GROWING DISENCHANTMENT OF YOUTHS FOR TEACHING

My favorite teacher in secondary school was Miss Jillian who taught me Literature-in-English. Before she began taking my class, I performed so poorly in the subject that I thought it was the hardest possible thing to decipher. It was rocket science to me. Then she came, like a rainbow cast over a dingy dark cloud. She unearthed the intricacies of literary texts and by the time she left, I could tear apart any literary piece, be it Poem, Prose, Drama and spoken word, critique it and put it back together again.

It had more to do with her cool, calming demeanor, her vast and deep knowledge of the subject and above all, her ability to breakdown complex material and teach it until it enters the densest of heads. She was a miracle for my class and but for her intervention when she did, a lot of the students in my class, and myself in particular would have been lost as communicators or lawyers today.

When I got to the University, I had an equally amazing lecturer. Mr. Jimoh. He knew his stuff and whenever he stepped into the class we paid rapt attention. He would move fluidly from one topic to another with clear precision. He taught us so well that we even went out of our way to personally research topics in the outline so when it was time to take it in class we were more informed and could contribute to the discourse.

I think his proficiency must have been noticed and groomed by the faculty board because he was always chosen to take the difficult courses. In fact, He even made me put to sleep my fear of statistics. By the end of every semester, it wasn’t hard to see that his courses had the highest percentage of excellence among the students. He worked us hard and with persistence and with something akin to the gentle hand of a father. He was literally one in a million of all teachers I had come across.

However, the same cannot be said for many teachers. During my days in school, there were some teachers and lecturers who used terror as a teaching tool. They threatened us into attending class, wielded a dangling axe above our heads to enforcing excellence and appear with a bitter attitude every day to class. Making students despise the course even as much as they despised the teacher. And that always tells on the performance of the student when they rank low. With such brutes as these, little wonder the increased apathy of youths for the teaching profession.

Or those teachers who always have so many stories to tell about their lives. Instead of getting a shrink on whom they should unload their burdens, they use the entire class hour to keep the students abreast of what is going on in their personal lives, totally neglecting the job they were assigned to do.

Of course it is preposterous to ask a teacher to cuddle a student into learning something, that’s the role of parents not theirs. However, you must first know your subject well and then hone skills that make it possible to transfer this knowledge to your underlings.

And what about their remuneration? But a pittance. It is so bad that even those who start off with glowing aspirations of doing their best at impacting knowledge to others become disillusioned and begin to lag at their jobs until all motivation is gone and there is nothing left but a bitter impassionate teacher who just wants to drone on and on in class, leave and await the monthly pay slip. And when it is delayed they are only just so eager to carry out those long industrial actions that lead to strikes that drag into many months.

I know one hard working teacher who has taught for 33 years and yet collects a monthly salary less than what many young people with 5 years’ experience at other ministries receive. She is set to retire in 2 years and yet doesn’t foresee a fat gratuity.

Not surprise there that many young people do not envision themselves becoming teachers but are more enthralled by the glamor of other professions. In fact, the few who do, only do so because they lack something else to do. So they fall back to the teaching career as a plan B, sometimes C or even D. And at that, they aren’t motivated to put in their best. Half the time they skip work so they can engage in other jobs or businesses that allow them glean a bit of money to complement what little they receive as salary.

Teachers are essential to us. Most of us will be nothing without our teachers who invested their time to tutor us.

Dedicated to Jimoh Ibrahim and Jillian Jackden… Most amazing teachers I know.

CC: those teachers who were nothing but angels

Today Would Have Been The Big Day...The Moment ‪#‎NigeriaDecides‬

NIGERIA’S POLITICAL LANDSCAPE  VIS A VIS THE 2015 GENERAL ELECTION POLLS

As Nigerians prepare for the 2015 general elections, the political landscape is rife with uncertainty, jingoism, scandalous accusations, blatant lies and unachievable promises among others. While stalwarts of the two top political parties’ war against each other, the Nigerian populace watches, dismayed at the obvious lack of decorum and decency expressed by politicians.

Many factors will determine a successful conduct and acceptable results of the general elections. This includes, objectivity and neutrality in the presentation of national matters as well as the perceived positive influence that each party hopes to bring to the benefit of Nigerians. Not forgetting the matter of tackling insecurity to allow for a successful electoral round.

To say there is a total lack of objectivity and neutrality is saying the least. It is no longer a hidden matter that both the PDP and the APC are aiming for each other’s jugular as they strive to convince Nigerians that they are better off giving their votes to them. Their warring has exposed to media watchers the disregard politicians have for the art of true democracy. And the media reporters, columnist and pundits aren’t much different from the politicians. Though it is expected that the media are to remain objective between two warring parties, it is obvious that the Nigerian media have taken partisan sides to the ongoing verbal contest between the PDP and the APC.

Though that should be expected as most Nigerian media proprietors have shown and expressed their political views in the past, it is not hard to imagine that their faithful employees seek to report stories that will gain them favour in the eyes of their principals. Not forgetting the huge geographical dichotomy of their readership and the flowing of adverts from those most favored. It is therefore not hard to see that papers such as DailyTrust, Vanguard and Leadership show sympathy to the course of the Arewa people in general and to the All Progressive Congress (APC) political party in particular. Whereas papers like Thisday and Businessday though attempt vigorously to display objectivity, still come off as supporters of the ruling PDP, probably unbeknownst to them.

The adverts that run in the media are appalling representations of the levels that politicking causes people to stoop to. Bringing to fore the belief that indeed “politics is a dirty game”. The name calling, backstabbing, allegiance switching, embittered antics pulled by those who have lost in the primaries, those just generally disenchanted with the government of President Goodluck Jonathan and the stoic supporters of the PDP who reject the APC and all it stands for. This makes it hard for any media watcher to determine what party expresses more bitterness against the other.

While I am wont to say the PDP have said and portrayed some rather derogatory and pejorative views against the opposition party and against its presidential candidate- General Muhammadu Buhari; the APC can’t be fully absolved of blame either.

Where the PDP keep hammering on the educational qualification or lack of as the case may be of the APC Presidential candidate, as well as dragging his dictatorial and familial history into murky waters, the APC have taken to destroying the administrative achievements of the PDP through President GEJ.

The positions of the Elder statesmen, Council of State and other respected Opinion Leaders have further caused more disruption than good in this election period.  With people like IBB constantly contradicting himself in whom he pledges allegiance to. Or Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, a supposed leader in the ruling PDP and expected godfather of President Jonathan, is seen to now be pitching his tent with the opposition. While also brandishing the GEJ led government with unflattering comments in the media.

While I am in no doubt that these politicians raise some pertinent issues in their campaigns, about the economy, social, cultural and political developments, it is clear to me that neither party shows a full and clear determination to attend to the issues that concerns the common man.

The PDP enjoy showcasing the vast infrastructural developments it has recorded in the length and breadth of the nation, such as the road, rail and airports creation, schools and hospitals established as well as its attempt at job creations and the power sector. The APC, on the other hand is apt and with good reason at denigrating such efforts, while expounding on the corruption and looting and incompetency that trail the GEJ led political party. 

While the APC is eager to point to Nigerians the shortcomings of the present government, they haven’t clearly expressed their plans towards steering the country in the right direction. That change is good and should be embraced; one must stop to ask what sort of wind of change they are bringing with them, after all it is said that ‘not every change is good’. Especially with the alluded "Extremism" that seems to dog the APC presidential candidate and try as he may, it seems he can't shake the suspicions loose.

While these are viable points to be raised at such a  time when Nigerians are more informed and have better understanding of how much their votes are worth, another important point begs to be mentioned; the violence that this election and its outcome portends for the country. With the ever increasing activities of the Boko Haram in the North East, especially their concerted efforts to take Maiduguri, the state capital of Borno and the only town in Borno that seems to be enjoying military presence. This therefore means that the military stationed in such volatile areas cannot be redeployed to polling stations else the insurgents may find an entrance into the town and capture it.

Not forgetting the finger pointing of the APC against the PDP, accusing them- all be it indirectly- of orchestrating the insurgency or at least displaying a lackluster effort at overcoming the menace. Then there are the inciting statements politicians and their overzealous supporters have made concerning their acceptance or lack of for the results of the elections. With Niger Delta ex-militants promising to raise hell if GEJ is voted out, and Northerners promising to defend themselves if such a war was to be launched.

Besides the issue of insecurity, there is the matter of the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) and its availability to all registered voters in the country. Though with the elections shifted 6 weeks farther hither, there still abounds many an outcry as to the true capability of the INEC staff to deliver true to their responsibilities. Their responsibility being to distribute PVCs accordingly and without bias to all registered voters, to provide for the timely delivery of all sensitive and non-sensitive election materials and to provide professionalism in the discharge of their duties throughout the election period and beyond.

Though INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega and his staff assure Nigerians of their readiness, many are doubtful of such promise and think Jega just might be in over his head with this gargantuan idea of the PVC system of balloting.

With the international community and media watching keenly at this year’s polls, it has proved to be the tightest and most highly competitive election this nation has experienced in a long time. And while we too look on, we hope that whoever ascends to the Presidential villa, come May 29^th 2015, comes ready to fold up his sleeves, dig into the grime cut out for him and work hard to deliver on the mandate of the Nigerian people.

A GIRL NEEDS HER FATHER

As our car rolled into the gate of the cemetery, there was a light breeze even though the sun hung bright overhead. The air was cool, dry and somewhat stiff and it seemed as though even the elements knew how heavy our hearts were. We sat under a white canopy and ahead of us were cenotaphs of men of the military gone to the great beyond. Right in front was a tiled, open dug-out grave, with an embellished headstone lying by the side. A mammoth crowd had gathered, in blue attires, with eyes glazed with tears, to pay our last respect to a great man, husband, father, son, brother, uncle, boss, friend, and colleague.

In Military fashion, every aspect of this funeral ceremony was organized to the T. Sitting arrangements, organization of the band, invited guests, family and friends were done following military precision. The casket sat atop a table, in a bright white color, with the Nigeria flag draped over it. Adorning the casket were his boots, cap and sword. With these, those who were ever in doubt of his death had quickly began to accept fate. Many a teary eyed people gazed at the coffin, then at the family and to the dugout hole.

I sat, gazing intently at my aunt and her daughters, dressed in all white ensembles gazing at the hole and coffin that held the remains of their husband and father. Mentally, I willed my gaze that was focused on them to somehow transfer strength to them while I whispered breath-prayers asking God that they not breakdown in a well of tears and grief.

My aunt sat hunched with grief into the huge leather seat. She looks so tiny. It broke my heart to see this strong woman become so shrunken with pain. But somehow she managed to keep her eyes dry though red. With her daughters nestled beside her, they seem to draw strength from her. A true soldier’s wife, she portrayed strength even amidst this painful moment.

While I looked on still at this obviously close, tight-knit family, I couldn’t help my mind going to the eldest daughter and the youngest. As I look at them my heart breaks. For the eldest, a teenager, still trying to figure out what life held for her as a pre-adult, this was a time she most needed her father. A firm hand to nudge her and loving arm to hug her to let her know she will always be daddy’s little girl. For the youngest, not much older than I was when I lost my father, this must be a really confusing time for her. She knows she has lost her father but she probably hasn’t understood the magnitude of such a loss. 

My mind wandered to the last time I saw my uncle. They were in Abuja for an event and they came with the little baby. I remembered her nestled in her daddy’s lap. They were really close as he was with all his kids. You would think being an Officer made him unapproachable, but not when you saw him around his family; it wasn’t hard to see the unadulterated love that poured through from him. Little Mama as she is fondly called, begged to sleep over at my family house. She stayed in my room, earning her the nickname “roommate”. A sweet, open, loving and happy child, an extension of her father.

Through the gun salutes, reading of the biography, folding of the flag and presentation of insignias to the family, they stood close, dry eyed. But while the pall bearers began slowly descending the casket into the grave they broke out in tears. It was as though they had before then all traveled to an alternate planet but had just now returned to earth. 

As the ceremony ended, I watched them walk to the freshly covered grave; lay wreathes on the concrete slab and walk towards the car that will convey them back home. The eldest daughter holding the Army boots belonging to their late father while the youngest had donned on his ceremonial cap.

Throughout the ceremony as I have done since news of his loss reached me, I prayed ceaselessly for God’s peace on his beautiful family and succor and comfort to rule their hearts. And I added one which I hadn’t before “Dear Lord, be a father to these children. Prod them, direct them, provide for them, Love them, strengthen them and keep the preying wolves away, Amen”. 

As we exit the gates of the cemetery, I let my eyes wander around to the hundreds of graves of other deceased officers. Many died on the same dates as their tombstones read and it forced me to come to terms with my own mortality. As I shared my grief with my family who had just lost their pillar, I thought of the many other families who had at one time or the other gathered on that same ground to commit their father, mother, husband, wife, son, or daughter, to mother earth.

Though we mourn his passing with a heavy heart, we find solace in the fact that he loved and truly served the Lord and he eschewed violence everywhere he went.

Rest on Brig. Gen. KH Yakubu

In this month of love, let's extend our warm heart to all those who wouldn't have a smile to share this season. May God's love envelope them and grant them peace... Amen.

HOW EXPENSIVE SHOULD THE ENGAGEMENT RING BE?

Last year ended with a bevy of proposals and engagements. Close friends, people on social media, everywhere, there was a beehive of celebrations as couple’s “took an arrow to the knee”. Pictures of such happy moments were shared far and near. Gleaming rings ranging from some with some serious diamond rock nestled on a gorgeous base and some not so glamorous ones. With all photos however, the beaming brides-to-be stood beside dashing men who “had put a ring on it”, unperturbed and smiling happily. 

This sparked a conversation between my friends and I. My question was “how expensive must the engagement ring be to make a lady happy?” Mama thought the ring has to show that her man put some thought, effort and investment into picking it out and that was non-negotiable. Milah on the other hand was more interested in an elaborate proposal. Something out of the ordinary, that will blow her mind away. As for the ring, it just should be something decent. 

However, Mimes, the ever straight shooter and cynic was of the opinion that she didn’t much care about the extravagant proposal, what mattered to her most was the quality of the ring. “What’s the essence of a lavish over-the-top proposal when the value of the ring he gives doesn’t measure to the cost of the choice shoe in my wardrobe?”

Though all made viable points, this brings to mind something I came across a few years ago. It said “the unwritten law is for the engagement ring to cost at least the value of the man’s 3 month salary”. I posted that statement on my twitter page, and I remember having a massive outcry from guys. They thought it was too exorbitant for any man to invest that much in an engagement ring.

One guy took it so personal that he hypothetically asked that if we were dating and he got me a ring worth 600k (which was the equivalent of his 3 months’ pay), would I take it? I told him I didn’t see a reason why not. In his opinion, he figures that though an engagement ring should be worth something reasonable, it need not be so high. Another guy categorically stated that as he is, he doesn’t see why he would buy his woman an unnecessarily expensive engagement ring. He added that if he gave his woman a ring worth 10,000 naira, she should count herself lucky.

Let me share something with you about the economic and emotional benefit of engagement rings. It isn’t just a mere accessory. It is, just like all precious stones, an investment. That is why there is an advice that you invest in a good ring, because you can re-sell when the need arises. And for those who worry about it getting stolen or lost, well, sir, you can insure your woman’s ring just as with all other valuables. Another thing that most people don’t put into consideration is the emotional and personal reason that guides the purchase of an engagement ring.

An engagement ring isn’t a mere accessory that says “I liked it and I put a ring on it” or to conceitedly say “oh yes, I have hooked this guy”. It is more than that. It is should be a well thought-out present specially picked out and given by a man to the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with. It is a personal gift to the woman of your dreams, to show much you value her. It is hers to keep, to look at every day and feel cherished and loved. How do you think your woman will feel when you go down on one knee to propose with a 5,500 naira ring? It’s not even as expensive as the palm slippers you wear on Saturday. Or God forbid that it be as expensive as your Rolex watch that you bought on your last holiday and can’t help flashing it in every photo?!

 

This brings me to the conclusion, that though not everyman can afford to get a 2 carat diamond and above as an engagement ring, pick something out that is within your financial power that shows you invested time and resources into it. Hence the analogy that asks for about your 3 months’ salary. 

This however is not cast in stone; it is only a suggestion. So while there is no need breaking the bank just to get your woman an expensive ring, you should invest a considerable amount that shows you care to give her something that costs you something. And as for the ladies, do appreciate whatever ring your man can afford to buy for you. After all, that he has taken such a leap at a hopeful future with you should be what matters the most shouldn’t it?

Peace…

BOOK REVIEWS: 1.) ECHOES OF THE PLATEAU. 2.) KING OF THE JUNGLE

Title: Echoes of the Plateau

Author: Bizuum G. Yadok

Book category: Poetry (a collection of poems)

Book reviewer: Peace Longdet (Mrs)

‘Echoes of the Plateau’ captures the reality of living where life is mixture of happy and sad moments. The author makes this mixture clear in the lines of the poems. Experiences shared are familiar to man, they include; love, sorrow, death, disillusionment, religious convictions, hope, eulogy, peace, natural disasters etc. These poems try to convince the reader mainly on the poet’s belief validity by dramatizing through words the frailty of human nature and to conscientize the audience that life consists of options.

The book, Echoes of the Plateau, has multifaceted themes. There are themes on the pain of losing someone to the cold hands of death, nemesis, revolution, praise, hope in the midst of despair and chaos, effects of war based on human greed, nostalgic feelings of Africa in her pristine days before being ravaged by colonial marauders etc. The message of the theme of hope in the midst of despair and chaos is graphically illustrated in lines 27-30 of the eponymous poem – Echoes of the Plateau

What about the multitude of tongues?

            They all sing the same song

            Listen!

            Can you hear the harmonious tune of unity?

The poet clearly depicts that despite the mixture of pain and sorrow, years of wars – yet the song of unity can be heard.

Someone once noted that poetry gives us tools for living. A poem like “Thank You Mr. Death” does exactly that, nudging us out of complacency and into awareness that will better serve us. The poet acknowledges that life is ephemeral. All mortals must one day cease to be on this side of the universe because the leveler of all class – death – has helped in “building the bridge that connects with eternity.” This therefore denotes that the poet believes in life after death giving the poem a religious connotation.

‘Daughters of the Night’ begins with a lament on the havoc raked by these “daughters of the night.” The images that describe the daughters are familiar, “killers of man’s destiny”, “Vampires”, “Snatchers of faithful men”, “Queens of the doomed”, these images describe the oppression and destructive tendencies of this set of female species. A similar metaphor is found in Wole Soyinka’s Kongi’s Harvest. The implication is that when these tendencies are allowed to continue unabated, their victims, ‘faithful men and virtuous women’, become more vulnerable.

In ‘The Fool’ the poet effusively states his belief in a supernatural force – God. He admonishes his audience that in order not to be “the unreasonable fool,” one must yield his/herself to be “God’s tool.” For by this act is true greatness.

There are stories in the poems, too. Narratives of the pain caused by human and natural disaster fill the collection. Titles sing their own brief tales such as ‘Floods’, ‘I see, I hear’, ‘Victims’ blood’s cry’, ‘Uprising’ and ‘Parliament’. These poems remind us that cherishing and nurturing what we have instills in us a passion for continuity.

The poet is quite aware of his poetic license, and thus, verses are eclectically both formally and informally. The verses are lyrical and rich in imagery, rhyme, and figures of speech which embellish the entire selection. The collection also has experimentation with language choice. Although bulk of the poems are written in accessible English, the poet made a deliberate choice to write two poems in Pidgin and Hausa languages respectively. This is indeed unique to the poet.

Generally, the poems in this collection give a satisfactory reading experience. It leaves the reader with its “taste” long after the reader has completely digested the text. This is because experiences are given to the reader straight in simple and demystified language. Also, the poet’s experiences are real; they are continuously encountered again, personally or vicariously, in daily life. The subtle admonitions, questions and issues put forward in the text are worthy of serious attention.

Bizuum Godwill Yadok is a Nigerian poet born and bred in Plateau State. He currently teaches at Federal College of Education Pankshin, Plateau State. ‘Echoes of the Plateau’ is his first collection and we hope his work gets the recognition it deserves. I can’t wait for his next collection.

Yadok is a budding poet whose emergence into the vibrant literary community adds freshness to the collections. The work is a work of power, individuality and originality. The poet is not afraid to sing of his philosophical belief deeply rooted in social commitment.

             

(copies of the book can be obtained at Quality Educational Books, Opposite Modern Bookshop, Rwang Pam Street, Jos. You can also reach the author via kotjyadok@gmail.com to place your order)

Title: King of the Jungle
Author: Bizuum Yadok
Genre: Fiction
 Reviewer : Posted Doug Kazé

Bizuum Yadok’s debut novel, King of the Jungle, is the latest addition to the growing library of literature set in the Plateau area of Nigeria. Written in the crime fiction style featuring drug-dealing, gangs, guns, coded gang language, fast action and detectives, King of the Jungle is a bold statement about modern Africa’s grappling with her burden of being and becoming and the modern idea of nationhood. The crime plot serves as a medium for serious social commentary about the struggle with poverty, family disintegration, unstable educational standards, hypocritical and corrupt leadership, ethnocentrism, religious hypocrisy and ethno-religious violence.

Yadok’s central character, Giwa Bako, a talented and brilliant young man with an expected successful future despite the disadvantage of fatherlessness and a poor mother, wins most of the academic prizes at the end of his secondary school days and moves on to gain admission into the university. But this journey turns around into the unexpected as Giwa encounters KC at a bar. From the day he is initiated into the campus cult, SBC, Giwa’s ambition changes from succeeding academically to becoming a quick millionaire through drug-dealing. Mentored by KC, he abandons his studies and travels with him to sell drugs to consumers in different parts of the country. After KC’s death, Giwa begins a fight from where he and KC have stopped. He avenges KC’s death and becomes his own boss employing his two erstwhile friends to help him hit his biggest drug deal. That turns out to be the end of his game as he is caught by drug law enforcement agents and then killed by thugs.

In Giwa we encounter both a product and victim of a society wrecked by lust, greed and abrasive survival-of-the-fittest struggle. The story however does not excuse Giwa from responsibility with Solomon Bakka going on to succeed despite worse conditions than his. Giwa is also an interesting embodiment of contradictions: a criminal with a passion to make money, yet consumed with compassion for those that society has trampled upon such as Amina and Jemima; a brilliant mind without an identifiable career goal for the future. The character of Giwa also operates on the symbolic status of an aborted life, exemplified in his failure to win the women of his dreams and to complete his degree programme.

Yadok carefully weaves his story around the motif of ‘this world is a small place’, in which people Giwa has left behind in his earlier life, in the days of ‘innocence’, reappear in his later life as either victims of corruption or as redeemers. Amina embodies both. A brilliant girl and a model and friend to Giwa, she becomes a victim of forced early marriage, cut short from becoming a fulfilled woman; she also liberated herself fully by getting rid of General Hamza at the epilogue in an attempt to avenge her school son’s death. Jemima resurfaces in Giwa’s life as a woman forced by circumstances to become a drug addict and a stripper trying to find her way to survive in a cold world. Hannah, Giwa’s university love, resurfaces at the end of the story providing Giwa with ultimate spiritual redemption. But the most important of this patterns is the major sub-plot of the novel, Solomon’s story. This secondary plot serves the story in a few important ways. First, it shows to the reader what Giwa could have become if he had made right choices, and then it provides the suspense that keeps the reader to the end.

King of the Jungle also takes into account the place of religion in African life. While most Nigerian writers would only project the abuse of religion in the Nigerian society, Yadok does that and also shows the positive power of religion in society. Giwa is, for instance, partly driven into his waywardness by the self-righteous attitudes of certain religious people on campus, but he also has an experience of spiritual redemption at the end of the story when the gospel is presented to him with love. Religion is clearly shown as capable of transforming people’s lives as in the life of Dr. Idoko, the drug genius, and that of Hannah. A book of this nature would definitely not forget the significance of the violent religious crises that took place in Jos in 2001. Through that we see the complicated relationship between humanity and religion.

Yadok’s strength lies in his ability not only to sustain a weave of plots on different temporal lines and engage with various thematic issues, but also in the evidence of research in the development of convincing gangster practices, the nature of various drug types and the operations of the drug law enforcement agency. Descriptions and conversations are occasionally handled with humour and local colour and typical local parlance, which reflect the realities of life in central Nigeria. King of the Jungle certainly presents to us the voice of an author who will occupy an important place in the future of Nigerian literature.