aniffy4eva:

Bulls-eye!!! i figured a post like that would bring you out. . . Well, work is good. . . and you?


The very nature of this investment-vehicle makes it capital intensive and quite illiquid. However, i opine that a little diversification is necessary for investors. Stocks can be quite good, however, control over the bullish/bearish state is limited. Whilst everyone may have good stories to share on the NSE when compared to 2 -3 years ago, it's beginning to get to a point where companies that are no-good fundamentally are stating increasing stock prices, while sound companies are doing the exact opposite. In my opinion, the main essence of land purchase is for development to bring in rental income. Please remember that we are talking about passive income, which investment in stocks might not give you (except you wait for dividends. . . ). The NSE will only give you capital appreciation, and not passive income/ cashflow. Being financially free is not about how much cash you have, but actually about how much cashflow you get from other income streams aside your J-O-B.

The idea of trading in stocks is also one that i am not too comfortable with, i guess i'm ol'school. . ., i invest in only fundamentally-sound companies. frequent trading is based solely on technical analysis, where previous price levels are the only factors considered in making investment decisions. Don't get me wrong, people make a lotta money doing this. . . but they can also lose a lot. I guess it just doesn't work for me

With all that has been said, i'll just add that we try to work towards having our incomes come from 3 sources:

- rental income - real estate
- paper income - dividends/ bonuses from shares etc
- cashflow from businesses that run without us

because' it seems a number of us might have just income from our jobs as the ONLY source. . .

cheers guys!!!

Excellent economic analysis!

Aniffy dear, even before I started earning what I do now, I have had the ideal of saving at least two-thirds of any income whatsoever. It is in this regard that I bless my head I came back to Kano. The cost of living is so low that I dare say I end up saving more than two-thirds of what I earn. I have worked only four months, and you would be impressed with what I have stashed away in such a short time. I have not begun real investment yet. I am still understudying Robert Kiyosaki, soaking in the knowledge he has to offer in his books, reading them carefully over and over again. I am also trying to survey the investment market.

You know, the investment market is very like others. There are wholesale and retail sections to it. In this regard I am happy I work with a bank; we have a weekly financial scan of the Stock Exchange, and weekly reports on informed investing, as well as methods for the anticipation of stock trends. Bullish and bearish stock opportunities that the lay man would assume the preserve of trained stock brokers are things we have learnt to follow doggedly. I hope that when I do start investing, I will always be ahead of the trends.

So you sell suits? What's the business like? Lately, I have financed a spare-parts trade business, and am expecting my return on investment (ROI). If the ROI is good, I may do more in that line. On the surface it appears clean; importers sell to semi-wholesale suppliers, who in turn sell to retailers. The chain of distribution is kept small, so that profits are maximized, and because this is Kano where the locals are not into the game, competition appears small, and the smart Ibo guys can make it big. But then, it's too early to congratulate myself.

The modern dream seems to be: invest wisely, get rich quickly, and retire early. Then you can set up your own company and employ others, and reduce the level of unemployment, while as well contributing to the growth of the national economy. I hope more and more youths are toeing this line. It is the future for all of us, I think.

So you see.

Love you all. 

You guys will be the death of me. LOL!

JISIDAISY:


Hey guys, I havent been quite myself lately, this month too shall pass

So sorry to hear this, my dear. Let me sing this song to inspire you.

When peace like a river attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, Thou hast thought me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul.


Be strong, Jisi!

PapaBomboy, LOL. But seriously, are the clothes original Nigerian, or just the imprints on them? 

AlfaPrime, what's the latest on Zimbabwe? Last I heard, there was to be a meeting of Southern African nations. Did Mugabe attend?

Nna meen, these days, na just to dey try forget the difficulties of life na im I dey try do-o! Because if man carry de reality of life for im head, na die be dat-o! Chei. Na wa for naija-o!

Anniwil, I think you need to try a lot of math problems, to sharpen your math skills. Then you may play some of these technical games, which have to do with shapes, and arrangements of numbers and all that. Just keep practising technical stuff and math, and leave the rest to God. I think engineering tests are like that a good number of times. And pray to be lucky too. Kenosky, am I right? Afterall, I'm not an engineer myself.

Stress-o!

Dr. Jisis, sorry-o; the N15m, is it per month or per quarter?

happy birthday thread!

Because regardless of what I may feel, I confess that I need God.

AlfaPrime:

Happy, glorious weekend, all! Good to take out a little time to reflect on the happenings of the previous week again, and appreciate how time is really flying these days.

@Kennosky
Not been so silent, anyway. Just that I had to spend several hours at work today, trying to beat a deadline of some sort. Bottomline conclusion: Thank God for the privilege of work!
@Kuwena
Up to this point I just quoted in Jisi's post, I'd say I agree with her 100% (before she went full blast, tho! ). You just have to see God as Father. That's all! Most of our worryings and frettings would be totally unnecessary if we just realise that God's eyes are always on us, and He has no favourites. I quite appreciate your last post because it was really descriptive of your present spiritual state and also your past journeys. The concept of prayer has been well misunderstood by many for long, as mainly a means of asking God for something, hence You easily associate prayer with problems-God-asking-request, and such words that generally depict a man bedevilled by problems, turning to God for solution. Yes, Prayer is a means of asking, and prayer, many times, is simply asking, but much more than that, prayer is basically communion with God, NOT petition to God. There are 2 sides to it, our speaking and His speaking also, with our listening.

2ndly, I just want to affirm to you, that its virtually IMPOSSIBLE for anyone to feel spiritually up- and doing all the time. Every one has his low moments, when he feels very very un-Christian, unbelieving, unGodly, and un-everything that resembles God, and that's why the Bible from the start lets us know that our walk with God is based on FAITH, NOT FEELINGS!! You probably were a good prayer warrior, and u usually felt good and (maybe religious) when You prayed, but it doesn't stop at that. Christianity is about relationship, relationship with a Person. It's like when u don't feel like talking with a colleague at work, yet it doesn't make u conclude that the person no longer exists! Or for that matter, wish that the person no longer exists. Let me tell You, one of the things You stand to "gain" if your wish that God didin't exist were to come true, is the freedom from the moral burden to do what you know is right. That's why I don't really condemn religion in its totality, much as it must be understood that religion in itself CANNOT offer salvation. Religion, to define it simply, is man's search for God; while Christianity is God's love, longing and provision for man. Now, because God created man with an innate desire that ONLY HE can satisfy, any man who does not know God is going to invariably keep searching for Him, albeit through other false means - self actualisation, human psychology/ideology, , idol worship, hero worship, religious observations and beliefs, etc Now, why I wouldn't condemn religion totally, is that when it fails eventually, the way is opened for the Reality, which is Christ. People who practised religion, before meeting Christ appreciated the difference He brings so much more. (eg Apostle Paul). I could go on and on, Kuwena, but suffice it to end at this point. I'm sure You get the point, and that it won't be long before You come back to Him, but I strongly advise against any delays. Make your peace with your God today. Whether You feel like He hears you or not, whether You feel like serving Him or not, whether You feel good or not, come to Him by faith and be assured that your burdens are resting in His arms.

Ps: Happiness is based on happenings
But Joy comes from Jesus!


@Jisi
I admire your optimism about meeting and surpassing your target, but I don't know how serious you are about getting help from the thread. If your are, You know how to go about it, na?

@All

Have a glorious Sunday, filled with rest and recupperation.

behind religion, and self actualization, and all you name, there is humanity, and that to me is the constant principle of global activity. But sometimes we hurry along, and forget the reason for our industry. We forget human beings in our quest to get along. One person out there may be depending on us to help; one person out there may be hanging on to the hope that a little we give may help them, but we are so preoccupied with getting on in life, that we cannot spare them a thought, in all our selfishness. This realization to me is as important as having religion, if not more. Jesus said, 'I was hungry and you gave me no food,' to which the errants said, 'When did we see you hungry?' They were busy looking for Jesus to worship, and were so blind to humanity calling for help. Yet St. John declares, 'How can you love the God you do not see without first loving the people you do?' And perhaps this is the whole essence of salvation; bringing love and peace, and hope into the lives of as many people as you can. And I am willing to do so, in my own circumstance. Are you? Let's start now.

Yes. The realization that one needs to get out of himself and focus on the world. A real truth.

niyooo:

Hi All,
@ Jisi, I don hear, actually have a friend with the nickname AK47, so was just wondering.

@ Kenosym, Me i no know wetin u dey tok about o, which wayo thoughts be that?

@ Tommy congrats to you, whatever it is we are waiting to hear.

@ Opoks, how u dey?

@ Kuwena,

na wah for you o. You and your mood swings. It takes more than determination to find God again, It's always easier to destroy than to build. It took you many years to be where you were with God and in a twinkling of an eye you destroyed it (because of the disappointment of LNG!!!!  ). I think part of your problem stems from impatience, you can't have it all at once. What make you think you can't create and have your own LNG in the future? Maybe you are praying the wrong way!!! God is not your errand boy to do whatever you want!!!! He said if we pray and have faith then it shall be done but at the same time He said He will meet out "needs" not our "wants". So ask yourself a genuine question "Are you praying for a need or a want?" Do you have a misconception of what will bring you joy?

Kuwena as far as I'm concerned i.e. IMHO you are a very fortunate guy and should be thanking God for what He has done for you and where he has brought you and where He is planning to take you and stop complaining. Do you know if God is testing you? Do you know if you are constantly failing the test by all these complaining and grumbling? Do you think you have a right not to be tested just because you served God faithfully in the past? Can you name anyone who made it big and who is a success story that did not pass through his/her own test? Y do you think your case should be different? If it's about the being righteous issue, can you claim to be more holy/righteous than those that were tested in the Bible? Can all the tests you have passed through compare with Jobs'? Did you see how God rewarded him (Job) because he didn't grumble or complain against God?

Kuwena, as i said in one of my earlier posts, you don't need anyone to choose your religion for you or what you choose to do with your life but i want you to be honest and see if you are not just being an ingrate to God for all He has done for you. My people have a saying that "Omo to ba ni oko baba mi lo tobi ju, ko i ti ri oko baba elomiran" ( I hope my yoruba is right). Literally it means that the child that says my father's farm is the biggest has not seen someone else's father's farm. So Kuwena, i make bold to say to you right now that it's because you haven't seen someone else's problems that you keep coming out here whining. There was a service i went for recently and the pastor gave a parable sort of, He said there was someone who went to Church to pray and was complaining to God about his problems which were contained in a small milk container, next thing he saw was someone bringing a big drum of his own problems to God also to complain, guess what the first complainant did? He quickly picked up his small container of problems and went away thanking God for his problems. Bottomline Kuwena is you should be grateful to God for what He has done for you and what He is still doing and stop complaining.

Maybe you should visit the hospitals and see what those peeps without good health will give to just have it not to talk of having a job and then come back and let's see if you'll still be cpmplaining about your ill luck in life. As i told you, you are an adult now and are invariably responsible for your life and every action or inaction of yours. Your whole life is before you and what you make of it is exactly your own choice. So decide on what you want and go for it so that in the next 30 years or so if Jesus tarries, you can look back and thank God that you made good use of the little time He gave you in this world. Use your time and energy creatively, STOP WORRYING AND START THINKING.

On a lighter mood, @ Arsenal fans, sorry o, as i told some of my colleagues/friends wey be them fans, Nothing for una this season, make una wait small gather some experience before una go fit dey make noise.  ( B4 una go bombard me, make una remember say this one no be football thread o.

@ all, have a lovely night

Cheers.

I could never agree more.

Kenosky, you are too kind. You are becoming an important source of hope to me. I've lost everyone I used to have. And there is this emptiness in me. I don't seem to fit in wherever I go, or maybe that's just the way I perceive it. I can't seem to feel enough joy in my heart, unlike others. In primary school we used to sing:

Give me joy in my heart, keep me singing
Give me joy in my heart, I pray
Give me joy in my heart, keep me singing
Keep me singing till the break of day.

Many years later, God is yet to listen to me about my appeal for joy. Since the start of the year, I have stopped going to church because I have stopped feeling religion. I know I used to be what you may call a prayer warrior, but something must have happened somewhere along the line because these days I just can't feel religion. Last night I was having a terrible nightmare and I woke up sad and utterly confused. If it was this time last year, I would have got up, and started praying one of these firebrand type of prayers, but this time around I just knelt and tried to pray. It was if I spat the words out, and after praying, I was almost sure God did not hear me. Truth is, I don't believe in prayer anylonger. I tell myself that even after praying, God will still do exactly as he pleases, so what's the use in praying, then? Religion, prayer, church, all these things no longer mean anything to me. In fact, I sometimes wish there were no God and no problems. It's just like in Animal Farm, when one of the horses was complaining that the flies that swarmed his tail bothered him too much, and a fellow animal said: 'But you have a long tail to chase them with.' To which the disgruntled horse said: 'I would sooner have no tail and no flies.' In the same way, I know I would sooner have no God and no problems. Let God allow me; let him let me be! Let him stop allowing all these terrible things to happen to me, so that I don't feel the need to pray to him. I don't want to pray to him. I just want to be left alone. Let him stay on his own, and let him let me be. I am tired. I am tired. I just want to be. Phew!

But Kenosky, thanks for caring. I will never forget you, I hope. All my love.

These days I have run out of things to say. And I get the feeling I'm not saying the right things. Perhaps I should just bow out of the thread. But where did I go wrong with life?

David, you are welcome. You will make it. Opoks, thanks for posting, no matter how small. All, goodnight, and have you all a blessed weekend. Bye.

Your Excellency, I want to bring to your attention the fact that by next week Tuesday, the 8th of April, this thread will be one year old. So, what're we going to do? Pop the wine? (Laughs). Anyway, it's up to y'all.

Funny to think it's one full year already since we all started posting on this thread, what with all the surviors, voyeurs and fallen heroes. Anyway, let's see how it goes.

Wandel, it's strange that you can't reach me on my office mail, because it appears to me you have been reaching the likes of Yinka. Anyway, I hope to send you the email you mentioned. Anyway, thanks for caring.

One love, y'all. And do think of the anniversary! Okay? Peace out.

April begins today. For a lot of people, it is the start of the rains, when the sky, having held back all its pain for so long is forced to burst out in tears before the whole world. Yes, it is April indeed.

Some people have watched the film, Sometimes in April, and have witnessed the massacres that haunted Rwanda for years, even after survivors managed to pick the bits of their nearly wasted lives. Yes, it is April indeed.

It is April when the clouds will envy suckling mothers and rush off to give birth too, to nothing but water; the sort of thing that envy does, when one has black eyes at another's progress and chooses to live in the other's shadow. Yes, it is April, indeed.

On this first day of April, I recall the most significant thing to have ever happened to me, the one thing that has affected me the most in life. The one thing that has most shaped my personality and my world view. It happened years ago, on the first day of April. It really was April. Many years ago.

Read the attachment copied from pages 33 to 35 of Ninety Negro Numbers and thus share with me the 22nd anniversary of the most significant day of my life.

And why won't I share it with you all? You are all siblings. Each and every one of you.

A new month begins today.

Oh, you've logged off already. Well, can anyone else show me?

Aniffy, I see you are online. There's something I want you to teach me. It appears I have not learnt how to insert quote bearing the name of the person who made the quoted statement. Can you show me how to?

tommy, thank God for small favours but by jove, u and i know there's no chance on earth that man u is going to throw away a 6 month lead- no b beans, u know? Something tells mi that man u will end chelsea's unbeaten run at stamford! Enuff of football sha. My post was short because i couldnt really understand y kuwena suddenly switched moods again- i just ddnt know what to say and thot a good nyt rest will at least do all of us (especially kuwena) a world of good. Sha, Alfa prime, Niyoo, thanx for encouraging d homeboi but somehow i just knew kuwena will shake it off (he's been there before, u know?).

 

Your Excellency, it then appears I read you correctly. I supposed that your short post was a way of saying: 'Here he comes again with his whining; why can't this guy count his blessings and move on! Anyway, he'll snap out of the mood soon enough; at least I do hope so.' And from what I see above, it appears I read you right. Thanks anyway.

@Kuwena
Aww, Kuwena. I always admire the sincere manner in which You usually bring your personal travails at any point in time to this forum where You can be sure of brotherly acceptance and understanding. I've gone through your last post; these are not the rantings of a confused mind; methinks they're the sincere desperate outcry of a soul that has been long disconnected from its ultimate Source, Creator and Owner: The LORD Jesus Himself. God and family are so pivotal to the whole essence and purpose of man's existence, that to be cut off from them both is to be reduced to a mechanised sort of life with virtually no definable purpose. Recall I've pleaded with You severally on this forum to quickly make your peace with God; you have been fighting and running from Him with for virtually cause at all. Now, it seems You've finally come to that point where truly every achievement appears to be mere thrash in the absence of any greater, noble purpose for living, which is to serve and please Him. See, it's not about your tribe, name, family background, and all that. (There are also many people from various other backgrounds, countries and even races who have had surprisingly similar experiences as you have)
It's about your world view and how u're handling your situation!
In all sincerity, could you pick pen and paper and pen down the numerous wrongs and ills You strongly believe You have suffered from the hands of Jesus Christ? and could You on the adjacent page also write down the blessings You have gotten of His hands? Then compare both and let's see what we have.

I earnestly hope and pray that this weekend, You'll shut yourself in alone with God and do what You  what You really should about this. I'm not trying to be judgemental though (far from it!!!). Only to help You see that without Christ, your numerous talents would not even be harnessed enough to be of material benefit to you and your world.

I'm expecting good news on your next post.If however, You still need help or would prefer a discussion, you could relay on this thread and I'll arrange for a hook-up.

AlfaPrime, I thank you very much, but if there is one decision I intend to stick to permanently, it is the resolve not to have religion anylonger. Whatever the implications. I would have to henceforth use the powers of rational thought to solve all my problems (and I hope they will not be many). And where logical thought cannot help, I'll just have to grow a thick skin and move on. Till I discover my lasting niche and fit perfectly into it. But thanks anyway.

Tomorrow work resumes. I wish all of you a productive week ahead. Thanks and God bless you all.

Niyoo, thank you very much. I think I feel better already. Your arguments are very sound, indeed.

Yesterday I was very depressed. Instead of focussing on the positive things around me, I was focussing on the negative. I let stress, worry, sadness and insecurity get hold of me, and that was why I posted so. It was wrong of me. I should have got a grip of my emotions. But thank you, I really do feel better today.

I honestly don't think you'll ever be happy being any other person but yourself. Each and everybody is unique in his/her own way. As AlfaPrime said. Compare and contrast the blessing you have against the "hard knocks" then if you justifiably believe that you've been hard dealt by, come back and post it. And stop comparing yourself to other people, when you say some people are enjoying, Do you know the burden they bear in their hearts? Do you know what each and everybody is passing through? Some are just real enough to know that you don't go around carrying your burden where the whole world will see it. Maybe they are the "Acuna Matata" kind of people and that's the best kind of person to be. The Bible says something about worrying not about the problems of tomorrow that the worries of today are enough and that the Lord our God provides for the birds of the air, How much more you, His son Kuwena that he created in his own likeness and image Are you saying he doesn't know your needs? (Not your wants o!!!) He knows them all so cast them all onto him.

I guess you are right. You know, there are some truths we know, but when we are sad, we forget them. A priest told us a story about trying to be someone else, or to lighten our burdens. He said that some people were going on a journey and were given crosses to carry. One person who did not want to carry a 'heavy' cross began to cut his cross little by little. He would walk a little, then cut a piece; walk a little more, then cut another piece; then he would do it again. Until they reached a gulf. Others who had not cut their crosses simply laid theirs across the gulf and walked across, but as his cross was too short, he had no 'bridge' with which to cross. And so he gave up on the race. Life is like that, the priest said: sometimes, the hardships we endure are tests for what God is preparing for us in the future. If we can patiently bear with them, they will come in handy in the end. Thanks, Niyoo. Thanks, my dear brother.

You can do something about the suffering in the world and it might even give you a sense of purpose, it starts with one person at a time. Make up your mind to put a smile on someone's face and the joy you'll bring to such a person's life will more than repay you for your efforts and that is a very good purpose. Or what do you think?

In truth, I have been preoccupied with the concept of suffering. You know, because of the impending Zimbabwean elections, CNN has been focussing on them. Come and see what the citizens of that country are going through! A CNN correspondent reported that certain young men managed to save only 100 dollars over a period of two years! The inflation rate there as well is nearly 8,000 percent! Yet Mugabe insists on remaining president. Why is he like that! Na wa o! But why is he like that? Ehn? Why is he like that? Can he not notice that his people are dying? If living in Nigeria is like this, then I wonder what living in Zimbabwe is like. Na wa o! Come and see the CNN clips! There was this particular one in which a mother was making a strangely-looking gruel, and then she gave it to her child to eat, some mucky stuff, it was. Yuck! The supermarkets are empty. Why? Phew! Na wa o! Why are they like that? And Mugabe sits tight on power. Can he not see that the people are suffering?!!!! Can he not see it? Can he not see it!!!! Hewuuu! Can he not see it? Why can he not see it! Chei!

Anyway, Lest I work myself into hypertension, I better leave Zimbabwe's problems for Zimbabwe. Maybe God will show me what I can do to help reduce suffering in the world.

Have a lovely weekend everyone. God bless you all.

These days I don't know myself anymore. There seems to be nothing I believe in. There seems to be nothing I hang on to as the purpose of my life.

I am also preoccupied with the concept of suffering: Why is there so much suffering in the world? Why are there so many people unemployed and hungry, and why do I have to go on thinking of it?

I feel purposeless these days. Time just flees and I drag myself along with it, empty. There is no love in my heart, no faith too. Just emptiness. I am fast becoming an empty, fearful, insecure person.

Many times I wish I were someone else. I dream of myself as someone else, maybe a Yoruba boy, with a father and a mother. I imagine my father working in a Ministry or a company, and my mother maybe a lecturer or a housewife, and I dream of brothers and sisters, and so much love and togetherness.

I wish I were much smaller (pardon me, but I do wish so), could play football (I don't know how to); had at least three girlfriends, like many regular guys; could make friends easily; frolic, joke, party and have everyone feel at ease with me, and like me.

I wish I had a different Ibo name, instead of mine, which means 'each person and his own way of life'. I wish my name were something like: Anuri (happiness), or Kenechukwu (thanksgiving); sometimes I even wonder if I would be happier by being less intelligent, or a little less self-conscious.

Or it may be that I am paranoid. It may be that four years of being entirely on my own without family is telling on me. It may be that I am trapped. 

Why don't I just die? But then, where will I be buried? In Kano? How will my body be discovered? My neighbours and housemates will be alarmed.  O dear.

I have a job that I feel trapped in, in which the only thing I like is the money at the end of the month. I would have liked a job wherein I could use my talents. Sometimes when I dream, I wish I had a job to which I feel like going every morning. Like those days when I used to teach catechism.

Even before three o clock, I would have prepared my lesson notes. The children in the First Holy Communion class I used to teach would be waiting for me, and I would be thinking the whole day of them. And whenever we met, it felt like heaven. My creative mind was always alert.

I wish I had a loving family I could return to after a workday; people to console me when downcast. Alas this is not to be.

And maybe I shouldn't complain. There are so many people who are probably worse off. But this realization does not help. It makes me ponder: Why are they worse off? Why is there so much suffering in the world?

Yet some people are enjoying. Which makes me sometimes wish I were someone else. Which is not possible. And even now, I know I have been forced to choose: between succeeding and having family; between moving ahead in life and feeling belongingness to an unfeeling extended family.

Question is: why do I feel I have to choose? And why me? 

Same ol', same ol'. The Easter break is ending today, and somehow I feel awful.

jisidaisy ? I m suspicious o ! who dey feed u this info? Na only the raft them tell u about ? Did they tell u about the mental games in which we excelled- we use our brains more. The mountain climbing no funny true true , kai menini! my thighs, knees and back still resonate from the stress they had to withstand- in fact no worry, more gist go follow. i speak not only hausa now but swahili and afrikaans, if u follow the tortous route wey we undertake without maps, u go speak portuguese and spanish join, walahi! Anyways, its good to have a female on board which way nlng once again- e don tey, i only hope u'll not b a one hit wonder, one who posts and runs away (kai, where that home boi dey now self?). Jisi, welcome once more, on behalf of great nlngers, saanu de zua!


skeelo, if u no sabi wetin to talk, abeg blow whistle!

Your Excellency, I think she is a British spy. 

hi y'all, kai i feel so left out but surprisingly not much has transpired since i left on my trip- kuwena, it means u ddnt read my last post, i told brothaz (and sistas if we can still find any on this thread) that i would be away till today (from monday). I can't desert this thread na. Tommyex, aniffy, pak, yatiki, freddie (though the two of u managed only 2 posts between u), kuwena and the ever present enigma Alfaprime (something tells mi we av a new dean!), i thank u all for how u v kept the flag flying- e no easy! Enjoi your hols, i'll be in London for the Easter break because studies begin in earnest on tuesday so i need to apply the 'all work and no play makes ken a blockhead' rule. I m back, bigger, better and stronger. I'll keep y'all posted. big ups!

Welcome, Kenosky!

Blessed Holy Saturday to everyone on this thread.

Now, back to our argument on socioeconomics.

Aniffy, dearest brother and friend, you have brought an exciting angle to the argument. Yes, economic indiciers of growth, such as per capita income, gross national and domestic products and so forth do not necessarily indicate even distribution of wealth among the population. An allegory in this regard is a man going to buy 10 hamburgers and bringing them home to his wife and two children. It is a family of four, and there are ten hamburgers. What this means is that per capita hamburger should be 2.5, and gross domestic product should be 10. But what if he gives 8 of the hamburgers to his wife, and eats the other 2 himself? We see in this scenario that the children are left with nothing to eat, despite the figure showing that they have 2.5. Feel me? Yes, so I agree.

The issue of even distribution of wealth has been a long enduring one. The philosopher, Hegel described the ownership of wealth in terms of Historical Materialism, in which feudal lords controlled vast portions of land and its proceeds; Karl Marx in turn espoused Dialectic Materialism to reveal that there was a perennial potential for a conflict of interests between the haves and the havenots in any society. And even the best of economies have not been able to boast of even distribution of wealth. Not even socialists republics. Recall that 'all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others'? Even Jesus said: 'You will always have the poor with you,' in response to Judas' telling the harlot that the perfume she 'wasted' on Jesus' feet should have been sold and the money given to the poor. So the issue of wealth being distributed evenly will endure, I should think.

But you gave another exciting twist to the quandary, Aniffy. The question of ideas. It has always been a historical reality that knowledge has been a tool in the hands of the havenots to positively turn around their situations. According to the Review of Richard Wright's Black Boy, education was seen as the major factor in the success of the Civil Rights movement in the USA, that has elevated the social and economic status of black Americans in the USA today. Everywhere that people become educated, the tendency has been for the economic situation of such people to improve, ceteris paribus. With increased awareness comes a repudiation of mediocrity, and its attendant ills of poverty, superstition and disease (Cf Okunna, 1994). All these are testaments to the necessity of improved education for third world countries.

But this brings us to another issue: the quality of education received. And the avenues for utility of such education. Recent statistics show that up to 60% of Nigerian graduates are unemployable. What this means is that they have learnt so little that the industries available cannot employ them. And some that may have learnt much cannot find industries to employ them, more like the song we used to sing as kids: Some have food but cannot eat; some can eat but have no food. And we few who have food and can eat are getting bored of eating the same food everyday (underemployment). So where does all this leave us? We need more industries, but not all of them built in the urban areas. There should be a simultaneous development of urban and rural areas. 40% urban, and 60% rural: decongestion of mega cities; improvement of rural infrastructure, such as electricity, pipeborne water and so forth, and improved education that is both pragmatic and tailored for constructive development. And we need them now.

As for all these not been achievable quickly, let us recall that it took just under half a century for Japan to turn around her economic situation, and a little more for the 'Asian tigers' to emerge. Let us stop pretending that we are doing well enough. Our current level of growth leaves much to be desired. There is a long way for us to go. Let us start now and stop wasting time.