Change comes in trickles.
And when it comes, it causes ripples.
It is no longer news that the world has been experiencing what I would like to describe as Global Socio-economic Meltdown (GSM). From the picture the local and international media has painted so far, GSM seems to be a faceless creature with strange powers - including the ability to sack millions of people, close down companies, injure the stock market, raise bank interests, cut down company budgets, and heighten the cost of production… this mysterious creature bears other names such as credit crunch, depression, recession and whatever.
But people don't seem to sense that there is a moral meltdown. By moral meltdown, I mean the disappearance of noble values. For me, this is a bigger issue. Let’s begin with the twin values of decency and dignity. Talking about decency in dressing, at times, it amuses me when I hear of some ladies complain of men harassing them sexually. I wonder who is harassing who. You see a lady provocatively dressed with her weapons of harassment in public glare. I suppose you know what I mean by that. All in the name of civilization, you offend the sensibilities of people around you.
There are women who dress with dignity written all over them – that put on trendy wears that cover them up properly - without being conservative in their outlook. In fact, they appear dignified, charming and responsible. When you sight such women, you will find out that they are easy on the eyes. Without being prudish, I don’t think nudity is beauty. This is about doing what is morally responsible and socially acceptable.
I shake my head sadly when I watch some of our music videos with scantily-dressed girls dancing seductively. What about the lewd lyrics? You wonder what message they are trying to pass across to the public. What values are they selling to their listeners? This is not adding up at all, it’s a moral meltdown. It is a game of perception. You tell people a lot about yourself by the way you dress.
Going further, examination malpractice is now the order of the day in most of our schools, as if it is impossible for one to study and pass one’s exam. A person of decency and dignity won’t look for ways to cheat in order to get good grades. It has become so bad that some parents, school authorities, invigilators are involved in this moral decay. Today, we have special centres all over the place, when they are actually useless centres. Students pay outrageous amounts of money to make good results. It is annoying when you see some posters of some supposed JAMB tutorial centres carrying a promise such as “Score 290 and above”. The truth is most of these tutorial centres collect a lot of money from their students and make sure they get good grades whether they read their books or not. Where are we going to in this country?
We need a cultural change. And it starts in the way we think. Subscribe to the noble values of decency and dignity and you would be better for it. Your community would be better for it. Nigeria will be better for it. The emerging generation will be proud of us. Many of us have wondered if Nigeria will ever experience a change for good. Great! You bought pure water, finished drinking the water and threw the sachet on the ground. Do you know this great change we expect starts through our little, but right steps? The change starts when you refuse to litter the ground with that pure water sachet, when you don’t plan to cheat but you decide long before your exams to prepare adequately. Someone once said “Great = Small + Small + Small. So, the positive change we so much anticipate will come in trickles through you and me. Together we can set Nigeria on the path of progress, when we act with a sense of decency and dignity. Till we meet in the next edition, always remember you’re designed to be decent and dignified.
Idowu Omisore, MRS
Motivation + Relationships + Self development
08059371461
omisorei@yahoo.com
www.idowuomisore.blogspot.com
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