EDUCATION FOR THE STOMACH

I was recently on a Television discussion program with the head of one the units an educational parastatal known as the EDUCATION MARSHALS on one of my state local television stations. Their job is to get children of school age off the streets into the schools. As the discussions continued, there was this question as to why children were more interested in street trading than they were in going to school. At a point, the host made mention of “education for the stomach” and the panel stayed a while on this issue. I want to look at it in this post, I believe that because of the poor economic situation in most African nations, most people get whatever certificate that can put food on their table and not something they are really passionate about. As I work with teenagers and I ask them what career they intend to pursue, the answers they give are a result of a profession they think can satisfy their needs or what their parents have imposed on them which is also something the parents think will secure their financial future. What really saddens me is the fact that a lot of contributions to the world stage are buried in graveyards all over the world due to this situation. Everyone is in a survival mode, creativity is therefore stifled and one wonders at what point the paradigm will shift from survival to invention. Until we realize that education is more than an avenue to satisfy basic needs we will continue to depend on others for our development as a continent. Let us train our youths to begin to turn the raw materials that abound in this continent into finished products that can serve her and the world at large. Let us start thinking of what we can contribute to the development of humanity and not just what we can acquire from others to prove that we have arrived financially.
Originally shared on Justina Kes-Agbosa's blog www.kabissa.org

MentorAfrica: BACK AGAINST THE WALL

MentorAfrica: BACK AGAINST THE WALL: We often hear people talking about how they had their backs against the wall. It is almost impossible to get through lie without those mome...

BACK AGAINST THE WALL

We often hear people talking about how they had their backs against the wall. It is almost impossible to get through lie without those moments were we are absolutely clueless as to what step to take next. No formal training or experience can spare us from these unwanted moments. What do you do when your business is going down, you have done all you were trained to do and nothing is happening? There are moments when “steps to” doesn’t work and seminars do not bring needed solutions. This is the point where many quit and a few soar.

Like I have often said, I just share my thoughts so, I do not have elaborate research to support my view but I have noticed that the most important thing that helps us through those moments is the originality of our vision. If we are not clear about our dream and committed to its fulfillment, we will not be able to stand the heat of such moments.

Core values: our core values help us to withstand storms because they help us understand that what we are doing is not just for ourselves or for money but for the good others. It can be argued that core values can be selfish, even in situations like that; persons involved can still survive because of their egocentric nature. When our value system is not properly defined, we tend to throw in the towel easily.

THE INTERESTING THING HOWEVER IS THE FACT THAT MANY LIFE TRANSFORMING DECISIONS ARE TAKEN WHEN OUR BACKS ARE AGAINST THE WALL.

There is no way you can achieve anything meaningful in life without encountering these “wonderful” moments we should therefore be sure we are clear about where we are going and that we are also ready to do whatever it takes us to get there. It is only when this is settled that we can think of alternative routes or ways to break through the wall when we get there. If we are not settled mentality, when we get to these walls, we will turn back and quit.

Originally shared on LinkedIn

MentorAfrica: YOU ARE AN ANSWER 3 - VOUS ETES UNE REPONSE 3

MentorAfrica: YOU ARE AN ANSWER 3 - VOUS ETES UNE REPONSE 3: Something that can quickly short circuit our becoming answers is anger.  When we allow what leadership is doing or not doing to affect us t...

YOU ARE AN ANSWER 3 - VOUS ETES UNE REPONSE 3

Something that can quickly short circuit our becoming answers is anger.  When we allow what leadership is doing or not doing to affect us to the point that we permit anger to take over, we just develop a mental block. All ability to see answers is disrupted because we are too busy trying to blame the culprits that we do not turn our attention to what we can do to better the situation. It is alright to be angry when things are not going on well but that anger should not be allowed to cripple us to the point that we lose every sense of turning the situation into an opportunity. When we realize that we are ANSWERS, it allows us to see how we can turn things around no matter how frustrating the situation around us is. The amount of energy we spend in complaining and blaming can be channeled into avenues that can help us contribute our quota; some of us are so discouraged that we even see things going wrong in our immediate families and our first reaction is how to blame something on some malfunctioning authority. Even if we cannot do something about everything, we can be answers in areas where we have means and influence. Many people are waiting for someone to lead the way so, whatever effort from any quarter is quickly embraced. Unfortunately if we do not take that step we will never know what influence we had.

Quelque chose qui peut rapidement devenir notre court-circuit est la colère. Quand nous permettons à ce que le leadership fait ou ne fait pas de nous toucher au point que nous permettons à la colère de prendre en charge, nous attirons un blocage mental. Tout capacité de voir les réponses est perturbé parce que nous sommes trop occupés à essayer de blâmer les coupables que nous ne tournons pas notre attention sur ce que nous pouvons faire pour améliorer la situation. Il est normal d'être en colère quand les choses ne vont pas bien mais nous ne devons pas permettre la colère à nous paralyser, au point que nous perdons tous les sens de tourner la situation en une opportunité. Lorsque nous nous rendons compte que nous sommes des REPONSES, il nous permet de voir comment nous pouvons changer les choses, peu importe combien frustrant est la situation autour de nous. La quantité d'énergie que nous dépensons à se plaindre et de blâmer peut être canalisée vers des voies qui peuvent nous aider à apportons notre quota; certains d'entre nous sont tellement découragée que nous voyons même que les choses vont mal dans nos familles immédiates et notre première réaction est de chercher comment blâmer quelque chose sur le dysfonctionnement d'une certaine autorité . Même si nous ne pouvons pas faire quelque chose à propos de tout, nous pouvons être des réponses dans les domaines où nous avons des moyens et de l'influence. Beaucoup de gens attendent que quelqu'un ouvre la voie si, quel que soit l'effort de toute trimestre est rapidement adopté. Malheureusement, si nous ne prenons pas cette étape, nous ne saurons jamais quelle influence que nous avions.

MentorAfrica: YOU ARE AN ANSWER 2 - VOUS ETES UNE REPONSE 2

MentorAfrica: YOU ARE AN ANSWER 2 - VOUS ETES UNE REPONSE 2: The problem of not seeing yourself as an answer is that you shortchange yourself and deprive society of your very valuable contribution. Ma...

YOU ARE AN ANSWER 2 - VOUS ETES UNE REPONSE 2

The problem of not seeing yourself as an answer is that you shortchange yourself and deprive society of your very valuable contribution. Many of us look at the enormity of the problems in our communities and rule ourselves out completely from any solution even before we have had the opportunity to consider our possibilities. Some are discouraged by the failures experienced by others without considering those who through much perseverance became answers to their generation. It is worse for us in Africa where the systems are not properly structured; the very atmosphere of lack of basic human amenities can be very challenging. However, most of us forget that the more the challenges, the more the opportunities we have to be an answer.  It is not the magnitude of the problems that stop us; it is our inability to see ourselves as answers. We look at our qualifications, our cultural/regional limitations or some other forms of obstacles and rather than find a way around them, we quickly turn away and hope and pray for some other “more qualified” or “fool-hardy” persons to be the answers that we “cannot” be. One of the greatest obstacles is listening to people who will ask you who you are to think you can make a difference. A lot of people allow others to define them and what they can do. Until you understand your worth and believe that no matter how little your contribution is, it is important if not indispensable (there is only one YOU), you cannot step forward to be the answer  you alone are wired to be.

Le problème de ne pas se percevoir comme une réponse, c'est que vous vous frauder et priver la société de votre précieuse contribution. Beaucoup d'entre nous regardent l'énormité des problèmes dans nos communautés et nous nous éliminer complètement de toute solution avant même que nous avons eu l'occasion d'examiner nos possibilités. Certains sont découragés par les échecs rencontrés par d'autres sans tenir compte de ceux qui, par beaucoup de persévérance sont devenus des réponses à leur génération. C'est pire pour nous en Afrique où les systèmes ne sont pas correctement structurées; l'atmosphère même de l'absence d'équipements fondamentaux de l'homme peut être très difficile. Cependant, la plupart d'entre nous oublient que plus les défis, plus les possibilités que nous avons d'être une réponse. Ce n'est pas l'ampleur des problèmes qui nous empêchent; il est plutot notre incapacité de nous voir comme des réponses. Nous regardons nos qualifications, nos limites culturelles / régionales ou d'autres formes d'obstacles et plutôt que de trouver un moyen de les contourner, nous tournons rapidement loin et nous esperons et prions pour d'autres «plus qualifié» ou des gens «téméraire»,  pour être les réponses que nous "ne pouvons pas" être. Un des plus grands obstacles c'est écouter des gens qui vous demandent qui vous êtes à penser que vous pouvez faire une différence. Beaucoup de gens permettre à d'autres de les définir et de leur dire qu'ils peuvent faire. Jusqu'à ce que vous comprenez votre valeur et je crois que peu importe combien peu votre contribution est, il est important sinon indispensable (il n'y a qu'une VOUS), vous ne pouvez pas continuer à être la réponse que vous seul êtes câblé être.