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This includes indicators such as how quickly a Nigerian can receive medical attention as well as access to cooking fuel and pre-primary education. It goes beyond the monetary measurement of poverty to the multidimensional aspects — which will not only tell us that people are poor but also list factors that predispose them to poverty. It highlights child poverty and picks up the physical and cognitive aspects of early childhood development — undernutrition, immunisation and intellectually stimulating activities. There are 15 indicators under four broad areas: health (nutrition, food security, time to healthcare); education (school attendance, years of schooling, school lag); living standards (water, water reliability, sanitation, housing materials, cooking fuel, assets); work and shocks (unemployment, underemployment, security-shock).

Oil is a curse. Natural gas, copper, and diamonds are also bad for a country’s health. Hence, an insight that is as powerful as it is counterintuitive: Poor but resource-rich countries tend to be underdeveloped not despite their hydrocarbon and mineral riches but because of their resource wealth. One way or another, oil — or gold or zinc — makes you poor. This fact is hard to believe, and exceptions such as Norway and the United States are often used to argue that oil and prosperity can indeed go together. The rarity of such exceptions, however, not only confirms the rule, but also serves to clarify what it takes to avoid the misery-inducing consequences of wealth based on natural resources: democracy, transparency, and effective public institutions that are responsive to citizens. These are important preconditions for the more technical aspects of the recipe, including the need to maintain macroeconomic stability, prudently manage public finances, invest part of the windfall abroad, ...

This world is like a big football stadium. A throng of people come either as spectators, players, or referees. At the stadium, contests are conducted and games are played. Some players play fair; some play foul. Some play wicked, some play well. Some play wise; some play foolish. All players came because of a game that had a time-limit. Whichever way we play, and how long we tarry, the game will end. This is the truth and nothing but the truth. Sometimes, humans need to sit back and think about this. Is life worth all the hassles and hustles? The answer should spell true, or deny it. This is nothing but the truth. Truth is immortal. Truth lives forever. You can suppress it but not eternally; you can deny but can’t avoid it.You can cage the truth if you want to; but you cannot break it even if you tried. Don’t think you are super-dominant when you suppress the truth; don’t sleep with both eyes closed when you repress it. Truth does not cry for justice; and it does not beg for help. Wh...

Struggle is a strenuous or determined effort to break through a brick wall of bruising situations in the face of difficult opposition. Nations struggle; so do businesses. Every human being gets a taste of life’s struggles. Some survive it, many are strangled by it. The life we live is a rollercoaster of happiness and sadness; pain and pleasure, and good and bad times. It is true that some struggles are necessary. They may be the best thing that can ever happen to us. But struggles aren’t prayed for; who wants them? They’re like living in a steaming hot pressure cooker, who salivates after them? I believe that liberation from God is often entombed in the womb of tribulation. I believe in much gain after much pain. I believe that a bundle of joy come from a bundle of hydra-headed struggles of life that men go through. I believe that joy comes in the morning after an enduring weeping that sweeps through the night. I believe in rising after falling, breaking through after a breakdown, lau...

" I caught up with my brother over the weekend. It was a disturbed man that I was talking to all through our time together. According to him,he's been having issues with his wife. He attributes the sudden change in her attitude to her brother( in Malaysia) who has made so much money and "spoiling" his siblings silly. According to him,the word of this his in-law is LAW in his household. He said that nothing he brings home is enough again. I told him that it could be just the regular husband and wife squabbles but his next words caught me off guard. He said "What about the children that she influences to become HOSTILE towards me each time we have issues?" According to him,the body language of their young son is like that of who just can't wait to grow up and FIGHT the father. This broke my heart because these are children that this man NEVER jokes with. We used to joke that he takes care of children more than a female! They have been married for close ...

One of the challenges of moving into a new country as a couple is learning how to navigate the different changes and the obstacles that may stand in your way as you gradually begin to adapt to your new lives in an unfamiliar environment. There is common knowledge that women are more likely to adapt to changes faster than men especially when children engage in the change because of their maternal instincts which stimulate their sense of curiosity to find diverse ways to help their children cope with changing situations. Change can be a huge benefit for your marriage and a fantastic opportunity for your family to form the needed connection but may be missing due to the hustle and bustle of your lives in the past.Even though a new environment may bring a less chaotic and better life but that can also bring its own challenges too. Therefore, you must all learn new ways of doing things and adapt to changing situations too. Ask for help One of the challenges facing many couples in their ...

Captain Ben Gbulie played a key role in Nigeria’s first military coup of January 1966. He is one of the few surviving officers who plotted that coup. He put in prison when the coup failed, went to war on the side of Biafra, survived a gun wound and ended up in prison again at the end of the war. He wrote a book on the war but today tells us more about the war and speaks from his Trans Ekulu residennce in inEnugu on Gowon, Ojukwu, Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, his position on the new agitation for Biafra and more. It’s a weekend delight. Enjoy it. MY TRAINING My name is Ben Gbulie, I am from Nimo in Njikoka local government area of Amanbra state. I joined the Nigeria army in March 1960; I was one of the pioneer trainees at Nigeria Military Training College, NMTC, in Kaduna in 1960. By July 1960 we completed the course and by September 1960, just before independence, those of us who were selected to go abroad were already in England. I was there at Mons Officers cadet school at Aldershot preparin...

Last week’s article started with one of my favourite phrases on corruption: ‘ identifying problems of Nigeria without mentioning corruption is corruption itself’. This is because virtually every Nigerian is seen by foreigners with the optical prism of corruption. The precarious state of our economy is believed to be more closely tied to the high level of corruption than the high level of insecurity or a major by-product of the two coupled with a low level of productivity. Again, last week’s article was tied to corruption in the public sector but most parts were unintentionally devoted to corruption at the lower rung of the public sector, probably because corruption in high places is normally publicised through many media channels. Or, probably because some of those nefarious activities at those lower levels are taken for granted as immaterial. Why, for example, should the pilfering or vandalisation of public buses by drivers be considered corruption? Or, why should printing and issuan...

Revelations have started to be made on how Nigeria got itself into the current high level of insecurity in the country. Abubakar Kawu Baraje, a former chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) on Monday traced the origin of the current insecurity in the country to the influx of Fulani from neighboring countries like Sierra Leone, Mali, Senegal, Niger and Chad brought into the country for election purposes in 2015. He said this in Ilorin as part of activities to mark his 70th birthday anniversary He also backed self-help initiatives of the South West governors, stating that re­sponses of Sunday Igboho to the herdsmen menace were necessary because the Federal Government failed in its prin­cipal responsibility to secure life and property On the recent moves by some ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) governors to woo former president, Good­luck Jonathan, Baraje said that the ruling party was only wast­ing its time. Baraje, who once served as the party’s nation...

Nigerians are incapable of discerning what their problems are. Nigerians are not able to reflect and reason out to understand the size and shape of their problem. This bothers on obstructive ancestral worldviews carried over from their African ways of thought and deployment which in turn inflicts an imbecilic disposition on how they advance their wellbeing. This could mean that a large significant section of the country presents with this affliction, thereby infecting the rest with the consequences of this situation. Apparent Issues that signify that Nigeria’s deployment as a Nation is Chaotic: 1. The Nigerian government is set up in such a way that is not functional to the wellbeing development of their people. This is because the aspirations of the people are largely uncultivated, therefore it manifests a National Objective vacuum which makes it difficult for any leader who eventually emerges to provide quality leadership. 2. Education system of Nigeria is not functional to the peo...

The state of any society can have a significant impact on marriage and the family setting, and an economic crisis can cause untold hardship leaving many couples facing financial and emotional challenges too. While some couples will continue to hope for the best in their difficult circumstances, others have taken bold and costly steps and entertained the possibility of relocating abroad leaving their careers, friends, and loved ones behind. Facing uncertainty The dynamics of the present day have compelled couples to think creatively if they want to achieve the kind of lifestyle they have often dreamed of for their families. Even though migrating may sound like the perfect step to take when couples are desperately left with no option but to take their own future into their own hands, this decision can also make or break their marital relationship if not well considered as it takes a lot of sacrifice and dedication to move to a whole new country. When you think of the sacrifices you ar...

There is a general perception affirming that money is a huge contributor to most failing and broken marriages today and many couples will agree. However, many marriages have also failed due to one person’s lack of interest and ability to serve the other even in desperate situations. Several simple factors are key to building a successful and fulfilling marriage and they also form the basis by which couples are required to grow together and meet each other’s needs. Serving is selfless Serving your spouse is a selfless act that brings greater accomplishments and a huge sense of humility into your marriage. Serving your partner also means that you can strike the right balance between understanding your own struggles and being considerate of your partner’s weaknesses too. Serving is understanding your partner’s present situation and his/her capacity to cope and showing compassion while offering her the necessary support too. An act of selfless service is waiting patiently for the right t...

QUOTE 1 It is fallacious to think you can only build wealth by working for yourself. James Dimon, the Chairman/CEO of JP Morgan, has been in that role since 2005, although the bank is not his. He was appointed like any other employee and is worth $1.4 billion today (about N600 billion). He achieved this by dint of hard work. QUOTE 2 Preparing for the years after work is for you to realise that you start preparing for retirement from the FIRST salary you collect while working. Many should realise today that they will spend long years in retirement than the number of years they spend working. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR CAREER PATH? I cannot vividly remember why I took the decision, but I was influenced by many factors, one of which was my background. I wasn’t born with a silver spoon and I started very early in life being responsible, not only to my immediate family but to my parents as well. The fear of failure was a factor. You may be very good at what you are doing. Your success w...

Insecurity is one of the biggest challenges in many marriages today with more men than women feeling more insecure than ever before due to financial incapability, lack of self-love, jealousy, past failures, or feeling worthless and undeserving of love. Living with an insecure partner can be a distressing experience that can also lead to a toxic relationship undermining your love for him. Finding a soul mate is a great accomplishment in marriage; however, not everyone is fortunate enough to find that man or woman they are destined to spend the rest of their lives with. A spouse who is not prepared to prioritise you and your marriage above all things within reason is insecure about your future together. An insecure partner has a vague perception of marriage, and the commitment is based on their own selfish interests alone. Possessive and control Insecurity can be presented through jealousy which often triggers coercive control and intimidation of the other spouse. Most possessive men ...

Example "It is like a wage earner eating lunch every day at Hilton, wearing crocodile skin shoes and with frequent flyer miles on British Airways, but living in rented accommodation with all his children thrown out of school for not having paid school fees"

British Prime Minister aspirant, Kemi Badenoch, has knocked Nigerian politicians, as she announced her bid for the top office. Her comments have been garnering reactions on TwitterNG on Wednesday. Badenoch is of Nigerian descent. She said, “I’m ambitious for our party and our country. I chose to become a conservative MP to serve and I chose this country because here, I can be free and I can be everything that I wanted to be. “I grew up in Nigeria and I saw firsthand when politicians are in it for themselves. When they use public money as their piggybanks, when they promise the earth and they pollute not just the earth but the whole political atmosphere with their failure to serve others. “I came to Britain, determined to make my way in a country where hard work and honesty can take you anywhere.” - - - The Punch

Values are the key influences that guide people’s behaviours and choices giving them a sense of self that is important for their happiness and wellbeing. Some values are inherited from the family line which can exhibit similar behaviour patterns from your spouse and his/her parents. Certain inherited values have ruined many marriages due to the couples’ lack of awareness of making reasonable adjustments necessary to compromise and balance their individual values. However, when two become one in marriage, the oneness has the capacity to love and support each other and begin to see things not only from one person’s perspective. Entitlement can be misleading A spouse’s values can make him/her feel entitled while always craving to be the centre of attention and attraction. A man who has always been treated differently among his other siblings and never allowed to own up to his own mistakes will live his adult life feeling entitled and disheartened if disregarded or neglected. This feeli...

"They will either pity you because you are coming from Africa…in fact one day a man was looking at me, a pastor, a Christian, and he started crying. I said, “ah, why are you crying, is there any problem?” He was a 70 year-old man, and he said: “God loves you anyway. God loves you. When we get to heaven, we will understand.” I asked: “What?” He replied: “Don’t be angry at God that he created you black, don’t be angry at Him, forgive Him…we will understand when we get to heaven.” That’s why he was crying. I thought he was crying because of a tragedy that happened to his family. They feel pity for you that you are black, when you now begin to come out to want to teach them, they become offended. “We are supposed to be teaching and helping you, and be giving you a hand, you now want to usurp our position, aggrandising upon yourself the things that you don’t deserve.” They now begin to tell you to know your place, to sit down. They now see a black pastor that has built an organisation ...