowhere to turn around.

Notwithstanding, are alcohol, ethanol, beer/wine, and intoxicants the same or different?

Alcohol is a general term referring to any organic compounds with OH functional groups. Therefore, any organic chemical with -OH in its makeup is alcohol. Examples of alcohol (alkane series) are methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, and the list goes on…. Alcohol has been a subject of controversy, no thanks to one of its family members: ethanol.

This controversial member: ethanol, is composed of two carbon, six hydrogens, and one oxygen; because of the presence of OH (hydrogen bonding) in its makeup, ethanol enjoys a wide range of applications. It is next to water as a global solvent. In addition, where water fails in industrial application, ethanol as an organic chemical (with carbon in its makeup) swoops in.

The industries where ethanol easily finds its way include Pharmaceuticals, several medicines you can’t do without today owe themselves to ethanol; Paint Industry, where your favourite paint can’t exist without ethanol; Fragrances, ethanol, not water is the solvent for making many perfumes; the Medicinal Properties, ethanol is a death sentence to microorganisms so when next used sanitiser, know that ethanol is that potent content; Bakery Industries, yeast is used in the bakery to give the bread desired quality as a result of ethanol and carbon dioxide as a by-product; Electrical Repair, ethanol is used as spirit, take your gadget for repairs they use ethanol for cleaning; Oil and Gas, perhaps the most economical part of ethanol use is when employing as fuel, depending on the purity, ethanol can be used as complement or substitution to transportation fuel (PMS); Brewing Industry, now the most controversial part of ethanol is when used as a drink, such as beer or wine. In beer, starch, e.g. corn or maize starch, is acted upon by appropriate enzymes and yeast industrially to produce beer. In a similar passion, fruit instead of starch is used in winemaking. Ethanol in brewing is the most dominant public knowledge, so it has become synonymous with alcohol (even among native English speakers).

The beer and wine produced conventionally contain up to 15 per cent of ethanol. This percentage is quite enough to intoxicate the drinker. Islam has outrightly forbidden taking intoxicants, such as beer and wine. The consequence for the global brewing industries is that they can only bite their fingers to watch a market of a staggering 1.5 billion people impossible to penetrate. So this became the mystery brewing industry struggled to crack. They finally get a catch.

Because the prohibition in Islam said intoxicants, so by this view, the brewing industries can design beer and wines that contain quantities of ethanol that is not enough to intoxicate a drinker, making beer and wine halal. Some Islamic countries like Malaysia have already nodded to this explanation by setting 1 % ethanol as a limit. Perhaps this was the intention of the South African wine advert on the bus.

On the other hand, the ethanol prevalence is more than what we could imagine; we are as indispensable as ethanol is concerned. Because the enzymes, yeast, and starch/sugar necessary to make ethanol are ubiquitous and, by extension, the ethanol itself. The cups, plates, our hands, and system you are using currently to read this article are a community of microorganisms; among them are the saccharifying enzymes and yeast. So with food readily available in the form of rice (rice), kunu, zobo, pieces of bread, fruits, etc., the right contact is just required to get the ethanol. Fura is the breeding ground for ethanol. The longer the “fura da nono” takes (without refrigeration), the higher the quantity of ethanol will be in it. But this passive ethanol prevalence is non-intentional.

Bilyamin Abdulmumin is a Public Affairs commentator and a Doctoral candidate at the Department of Chemical Engineering, ABU Zaria.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria has recorded an unprecedented milestone in the North-Western region of Nigeria as the university hospital successfully delivered its first invitro fertilization (IVF) baby.

Professor Adebeyi Adesuyun of the Department of Reproductive Medicine, disclosed this to newsmen on Friday. He said, “A male baby was delivered at 10:53am on May 16 with weight of 3kg.”

The Professor noted the cost implication of the milestone and further disclosed that it was a journey began by ABUTH about twelve years ago.”

Such delivery is costly and not available in the whole of the northwest region. ABUTH is the only public health facility that offers IVF. The journey did not start today; we have been on it for more than 12 years, but paucity of funds in getting the right equipment was our major hindrance,” he said.”

He also disclosed that the hospital has patients on their waiting list to receive the treatment.

By Mustapha Dauda

People should be screened thoroughly before becoming certified teachers. Now, Colleges of Education are home to lazy and mainly copy-and-paste students. Although there are several academic gurus in the field, a higher percentage of educational students chose to be only there because of their inability to secure admissions in their various intended courses of study.

The alarming nature and downfall of the educational system in this country will be halfway associated with this very problem. So sad. Lack of potential and rigidly talented persons in the academic career is as dangerous as a fire outbreak is to wildlife in a bush to our society. Very dangerous and heart-breaking indeed. 

Teaching is the master of every profession, no doubt. Teachers nurture students in their preferred disciplines. Teachers head and guide and direct in every place of learning. They impact the character and learning of students: they play a vital role in inculcating good moral behaviours, knowledge impassion and impartation. How beautiful and nice of a profession. Moreso, they play a parental role during school hours. 

Though the responsibilities of teachers are beyond that which I have queued and listed here, even with the little above listed, we must agree that this is not a lazy profession. Hence, it should simply be handled by readily authentic, prepared, learned and responsible personalities. A kind of people that shun examination malpractice and any illegalities. Having fully reliable teachers guarantees the production of well-educated students from all levels of education. And, God forbid, vice versa. 

The only effective weapon that will end educational failures is the availability of qualified teachers. Steps in providing qualified teachers include: Demanding higher Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, scores before getting admission into any institution capable of certifying one as a teacher. It also comprises impromptu student-teacher supervision during their Teaching Practice, TP, periods.

And an important aspect is an instalment of a well-paid salary system to newly employed and already teaching teachers the government. This, for sure, will get the educational system many brilliant minds. Most students go for courses they expect can fetch them money. And for already teaching staff, a kind of test of qualification can be given, perhaps, through external bodies, thereby confirming their strength and teaching capabilities, and also changing the unqualified ones to the non-academic part of the institution, to at least help them maintain the source of income and from being unemployed.

A quack doctor can only kill or jeopardise one person at a time. A building engineer endangers a family or a building at a time. For teachers, it is a different case. An unqualified teacher cheats and misleads a whole generation. And the scary part is that what he wrongly misled the current generation is the same thing that will be passed and taught to the upcoming generation by the current ones, for they’re the leaders of tomorrow. And the problem, the misleading, the imperfection will go like that. The whole generation is in vain. Uncontrollably. Unknown to all, where it may stop, just perhaps. And all these, Just a single damage, by a single teacher. Just one person. Ohh! What will a class of unqualified teachers do to our society? Or what do we think all those quack teachers out there have been doing? 

Everything is just as straightforward as everyone can see it, yeah. Students sitting silently and helplessly listening to quack teachers are helpless and hapless and don’t know the misleading they’re in the middle of. The work is ours and the government’s. From our side, we don’t encourage and invite brilliant and vibrant students to teach. Ohh, sad; one will ask that, after graduating as a well-learned and certified teacher, what will I do, as much as a source of income? This question is too head shocking, and one may hardly get an answer to continue further convincing him to go for teaching.

How I wish and how beautiful to see teachers, too, being screened, being made to practice what they were taught, being made to face challenges that make them look every inch equal to their tasks like it’s usually done to qualified engineers and doctors and every other highly regarded course of study. It will make meaning this way. Indeed, there’s a huge need to look at and upgrade our educational system, of which teachers are the backbone.

Mustapha Dauda wrote from Azare, Bauchi State, via mustaphadauda399@gmail.com.

By Mohammed Hussaini Hamidu

In our modern society, the prevalence of substance abuse continues to plague communities, leaving a trail of shattered lives and fractured communities in its wake. To truly understand the destructive nature of these habits, one must delve deeper and closely examine the lives of those who engage in smoking, drug use, and similar undesirable activities. The findings are sobering, revealing a harrowing landscape of financial struggles, academic challenges, strained relationships, and a lack of integration within the broader community. It is clear that these activities offer no benefits whatsoever, and therefore, they should be vehemently discouraged.

Regrettably, we find ourselves grappling with a disheartening reality – children born in the early 21st century perceive smoking, drug use, and the consumption of harmful substances as trendy. The consequences of abstaining from these activities are severe, as individuals who choose not to partake may be labelled as insufficiently masculine or excluded from certain social circles. This warped perception and societal pressure contribute to a growing crisis. As a result, crime rates in various states of Nigeria are rapidly escalating, with a significant number of crimes directly linked to drug-related activities. The repercussions of these behaviours extend beyond criminality, penetrating the very fabric of our society. Most disturbingly, a substantial majority of patients in psychiatric hospitals find themselves there due to the dire consequences of their drug and smoking habits.

In the face of such a pressing issue, one would hope for swift and decisive action from the government agency responsible for addressing substance abuse. However, our observations within the community reveal a disheartening truth. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), tasked with combating this concerning behaviour, often exhibits a lackadaisical approach to its duties. Within my sphere of observation, it is dismaying to witness the agency’s apparent indifference towards tackling this pervasive issue head-on. Offenders caught with harmful substances can secure their freedom by merely having enough money for bail, raising questions about the effectiveness of punitive measures. Even more alarming is the existence of a corrupt system, where officials can be bribed to turn a blind eye or actively support drug dealers in what they call a “return.” This deplorable practice enables the unrestricted sale and distribution of drugs, even during operations. While I have not personally witnessed such acts, claims persist that NDLEA officers themselves engage in returning and selling drugs seized during operations back to the very dealers they are meant to combat.

It is an undisputed fact that substance abuse poses a grave threat to our society, and the time for action is now. We must not remain complacent as countless lives are torn apart, and communities are left in ruins. The consequences of substance abuse demand our unwavering attention and collective effort to bring about change.

To confront this crisis head-on, we must prioritize education and awareness. Community leaders, educators, parents, and all stakeholders must come together to instil in our youth a profound understanding of the realities of substance abuse. By debunking the misguided notion of its trendiness and emphasizing the destructive consequences, we can empower young individuals to make informed decisions and choose healthier alternatives.

Furthermore, systemic shortcomings within the NDLEA must be urgently addressed. It is disheartening to witness an agency tasked with safeguarding our communities falter in its mission. The gravity of this issue necessitates comprehensive reform. Adequate funding, stringent oversight, and the implementation of effective anti-corruption measures are essential to restore public trust and dismantle the pervasive influence of drug-related activities.

In the face of this complex and deeply rooted problem, it is crucial that we rise above complacency and indifference. We must mobilize as a society to combat the destructive cycle of substance abuse. By championing awareness, education, and proactive measures, we can pave the way for a brighter future free from the grip of substance abuse. It is incumbent upon us to break the silence, challenge societal norms, and provide support and resources to those affected by addiction.

First and foremost, we must foster a culture of compassion and understanding. Substance abuse is not solely a moral failing but a complex issue rooted in a myriad of factors, including social, psychological, and environmental influences. By dispelling the stigma surrounding addiction, we can create an environment where individuals feel safe seeking help and accessing the necessary treatment and support.

Education plays a pivotal role in prevention efforts. Schools and community organizations must prioritize comprehensive drug education programs that go beyond the traditional “just say no” approach. These programs should equip young people with the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions, resist peer pressure, and develop healthy coping mechanisms. Engaging parents and caregivers in these initiatives is equally vital, as they play a crucial role in shaping their children’s attitudes and behaviours.

Collaboration between various sectors is key to tackling substance abuse effectively. Healthcare professionals, law enforcement agencies, social workers, educators, and community leaders must work in synergy to develop comprehensive prevention, intervention, and treatment strategies. By sharing resources, expertise, and best practices, we can maximize our impact and provide holistic support to individuals struggling with addiction.

To address the systemic shortcomings within the NDLEA, transparency and accountability must be prioritized. Strong leadership and robust internal controls are essential to root out corruption and ensure that officers uphold the highest ethical standards. Adequate funding should be allocated to bolster the agency’s capabilities, including the recruitment and training of dedicated personnel, improved intelligence gathering, and modern technology to enhance enforcement efforts. Collaboration with international partners can also facilitate knowledge exchange and the adoption of successful strategies from other jurisdictions.

In conclusion, the scourge of substance abuse continues to ravage our communities, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. We must answer the call to action and confront this crisis head-on. Through education, collaboration, and systemic reform, we can break the vicious grip of substance abuse and create a society that prioritizes the well-being and resilience of its members. Together, let us strive for a future where individuals are empowered to make healthy choices, communities are supportive and resilient, and the cycle of substance abuse is finally broken.

Mohammed Hussaini Hamidu can be reached via mohammed27187@gmail.com.

By Aliyu Nuhu

First; Nigeria does not generate enough electricity to support industries and sustain growth. When leaders talk of addressing poverty and unemployment they forget the single factor holding Nigerian economy down. With 3000-5000mw of electricity, the story of Nigeria will always be associated with darkness.

Second; Nigeria is still unable to employ its youths, about 90% of them finish schools and are sitting at home or roaming streets and committing crimes. The number is alarming.

Three; Industries are either closing down due to insecurity, absence of forex to import critical spare parts or electricity.

Four; Thousands of Nigerians are losing their jobs. MTN and some banks are still retrenching. Only government is employing and doing it selectively for sons and daughters of the elites, politicians and government officials. Government can’t employ everyone. As long as the private sector is not employing, unemployment will always be high in Nigeria.

Five; Start up businesses die due to failure of banks to give them loans. No Nigerian bank gives any form of loan at all.

Six; Big and small industries are being killed by multiple taxation. There are more than 20 different taxes that companies pay in Nigeria.

Seven; Some states are taxing companies for broad band satellite receivers, something that is vital to their operations, especially banks. Other states are imposing tax on boreholes even as the governments fail to provide pipe borne water to factories.

Eight; Agricultural goods in transit, including livestocks are subjected to all manner of extortion by police, LG officials, VIO, FRSC and security forces. Once a truck or car is loaded with goods, it is fair game to security agencies. Nigeria is becoming an impossible nation to move goods, capital and equipment. No nation develops without free movement of labour and capital. In the northern part of the country, insecurity has ensured that most farmers don’t go to farms due to activities of bandits and Boko Haram.

Nine; Despite efforts to build roads, rail, bridges, power plants and other social and economic infrastructure, it is becoming clear that the government will finish its two terms leaving Nigeria with the same tragedy of uncompleted and abandoned projects.

Ten; Nigerian businessmen are being rewarded for investing abroad. In other words the government rewards them for exporting Nigerian jobs to other African countries. Dangote has been building factories outside Nigeria in the name of diversifying his risks. Government should take a cue from what Donald Trump did in America. He rewarded those that built factories in US and punished those that built factories outside the United States. He slashed taxes on American companies to encourage them employ Americans.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdurrashid Bawa, and Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara state continue to trade words over corruption allegations.

The anti-graft agency chairman challenged Matawalle to expose him if he has any fraud record against him.

Bawa has thrown this challenge against Matawalle in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Thursday.

He added that even though no human being was 100 percent clean, he would love it if Matawalle could expose him.

The Daily Reality reported that Matawalle was currently under investigation over alleged N70 billion fraud.

The EFCC chairman stated that it was intriguing that Matawalle would want to take on the role of a supervisor, who tells the EFCC whom to investigate.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State is currently under investigation over alleged N70 billion fraud, says the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Abdurrashid Bawa, the EFCC Chairman, disclosed about the development on Thursaday during a press briefing.

Our reporters gathered Matawalle and Bawa have recently engaged in a battle of words and Matawalle had leveled allegations against Bawa and dared the commission to go after members of President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet.

However, the anti-graft agency chairman urged Nigerians not to be swayed by the Matawalle’s recent outburst.

In his response through the Director of Public Affairs of the commission, Osita Nwajah, Bawa added that “It is intriguing that Matawalle would want to take on the role of a supervisor, who tells the EFCC whom to investigate.

“Is this a case of a “’thief’’ saying he must not be touched until other ‘’thieves’’ are caught?

“Unfortunately, it is not within Matawalle’s remit to dictate to the EFCC whom to arrest, when and where. Suspects in the custody of the Commission cut across all sectors and social class.

“The qualification to get a space in the Commission’s detention facility, is to commit a crime. It does not matter whether you are a priest , Imam, Governor or minister.

“Currently, a former minister of power is in the custody of the EFCC over a N22billion corruption allegation. That conveniently did not attract Matawalle’s attention,” Nwajah said.
 

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chirist Ngige, has thrown a threat to the striking resident doctors saying that the Federal Government will hire ad-hoc doctors to replace their positions.

The minister stated that the ad-hoc doctors would be paid with the salaries of the striking doctors.

The Daily Reality gathered that the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) began a five-day warning strike Wednesday.

However, Ngige, who in an interview with journalists yesterday said there was nothing like warning strike, disclosed this during Channels Television programme.

It was also learned that the association is demanding increment in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure to the tune of 200 per cent of the current gross salary of doctors; new allowances included in its letter to the Minister of Health on July 7, 2022, on the review of CONMESS; payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund; payment of salary arrears and consequential adjustment of the minimum wage.

Ngige added that the NARD was disrespectful to the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), which was already negotiating with the government on its behalf.

“The resident doctors are part of NMA. They are young doctors in training. So if the NMA is negotiating on their behalf as the parent body, what these young people (resident doctors) are doing is disrespecting the NMA. They are crying wolf when there is none,” he said.

By Abdurrazak Muktar

Language is a powerful tool for communication, allowing us to express our thoughts, beliefs and opinions. One commonly used phrase that often sparks debate is “I think.” While some argue that it implies uncertainty, I believe that “I think” carries more significance than mere doubt. In this article, I will explore the multifaceted nature of “I think” and how it can convey conviction, personal perspective and respectful dialogue. Let’s delve into the power of “I think” beyond uncertainty.

Expressing Personal Perspective:
“I think” is frequently used to present a subjective viewpoint. By prefacing a statement with this phrase, individuals acknowledge that their opinion may differ from others. For instance; “I think pizza is the best food ever created.” And “I think the movie was captivating, but others might find it slow-paced.”
In the above examples, the use of “I think” allows for individual experiences and preferences to be expressed without imposing them on others. It fosters a climate of an open discussion where diverse viewpoints can coexist.

Conveying Conviction and Confidence:
While “I think” is often associated with uncertainty, it can also demonstrate confidence in one’s beliefs. Consider the following examples:
“I think renewable energy is the key to a sustainable future.” Or “I think education is the most powerful tool for societal progress.”
In these cases, the speaker uses “I think” to assert their convictions. The phrase is a way of emphasizing personal belief without assuming absolute authority or dismissing opposing viewpoints. It encourages respectful dialogue and invites others to share their perspectives.

Recognizing the Limitations of Knowledge:
“I think” can also be used to acknowledge the inherent limitations of human knowledge. It reflects an understanding that our comprehension of complex issues may be incomplete or subject to change. Examples include: “I think there might be life on other planets, but we haven’t found conclusive evidence yet.” And “I think the solution to poverty requires a multifaceted approach, but it’s a complex problem.”

In these instances, “I think” is a humble recognition of the complexities of the world. It encourages curiosity, open-mindedness, and a willingness to explore different ideas and possibilities.

In my conclusion, the phrase “I think” is a versatile linguistic tool that extends beyond expressing uncertainty. It allows individuals to share their opinions while acknowledging the subjective nature of their perspective. Whether it conveys personal beliefs, invites respectful discussion, or recognizes the limitations of knowledge, “I think” plays a crucial role in communication.

Next time you hear or use the phrase “I think,” remember its power to foster understanding, encourage dialogue, and bridge the gaps between diverse viewpoints. Embrace the potential for growth and learning that arises from the exchange of thoughts and opinions.