‘THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW’; NO 2
In my write up last week, I made reference to PARENTS bequeathing formal education to their children in anticipation for better fortune in their families and the society at large. It also comes with some intangible benefits.
The history of NDI IGBO pre-civil war era was a clear pointer. With quality education then, EASTERN REGION became one of the fastest growing economic hotspots in the world.
However, government meddling in these policies post civil war truncated these fantastic policies and brought us to this sorry state. If you are in doubt, a visit to any public school today will show you how bad things are. The decaying infrastructure made worse by untrained teaching staff in some cases, or none at all will convince you.
The youths of today, who will solve the challenges of tomorrow are in these schools albeit ill equipped, only to graduate between 20-25 years old ’empty’. It therefore becomes years of ‘locusts’, with the opportunity to develop their MINDS lost.
With NO CREATIVITY in their formative years, many become UNEMPLOYABLE, and incapable of contributing meaningfully to the development of our society. Yet, as human beings, their dreams remain high.
We are therefore at a crossroad!
Given this background and with warped perspective to the issues of life and wealth creation, underdevelopment and poverty reign supreme. As our home land becomes enveloped in criminality, ACTING NOW is urgent.
For us in NENI, we are poised to keep the Young Neni Group Roundtable program as planned for 26th August 2023 alive. They will gain in the process beyond their classroom experiences. Exposing them to more seminars, workshops, podcasts in leadership roles should be encouraged. Additionally, Reading Good Books will be the icing on the cake, the reason we hand them out. Their personal development should be our collective agenda as a community, if we must be one of the 10 best communities in the state.
The option of relocating ABROAD is good on the surface, but also a double edged sword that must be ‘watched’. There should be a balance!
Let’s jettison individualism at a time like this. Let’s partner together at this most difficult moment in our history. It’s not going to be easy, but let’s do something FAST!
That way, even those who may eventually travel out, will find reasons to build bridges of friendships rooted in knowledge with their contemporaries at home. We need a new collaborative spirit among them, aided by the evolving DIGITAL connectivity. If deepened, it could be an advantage of immense proportion to our home land. However, we must first sow in their lives as a community today, and reap their commitment in equal measures tomorrow.
Late Chief Anthony Obiagboso Enukeme laid a good foundation for us in Neni. Together, we can take it to a whole new level by working together as under consideration.
Think about it, who will do it for us? Who will motivate our young folks and give them the much needed hope? Who will step forward to help them refocus their MINDS heavily bruised by the challenges of today? Who will save our father land, the land of our ancestors?
Let’s seize this moment!
I love history. What we are going through is not new. It happened in history and even worse. Check it out!
But guess what? Men and women of GUTS, of COURAGE, of AUDACITY stepped forward. Men and women of TENACITY devoted time, and their resources for humanity and changed the course of life.
History was kind enough to them!
The Young Neni Group Summer Roundtable as outlined is one such opportunity. We can’t wait any longer! We must throw everything in the ring NOW!
If we fail to ACT collectively, make no mistake about it, this great land will be rendered waste and desolate.
Paul Enidom
19th August 2023