Opinion

By Muhammad Ubale Kiru

I am glad it happened. I am talking about the controversy around a video song of people dancing in front of a mosque on their praying mats soon after they supposedly finish their prayers. And, Davido shared the offensive video on his timeline on Twitter.

Some individuals mindlessly follow these singers, imitating their style of dressing, adopting their haircuts, imitating their mannerisms, and even trying to talk and walk like them. This has been an issue we have repeatedly addressed.

These musicians often lack respect for your culture and faith; their apparent affection towards their fans is often just a façade. Despite the video causing an uproar on the internet, Davido has refused to take it down, showing how far some of these artists are willing to go to offend others.

Mocking Islam in the manner Davido did is the last thing he should have done. As I have always said, there seems to be a tendency to test the limits of our tolerance. If he faces no consequences this time, he may repeat such actions in the future, and others might follow suit.

I must point out that our Yoruba brothers are not doing justice to Islam either. Many Yoruba comedians also indulge in mocking Islam in similar ways. One example is the well-known comedian Aisha Ibrahim, who partakes in blasphemous shows for entertainment. Regrettably, her Yoruba elders are doing nothing about it. There must be a clear distinction between cultural expression and religious beliefs.

On the other hand, our Christian counterparts must understand that not everything falls under the category of freedom of speech, and not all forms of expression are acceptable. We are often accused of religious intolerance, but how can we be expected to tolerate disrespect towards our faith?

For instance, if a film producer were to create a movie disrespectfully portraying Jesus, such as Jesus being depicted as gay or as a masquerade, that may be a concern for the Christian community, as it may not show proper respect for Jesus (peace be upon him). In Islam, we take such matters very seriously, as our faith prohibits the mockery of other religions.

Let us all strive to stay within the limits of decency and respect. Honouring and respecting other people’s faiths and cultures is crucial, even as we express our own beliefs.

Muhammad Ubale Kiru is a tech enthusiast, social activist and freelancer. He can be reached via muhdujkiru@gmail.com.

By Abubakar Aliyu

I discussed with a friend about the woman that stabbed her husband to death, and this part of her opinion makes me ponder deeply about our society; “Living with the identity, “the woman that stabbed her husband” when she was just a woman who did not want to be in the marriage to start with.”

I can never trust the sanity of a man who forces himself on a woman that made it clear in the first place that she does not want to be with him. I think only delusional and toxic men—purported alpha men—will find it normal to subdue a woman into marriage despite being vivid that she is not into it.

And you wonder why the same woman you forced into a marriage lets loose of her survival instinct, ignoring all rational and objective views, therefore, prepared to perpetrate unbelievable atrocities to “escape”. At this juncture, nobody cares to come to her aid until what could have been averted—by peacefully ending the marriage—has happened, a society that incited it will be pointing fingers at her.

I understand that no amount of pressure can justify the action of a woman who stabbed her husband to death. But the fundamental driving forces of this preventable menace largely boil down to societal pressure. Society coerces women to accept that being in a marriage—no matter how abusive and toxic it gets—is the best thing that could ever happen to her as a woman.

Islamically, marriage affords a man to marry as many women as he is allowed—not beyond four. To a woman, marriage is a world she is allowed to live in for the rest of her life with one man only. So imagine living the rest of your life with someone you do not love or whom you once loved but turned out to be toxic and abusive! To have a simulation of a woman living in a toxic or forced marriage, picture yourself stuck in a pit latrine for the rest of your life.

Marriage is supposed to be a willing union of mutual love, tolerance, and respect between a man and a woman. Whenever any party insists on separating, it suggests that some or all of these three ingredients are short-changed beyond repair. That is why when couples are in crisis, one thing society needs to do is hear the concerns of both parties and intervene with no intention to subdue anyone to the detriment of the other.

Even when they do not reciprocate, chivalry toward women is a virtue of a gentleman. But it is good you know when a woman runs out of love for you and makes it clear that she wants to leave. Acknowledge and respect her feelings and yourself and let her go—unless you are not a gentleman. Humans fall in and out of love for several reasons, and it is normal because many of these reasons do not necessarily have to do with you in the first place—it is not your fault.

As a woman entangled in a forced or toxic marriage, know that you are faced with two evils—resorting to violence which you will live to regret, or leaving the marriage against all odds. Always choose the lesser evil, which is to, by any means, end the marriage. It is always better they describe you as a woman who refused to stay married than as a murderer.

To put it briefly, as long as the willingness to form a marriage union is not mutual, or the couple does not see any reason to stay in the marriage, the society—this includes parents, guardians, and religious and traditional leaders—has to respect their decision and let them go their separate way without trying to judge or bully any one of them into staying for the sake of their children. It is easier for children to live with the trauma of a broken home than with the unsettling fact that their mother killed their father.

Dear gentlemen and others (self-acclaimed alpha men), ask yourselves, do you want to get married or marred? A word is enough for the wise!

Abubakar Aliyu wrote via abubakaraliyu599@gmail.com.

By Mahmud Aminu Dambazau

One of the trending topics in the past weeks has been the increase in registration fees of students by Bayero University, Kano. Before that, the University of Maiduguri, Federal University Dutse, University of Uyo and several others had increased theirs, and of course, it was anticipated following the revelation from the federal government that it could no longer fund universities.

I am glad the state universities in Kano have not toed that path yet, as several state universities have followed suit or tried to. Engr Rabi’u Kwankwaso’s administration has, among its biggest achievements, sponsored thousands of students abroad and within the country for undergraduate and postgraduate studies. While such numbers were unprecedented and unmatched by any other state administration, there is a need to reflect, assess the previous intervention, and possibly look for alternative ways to achieve the same result without necessarily taking the same route.

Many students had dropped out of tertiary institutions even when they had a passion for the study and were lucky to pass all stages of admission simply because they could not afford the then registration fees. A day hardly passes during registrations by tertiary institutions without students begging for public support to pay their fees on radio programs in the state. Now that most of these institutions have increased their fees which are in most cases more than 100%, we are likely to have an influx of dropouts across the state. With few job opportunities and frustrations of a crumbled dream, such could threaten a volatile security situation. More students will benefit from a home-based scholarship, even if partly, than a foreign one.

Between 2011 to 2015, when Kwankwaso sent students abroad, a dollar was exchanged for less than ₦200. With the dollar now fluctuating around ₦800. It means what would be spent for a single student now would be more than what was paid for three students then; if they are to be sent to the same institutions, fees will remain unchanged. Is Kano generating at least three times what was developed during Senator Kwankwaso’s administration, even if other factors were to be constant?

I have friends that had graduated years back from private universities within the country who were also sponsored by the then administration but are unable to serve their country (NYSC) or secure employment with the government because the schools have not issued their original results to them due to inability of the successive administration to complete their payments. A relative of mine could only graduate from India because her father paid her outstanding fees.

I have heard different appeals from students sent to different countries but later abandoned after Kwankwaso’s tenure. Wouldn’t it be better to investigate and ensure all those previously sponsored thoroughly have successfully graduated and issued their original results and then devise a sustainable plan for similar future interventions even if it is to be continued?

The Kwankwaso administration established more than 20 different institutes, none of which are currently functioning. I am glad; HE Abba Kabir Yusuf had, among his first acts in government, visited the Reformatory Institute, Kiru and given directives for its revival, among others. To borrow the title of Prof. Isa Ali Pantami’s recent book, Skills Rather than Just Degrees, re-establishing these institutions will allow even those who have already acquired degrees to further polish them with relevant skills. Reviving them will certainly gulf millions if not billions. All other stages of education at the state are currently requiring urgent attention.

Recent pictures from the once glorious Science and Technical Schools Board schools are disturbing. Bringing back these institutes, Technical Schools; Schools for Arabic Studies; Adult and Nomadic schools, without doubt, are better avenues to invest rather than foreign scholarships.

Again, as an alternative to foreign scholarships, why not invest the money in needed infrastructures in our universities, get them the latest equipment and employ on contract foreign scholars while giving them specific targets to train a certain number of masters and PhD students? With that, a considerably greater number of students would benefit, meaning more research output, recognition, and higher ranking of the state universities and might even attract foreign students or grants.

Lastly and more importantly, there is a saying, thus, “Teach a man to fish rather than give him a fish”. Some months back, just before the elections, a friend of mine who graduated with a first-class degree from Bayero University, Kano, and a distinction during his masters at a university in India sponsored by the Kwankwasiyya Foundation appealed to his followers on Twitter to vote for the NNPP, at least so he and of course, others could further their studies once more, abroad. For him, it would be a PhD. There are currently multiple scholarship opportunities, such as the PTDF, especially for students with excellent results. There are even more opportunities from several universities, including some of the best universities in the world. In almost every instance, those who get such opportunities from Nigeria are usually from the southern part of the country, who are more informed and enlightened in aspects like this.

An association, Arewa Youth Mentorship Forum, comprising mainly academics that secured foreign scholarships, is mentoring the younger ones from the North. Luckily, many succeeded in securing scholarships for both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. I came across a post on their Telegram group earlier this week where they provided a list of universities in the US that offer scholarships to even second-class lower and third-class graduates. If second-class and third-class graduates could get foreign scholarships, why should scarce resources be expended on sending those who could easily get such scholarships to institutions that even the government could probably not afford to send them?

If the Kano state government can utilise these opportunities and provide an avenue for these graduates to be mentored, trained and guided on securing foreign scholarships, more students would benefit. In contrast, the government can invest the scholarship money in other areas requiring more urgent attention.

Mahmud Aminu Dambazau can be contacted via madambazau@gmail.com.

Dear Sir,

As a concerned citizen from your senatorial district, I address you today with the utmost respect. You hold the unique distinction of being the first to represent the Kano senatorial district for a second term. However, it cannot be overlooked that your previous representation of the region fell short of expectations.

Despite the shortcomings, the good people of this region have rallied behind you. They have chosen to forgive your past mistakes and have granted you another chance to serve them. This presents you with a remarkable opportunity to accomplish two significant goals simultaneously.

It is imperative to reiterate that the people of this region will reward you based on your achievements. Two former governors have represented Kano senatorial district in the past. It is home to great political revolutionaries like Malam Aminu Kano and renowned figures in the world of business and economics, such as Aminu Dantata, Aliko Dangote, Abdul Samad Isyaku Rabiu, and countless other eminent technocrats. Representing this region is an arduous task that demands dedication and competence.

By providing effective representation, you can achieve the dual purpose of enhancing your political influence and better serving the people’s interests. It is crucial to recognise that your political success cannot solely rely on your godfather’s support; your achievements will serve as the yardstick by which your quality will be measured in the next election.

Kano Central belongs to all of us; now, the choice lies in your hands.

Yours sincerely,

Kamal Alkasim

Kano, Nigeria

Email: kamalalkasim17@gmail.com

By Mohammad Qaddam Sidq Isa (Daddy)

Now that Nigeria has finally embarked on the total implementation of the Washington Consensus package of neoliberal economic policies, what becomes of the country’s economy, in the long run, remains to be seen. 

As a product of consensus among the Washington-based World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the United States Department of the Treasury, the package was purportedly designed to guide developing countries bedevilled by protracted economic crises to recovery and achieve sustainable economic development. 

Also, as a capitalist template with inherent and unmistakable lopsidedness in favour of the rich and those with access to public resources, the package encourages governments to literally but gradually wash their hands of the critical economic sectors in favour of profit-oriented local and foreign investors.

Under pressure from neoliberal international financial institutions, successive Nigerian governments have gone to various extents in selective and partial implementation of the package, triggering rounds of controversy. 

However, now with the country going fully and irreversibly capitalist, there is no more time to waste in criticising capitalism and romanticising some obsolete socialist and populist ideas that are no longer realistic. After all, the reform policies can still work out if the federal government pursues requisite measures, which include, among other things, total transparency in governance, governance cost-cutting and prioritisation of the strategic sectors of the economy that have a direct bearing on people’s lives. 

In other words, for the reform to be effective, governance at all levels must be too transparent to accommodate any act of corruption; and anti-corruption measures, including appropriate punishments, must be in force and deterrent enough to deter any would-be perpetrator. 

Likewise, appropriate governance cost-cutting measures must be implemented judiciously to save resources without prejudice to productivity and efficacy.   

Equally, public spending must strictly follow the public’s priorities that entail appropriate investments in strategic sectors with clear short, medium and long-term goals measured not by mere figures but by their real effect on people’s living conditions. 

With these and other requisite measures in place, the investment atmosphere in the country will be transparent and competitive enough to attract local and foreign investors with appropriate job-creating investments that would facilitate real and sustainable economic development. 

That way, and with time, the local and foreign rent-seeking opportunists and profiteers, who have dominated the business sphere in the country, making hugely disproportionate returns compared to their real investments, will have to follow suit to remain relevant or simply lose out. 

Unless the Tinubu administration pursues these measures with appropriate commitment, the reform will end up counterproductive, thus making life even more unbearable to most Nigerians. At the same time, a tiny politico-business clique continue to wallow in abundance.

Interestingly, there has been conspicuous silence on the part of our local West-admiring Washington Consensus apologists, who have advocated total capitalist reform as the only panacea to the country’s persistent underdevelopment. Ordinarily, having passionately advocated it, they should now feel morally obliged to show some understanding, or at least fake it, over the ensuing escalating hardship in the country. 

Besides, though supposedly experts in economics and other related fields, none have developed a viable alternative economic recovery package or even introduced viable inputs to the Washington Consensus package to make it relevant to our peculiar circumstances and other underlying challenges.

Mohammad Qaddam Sidq Isa (Daddy) wrote from Dubai, UAE. He can be reached via mohammadsidq@gmail.com.

By Kasim Isa Muhammad

I was quite gobsmacked when I came across the news that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu plans to compassionately alleviate the burden of subsidy removal on 12 million impoverished households by providing them with a meagre sum of N8000 for a period of six months. Initially, I had to rub my eyes in scepticism, questioning the authenticity of what I had just read. However, to my surprise, it appears that numerous media outlets have indeed reported this astonishing news.

Struggling to recover from what I scanned earlier, I stumbled upon a startling piece of news that left me exceedingly in complete disbelief. The gravity of the situation rendered me speechless for several minutes as I pondered the implications for the future of our country. Now, dear reader, I sense your anticipation to learn what I read. Brace yourself, for I came across an incredibly disturbing article in The Sun newspaper last Saturday.

In the midst of the unprecedented sufferings experienced by our nation, it was reported that the Senate and House of Representatives are planning to allocate a staggering N40 billion for the purchase of vehicles intended solely for the lawmakers inhabiting the Red and Green Chambers of the National Assembly.

The report further disclosed that a mind-boggling number of vehicles would be procured: precisely 107 units of the 2023 model of the Toyota Landcruiser for the Senate and an astounding 358 units of the 2023 model of the Toyota Prado for the House of Representatives.

Of course, this disclosure left me contemplating the priorities of our elected representatives and the ostensibly vast disconnect between their actions and the dire needs of our nation. As our country wrestles with countless challenges and its citizens endure untold encumbrances, it is disheartening to witness such extravagant expenditures.

The immense amount of funds allotted for luxury vehicles raises valid concerns in my mind about the judicious utilization of our collective wealth and the overall commitment of our lawmakers to serve the people’s best interests.

It is at moments like these that one cannot help but question the future trajectory of our country. The glaring contrast between the exorbitant spending on lavish vehicles and the pressing issues that demand urgent attention sends a disconcerting message about the priorities of our leaders. As a concerned citizen, I cannot help but wonder if there are better ways to allocate these funds and address the genuine needs and aspirations of our nation.

However, let me not dwell excessively on the shenanigans of our lawmakers, for Nigeria is a country that never ceases to stun with its myriad shocks and surprises.

My dear reader, allow me to transport you back to the discussion surrounding Tinubu’s poverty alleviation scheme. It is frankly baffling to comprehend how a mere 8K could possibly ameliorate the devastating impact of fuel subsidy removal in a country where people are already burdened with exorbitant prices for essential food commodities.

The current petrol pump price alone stands at nothing less than N500, and the cost of education in our public universities has experienced a drastic surge. In light of these distressing circumstances, one cannot help but reflect upon the efficacy of allocating a slavish sum of 8K to 12 million poor Nigerians over a period of six months.

Perhaps it is necessary to remind our leaders, as it seems they may have forgotten, that according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), an overwhelming 84 million Nigerians are currently trapped in the clutches of extreme poverty, surviving on less than $1.9 per day. Instead of actively seeking lasting solutions to the multitude of challenges that plague us, it appears that Tinubu’s administration is perilously poised to repeat the mistakes of previous administrations.

We are all aware that the last government under former President Muhammadu Buhari implemented innumerable poverty mitigation programs, such as N-power, Survival Funds, and the National Youth Investment Fund (NYIF). However, it is worth questioning whether these initiatives have really succeeded in alleviating the pervasive poverty that plagues our country.

Similarly, the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has also projected a distressing tide in unemployment, estimating it to reach a startling breathtaking 37 per cent this year. Is the N500 Billion not truly sufficient to empower our youth with viable and veritable skills?

Regrettably, it seems that our leaders have lost their ability to listen and empathize with the very people who entrusted them with power. Instead of prioritizing the well-being of those who elected them into office, they have chosen to inflict unnecessary hardships, seemingly oblivious to the devastating impact of their policies.

To illustrate, allow me, my admirable readers, to outline what N500 Billion can potentially achieve for our country.

First and foremost, education must be prioritized as it is essential for any nation’s progress. In Nigeria, the situation regarding education is particularly concerning.

According to a UNESCO report in 2023, approximately 20 million Nigerians, which accounts for 20 per cent of the country’s population, are not enrolled in school. This figure exceeds the total population of several African countries. In my opinion, by utilizing N500 Billion to build and renovate schools in both rural and urban areas, we can significantly reduce the number of out-of-school children in the country.

Furthermore, agriculture, being a vital sector of our economy, faces insurmountable challenges. By allocating a substantial portion of these funds to the agricultural sector, we can provide our farmers with adequate and affordable fertilizers, thereby enhancing the agricultural industry.

To incredibly uplift Nigeria, it is vital to focus on promoting rural infrastructure. By wisely directing the funds towards initiatives such as improving rural roads, ensuring a reliable electricity supply, and establishing cold storage facilities, we can also address issues of poor management, facilitate transportation of agricultural produce, and foster overall economic development in rural areas.

Additionally, our public universities are currently battling with insufficient funding, making education increasingly unaffordable for children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Will N500 Billion be sufficient to revamp many of these universities and address the pressing needs of students?

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to address our esteemed President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Nigerians have high expectations of you, Mr President, as we believe you possess valuable insights into the economy. We eagerly anticipate your visionary ideas and urge you to wear your thinking cap. It may be early to pass judgment, but please do not disappoint us.

Kasim Isa Muhammad is an investigative journalist who contributes as a full-time journalist at both Neptune Prime and The Citizen Reports newspapers.

By Salisu Uba Kofar Wambai

Atiku Abubakar made campaign promises about tackling border closure which seriously ushered hardships, especially in the North. He equally rolled out plans to liberate Nigeria from the shackles of foreign loans President Muhammadu Buhari immersed it into.

PDP is the party that has formidable and unnerving politicians who fought tooth and nail for democracy to thrive in this country. The party people know the long walk to freedom they walked, and their 16-year dispensation spoke for them. 

PDP mastered campaigns for the creditors to give us waivers, which prevented the country from such loan spells. They ensured Nigeria hadn’t been submitted to total external control like we see today with APC’s inexperienced and heartless dispensation.

PDP has think tanks that guide their foreign relations which made sure we did not accept in toto any development strategy which could undermine the welfare of citizens in the long run. Thanks to their inclusion of technocrats both from home and outside in their socioeconomic and political decision makings 

Atiku was an integral part of all these goodies mentioned; that’s why we suggested northern voters vote for him during the 2023 presidential campaigns. As a northerner who willingly gave power to the South from 1999 to 2015, I thought it was economically stagnant due to the selfish allocation of federal government projects under OBJ and GEJ. The North had expected Buhari to compensate the region for even development of the country.

However, Buhari seemed to have failed and was ignorant of why power was being rotated at the centre. He favoured the South in many aspects of development project allocations like railways, good roads, bridges and electricity. 

Most of the projects Northerners have been clamouring for, like Mumbila Power Plants, Baro Port, Ajakuota Steel Company, KKK gas pipeline projects, and roads linking states of the region, have not seen the lights of the day. And how could North continue to support power-sharing and shift these injustices, shabbiness and iniquity?

The southern PDP governors under Nyesom Wike led a mischievous campaign against their party candidate PDP to work for the southern presidency. They were not a bunch of idiots like some undesirable elements of the northern politicians who selfishly sold out the region for their egocentric notions.

Now that Nigerians are paying the price of what they had bought by bringing APC to power again, we must remind our people how to become politically smart next election season. And many folks from this part of the country cannot still see things as they are. Sad.

Salisu Uba Kofar Wambai writes from Kano State and can be reached via salisunews@gmail.com.

By Aisha Musa Auyo

One thing everyone wishes for and works towards is to succeed in life. From infancy to adulthood, up to old age, we aim to succeed in every part of our lives. But what we fail to do is also to prepare ourselves for failure. Yes, because it’s inevitable. 

One of the pillars of the Islamic faith is the belief in qadr (divine will and decree), good or bad. This means that good and bad will surely ensue in life, success and otherwise. It’s how life is designed. But why do we do nothing or very little in preparing ourselves and our wards for failure? Why are we shielding ourselves and wards from the reality of life? 

This may be why people cheat, as they cannot afford to fail. They just have to win at all costs. Others commit suicide. Some go on drugs because they have been unable in certain expectations or tasks.

So as parents and teachers or elders, we need to let ourselves and our wards know that failure, not consistently winning, or not being at the top is okay. It is acceptable, and life does not end there. We can always try later and do better. 

Let’s show our wards and significant others they can trust us to be there for them whenever they fail. Just as they will want to come to us with success stories, they should be free to do that with failure stories. This is what unconditional support is all about. We should be a shoulder to cry on. 

We should also, as parents, accept that we sometimes fail and let our kids see how we feel and how we are going about it. The norm is to show the kids that we are always succeeding and doing great, just so they can be inspired, but we are not helping them by doing so. 

In summary, these are the points I want us to reflect on and ponder. 

1. Prepare your child for failure. We will always have good and bad days. Let them know they cannot always win, and it’s okay.

2. Let us always put in the back of our minds and theirs that “Over every possessor of knowledge is one [more] knowing”. Qur’an 12:76 

Regardless of one’s intelligence, hard work, and luck, we will surely meet others who are better than us. Let us know that we are better than others too.

3. Failure is a learning process to know what to do and what to avoid in the future. If one fails in a certain task, one may succeed in another task.

4. We should learn to compete with ourselves, not others. Set a target for yourself, and work towards achieving it.

5. Life doesn’t end or begin with school grades, work promotions, or huge profits. There’s more to life than these.

6. Good relationships, emotional intelligence, compassion, contentment, and adaptability guarantee success in every life situation.

8. It’s lonely up there: If you cheat your way up or compete to be better than everyone else, people will leave you with your success. No one wants to be with someone who always wants to be on the top by hook or crook. Cheating often backfires. And if it doesn’t, the people who made it to the top by defrauding others end up very lonely and have no genuine person to share the success with. 

9. Healthy competition is okay. Being motivated by other people’s success stories is okay, but we should not cheat or compete. We are made differently.

10. Avoid social media attention or fame: The pursuit of likes, followers, and validation has led to detrimental effects on mental health, values, and overall well-being. The obsession with social media fame has resulted in a culture of superficiality, narcissism, and moral erosion, hindering the progress and development of society as a whole.

Parents and teachers must take responsibility and invest in youth development, focusing on their holistic growth, character development, and real-world contributions. By doing so, we can create a future where youth can realise their full potential and social media platforms can be used for positive change rather than as a means of self-promotion and validation.

11. School, parental, and peer pressure

School positions are not necessary; Those numbers instil unhealthy competition among students. Instead of children competing against themselves, they are pushed to compete with each other. 

A student should be encouraged to push himself harder to get better grades, not in comparison with another student. Teachers should do as much as possible to adopt learner-centred teaching so that each student receives the attention they crave.

Parents should learn to accept their children when they fail. We should know our capabilities and not push ourselves and our wards to be what we can’t be. I know it’s hard to accept defeat or reward failure, but that is the moment when self-love and support are needed most. If we know we did our best, we should not be disappointed. 

Parents should stop comparing siblings. Each child has his/her unique quality. A child lacking intellectual intelligence may score higher in emotional or social intelligence. Let’s focus on our highs instead of our lows.

When the storm is over, parents or guardians can discuss with the kids how to do better, with a reward or promise that will make the kid want to do better. We elders must learn to discourage cheating and encourage integrity and self-acceptance.

Aisha Musa Auyo is a Doctorate researcher in Educational Psychology, a wife, a mother of three, a Home Maker, a caterer and a parenting/ relationship coach.

By Aliyu Nuhu

Can ₦8000 given over a period of 4 months solve poverty or alleviate the sufferings of people imposed by withdrawal of petrol subsidy?

If 12million people are getting the money, what of the remaining 168 million poor Nigerians? What will be the selection criteria. Sometimes you wonder at the quality of the thinking of our leaders.

Who sold this idea to president Tinubu?

To solve poverty you have to create business opportunities and provide loans. That was how China created wealth among its people. Loans were given with defaults in mind on self recognition only. No penalty for delinquency or business failure. Definitely some businesses will fail but many will succeed. China gave tax holidays to business startups and subsidized electricity and wages.

Brazil reduced poverty by reduction of inequality through equitable wealth redistribution programs. It did not only focus on economic growth, but accompanied this growth with active social policies for redistribution. The end results, economic growth led to better living standards for much of the population, through better wages and social transfers. Brazil gave family scholarship, business loans and huge minimum wages.

Egypt has long had a cash transfer/social assistance programme (maash al-daman al-igtimai), a program of the Ministry of Social Solidarity that reaches approximately 1.5 million households unable to work and uncovered by any other social insurance scheme. This mainly includes widows raising children, the elderly and the disabled.

In addition, two new cash transfer programs were launched in 2015. Karama (dignity) which provides an individual monthly allowance of LE320 for the elderly and those with severe disabilities. Takaful (solidarity), a conditional cash transfer program disbursed quarterly, which offers poor families with children who are younger than 18 a monthly allowance of LE325 and additional sums of LE60, LE80 and LE100 per child in primary, secondary or high school respectively, on condition of regular attendance. These programs, launched in early 2015 in some of the poorest villages in Upper Egypt, now reach almost 160,000 beneficiaries, with plans for geographic and quantitative expansion. Unlike Nigeria, the monies were not diverted and it surely reached the intended targets because of government sincerity of purpose.

It is not just about announcing unimplementable programs with no results in sight. Government must think deep and look at what other countries are doing. We cannot reduce poverty while at the same time imposing 7.5% tax on petrol and increasing price of electricity. We cannot end hunger, the bigger factor in poverty while banning importation of food that we don’t produce enough or closing borders. We cannot address inflation when we unleash extortion gangs on the highways collecting bribes from trucks that distribute goods to our cities.

It is as if Tinubu did not understand Nigeria and did not prefer or intend to govern it.

By Bala G. Abubakar 

Pre-historic people used to live by hunting. Clothes were necessary for protecting the body from cold and rain. It is very likely that for clothing, the pre-historic hunter utilised the skins of the animals he killed by converting them into leather. 

Why LEATHER?

The art of converting hides and skins into leather is called TANNING. Tanning is the art by means of which putrefiable animal hides and skins are preserved from decay and converted into an imputrescible substance known as leather. The main characteristic or attribute of leather is COMFORT. Comfort means the leather ‘breezes’; as such, when it is COLD, the leather keeps the body warm; at the same time, when it is HOT, the body is COOL. The skins of large animals are called hides, and small animals are called skins. Hides are large and thicker in substance and heavier in weight than skins.

Animal skin is composed of water, protein, minerals, fats, and carbohydrates. About 80 per cent of dry skin is made of protein. Collagen is the main structural protein that makes leather. Proteins are made up of organic compounds called Amino acids.

Your body needs about 20 different acids to function properly. While all 20 of these are important, only nine are essential. Collagen protein, the main constituent of hides and skins, has only three (3) essential amino acids out of the 20. Notably, the daily requirement of protein containing all the essential amino acids is 90 grams. As outlined, collagen has only three essential amino acids; the six non-essential amino acids, plus other proteins and carbohydrates in the bloodstream, are all converted into glucose. Thus, spiking blood sugar leads to insulin resistance. Insulin resistance happens when the body does not respond appropriately to insulin, leading to high blood sugar. Consequently, the following diseases or ailments are imminent: 

1. Type 2 Diabetes: This is a debilitating disease everyone is conversant with.
2. Metabolic Syndrome: this is the medical term for a combination of diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. It puts you at a greater risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and other conditions affecting the blood vessels. 
3. Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a health risk. 
4. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a term for a range of conditions caused by a buildup of fat in the liver.
5. Cardiovascular disease is a general term for conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels.
6. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a hormone imbalance in women. This included insulin. People with PCOS are almost three times more likely to develop cancer.
7. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common dementia. It involves brain parts that control thought, memory, and language.
8. Insulin resistance has no symptoms but is reversible. 

Professor M.K. Yakubu of the Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST) disclosed that Nigeria loses about 855 billion Naira in revenue annually from importing cattle hides. The hides are imported from neighbouring countries, including Mali. Others are the Central African Republic, East Africa, and recently, Saudi Arabia. The estimate is about 3 million pieces of which are consumed by Ponmo eaters. Nigeria produces over 7 million cattle hides yearly; 90 per cent are used as a food delicacy, an alternative to proteins. Statistics show that most of the consumers are from the Southwest states of the country. Therefore, the Consumption of Ponmo ultimately has immense adverse effects on the country because of the following:

1. Healthcare: Insulin Resistance may have been the cause of many killer diseases. 
2. Loss of Revenue to the Nigerian government. 
3. The closure of several tanneries processing hides into Side leather in Kano, Maiduguri, and Sokoto has some impact on the governments due to loss of revenue and to workers job-wise.
4. Owing to Insufficient side leathers, many big shoe Companies have closed their plants and shops to relocate elsewhere. A big example is the Bata shoe company. Lennards has recently imported Completely Knocked Down (CKD) parts to assemble shoes.
5. Shoemakers of Aba, Onitsha, Lagos, and Kano use mostly man-made materials, which has no comfort in making shoes.
6. Only 10 per cent of the population of this country uses leather shoes, while the rest use ones with man-made material imported from  China and India. 

To SUM it up, hides and skins from time in memoriam have been used for making shoes and clothing, but not for EATING! 

Bala G. Abubakar is a livestock and leather consultant. He can be contacted via ibro240@yahoo.com.