MOROCCO'S ASCENSION INTO ECOWAS

A high level policy dialogue on the implications of the proposed ascension of Morocco into ECOWAS was held in Abuja on the 24th of August, 2017, under the auspices of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES) - Nigeria Office and Centre for Democracy & Development (CDD West Africa). There were three sessions:

The implications of the ascension of Morocco to ECOWAS
*Economic considerations
*Security implications
*Foreign policy perspectives

There were participants from the diplomatic corps, civil society, academia, labour unions, etc. I chaired the second session on security. Some of the panelists are:

*Dr. Adewale Aderemi, Senior Lecturer, Department of Political Science, Lagos State University (LASU)
*Comrade Owei Lakemfa, Former NLC Leader & Secretary General, Africa Trade Union
*Comrade John Odah, Immediate past Secretary General of the NLC & Executive Secretary of the Organisation of Trade Unions of West Africa (OTUWA)
*Prof. Nuhu Yaqub, Former Vice Chancellor of both Unversity of Abuja & Sokoto State University.
*Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa, Conflict Transformation Specialist, Chartered Mediator/Conciliator, Academic & Chairperson, Board of Directors, National Peace Summit Group (NPSG)
*Amb. Zango Abdu, Retired Diplomat & former Foreign Service Officer
*Amb. Dahiru Suleiman (OFR), Retired Career Diplomat
*Prof Isaac Albert, Professor of African History/Peace & Conflict Studies & Pioneer Director, Institute of Peace & Strategic Studies (IPSS), University of Ibadan (UI)
*Dr. Remi Aiyede, Associate Professor of Public policy, UI
*Amb. M. K. Ibrahim, Retired Nigerian Ambassador, former Chair of the OIC & former Director, Amnesty International (AI), Nigeria
*Prof. S.A. Ibrahim, President, Nigeria Political Science Association (NPSA) & former Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Nasarawa State University, Keffi
*Dr. Jideofor Adibe, Associate Prof. of Political Science, Nasarawa State University, Keffi

The consensus at the meeting was that the admission of Morocco into ECOWAS could be detrimental to ECOWAS, and indeed Nigeria for a number of reasons, some of which are:

1) Morocco is not a West African state
2) Morocco, which is Chair of a similar moribund REC, domiciled in her country, is yet to resuscitate same. Morocco therefore has no business wanting to join a REC outside her domain.
3) Morocco is interested in which West African country would be admitted into the UN Security Council, and her choice is likely to be Senegal, not Nigeria.
4) In 2015 alone, Morocco realised $14.6b from mined phosphate from Western Sahara.
5) If Morocco joins ECOWAS, the latter's protocol on free movement of persons could be threatened. There could be security threats, since many West African, nay African countries are tormented by violent extremism.
6) Entertaining the idea of Morocco joining ECOWAS at all is a failure of Nigeria's foreign policy.
7) If admitted, the turf war between Western Sahara and Morocco could be transported to Nigeria.
8) Nigeria, and indeed West Africa have enough problems already. It is un-necessary to admit Morocco, which could further compound those issues.
9) There are no tangible benefits from Morocco's 'cheque book diplomacy'

On a positive note, participants were of the opinion that the various bilateral agreements/relationships between individual West African states and Morocco should be encouraged.

Related Links

*Understanding Morocco's application to join ECOWAS   bit.ly/2AGphXM 

*Explained: The significance of the US recognising Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara    indianexpress.com/article/explained-significance-of-us-recognition-moroccos-sovereignty-over-western-sahara.../

*Why the US should re-engage Western Sahara     worldpoliticsreview.com

HOW TO CREATE POLITICAL SYSTEMS THAT PREVENT CONFLICT

The title above was the subject matter of the discourse led by Prof. Nzongola Ntalaja at the National Defence College (NDC), Abuja on 21st June, 2017. Prof. Ntalaja is a specialist in African politics, development policy, administration and political theory. He is currently Professor of African Studies at the University of North Carolina, USA and Professor Emeritus of African Studies at Howard University, Washington DC.

Worried about the level of conflict in many African countries, including terrorist activities, Nzongola advanced three major reasons for this unpleasant trend:
*The absence of the rule of law
*Infringement of fundamental human rights
*Poor standard of living of the populace

According to Nzongola, the three problems stated above could be mitigated in African countries if:
*The 'sit-tight' syndrome is avoided by elected leaders
*Citizens' rights are extended, i.e. concentrate more on state of 'residence' rather than state of 'origin'. Exclusionary rules of citizenship should be resisted.
*Avoid hate speech, which could fan the embers of genocide and ethnic cleansing.
*Improve the living standard of the people.
*Involve civil society in the governance process. After all, governance should be about the people.
*Kleptocracy among the elite, especially the leaders should be curbed by having strong institutions which put adequate and enforceable sanctions in place to punish offenders.
*The challenge of poor infrastructure is addressed.
*The electorate should vote for 'visionary' leaders who have an acceptable ideology and have the interest of the citizens at heart.
*Economic integration should be put in top gear in each of the regions in Africa. ECOWAS is the undisputed leader in economic integration on the continent.

Animated discussion that followed had me (Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa), the Commandant of NDC, Dr. Gani Yoroms (Director, Strategic Studies, NDC), Prof. Sunday Ochoche (Executive Secretary, Victims' Support Fund, VSF) making contributions that validated Prof. Ntalaja's position. It was nostalgic to see the lead discussant, Nzongola after so many years...

Related Links

*Hate speech: What have we learned from the Rwanda genocide?     usnews.com

 

WILPF NIGERIA'S PEACE & SECURITY REPORT

Patrizia Scannella, Programme Director, Human Rights, Women's International League for Peace & Freedom (WILPF - Geneva) was the facilitator of the organisation's event on the 2nd of June, 2017 in Abuja. The validation of WILPF Nigeria's Peace & Security coalition shadow report and workshop on Universal Periodic Review (UPR) was held.

About 30 NGOs and CBOs were in attendance in order to expand the initial coalition of NGOs. Joy Onyesoh of WILPF-Nigeria gave a good account of herself by lending a Nigerian perspective to the UPR process. It was indeed a learning process for the Nigerian NGOs. There were discussions on the following thematic areas:

*Relationship between the CEDAW review, the UPR and the Human Rights Council.
*Gender risk assessment for the UPR
*The difference between the CEDAW committee and the UPR
*The CEDAW reporting cycle
*The role of civil society vis-a vis the CEDAW review & the UPR
*Review of Nigeria's reply to CEDAW committee's concluding observations
*Overview of UPR of Nigeria to date
*How to prepare for the UPR process

The committee recommended that NGOs should:

*Agree among themselves prior to the UPR meeting often held outside Nigeria
*Produce a single report or coalition of reports
*Streamline contradictions in NGO reports
*Use advocacy at the national level
*Build on one another's strengths

The meeting was indeed a useful build-up to the UPR of Nigeria. Nigeria's shadow report is to be submitted on 12th June 2017.

MY LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE: SYNOPSIS OF SIGNPOSTS IN MY CAREEER

Photo L-R: Archana Bhaskar, Director, Asia-Pacific, Common Purpose GLE & Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa

On the 18th of May, 2017, a day after my birthday, I delivered a lecture titled: 'My leadership experience: Synopsis of signposts in my career' at the University of Abuja main campus. The lecture was delivered to a potpourri of undergraduates and graduates of various universities and disciplines across Nigeria. There was animated discussion under the Chatham House rules. The session was indeed interactive.

My lecture was scheduled for the third day of Global Leadership Experience (GLE), initiated by Common Purpose in collaboration with MacArthur Foundation and University of Abuja. GLEs are run for University students in 'Magnet Cities' across the world, where large numbers - at least 100 nationalities - of the world's talent convene to study. In 2017, GLEs are taking place in Abuja, Auckland, Bangalore, Boston, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Jakarta, Lagos, Melbourne, Montreal, Sao Paulo and Singapore.

According to Common Purpose GLE, 'we live in a world that faces challenges which transcend national boundaries, demanding smarter, more inspired and globally connected leaders'. One challenge is set each year and participants on each GLE taking place that year will tackle the same challenge. The challenge for this year is 'How can you increase civic engagement in your city?'

With more people than ever before residing in cities, our urban areas are constantly under pressure as regards the environment, food security, community cohesion, housing and security. With over 75% of the world's population expected to be living in cities by 2050, governments, whether at local or national level, can't solve these issues alone. Civil society needs to be involved, and students are a critical mass of the sub-set.

Stanford University Professor and civic engagement authority, Thomas Erlich, defines civic engagement thus: 'working to make a difference in the civic life of our communities and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make that difference. It means promoting the quality of life in a community through political and non-political processes'.

Rendition of my own real life experience as a leader inspired the students to get involved in the community. I told them about how I was a student leader in the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria) in the 1970's as an undergraduate. Though I did not seek any elective post in the Student Union, I was a 'kingmaker'. No candidate could secure the votes of the female population on campus without consulting me and my group of progressive female students.

That was why when I voluntarily changed my course from Chemical Engineering to Political Science, I led my class at graduation in 1980 with a high Second Class Upper Division and a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4.2. Some of my classmates in the University of Ife Political Science Class of 1980 are: Barr. Yinka Ojora-Adejiyan (Former Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Civil Service Commission); Oba  Dokun Abolarin (Orangun Oke-Ila) and Hon. Funminiyi Afuye (Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly). 

I started my working career as an Advertising Executive after my M.Sc in Political Economy from the University of Lagos, Nigeria in 1982. After that I joined the Guardian newspaper at inception in 1983 as Senior Reporter and the very first National Assembly Correspondent. While at The Guardian, I 'reported' both the Upper (Senate) and Lower (House of Representatives) Houses of Parliament. I wrote a weekly Column, 'The Legislature', which became very popular and authoritative. I met my husband, Femi Kusa, who was then the News Editor, in The Guardian newsroom.

I needed flexi-time to care for my young children after marriage. I chose to start a career as an academic in Lagos State University (LASU). I lectured there for about 20 years, where I rose to become Head of Department of Political Science and the first Director of the Centre for Refugee & Conflict Studies. In fact I set up the Centre in 1997. Then the Sierra-Leoneans and other nationals were harboured  by Nigeria in Oru camp, Ogun state. The leader in me made me plant lemon grass in the camp to alleviate the incidents of malaria. Condoms were also provided to the refugees. Within a year, my leadership initiatives led to a drastic decrease in the number of unwanted pregnancies/HIV/STD/Malaria among refugees.

From LASU, I was appointed the first Director of the Department of External Conflict Prevention & Resolution, Institute for Peace & Conflict Resolution (IPCR), The Presidency, Abuja. There, as a leader, I formulated the project, 'Post-Conflict Peace-Building in Africa' which was the very first project approved for IPCR by the National Assembly! All other departments had to latch on to my project in order to get busy and make my project relevant in some way to their department. Another first by me!

I retired in 2010, and instead of sitting pretty and living the idle life of the typical retiree, I set up a viable Consultancy: 'Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa & Associates', where along with my dynamic team we have been involved in conflict transformation in the Niger Delta & North-East Nigeria at various times. In retirement, I am a non-resident Senior Fellow of Centre for Democracy & Development (CDD) - a think tank for social/political engagement. It was after retirement that I concluded my second Ph.D in Peace Studies on line. The title of my thesis is: 'Mediation: A viable method of conflict transformation in Nigeria'. My first Ph.D is in Political Science.

My audience was indeed fascinated by my leadership odyssey. I have shown that you can be a career woman and also be a successful wife and mother. My marriage to Femi Kusa, a veteran journalist/herbal medicine practitioner is 34 years young and still counting. Our three adult sons have turned out very well. My first son, Tope Kusa is a Medical Doctor (MBBS) with an MPH degree from Harvard University (2015). He is a Clinical Research Coordinator at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston. My second son, Seun Kayode Kusa, a law graduate, is now a content provider for start-ups/herbal medicine enthusiast/Chartered Mediator & Conciliator. He is a law graduate of the University of Abuja, where I delivered the lecture. My last son, Ayokunnu Kusa, is a graduate of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (Animal Breeding & Genetics - Upper 2nd, GPA 4.09). Ayo is an Agro-preneur who operates within the agricultural value chain via innovation. 

There are major points to ponder from my leadership experience:

*It is not necessarily what you study in the University that would eventually put food on your table. I read Political Science, but ended up with Peace/Conflict Transformation & Mediation.
*Seize every opportunity at your disposal, never take anything for granted. I attended all the courses as a Director in the Presidency. Some of the papers I presented at conferences became useful for my Ph.D
*For female mentees: It is quite possible to be a career woman and also a successful wife/mother. I am a living example. My husband, Femi Kusa, has been very supportive.
*You can pick up leadership qualities in the most unlikely places, even while watching children play.
*Always pay attention to detail.
*Serve your superiors diligently, just like you would like your subordinates to relate to you when you become a leader.
*The fact that I was the first Director of the Centre for Refugee & Conflict Studies stood me in good stead to become a Director in the Institute for Peace & Conflict Resolution, The Presidency. Moral of this: Do your very best in every position you find yourself, it may be a stepping stone to bigger things!
  
It was indeed pleasant to share my leadership experience with the students. I also met the amazing Common Purpose GLE 'crew' that came to Abuja:

*Archana Bhaskar, Director Asia-Pacific, Common Purpose GLE
*Adeola Ogunkolade, Founder, African Fashion Development & Empowerment Centre (AFDEC)
*Kosi Okolo, Programme Manager, Common Purpose GLE

How can I forget Ridhima Tomar, the first person to contact me from Common Purpose via Linkedin. Pity Ridhima could not be with us in Abuja due to logistics issues. However, she stayed constantly in touch via email throughout. It was an exciting time mentoring the younger ones as regards my leadership experience! Kudos to the Common Purpose GLE team. Bravo!

Related Links & Hints

*IQ in leadership   https://hbr.org/2004/01/what-makes-a-leader...

*How fearless women lead    t.ted.com/LMONIyx

*Manage your energy, not your time    hbr.org

*Mentoring others will actually make you less stressed at work     thriveglobal.com/stories/mentorship-stress-reduction-purpose-at-work/

*Recovering from trauma - into our own truth     https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/recovering-from-trauma.../

*How to become your own mentor    entrepreneur.com

*How young bosses can manage older subordinates     thriveglobal.com

*11 essential elements your primary website must contain     entrepreneur.com

*8 tips for recognising a manipulative person    entrepreneur.com

*12 keys for a successful Mentor-Mentee relationship  thriveglobal.com

*Mentoring: Another form of therapy?    thriveglobal.com

*Become an expert at talking to strangers    entrepreneur.com

*Driving mentor-ship through culture & values      thriveglobal.com

*How to be an expert: What does it really take to master your trade? by Prof.Roger Kneebone    newscientist.com

*The secrets of leadership presence for every woman leader     entrepreneur.com

*4 investment mistakes women often make    entrepreneur.com

*In a world of noise, learning to switch off your mind is a super power     entrepreneur.com

*Don't make these financial mistakes    entrepreneur.com

*How to get paid what you are worth    http://t.ted.com/YhSOVkS

*It's never too late or early to become an entrepreneur    entrepreneur.com

*5 major components of an entrepreneur    entrepreneur.com

*4 ways to stop attracting people who can't pay for your services    entrepreneur.com

*How to be happy when you spend time alone   thriveglobal.com/stories/how-to-enjoy-alone-time-solitude-prevent-sadness-negativity-lonely/

*A successful CEO does 3 things: Culture/People/Numbers    entrepreneur.com

*Never say 'I have no choice' ever again: 5 choices you always have when you find yourself stuck    entrepreneur.com

*Why some people get burned out & others don't  https://hbr.org/2016/why-some-people-get-burned-out.../

*Stop perfectionism from slowing you down    thriveglobal.com

*Advantages & disadvantages of Online learning    elearningindustry.com

*How to reduce financial stress & build sustainable spending habits    thriveglobal.com

*Struggling with Impostor Syndrome? Helpful tips    thriveglobal.com

*3 lies they tell you in school that hurt you in business    entrepreneur.com

*Dealing with uncertainty in the second half of life         careerpivot.com    https://bit.ly/2Jy3MNI

*What is Bitcoin? A simple investing explainer     entrepreneur.com

*How to have conversations with people who hate you     http://t.ted.com/K1uMLGl

*'Personality Intelligence': What does it mean?    entrepreneur.com

*Public Speaking nightmare: How to shut down bullies & hecklers    entrepreneur.com

*How to stop worrying about what other people think of you   hbr.org/2019/05/how-to-stop-worrying-about-what-people-think-of-you/    

*Pressure doesn't have to turn into stress: 4 steps to stop it    hbr.org

*Quality sleep can transform your mood & make you more empathic    https://bit.ly/3eSPYNc    thriveglobal.com/stories/stress-quality-sleep-improves-mood-kindness-empathy-compassion-cov/

*How to build a great relationship with a mentor    hbr.org/2020/01/how-to-build-great-relationship-mentor/

*10 sites for Free Online Education:

1) Coursera - https://www.coursera.org

2) edX - https://www.edx.org/

3) Khan Academy - https://www.khanacademy.org

4) Udemy - https://www.udemy.com/courses/free/

5) iTunes U Free Courses - https://www.open.edu/itunes/

6) MIT Open Course Ware - https://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm

7) Stanford Online   https://online.stanford.edu/free-courses

8) Codecademy - https://www.codecademy.com/

9) Open Culture Online Courses - http://www.openculture.com/freeonlinecourses

10) Alison - https://alison.com/

*Why you should create a 'Shadow Board' for younger employees   https://trib.al/Kt1zSRS

*Curbing 'Implicit Bias': What works & what doesn't   https://www.discoverymagazine.com/mind/curbing-implicit-bias-what-works-what-doesnt/

*Skills recruiters look for in Online Workers   linkedin.com/feed/news/the-wfh-skills-recruiters-look-for-4224649

*Learning should be accessible to all   https://learnathome.ng/login/signup.php

*5 hidden causes of stress & anxiety   thriveglobal.com/stories/hidden-causes-anxiety/

*Starting afresh, with the end in mind: CoV has urged us to rethink our relationships and truly savour our time   thriveglobal.com/stories/starting-afresh-with-end-in-mind/

*Good leadership is an act of kindness   https;//hbswk.hbs.edu/item/good-leadership-an-act-of-kindness/

*10 surprising health care rituals to try when you feel stressed/anxious   thriveglobal.com/stories/unexpected-self-care-in-a-pandemic/

*3 traits to build EI   richdad.com

*The connection between empathy towards others and ethics   https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/empathy-and-relationships/201701/the-connection-between-empathy-towards-others-and-ethics/

*Temperament causes the downfall of another CEO   https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/temperament-causes-downfall-of-ceo/

*How to keep work stress from killing you, literally     forbes.com/sites/bryanrobinson/2020/11/27/how-to-prevent-work-stress-from-killing-you-literally/

*Social Intelligence strategies for for start-ups   entrepreneurs.com/article/357851...

*Productivity tools & Apps to help you achieve more by Oladayo Idowu

-10 Apps that solve problems for free    https://www.facebook.com/groups/opennetwork/permalink/1094844.../

-12 Websites that solve problems for free    https://www.facebook.com/groups/opennetwork/permalink/1099512

Productivity Tools:

1) Momentum: Browser extensionthat keeps you focused on your work.

2) Accompany: Your PA

3) G Board: Mobile keyboard from Google. Good alternative to switch key. Google search integrated into keyboard.

4) Stay Focused: Free Chrome extension that blocks sites or Apps that consume time.

5) Escape 2: Tracks how often you are distracted.

6) Just Press Record: App that helps record my voice just by one tap.

7) Panda: Go to source for professional Designers.

8) Asane: Web & Mobile App that puts your team's communication & PM in one place.

9) Plan: Calendar & task management App for your desktop.

10) Google Drive: Organise & share any files. Offers Cloud storage.

11) Newton: Puts all your email accounts together.

12) Spark: Pops emails on top of list.

13) Freedom: Productivity App that blocks the sites that waste your time.

*Essentials of EI by Daniel Goleman   https://marketplace.geteverwise.com/products/daniel-goleman/

*'Mask of perfection: A Personal Story of Breakdown & Recovery by Karen Banks   www.karenbanks.com

*Elevator speech & video meeting tips: A 'Disclaimer' increases your credibility and attention to your message   https://lnked.in/eiW-7nZ

*Why it's important to brag about yourself to yourself   www.margogeller.com/2020/09/why-its-important-to-brag-about-yourself-to-yourself/

*Making good decisions through positive thinking - John Kraus   https://youtu.be/TiI_knh6BZg 

*The key to steering clear of burnout   https://www.fastcompany.com/90550785/how-to-intentionally-build-break-times-into-your-workday/

*Community helps re-build elderly woman'shouse   edition.cnn.com/2020/04/24/us/iyw-community-helps-rebuild-elderly-womans-house/

*10 qualities of bad leadership to avoid   idscreate.com/2020/09/25/ten-qualities-bad-leadership-o-avoid/

*Tips to develop a growth mindset in kids: Make then successful, strong & resilient   thriveglobal.com/stories/tips-develop-growth-mindset-confidence-success-resilience-kids-parents/

*What you experience may not exist: Inside the strange truth of reality   newscientist.com

*If you are not outside your comfort zone, you won't learn anything   https://trib.al/FAQsqs

*7 growth mindset principles   entrepreneur.com/article/355794?fbclid.../

*17 passive income ideas for increasing your cash flow   https://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/299914/emy/courses/...

*How DNA defines us: What makes us who we are - Nature or Nurture?   https://iai.tv/iai-acad

*Quit these unhealthy habits   thriveglobal.com/stories/unhealthy-habits-you-need-to-stop.../

*Relive stress in a few seconds   thriveglobal.com/stories/relieve-stress-tips-tricks/

*Home Schooling Tips: How to navigate it with less stress   thriveglobal.com/stories/homeschooling-tips-for-parents-virtual-learning-kids-strategies/

*Should you consider early retirement in a recession?   https;//on.wsj.com/2SGmojN.../

*These 40 Websites will make you smarter, intelligent & rich in just 20 minutes a day   https://continentalreporters.com/these-40-websites.../

*Public Speaking: Should you gesture to persuade an audience?   https://lnkd.in/g9-WU6p  #gestures  #publicspeaking  #presentations

*The power of Small Wins: Help workers see their own progress   hbr.org

*Integrating SDGs into Business Plans   bit.ly/3k35Qi1

*What it takes to give a great presentation   hbr.org

*Thoughts on birthdays & aging   thriveglobal.com/stories-powerful-thoughts-on-birthdays.../

*Tips to prevent work from taking over your weekend   thriveglobal.com

*Vacation is important   thriveglobal.com

*The silver lining of social distancing: Isolation could provide a big benefit   thriveglobal.com

*Your decision-making ability is a superpower Physics can't explain   newscientist.com

*Single tasking is the way to go now: Let go of the busy-ness of multi-tasking   thriveglobal.com

*Why you should fit a quick nap into your work day   thriveglobal.com

*How to upgrade your thinking to avoid traps that make you look stupid   newscientist.com/article/mg24132180-100-how-to-upgrade-your-thinking.../

*7 Do's & Don'ts to remember when disagreeing with your spouse   beautifulchristianlife.com/blog/7-dos-donts-disagreeing-with-spouse/

*Free tools to create your online courses:

1) Windows Snipping Tools for flexible cropping of images on your computer

2) Screen capture (Google Chrome extension) for capturing & editing a full webpage & creating illustrations. It can also convert your captured page to PDF.

3) Canva App for awesome slide design++

4) Zoom meeting App for screen recording of your course content.

5) Google doc 7 Google form for creating landing pages if you have no website.

*Nation-building roles created by Deepa Iyer   medium.com/@dviyer/mapping-our-social-change-roles-in-times-of-crisis-8bbe71a8ab01

-Weavers

-Experimenters

-Front-line Respondents

-Visionaries

-Builders

-Caregivers

-Disruptors

-Healers

-Storytellers

-Guides

*The meaning of 'Self Made'   linkedin.com/news/story/idea-of-the-day-the-meaning-of-self-made-4248033/

*I-We-You: Tips for Speakers & Writers   https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/i-we-you-tips-speakers-writers-dave-bricker

*How your face shapes your economic chances   theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/08/the-economics-of-your-face/375450/...

*The psychology of why people believe 'Conspiracy Theories'   https://lissarankin.com/the-psychology-of-why-people-believe-conspiracy-theories/

*Turkish garbage collectors opened a library with all the books they got from trash cans   https;//www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-abrahams/

*5 ways to set healthy boundaries in your life   thriveglobal.com/stories/how-to-set-boundaries-avoid-frustration-stress-tips/

*Mindset shift when spending time alone   thriveglobal.com

*The Precariat: The new dangerous class by Guy Standing    researchgate.net/publications/296485856_Guy_Standing_2011_The_Precariat.../

*The Precariat & Class Struggle - Guy Standing, SOAS, London University, UK   https;//journals.openedition.org/rccsar-585.pdf

*The Precariat Dilemma by Guy Standing   fabians.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/guy_standing_changing_work.pdf

*Meet the Precariat, the new global class, fueling the rise of populism   weforum.org/agenda/2016/11/precariat-global-class-rise-of-populism/

*Why the Precariat is not a 'bogus concept'   opendemocracy.net/en/why-precariat-is-not-bogus-concept/

*Why being part of the Precariat is harder for some than others    theconversation.com/why-being-part-of-precariat-is-harder-for-some.../

*5 habits of highly intimate people (including Entrepreneurs)   entrepreneur.com/article/357308?fbclid.../

*4 myths about finding purpose   thriveglobal.com/stories/myths-finding-your-purpose/

*Kamala Harris makes history as 1st female American VP   entrepreneur.com

*While the world counts votes, consider counting stars   thriveglobal.com/stories/while-world-counting-votes.../

*Types IN people,not types OF people    next-element.com

*Book review: How to market a book: Over-perform in crowded market    buildbookbuzz.com

*How craving attention makes you less creative     http://t.ted.com/pDyn4dU

*3 tips for better Author Blogs   buildbookbruce.com/3-tips-better-author-blogs/

*15 ways to command attention during virtual meetings   https://bit.ly/3nv8fDB   diresta.com/knockoutpresentationsblog/engage-your-audience-during-virtual-meetings-1

*Are you developing skills that won't be automated?    https://trib.al/WjXIEx0

*Sacrificing retirement savings to help family members can be a mistake   wsj.com

*10 Apps that solve problems for free by Oladayo Idowu:

-Suliminal Lite: Can help you relax, feel good, quit bad habits like smoking & hard drugs. Great tool for assimilation for students.

-Otter: Transcribes voice conversations.It can transcribe MP3 & Videos into text, which can be easily exported to your notepad or MS Word.

-Audible: Entrepreneurs get their ideas from here. Allows you to listen to any book you wish to read without having to focus on reading.

-Bitwarden: Generates random, strong passwords, saves all paswords and enables you access them. Particularly useful when you log into unsafe sites on the Internet. It has a two step authentication & great customer support.

-Mint: Free money manager & financial tracker App. Useful for Start-Ups. Brings together your bank accounts, credit cards, bills & investments so you know where you stand, track your spending & enables you to save while staying on top of your bills.

-Buffer: Enables you schedule your social media posts according to the time when your target audience is active.

-CamScanner: App allows you to scan. It works by using a camera function with the App. The following are the steps: a) Take a piece of paper you want to scan. b) App then recognises the corners of the sheet & outlines it to crop it in a way that makes it look perfect.

-Grammarly: Writing keyboard App that makes sure that everything you type is notonly correct, but also clear and easy to read.

-Todo: Allows you to view your daily task summary & customise alerts based on deadlines.

-AddMusiToBackgrund: Allows you to add a song/beatto your recorded voice, and make it sound better, as if it was done in the studio. Good for 'voice broadcasts'.

*How to take better notes for information retention   https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/note-taking-better-notes-retention-remembering-information/

*'Editing yourself '     http://bit.ly/2ELGn7x      How to get rid of stuff while editing yourself    http://bit.ly/2FK2QU2

*Top-rated courses to help improve your social media skills     https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/358747.../

1) What is Social? Coursera by NorthWestern (4 weeks)

2) HubSpot Social Media Strategy Certification

3) Google Analytics

4) Hootsuite Social Marketing Course

5) Facebook Blueprint (Fb Certified Digital Marketing Association)

6) Hootsuite Advanced Social Advertising

7) LI Learning - Social Media Marketing Foundations

*15 ways to spot a toxic workplace (environment) before you take the job    entrepreneur.com/article/358814.../

*Today's leaders need vulnerability, not bravado   https://trib.al/AHPcnUf

*15 career lessons from Elon Musk, etc    entrepreneur.com/article/359439.../

*The neuroscience of trust    https://trib.al/98EWKJT

*Stop stealing your audience's time: Your presentation shouls be of value    https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/stop-stealing-audience-time-lisa-braithwaite/

*3 consequences of when introverted leaders women leaders put on an extro persona    https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/3-consequences-introverted-leaders.../

*Velocity of money: The secret to how the rich get richer & the poor get poorer    richdad.com/velocity-of-money-robert-kim-blogs/

*5 leadershiplessons from JFK 57 years later    https://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/5-leadership-lessons-jfk.../

*15 strategies to overcome self-doubt when Impostor Syndrome strikes   thriveglobal.com/stories/tips-impostor-syndrome-how-to-overcome-self-doubt-inner-critic/

*5 steps to becoming a genuine authority in your industry    entrepreneur.com

*The power of introverts    http://t.ted.com/A5pfotK

*'Fitting in' is over-rated    entrepreneur.com/article/360263.../

*4 outdated rules every business owner needs to ditch    entrepreneur.com

*It's time to admit it: Remote learning is a failure    washingtonpost.com

*A High School in Texas opened a grocery store for struggling families, where good deeds are accepted as payment for commodities    cnn.com

*Working from home? Get paid to write stories    readictnovel.com

*4 ways to re-skill the global workforce    bit.ly/2JVWt6l

*Shift your money mindset & watch your fortune grow    entrepreneur.com/article/359329?fbclid=

*What businesses will look like in 2030    entrepreneur.com

*How to build an effective 'home office'    entrepreneur.com

*3 businesses you can start with little or no money    entrepreneur.com/article/359554.../

*Vulnerability makes a leader strong, not weak    entrepreneur.com

*Why tenacity is one of the most critical, but overlooked entrepreneurial skills    entrepreneur.com

*You are not really rich if you are not giving back    richdad.com/giving-back?feed=robert-kim-blogs.../

*How to build an effective home office    entrepreneur.com/article/360245.../

*4 skills you should have learnt in 2020: Coding/PM/Digital Marketing/Analytics/     entrepreneur.com

*75 ideas for business you can launch for cheap or free    entrepreneur.com

*Why compassion is a better managerial tactic than toughness   entrepreneur.com

*Why the 'self-made entrepreneur' is a myth    entrepreneur.com

*'In-person meetings aren't the gold standard anymore: Business travel & office work won't return to normal after Covid-19':- Bill Gates    africa.businessinsider.com/tech-insider/

*Join us to read for 21 minutes daily    #Read21in21!    https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/join-us-read-21-minutes-everyday-2021-read21in21-gretchen-rubin/

*Energy vampires: Assessing your relationships    thriveglobal.com/stories/energy-vampires.../

*How to stick to your goals through setbacks & rejection    thriveglobal.com/stories/how-to-stick-to-your-goals.../

*Here's what international tests tell us about how to improve education     on.forbes.com/6012HTVwM

*How to be friends with someone who works for you    hbr.org    https://t.co/4XIejrlm1Y?amp=1

*The complete 12-step guide to starting a business    entrepreneur.com

*How brands can develop a winning social media marketing strategy in 2021    entrepreneur.com

*The science of how to stick to your new year resolutions & truly change your habits    edition.cnn.com/2021/01/01/health/new-year-resolutions-wellness/

*5 ways to keep engaged during boring online meetings    entrepreneur.com

*Driving the road to (unreasonable) success    entrepreneur.com

*How Steve Jobs turned setbacks into success    entrepreneur.co

*How Mangers can prevent their teams from burning out    hbr.org

*Attracting affluent clients on social media    https://www.entrepreneur.com

*How your small business can take down Goliath    entrepreneur.com

*5 business survival tips for 2021    entrepreneur.com

*TED Talks for motivation - Adaptation quotient/Fight your inner critic/reframe your failures/replace 'sorry' with 'thank you'     thriveglobal.com/stories/ted-talks-meaningful-inspiring/lessons-wisdom/

*Are entrepreneurs narcissists?    entrepreneur.com

*Lessons from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for Millennials & Gen Z    https://goodmenproject.com/features-content/lessons-from-mlk-for-millennials/

*17 inspirational quotes by MLK Jr.    https://www.inc.com/.../17-inspirational-quotes-by-mik/

*Honouring Dr. MLK Jr. on our way to the promised land    https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/honouring-dr-mlk.../

*100 best websites for writers    https://linked.in/dJGPwu

*How to lead in a crisis    t.ted.com/Kzou1cn

*Elon Musk's essential tips for aspiring entrepreneurs    https://www.gobankingrates.com/money/entrepreneur/elon-musk-tips-for-entrepreneurs/

*25 habits to achieve happiness    entrepreneur.com

*The difference between a growing business & a growing brand    entrepreneur.com

*Can exercise make you more creative?    nytimes.com

*Practical EI for Leaders & Managers    https://practicalemotionalintelligence.teachable.com/leaders-managers-ei/

*'Failure is not an option': What Apollo 13 teaches about problem-solving for entrepreneurs    entrepreneur.com

*A step-by-step guide to writing a business plan for start-ups    businessinsider.com

*When executives mis-speak: The modern boss is a Cheerleader, not a Sergeant-Major    economist.com

*How humble leadership really works    hbr.org

*5 types of people you need to remove from your life    goalcast.com/2020/05/29/fake-friends-toxic-people-avoid-for-better-life/

*Online courses from Google    learndigital.withgoogle.com

*8 small ways we can protect the environment on a daily basis    thriveglobal.com

*The secret of discovering your creativity by Ethan Hawke (Actor)    http://t.ted.com/0DwBth7

*You are more resilient than you give yourself credit for. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone    hbr.org

*The differencebetween Goals, Strategies, Metrics, OKRs, KPIs & KRIs by Daniel Miessler    danielmiessler.com

*How journaling can help you live your best life    wsj.com

*Knockout presentations: How to deliver your message with power, punch & pizzazz    amazon.com

*How to boost your self-awareness and make better decisions    newscientist.com

*5 ways to build a healthy social media relationship    thriveglobal.com

 

   

   

    

 

   

 

    

 

FROM RHETORIC TO ACTION: A CALL FOR WOMEN'S POLITICAL INCLUSION

The Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF) in collaboration with Women in Politics Forum (WIPF) and Voices for Change (V4C) held a conference to mark 2017 International Women's Day (IWD). The theme was 'From rhetoric to action: Gender champions speak for women's political inclusion'. The meeting was held between the 1st and 3rd of March, 2017, in Abuja.

Gender champions, including Federal and State legislators from all over Nigeria participated. At the end of the meeting, the delegation to Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and Political Party secretariats presented a Charter of Demands (CoDs). In precis form, the following are the women's demands:

*Women should be mainstreamed in political leadership at all levels - federal, state and local government. At least, 35% is demanded.
*Expunge the Delegate system in Political Party nomination. Option A4 is proposed for all card-carrying Political Party members.
*There should be 'gender rotation' around Senatorial Districts. Such seats should be 'rotationally' reserved for women.
*Expression of Interest and Nomination Form fees should be 'reasonable' for all prospective candidates. There should be a significant reduction in these fees.
*The NWTF should be adequately funded so that qualified female candidates could be supported.
*There should be Internal Party Democracy (IPD) to prevent the imposition of candidates.
*There should be a ceiling for funds candidates can expend on Primaries.

Some of the participants are:

*Barr. Ebere Ifendu - President WIPF
*Mrs Olufunke Baruwa - CEO NWTF
*Senator Binta Masi Garba
*Rt. Hon. Jumoke Akindele
*Hon. Mulikat Adeola-Akande
*Mrs. Hafsat Abiola-Costello
*Iyom Josephine Anenih - Fmr. Minister, Women Affairs
*Prof Remi Sonaiya - Fmr. Presidential candidate (KOWA Party)
*Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa - Chairperson, Board of Directors, National Peace Summit Group (NPSG)

The presentation of the Charter of Demands to IPAC and Political Party secretariats was indeed a novel step. I hope IPAC and the relevant Political Parties would table same during their dialogue sessions for necessary action. As a peace advocate, I envisage that the eventual implementation of these demands would engender gender inclusiveness and equity for all...

AGRICULTURE FOR PEACE

The Summit with the theme: 'Increased agricultural productivity for sustainable growth' was held in Abuja, 14th January, 2017. The following were the participants:

*Dr Mike Omotosho, CEO Mike Omotosho Foundation - Convener
*Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II - Keynote Speaker
*Prof. Jacob Olupona, Harvard University, USA - Co-chair
*Dr. Angel Adelaja, CEO/Founder Fresh Direct Nigeria - Discussant
*Prof. E. Ajayi, Registrar/CEO, Nigeria Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) - Discussant
*Jon Eberly, CEO Clock Four, California, USA - Discussant
*Arc. Kabiru Ibrahim, National President, All Farmers' Association of Nigeria - Discussant
*Tony Obuh, Proprietor, Toni-Chuks Farms - Discussant
*Cyril Anyanwu, Bank of Industry (BoI) - Discussant
*Dr. Olasupo Musa, Development Specialist - Discussant

All the presenters and discussants were dissatisfied with the fact that Nigeria spends about $10b annually on food importation. A nation that cannot feed itself automatically drops from the third world to the fourth world! As a conflict transformation specialist, I found Ooni of Ife's suubmission that "In Ile-Ife today, the youths are no longer carrying guns because most of them are gainfully engaged on the farms. The 'guns' they carry now are ideas and hard work to shoot down poverty". For me, this was the high point of the event - the fact that agriculture is successfully being used as a tool for peace.

The Ooni has partnered with the BoI to secure soft loans for youths who return to the farm. I wish other monarchs could emulate the laudable steps taken by the Ooni. Other communities should copy the Ife example to reduce the youth bulge through sustainable engagement in agriculture. When the youths are gainfully engaged in agriculture, they stay out of trouble and drugs. This state of affairs could engender peace in any community.

While returning the youths to the farm for prosperity and peace, I agree with Dr. Angel Adelaja, CEO of Fresh Direct that the totality of the agricultural value chain should be targeted, not just farming. Besides, more emphasis should be placed on organic produce and advanced technology for agriculture like hydroponics to get maximum yield from minimal land. The possibilities in agriculture for peace and sustainable development are indeed endless.

Related Links

*AfDB backs young 'Agripreneurs' to beat climate change    news.trust.org

*Prospects in agriculture for G5 Sahel countries till 2040    issafrica.org

*Young men create Facebook-like App specially for farmers to network    legit.ng

*Digital agriculture is transforming farmers' lives    https://twitter.com/broadcasts/1YqJDeLv...

*Financial inclusion: How Nigerian small-scale farmers are locked out    allafrica.com

*When small farms fail,whole economies fail - which leads to poverty. Make agriculture more resilient     http://gatesnot.es/3bWaKM6

*Importance of biotechnology in agriculture    azolifesciences.com

*Corn production in Nigeria    medium.com

*What will food security look like in Africa after the pandemic?    medium.com 

*Soil-less agriculture: A golden future for turmeric     thehindu.com

HYMN OF PEACE BY NIGERIA'S LEADERS

Former Nigerian leaders, Olusegun Obasanjo, Yakubu Gowon, Ernest Sonekan collaborated with former deputies - Ebitu Ukiwe, Alex Ekwueme, Oladipo Diya and current Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo to sing a hymn for a greater, united and peaceful Nigeria in 2017. The song is Isaac Watts' hymn.    http://www.trailblazers.com/obasanjo-gowon-osinbajo-ekwueme.../

The lyrics of the song are as follows: 'Our God, Our help in ages past' with the video recorded early December, 2016. The beauty of it is that the video was recorded in the Aso Rock Chapel, the seat of government. As a conflict transformation practitioner, the video is indeed symbolic for me. In fact the leaders in the video have been affectionately referred to as constituting "the senior boys' choir".

This is the very first time that so many former Presidents, Vice Presidents and the current VP have come together to pray for Nigeria through an evergreen song. Though their voices may not meet the required standard of a professional classic opera, the collaboration seems apt in Nigeria's present circumstances. What with the economic recession, the youth bulge, multiple taxation, malnutrition, unemployment, insurgency, kidnapped citizens, etc

Some say it is not enough to sing, but that our leaders should do the needful by cutting the cost of governance and let the change start with both the leaders and the led simultaneously. But I say there's nothing wrong with the effort of these well-meaning elders. Prayers can go on parri pasu reforms...