“A glass of milk a day keeps black thoughts away . . .” – Nischita Nibedita. WORLD MILK DAY is observed every year on June 1. It was introduced in 2001 by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations to recognize the importance of milk as a global food, and to celebrate the dairy sector. Milk is the first food we consume when we are born. Breast milk provides the ideal nutrition for infants during their first months of life. Children are encouraged to drink up their milk so that they can grow up big and strong. However,…
Author: Daniel Ighakpe
“There is benefit in every kind of hard work…” – Proverbs 14:23. A talented Nigerian musician, Adekunle Gold, in one of his popular songs entitled ‘Work’, encouraged people to work hard. This is in harmony with what God’s Word, the Bible, recommends in Ecclesiastes chapter 9, verse 10, where it says: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do with all your might…” Work – whether paid or unpaid, is good for our health and well-being. It contributes to our happiness, helps us to build confidence and self-esteem, and can reward us financially. Work is an essential tool through which individuals…
Technology is changing our world at an astonishing pace! Its sweeping changes can be found everywhere and they can be described as both thrilling, and at the same time terrifying. Although people in many parts of the world are still trying to come to terms with earlier technological revolutions along with their sweeping social and educational implications – which are still unfolding, they have been awoken to the reality of yet another digital revolution – the AI revolution. Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology refers to the ability of a digital computer or computer-controlled robot to perform tasks that would otherwise have been carried…
While reading The Guardian newspaper of Saturday, 26th October 2024, I was very happy to learn about the rollout of a new basic education curriculum which is coming soon. What made me so happy about this news piece is that I learnt that some new vocational subjects will be incorporated into the new basic education curriculum. This is indeed a very welcome development! In a country like Nigeria where formal employment opportunities are limited, fostering entrepreneurial mindsets through the incorporation of vocational education and training into the school curriculum can ultimately serve to create a more self-sufficient workforce and reduce dependency on…
“The art of teaching is the most important skill a person can learn . . .” (‘Where There Is No Doctor’ – a health care handbook by David Werner, page w21). Who is a teacher? A teacher is a person who helps others to acquire knowledge, competences or values. Teachers can be referred to using a variety of titles such as: educator, tutor, instructor, schoolteacher, master, mistress, coach, trainer, lecturer, professor, don, fellow, reader, academic, guide, mentor, counsellor, schoolman, and so forth. Teaching is a noble work with good incentive. It is indeed a most vital profession. Teachers lay the…
Agriculture is one of the earliest occupations of mankind. The Holy Scriptures, in Genesis Chapter 1, Verses 26-30; and in particular, Genesis Chapter 2, Verse 15; tell us that when God created man, He gave him the work of cultivating the garden, and then reaping its fruitage. God also put all the animals under the care of man. Thus, the main work of man came to be ‘Agriculture.’ According to one senior secondary school textbook (Essential Agricultural Science, by O.A. Iwena): “The term, ‘Agriculture’, is derived from two Latin words: “ager”, meaning field, and “cultura”, meaning cultivation. By this statement,…
“The art of teaching is the most important skill a person can learn . . .” (‘Where There Is No Doctor’ – a health care handbook by David Werner, page w21). Teaching is a noble work with good incentive. It is indeed a most vital profession. Teachers lay the essential foundation for a person’s education. They provide education for all ages, children to adults, and in a diverse field of studies. Being a teacher can be a difficult but rewarding job. Teachers work hard to inspire, guide, educate and mentor us every day. Teaching is an inspiring profession that leaves…
Have you been feeling the heat in your part of the country lately? Since the beginning of this year, the weather in many parts of Nigeria has been very hot! Experts in the health sector have also expressed concern over the ongoing heat-wave in many parts of the country. In fact, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (Nimet) warned that if safety precautions are not taken, Nigerians in Abuja, Kano, and many other northern states are likely to suffer heat strokes due to the scorching heat-wave. In many parts of the world, extreme weather is becoming increasingly frequent and intense. But what…
“There is benefit in every kind of hard work . . . ” –Proverbs 14:23. ‘WHAT shall I do with the rest of my life?’ We often find ourselves confronted with this challenging question in our youth. A confusing array of choices present themselves – Should I go into Agriculture/Farming? Should I become an Author? Should I become a Banker? Should I go into Business? Should I become a Computer Specialist? a Doctor? an Educator/Teacher? an Engineer? A Journalist? A Lawyer? A Nurse? A Tailor? and so forth. And you may feel like the youth who said: “What I consider to be successful .…
“The quality, quantity and diversity of books produced by a society are important indicators of that society’s level of development. . . .” -Valdehusa (1985). April 23 of every year is marked around the world as ‘World Book and Copyright Day.’ Also known as ‘International Day of The Book,’ it is a Day set aside by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), to promote reading, publishing and copyright. The Day aims to change lives through a love of books and shared reading. The theme for the 2024 ‘World Book Day’ is: “READ YOUR WAY.” This year’s theme…
“There is . . . happiness in giving.” – Acts 20:35. Come Wednesday, March 20, 2024, there is likely going to be a new report on the status of happiness in various nations across the world. This will be part of the United Nations’ International Day of Happiness, which takes place throughout the world on March 20 of every year. What will be Nigeria’s place in this year’s ranking? Will the suffering and hardship being experienced in the country have made the nation fall much lower in the ranking this time around, or will our resilience in the face of…
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is currently one of the hottest buzzwords in the technology arena today, and with good reason. In the last few years, we have seen several innovations and advancements which used to be thought of as mere science fiction – a mere figment of one’s imagination, now slowly transform into reality. For example, if you have watched movies such as ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ or ‘Terminator,’ you would have seen examples of humanoid robots often associated with Artificial Intelligence (AI). These robots used to exist only in the imaginations of the creators of such movies, but today…
“Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher.” – Japanese Proverb. In many parts of the world, October 5 of every year is observed as World Teachers’ Day. Also known as International Teachers’ Day, it is a day that celebrates the incredible role that teachers all over the world play and their important contribution to society. This year marks the 29th anniversary of World Teachers’ Day, and the theme for this year is: “The teachers we need for the education we want: The global imperative to reverse the teacher shortage.” On October 5,…
September 8th of every year is observed as ‘International Literacy Day’. The theme for the 2023 International Literacy Day is:”Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies.” This theme will, among other things, highlight how developing the ability to read and write, as well as developing numeracy skills, can engender inclusiveness and equity. One of the most critical forms of social infrastructure that can be used to promote literacy is the Library. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most undervalued! A Public Library is a non-profit library that is accessible by the…
Improving Access To Affordable Housing Shelter is one of the basic needs of man, and the idea of affordable housing to cater to this need is both practical and viable. According to the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN–Habitat), 30 per cent of the world’s urban population resides in slums, with deplorable conditions, where people suffer from several deficiencies, including lack of access to improved water, absence of sewage facilities, living in overcrowded conditions, and in buildings that are structurally unsound. There are conflicting figures about Nigeria’s housing deficit, but experts often quote between 17 and 21 million. Affordable housing…
This is a rejionder with respect to an article published in The Guardian newspaper of Thursday, 20th July 2023, titled: “Tackling the menace of unqualified teachers in private schools.” I humbly appeal to the concerned authorities to show at least some form of consideration for competent and quality teachers. Going strictly by their lack of N.C.E/B. Ed./PGDE credentials, people might otherwise refer to these teachers as “unqualified. or other education-related qualifications, as well as their status of registration with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (T.R.C.N). Considering the high rate of unemployment in the country currently, will the removal of…
The health benefits of milk “And there will be enough . . . milk to feed you, To feed your household, and to sustain your servant girls.” – Proverbs 27:27. A healthy drink – Milk, is the first food we consume when we are born. Breast milk provides the ideal nutrition for infants during their first months of life. Children are encouraged to drink up their milk so that they can grow up big and strong. Do we, however, tend to stop drinking this nutritious beverage, milk, as we grow older? Even as adults, should we still drink milk? For…
According to the timetable for the currently ongoing 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE), school candidates will be writing their Essay and Objective examinations in Agricultural Science on Thursday, May 18, 2023, between the hours of 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm. Then, on Friday, May 26, 2023, between the hours of 9:30 am and 1:00 pm, these school candidates are expected to be examined in Practical Agriculture in the ongoing WASSC Examinations. With regards to these examinations, especially in the area of practical agriculture, one begins to wonder how adequately prepared these school candidates are, or will be,…
“What sculpture is to a block of marble, education is to the soul.” —Joseph Addison, 1711. DID you ever go to school? Most people can answer yes—but not everyone can. Untold millions of children receive no regular schooling, and this has continued to be the case for a long time, so that today a large number of adults are illiterate. Yet, a good education is a basic need. The Holy Scriptures strongly encourage the acquisition of wisdom, for example, at Proverbs 3:21, where it says: “Safeguard practical wisdom and thinking ability” and at Proverbs 4:7, where we read: “Wisdom is…
While taking a walk down the street along Seventh Avenue in Festac Town, Lagos where I live, I notice a large area of land just behind a public primary school building (Progress Primary School), which has been dedicated for use as a School Farm. On the farmland currently, you will find a large quantity of Cassava crops growing very nicely on the ridges that have been prepared for them. This school farm simply catches my interest and admiration anytime I pass by the school, and being an agriculture-enthusiast (someone with a keen interest and liking for the field of agriculture),…
A visit to the market in recent times reveals that the cost of food and other household items is still on the high. There have also been significant increases in the prices of cooking gas, liquid fuel, solid fuel, passenger transport by road, passenger transport by air, and so on. Also, the value of the naira continues to depreciate even though regulatory agencies say they are doing everything possible to stabilise the economy. Both salary earners and self-employed citizens are complaining that their earnings rarely meet up with family demands including feeding, clothing, shelter, health and education. Life has therefore…
In page 4 of The Guardian newspaper of Tuesday, January 17, 2023, we find a news headline that states: “25m Nigerians at risk of severe hunger in 2023, FAO warns.” Under this news headline, we read about the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO’s) warning that some 25 million Nigerians are at risk of severe hunger between June and August this year (2023). The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) identified the main causes of hunger to include persistent conflicts, climate change, inflation, and rising food prices. In addition, currency depreciation has also been listed as a factor to the problem. The…
“And there will be enough goat’s milk to feed you, To feed your household, and to sustain your servant girls.” – Proverbs 27:27. milk consumption A healthy drink – Milk, is the first food we consume when we are born. Breast milk provides the ideal nutrition for infants during their first months of life. Children are encouraged to drink up their milk so that they can “grow up big and strong.” Do we, however, tend to stop drinking this nutritious beverage, milk, as we grow older? Even as adults, should we still drink milk? For decades, scientific research has continued…
“There is benefit in every kind of hard work . . . ” – Proverbs 14:23. A talented Nigerian musician, Adekunle Gold, in one of his popular songs entitled ‘WORK,’ encouraged people to work hard. This is in harmony with what God’s Word, the Bible, recommends at Ecclesiastes chapter 9, verse 10, where it says: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do with all your might . . . ” Work – whether paid or unpaid, is good for our health and well-being. It contributes to our happiness, helps us to build confidence and self-esteem, and can reward us financially.…
Sometime in February 2022, I paid a visit to the Nigerian Postal Service’s Festac Town office located along 22 road in Festac Town in order to post some very important mails to Benin City, Edo State. These mails were addressed to important officials of the University of Benin precisely. They were very important to me because they would help me get some audience with some important staff at the university in order to resolve some serious issues for which I could not be present in person to deal with, at the time. While preparing these mails, I was somewhat skeptical…
“Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher.” – Japanese Proverb. In many parts of the world, October 5 of every year is observed as World Teachers’ Day. Also known as International Teachers’ Day, it is a day that celebrates the incredible role that teachers all over the world play and their important contribution to society. This year marks the 28th anniversary of World Teachers’ Day, and the theme for this year is: “The transformation of education begins with teachers.” On October 5, 1966, the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the United Nations…
“Foolishness is tied up in the heart of a boy* (*Or “child; youth”), But the rod of discipline will remove it far from him.” -Proverbs 22:15. “Do not hold back discipline from a boy* (*Or “child; youth”). If you strike him with the rod, he will not die. With the rod you should strike him, In order to save him from the Grave.” -Proverbs 23:13, 14. A recent news report shows that 85 per cent of Nigerian children between the ages of 1 and 14 experience violent discipline in schools, with nearly 1 in 3 children experiencing severe physical punishment.…
“Whoever holds back his rod* (*or “discipline; punishment”) hates his son, But the one who loves him disciplines him diligently.” -Proverbs 13:24. “Foolishness is tied up in the heart of a boy* (*or “child; youth”), But the rod of discipline will remove it far from him.” -Proverbs 22:15. “Do not hold back discipline from a boy* (*or “child; youth”). If you strike him with the rod, he will not die. With the rod you should strike him, In order to save him from the Grave.” -Proverbs 23:13, 14. “The rod* (*Or “discipline; punishment”) and reproof impart wisdom, But a child…
On several occasions in the recent past, I have experienced the annoying incidence of receiving torn and dirty Naira Notes from the ATM. This has prompted me to write on this matter. It has now become a regular occurrence for a person to make a withdrawal from the ATM and the ATM dispenses dirty and torn Naira notes. On one occasion, I visited the UBA branch located on 23 road, Festac Town, to make a withdrawal. When the ATM dispensed the money, I received a bad note, which was torn. I complained to the bank staff who was present at…
“A glass of MILK a day keeps black thoughts away . . . ” – Nischita Nibedita WORLD MILK DAY is observed every year on June 1. It was introduced in 2001 by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) to recognize the importance of milk as a global food, and to celebrate the dairy sector. MILK is the first food we consume when we are born. Breast milk provides the ideal nutrition for infants during their first months of life. Children are encouraged to drink up their milk so that they can “grow up big…
