Why President Obama Snubbed Nigeria?

I wonder why some of us are wondering why the U.S. President chose to visit Ghana rather than Nigeria in his first trip to the African continent. The rationale for this decision is not far-fetched. Ghana is a thriving democracy, Nigeria is not!
Nigeria should wake up from her slumber, and the leadership must transform the nation positively.
Nigeria needs to be liberated from corrupt leadership; and we hope/pray God to divinely intervene in the hearts of the leaders of Nigeria within the local, state and federal levels, to provide transparent and effective leadership to the people.
Millions of Nigerian are suffering daily. No social amenities, no security, no infrastructures, yet our people pay taxes.
Nigerian government makes billions of dollars each year on crude oil sales. It is no longer news to hear that our legislators and government officials’ work together to steal the funds under the watch of our head of state, rather than use the money to build good roads, hospital, provide education, food and good life to everyone.
President Yar Adua is really a disappointment to those of us who campaigned for him, trusted and loved him as a former university professor and former governor. It’s the same thing with his Vee Pee. All are a disgrace and disappointment to Nigerian youths. Who do you want us to look up to??
Where is the rule of law when politicians use government security agents to intimidate opponents and rig elections? Look at the recent Ekiti election issues where the President could have used to set proper leadership example to his overzealous and corrupt party members. He shamelessly turned a left eye, and his party meted out mayhem at the polls and community.
Where is the implementation of the seven point agenda? We still don't have electricity from NEPA after two years of governance by this present regime. I spent two months in Nigeria this year. Only 5 times did I get light ....and it was just for 15 minutes on each occasion. NEPA won't provide steady light because the crooked Nigerian government, greedy Nigerian businessmen and international firms have collaborated to exploit Nigerians. They force the supply and sale of electric Generators to Nigerians. People living in four apartments, each turn on their generators in one building. Imagine the noise and smoke in such building. Imagine fire hazards? No Nigerian government cares about the environment yet some states are propagating going GREEN.
How many Nigerians can afford generators in their homes and businesses? Even if they can, should that be the case. We go to other nations and enjoy steady power supply. Why not in Nigeria?
Is this how to attract foreign investors?
How can people be employed when companies are folding up and moving to other stable African nations to set up factories? Now, I hear my people are rushing to Angola??
Drive around Lagos metropolis.....and other big cities in Nigeria, generator plants are all over the place polluting the air with noise and smoke. What kind of life is that??
President Obama snubbed visiting Nigeria because our leadership, government, and politicians are insensitive to the plight of the masses. They are corrupt. There is always electoral fraud in Nigeria; armed robbery at will; rape and violence against women; no police protection except if you are wealthy; police brutality and bribery at every bus-checkpoint (the Nigeria police can even insist Obama bribe them at the airport before he enter Aso Rock...that is the level of our shameless corruption...and the Inspector General of Police gets his own cut from these checkpoints/stealing of money from local bus transporters and drivers across Nigeria).
What about kidnappings in the East and Niger Delta (Government don't care since it is not happening in the Abuja and North states)? Imagine the corruption in high places (government offices will not attend to you if you don’t tip them. There has been senseless destruction and ugly policies against the Niger Delta communities, instead of pursuing peace and tranquility. How can a nation be getting crude oil from a community and refuse to develop such a place? No light, no water, no good roads, no hospitals, no school, no employment, etc, for these people....and you expect them to remain calm. They have a cause to rebel. You exploit the resources in their land, pollute their land, won't clean it up, won’t assist them and then ask them to be quiet. Go to Texas, USA; Saudi Arabia, Dubai, etc, and see how oil money transformed their place.
Nigerian leaders and politicians steal our oil money and stash them at Swiss banks, invest abroad. They snub their own people who elected them into office. “Gush, we need a ‘Jerry Rawlings’ in Nigeria since they eliminated Idiagbon”.
We must continue to let our voices be heard whether at home or abroad. Let’s keep on with the struggle for our people.
Let's hope that we can get a president one day.
Such a president will have the fear of God to turn things around. Such a president will receive phone calls from world leaders begging to come and visit Nigeria and sleep at Aso Rock.
Such a president will be glad to improve our tourism potentials and resources, scattered all over the country, give us light, security and water, build our federal roads, build industries, create jobs and encourage every states to do the same.
Such a president will be glad to present awards and honors to deserving Nigerians who create jobs in their respective communities and not overseas.
Such a president will retrieve all our stolen funds stashed abroad and reward Nuhu Ribadu for his bravery in fishing out crooks in our midst. Such a president will know that Professor Dora Akuyili should be Minister of Health and not a propagandist for inept activities.
Such a president will be the first to be at the airports in Sokoto, Calabar, Lagos, Jos, Enugu, Benin and Markudi to welcome Nigerians in Diaspora returning home to contribute to national development.
Such a president will become our leader…. Our champion.
My people, it will happen one fine day!
It happened to Barak Obama of USA.
It happened to Americans. It will in Nigeria. June 12 we lost but the glory will be back. M.K.O. is up there watching and praying for Nigeria.
Aluta continua!!

REBRANDING NIGERIA......?

REBRANDING NIGERIA......? Reflections from a Nigerian in the Diaspora!
By
Emeka Obiozor, Ed.D.

There has been calls and activities by the Federal Ministry of Information and related government institutions in our nation; all targeted at giving our dear country a new image... thus, rebranding! Yes, our image at home and abroad has gone to the abyss.
Rebranding Nigeria is not the problem. Charity, they say, begins at home. We should rebrand firstly, ourselves as Nigerians. What we should do is to reflect on our attitudes towards each other, our work ethics, our leadership and corruption in high and low places. We have to really put God first in our relationship with ourselves, in our dealing with fellow humans and Nigeria as a nation before our image is revived.

Question: How many of us are proud to be Nigerians? How do we show it? Almost all Nigerian associations home and abroad have factions, not to talk of the political parties? Why? Greed, envy and bloated egos. How many of us can make sacrifice for Nigeria no matter where we reside? How many of us can seek or take up political office without violence, cutting corners, seeking or giving out bribes, without the diabolical oath-taking with invited medicine men (Babalawos, Dibias) and use of thugs to kidnap, rob and harm our opponents or relatives?

Rebranding Nigeria should start by everyone examining his or her mind and soul. Let's start by cleansing our HEARTS, love ourselves and fellow Nigerians, support the needy and disabled, irrespective of our ethnic background, religion and status in the society. We have to avoid all the bad –isms (Nepotism, tribalism, hooliganism, favoritism, ethnicism, etc) and embrace the positive -isms like patriotism and nationalism.

The government and wealthy Nigerians should show concerns to the less privileged by investing in meaningful projects in Nigerian communities - create jobs, improve the standard of education, provide infrastructures and social amenities to the rural and urban centers. This will eradicate unemployment and crime in our cities. The youths will be busy with work and display creative skills, as well as become better citizens. This should be the route our rebranding stunts should focus on.

We have elected leaders and politicians who stole our tax money and invest abroad, creating wealth and jobs in foreign lands rather than develop Nigeria to give young people jobs and opportunities to excel (yet we are complaining about crimes). The shameless traditional rulers bestow chieftaincy titles and glorify these evil men and women. Rebranding Nigeria will begin with recovering all our monies stashed abroad by corrupt leaders and criminals in business and politics.

All of over the globe, we can find corrupt leaders, America, England, China, name it - but the difference is that their leaders, politicians and corporate moguls, still utilize the public funds to provide social amenities and infrastructures to their people, thereby creating better life and jobs. We travel abroad and enjoy these facilities but come back home to live in disease and squalor. What a shame? Tell me why didn’t the former government of Mr. Obasanjo, and now President Yar Adua construct roads, fix the electricity problems and provide other facilities the common citizen desires to live a better life in Nigeria, with all the billions of dollars the country makes daily from the crude oil? What particular agenda for nation building has the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) at the federal level realized since the past 10 years? We are still waiting for the 7-point Agenda to take off!

Many of us in the Diaspora are enjoying the goodies and comfy nations like America and Britain provides her people. There, the families of these corrupt leaders and politicians from Nigeria reside. Don't forget, some of us overseas, have parents who have stolen from Nigeria. They come here to lavish the money, throw expensive parties and show off their wealth. Woe, betide ‘em! Judgment day is coming.

When we scream “Rebranding Nigeria”, let’s begin with fixing the decaying system - Go to Nigerian universities, polytechnics and colleges, hospitals, public schools, roads, etc; nothing is working because of the greed of our people in government. They get contract funds; squander it without executing the projects. The government turns a deaf ear to the woes of the people. We can't even talk about the lame duck members of House of Representatives, Senate and Houses of Assembly in the states across Nigeria. Whose interests are they representing? Ofcourse, theirs!
In conclusion, my comrades, Rebranding Nigeria, is not our problem. Our problem is in us and our leadership. We, as a people should stand up against corruption, unemployment, nepotism, 419ners, kidnappers, police brutality and violent crimes, maltreatment of Niger Delta, among other vices meted on our folks by government and special interests in every part of Nigeria, before we can achieve positive development and image. Ask me how?

Government should begin the rebranding by being transparent, accountable to the nation, stop the electoral malpractice and violent politicking in states like Anambra State, pay teachers salaries, and provide jobs and social amenities/infrastructures. Start visiting home if you are in Diaspora, and strive to support your families and community to the best of your ability. Support the less privilege to the best of your ability. Let’s create awareness on national consciousness and discipline, attend seminars and conferences to share project ideas to better the nation. Sometimes, ideas and innovation goes a long way in proffering solutions to local, state and national issues. One never knows who has an ear to listen and support them.

Let’s encourage the wealthy people to extend their benevolence to other people who deserve it. Private firms should support government in the field of education, health, agriculture and related community development sectors. They should create scholarship endowments in higher institutions to assist the needy but intelligent students, and see to it that such trust funds are utilized properly.

This is a time to overhaul the training patterns of our students to incorporate curriculum that will provide technical and vocational skill training to young people for the graduation of middle level manpower resource base.God bless Nigeria and bless all those with positive thoughts and projects to better our homeland.

Institute of Culture & Society Spring Lectures 2009

Special Education Programs in Nigeria and China: The Journey So Far.
W. Emeka Obiozor, Ed.D.
Y. H. Pang, Ph.D.
Department of Exceptionality Programs
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

Abstract

Nigeria is the world’s most populous Black nation, while China is the most populous country in the world. This presentation will provide an overview of the historical background and views on special education, the disability categories served in these two countries, program service delivery, and its global implications to special education.

Note: Drs. Obiozor & Pang won an award for this paper which was presented to Bloomsburg University community in Spring 2009.

Policy Recommendations for Teacher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa:
The Case of The Gambia
by
Williams Emeka Obiozor, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor of Education & Exceptionality Programs

College of Professional Studies
Bloomsburg University of PA


Abstract

In an era of constant global rebirth and continuous transitions, lifelong learning process continues to prod the human spirit to take up challenges to accomplish conflicting tasks that guarantee a firm rooting in the resulting change. In addressing this universal phenomenon education is constantly evolving approaches to formal and non-formal learning that builds the capacity of an individual’s mind thus helping to channel his or her vision toward intellectual growth and achievement. Teachers in sub-Saharan African have challenging tasks in accomplishing the millennium education goal of mass education and enlightenment in their communities.
In most anthropological literature on sub-Saharan African ethnic groups, copious writings exist on how lack of quality teacher training and unavailability of teaching-learning resource materials intersect with underdevelopment, ignorance, illiteracy, poverty and the process of impoverishment on the continent. This invariably portends that a majority of teachers in sub-Saharan Africa fail to match with global trends, especially in the area of acquiring qualitative education and providing high quality teaching in the public schools.
This paper presents a critical position on the status of teacher education and training in a developing nation such as The Gambia as compared with other parts of the world. In The Gambia, teacher education continues to undergo reconstruction in different ways, all depending on the exigencies of the times and to the extent to which the democratic process allows. Also, policy recommendation for improvement in teacher training was provided in this paper for the government of The Gambia.

The full text of this paper (including issues on Girl child Education) was presented/submitted to the Gambian government by Dr. Obiozor at a special ceremony during the Global Education Initiative Summit held at YMCA, Kanifning, May 24-26, 2008. Republic of The Gambia.

15th Annual Sankofa Conference 2009

Diversity and Learning Disabilities on Campus:
The Challenges for Exceptional Black Students
By
Dr. Williams Emeka Obiozor
Assistant Professor of Education & Exceptionality Programs
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

Paper presented at the 15th Annual Sankofa Conference, at Kehr Union Conference Hall, Bloomsburg University campus, Saturday February 21, 2009.

Abstract

Diversity issues and learning needs are important areas that all students should be cognizant of – irrespective of abilities and disabilities. When exceptional Black students encounter problems coping with diverse groups of students and professors, participating in various programs and activities on campus, and faced with learning needs in the classroom; issues of drop out and a wide gap in academic achievement of students becomes imminent.

Furthermore, teachers would be faced with instructional delivery problems and classroom disruption. The outcome of not dealing with diversity and learning difficulties of exceptional Black students in a college or university setting may result in: irregular class attendance, inactive participation in class, non-completion and submission of assignments on time, disruptive and homophobic remarks in class or in the dorms, test-taking problems, poor study skills, low self-esteem and low academic achievement.

This could be as a result of a ‘hidden’ learning disability. Just like students from other diverse groups, Black students need to recognize their potentials, learning needs and abilities, and participation in social and academic activities on campus.

a. How can exceptional Black students identify their learning abilities and disabilities in the classroom?
b. What is their understanding of campus diversity?
c. Where can they seek assistance or receive academic and related support services to deal academic and social problems on campus?

This paper addressed these issues, as well as provided information to exceptional Black students of higher institutions on the strategies to identify their learning problems in the classroom, deal with diversity issues, as well access support services available on campus to preventive frustration, classroom disruption, academic probation or dropout.

Key Words: Disability Education Diversity Black Students Support Services Retention Classroom Higher Institution Dropout Student Achievement Learning

Language & Graffiti of Exceptional Individuals

Language and Graffiti of Exceptional Individuals: Pedagogical Strategies in West Africa.

By Williams Emeka Obiozor

source:
AFRICAN JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGY & JUSTICE STUDIES

http://provision.umes.edu/ajcjs/index.cfm?id=18504

NERA CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

NERA Conference Proceedings 2008

Title: The Use of Music to Teach Life Skills to Students with Emotional Disbilities in the Classroom
Author: Williams Emeka Obiozor, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania2
Document Type : Conference Proceeding
Discipline: Education

Abstract
My paper reflects on the teaching of American youths with music, lyrics and cultural rhythms --- an instructional curriculum strategy to encourage positive participation, good behaviors and learning in the classroom. This is premised on the understanding of the student’s culture and using such background to educate them. Over the period of one school year, I worked with middle school students in an Emotional Challenged Program in Maryland, teaching Life and Job Skills, Reading, Writing, Math, etc. During the lessons, different hip-hop music/artists were profiled, their lyrics and messages examined and the class discussed the effect to the youths and the society. It turned out to be a bold approach to cognitive development theory of learning; Class participation increased while Functional Behavior Support was provided for the students with greater ease.
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Obiozor, Williams Emeka, "The Use of Music to Teach Life Skills to Students with Emotional
Disbilities in the Classroom" (2008). NERA Conference Proceedings 2008. Paper
21.http://digitalcommons.uconn.edu/nera_2008/21