If you were to meet a friend of a different Nationality for the first time, what place would you suggest you hang out? Well, that was the responsibility I was entrusted with last week and for a minute, I found it really overwhelming. A friend of mine told me about his friend who was new in Lagos , since I grew up in Lagos ; he thought I would be a sensible companion for his friend. Our agreement to meet a few times failed due to the nature of her job until last Thursday, which was thankfully declared a public holiday.
Consequently, I sent her an SMS to ask where she would like to hangout… Silverbird Cinema, Beach, City mall or National Museum were some choice places I mentioned. And to my surprise, she replied my text choosing National Museum and City Mall over the rest. It is not that the others were not a great place to hangout, however, National Museum did sound more interesting because it was 100% different from the rest of them. So there is a tip on what young people like: Young people like things that are different, especially if it does make them feel different and think different. For instance, hanging out in a place like National Museum will sure get you to think more deeply about life after seeing all those artistic display!
Now, our next place of call was the City Mall, the beauty about this is that my friend chose the place without knowing it was directly beside the National Museum. So there we were, moving aimlessly from one shop to another, pretending to be one of the shoppers who were taking their time to look around before making a purchase. It didn’t really matter if others knew we were window shopping, the fact remained that we were having a nice time by just doing that! Now there is another fact about what young people like to do: Young people like to chill out and engage in things that don’t place a financial demand on them. Don’t get me wrong, there are obviously a few young people out there who get fulfillment by spending the money they do not have.
Young people also like things that cheer them up. That is why you will find more young people watching MTV base over some home video. Why do you think children like to have clowns like Teletubbies at their parties? To cheer them up of course! It sure adds color to the event. Every interesting and lively thing is good stimulus for young people. Some young people also love to do drugs. I don’t exactly know why they do it or what they derive from doing it... What ever it is you like as a young person, make sure it is something that adds value to you... Don’t just attract what you think you deserve, attract nothing but the best!
"...a society that cuts itself from its youth severs its lifeline, but a society that engages their interests, enlists their talents and liberates their energies brings hope to the entire world” (Kofi Anan). Welcome to Jennifer Ehidiamen's online dairy. "Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that great generation" (Nelson Mandela).
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Friday, October 19, 2007
Is there still Dignity in YTINIGRIV?
What should we make of a society where sex sell more than anything else, where prostitution is branded with euphemistic names like "Aristos" and "Sugar Daddy" and nympho now openly call those who are not "too naive to be counted in"? Have you come across the wallpaper that reads "Virginity is not dignity but lack of opportunity"? how much truth lie in those words?
Many young people are beginning to think the issue of abstaining from sex until one's marriage night is gradually loosing its popularity vote in this generation due to societal norms. But we can't blame the society in its totality for the hype about accepting pre-marital sex as part of its norm, at least if parents, who are part of the society, were playing their role well in being a child's first educator on such issues, no amount of pressure from their peers will be able to derail their social values.
For instance, a child begins to read romance novels at the age of seven and his/her parents applaud such decision, "it will help you embellish your English" they say. Then at the age of fourteen, with no parents in sight, the child is motivated by his/her peers to try out the sensous act those novels have talked so much about. It is not a pregnant teenage daughter or a HIV positive son that eventually wakes the Parents to the reality of their failure but the knowledge of how much their "baby" has lost his or her innocence.
The moral decadence in the society today cannot be only blamed on the Parent's lack of interest in their children's activities, the media's power to casually disseminate X-rated movies under the auspices of Parental guidance or the Priest who do not directly address the youths on such issues for fear of it driving them away from Chapel... but also on our lack of taking personal responsibility!
Sometimes it does not really matter how much advice we get, we have a way of doing only what seems right in our own eyes. Thus, the decision to remain a Virgin until after marriage is a choice no one can make for us. But for those who have been deflowered or who are nymphomaniac in nature, I advice you seek professional and godly counsel. There is still dignity in Zipping up 24/7. Make that decision today and stand out of the crowd...no one else can make it for you!
Many young people are beginning to think the issue of abstaining from sex until one's marriage night is gradually loosing its popularity vote in this generation due to societal norms. But we can't blame the society in its totality for the hype about accepting pre-marital sex as part of its norm, at least if parents, who are part of the society, were playing their role well in being a child's first educator on such issues, no amount of pressure from their peers will be able to derail their social values.
For instance, a child begins to read romance novels at the age of seven and his/her parents applaud such decision, "it will help you embellish your English" they say. Then at the age of fourteen, with no parents in sight, the child is motivated by his/her peers to try out the sensous act those novels have talked so much about. It is not a pregnant teenage daughter or a HIV positive son that eventually wakes the Parents to the reality of their failure but the knowledge of how much their "baby" has lost his or her innocence.
The moral decadence in the society today cannot be only blamed on the Parent's lack of interest in their children's activities, the media's power to casually disseminate X-rated movies under the auspices of Parental guidance or the Priest who do not directly address the youths on such issues for fear of it driving them away from Chapel... but also on our lack of taking personal responsibility!
Sometimes it does not really matter how much advice we get, we have a way of doing only what seems right in our own eyes. Thus, the decision to remain a Virgin until after marriage is a choice no one can make for us. But for those who have been deflowered or who are nymphomaniac in nature, I advice you seek professional and godly counsel. There is still dignity in Zipping up 24/7. Make that decision today and stand out of the crowd...no one else can make it for you!
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Do something for Nigeria at 47...
Do something...for Nigeria at 47!
Please turn off the TV/radio and shut out all the noise around you... and thank God for Nigeria just the way things are! We will be celebrating Nigeria at 47 come October 1st. Hurray! For yet another opportunity this independence anniversary to count our blessings. Yeah, we should not spend that day counting our loses, but instead channel our energy towards thanking God for 47 things about Nigeria, draw up an agenda of how to improve Nigeria in 47 areas of your choice and perhaps congratulate other Patrotic Nigerians and tell them 47 more reasons on why they should keep equiping themselves with what is needed to move forward. Obviously, 47 is not the end of the race... the best is yet to come!
In this same atmosphere of gearing up for October 1st independence celebration, think of the following as ways we can build our commitment to the development of this country at any level:
More creativity: As we all know, some issues affecting Nigeria seems to be taking more complicated turn, thus the need for us in this generation to begin to think deelpy and create innovative ideas that will tackle such challenges. While others are moaning about the state of affairs, we should be thinking and acting on how to help solve the issues so we don't end up compounding the problem.
Civic Literacy: As citizens of this country, it is not enough to exercise our rights and fulfill obligations without fear or favour. We must all continually equip ourselves with the basic knowledge of what is happening in government or how else can we hold them accountable on issues affecting the youths if we do not know anything they are up to? Moreover, since we do not want to grow into a generation that talk out of context or criticise the government out of ignorance, it is vital that we have a willingness and ability to participate effectively in government- we do not need a ministerial position to do that!
Communication: This is not about appraising the GSM network, but about our ability to let go of our strong hold on ethnicity/tribalistic mindset. It is appaulling that so many people still discriminate against others just because they are from an ethnic group different from theirs. As a true Nigerian, we should learn to stand on a common ground of the understanding of the beauty that is in our diveristy. We should freely relate with one another irrespective of their culture and analyze or articulate our thoughts and ideas with mutual respect.
In essence, we should all be committed to doing something for Nigeria because indirectly we are also improving our lives and the lives of others. We can't develop Nigeria if the people are underdeveloped with no passion or drive for the future. We should not let the world move on without us...Happy 47th independence anniversary Nigerians! Think and act in a fresh way this new season. Be empowered and equiped with skills and attitude needed to serve Nigeria with all your might and a compassionate heart!
Please turn off the TV/radio and shut out all the noise around you... and thank God for Nigeria just the way things are! We will be celebrating Nigeria at 47 come October 1st. Hurray! For yet another opportunity this independence anniversary to count our blessings. Yeah, we should not spend that day counting our loses, but instead channel our energy towards thanking God for 47 things about Nigeria, draw up an agenda of how to improve Nigeria in 47 areas of your choice and perhaps congratulate other Patrotic Nigerians and tell them 47 more reasons on why they should keep equiping themselves with what is needed to move forward. Obviously, 47 is not the end of the race... the best is yet to come!
In this same atmosphere of gearing up for October 1st independence celebration, think of the following as ways we can build our commitment to the development of this country at any level:
More creativity: As we all know, some issues affecting Nigeria seems to be taking more complicated turn, thus the need for us in this generation to begin to think deelpy and create innovative ideas that will tackle such challenges. While others are moaning about the state of affairs, we should be thinking and acting on how to help solve the issues so we don't end up compounding the problem.
Civic Literacy: As citizens of this country, it is not enough to exercise our rights and fulfill obligations without fear or favour. We must all continually equip ourselves with the basic knowledge of what is happening in government or how else can we hold them accountable on issues affecting the youths if we do not know anything they are up to? Moreover, since we do not want to grow into a generation that talk out of context or criticise the government out of ignorance, it is vital that we have a willingness and ability to participate effectively in government- we do not need a ministerial position to do that!
Communication: This is not about appraising the GSM network, but about our ability to let go of our strong hold on ethnicity/tribalistic mindset. It is appaulling that so many people still discriminate against others just because they are from an ethnic group different from theirs. As a true Nigerian, we should learn to stand on a common ground of the understanding of the beauty that is in our diveristy. We should freely relate with one another irrespective of their culture and analyze or articulate our thoughts and ideas with mutual respect.
In essence, we should all be committed to doing something for Nigeria because indirectly we are also improving our lives and the lives of others. We can't develop Nigeria if the people are underdeveloped with no passion or drive for the future. We should not let the world move on without us...Happy 47th independence anniversary Nigerians! Think and act in a fresh way this new season. Be empowered and equiped with skills and attitude needed to serve Nigeria with all your might and a compassionate heart!