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Religion: A Critical Look ~ Faith Versus Medicine

Religion: A Critical Look ~ Faith Versus Medicine

Yesterday we talked about faith and culture and we concluded that faith can be planted in any culture. One don’t need to change his or her culture or his or her root simply because he or she embraced a particular faith.

Today, we are going to talk about faith versus medicine. I am hoping that today’s topic will prepare us better to understand the dichotomy between faith and reason on the day we will treat it.

To begin today’s topic, let me share a personal experience of a friend named Precious Edwin on how she almost died because her brother who is a member of Jehovah witness refused to donate blood to save her.

She wrote, “And so I almost died because my elder brother said he can’t do blood transfusion. In my subconscious, I heard the doctor saying. . . “this girl will die in 40 minutes” but my brother didn’t give a hoot! My uncles and cousins were all there, ready to donate blood but my blood didn’t match with theirs. It was my other brother that donated even though the doctor told him he doesn’t have enough to donate. It took God to bring peace to the family because I vowed I will never have anything to do with him as a brother. Today, I am the one taking care of him. What if I had died?”

Dear friends, as hard as it is to admit, the reason why the elder brother to Precious would not donate blood to safe her life was not because he does not love her or desires her well being, but simply on his belief in God (Jehovah). In other words, he is acting based on what he perceived to be God’s command.

Note this, I am not merely sharing this to talk about Jehovah witness(ers) and their beliefs but to let you know that this is not just the problem of Jehovah witness alone.

In 2016 when I worked in Lagos, one certain afternoon I decided to take a walk around the neighborhood. I heard prayers coming out from a certain building, then I decided to go closer and have a look. I saw many women inside the building. They were all pregnant women. Some, I can say, are almost about to give birth.

I noticed that the pastor will use Goya oil and rub it on the naked stomach of each women and will ask them to drink what was left as he chant some words in form of prayers.

Then I heard him praying. I will try to paraphrase: “none of you will give birth through CS. You will deliver like the Hebrew women. CS is not for believers.”

Now, you can begin to understand why some women have died alongside their babies for rejecting CS despite the doctor’s warning.

I know that there have been cases in which not having money has led people not to go to hospital, but these cases I am sharing have nothing to do with funding. There are people against medicine, even for headache. I know of a denomination in which her members don’t go to hospital for any reason including giving birth. To them it is a sign of not having faith.

I have heard a pastor telling a man using crutches because he had fracture of the tibia and fibula that it is ‘unchristian’ for a believer to be using crutches. The man tried to throw away the crutches “with faith” but ended up complicating his fractured leg even more.

Faith is not against medicine. If your faith is against medicine, your faith is not a Christian faith. People praying and laying hands on you to be cured of headache or malaria, have not done anything miraculous (I will talk more on this later).

God is not the author of confusion. He is the giver of reasoning and the giver of faith. If he can make us know things through our human reasoning thus discovering some cures, do you think he will now contradict himself with what he enables us to know through faith?

Prayer is key, and we all must pray always. And while you are at it, remember it does not mean you are faithless if you follow sound medical advice.

God will always help those who help themselves. Even ministers, including the Pope, have private doctors.

Some of your Daddy G.Os have doctors even for ant bite. Yet you are there shivering and dying of Malaria, but instead of taking medicine, you have placed Bible on your bed, rosary on your neck, Goya oil on your armpit, ‘Thank You Jesus Chaplet’ on your chest. Holy water blessed by one ‘powerful’ Rev Father on your mouth and scapular plus calendar of Mary and Stephen on your wall. . .

Farewell bro, till we meet to part no more. . .

Fr Kelvin Ugwu

WHAT CONSTITUTES DOMESTIC HELP ABUSE?

WHAT CONSTITUTES DOMESTIC HELP ABUSE?

Abuse is not only when you lock your housemaid in the toilet or pour hot water on her.

You are an abuser if:✍🏼

You feed your children sumptuously while your housemaid eats sour/spoilt food or leftover from your children’s plate.

You give her mat to sleep on the hard floor even when there is an extra bed in the house. Your only excuse is that she does not have such bed in her parents’ home.

You use your mouth to kill her slowly. From telling her how wretched her parents are on a daily basis, you also make sure you remind her daily that she is useless, stinkingly dirty, lousy, without brain, will never amount to anything in life, etc. Furthermore, you will cap it up by telling her that any day you decide to throw her out of your house she will end up in the gutter because she has nowhere else to go. 😢

Your housemaid wears tattered and oversized shoes and clothes while your own children are adorned like princes and princesses.

Your housemaid goes to school only on days you feel there is nothing for her to do for you in the house. Meanwhile your own children do not only go to school regularly, but also have home lesson teachers who continue from where the school teachers stopped.

She does not go to school with the necessary books and other required materials, not because you cannot afford them but because she is ONLY A MAID.

Your maid works like a jackal while your children, including the ones who are even older than her do nothing all day but watch television and press their phones.

She sits on the floor even during family prayer – if she is allowed to join in the prayer; simply because the seats in your living room are too expensive for her wretched buttocks to sit on.

You allow your children to insult, disgrace and humiliate your nanny or driver who is old enough to be their mother/father. As far as you are concerned a poor man/woman has no dignity.

Your housemaid cannot go out with your family because she is not neat or decent enough. Meanwhile, you are the one that bought next-to-rags for her to wear.

She cannot watch television in your house unless there is nobody in the house, after all there is no television in her patents house.

You take your children to the best hospitals and make sure they receive the best treatment when they are sick, but you are the self-made doctor for your housemaid. She does not worth your family doctor’s attention and you cannot imagine “wasting” your precious time and money to take her to any clinic. She either gets well with the paracetamol you are giving to her or be left to die. By the way sickness is not an excuse for her not to perform her chores as and when due😎

Your housemaid still uses pieces of old cloth during her menstrual cycle, but you buy the best sanitary pad for your daughters.😞

She has separate plate, cup and spoon, which must be kept at the balcony or anywhere outside your kitchen because they are contaminated🙆‍

You allow her to use detergent to bath because you cannot spend your hard earned money to buy toilet soap for her. Meanwhile, you allow her to carry, and even back your baby whom you use the best mother care products to polish their skin😁

Your housemaid is going through emotional, physical or psychological pain but cannot talk to you because you are not approachable. Some of such young ones ended in wrong hands because you scared them away from you😭

You are aware that your spouse or any other member of your household is abusing her sexually but you turn blind eye to it so as to protect the image of your family

I can go on and on but there is no need for that. I just want us to know that there are many ways we abuse the people staying with us consciously or unconsciously. Let us not be too quick to condemn those whose stories appear on social media without first of all checking our own lives and our attitude towards the people living with us.

Next time I will show us the ways we abuse our biological children.

Shalom!
Still your friend: Ijeoma Igwesi
@ familymattersng.com

THE CITY OF ABA ABIA STATE IS UNDERRATED.

THE CITY OF ABA ABIA STATE IS UNDERRATED.

The Enyimba city is indeed a great city on our soil.

Then what did the city lack and what did they need. I made my research finish to see if I can see any big manufacturing companies in the city but I see non, i research to see if the government has started any manufacturing industries but I see nothing, I only saw a land breaking of a project yet to be started which is a Garments and Leather factory. Not yet built

The only thing I saw on my research was individual manufacturing skills in the city centre of the Ariaria market from their small shops. Why has it took the Abia state governments so long to set up a big factory of massive production of Garment, Shoes, backpack, male and female bags and so on that my people in Aba are already manufacturing from their homes and small shops.

Take a look at the second picture on this post, these are shoes that are been made in the city centre of the market, they have been packed in sacks to be transport to their buyers, look at the quantity of sacks been shipped out from the locals, what will happen if the government supports their efforts and build the biggest shoe manufacturing company in Aba, just like the government of Ethiopia did for their people that made them one of the biggest export of garment in Africa

Even before I was born Aba has been on African map as a city that has performed wonders in times of local manufacturing, for years the government of the state has been sleeping over this, look at how a big revenue has been wasting for years now

Aba would have been china of Africa if the government had known what they are loosing, Aba would hav been the richest and most developed city in Nigeria if the government are with their right senses.

If only they know how much Ethiopian government are making alone in their Garment industry, just garment oo while Aba produces all kinds of wears, from head to the toe, and other leather production works.

Why is Aba city still this backward no single development with all these sharp technicians roaming around the city. Not even a big government Shopping complex is there for the people, the governor need to visit Tejuosho shopping Complex in Yaba lagos and see wonders his igbo brothers and sisters are doing there, making clothes that are been shipped to many other west African countries, why can’t made IN ABA be seen in the UK and US. Just because the government are still sleeping

Uche Nwaikuku

This is the ongoing Oba-Okigwe (Oba-Nnewi-Amichi-Ekwulumili-Unubi-Ezinifite-Uga-Okigwe) Road

This is the ongoing Oba-Okigwe (Oba-Nnewi-Amichi-Ekwulumili-Unubi-Ezinifite-Uga-Okigwe) Road

Update on Ongoing Oba-Okigwe Road

This is the ongoing Oba-Okigwe (Oba-Nnewi-Amichi-Ekwulumili-Unubi-Ezinifite-Uga-Okigwe) Road that we facilitated through strategic engagement with the Federal Executive Council of the Federal Government.

You may have recalled that I reported on this space in June 2020 that the project, which was approved for award by FEC on September 11, 2019, was awarded in 2020 after which the contractor moved to site.

However, our people have complained that work on the project is not moving at appreciable speed. To speed up the work therefore, I’m engaging relevant agencies and individuals on the need for the Federal Government to move the project into its Sukuk funding arrangement to ensure improved funding and completion in a record time.

When I talked about focusing on projects and programs that will help bridge infrastructural gap and stimulate economic growth in our dear state, this is one of such projects. There is no gainsaying that the Oba/Okigwe road is so important to the economy of our state and Southeast region.

Once again, I thank the Federal Minister of Works and the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Executive Council for approving/awarding this project.

I will not fail also to thank some of the sons of Anambra State that are aligning with me at the federal level in pushing to graduate this project into the Sukuk funding arrangement which will hasten its completion.

Note: Pictures taken last month (July 2021) at Ekwulumili axis of the road project.

AzuboguFocusingToAchieveMore

Chris Emeka Azubogu

Selling Blessings: The Sin of Our Generation – Fr. Ugwu

Selling Blessings: The Sin of Our Generation – Fr. Ugwu

For 1500 years of Christianity, there was nothing like different denominations. Being a Christian was simply being Catholic. Remember I said one thousand five hundred years.

In 1517, everything changed. The key player to this change was a Catholic priest from Augustinian congregation by name Martin Luther.

Most of us may have heard or read about the Protestant Reformation. Some people have praised Martin Luther for breaking out from the Catholic Church. Some have praised him for his boldness to confront an organization that had stood for 1500 years before him. Some have also accused him of biting the fingers that fed him.

Depending on who is telling the version of the story of what happened during the reformation, at least, everyone agrees that the reformation was the starting point to the proliferation of churches that has continued till date.

But, there is something, something very important, something that is not often mentioned whenever people talk about Martin Luther and why he left the Catholic Church. Yet, that something is the major reason behind the reformation. That something is one of the arguments supporting the reformation that is still valid till today.

That something is the fact that the church at that time was accused of SELLING INDULGENCE.

I will explain but just so that we are clear. . .

Martin Luther’s criticism of the church was not about whether Mary had sex with Joseph or not and still remained virgin. It was not about Peter’s statue in Rome whether he had beard or not or is it about Jesus’ cross whether it was a tree or a plywood.

The issue was centered around abuse carried out in the church by church leaders, the abuse was hinge on the sells of indulgence. Or let me put it in ways we will understand it today: selling of forgiveness, selling salvation, selling of God’s mercy etc.

In the time of Luther, people could buy indulgence for sins committed by donating money. The more the money the more the indulgence you could buy. It was even pushed further in ways that people can even buy indulgence for sins yet to be committed or for friends or families. No doubt, there were abuses. Whether Luther’s approach in calling things to order and subsequently founding his own Church was the best or not is a topic for another day.

But for now, we just have to acknowledge that we are repeating History in the way we preach Christianity today.

It is heartbreaking that the same Protestants and the Christian churches that are called Pentecostals who praise Martin Luther for the reformation are still the ones telling people that without paying tithes they won’t receive God’s blessings and they will die. Thus, they tie God’s blessings to money. That is the modern way of selling indulgence.

It is funny how in churches these days, those with 500k donations collect the “biggest” blessings from ministers with laying of hands. Those with 1k are asked to run to the altar to throw it on the floor. Those that have none are doomed.

Even in our harvest and bazaars, church committee in their bid to be creative to make parishioners to bring out money, they will sell apples, handkerchiefs, candles. They will tell people, if you buy the apple and eat, you will have fruit of the womb. One apple goes for 100k. If you light the candle and pray, all your problems will be over. One candle goes for 50k. If you use the handkerchief to clean your face, no devil will recognize you. One handkerchief 30k.

Let us even assume that the above is true even though it is not. Picture this: if a poor barren woman or impotent man who is seeking for the fruit of the womb is in that church, and they have not seen how 100k looks like for a year, will she/he not conclude that God’s blessings is only for the rich?

Let us think about these things. Many people are leaving the faith because of some of these abuses.

Fr Kelvin Ugwu

OVER N1 TRILLION GENERATED IN 2YEARS BY MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL ECONOMY -Pantami

OVER N1 TRILLION GENERATED IN 2YEARS BY MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL ECONOMY -Pantami

In its bid to deliver the promises made by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, to all Nigerians in terms of economic diversification, enhanced security and anti-corruption, the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and its parastatals under the leadership of the Honorable Minister, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, have generated a total of One trillion, 54 billion naira as revenue for the Federal Government through the implementation of various policies, initiatives and interventions.
The Honorable Minister made this disclosure today during the virtual commissioning of the 12th batch of the Digital Economy Projects for a Digital Nigeria at the Digital Economy Complex, Mbora, Abuja.
The 12th batch of the digital economy projects which were virtually commissioned by Dr Pantami includes; the e-Accessibility Centre in Bauchi State Orphans and Vulnerable School, Bauchi; the Digital Economy Centre and e-Learning Facility at Ogba Grammar School, Lagos; the Digital Economy Centre and e-Learning Facility at St Paul Secondary School, Eke, Enugu; the Digital Economy Centre and e-Learning Facility at the Federal Character Commission, Abuja; the Emergency Communications Centre at Leko Abdulrahman Hospital, Daura; the e-Accessibility Centre at the Alderstown Schools for the Deaf, Warri; and the Virtual Examination Centre, at the College of Education, Argungu, Kebbi State.
The Honorable Minister stated that the Communications and Digital Economy sector singlehandedly lifted the country out of recession, with ICT recording the highest growth rate according to reports given by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, NBS, in the fourth quarter of 2020.
“The Ministry and its parastatals have generated over N1 Trillion for the Federal Government in less than 2 years, this translates to an average of about N44 Billion every month or over N1.4 Billion every day”, he added.
He mentioned that within this period, the Ministry has been able to record some major achievements in the area of national policy formulation, infrastructure, national identification number enrollment, revenue generation and many more.
Dr Pantami further disclosed that about N360 Billion of this revenue was largely from Spectrum allocated by the National Frequency Management Council (NFMC), under the Chairmanship of the Minister, to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for commercial purposes. He also added that over N600 Billion was paid by ICT Companies to the account of the Federal Government through the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

“Furthermore, over Ninety Four Billion Naira (N94,000,000,000) was generated for the Federal Government and approved by the National Assembly in line with relevant laws, as part of the 2020 appropriation for personnel, capital projects, capacity building, interventions, etc. The IT Projects Clearance Programme also saved over Five Billion Naira (N5,478,007,325.23) for the Federal Government”, the Minister recalled .

Dr Pantami, while applauding the chief executive officers of the various parastatals under the ministry at the virtual commissioning event for their support and commitment, modestly disclosed that 1,667 ICT projects and Centres have been established across the country in 2years since he assumed duty as the Honorable Minister of the Ministry. “In addition to those already established, we have over 455 other projects and programmes that are ongoing. All these are in full alignment with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy for a Digital Nigeria”, he noted.

Accordingly, the Honorable Minister strongly believed that in creating and developing a sustainable digital economy, it was imperative to create a critical mass of highly skilled citizens by engaging in constant capacity programmes. “In the last 2 years, we have offered direct world class training to well over 219,198 citizens in digital skills and emerging technologies. This number does not include the many citizens that have benefited from trainings through our Centres”, he stated.

Furthermore, he said that the mass trainings were efforts geared at promoting a paradigm shift from the general societal focus on degrees to a strong focus on skills acquisition.

While speaking on policy formulations, Dr Pantami said that within his 2 years tenure as Minister, 16 National policies have emerged, which includes; the National Digital Economy Policy & Strategy (NDEPS); Roadmap for the Implementation of the NDEPS; the Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2020-2025; Sim Card Registration Policy; National Policy on Digital Identity for Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria; National Policy on VSAT Installation Core Skills for Nigerians, amongst many others that have been developed and implemented as against just one policy he inherited on assumption into the office.

The Honorable Minister agreed that a highly robust identity programme is critical to create a secure and sustainable digital economy. He further disclosed that the Ministry has significantly increased the number of National Identification Number (NIN) enrolments since the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) joined the Communications and Digital Economy family in September 2020.

“The increase of about 20 million enrolments in less than a year is unprecedented. We have also launched the Android enrolment software and have received Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval for the upgrade of critical ICT infrastructure of the National Identity Management System,” Dr Pantami announced.

Earlier, the Minister thanked the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, for giving him the opportunity to serve the nation and citizens. He also expressed his profound gratitude to the CEO’s of all the parastatals under the Ministry for their commitment and unflinching support towards him in the last two years in office.

“I want to use this opportunity to encourage all the host communities and beneficiaries of all our projects and programmes to ensure that they take full advantage of the facilities and skills for the benefit of their communities and the Nation”, the Minister concluded.

The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, while giving his goodwill message, congratulated the Honorable Minister on his second year anniversary in office. He noted that the Minister’s achievements were unprecedented and therefore gave assurances of his agency’s support and commitment into the full implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) in creating a sustainable Digital Nigeria.
“At NITDA, based on our Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan,(SRAP) we will key in 100% into the implementation of the NDEPS and cascade our activities in line with the policy”, Abdullahi stated.

Umahi hands over King David University of Medical Sciences, Uburu, to Catholic Church

Umahi hands over King David University of Medical Sciences, Uburu, to Catholic Church

…as Most Reverend Peter Nworie Chukwu is ordained Bishop of Abakaliki Catholic Diocese

The Governor of Ebonyi State, David Nweze Umahi, has announced the handing over of the King David University of Medical Sciences, Ebonyi state, to the Catholic Bishops Conference for optimum management and academic excellence.

The Governor made the announcement during the Episcopal Ordination and Installation of Rt. Rev. Msgr. Peter Nworie Chukwu as the 3rd Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki on Thursday, August 19, 2021.

He equally announced the naming of two flyovers after the retiring Bishop as a way of immortalizing his reign as a Bishop in the State.

He commended the Catholic Community for the support given to the retiring Bishop Michael Nnachi Okoro during the period of his episcopal reign.

“The contributions of the church to the Educational Development of Nigeria is unparalleled and for this, I, on-behalf of the State wish to give the King David University of Medical Sciences Uburu to the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria to own and run.

“There is a decline in our academic excellence and morality. I am not a Catholic but I believe in the discipline and doctrine of the Catholic church.

“The King David University of Medical Sciences was approved by the National Universities Commission as the 199th University in Nigeria.

“We have had a good relationship with the Catholic Community in Ebonyi State including Bishop Michael Nnachi Okoro and our dear Reverend Father Abraham Nwali.

“I am so excited with the joy of Ebonyi people to welcome you. It shows that you are highly acceptable to the people. As a Christian State, we will extend to you the support we gave to our retired Bishop Nnachi Okoro.”

He announced the donation of a Land Cruiser Jeep to the new Bishop to enhance his operation expressing hope of continued partnership with the Catholic Community for spiritual prosperity of the State

Earlier, the new Bishop of the Abakaliki Catholic Diocese, Most Reverend Peter Nworie Chukwu was ordained in the order of Melchizedek. The ordination took place at the Saint Theresa Catholic Cathedral, Abakaliki on Thursday.

In a reaction, the Vice-President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Most Reverend Nautilus Ugorji expressed gratitude to Governor Umahi for the massive transformation of Ebonyi State and wonderful partnership with the Church.

He also thanked the Governor for the handover of the King David University of Medical Sciences Uburu to the Conference and prayed to God to bless him.

In a remark, the new Bishop, Bishop Peter Nworie Chukwu thanked the Pope, the Bishops, and the Laity for finding him worthy to serve in an episcopal capacity.

“In deed, I am overwhelmed with joy to see all of you, a mammoth crowd of worshippers who have come to witness my episcopal ordination today. I thank His Holiness the Pope for appointing me as a Bishop under the influence of the Holy Spirit. I thank the Bishops Conference of Nigeria for coming in their numbers and to make a statement that I am now one of them.”

Bishop Nworie Chukwu also thanked Governor David Nweze Umahi for the donation of the King David University of Medical Sciences Uburu to the Catholic Church as well as the gift of a brand new Jeep to the Diocese.

He commended the retired Bishop Michael Nnachi Okoro for his mentor-ship role in his development in the vineyard of God and expressed hope that God Almighty would equip him with all the facilities to excel.

The Bishop pledged to dedicate all his strength to the Service of God and humanity.

Excepts from:

Francis Nwaze
Special Assistant to the Governor

Organisers unveil agenda for 7th Nigeria innovation Summit

Organisers unveil agenda for 7th Nigeria innovation Summit

InnovationHub Africa has announced the top agenda for Nigeria Innovation Summit (NIS) 2021.

The Summit in the past six years has attracted over 5,000 delegates, 100 speakers and panellists, 50 tertiary institutions and research centres and 25 government ministries and agencies, delegates from 27 states of the federation.

Also, over 50 sponsors and partners from 25 countries have attended the summit with over 60 innovation awards recipients, and scores of media coverage sharing the success stories.

This year’s Summit with focus on the theme: “Charting a New Economic Path Through Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship”, will hold Virtually on 5-6 October, 2021.

Mr. Tony Ajah, the Programme Director of Nigeria Innovation Summit, said that the platform helps Nigeria embrace innovation and move in the direction of digital transformation through the use of emerging technologies and trends, research, development, commercialization, entrepreneurship and investments as the key drivers of an innovation ecosystem.

“This is a Summit that creates awareness on the need for Open Innovation in Nigeria, and challenges Nigeria to leverage innovation to become more competitive in the global economy.

“We partner with the world’s leading innovation providers from the academic community, government, and industry in order to connect Nigerian businesses and innovators to global innovation ecosystems”.

He said that this year’s NIS will entertain speakers from government agencies/ institution, corporate organization, research institutions, and leading startups in Nigeria and around the world.

“Participation is opened to local and international businesses, organisations, government agencies, startups, entrepreneurs, research centres, tertiary institutions, and all the stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem”, Mr. Ajah added.

Grace Akinosun, Director, Marketing & Communication while speaking on the key highlights of the Nigeria Innovation Summit, hinted that there will Keynote Presentations, Interviews, Startup Presentations, NiX Talks (Expert Insights On Emerging Technologies), and Innovation Showcases and Unveiling of New Technologies, among other things. 

‘As we try to adjust to the new normal, organisations, entrepreneurs and leaders around the world are exploring different playbooks to innovate.

“What used to be a sprint is now a marathon, and only those who can leverage the nuances of the new shift will thrive. NIS 2021 is designed to address those innovative options and opportunities to steer a successful course while circumventing unprecedented challenges presented by this new reality”, said Akinosun, adding that the line-up of speakers shall be unveiled soon.

Participation:

To be part of NIS 2021, you can register via this link: https://innovationsummit.ng/registration/

Entrepreneurs need to better understand risk and fail better by failing fast and forward

Entrepreneurs need to better understand risk and fail better by failing fast and forward

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Are entrepreneurs risk takers at heart or calculated visionaries?​ According to serial entrepreneur and Ukheshe Technologies CEO, Clayton Hayward, many entrepreneurs don’t truly understand the nature of risk, which has a direct impact on the success of their business idea. He says that to be a successful entrepreneur you need to be willing to take risks with a greater vision in mind – and become comfortable with the possibility of failure.

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Hayward, who has started more than 26 businesses since graduating in the early 90s, says that globally, managing risk is probably one of the biggest entrepreneurship obstacles: “It is important not to overthink, over strategise or over plan the launch of a business. Understand the nature of the risks involved and go for it. Too many entrepreneurs let perfect get in the way of good. Timing is vital, just make a decision and commit to it.”

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While avoiding debt is critical, Hayward believes budding entrepreneurs must understand that the risk is there regardless of how good the business plan is: “My advice to first-timers: approach friends, family and fools who believe in your vision for an investment, and then take the leap.”

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He says that if you are going to fail, then do it fast and try not get lost in the process: “Get into the market as soon as possible with a minimum viable proposition and evolve the business from there. If you wait for it to be perfect, you will not get anywhere fast.”

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Along with understanding risk, it’s critical to learn from failure and Hayward urges entrepreneurs not to fear it: “We learn more from failing than we do from success. Take notes and try again knowing that you have learnt a valuable lesson and won’t make the same mistake twice.”

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He admits that it is harder to fail in the South Africa market because it is so frowned upon. Conversely, in the United States failure is regarded as part of being a successful entrepreneur: “There is a lot that we can learn from the United States where I believe entrepreneurship was born. They absolutely lead the way in how to make a success of a business and how to fail successfully too.”

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Closer to home, the African continent is filled with the green shoots of exciting opportunities according to Hayward who currently heads up Ukheshe Technologies, a market-leading fintech enabler with an eye on becoming Africa’s next unicorn: “With the launch of 5G we are expecting innovation to flourish. I am excited to assist the market to address financial inclusion and make a meaningful impact across the market. It is here that I learnt another valuable lesson: focus.”

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He says that as a serial entrepreneur, the joy is often in the chase, having several projects running concurrently. “But many have suggested that I learn to focus on one instead of many and this is what I am doing with Ukheshe. We took risks, pivoted and took some more risks, and now we have built one of the most exciting businesses that will undoubtedly exceed all my entrepreneurial dreams.”

FG STEPS UP AWARENESS ON FOOD SECURITY

FG STEPS UP AWARENESS ON FOOD SECURITY

The Federal Government in collaboration with relevant stakeholders say that it will step up awareness creation to enable youth in the country make informed decision on food choices in line with the increasing global education on the healthiest and most sustainable options for both individuals and the environment.

Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Akin Dare disclosed this today in Abuja at the occasion of the commemoration of the 2021 International Youth Day Celebration (IYD)

According to him “Government will create the enabling environment and inclusive support mechanisms to ensure that the youth continue to amplify efforts collectively and individually to restore the planet and protect life, while integrating biodiversity in the transformation of food systems in line with the objectives of this year’s celebration”.

The Minister who expressed delight as Nigerian Youth join their counterparts across the world to mark the 2021 International Youth Day Celebration explained that the President Muhammadu Buhari led Administration recognises the fact that, Youth hold a crucial role in the socio-economic development of the country, especially as we work towards the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and related frameworks.

Mr. Dare stated further that, “recent global priorities have centered on fighting the impacts of climate change, unemployment, poverty, gender inequality, conflict, and migration. Many nations including our country Nigeria, have witnessed young people’s unprecedented mobilization around the world, which has shown the massive power they possess to hold decision-makers accountable.”

He noted that the International Youth Day constitutes part of the United Nation’s broader World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY), an initiative targeted at promoting the general wellbeing and livelihood of young people with priority focused on education, employment, poverty and hunger.

Others he said, are environment, drug abuse, juvenile delinquency, leisure-time activities, health, girls and women, HIV/AIDS, Information and Communication Technology, Inter-generational issues, armed conflict, the mixed impact of globalization, and the full and effective participation of the youth in socio-economic development and in decision making process.

He stated that the theme for this year’s celebration which is: “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health”, seeks to highlight the urgency of transforming food systems, particularly in the wake of a global pandemic, stressing that it also identifies youth engagement as a key factor to the transformation of food systems.

This, according to him, is in realization of the fact that success of such a global effort may not be achieved without the meaningful involvement and participation of young people.
Mr. Dare said that it is in line with this objective that the present administration through the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development is presently training close to 5,000 Nigerian Youth across the six geopolitical zones of the country in critical areas of green stimulus, digital skills, AI and Robotics as well as in clean and renewable energy.

Earlier in his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Nebeolisa Anako said that youth involvement in every sphere of our national development plan, would not only increase investment but also promote ownership and sustainability of change interventions as well as strengthening the youth abilities to meet their own needs towards fulfilling dreams and aspirations.

Also speaking, the UNFPA Resident Representative to Nigeria, Ms. Ulla Elisabeth Mueller emphasized that, the youth have the power to make the change and difference the world requires especially in the area of health and socio-economic development.

Goodwill messages were delivered by representatives of Ministers of FCT, Women Affairs, Humanitarian and Social Development, Labour and Productivity, Agriculture, Health as well as Directors-General of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), among others.