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Posts by solomon2day

  • Posts by solomon2day
    • Conflict Analyst

Interests and hobbies: Reading, Travelling and Meeting People

About the author Solomon Adewunmi attended Local Authority Primary School, 1A, Osho-Drive, Olodi-Apapa, Lagos(October 1976-June,1982), and Sinclair Grammar School(October 1982-July1985 and Ibadan Grammar School(September, 1985-June, 1987. He is a graduate of the University of Lagos, where he studied Sociology. He graduated in October, 1992. He was a reporter, Senior Reporter(News) and Assistant News Editor of The Nigerian Tribune between August 1999 and June 2002. After voluntarily resigning his position as Assistant News Editor of the Nigerian Tribune, he was hired as a Correspondent by Insider weekly magazine, a Lagos based general interest magazine. He was there from June 2002 to December, 2007. He was again hired by Scroll Nigeria, also a Lagos based weekly news magazine as a Correspondent. A position he held from December, 2007 to December, 2009. Still on the move, he was engaged by the Pulse magazine in December, 2009 as a Senior Correspondent. And in January, 2010 he was promoted Assistant Editor. He is a member Economist Intelligence Unit, Global Executive Forum, The Economist, London. Solomon is also a member of the International Association of Religion Journalists(IARJ) Solomon also possesses the following : * BBC/EC CERTIFICATE IN NEWS JOURNALISM (FEB. 2001) * CERTIFICATE IN ARTS AND CULTURE CRITICISM (NANTAP MAY 2001) * CERITIFICATE IN PEACE JOURNALISM (JUSTICE,DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE COMMISSION) *CERTIFICATE IN CONFLICT ANALYSIS[UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE ONLINE TRAINING PROGRAMME, OCT.2004] *CERTIFICATE IN INTERFAITH CONFLICT RESOLUTION( UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE, JAN. 2009). In addition he has the following professional awards : 1. NIGERIA UNION OF JOURNALISTS (NUJ), OYO STATE COUNCIL, REPORTER OF THE YEAR AWARD (PRINT) FOR YEAR 2000. 2. NUJ, OYO STATE COUNCIL, COURT./CRIME REPORTER OF THE YEAR, 2000. 3. COMMENDATION LETTER FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE NIGERIAN MEDIA MERIT AWARD (NMMA) IN THE CATEGORY OF ERNEST SESEIIKOLI’S PRIZE FOR NEWSPAPER REPORTER OF THE YEAR 1999/2000 4. COMMENDATION LETTER FROM THE MANAGEMENT OF AFRICAN NEWSPAPER OF NIGERIA PLC. FOR EXCLUSIVE STORIES JUNE, 2000. 5. NUJ, OYO STATE COUNCIL, REPORTER OF THE YEAR 2001 6. NUJ, OYO STATE COUNCIL, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER OF THE YEAR 2001.

Favorite quote:

Be as you wish to seem

  • Ni 3

    Shortcomings in the Civil Service a Threat to Development-Prof. Olagoke

    ProfThe present composition of the public service of the federation and states is, perhaps, partly responsible for the myriad of challenges confronting the country today. The insinuation is that the public service at all levels is overloaded and a burden to the government. There is also the suggestion that a number of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies are not relevant to the present economic realities. Corruption, the awkward bureaucratic process, and political partisanship are obvious features of the public service. In this interview, the Founder, Spiritual Head, and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke opines that the shortcomings in the civil service serve as stumbling blocks for development. Excerpts :

    How can the public service at the Federal, State, and Local Government levels be made very effective and efficient to meet up with the present economic realities in Nigeria?

    The engine room of governance is the civil service which by extension serves both the public service and parastatals in addition to the government machinery of operation. Unfortunately, funding has to come from the government for the public and civil service to be productive enough to effect positively on the environment, impact on the society and the people, and to boost the economy for the survival of the people through the provision of basic amenities and functional infrastructure to ease and support government activities. In a sane society, civil servants are expected to be incorruptible because they operate through the rule of the law. They are equally supposed to be highly motivated so that they don't get corrupted for the necessary qualities and standards to be set and maintained to a sustainable level. The civil service code of conduct presently suffers a lot under the bottleneck of bureaucracy, characterized by an unwarranted delay in processing, hide and seek game in the areas of treating files while the oath of confidentiality has equally become a political tool to victimize unfriendly clients.

    In the past, civil servants were rigid and religious in adhering to the code of conduct and the civil service rules.  That was an era when technocrats were highly revered, feared, and respected because of their no-compromise attitude.

    However, today, they easily collude in perpetrating fraud, and when been used for fraud by corrupt politicians they easily give way and help themselves too, to perfect diabolical plans or sabotage in becoming a conduit pipe to siphon public funds or our commonwealth. Thye easily leaks official secrets even to public servants. Productivity equally suffers due to the lackadaisical attitude of workers to work. Most of the workers have their personal business outfits which they attend to with all devotion than their officially assigned duties for which they are paid. It is not uncommon to witness orgies of idle hours in various places of work, civil servants, public servants, and government officials.

    \The work ethic through the mechanics of auditing to support the much-needed concept of transparency and accountability is equally rendered ineffective even in the presence of the introduced   Service Compact with All Nigerians(SERVICOM) AND  The Anti- Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU)which are expected to be fillers and pillars of support for the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission(ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) respectively.  Is it not embarrassingly surprising that none of our Ministries, Departments, and Agencies can pass the tets of corporate governance that demands routine checks for auditing, accountability, and transparency. This is why Nigeria continues to promote strong individuals and weak institutions. Cases of Rectors, Vice-Chancellors, Registrars, and Bursars, who live above their means abound. They help themselves with funds meant for the facility update of our institutions of learning which usually fail accreditation exercises. The major problem takes its root in the civil service leading to leading to unwarranted lapses in both material and administrative network for realizable objectives.  The shortcomings that revolve on bureaucratic bottlenecks, leakages in running the system, wrong attitude to work political partisanship at all levels of governance must be squarely addressed to make governance, management, and administration effective. The respect for the civil service rules would in no small measure make all activities effective to meet up with the present economic realities.

     

     

     

     

  • Leadership 3

    What is leadership about ?

    Quote 2 Do those in charge of leadership in your location  possess these attributes ?

  • Us

    Pompeo and Netanhyau

    The United States assures Israel of support. Read here-https://reut.rs/3j6lGHN

  • Ca

    Debts : Publish Terms and Conditions of all Loans to allay the Fears of Nigerians-Prof. Olagoke

    ProfIn the middle of dwindling oil revenue, the Federal and State Governments in Nigeria have resorted to loans and bonds to promote national prosperity, efficient, dynamic, and self-reliant economy. Sadly, the details, repayment plans, terms, and conditions of the loans taken are not in the public domain, as regards accountability. The insinuation is that the government intends to trade off the assets it used to secure the loans. Of worry is the fact that the management and operation of the major sectors of the economy are in bad shape, with most states looking up to the center for their survival. In this interview, the Founder, Spiritual Head, and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke opines the Federal and State Governments should publish the terms and conditions of all loans to allay the Fear of Nigerians on the country's debt status. Excerpts :

    Do you think the decision of the Federal and State Governments to resort to loans and bonds to promote national prosperity, efficient, dynamic, and self-reliant economy is in the best interest of Nigerians?

     

    For Nigerians to be dynamically buoyant into prosperity, the structure on ground that is full of loopholes and leakages for corruption and self-enrichment may not be feasible if the crop of people in governance to date continues to be recycled.

    Taking loans and bonds in and environment of indiscipline, impunity and corruption may not make the dream to be feasible. The socio-divine principle of transparency and accountability in transaction calls for public knowledge of government finances-domestic or foreign loans-and any aspect of government business activities.  If we allow this in governance, it would create an enabling environment to criticize decisions in the offing. In the process, such as the Nigeria/Cina loan conditions, questions like the following would arise to save the next generation of government from possible future embarrassment. 1) Feasibility of the payback period. 2)Payback conditions-stringent or otherwise. 3) Respect for the Nigerian content law. 4) Due process demand on follow up questions must be examined too.

     

    The Federal Government is, therefore, required to go through the protocol of the Debt Management Office(DMO) which represents the position of the Nigerian constitution.

    Section 21(1) of the Act(2003) is clear on this: That no external loans shall be approved or obtained by any Minister unless its terms and conditions shall have been laid before the National Assembly and approved by its resolution: Anything different from the above-stated process should be regarded as been fraught with hidden agenda by the organs of process operations that are not playing their roles well. It is unfortunate that Nigerians, generally, to date are facing economic hardships amidst accumulated debts, perhaps because of corruption. For example, our debt profile rose from $12.18 Trillion in 2015 to $27.40 Trillion in 2019. In the year 2020 alone, the total debt incurred as approved by the National Assembly for the President is about a total of $28 billion, but without a commensurate improvement in the quality of lives of the people of Nigeria.

    We are yet to have economic liberation and political freedom if we are to go by all the lacks and no access, even of basic needs.

    The country is now divided into a democratic process with two extreme dividends-kleptocracy by the few rich and poverty by the majority of the population!

      The following considerations are sacrosanct to taking the loans-1) Consider the needs of the people, seek for their consent, and carry them along on the implications of the terms and conditions attached to taking the loans. 2) Respect the local content agreement that some type of jobs that are no too technical and the aspects that do not require the transfer of technology must be handled by Nigerians to solve our unemployment challenges. The need for the Federal Government of Nigeria to publish the status and the terms and conditions of repaying outstanding loans, collected and inherited, including the China/Nigeria loan deal that is currently attracting controversial reactions with clear monitoring mechanism in place to monitor the way and manner it is to be spent on the various projects attached to the loans. Ii would be of interest to Nigerians if this template could be extended to all outstanding loans that have become the country's debts. This will allay the fears or give all Nigerians the reason to reject further borrowing by the present administration or the next, so as to have a bequeathable legacy of sustainable development rather than a game of deceit that would continue to impoverish the masses and the environment. 

     

     

  • Ui

    Innovation and Invention in Nigeria : We have Peculiar Challenges-UI Prof. of Agronomy

    The Federal Government of Nigeria and the management of universities have been called upon to render assistance to patent owners in the country’s higher institutions.

    This call was made recently by Prof. V.O Adetimirin of the Department of Agronomy, the University of Ibadan at a program organized by the College of Medicine of the University.

    ‘’We have peculiar challenges, I think we are not doing enough. Patent owners should be assisted in the process of commercialization. Once this is done people will start running after the university’’, Prof. Adetimirin asserted.

    The university don lamented that it was very difficult to obtain funding, for the purpose of commercializing patents, form the university and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund(TETFund), just as he stated that this was discouraging and saddening.

    Government at all levels and educational institutions have for so long shied away from investing in patents for inexplicable reasons, even though millions of Nigerians are of the views that government ought to encourage its manpower through the funding of innovations and inventions.

    Prof. Adetimirin is the inventor of the super sweet corn.

  • Religion

    Socio-Spiritual Discipline is a Focus of all Religions

    ProfPeace and development are highly essential in achieving peaceful co-existence  among people of diverse opinions,  tribal inclinations, ethnic leanings and segregated economic classes. Social justice and regulatory policies are equally vital enabling environment for development and peaceful co-existence. Unfortunately, they hardly exist in many nations where we experience insurgence, war, agitations and violence that not only lead to value erosion  and disruption of ethical principles.  The summary of it all, is individual attitudinal challenges bothering on moral laxity of institutional indiscipline.

    Reviving all agents of socialization on this to help arrest the situation and restore values is a task that must be given attention by every stakeholder, parents, religious houses and the media are inclusive. This will help us have disciplined people with high moral consciousness in all our challenging leadership positions, civil servants and government in particular, to role model organizational and professional ethics into people's psyche for the purpose of achieving and putting in place the culture of ethical practices to be able to live exemplary lifestyles. The Holy Bible, Prov. 25 : 28, emphasizes that  without moral discipline one becomes  vulnerable to acts of waywardness and frivolities just like Nigeria  with porous borders, where foreigners come in with ease to take up sensitive positions  of power, in the process looting without conscience and raping with impunity, in addition to maiming and killing defenseless Nigerians.

    The Holy Prophet Mohammad from the Islamic perspective emphasizes that the bedrock of any jihad is that of moral discipline. On this submission, Jesus Christ in Matt. 5 :19 asserts  that good citizenship reflects in the ability to obey   the rules of law and live by its code of conduct; otherwise one would become anti-societal  and would be vulnerable to punishment  in the hands of the l;aw and that such a person will equally be rejected in the kingdom of God.

    The implication of this, is that apart from becoming sinful, the society would perceive the individual as a criminal.

    Unfortunately in Nigeria, criminals are  celebrated and they mostly preferred to occupy sensitive positions  of power, by this, we murder peace and development. 

    The Holy Prophet Mohammad was admonished by Allah  in the Holy Quaran to be scripture compliant  as an exemplar and this is attested to in the various verses of the Holy Quaran. For example Quaran 6 : 162-163,''''Truly my prayer and my service, my life and my death, are all for Allah, the Cherisher of the world no partner art He : this am I commanded and I am the first of those  who submit to His will to be  qualified and regarded as a Muslim. The almighty equally commanded that the whole world must follow the foot steps of  the Holy Prophet Mohammad as an exemplar''. In Quaran 33 : 21 and 33 : 46, the almighty Allah identifys  himself with im that he is the one who made Mohammad ad one  who invites  to Allah's grace by His leave, and as  a lamb spreading light. For the above reasons the Holy Prophet Mohammad was able  to declare the following as parting gift to mankind, '' two things I am leaving behind, the Holy Quaran which a a compendium of  the word of God for human affairs  to be well regulated (Sunnatallahi). I am equally leaving behind my Toreeq or Sunnat, if you follow the two religiously, that is to the letter, you will never be misguided neither will you go astray. Al these are the challenges before I and you  as mortals, to live exemplary lifestyles without impunity but consciously based on moral discipline. We are supposed to be either true Christians or true Muslims as well as  adherents of all considered worthy religions whose doctrines or tenets are based on God and Godliness, light and good character that can present us as a race living upon the principle of love  they neighbor  as thyself. Be morally conscious.

    Prof. Sabitu Olagoke

    Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide,Wakajaiye, Ibadan, Nigeria

  • Namibia

    Young Mothers in Namibia Establish Factory

    Seven young Namibian mothers have established a mask factory.

    The mothers  made this possible through funding from 'DREAMS'  a United States funded project.

    According to Dorin Gases  who is just  18 : “This has been a life-changing experience. We can become a little bit more independent to look after our kids.

    We are young women with other dreams too, and this can help us afford further education which we couldn't before,”

    DREAMS is a project which aims to prevent new HIV infections in adolescent girls and young women.
    It stands for determined, resilient, empowered, AIDs-free, mentored and safe.

    The other young mothers are  Imerencia Nowases (21), Monica Ipwaakena (24), Julia Elias (24), Ndapewashali Americu (20), Ester Naidila (21) and Enrica Goagoses (21).

    The entrepreneurs are all non-schoolgoing young mothers from disadvantaged backgrounds.

  • Time

    Respect for Time is a Godly Act

    ProfIn every human interaction, the time element is consequential. There is a moral issue surrounding the idea of time and its management. If any system is to survive to a sustainable level, the time element has to be highly respected. For example, in creation, the almighty Allah set a time frame for himself to complete the challenging task of creation.

    From the perspective of the Holy Quaran 57 : 4 ‘’ He it is who created the heaven and the earth in six days. Then after he established himself on the throne…..'' The above implies, the job was highly satisfactory for the almighty Allah to set a parable of quality and standard, tested and trusted before assuming and adopting for use.

    In our own reality of life the time element is trivialized in our attitude towards work and in fulfilling the covenant of timely delivery of the rendered service to the disappointment of whoever must have given us the opportunity of winning such contract, forgetting that successful productivity process is a function of the time element involved to avoid lose of goodwill for the industry or the establishment. In the same vein when we make promises or get into an oath of commitment we must not lose the sight of respecting the contracted time element otherwise associated disappointment may lead into unwarranted feud that may snowball into avenging through killing because the time element associated with the contract was not respected not to talk of been fulfilled. This is why there is the saying, respect for time is the soul of business. The nation is losing a lot of goodwill in the Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Parastatals because of our poor attitude to work, whereby six out of the eight working hours are wasted on gossiping at the expense of work output and the accompanying salaries which in most cases are fixed without any regard for the volume of work done, not to talk of the expected standard and quality. The politicians forming government do not even care about institutionalizing respect for the culture of having regard and respect for the time element as a function of good production index. Is it not a challenge for humans to submit that the lesser animals respect time in everything they do, just like the almighty Allah respect the time frame in His benevolent mystery of creation. For example in Quaran 13 : 8 ‘’ Allah doth know what every female womb doth bear, by how much the womb fall short of their time or number or do exceed. Every single thing is with him in due proportion.’’

    For humans the gestation period is for 9 months, for the hen, the incubation period is 21 days. The respect for time frame is a manifestation of the fact that the person is highly disciplined when he makes a promise or take to an oath he would never disappoint and when such people are given an opportunity to serve they would go about it through arousing conscience which is sacrosanct to service delivery to the satisfactory end without default.

    The Holy Bible makes us to realize that there is a right time for everything and everything on earth would happen at the right time. Eccl. 3 :1–8 proffers that we manage our lives through minimax theory of managing time of events. When they are good we maximize to sustain and when they are bad we regulate and control to minimize or eradicate through timely intervention because of the elements of bearing, planting , healing, building, laughing, dancing out of joy, peace, achievements and love are good elements of life that would ever nurture the nature of man into buoyant and glorious success of development.

    However, the elements of death, destruction , crime, sadness, war and hate are equally elements of life associated with disappointment which may brew darkness into the life of any mortal for untimely death. When time is therefore respected in going about activities by the Muslims ‘ respect for the observance of solat or prayer or our general ability to participate in rescuing other people’s life from ruin through timely intervention based upon the concept of philanthropy, caring and sharing, one is easily thrown into an ecstasy of getting fulfilled with the attendant joy and happiness radiating love on our faces. Let us be timely in doing our jobs for us to be Godly in our religious exercises as disciplined and morally conscious persons.

  • Nigeria 17

    The Essence of Body Preservation and Soul Purification in Religious Worship

    Prof sabitu olagoke 6Two things are very germane in the functionality of the religious sector for it to serve the expected responsibility of promoting the culture of institutional discipline, moral uprightness and consistence arousal in ensuring that due process of the fear of God is followed in discharging individual or collective duties of whatever capacity of operation we may find ourselves . They are the adherents of every religion and their places of worship. For the adherents, a high level of piety based on the factors of reliability and dependability which equally are functions of the individual’s integrity which equally anchors on the soul purification essence from all evil thoughts and body preservation from sins and crimes for them to be eligible to enter their houses of God.

    The Holy Quaran 4 : 17–18 refers ‘’ Allah accept the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and repent, soon afterwards will Allah turn in mercy : for Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom. 

    However, of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil, until death faces one of them and he says ‘’now have I repent indeed’’, nor of those who die rejecting faith : for them have we prepared a chastisement most grievous.’’

    On the statues of every house of God, the state of sacredness is equally germane, if we need to go by the demand of God on this, through Quaran 9 : 17–18 ‘’It is not for such as join gods and goddesses or associating partners with Allah, to maintain the mosques(house of God)of Allah while they witness against their own souls to infidelity.

    The works of such bear no fruit : in fire shall they dwell.

    Therefore, the mosque of Allah or the house of God, shall be visited and maintained by such as believe in Allah. It is they who are expected to be on true guidance.

    A general view in the situation of many houses of God and the adherents show a negative compliance with affronts, effrontery and defiant impunity, making a good God/man relation to be elusive in the land and making the inhabitants or humanity generally, to be vulnerable or susceptible to various unwarranted attacks-visible and invisible.

    The Holy Bible, 1 Cor. 13–13 makes this particular submission that there is faith in the name of religion and hope through just worship only in realizing the dividends of religious practice.

    However, the only condition under which this design of God can be sustainably beneficial is an environment of love, unfortunately, humanity is daily faced with challenges of hostilities making us to be people of blurred visions with ignorant politics of deceit that is usually consuming people, making all efforts to be thrown into the dustbin of waste.

    There is a dire need therefore, for all clerics to go back to the drawing board to revisit their curricula of the scriptures and restrategize to teach the adherents and the society objectively without bias of any sort in order that we are able to reawaken all agents of socialization to be alive to their God given responsibilities. No religion teaches evil, no scripture does mislead.

     For sanity to reign let us all fear God to be able to put up exemplary lifestyles.

    Prof. Sabitu Olagoke

    Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide,Wakajaiye, Ibadan, Nigeria

  • Firs

    Tax Waiver-FG and States should Emulate Akwa Ibom-AWC

    The Federal and State Governments have been called upon  to emulate  the Akwa Ibom state Government by giving tax waivers to Nigerians.

    This call was made by the All Workers Convergence(AWC),through its National Coordinator,Comrade Andrew Emelieze.

    ''The AWC calls on the Federal Government to emulate the Akwa Ibom state Government by giving tax holiday to workers and all those in businesses badly affected  by the coronavirus pandemic. Government should for once  show signs of commitment to the people and reduce hardships, suffering and exploitation of the people knowing fully well that government never supported tax payers during the lock down as was the case in other countries,'' Comrade Emelieze noted.

  • Exemplary Lifestyles : An Antidote to Indiscipline

    Prof sabitu olagoke 6The issue of education cuts across the home and the school, while the products still remain as raw materials for the houses of God to process into refined elements thoroughly reformed and guided by knowledge, wisdom and the power of discerning mind, if and only if due process is taken into an environment of love, morality and discipline.

    Graduates of these institutions are expected to feed the society through services in their various specializations, guided by ethics of practices for the right value orientation to be employed in achieving the much desired value, quality and standard expected to be in line with global best practices.

    Almost all the nations of the world, Nigeria in particular, have failed in this respect because of the breakdown of the agents of socialization in the hostile environment of poverty, Timocracy and kleptocracy.

    The underling factors for the restoration of values is to work on the attitudinal challenges emanating from the breakdown of the core values in all spheres of life, as there are no longer role models for the youths to emulate in the present ugly environment of rhetoric.

    What is correct is obvious, but who to correct it, is now the question on every lip. However, for humanity not to go into extinction through ravaging pandemic diseases such as the coronavirus, borne out of human frivolities and waywardness, there is a need to restrategize on the way we impact on the society, the teaching and learning value in the schools and the home through the curriculum that must be practically touched with role modelling illustrations and demonstrations for correct learning that will perfect the ways of the people and the change into fortune the destiny of the society.

    In this respect, everybody is a stakeholder just as religion is all encompassing with universal applications to regulate and control moderately the affairs of the people with overall advantages of the spiritual energy to articulate human social activities into full realization and actualization, there is a need to return to God through the chosen faith based houses of God for unseasoned divine intervention to nurture to fruition human efforts for development.

    References to the scriptures that must be implemented without seizing the advantages of the people’s areas of weaknesses and needs will ever solve our attitudinal challenges on institutional discipline, moral decadence and frictions for corruption against peace and development. 

    Prov. 25 : 28 ‘’ A person that can’t control himself(discipline) is like a city without walls to protect it.’’

    From the sayings of Prophet Mohammed this submission is confirmed to be true, ‘’ the best of Jihad is that of self-discipline.’’

    Suffice now to say that parents, teachers and school heads who are leaders in other areas of functions that are direct to the people and the society, must see themselves as primary stakeholders who must not only teach the creed, but role model the ideals for people to be able to follow without restrictions or any reservations.

    However, the following values must be used as weapons of instructions by the parents and the society and various places of work to benefit because after all, the products of the home are the working class as well as leaders for governance.

    The Holy Quaran 31 : 17 refers, :

    1. The establishment of regular prayers as must be demonstrated by parents who must teach and monitor their children on its importance to be close to their creator and to develop the culture of the fear of God and due process in doing things.
    2. Parents must demonstrate the exemplary lifestyle to be able to admonish their children on the essence of been just with all sincerity of purpose in any place they may find themselves.
    3. Much as we realize that we live in a filthy environment fraught with corruption, transgressions, sins and crimes, parents must not be found wanting or be soaked in the mess, but rather live exemplary lifestyles worthy of emulation by children and others to be able to effect a paradigm shift.
    4. Patience and forbearance in goal getting is highly important for elderly ones to demonstrate and live by, for the younger ones to have a positive mindset of correcting bad situations.

    The society must be able to see this as a culture of child rearing through a counseling strategy that will nurture the nature of the children right from the impressionable age through the adolescent stage to the period of adulthood with all consistency. This will in every way restore us into a state of discipline and value laden exemplary lifestyles free of fraud, but justice based. 

    Prof. Sabitu Olagoke

    Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide,Wakajaiye, Ibadan, Nigeria

  • Quote 2

    A Food for Thought

    Quote

  • Values

    Value Restoration A Must

    Prof sabitu olagoke 6The failure of laying emphasis of the affective domain of education regarding the attitudinal values for the pupils and students in our schools has led to the deterioration of the system of disciplines of our various graduates with the fatal consequence of moral decadence in the society.

    For example, during our own days tales from the folklore, where the animal kingdom are animated into the human society, with emphasis on the moral values for the children’s consciousness plays a significant role in synergising the informal education from the home and the formal education, obtained in various schools by the children.

    As we grow to become adults, we perpetually put it at the back of our minds, the children of whom we are and the essence of been good ambassadors of our homes as well as been viable and constructive alumnus of the schools from where are graduated.

    We were always reminded even within our sub-conscious level of existence on the need to keep the dignity of labor through hard work as we equally continue to cut our clothes according to our sizes.

    This makes us to be very fit, as diligent and productive workers in our various places of work later in life, taking the virtues of the role models in the society with aggressive thinking on how to give back to the society.

    Besides this, the family values on love, togetherness spirit of give and take, care and share which are fundamental to the concept of philanthropy and Philosophy of altruism which by polarization bind the then expanded family units together, shun the evil spirit of ego centeredness, but put release into very well reared children, the spirit of charity that kept the family together for their products to benefit the society.

    The solution to this for us to restore the lost values is to revive the act of god parenting as well as the teaching of the scriptures in our teaching of the scriptures in our various schools objectively and without sentiments. All scriptures agree on the essence of counseling in teaching to manage well, our wards for the society to be in peace and to have prosperity.

    Prov. 11-’’A nation with weak leaders will fall, but many good advisers will make that nation safe.’’

    Quaran 31 : 13–14-’’behold Lukman said to his son admonishing him ‘Oh! my son join not in worship others with Allah, for false worship is indeed the highest wrongdoing. 14-’’And we have enjoined on man to be good to his parents.’’

    Let us be responsible parents, with role model virtues and teach same. Let us equally be responsible officials of government who will usually feel the pulse of the nation and take to the guides of advice from the people most especially on moral codes for us to have a well ordered society that will develop in an environment of justice for peace and equity for sustainable development. All these can only be achieved in an environment of institutional discipline and sensitivity to moral codes of life.

    Prof. Sabitu Olagoke

    Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide,Wakajaiye, Ibadan, Nigeria

  • Self discipline 1

    Self Discipline and Character Molding

    Prof sabitu olagoke 6The issue of discipline is divinely recognized to be a significant portion of the ethos of man’s existence. For example from the Islamic perspective, the Holy Prophet Mohammed emphasized that jihad would be empty and satanic if the adherents do not uphold the principle of moral discipline because jihad of self discipline would make the counselor or preacher to be credible and worthy of admonition he or she may want to give his audience or listeners.

    From the Christian perspective, Proverbs 25 : 28 asserts that ‘’a person that cannot control himself or herself(that is without self discipline) is like a city without walls to protect it.''

    The society equally rests its fabric of harmonious existence on the culture of the core values of integrity starting from self esteem for teachers, clerics and government officials to successfully produce for the society, reliable and dependable goal getters, in terms of successful ventures in the scheme of nation building, the equation of educational goals must be religiously pursued, that is Attitude=Aptitude+Attitude.

    Academic credentials must be based on the curriculum for the course or the pursued discipline which must be rationally graded without academic fraud, examination misconduct and examination malpractice for the certificate to be worthy of the accredited grade or class. The use of this certificate would only be meaningfully enjoyed through the in built good character which always forms the basis of interpersonal relation for positive work attitude that would enhance productivity to meet up with the profit making goal of the organization bearing in mind the need for high efficiency.

    The attitudinal value must therefore translate to moral discipline .

    When the educational institution fails to operate upon the axis of this value, the schools produce troublesome monsters as graduates or alumni for the society. When religious institutions fail to educate, enlighten, admonish and furnish her adherents onto the path of righteousness, the moral discipline essence upon which the fabric of the fear of God rests is lost, for the society to suffer under the misguided elements, who will rather profess profanity in place of the sacredness essence of clean state of piety ; the society will now be at the mercy of wicked people in governance and bad people in business-the cabals and the cartel. Admonition based on moral values and disciplinary measures is therefore a universal tool to promoting good ideals of life, organizational and professional ethics for the society’s moral fabric to be intact, for the purpose of peaceful co-existence, good governance and well divinely sanitized society which would result in peace and development to be achieved under an environment of justice and equity.

    From any source talks on moral discipline may come, it is imperative that the people and the society must follow to benefit the nation.

    This is why , we must practically recognize and follow divine statements in the holy books to uphold virtues and progressive moves.

    Let us therefore meditate on this verse of the Holy Quaran, that emphasizes self discipline as a function of promoting peaceful co-existence and fraud free society. The Holy Quaran 3 : 104 refers ‘’ let there arise out of you, a band of people inviting to all that is good enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong : they are the ones to attain felicity.’’ Let us walk the talk.

    Prof. Sabitu Olagoke

    Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide,Wakajaiye, Ibadan, Nigeria

     
     

  • Zimbabwe 9

    Guidelines should be in place before schools resumption in Zimbabwe-Human Rights Commission

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    The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has advised Government to put in place guidelines for the reopening of schools in the country.

     The ZHRC made this know in statement.

    "Government should issue out a form of certification for compliance with the set Covid-19 precautionary guidelines to schools that would have met the set standards for them to open.

    "Measures must be set out on how those (schools) that would have failed to meet the certification standards will be assisted for them to re-open together with others in line with the principles of non-discrimination and equality," said ZHRC.

    The Zimbabwe Government  had before now announced that all schools will be reopen on July 28 after  four months closure due to the Coronavirus pandemic outbreak.

  • Zimbabwe First Lady makes case for Affordable Sanitary Wear

    Zimbabwe 8The first lady of Zimbabwe, Auxillia Mnangagwa has asserted that sanitary wear must be made available and affordable.

    The First lady also called for the continued education on menstruation for girls and women.

    Mnangagwa made this known recently at an event to commemorate the Menstrual Hygiene Management Day which had 50 children in attendance drawn from disadvantaged backgrounds.

    “Talking about menstruation, it is considered taboo and yet it is the biological indicator that pregnancy has not occurred,” she said.

    “This silence contributes to the ignorance and illiteracy on menstrual hygiene management.

    “Regressive socio-cultural norms pertaining menstruation are responsible for the silence around the issue of menstruation and this results in the use of unhygienic products to manage periods instead of much safer products.”

    “The theme for this year’s commemoration is ‘It’s time for action. Indeed it is a time for all of us to take action and address the challenges that women and girls face in relation to menstrual hygiene management, especially as we also look at the challenges that we are currently facing due to the Covid-19 global lock down,” she said.

    “Menstrual hygiene management is not a girls and women’s issue alone, but it is a matter that concerns all of us as communities and failure to manage menstrual hygiene may as well impact on the development of communities and the nation at large, she stated.

    The first lady through her Angel of Hope Foundation, donated reusable menstrual kits to the disadvantaged women.

  • Law Enforcement

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    When impunity, lawlessness and anarchy replaces law enforcement, the military saves the situation.

  • Religion

    Weekly Guide on Acceptable Moral and Religious Behavior for Humanity

    Life-Existence on a Meaningful Scale of Treatment

    Prof sabitu olagoke 6The vision of God for mankind is best appreciated in the context of the Holy Quaran 2 : 201-’’ Our Lord ! Give us good in this world and good in the year after and save us from the torment of the fire !’’

    All religions believe in the following segments of the cycle of existence-life in the womb of our mothers, medically known as gestation period for a woman, demanding for antenatal protective measures for safe delivery, the birthday, when the child enter the mother earth just as parents and their well wishers rejoice on this occasion.

    The life span of a man of a woman from the cradle to the grave yard point, demands for the physiological needs as the basis for Maslow’s hierarchy of needs for even growth and development, in the regime of sustenance. This one demands for education, career-ship and divine intervention for spiritual endowment, for him or her to live a fully fulfilled life.

    What follows is the grave yard final home, when all living ones will depart and desert the dead after, the burial rites, while families and friends help themselves in sharing acquired wealth !(Quaran 2 : 46/Eccle 5 : 15). All religions equally believe in resurrection starting from the repose of the soul waiting for the judgment day.

    In all these the relevance of education or institutions of knowledge, career-ship and professionalism to keep soul and body alive and to satisfy the dependents’ needs, as well as the religious systems through the houses of God cannot be over emphasized.

    If one is weak or deficient, the life of an individual would become thwarted, socially and spiritually to the extent that the person may not be able to be comfortable in life despite his or her wealth and the individual may eventually lose the grace of God. Janat of paradise.

    Governments of nations must therefore do the needful not to sentence their people into hell right here on earth, as well as bedeviling them into hell after resurrection. All stakeholders, in molding, the lives of every person must therefore see their challenges and roles as God given assignments for humanity to avoid hell on earth and lose of heaven because death is inevitable for all : Quaran 20 : 74–75 ‘’ Verily he who come to his Lord as a sinner(at judgment),-for him is Hell : therein shall he neither die nor live, 75 But such as come to him as believers who have worked righteous deeds, for them are ranks exulted .’’

     Let us all be wholesome for the awesome God(Allah).

    Prof. Sabitu Olagoke

    Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide,Wakajaiye, Ibadan, Nigeria

     

  • Ramadan

    Daily Guide on 2020 Ramadan Exercise for Humanity

    Prof sabitu olagoke 6

     

     

     

     

    Saturday 9th May 2020

    The significance of prayer is best thought and understood during Ramadan fasting session. Prayer itself is a bridge builder between man and God. It is the most powerful communication tool that easily transmits the divine energy from God to man, when articulated through a profile body free of sins and crimes and a preserved soul that is free of evil thoughts. These two factors are fundamental basic requirements for man/God cordial relationship.

    However, even among the religious people of the world these conditions are trivialized if not neglected, making them to be mere hypocrites with empty boasts about God.

    This is equally responsible for the poor state of piety in the land. Let us learn correctly how to be scripture compliant. Ramadan Kareem.

    Sunday 10th May

    Prayer efficacy has three modes before supplicants can be rest assured of divine acceptance. Meditation allows for reflections into the past activities for possible amendments into the weak areas. It allows esoteric voyage into self reality and exploration into the impact of the environment.

    The next one is sermon that appeals to the soul, admonition the body to heal the diseases of the heart in order that one is readily guided through the mercy of God.

    Counseling is the third module to perfect translated ideas into suiting the realities of life to be one of example in the odd world of confusion.

    Learn to be just in your prayer as a sincere worshiper to be successful in life. Ramadan Kareem.

    Monday 11th May

    Be reminded that only the prayer of the just would be energized into meeting up with the purpose of desire for which an individual is tendering his request to God(James 5 : 16).

    In His declaration the almighty Allah asserted ‘’to him is due the true prayer of those without faith is nothing but vain prayer. ’’(Quaran 13 : 14).

    In this category of faithless worship, even the majority of the worshipers in all religions find themselves.

    Derisively on this, the almighty Allah said ‘’any other media called upon besides Allah, hear them, know more than if they were to stretch forth their hands for water to reach their mouths.

    It would not be possible for water to reach them as it would be easier for water to climb a mountain from the ground floor. Let us be people of full understanding, otherwise we may remain ungrateful to God for life. Ramadan Kareem.

    Tuesday 12th May

    Computer programming for efficacy can be likened to the stand of God in Isaiah 41 : 17–18, ‘’the poor and needy people look for water, but they can’t find any, they are thirsty. Their tongues are very dry. I will not leave them and let them die. I will make rivers flow on dry hill. I will make springs of water flow through the valley. I will change the desert into a lake filled with water. There would be spring of water in that dry land.’’

    These undoubtedly would be the foot of just worship.

    The computer programming format of the above lies in Quaran 2 : 186.

    1. Prepared people of God in high state of piety.
    2. Worried souls consult trusted and tested clerics.
    3. God the almighty Allah shows mercy through the counseling guide of the cleric.
    4. Requirement from God to answer prayer request in sincerity of purpose and just worship.
    5. Once item number is satisfied the prayer is answered without hitch of barrier.
    6. Manifestation of God shows divine intervention in the supplicant’s life. Let us follow this to live a just and self fulfilled life. Ramadan Kareem.

    Wednesday 13th May

    Two things need to amaze using Nigeria as an example. In the 21st century, Government is still discovering the poorest of the poor, demanding like Almajiri beggars for COVID 19 monetary support from individuals whose source of money are never known or attested to.

    The second awe is that the divine intervention is left aside by Government in tackling the COIVD 19 pandemic. This may be as a result of the fact that no qualified cleric using the quality and standard measurement of God can be identified or found around.

    Jonah saved his nation, Nineveh. Prophet Mohammed founded a new Saudi Arabia and better strategic world order through the rules of law and promotion of God/man relationship.

    Jesus Christ counseled and healed all with no economic costs attached while at the same time leaving behind a legacy of peace and the promotion of good God/man relationship.

    Nigeria’s clerics can source their strengths from all these by been scripture compliant as role models on the issue of connecting every individual, as a free born, with his or her creator.

    For the nation to be able to enjoy free divine intervention let us therefore realize that to seek the glory of God, we must believe that all prayers belong to Him. To Him we mount up all words of purity e call prayers, but avoid trivializing it into mere wishful thinking. Be reminded that God will require a high level of state of piety from an individual before entertaining your requests. or crowning it with success. Remember that an individual will be faced with a lot of resistances from the people of the underworld, including the principalities of darkness. We cannot therefore, allow recess of divine strength, so as not to be punctured by the nails of wicked people on earth. God is able. Ramadan Mubarak.

    Prof. Sabitu Olagoke

    Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide,Wakajaiye, Ibadan, Nigeria

  • Charity

    Daily Guide on 2020 Ramadan Exercise for Humanity

    Prof sabitu olagoke 6

     

     

     

     

    Monday, 4th May

    Ramadan Mubarak, let  us learn to cultural acceptable level, the essence of been our brother's keeper. For example, the third pillar of Islam is on giving out of a specified  percentage of the accrued profits of our acquired  wealth and when it is in terms  of farm products, there are equally percentages that we must part with for donations, for the purpose of poverty alleviation and hunger eradication. This is about Zakat operation. This is inline with the need to get fulfilled  to the scripture compliant level   to gain the favor of God. Quran 92 : 5-7 refers ''So he gives in charity and fears Allah and in all sincerity testify to the best, that is the essence of caring and sharing and been philanthropic . Almighty Allah, He will indeed make smooth for him, the path to Ease.'' The period of Ramadan offers us the opportunity  to build a positive mindset in this direction. Ramadan Kareem.

     

    Tuesday, 5th May

    The concept of charity affords the rich to be philanthropic in nature, as being experimented under Sodaqat, that is voluntary alms giving as a normal way of life. But this must be done to the empowerment level of the needy.

    The almighty Allah identified    some troubled spots that must be addressed to have a normal, safe and secured society. For example in Quran 9 : 60, it is declared ''Alms are for the poor and the needy and those employed to administer the funds. To institutionalize this, the apex body of the Islamic  family need to take this up as a project for the  rich individuals and Islamic sects to follow. Such funds mus be extended to those whose hearts have been recently reconciled to truth; for those in bondage and in debt; those in the cause of Allah;  and for the wayfarer : thus it is ordained by Allah. And Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.''

    To prevent violence  and insecurity, this must be a task that must be culturally entrenched. Ramadan Kareem.

     Wednesday, 6th May

    During this  Ramadan, redemption feeding is another source of  reaching  out to the poor(Fidyatu Toham), which the rich can use to atone for its inability to fast. This equally must extend to the  level of empowerment.

    Crisis and challenges of eradicating the Almajiri is now  a monstrous challenge  for Government and the society because of the socio-economic and sociological challenges associated to its eradication.

    However, the concept of been our brother's keeper whereby the rich ones support Government 's efforts may effectively address this area this is because  rehabilitation without vocational training support and engagement will never be sustainable and satisfactory  for the victims of this social menace.

    Religious leaders must place emphasis on how to make operational  Sodaqat, Zakat and Fidyatu Toham, that is voluntary alms giving, to become our natural ways of life, for the needy and the poor to be effectively taken care of. Ramadan Kareem.

     

    Thursday, 7th May

    Zakat L' Fitri, that is alms giving to climax the Ramadan fast, may be in monetary terms or food materials, most especially grains by the family for the purpose of reaching out to the poor through  the coordinating Imam, who must be God fearing in the distribution.

    Muslims must continue to recite Quran 90 to get acquainted with the importance of making charity as an atonement of sins that have not been criminalized.

    The excerpts from this chapter refers '' But man has not made haste on the path that is steep and what will explain to thee the path  that is steep, it is freeing the bound man or the giving of food in a day of deprivation, to the orphan with claims of relationship or to the indigent down in the dust. Such giver must equally be of those who believe in God, enjoying patience, constancy  and self-restraint and also enjoying deeds of kindness and compassion.''

    Decide to be one today. Ramadan Kareem.

     

    Friday, 8th May

    Every nation where kleptocracy characterize governance, self centered thoughts  dominates the  lives  of the elite, always records poor  tales of poverty, hunger, homelessness, armed robbery and characteristic state of insecurity.

    The almighty Allah therefore warns against miserly behavior in the Holy Quran 92 : 8-12. '' But he who is greedy miser and thinks himself self sufficient and gives the lie to the best, that is (charity), he will indeed make smooth for him the path to Misery nor will his wealth profit him when he falls headlong into the pit. Verily will take upon us to guide.''

    This is why the Holy Quran 13 : 18 declared ''for those who respond to their lord  are all good things, but those who respond not to Him, even if they had all that is in the heaven and on earth and as much more in vain offer it for ransom. For them will the reckoning  be terrible, their abode will be hell,-what a bed of misery.''

    The ravaging coronavirus pandemic attests to this.

    Uphold charity and shun miserly life to eradicate poverty and hunger for ensured peace in the land. Ramadan Kareem.

    Prof. Sabitu Olagoke

    Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide,Wakajaiye, Ibadan, Nigeria