Some pupils were playing football one afternoon. Few seconds later, Fola, one of the pupils watching and waiting for their turn to play, narrowly sighted a creature beneath the bushy side of the field as he gazed at the ball rolling off the pitch. Before he could articulate a distress call (being a stammerer), one of the pupils who went to fetch the ball for a throw-in was already getting into close range with the snake. It was Fola’s body language that eventually communicated the imminent danger. Immediately, they all took to their heels frightened and terrified shouting – “Snake! Snake!! Snake!!!” one after the other. The sudden disappearance from the field of play was quick and successful except for one observation. Lying down on the ground behind the goal-post was a helpless pupil groaning in pains and battling between life and death. It was Jona, the popular brilliant boy in basic four whom everybody knew had a blood disorder. Apparently, while fleeing the playground in company of others, he had resumed one of the unfortunate periodic episodes of pain, called crisis, typical of people born with blood malady. By the time a couple of male teachers would arrive the scene, the snake had also retreated for fear of being killed. They quickly ran towards Jona, took hold of him and carried him to the school clinic.
Blood malady pictures individuals suffering from sickle cell disease. Sickle cell disease results from mutation, or change, of certain types of hemoglobin chains in red blood cells. The changes in the building of normal hemoglobin result in the abnormal hemoglobin of sickle cell disease. These mutated molecules do not have the smooth motion needed for oxygenation and deoxygenation. When the oxygen concentration in the blood is reduced, the red blood cell assumes the characteristic sickle shape. This causes the red blood cell to be stiff and rigid, and stops the smooth passage of the red blood cells through the narrow blood vessels. People with this condition experience pain in their chest, abdomen, joints and even bones. Clearly, it was these series of unbearable pains that retarded Jona’s speed and finally rendered him motionless, since the blood meant to flow down his legs and joints was truncated half-way. His heart, no doubt, was pumping blood, yet, blood supply didn’t get to where it was demanded! Due to prolonged capillary blockage and its resultant pain, the poor boy couldn’t help but fall down with no assistance in sight.
We can draw analogy between the flow of blood in human body and the circulation of information in human society. Information is as vital as blood! As human health depends largely on blood so does the socio-economic wellbeing of the society dependent on the subject of information. This is a profound truth! There exists a behavioral relationship between blood and information. Just as people suffer from blood malady, societies also suffer from information malady. I refer to information malady as a phenomenon describing a situation where instantaneous distribution of information is inhibited by some abnormal elements within the communication system. Firstly, we must remember that times have changed. We now live in a peculiar and dynamic world in the history of man. One of the mega trends characterizing this modern day is that our society has long shifted from an industrial society to one based on the creation and distribution of information.
One of the elements principally responsible for information malady within the communication systems of most societies is the ancient and traditional style of communication. The age-long style has always been Representative in nature. With a representative style of communication, information hardly gets to every nooks and crannies of the society for which it is primarily meant. Often time it gets stuck along the way without reaching its intended destination. Like the blockage of blood that naturally triggers pains in sickle cell conditions, some forms of social frictions also arise in the society as a result of delayed, withheld or unavailable pieces of information. It is an indisputable fact that communication is not complete without feedback! But how do you get a credible feedback when the original information itself is short-lived? How do you sample the opinion of the populace when they have no idea of the whereabouts of the inquiry information? An example is the soon-expiring Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Its major setback in Nigeria is traceable to information malady. I have taken time to know how much people know about this fascinating initiative and the outcome is always very disappointing. Despite most of my interviewee are graduates and working class people, they obviously know next to nothing about it. Some would even ask me to give the full meaning of MDGs.
To me, that is unacceptable for a fifteen-year old programme unanimously arrived at by a committee of nations under the United Nations umbrella. It is unacceptable for us to have the blueprint and road map for our socio-economic prosperity within our reach for about fifteen years with only a miserable fraction of us being aware of it. If most graduates are not aware, then the level of ignorance amongst the unlettered will be unimaginable. Meanwhile, enshrined in the MDGs are set of goals powerful enough to revitalize the socio-economic status of nations. Embedded therein are guidelines for protecting the health of our planet. Each one of us is supposed to find his or her economic relevance in them but unfortunately, we are helplessly unaware! Nothing is as frustrating as realizing someday in the future that solutions to problems that have hitherto plagued our lives have always been within our reach only that they have always been inadvertently shielded by circumstantial veil of ignorance. The reason is because we were never part of the planning process and we were not included in the implementation either. Little wonder it has underperformed its potentials for fifteen consecutive years. In an information society like ours, any development policy that will see the light of the day must ensure that people who will necessarily be affected by the policy are part of the process of arriving at the policy. This is called a Participatory style of communication. It is the only style that guarantees sender-receiver relationship. It gives room for feedback which is the most important element of communication. Through it the government feels the pulse of the governed and the citizens also get to know what their government is doing. It generates a dynamo that takes information round the society repeatedly just as smooth motion of hemoglobin effects oxygenation and deoxygenation with ease in human body.
Do you remember Jona? That boy nearly died during the crisis! As I speak, some societies are about to fall like Jona, some are at the verge of crumbling while some have disintegrated; all attributable to the accumulation of information malady and distorted communication channels. Their leaders probably did not have processed, tested and authentic data to decide from and followers were not part of society information synthesis. Mark my words, without data and information, no economy can grow, no society can learn and no environment can survive!
We really do not need rocket science to address this situation. All we need is the committed involvement of you and I on a coordinated platform. It is a medium such as this that will help ensure data fidelity and proper circulation of information especially as touching securing a better and more sustainable future. Such platform should align with the coming Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to avoid the pitfalls of the MDGs, build on the foundation of the MDGs and seek to complete the unfinished business of the MDGs. It should make data, information and knowledge go viral and available even in local languages with accessibility on mobile devices on the go. That sounds like a tall order, right? Don’t be surprised that that mechanism is already in pipeline. You shall have it soon!!!
76 comments
Abimbola
Thank you Samson for focusing a discussion on this issue at this time. You know very well that anything in prints is almost completely hidden from the African child, man and woman. But considering the age in which we are – information and communication – it is appalling to discover that we are still not informed neither do we really communicate in the right direction.
You mentioned MDGs in your write-up; I was just thanking God your did not refer to SGDs but to see that mentioned in one of your responses. In fact, it is embarrassing that most Nigerians do not know the meaning of MDGs how much more the policy content not to mention of taking the Government up on this policy. Now that MDGs are winding-up and we are moving to the era of SDGs, where are we as Nigerians? Please take the pain to define the acronym. (thanks)
Furthermore, I want to believe the government is responsible for the information and communication status of the citizens. Our elites and political leaders are intentionally shielding the majority from key national information and also making communication not “affordable”.
Every Nigerian must be informed about Law, Economics, Security, Education, Health, Governance, Demography, Politics, etc right from elementary stage to tertiary level. You will not believe that as graduates most of us do not know our rights by law, we do not know the land mass of Nigeria and other essential information of our immediate environment.
I am particularly looking forward to how you intend to crack this hard nut as the citizens are also part of the problem. What I mean is that most of us careless about essential national and social information. I pray God to grant you the wisdom and other resources to help our generation out.
Kudos!!!
Samson Akinwale
@ Abimbola, thanks a million for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate the fact that you took time to spot some very important areas. In the first place, SDGs means Sustainable Development Goals as mentioned in the article. We have pointed out that if SGDs will not tow the path of the MDGs, it must compulsorily do some things differently. If we are to cause data revolution and give information it’s rightful place such that it flows round easily in the society, all that is required is to have a coordinated platform to which we all belong and from which we can all pull information and pass our comments. As far as the subject of development is concerned, we’re already working on the mechanism that can be sharing such information as soon as possible to everyone across the globe. We’ll do well to keep sensitising the public to be on the lookout for the release of that mechanism right on this platform. Thank you sir!
mayowa fash
@gbenga. I must say that is a wonderful contribution shedding more illumination to d rather hazy view earlier presumed.
you gave a detailed explanation by carefully dovetailing the different spectrum that needs to be aggressively tackled.
To add to your top-down premise, I wud say that there need to be a participatory approach in driving home change.
It should be noted that using communication for development is an all-inclusive and engaging process.
The populace’s consent must be sought and such communication attempt must be enveloped within the contextual and structural setting of the society.
Mercy
This article is very insightful and expository and many don’t seem to know that proper circulation of information is prerequisite for a nation’s development. May God deliver us from ‘Information Malady’. Well done bro!
gbenga
My submission towards this fantastic article (write-up) is to view the current issue as “Information asymmetry syndrome’’ which is the bone of contention of the issue. Using the popular external environment analysis of PESTEL to analyse this issue.
• POLITICAL: this has to with both tiers and organs of government as machinery that govern the will of a state. Some laws are passed in order to favour some people at the expense of others. Any law that will expose their corrupt dealings will not be done. Such as removal of immunity and the act of impunity should be put to an end. it took the whole Nigerians to stood on the neck of the so-called government (senate and rep) before they passed into law “PIB” prtroeum of Industry Bill” the question is how does Nigerians want to know the laws and regulation governing them? When some Bourgeois/top class citizen felt that it is their birth right to know things than other in country in order to capitalize on the advantage of information asymmetry.
• ECONOMIC: For any economy to develop and be called developed country it must have passes through the five (5) rowtow stages of growth and develop and sustained on the high mass consumption which is said to be the last stage. When planning any develop policy for an economy it is not suppose to be one way show that is from the president, governors, ministers, policy makers etc down to the populace (top down approach) rather should be (bottom up) through going to the grass root (local and state) seeking their opinions on the prospective policies and programmes and how these will solve problem within their environment, from there the officers could hear something that could bring adjustment/modification towards their policy. I said information asymmetry, not going to far, I have friends that have information on how to link with FCT and get a seal of FG (Federal Government) and through this link oganise some cheap seminars that involve students from various part of country then begin to send the documents and pictures to various state governors for their support towards achieving the set objectives. By the tyme they see seal of FG and the involvement of students from their state then releases huge amount of money for the organizer. the same programme of MDG and it objectives catch in millions within interval of 3 months for these people. Everything is still info asymmetry (one sided information that makes few people rich through the use of others)
• SOCIAL: In Nigeria environment, there is bad information overload but good information are yet to get to the optimum level. Too much of good blood in the capillaries does not brings about dis-order in body system but I can tell you that bad information in Nigeria system has drives out good information from the circulation. What I can called gresham’s law of information’ i.e. people prefer to spend all the 24 hours on social network rather than productive information that will be positive to their life’s. If people embrace more non-productive information rather productive them poverty will continue to increase.
• TECHNOLOGY: We talk of Asian tigers today, is because of decentralization of information and encourage bottom-up approach stimulate their economy through advancement in technology. Any serious medical attention could no longer be done in Nigeria when there is a “brain-drain” in which all the qualified doctors have give to seek greener pasture. NMA strike every time in the country because there is no equipment, no fund for Research and Development, no training etc. you can imagine a doctor in a surgery room told his colleague that I need to go and read my text book before I can perform this operation. What a pity ?. In Asian Tigers consistence R & D for the improvement of life of citizen in fact, history told us that Malaysia came to this Nigerian to learn and buy some primary agricultural products but today, they have gone wide in it and we even buy from them.
• EDUCATION: Many good projects/ dissertations are out there in various Universities in Nigeria with good recommendation on how to move the countries forward but there is no implementation. A typical example is myself, I wrote my undergraduate project on this same MDG and it objectives but no one to come down to look at it. Little wonder there is no adequate information in Nigeria F.O.S, we need to rely on word data WDI to get secondary data for information. The question is, if there is no information to do all these, how do we make comparism of events of time? As a result of this same syndrome, of information asymmetry of top- down approach, imposition of Universal Basic Education (UBE) on people which is one of the goals of MDG failed in Nigeria and it is said to be policy summersalt. It is not because UBE is bad but because the approach used is wrong.
• LEGAL: Our judiciary and legal system, how many families in Nigeria have Nigeria 1999 constitution, how many people know their right and wrong from legal perspective? How many people know harbiascopous law? that they should not be delayed more than 24 hours before charging to court?
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, good information is yet to circulate, bottom-up approach should be use rather than top-down. This makes people to be participating and more so, efficient and effective medium should be created to make this free flow of information. God bless you Prof. Samson
Samson Akinwale
@ Gbenga, thank you for alluding to PESTEL, an effective tool for Environmental Analysis. That was very thoughtful of you, I must say. The campaign in favour of bottom-up approach as against the archaic top-down approach is also logical to a reasonable extent. Howbeit, there’s something much more efficient than that! Both approaches still jostle around the Pyramid Structure. The slight difference is just that one begins from the top and ends at the bottom while the other begins at the bottom and ends at the top. Though one is better than the other, yet the better one (bottom-up) is never the best we could ever have. The best thing is neither to traverse from bottom to top nor move from top to bottom! The best thing is to SMASH the PYRAMID altogether! Many management theorists and experts have attempted to soften the rigid power flow within the pyramid’s vertical structure but the best thing is to seriously consider scrapping the structure itself. The pyramid structure symbolises hierarchy and smashing it will create Networking. The former is representative while the latter is participatory. The failure of hierarchies over the years to solve society’s problems is expected to prompt people to start talking to one another – and that will eventually be the beginning of networks. In an information age like ours, the use of hierarchy in information dissemination is badly out of tune. Just when greater speed and more flexibility are critically needed, rigid hierarchical structures slow down the information flow.
In the words of John Naisbith, the author of Megatrends, “Networking is a powerful tool for social actions. Those who would change the world would practice networking locally, in clusters of like-minded people with a single ideological purpose.” It is crystal clear that networking allows faster and rapid flow of information which is a prerequisite for sustainable development. In networking anybody is free to share information with whosoever. We’re already creating local clusters of people sharing useful information on this platform; age, sex, social class, credentials,discipline, race, tribe, etc notwithstanding. That’s simply networking! And that’s the tool we seek to embrace and implement. Let’s always remember to smash the Pyramid.
mayowa fash
@olusegun. While I reckon with your submission on d individuality of information dissemination, I wouldn’t agree with your prognosis of information overload as corroborated by watts.
I think for clarity purpose, d ingenious writer should dilate properly d contextual meaning of information.
Rather than saying a number of individuals are fed with junks, I wud reiterate my earlier submission that what is obtainable in this country in terms of right and purposeful information is “information star vino crazy”. A term which I intently use to connote shortage or scarcity of relevant information in circulation.
Samson Akinwale
@ Mayowa, in giving the contextual meaning of information as regards the thrust of this forum and platform, I would quickly want to state that all we’re seeking to have is a better world through knowledge and information. In this light, we’ll define information as every communicable knowledge of not just development, but sustainable development. By sustainable development, we mean sincere efforts to improve on the socio-economic wellbeing of today’s society without jeopardising the comfort of the next generation. It is the type of development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. So all what we’re doing now is getting to analyse the indispensability of information in achieving sustainable development bearing in mind that sustainability rests on three distinct pillars namely: Environment, People and Economy. That’s why our discourse revolves round improving access to and availability of environmental, social and economic data to support informed decision-making for sustainable development. We’re also to look at how data and information can make a difference to ordinary people’s lives. How it can be used to lift people out of poverty, help communities prepare for natural disasters or simply enhance our ability to make better day-to-day choices in other to protect our future, thereby taking care of our common sister (the planet earth) that has sheltered us all over the years as mentioned in Pope’s words on Climate Change.
Olusegun
Bravo! Bravo!! Bravo!!!
While Information is good, relevant Information is better which I think this platform represents. I wanna appreciate the author of this article for clearly articulating his ideas about what is obtainable in this part of our world. However, it should be noted that a piece of information is not meant for all but for each of us i.e. The relevance of an information is relative.
As much as sickle-cell anaemia can obstruct the flow of blood, it should also be noted that fats obtained from junk foods or unbalanced diet can shrink the capillaries and veins conveying blood around the human body, thereby obstructing the flow of blood. Bringing it into this context – it implies that the mental capacity or reasoning faculties of some people have been choked with unnecessary/irrelevant information or ideas (e.g. Boko Haram extremists), thus making the right information not to flow. The consequence of this is not far-fetched, the news and happenings around us are indices to the dangers of viscousity of relevant information that has pervaded our society.
Believing God for grace and strength, we all on this platform with concerted efforts, would rise to the challenge and produce the change our world needs. I thank the author once more for his ingenuity in coming up with this platform in a timely manner. Thumbs up!!!
Samson Akinwale
@ Olusegun, thank you for your submission. Spot on, you’re simply referring to blood vessel disorder which is a less acute brother to blood disorder earlier explained. Although blood vessel malady is easier to correct compared to blood malady itself, yet,our overall objective is to leave no stone unturned. Granted, there are some unwanted information piling up in the information system as fat forms plaque in human arteries, thereby blocking the flow of blood to the heart and other organs. This does not necessarily amount to information overload but rather, the lack of it. The blockage of arteries in medical terms is called Atherosclerosis (ath-er-o-skler-O-sis), a disease in which plaque (fat) builds up inside human arteries. Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to your heart and other parts of your body. Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood. Over time, plaque hardens and narrows your arteries. This limits the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your organs and other parts of your body. Atherosclerosis can lead to serious problems, including heart attack, stroke, or even death. However, the main treatment for atherosclerosis is lifestyle changes, such as following a healthy diet, quitting smoking, and being physically active. Unlike, Atherosclerosis, blood disorder is more chronic and that’s why our attention is being awoken this day. By and large, both of them are human enemies either denotatively or connotatively. Only concerted efforts from all stake holders can win the war against them. Thanks for the insight Olusegun.
Damifas
This is a beautiful and amazing piece.Information dissemination is one of the problem I think we also have and information most times is not disseminated in d right way.dere is also d problem of mixing up d right and correct information which we term rumour,which is wat is often fed to d populace.I believe dis problem of information malady can b rectified if we all put our hands on deck and support this campaign against information malady
Simi
A very nice piece, and it explains so clearly the role information plays in every society, particularly liked the analogy with the children.
lsaiah
this is knowledge creativity , very interesting bro.
Niyi
What a good article, thoughtfully presented!
We are in the dispensation of Information even, with the help of technology that has made the information available at our finger tips. As a saying goes thus that, “If you are not informed, you will be deformed”. We all need information to move to the next phase of our lives. The challenge and the question is, the little flow of information (blood as well articulated in the write up) within our reach, how have we used it for the growth and development of our lives and society?
A big kudos to the writer, well done.
Godwin
Nice one. You should still know that information is proportional to security. The level of information you have determines how secured you are or will be. That’s why there is usually constriction like a nozzle on the type of information that is passed to reduce pressure. Because when you know too much you are not safe. And when you don’t know you are not still safe.
Take care!
Samson Akinwale
@ Godwin, thank you for bringing to the fore another reason we dare not joke with instantaneous flow and distribution of information – the subject of Security. A man is only unsafe when all the knowledge about his safety and that of the society is known to only him. Besides, as long as man is finite in knowledge and understanding, there can hardly be a time he knows too much so long there’s constant distribution of the known and tireless quest for the unknown. So the cycle continues and the society gets better. He is also unsafe when he does not have enough or adequate information. A typical example of that is seen in the on-going fight against insurgency in Nigeria. I have never seen anywhere in the world Where a country would deploy substantial part of her Military Arsenal to a war without a functional system for Intelligence Gathering. Such venture demands high degree of Classified Information which is only deliverable by skillful Intelligence Gathering. We lost a number of foot soldiers, wasted a large part of our weaponry and still remain insecure because we undermined the importance of information in war matters. Thank God that the new administration realised this grave error and immediately constituted a unit solely meant for Intelligence Gathering. A single jot of information timely used can do more than an armoured tank. Information is power!
Olanrewaju Mofoluwake
well done sam,
talking of effective, correct and productive information. How do we tackle those who are blind folded by some ‘leaders’ I say ‘leaders’ because some people just swallow whatever these leaders tell them either right or not, productive or not. hence the feedback you get from these people is whatever the leader says. What am saying or asking is getting the right information to the right people directly.
also, kids should not be left out the plan. Catching them young is still very relevant.
Samson Akinwale
A good one there. To tackle the observation you raised, it is quite imperative to sensitize the public as regards the best way to get the best out of this information era. Gone are the days when we passed information around using Hierarchical Order. There’s already a better method in use and that’s Networking format. Information does not need to follow a dogmatized flow pattern. ‘A’ can speak with ‘Z’ and ‘W’ can speak with ‘K’ while ‘U’ can interact with ‘P’ and ‘B’ can access what all of them have been deliberating on anytime he wishes to do so at will. As per the children, we’ll also ensure whatever mechanism we’re coming up with do not leave theme out. Thank you.
Adam Ajao
This is an impeccable piece of work. Information is as vital as blood no society can survive without info that’s y some good people have taken it upon themselves in establishing platforms for disseminating info in such a way every rank and file in the remote area will absorb and digest information living in ignorance is tantamount to writing letter to death
Samson Akinwale
@ Mayowa & ‘Deji, you both are touching on critical and fundamental factors which if handled well, would herald the times of refreshing we have always longed for. In the first place, we need to quickly remember that Discussions and Actions are twin brothers whose mutual understanding and collaborative efforts can point us unswervingly to their less popular mother called CHANGE. Actions generally build on the foundation of logical discussions. Recall that the success recorded during the last General Elections in Nigeria was informed by active participation of the entirely citizenry at the polling units as pointed out by ‘Deji. That was the implementation stage. But you’ll also recall that series of discussions principally preceeded the polls. In fact, discussions were still on-going even during the polls. Millions of Nigerians took to the social media to inform and be informed. A number of platforms were dissecting the life and ministry of the various candidates lobbying for public offices and votes so that the public could be well-guided.
So people were discussing, asking questions, debating and dialogues on who to entrust with their votes continued from morning till evening down to the midnight and same continued the following morning on the various media until each person found enough justification to cast his or her votes in favour of a particular candidate. These all-inclusive discourse automatically moved people into action and even awoken the interest of several others who had never taken part in public issues and politics. The resultant effective was seen at the polls. People were resolute. Morale was high. Actions already were building up. People couldn’t wait to discharge their civic responsibility. It rained heavily in several places that day. Yet, the polling booths were not deserted! Rather, you see voters on their mobile phones engaging in discussions with friends asking about the updates of other places while queueing up to cast their votes in the rain. For the first time in the Nation’s history, I heard people saying come rain, come shine, they would cast their votes. What am I driving at? Discussions fuel Actions.
Similarly, this platform is gradually staging a Discussion Forum for Sustainable Development. We’ll keep exchanging thoughts and ideas this way on how to better administer information and data revolution in our society until our resolutions and conclusions are made into simple mechanism available for all to use within the hollow of their palms.
Thanks a million once again.
King Adeyelu
Information is a source of learning. But unless it is organized, processed, and available to the right people in a format for decision making, it is a burden, not a benefit. When action grows unprofitable, gather information; when information grows unprofitable, sleep.
Samson Akinwale
@ King Adeyelu, you’re absolutely correct about the fact that information can either be a benefit or a burden depending on the way and manner it is organised, processed and made available for useful decision making. That quickly reminds me of three fundamental factors that are germane to Information Processing. They are all processors but operate in different materials. The first one is Physiological Processor, followed by Psychological Processor and concluded by Electronic Processor. All of them are instrumental to making information available and accessible and they swap roles seamlessly anytime the need arises. You know the problem here again? It’s ignorance. Most people are more familiar with electronic processor, pentium whatever, dual core pro and the likes. Unfortunately, we have forgotten that computer processor of whatever processing speed and capacity is a product of both the physiological and psychological processors found in man. In this information renaissance, it’s one thing to show the public how to access and pass round useful information made available by others. It’s another thing to show them how they can also be part of the information generation process. Our brains and minds qualify each one of us for this noble task. Lets all get ready!
MAYOWA FASH
@Deji,we definitely are on the same page and I quite agree with you on the fact that majority of us are only asking and not probing.I would say we are grumbling at the perceived inactivity of the govt rather than taking the bull by the horn by acting where they’ve failed us.
Development is incremental and information is its life blood. Let’s drive home the change.
We can become the Martin Luther king, the Nelson Mandela and Winston Churchill of our time.
We must remember our unanimously decision in the polls and reincarnate such in this struggle to make a better informed society
Deji David
@mayowa, the question was meant to be rhetorical hence the sentence that followed. Also I quite agree with you on the fact that the information being made available to us (Nigerians) is limited but I also believe that we are not asking enough hence the govt doesn’t feel the need to share (this is where the issue of public opinion comes in). Also I think your definition of public opinion only sits well with a country like Nigeria, all we do is discuss, we don’t probe, no actionable effort involved. That is why I commended us on the election, this time around we didn’t just talk, we went out and we voted. If we feel that we don’t have the necessary info as regards the plans of the govt in actualising the MDGs, then are we asking, are we probing, are we petitioning them day and night or we are just discussing? Even the so called ‘Elite’ of the society arent really interested. They are comfortable with the little they know. And even when we do get the information, what do we do with it, not much i guess. But like u said, our problem is data inavailability and lack of transparency which can be dealt with easily if we fight for it and not just discuss. I said earlier, our leaders need to know that we know and we want to know more and we won’t take NO for an answer.
Sunnyhome Akinwale
People often say knowledge is power meaning without orientation about a subject matter there can’t be power to achieve it and this orientation cannot come except by appropriate dissemination of information. It is lack of free flow of information about the MDG that led to the pains and agony this country is undergoing as cited in the case of Jona earlier in the article and more people are needed in our society to play the role of the male teachers who arrived at the scene to salvage this vision in our society by taking our society to the source of information that will profit the development of our economy as demonstrated by the couple of male teachers
MAYOWA FASH
@Adebayo, the MDGs present a myraid of opportunity for sustainable development which if properly implemented would alleviate most of the worrisome quagmire dat some countries, particularly african nations find themselves. The issue of EBF(exclusive breastfeeding) would solve about three of the MDGs goal. it reduces infant mortality. makes the mother get a 3 month maternity leave which to some extent reduce maternal mortality.
I think as right thinking Nigerians, we should also stand up ang get ourselves informed.
Enough of blaming the govt. we are in the era of corporate shared value.
Let’s take it upon ourselves to get informed and pass the information so gathered to another person.
The idea now should be tell a friend to tell a friend.
MAYOWA FASH
@Deji.. you asked the importance of public opinion and at d same time said information disemination stems from the individual. it seems to me dat u’ved answered d question. The perception of an individual as regards any issue is shaped by the avalanche of information permeating the society. since public opinion is the views held, expressed and discussed by majority of the people on a give public opinion, it greatly affects how the individual views such issue.
Having said that, it remains a truism that we live in an age where we get information at our finger tips but the question is how much of information do we get?
The writer explicitly enunciated d issue of data availability which is alien here in Nigeria.
How much of information do we have as regards the plans of the govt in actualising the MDGs? The answer is as lucid as a clean water.
The problem in this country is data inavailability and lack of transparency which must be dealt with without further ado.
Adebayo Joseph
Thats a properly matched analysis sir. “Being shielded by circumstancial veil of ignorance” is not limited to the unlettered. Even the people of God perish for lack of knowledge. I was initially a facor member during my NYSC days but backed out abruptly due to the malady you pointed out, albeit I saw great possibilities in it. The question for me is how do we get enough information to fully harness the opportunities made available by MDGs?
Legacy
This is a superb write up. Please kindly make plans to get it published on national newspapers so a great number of people will benefit too. More power to your elbow,Samson.
Deji David
Beautiful write up. But after reading this piece, two questions come to mind; what’s our idea of a society? What’s the importance of public opinion to society building? The idea of information dissemination stems more from the individual level. What is the desire of the populace to these information? We live in a computer age where virtually nothing is hidden. So I think people should ask themselves am I contributing to the growth of the society in my own way or am helping to bring it to a fall? We should do more in ‘bettering’ the society by empowering ourselves with necessary information that would make us progress in any field we are playing in. Also, information is not enough, utilising it more key to society building. Knowing is not enough, practical execution of the knowledge is important and we need to realise the power of public opinion and exercise it more often like we did in the last election. Our leaders need to know that we know and we are ready to support them in whatever development goals they have laid not and anything contrary to that, they need to know that we are ready to take the bull by the horn before our society is damaged any further.
Igwe O Matthew
Having gone through the article thoroughly , the article not only bring to notice to the general public on the need for the eliminatation of ignorance from the society especially in the underdeveloped Economy but it is also reflecting the urgency for policy makers in all countries of the world to design appropriate policy and implementation strategies that can bring the various key variables imbalances to equilibrium . It is also an eye opener to those of us that have gotten some relevant information to apply them in other to bring about the desired change we seek in every day life.
Aromokun Peter
I love this platform. As you have rightly said, communication is not complete without the feedback. MDGs if the messenger or the convener of the needed information fails in transmission information malady is Inevitable if ‘sickle cell’ is not reformed . and adage in a major language in Nigeria(Yorba Language) says, ‘Ohun to nwa lo si Sokoto wa lokun Sokoto re’, meaning, What you are seeking in a distant land is right at your disposal.
People would remain novice unless the needed information is properly propagated to them. Many would die in ignorance in lack of knowledge. I believe this platform will stand as the right convener or messenger of the needed information that will deal with information malady. As you have also rightly said in your article, this will be effective if you and I will do what should be DONE . I strongly believe in the participatory style of communication. The clarion call should keep on sounding. Kudos to the initiator, prof Sam.
Big Sam
I think it is important to publish this writeup… it is one of the fundamental issues that needed to be attended to in every cadre of learning. Thanks for bringing this to reality. God bless you sir.
Titilayo
Good initiative and great information. Information is life and fundamental key.
Matthew
This write up is captivatin and eye-opening. The writer is very right, we need to be informed. Info is life.
Oluwatope Olayinka
Information is what keeps us moving,good initiative.I don’t think we can all survive without information,we are doing what we are doing now because of the information we got about it.”Information is blood”
God bless bros
Watts
Humble appreciation to the writer for this amazing display of intellect in this well-crafted piece.
Let me keep it short and simple. Our society is currently suffering from ‘Information Overload’…an expansive dosage of junks circulating our ‘infosphere’. The media are to blame. It’s all about what I would love to term ‘information priority’. The media have so filled our society with crap that citizens hardly realize opportunities around them. For instance,an entertainer buying a new brand of Nexus makes more meaning than a real development information. Our leaders aren’t helping also. A delayed or pay-cut will attract a huge volume of coverage across the country. They will open the window of their frustrations to the press,but should the case of an issue of disseminating timely and adequate development information comes into focus,only God can explain how abominable it does look like.
Once more,a nice write-up.
Samson Akinwale
Watts, that was a thoughtful submission! I quite agree that one of the defects in our ‘infosphere’ is Information Overload. Overload of both meaningful and meaningless pieces of information. By overload, I mean just a few persons almost getting drowned with useful information with no genuine intention of sharing; and the masses being hopelessly submerged in the ocean of meaningless information having capacity to share with careless abandon. Let’s picture a stagnant water body that has no flowing channels. It doesn’t matter whether or not the water was originally clean, pure, clear, potable, impure, dirty; etc As long as it doesn’t flow, it’s just a matter of time, it will smell offensively. That’s regrettably the condition of our dear society. This malady thrives because we don’t have a culture of ‘interrelatedness’ in our society and we’re not yet sufficiently interlaced. Only indiscriminate flow of information can bring this to bear. Information is a weapon of liberation. We can collectively use it to alleviate the suffering of the downtrodden and to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger! What’s your take please?
Watts
The gospel truth isn’t far from your reply. For decades now,’economiciable’ information has been caged by a powerful few in a bid to further widen the economic gap between the Haves and Have Nots in our society—all for some selfish intents . This is no accident but a series of thoroughly calculated machinations…the exact same ploy devised by the White supremacist and colonialists in Africa,some parts of Latin America as well as Asia to stagnate them in poverty.
Fortunately,a few countries(Japan, China, Brazil,India,etc) from the above-mentioned continents have painstakingly taken it as utmost priority to better inform their publics with development information. The Press is not left out in this instance. They consistently translate these important information in the most understandable fashion to the masses. However,the case of the African Press is an eyesore. Instead of the press to invest conceited efforts in broadcasting local contents that would engender enlightenment and engage the masses to work towards nation-building,they are always very busy in churning out stories concerning Kim Khadashian,Bruce(Katlyn) Jenner and other junks.
I can’t still fathom out why the National Assembly are always discussing some shameless acts such as corruption which are self-instigated by themselves,thus distracting the media from disseminating development information that would have been really beneficial to the improvement of lives and standard of living of ordinary Nigerians in this country.
What comes to my mind now is the ‘SURE-P’ project. The SURE-P project under the previous administration started in Abuja and ended up there. No massive public enlightenment. It failed to gain reasonable coverage both the Broadcast and the Print Media. Instead are being exposed to the shameless gimmicks of some of our politicians in our ‘mediascape’
The withholding of vital information has perpetually increase the poverty level a chunk on a yearly basis.
Funny enough,this is also the order of the day in our schools,predominantly Higher Institutions. Students are so selfish with information that a small clique of them wouldn’t mind holding their colleagues to ransom by withholding relevant information,simply because they want to be ahead of them…theory of the survival of the fittest.
I can go on and on all day,but I have to stop here.
Once again,I commend and admire your learnedness.
Samson Akinwale
@ Watts, I can feel your concern and agitation for pieces of information exclusive for sustainable development. Those examples you sighted below too are relevant. However, we need to put in mind that we can gradually start creating a special voice for sustainable development and make it available in a special place where people can voluntarily access it. As time goes on, the public taste for development will be increasing and demand for same will also increase. In no time, the media stations will start adjusting to provide supply that can meet the demands of their customers on development matters so as to remain in business. This will evolve over time but will eventually happen.
Watts
The gospel truth isn’t far from your reply. Over the For decades,’economiciable’ information has been caged by a powerful few in a bid to further widen the economic gap between the Haves and Have Nots in our society—all for some selfish intents . This is no accident but a series of thoroughly calculated machinations…the exact same ploy devised by the White supremacist and colonialists in Africa,some parts of Latin America as well as Asia to stagnate them in poverty.
Fortunately,a few countries(Japan, China, Brazil,India,etc) from the above-mentioned continents have painstakingly taken it as utmost priority to better inform their publics with development information. The Press is not left out in this instance. They consistently translate these important information in the most understandable fashion to the masses. However,the case of the African Press is an eyesore. Instead of the press to invest conceited efforts in broadcasting local contents that would engender enlightenment and engage the masses to work towards nation-building,they are always very busy in churning out stories concerning Kim Khadashian,Bruce(Katlyn) Jenner and other junks.
I can’t still fathom out why the National Assembly are always discussing some shameless acts such as corruption which are self-instigated by themselves,thus distracting the media from disseminating development information that would have been really beneficial to the improvement of lives and standard of living of ordinary Nigerians in this country.
What comes to my mind now is the ‘SURE-P’ project. The SURE-P project under the previous administration started in Abuja and ended up there. No massive public enlightenment. It failed to gain reasonable coverage both the Broadcast and the Print Media. Instead are being exposed to the shameless gimmicks of some of our politicians in our ‘mediascape’
The withholding of vital information has perpetually increase the poverty level a chunk on a yearly basis.
Funny enough,this is also the order of the day in our schools,predominantly Higher Institutions. Students are so selfish with information that a small clique of them wouldn’t mind holding their colleagues to ransom by withholding relevant information,simply because they want to be ahead of them…theory of the survival of the fittest.
I can go on and on all day,but I have to stop here.
Once again,I commend and admire your learnedness.
Mayowa fash
This expose aptly brings to mind the two-step flow theory of communication which has for long hindered the flow of message from reaching the audience in its original entity as thought of ny the sender. With this theory, information gets to a group of people known as opinion leaders who then disseminate a distorted message that aligns with their interest to opinion followers.
Being this way, it is not esoteric to see why the vast majority of Nigerians are still lingering in the pool of perceived oblivion caused by perpetual information distortion.
The socio-economic growth of any nation is not unconnected with the “horizontal” form of inforamtion dissemination.
If this nation would leapfrog its current state of information “starvinocracy”, it must make information reach every individual regarless of demographic attributes to drive home the desired change.
Samson Akinwale
You just raised another vital point there – Opinion leaders versus Opinion followers syndrome. This has been one of the very old factors responsible for the common and unpardonable Information Float that has hitherto put our societies at the whims and caprices of underdevelopment! What do we do to collapse this float? Circular flow of information must be encouraged as much as possible so as to do away with the negative tendencies of intermediaries.
oromzzz
This is a wonderful piece of article….Obviously, I am a staunch believer of the fact that the MDGs as it is called is only a mirage and will continue to be a mirage for Nigeria as a country and the black continent at large. Except the continent as a whole ask itself the right set of questions, as the right questions precedes right thinking and subsequently solutions. African governments face two challenges in the information and communication field, namely: provision of access for enhanced participation in economic life and coping with the challenges of rapidly advancing technology. What should African countries do to overcome these rather challenges? Which are the central technologies that bring advancement under current socio-economic situation? Is regional information infrastructure a possibility? Development can be seen as an increase of knowledge and skills and creative potentials that can be applied to improve the quality of life. Research shows that low levels of knowledge and inadequate innovative skills at lower, middle and higher levels have contributed to the continuous failures in African countries in all spheres. Information and knowledge are interrelated. Well informed, knowledgeable and innovative citizens are causes for human centered development. Information technology facilitates the flow of knowledge in modern society. The failure to use information technology is becoming as negative as the refusal to attend school. It is a choice between being left out or benefiting from enormous benefits of information technology.
Samson Akinwale
Quoting you verbatim: “The failure to use information technology is becoming as negative as the refusal to attend school.”, I’m pretty sure it is possible to use data revolution, with the instrumentality of technology, to trigger societal transformation. This will definitely encourage enhanced participation in socio-economic activities as you rightly said. By so doing, we will gradually begin to stem the tide of information malady. Thank you for that logical analogy. Lets be on the look out for the modalities of the long awaited data revolution right on this platform.
Tunde
Great one. Very informative
Tunde
Great one. I continue to digest it sir
fola
Comment* dis is quite educative. Information is life n productive.
ADELEKE ADESHEWA
Comment Nice write up Samson, thumbs up…I appreciate this write up because it gives meaningful information and not only that,it is also educating… Thumbs up once again
Alfred Daodu
This is a good write up. Well, you do not want to blame the graduates, the lettered or even the unlettered for knowing very little or nothing about MDG. I will speak for the African Countries through the eyes of a Nigerian (my country), the issue of corruption has been well planned to form a system of governing the people which has brought about a disinterested populace in information or its flow. That is why life expectancy has fallen bellow age 47.
Most students here study to pass exams, you hardly find it in the Curriculum where MDGs is made a major study. So the student feels he/she is justified for not getting more information outside the school course of study.
Corruption has been well thought out that they left all of the roads with “grave-holes”, allowing the importation of used cars, no power to watch the news at 9. How will a person who has spent about 8hrs in traffic almost every day and getting home with noise from every kinds of generating sets be in a good frame of mind to listen to the news, let alone find time to react to the anomalies in government by going to the streets to protest.
The only thing that matters to the common man is how I get the meal of the day and prepare for the next day’s work.
So tell me, when and how you will create the time to get information about MDGs or SDGs. When the basic needs of life is available then it would not be a struggle to get necessary information required to keep our continent at the top.
The solution starts with the government and then the people will key in. The basic need of life like Maslow’s theory puts it well, then every other things will definitely call in place.
Samson Akinwale
I think it will be good we start making alternative plan for the transformation of our society. We may not necessarily wait for the government again since we have waited this long with no change in sight. If we know what to do, let’s start doing it until we awaken the government to take up her responsibility. We would have succeeded in saving many lives prior to her full assumption of duty. What do you think?
Adebayo oladipupo
Sincerely you have the solution to what this present age is suffering from. If you are not part of the process, then the UN may just be wandering!
Brilliant and very instructive. This is more than an idea or common sense , it’s a revelation of things to come sir.
Samson Akinwale
Process? That sounds familiar! The best way to administer development issues is to make everyone take part in the process. So we all are part of the process! You and I have important roles to play.
Gbenga Timothy
Kudos to the writer of this article.information is a driving tools in most developed nation,if it is properly disseaminated and get to the right user at the right time as well.One should be careful not to be misinformed,the source of every information should be verified before passing it on either it a right info or not.
Tolugold
Although impermeable penetration of information deform our economy, it cripples the development and growth of our economy. Flow of information is also being truncated and does not reach the majority especially the unlearned citizens.
Yet the diffusion of information is not very flexible. Information should b translated in different languages as stated above including pidgin English so as to reach unlearned citizens.
Permeable channels should also be devised to enhance full participation in order to get the right feedbacks from future dissemination of information.
Wow! such a constructive write up, job well done
Samson Akinwale
I agree with the fact that whatever information we want to get across to people must also be offered in the simplest mode that will easily drive home the point. This begins with the language of communication. Local farmers, market women, artisans, bus conductors, petty traders, etc are to be carried along in their native languages if we truly desire and cherish their participation. An example is interpreting goal number 7 (to ensure environmental sustainability) of the MDGs to mama Kelechukwu in Igbo dialect…
Tolugold
Although impermeable penetration of information deform our economy, it cripples the development and growth of our economy. Flow of information is also being truncated and does not reach the majority especially the unlearned citizens.
Yet the diffusion of information is not very flexible. Information should b translated in different languages as stated above including pidgin English so as to reach unlearned citizens.
Permeable channels should also be devised to enhance full participation in order to get the right feedbacks from future dissemination of information.
Okikiola
Information is ”VITAL”…Nice Write up Prof.
Adewale Adelegan
It is interesting to note that there is no “mountain” anywhere; every man’s ignorance is his mountain. The volume of ignorance displayed by so-called (or expectedly) learned fellow is very alarming. I am not in any way exempted too! For example, I didn’t get to know anything about the MDG until I graduated from College and went for national service! It is apparent that the MDGs, which was set out to eradicate extreme hunger, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality, empower women, reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, ensure environmental sustainability and develop a global partnership for development, didn’t hit the target in Nigeria.
I read in the newspaper a while ago and it pained my heart that it was only about 20 months to the deadline that the former President directed the office of the Senior Special Assistant on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to work with the Governors of the 36 states of the Federation to ensure that they meet the targets before May 2015. How pathetic! From a confirmed source in United Nations headquarters office in New York, I was told that reducing extreme poverty (especially for Africa) is now fixed for 2030 and no longer 2015 because a very significant number of people are still poor.
What am I saying here? Poverty is first-of-all the lack of required and sufficient information. It is high time we woke to the responsibility of getting the right information and ensuring it is spread. Information has the power to change our lives. It can increase the quality of human experience, create new environments to realize our dreams and help us to get beyond problems that trouble our world. Many are now convinced that we will all benefit from the systematic development of an “information economy”. Even the Bible confirms that transformation is only possible when the mind is renewed (Romans 12:2, Paraphrased). I will conclude by saying the beginning of sustainable development is getting the right information and putting it into use. How can we do it? It begins with you and I. May the Lord help us all.
Kudos to Prof. Samson, the author.
Samson Akinwale
Whao! I was particularly impressed by this clause – “What am I saying here? Poverty is first-of-all the lack of required and sufficient information. It is high time we woke to the responsibility of getting the right information and ensuring it is spread”. In that wise, we can say that, “show me a society that is deficient in useful information, then I will show you a society that is destitute of means of livelihood” is an unforgettable axiomatic expression clearly true of our society. We need information to further deal with the environment to increase the nation’s output and productivity. We need information to create capital and investment goods that will midwife industrialisation which will help transform our natural resources or raw materials into finished goods! This will give our society an escape velocity from the force of Poverty Gravity. Dearest useful Information, how powerful thou hath!
Jola
This is lovely bro… These are real words of knowledge coming to the rescue of the 22nd century Nigerians.
adewale
Quite instructive piece. It captures the very essence of the problem of the African man, especially the Nigerian. In it you are reminded of the need to read, observe, and implement.
Ireyemi
Insightful!
Learning continues…
Kehinde
If you are not informed, you will be deformed they say. Hence, timely information like this, is highly welcome to enhance successful change and development in our seemly uncoordinated society.
Kudos to the brain(s) behind this platform.
Damilare
Impressive analysis this is, it has been able to identify a major age long challenge being faced by our poorly coordinated society… Looking back at the beginning of the discovery of oil in this country till now, we have not been able to fully utilize available useful information that are able to transform our ever blessed but poor society into a developed nation. Little wonder there are just few people controlling the wealth of this nation; simply because they are the well informed segment of the country… The level of poverty in Nigeria today despite all available resources is a replica of the level of disemminated information. I buy into a platform that can kill the darkness the shadows of ignorance has spread with the light of available useful information that will transform the lives of its end users. That is the change we need.
Samson Akinwale
Truly, only proper and instantaneous distribution of data and information can dispel the gloomy darkness brought about by shadows of ignorance in our society. I think the early we rise to this challenge the better for us and the future.
Seyi
This is very lovely and timely.Information is key in our daily life style in order to stand out and achieve greatly. Kudos to the author, Samson.
Hope
Quite an educative write up. Ignorance they say is expensive, Information is very vital in this time and age.
Thumbs up prof Samson for a good job well done.
Samson Akinwale
@ Hope, thanks for taking time to read through. Please be prepared to be part of the implementation process as we’re getting set to treat information malady in our society.