Author

The Intellects Mag

SHOULD PARENTS ALLOW FOOD FREEDOM

INTRODUCTION

In our healthy living column, we have talked about eating right and in this post, Chinonso Ezeifeka has shared how parents can deal children’s food preferences that often result in rejection of foods and the efforts that was put into making the food. Read what Chinonso who used to reject food as a child has to say as an adult below.

WE CHOOSE WHEN WE HAVE OPTIONS

A few weeks ago, I stumbled on a social media post, and a mother asked, “what can she do to a five-year-old who rejected his food simply because the food did not contain ‘ugba’ (Africa oil bean)?”

The post reminded me of my own food preferences and what ordeal I gave my mum with them. How I preferred certain food over others and rejected some in totality.

On my lucky days, my Mom would find me an alternative, while I go hungry on certain occasions.

But, while she succumbed to my wants on several occasions, she would say to me, “Nonso, you are doing this because you have an alternative, If you don’t have much to eat, you would settle for what you have.”

As a child, those words made little or no sense to me. All I wanted was my favourite meal. But, time began to explain those words to me, and as I grew older, I began to understand.

One day, I was at the timber shed in Zaria, and I saw children rustle for a handful of rice. I remembered my younger self, I remembered my mother’s words.

We choose when we have a choice.

How about children who have what to eat in abundance, should all their food wants be met? Is it proper to dispose of rice because the chef can quickly make noodles or reject a meal because caprison was not served with it?

Parents have great roles to play concerning a child’s choice of food.

Picking one food over another could be influenced by various factors, it could be taste, palatability, easiness to eat, allergy, and quantity. Etc.

But, it doesn’t take away the fact that some children can eat practically anything edible, even when they have choices. While some are picky, even in scarcity.

food freedom

HOW CAN YOU OVERCOME THIS AS A PARENT?

Forcing a child to eat what he/she dislikes is a call for pain and tantrums.

First, find out if there is any case of allergy. Allergy could play a role. But when allergy has been ruled out, do this.

1) Find out why such a child hates the said food. Let them see reasons not to eat such food should not be hated, stating its nutritional value and benefit. I was told coconut water can make a child dumb, and all through my childhood, I stayed away from coconut water. It was a lie, they simply don’t want to share. Who knows, I might be a beans lover if I was told it would make me grow taller and more handsome.

2) Study their eating pattern: growing up, I can spend all day eating a plate of beans, but in a matter of seconds my plate of rice is empty. Some children tend to pick out vegetables from their meals. When you notice, start taking the necessary steps.

3) You might want to spice things up. Prepare the favourite and the non-favourite, and serve the non-favourite first, promising to serve the favourite when they are done.

4) Use the rod when it is necessary. (Not literally a rod, just discipline the child when you should).

5) Don’t always succumb to their preference. Be like my mother.

6) Tell them stories of children who are starving around the world. Be emotional about it. They will come around.

7) Teach them gratitude: Most parents default in this area. Interpret the food prayer to them. “Some have food, but they can’t eat, some can eat but have no food, we have food and we can eat. Glory to whatever you serve.”

CONCLUSION

A child’s food preference can be a big deal when handled inappropriately or with a soft paw. Go about it with wisdom. Even when you have it in abundance, don’t dance to their tune.

We would love to read your opinion in the comment section. Feel free to reach out to us through the Email or WhatsApp Icon on the home page of this digital magazine. Let’s show you how to Impact your world!

October 6, 2022 1 comment

WAHALA FOR PERSON WEY COLLECT CORO VACCINE O” by Kennedy Asuru " data-src="https://theintellectsmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/57894C3F-6598-40C9-917B-15EB34CE4A1F.png">

Healthy Living

WAHALA FOR PERSON WEY COLLECT CORO VACCINE O” by Kennedy Asuru

written by The Intellects Mag

Why We Shouldn’t Make Use of the Covid-19 Vaccines

Kennedy Asuru (kennerdy28@gmail.com) is a Seminarian of the Catholic Diocese of Port Harcourt, currently studying Sacred Theology at St. Joseph Major Seminary, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State

“Iwofe one chance for front,” the conductor yelled, as the bus slowed to a stop in front of me. “Na 500 I hold o,” I said, waving a crumpled naira note in the air for the bus conductor to see. “You no get wahala…we move!” He replied. Turning to the other passenger seated in front, he said, “Oga shake body makesenior boy siddon.” Then looking around the bus, seeing that it was completely full, he slid the door close. “Back seat, your money.

As the bus sped along Iwofe road in the glistening afternoon sun, a woman who had been thumping at her phone, scrolling through Facebook where she was reading a long post, exclaimed: “Jesus is Lord!” Gesturing to her phone screen, she said to the man seated beside her, “Did you know that the COVID-19 vaccine is gotten from aborted babies?”

The man stared at her, confusion apparent in his gaze. Reading a line from the Facebook post, she continued: “The American Government now encourages young girls to have unprotected sex and get pregnant. Dem dey sponsor their abortion and give them some extra cash for compensation. The remains of the aborted babies are used to produce vaccines for COVID-19.”Raising her head from her phone, she added, “In truth, we are approaching the endtime!”

A man remarked from behind, “Madam leave o… this world don spoil. I hear sey some people wey been collect that vaccine don die sef.” A lady with a tiny voice added, “I even read somewhere that the vaccine makes women infertile and men sterile. They want to curb population in the world. These oyibo people are just wicked!”

I felt an immense urge to jump into the conversation. I opened my mouth to say something, but on a second thought, I decided to remain silent. The driver, sensing my hesitation, shot me a brief look, quickly sizing me up. Then adjusting his rear-view mirror, he slowly increased the volume of his radio. Timaya’s“Something Must Kill a Man” was playing. Touché, I smiled softly. I felt a rough hand graze my shoulder. “Senior boy, your money.” It was the conductor.

As I fondled with the notes in my breast pocket, he said under his breath, “Wahala for person wey collect coro vaccine o.”

CORO vaccine

But Na True Sey Oyibo People Make Coro Vaccine from Aborted Babies

Understandably, the COVID-19 vaccine has not been without its own fair share of controversy. One of the most important of these controversies is the fact that some of these vaccines are manufactured from cells which were originally isolated from fetal tissue (often referred to as fetal cells). Fetal Cell lines are cells that grow in a laboratory. They descend from cells taken from elective abortions in the 1970s and 80s. Those individual cells have since then multiplied into many new cells over the past four or five decades, creating the so-called “fetal cell lines.” Current fetal cell lines are thousands of generations removed from the original fetal tissue, and so do not, in their present condition, contain any tissue from an aborted fetus.

Fetal cell lines being used to produce some of the COVID-19 vaccines are from two basic sources:

– HEK-293: A kidney cell line that was isolated from a fetus in 1973 (its origin is undisclosed. It could be from either a spontaneous miscarriage or an elective abortion).

– PER.C6: A retinal cell line that was isolated from an aborted fetus in 1985

Vaccine makers may use these fetal cells lines in any of the following stages of vaccine development:

– Development (identifying what works)

– Confirmation (making sure it works)

– Production (manufacturing the formula that works)

These breed fresh challenges to the morality of the manufacture, endorsement and use of the COVID-19 vaccines by Catholic healthcare institutions (as well as its usage by individuals in general). This is due to the fact that the Church is understandably opposed to the use of aborted fetuses for research or even therapeutic purposes. Some dismiss this concern, arguing rather that abortions from which fetal cells were obtained were elective and were not done for the purpose of vaccine development. It is based on these that lines of arguments persist regarding the moral quality of making use of these vaccines.

E Come Mean Sey as I be Catholic Make I no collect Coro Vaccine

According to a document issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, “When ethically irreproachable Covid-19 vaccines are not available, it is morally acceptable to receive Covid-19 vaccines that have used cell lines from aborted fetuses in their research and production process” (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, “Note on the Morality of Using Some COVID-19 Vaccines”, no. 2). Explaining this line of reasoning in details, the document argues further that, the moral duty to avoid using a vaccine produced in such a way is not obligatory if there is a grave danger, such as the otherwise uncontainable spread of the COVID-19 (no. 3).

In another document titled “Moral Considerations Regarding the New Covid-19 Vaccines”, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (henceforth USCCB) explain that “Receiving a COVID-19 vaccine ought to be understood as an act of charity toward the other members of our community.” They insist that, “given the urgency of this crisis, the lack of available alternative vaccines, and the fact that the connection between an abortionthat occurred decades ago and receiving a vaccine produced today is remote, inoculation with the new COVID-19 vaccines in these circumstances can be morally justified.”

Wetin Church Want Make We Do Sef?

The Church teaches that individuals may receive these vaccines when there are no morally derived alternatives. In the same document stated above, the USCCB maintains that “if one can choose among equally safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, the vaccine with the least connection to abortion-derived cell lines should be chosen.” They continue: “Those who, however, for reasons of conscience, refuse vaccine produced with cell lines from aborted fetuses, must do their utmost to avoid, by other prophylactic means and appropriate behavior, becoming vehicles for the transmission of the infectious agent. In particular, they must avoid any risk to the health of those who cannot be vaccinated for medical or other reasons, and who are the most vulnerable.”

So Wetin You Dey Try Talk?

In all these, one can see that the Church does not go back on its condemnation of the use of aborted fetuses for medical research. It also however does not necessarily see the use of the COVID-19 vaccines as intrinsically evil or as a means of cooperating in the evil of using or patronizing the use of aborted fetuses for medical research. This, as stated by the USCCB is due to:

– The urgency of this (COVID-19) crisis,

– The lack of available alternative vaccines, and

– The fact that the connection between an abortion that occurred decades ago and receiving a vaccine produced today is remote.

The USCCB finds that a better way to look at it is to consider the receiving of a COVID-19 vaccine as an act of charity toward the other members of our community. It should be considered an act of love of our neighbor and part of our moral responsibility for the common good. However, Governments and concerned Corporations are charged with pursuing and funding research on the possible development and use of vaccines that are not derived in such an ethically questionable manner.

If you no get time to read this long thing wey I write, I fit still summarize the gist give you for here o:

• Most of the COVID-19 vaccines are derived from fetal cell lines, gotten from aborted fetuses some decades ago.

• Acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccines developed, researched, or tested utilizing fetal cell lines is morally permissible when no alternative COVID-19 vaccine is available or accessible.

• The proportional moral reasons for acceptance of the vaccine are the promotion of community health and prevention of serious risk of harm, which are grounded in the fundamental moral and social principle of the common good.

• It is permissible to refuse the COVID-19 vaccine, but those who refuse them should perform additional actions that promote community health and prevention of serious harm.

• While accepting the vaccine is a morally responsible action, recipients nonetheless have an obligation to protest the use of fetal cell lines in vaccine development and pursue the development of vaccines from morally acceptable sources.

April 10, 2021 18 comments

Featured with the intellects 2020

Hell hath no fury

written by The Intellects Mag

(written by Violet Ejiata, Face of Girlpreneur)

Debates on gender roles and some gender stereotypes sidetrack the core conversation of the yolk of Feminism, which is on equal rights and privileges for both genders; to the best of my knowledge, that is the alpha and omega of Feminism.

My immediate elder sister had just moved to a boarding school, joining my eldest sister who moved the previous year. I was in primary 2 at the time. Roughly two years after, my older brother decided it was time I pulled my weight around the house. Because my sisters were mostly absent from home (they returned for holidays 3 times a year), I grew to become the caretaker of the home. At the age of 8, I was introduced to sweeping and cleaning. It was a gradual process- I started off with just the sitting room and corridor while one of my older brothers handled the courtyard because we both attended the same school and we had to be done in time to catch the 8am assembly.

Eventually, by the age of 9/10, everything was handed down to me; I swept the bedroom, living room, corridor and courtyard for Saturday sanitation. I swept so much that I’m ambidextrous with the broom.

From arguments that counter assignment of gender roles in the home, what I garner is that women raised by this yardstick that measures strength and ability for determination of functionality in the home front grow up to feel inadequate and less than their male counterparts because the primary upbringing conditions them to be so. This, of course, is very detrimental to the female and the root cause should be tackled. However, I’m yet to read or hear of an individual who has been personally affected by gender roles in the society.

So far, I’ve read of more speculative than subjective submissions. So, here is my own real experience.

I was raised in a home where the disparity on chores was drawn with a clear, fat line, like the broad walkway that was created when Moses parted the Red Sea with his staff for the Israelites to cross in the Bible- that’s how wide the line was. My sisters and I were designated to “feminine chores” which included keeping the home clean, cooking and doing the dishes. Lobatan!

My brothers, on the other hand, did all the “masculine chores” in the house which would be everything other than the three aforementioned activities e.g. washing the rug, emptying the bin, fixing faulty electrical appliances, fixing other faulty props like leaking pipes and broken stools (my father is multi-skilled so strangers rarely came to fix anything for us, and of course, his sons were obliged to join him through the process until they learned to do it without his help), operating the generator, etc. They were useful in the kitchen though- for pounding yam and Akpu (native meal made from cassava).

Gendered chores in my home are well earmarked that neither my sisters nor I were sent to buy diesel or engine oil or anything generator-related, and we couldn’t operate it either, not even one time when they bought a gen that uses a key start. The most we did was go to the generator shed, welcome it and “Daddy it’s nice o”. Lobatan! I can’t fix a lightbulb in its socket. (Sighs)

My father’s bias at the house keeping front begins and ends with gendered chores. At the academic front, everyone was drilled equally with same expectation of outstanding results! He accorded everyone equal treatment and anyone lagging in one or more subject(s) attracted extra lesson fee to his bills. You basically had no excuse to fail! My father was so unbiased that no hand could be placed on who his favourite child was.

I may be the girl who returned home after school to do dishes and wash bitterleaf till it gets bland, but my father was not the man to accept a bad result (bad here includes average result) from me or anyone. One time, he made one of my older brothers repeat a class because he was not impressed with the result even though the school didn’t require my brother to retake the session.

My father is a hard man to please, and my eldest brother was his partner in academic drilling. I must admit that these two cemented my academic foundation when I was younger. During my holidays from the boarding school, my brother would give me “assignments” to write essays and poems. I remember the very first essay I wrote, the topic was “Girl child education: a panacea to poverty reduction in Nigeria.” As an SS1 student, the word ‘panacea’ was just introduced to my vocabulary; it didn’t stop that 16/20 from getting stamped in red ink though.

The reason the anti gender role argument does not hold water is because the females in my family turned out the opposite of what proponents of this school of thought have claimed.

Apparently, my parents did not see gender, our fire was fueled to burn the hottest. Hence, I finished secondary school as the Best Graduating Student. The credibility of this feat in this context may be contested because it was a single sex school, so I’d employ a contest that involved boys. In Junior Secondary School 2, I became the Leader of the Junior Debate Team in my school (a unisex school), and I was the youngest to ever do it at the time. In 2010 (SS2), I led my school to participate in a debate competition organized by the Federal Ministry of Education to commemorate Nigeria’s Independence at 50, and was awarded the best preliminary speaker in the Northeast geopolitical zone. This competition included boys and girls from 15 Unity Colleges in the zone. My father saw and treated these as wins, not as “girl wins”.

We were raised with the notion that effort, not gender produces results. So, pardon me if my conviction supports that.

Biologically, women and men are different entities of the same unit, there is no debate about that. Hormonal and physiological components of the male child therefore, are OBVIOUSLY the motivation behind gender roles. I am a weaker vessel; I say this a lot and this is not a joke. The first time I carried 25 liter jerrycan of water from the dining tap to my hostel room in boarding school, I panted heavily enough to in seconds lose all the extra fat in my body! Need I mention the numerous breaks I took between the two ends!

Gendered chores only stem from the fact that all children are required to contribute their quota to housekeeping. Who else is gonna take care of the habitation?? It reminds me of the duty roster we maintained in boarding school where the chores were literally a DUTY because they were categorically assigned to all students per term.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, I do feel like in modern times, gender roles should be delineated according to interests rather than perceived capacity. It is no news that there are men who can cook oxygen and make it delicious!

Feminism has been so derailed in times past and it definitely feels very all over the place, so much so that defending it feels draining.

Here’s what I know for certain, the fundamental elements of this epic movement are neither erased nor tottered by gender roles, gender stereotypes and traditional gender gestures.

For instance, it is global knowledge that the colour pink is associated with the female gender while the colour blue is male-pegged. Some individuals opposing this status have claimed that the colour attributes portray women as a weaker sex.

The vital question here is, what effect do these colours have on individuals’ psyche?? Can similar effects be traced in individuals whose baby rooms were painted in a different colour? Do you even remember the colour your room was painted when you were little? ‘Cause I don’t! How has the colour of your ONE YEAR birthday dress affected your ability to set and achieve goals? These are questions we truly need to ask ourselves and answer honestly. If dire consequences are not derived from the answers to the effect of these colour stereotypes limiting a woman’s rights and privileges to succeed in the world, then, just maybe we should let sleeping dogs snore.

Imagine the confusion that would erupt if yellow balloons were popped at a baby shower. What gender would that be?? Knowing humans, same people asking “why pink” would still ask “why yellow though”?

My favourite colour is White, and there’s no way my mum would have known this prior to my delivery because I only started fancying White some two years back. Instead of over flogging gender roles and exaggerating impacts laced with fallacy, I think more energy should be geared towards addressing the nature of upbringing of a child. The family is the first point of socialization for any child, it’s only typical therefore that they grow to reflect the family’s configuration.

A friend once told me of something that happened in her family when she was younger. One of her elder brothers and elder sister were in the same class. They were both to write UTME but their father made a decision to only pay for the elder brother’s form so that he would proceed to the University first because he was a man. Mind you, the sister was even older than him.

If a child is raised in a home with disproportionate yardstick for different genders, it would indubitably affect not only the way the child sees him/herself, but also the way the child presents him/herself to the world. For instance, my brothers were groomed to be protectors and helpers. Helping has been so ingrained in them that you would see them even helping random people carry heavy stuff so long as they are female because they are already conditioned to think women are weaker vessels. I, have on the other hand, definitely made the mistake of thinking all guys are helpers because numerous times, I’ve been hit with the reality check that the next dude is nothing like my brother.

“I think holding the door shouldn’t be gender because we should open the door for everyone. I hold the door for men and women. I have trouble with the idea of holding the door for a woman because she is a woman; because chivalry is the idea that women are somehow weak and need protecting but we know that there many women who are stronger than men”. ~ Chimamanda Adichie

Sometimes, high profile personalities forget to clearly state the difference between their personal fancies and the concepts that drive feminism. A classic example is this Chimamanda’s controversial tweet quoted above.

In my honest opinion, this is a personal perspective of a traditional gender gesture and it should NOT be treated as feminist ideals that should be cast in gold. If no one gets hurt in the process, why then is it an issue of concern, enough to be expressed and enforced? It is rather unsettling that because Chimamanda Adichie is a renowned feminist, even her most remote thoughts with regards to gender stereotypes including notions which in my opinion derail the essential nucleus of the movement are treated as words on marble. As a globally renowned and celebrated flag-bearer of the campaign, I think she should be able to sift her personal perspectives on small beers from core feminist principles.

The problem is, she probably doesn’t even recognize the difference, hence cloaking all her prejudices with Feminism.

For instance, I personally do not grasp the rationale behind a man purchasing three rings-the engagement ring and 2 wedding rings. He bought the engagement ring to engage the woman, he’s gonna buy the wedding ring to say “I do” to her, why isn’t she the one to buy the ring she wants him to say “I do” to her with?

I’m not attaching this to feminism because this genuinely has no business playing on that playground. I’m indicating instead, that my stance stems from my fancies. I want to walk into the ring store myself, and after critical analysis, select a ring that I believe will remind my husband of me. I’d emboss on it words that he’ll be pleased with till death do us part. I just need him to understand that when I saw the ring in the showroom, I thought it would look better on the finger of the father of Viola. But then, that’s just Violet Ejiata. Integrating it into the grand scheme of an age-long, well-defined campaign would indubitably be a stretch.

Similarly, some socio-cultural practices in my opinion, should be left to lie like sleeping dogs in cases where they cause no harm to anyone. For instance, some sect contest the Yoruba and Igbo traditional marriage custom of brides kneeling to their husbands to present kola or palm wine.

Where is this same energy when the congregation only rises upon entrance of the bride into the Church? Are the men suddenly less significant or invisible?? It’s even a wonder why no one has tried to suggest that ladies should be allowed to wear black to weddings since men wear black suits too.

I consider it pertinent to point out that even the Nigerian Law protects individuals (male and female) from harmful customs e.g. forfeiture of an intestate man’s property by his widow without a male child which hitherto obtained in the Igbo custom, annulled by the Repugnancy Doctrine.

Truth be told, it was hardly surprising when Teni’s tweet surfaced on my Instagram timeline. It was rather agitating that such benighted expression would be made by a woman. Why mock the very cause that’s afforded you a voice? If you won’t support a cause, it’s best not to sabotage it. Regardless, I’m of the opinion that this ignorant statement wouldn’t have been made if the focus hadn’t been shifted by Feminism frontline advocates from the compass of equal gender rights. As women, we really should have a uniform front against the pervasive inequality in our society.

Feminism is really just about promoting a level playing field so all genders would be afforded same opportunities politically, socially, economically, legally, educationally, to ensure everyone can thrive in an unbiased world. The imbalance only favours one gender which is why naturally, the aggrieved gender is championing the cause to demand what is due to them.

Gender roles are like a pedestrian platform on both sides of the highway (where gender rights constitute the highway). Feminism is the vehicle- it plies on the highway to arrive at its destination. Attempting to ply the pedestrian platform would not only cause damage to the car, but also hurt the driver.

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June 4, 2020 133 comments

Featured

ENVISAGING THE FUTURE OF AFRICA (II)

written by The Intellects Mag

THE FUTURE

Remember uncle Tom‘s story and make a decision to be a generational thinker.

I shall dot the I’s nd cross the T’s with the lecture of Nigeria’s first democratic president, sir Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo on 31^st night, year 2018.

“Africa has been called names that we do not deserve a SHIT HOUSE, DARK CONTINENT, name it, but we are not where we should be”. He continued: 5 things we need to take care of, for development, growth and progress are:

Politics-Governance; if we do not get politics right, we might not get other things right. Getting it right is getting other things right.
Population– the population is rising. Nigeria at independence was only 40 million but now we are about 200 million. Education is key. We must acquire right and relevant skills and be gainfully employed.
Protection- in all ramification, avoid being agents of chaos, (recording to rhythm, terror is senseless but peace is priceless), Nigeria’s one time president went on to say “protection is security and security includes personal security, security of lives and properties, which is key. Security of jobs and food, also are very important.
Prosperity:- even Olusegun has stopped talking about “POVERTY”. They focus on the positive things like land matters etc. he asked the world to emulate love-world otherwise known as Christ embassy that it is an excellent church. I urge everyone to stop talking down his or her own land.
Partnerships: – let’s work together………….. the more we work together, the further we’ll go. We need to pray and fast together because if you eat alone, you will die alone………. Partnership at homes, within the family, community, continent and the world.

Long Live Africa!!!!!!

By Eleki Emmanuel Owanaemi (Aka Dr. Emmanuel)

May 8, 2019 2,627 comments

Featured Healthy Living

ENVISAGING THE FUTURE OF AFRICA (I)

written by The Intellects Mag

On the 24^th of April 2019, I asked my elder brother Mr. Thomas Eleki ‘what will forty(40) years from now be like for Africa?’ he muted for a while and then replied “ My dear brother, what will be, will be”. He response to my question almost left me confused but I remembered the words of men of God such as Rev. Chris Oyakhilome(PHD), Goke Adu, Pastor Paul Adefarasen, Pastor Lanre Oluseye and Pastor Niyi Hastrip to mention but a few folks who have planted encouraging words into my life; words that can make one abound And abase. Before I focused only on religion, the holy bible teaches us that faith without works is dead. AFRICANS DO SOMETHING! AFRICANS WORK!!

Suicide was an option for me when my first investment liquidated and my girlfriend as at then left me but upon my survival, I realized that even one of the world’s greatest author; Robert T. Kiyosaki first business didn’t work out as well. I beg Africans not to give up about their dreams and aspirations because there is hope for the living and a living dog is better than a dead lion (conticipate Zoë by Dr. Emmanuel).

My brother upon a second thought of my question called me and gave me some lectures about my question and the summary of the lectures was that: “everything in life is about now”, because the past is a history, the future is mystery and now is a gift, that is why it is called “THE PRESENT”. AFRICANS ENJOY!!!

About Mr. Thomas M. Eleki and his past:

Mr. Thomas Eleki aka Uncle Tom is my immediate elder brother. He was once very poor, the poverty was so real that hawking of pure water was a means of supporting our family and about his academics; he was not brilliant as I am (UNCLE TOM WAS DULL)

OUR NOW

The greatest asset in life is your life, don’t lose it, don’t ruin it or don’t allow others to ruin it. So what should be done with this asset called LIFE?

Health is wealth

AFRICANS!! Who is to blame? Government or the people?

Though everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion as such my response to that should be done with life will be sharing (there is love in sharing, love is the greatest force on earth). If only my girlfriend hadn’t left me, I would have shared with her, if only my rich dad had made me make new friends in/upon my relocation from Lagos state to Rivers state, I would have shared my pains instead of attempting suicide. To confirm this, I will share the lecture of his Excellency sir Olusegun Obasanjo gave in Christ Embassy on the 31^st of December 2018. Upon my understanding of his fact C.I.E Partnership, I shared a lot because I have learnt the hard way with my elder brother: C.E.O of campus Entertainment Box Office (CEBO), Ibi-ama Group and co-founder of Rock view Motion (rvm0 and the Elekis’ signature(Es), with his wife; Cynthia Eleki C .E.O of Cyndi’s pot and Zenith Bank staff, with another brother though from another mother, triple (c) Christopher Chuckenuedo Chukwuma C.E.O of pertinacious media with friends too numerous to mention. And because the first shall be the last with my pastors and my spiritual heads. For now the then hawker Eleki Thomas (Mr.) supports my family with huge sums through media and entertainment, and me as his kid brother is envisaging a future to be like him. IF AFRICANS CAN ALLOW THE WESTERN WORLD; EUROPE, ASIA, AMERICA, to share in her pains (to show us how to become a great continent) THESE CONTINENTS CAN PREVENT THE SLOW DEATH OF OUR BELOVED CONTINENT. AND IF DULL UNCLE TOM THEN IS NOW RICH, AFRICA CAN BE GREAT.

Article by Eleki Emmanuel Owanaemi Aka Dr. Emmanuel

May 2, 2019 887 comments

Fashion

The Hair Fashion!

written by The Intellects Mag

Men Fashion

Even our men are not left out in the fashion trend! Both hair cuts and long pants. Amusingly, some use waterproof or nylon to wear their pair of trousers!!! We hail thee men

The Afro

The Mole Pencil Pair of Trousers

The Mole Bogus Pair of Trousers

The Hair Fashion!

It’s amazing the cycle the world flows in. The women hair fashion is something else in Nigeria. Do we say it’s just fashion repeating itself or do we assume our fashionable ladies are responding to the negative economic change by going old-fashioned.

Hair in the 19‎90’s

Natural hair on fleek

Thread hair with wool

Relaxed hair in the late 90’s

Transitioning hair to natural hair

Braided Wig on fleek

November 27, 2017 280 comments

2017 November Edition Poems

Appreciation Of Poems

written by The Intellects Mag

So Long A Journey- By Ezike Kenechukwu

The poet writes about the faulty educational system that Nigerian students go through, in this poem of four stanzas. The pronoun “He” is used in two senses; first as it represents the writer, who is a masculine being, and the individual narrating his ordeal, and in the second sense, in an analogical manner, man representing male and female alike. So, “he” is used to represent the poet and other Nigerian students who are faced with same challenges as they journey through Nigeria’s educational system.

The first six lines of the first stanza of fifteen lines explains how the educational career begins, it begins with the nursery and primary session, rich in curriculum and practice. Niger delta an area rich resources, symbolizes the slate of the child’s mind, still very fresh, filled with resources ready to be utilized. (This section spans from the time of the poems generation in the 1990’s, for the poet does not consider the present day nursery and primary education rich). The education ends in the Sahara desert, the desert symbolizes the societal life of the graduated Nigerian. A desert is a barren land, not suitable for habitation because its living conditions are harsh.

It symbolizes Nigeria students who have gone through the education system of Nigeria, are now in the society of Nigeria and all they see is barren lands, which they were never prepared for in the system that is supposed to be a refiner. They cannot comprehend how they started from Niger delta, and ended in Sahara desert. The next five lines coming after that depicts how the sojourn should have known that he is ended for the desert when he reached northern Nigeria (tertiary institutions, the university precisely where lots of people are studying courses that they do not like but are without option and really need to get the paper certificate). In this sense, one who is travelling and suddenly meets an area of low vegetation should at least have a re-think of what the destination through that route will be like, though the argument will be inconclusive or undetermined, but that should prepare the sojourns mind for what is to come. The first eleven lines that begins the second verse talks about the inadequate training of Nigerian students throughout the formal education process.

They are not trained on the importance of resource management, like water- in the poem, water symbolizes life. Nigerian students are ill prepared to face life challenges when they are in school. The last fourteen lines that ends the second verse shows the different stages in the in the university. Northern Nigeria shows the first two years, while Niger and Mali represent the last two years in the university and also other years spent by students who study for about five to seven years. While they are in these last two stages, they express their initial desires to graduate with first class, and how the drill has got them wishing for a second class upper/lower as the case maybe. The old and young cactus in the third stanza symbolizes old leaders and the youths in Nigeria.

They cannot comprehend how they started from Niger delta, and ended in Sahara desert

The old leaders refuse to leave their positions in the office or in the politics and do not want to give the youths a breathing space, they practically do not want the youths to be a part of the system. The youths/students are made to believe that there is an oasis in the desert, oasis symbolizes entrepreneurial ventures, which is seen as a mini paradise. They suddenly start to crave for the oasis, but then entrepreneurship has its own rules and does not in the midst of limited resources create jobs on a wide scale neither does it eliminate poverty,

it only initiates capitalism and the enriches the owner of the venture.

Industrialization, good education, commercialization and the rest of such kinds are needed on a larger scale just like irrigation, afforestation and the rest of such change the climate of the desert/forest. Irrigation creates healthy growth for crops and trees. Annual crops that propagates, germinates, and is harvested within a year, to save cost of irrigation, rain trees could be planted, that will alter the climate and bring an increase in the amount of rainfall and shady trees. Oasis does not help a desert so much, it only helps those who are close to it just as entrepreneur does for the owners. The Nigerian government should create employment by building industries, commercialization and privatization of the necessary industries. Otherwise, the entrepreneur suffers as well, because if he succeeds, his venture becomes overcrowded (destination for all and sundry) some would want to take possession of his ventures, and others (family and relatives) will rebel as well, with the notion that wealth was created for them, this will probably result in laziness and nonchalance evident in their overt behavior (my uncle is this, or my family has that, while they have nothing for themselves). Finally the instructors and administrators of desert symbolizes the teachers, lectures and the Nigerian government respectively.

The Agitation -By Jombo Odilichukwu

The poetess in this poem of four stanzas writes on the political situation of the southern part of Nigeria from the time before its annexation to the present day agitation. The first stanza shows how the southerners, the Igbo’s precisely were without any form of centralization, except for the gerontocracy, which accords the eldest man in every family and clan the leadership mantle and respect, every man for himself, fending for his family and also the community (treasury of full sacks), until the colonization (annexation by white king) of Nigeria that started with Lagos in July 1861, history has it that the colonial master had come in guise of signing treaties with African countries (without a bell ring), and the Nigerian-British case was no different, and just before they could realize that signing the treaty was signing into captivity, it was dusk. The likes of king Jaja of Opobo, Nana of Itsekiri, Oba ovorenewem of Benin tried to oppose them but were thrown into exile. Though the people were sold into slavery, “there was an illuminating”.

Illuminating symbolizes civilization. “The heart piercing wailing was not to be ignored” (barbaric act of slavery, and exploitation, so the elites stood, using civilization to their own advantage, by writing, speaking, forming coalitions and parties). In the second stanza, trumpet sound symbolizes the 1957 London delegation that initiated the quest for independence in 1959, though history has it that the Northerners were not ready at the time so the independence was adjourned to Oct. 1, 1960. The liberating sound symbolizes independence. Black turning into white symbolizes mixed culture (the Lingua franca became English, there was high quest for white collar jobs and not farming or other traditional jobs, mode of eaten and food items changed, including worship system. There was acculturation). Luke warm symbolizes lack of full knowledge of any of the cultures (we did not learn their culture fully, and we had no firm grip on our culture after the independence).

“Treasury full of sack was not recovered in the pack” means that communalism was fading, and our resources were looted. With victory of Independence, Nigeria could feel hope in the air, a dream had come through. The third Stanza tries to synthesize the events happened during colonization and the Nigerian civil war. Coronation symbolizes the amalgamation of the Northern and southern protectorate, regardless of the conflicting culture and religion. “Seed of the white king” symbolizes Nigeria. The name Nigeria consequently led to the amalgamation of the Northern and southern protectorate and the Nigeria civil war was the fruit.

The fourth stanza explains the present day Biafra agitation, from MASSOB (movement for the actualization of the sovereign state of Biafra) to the IPOB (Indigenous people of Biafra) and the “ohanaeze ndi Igbo”. “They sing awareness” awareness refers to their claim to self-determination and knowing what they demand from Nigeria, as there is marginalization in the air. But their actions show ignorance, because the three groups are at loggerheads, they do not say the same thing, yet they claim to be speaking for the same people. They need to be informed, they need sit together and unlearn in order to learn, and only unity will make their dream come true. Nigeria could be what they want it to be if this agitators can unite with their leaders and themselves and speak with one voice.

From The Intellects Desk

Indeed, the journey is so long and unending until one closes his eyes in death. But while we exist, we must survive, is that not a part of our essence? We have not come here to just leave unnoticed. A lot has been expressed and explained already, if the old cactus cannot give way for the young cactus as nature demands, the young cactus must realize self-determination, grow stronger and deeper roots, sprout out and unseat the old cactus who have refused to give way for nature to take its cause. Power is not given, by anybody, it is eventually taken.

Every epoch has witnessed agitation and strive among nations, as long as man lives, there must be strive, for man is free and is everywhere in chains. Again, man is a political being whose interest is usually more egoistic than altruistic. Will splitting Nigeria to achieve Biafra really bring prosperity in the nation where three groups as shown in the poem analysis advocate differently for a people on one issue? At the same time, will marginalization, tribalism, nepotism and imperialism keep Nigeria as one? The federal government, the legislatives and the judiciary must cross examine the situation and proffer solution to the problem, a people should not be slaves in their hope nor there be preferred citizens before the law.

Our national anthem pleads freedom and justice.

Let the compatriots arise,

Let the labours of heroes past not be in vain,

Let our leaders be guided right,

Only then shall we build a nation bound in freedom and unity,

Where peace and justice shall reign.

So help us God. Amen!

November 26, 2017 280 comments

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Poems

So Long A Journey By Ezike Kenechukwu

written by The Intellects Mag

A journey that starts
From the hinter lands of the
Niger Delta that ends at the
Rich Sahara Desert as a
Reward to the individual that
Reward to the individual that
Undergoes such journey

He should have known
Having reached the Northern Parts
Of Nigeria, crossed Niger and Mal,
He should have known
Where He is headed fro
And this is a journey that takes
Six Six and four years
As the case may be
For this is the minimal year allowed

He is not trained on the way
For resource management
Like water
Since he comes from the
Deltan region
And having journey across
Other parts that have it
In abundance
Before he gets to the desert
Where it abounds less
Less in an extent of impossibilities
Why wasn’t he trained by those?
He met at the last stages
In Northern Nigeria, Niger and Mali
About the hardship of
Desert life
He does not only asks himself
This but is being bombarded

With it by those
He meets and co-exists with
At the desert
Didn’t you pass through?
All stages they ask him
Then why does life here
Seems so alien to you – if his answer being yes

He is credited with
Not learning
It was taught at all
Or taught well enough
His first phase of the last stage
Being Northern Nigeria
Should have hinted him on what
He was healed for
He is told that ideas
Rules the world
But is left with no means
Of bringing them forth
Into reality nor means
Of actualizing his potentials
He was told that an old cactus plant
Gives way for a younger one
He believes this having been told
From the first stage
That He is the future of tomorrow
The survival of the race
Yet the old cactus refuses to give way
But goes ahead
Having a firm root and striving shoots
Well developed owing to its long existence
To oppress the roots and shoots
Of the younger cactus
He is now being told that
An Oasis in the desert is the in thing
He should consider creating one
Still He is deprived of its key element water
If He succeeds

He becomes a destination for all and sundry
He becomes envy and desiring thing for everyone
Some would want to take possession
Of that this is His
Others who would want to wallow in it
Revel in what they did not create
Still it plays its service
To the inhabitants of the Desert

It is structured in a way that
If he succeeds
It shows that either his instructors
On the way were right
Having followed their instructions
Or the administrators of the Desert were right
Having paid attention to their warning
And heeded to their advice
If he fails
It is still in the same structure
That He is to be lame entirely for it
He asks Himself
Why send a child
On a journey that
He will end up all grown up
In a Desert as a reward

November 26, 2017 3,444 comments

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2017 November Edition Biafra Featured

Youths, In Nigeria Politics And Government By Jombo Odilichukwu

written by The Intellects Mag

Indeed, the game of politics has always been in vogue in all the countries of the world from time immemorial because according to Aristotle, Man is a political animal. However, it is necessary that the key words Government, Politics and Youth are elicited so that a solid foundation is laid for this topic.

Government:

Government is the means by which state policy is enforced, as well as the mechanism for determining the policy of the state. Forms of government, or forms of state governance, refers to the set of political systems and institutions that make up the organisation of a specific government and Nigeria, Democracy is practiced.

Politics

The word “politics” is derived from the Greek word polis which means city-state. Robert Dahl describes politics as an interplay of contending actors in which one actor always attempts to gain a relative advantage over the other. For the sake of the content of this work, Aristotle’s definition of politics will be used. Aristotle defined politics in his treatise on human Associations, stated that the most sovereign and inclusive association in the polis, as it is called, whose essence is the establishment of government, law-making, enforcement and eliciting obedience from the members of the society as he observed man to be by nature a political animal, and these summed his definition of politics as a city-state.

Youth

Literally, the youth refer to the young, and the Oxford advanced learners dictionary of sixth edition defines the young as having lived or existed for only a short time; not fully developed, not yet old or not as old as others. This grouped definition will be used in the content of this work. However, by age grouping the Youths are between the ages of eighteen to forty-five. I also categorise the ages of the people in the country in the periodic time of the day

Mid-night to Early morning: from a day old to age seventeen

Morning to Mid-day: from age eighteen to age forty-five (energetic and should work for what they want)

Mid-day to Evening: from age forty-five to age sixty-five (reap fruits or investment, invest more and plan retirement)

Night: from age sixty-five to whenever the person dies. (The old should have retired)

The youths belong to the second category, the mid-day.

It is no news that politics is conceived in the mind of many Nigerians as a dirty game. Aside football, the game of politics is the most cheered in Nigeria, with same old players, lots of noisy cheering spectators and very few informed spectators; among them are fewer aspiring players, who more often than not out of desperation do a few wrong things to get into the game or channel their interest to other things and some would remain as aspiring spectators out of frustration. This has actually been going on in Nigeria and as a matter of fact, has done more harm than good which is why the present-day Nigeria is in a stagnant situation where there is a high rate discovery of looted monies, yet there is high rate of inflation and recession spelt in every hook and cranny of the streets of the states in Nigeria. This negativity is also the case because the youths have been neglected; there is no much input in the political grooming of the young people and so the youths are not able to know their worth and value and their strength is misused just as their value is abused. The youths happen to be the centre of this work and if there must be liberation from this societal decadence, then youths must be shown to their place in the society and be allowed to properly play their role.

Why The Youth Should Involve In Nigeria Politics And Government

The youths need be involved in Nigeria politics and government if there must be a positive change in the society for the reasons below.

Instrumentality

Instrumentality is a jargon derivative of the word ‘instrumental’. Instrumental according to the Oxford advanced learners’ dictionary of sixth edition is defined as important in making things happen. That is to be indispensable.

Often times in Nigeria, during elections, there could be carrying of the ballot boxes, rigging of the elections, and some other punishable offences carried out by politicians who are in their evening hours of life through the young people. There could also be plans for riot, whether it be peaceful or violent and it is usually executed by the young people. The youths are lobbied by the politicians and given a token say two thousand naira each and like puppets, they aid in campaign for men who ought to have retired or be coaches in the game of politics. These events and more go on and on, and the youths are being exploited and their strength misused. Perhaps there should be a revolution by these young activists for the alienation of very active offices or power from the hands of men who have hitherto been in power since the independence of Nigeria. The point is this, these young people have been used as tools positively and negatively alike and that makes them very instrumental. And so they need to be rightly involved in politics, so that they channel their strength and energy to doing something good; thereby allowing them to call the shots, provide them with the necessary amenities they need to make choices that will enable them assume the offices they want, vote whom they want, be able to participate in government; thereby being able to speak up against what is wrong in the society. These will in turn, increase the moral value of the society, and lead to the other reasons why youths should involve in politics and government as stated below.

Again democracy is the government by the people, of the people and for the people and the youths are part of these people, not only are they part of these people they are part of the city-state and most be involved in the affairs of the city state and these essentially make them instrumental.

Responsibility Building:

Responsibility refers to the ability of being responsible for both action and inaction. Maturity has been attained when one is responsible. Now, a lot of things go wrong in Nigeria especially among the youths because they have not been groomed to shoulder responsibilities, some are still being fed milk when they ought to be cracking bones, some are not being fed at all and very few take bones. Only that few are actually able to make impact and create a difference. Take for instance, some of the people who currently serve in government and public offices in Nigeria have been there since their late twenties or mid-thirties. They learnt to shoulder responsibilities early enough and the whole politics and government still revolves around them. Example the current president, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. The likes of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida, Atiku and the rest of them still play lots of vital roles in the current politics and government and it is not supposed to be so. There are no genuine youth organisations as the Nigeria Youth Movement of 1937 founded by late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, owelle Onitsha who was just thirty-three years at that time, that movement worked actively like his newspaper, they were able to air their opinion and the sense of responsibility necessitated their request for what they needed even while they were under British colony; as through that medium, they were directly involved in politics. Currently, even the young people are not counsellors or local government chairman, they are not even active in political parties except ipso facto as puppets, they are neglected yet this group of young adults are the springboard of any societal institution.

It is no news that the current president of France, Emmanuel Marcon is just thirty-five years. If he was not involved in the government and politics of the country he won’t be able to shoulder such responsibility. No doubt, it is important the aged are part of the government but the government should not revolve around them, for the future of every society lies the hands of its youths. They keep saying the youths are the leaders of tomorrow and I keep wondering if when tomorrow will ever come.

Finally, when youths get involved in politics, they utilise their strength and contribute positively and the country gets to develop alongside growth. Because they will build to fight the good fight, step up their values and standards and be ready to stand for what is right against all odds, having in mind that their country values them.

Indestructable Future Of The Society

To be indestructible is to be beyond destruction. So because the youths are instrumental in the political and governmental sectors of Nigeria, they gradually become responsible and so take on themselves the pains to see that things are done right, that the necessary amenities are provided and that there is proper investment in productive areas, values and standards that will positively be modified and transferred and that way, the society becomes closely knitted and tightly knotted without disheartening loopholes and will be able stand the test of time and against terrorism or any global threat.

For instance, the nation like Ethiopia is said to be the poorest nation because it was never colonised by any foreign nation, but a careful observation show them to be a strong nation because the youths are fully involved in their activities, including their government and politics. In a nation like Brunee, the citizens do not migrate to other nations or countries because their government needs each of them.

Finally, if the youths are properly involved in politics and government, there will be Economic growth, promotion of the culture, social growth, spiritual growth, moral development and development will be in the air of hook and cranny of the country, every tribe will get what is due to them as citizens of Nigeria and there will be no need for the agitation of Biafra which has resulted in the killing of so many young people who put stake their lives for that cause.

How Can The Youths Get Involved?

The political grooming of the young people must definitely start from education, Education is derived from two Greek words, ‘Educere’ and ‘Educare’ which means ‘blank slate’ and ‘to lead out’ respectively. It is necessary to conceive the young people as part of the both categories, because, the young people are filled with possibilities and as such have potentials that could be actualized through training. And at the same time they know nothing but what experience has taught them. Education in this sense is beyond the regular schooling system. This includes training of the mind, this should practically begin with the children and teenagers and definitely the adults, the government should organise mentally equipped social entrepreneurs (political speakers, motivational tutors, political analysts) and even organise political debates for the youths, certain kind of privileges and appointments given to activities like pageantry, the voice, maltina dance floor, Gulder ultimate search, big brother Nigeria, and lots more, that thrill youths. If the government or the elites in the society are able to organize mind building and developing competitions and programs, more value will be added to the youths, who will in turn add value to the society.

This does not mean that the formal system of education is not useful, even though the present formal education system where more emphasis is placed on paper certificates than on what skill an individual has practically acquired, it is important the education system is made to fit into the system. Notwithstanding it is called western education, it is called western, because of the culture associated with it, which means that if Nigerians must also be educated, the education must conform to their culture, it must be practical, and something the students/youths are familiar with. For instance, students in Nigeria who study political science, should not just be taught what has been in the books, but be taught what happens currently in their society, just like medicine and law students, be given a political lab or practical opportunity to solve actual political problems in the society; that way, they understand what goes on in the professional political world, the political problems, and proffer solution, they should be allowed to participate in debates like presidential debates and the likes of it, and be allowed to participate in political analysis.

In addition to these, the youths can participate in politics through the following:

Political parties, Political mobilisation, Interest groups (where they exist as organisations and are able to protect the rights of their members when government programmes are in conflict. Could be easily found in pressure groups), Electoral system (they should be voted for and be accrued the respect of allowing them vote in their choice). When the youths get involved in politics and government through these elaborated and highlighted means and other measures that may have not been mentioned here, there will be a massive growth and development in Nigeria, because light has been illuminated, value has been added, a familiar and not just formal sense of belonging has been created and the youths will not be solely interested in fashion and entertainment.

Finally, it was Boris Popvic the mayor of the municipality of Koper who said that “a seal is given to a people by its city and athletes in particular spread its voice across the country’s boarders”. In this case, the youths are the athletes and need to be involved. Observe any thriving sector in Nigeria, for example fashion, luxury and entertainment, it is categorically promoted by the youths because they are highly recognised, the music/movie industries make them totally feel that they are the reason the industry is existing, every single thing on the media via music/movies and even social media is youth oriented, basically made to capture the attention of the youths, if the youths keep getting undying attention from the media and known from the society, (education, politics, church) there will be poor intellectual building, the future will be nostalgic and the stagnation in Nigeria will not cease. Let youth building not be a political propaganda, but a reality which will cause youths to strive dearly, knowing that in the end, there is certainly gain from the ages of pain, and glory from the pages of the story.

November 16, 2017 720 comments

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2017 November Edition Featured Poems

The Reddened Stripes of Biafra By Valentine Onuoha

written by The Intellects Mag

In that soft fresh flesh
There we saw beauty once golden;
The sweet gesture the sky fetch,
Softness and greenness interwoven;
Though we could not tell how far
On seeing the wounded stripes of Biafra.

Our walls knew our names,
Feet with a counted toes;
There our chariots foot the lames;
The creed even an infant knows.
Now, the hunter’s now a murderer
For the wounded stripes of Biafra.

The River bird perceived our stink;
The frogs and mice the cause.
The walls are fallen I think
And humming birds our recourse!-
She too can’t return any longer
To the wounded stripes of Biafra.

And so the stripes are lying there,
Deserted under the scorching sun;
Though the reddened sores I stare
I cannot stop but wonder and yawn
And while the valley grow to hill
And So shall live the Biafra’s will.

November 16, 2017 639 comments

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