ONITSHA (ANAMBRA) – A don, Dr Mulumba Obiajulu, on Friday, advised Nigerians to live above the current economic austerity facing the nation by being resourceful and innovative.
Obiajulu, a lecturer at Philosophy Department, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (UNIZIK), made the call in a paper entitled: “Poverty in the Midst of Plenty’’ in Onitsha, Anambra.
The lecture was organised by the Campaign for Democracy (CD) as part of activities marking the 66th anniversary of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights by the UN.
He said that the fall in international oil price and demand for oil should be an advantage to spur Nigerians to resourceful thinking and actions.
He added that citizens of other developing nations had found their true national growth in unfavourable economic weather.
He asked that “where lies our brain to think and our hands to put our thoughts into action; the time had passed when we point accusing fingers on anybody for our poverty and low production capacity even as individuals.
“Why are we still in self-inflicted abject poverty when the land over us is virgin, naturally watered, ever green, manured and able to sustain planted things on its own.
“Today, as far as civilisation is concerned, Nigeria has the highest untapped natural mineral deposits; and some of us due to short-sightedness we do not know that our villages and community farmlands have deposits of World-sought natural minerals.’’
Obiajulu urged youths to stop the habit of thinking of ready-made wealth and cozy offices in cities; but return to their local areas and find ways to tap and develop agricultural and natural endowments.
The lecturer warned parents to stop pampering lazy youths who feel that after 25 years or being a graduate their parents would still be wholly fending for them, adding that they should start something no matter how small or undignified.
“There is huge prospect for making millions within a year or two in farming and other natural resource tapping in the rural areas instead of wasting years roaming about the streets helpless and falling into bad companies.
“To me, it is a curse that a graduate or a young person above 25 will still be demanding for breakfast from his or her parents.
“It is such fellows that make younger ones see education as unprofitable and they develop negative impression about going to school due to some indolent ones in the neighbourhood.’’
The Chairman of CD Anambra Chapter, Mr Vincent Ezekwueme, said that the topic was chosen since poverty was one of the major causes of Nigerians not being able to defend and uphold their rights whenever it was trampled on.
Ezekwueme said that CD would continue to fight the course for an egalitarian society; where everybody counts.
He urged all Nigerians to be active and alive to issues and things happening around them. (NAN)
Austerity: Don challenges Nigerians to be resourceful, innovative
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