Deep Thought

 # StopASUUStrike-Yayale's Arduous Tasks II By Prof MK Othman The first part of this piece was published in this column on Wednesday, October 30, 2024. At that time, I only knew Yayale through newspapers and news media. Nevertheless, I wrote about his responsibilities, background, risks, and potential challenges related to his assignment. This assignment involves two demanding tasks: leading the government delegation to resolve the over-a-decade-long FGN-ASUU crisis and chairing the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria Governing Council, which entails overseeing the appointment of the university's new vice-chancellor. The tasks are so burdensome that one can hardly accomplish them without compromising integrity and reputation. I recounted the unpleasant stories of the late Mallam Adamu Chiroma and Engr. Bunu Shariff Musa, who were appointed at different times to chair the ABU Zaria Governing Council and serve as university Pro-Chancellor. However, both resigned due to circumstan...

 Re: The Beauty of China, its People, and Accentuated Lessons By Prof. M. K. Othman   China's narrative is not fading, and many people share my view of the country: admiration, envy, and respect. A large population is typically associated with chaotic and undisciplined behavior, as control and regulation become challenging, but this is not the case with China. The population is exceptionally high, representing over 17% of the world’s total, yet the leadership is attentive to every individual in China. Therefore, the citizens are unlikely to misbehave for fear of consequences. Our political leaders need to learn the art of effective governance from the Chinese to guide the nation to its promised future. Some of my readers have shared their thoughts on China, and I am presenting them from a broader perspective. Happy reading.   Excellent write-ups about China and the Chinese people, my professor, sir. As represented in their map, there is much to appreciate about the “fat c...

 Re: Jimmy Carter- Adieu to the Champion of Downtrodden - Nigeria, Nay Africa By Prof. M. K. Othman   President Jimmy Carter stood much taller amid the giants.  His aura of influence may continue to touch the lives of the underdogs years after his demise. We cannot but continue to mourn the death of the African hero, the American president who advanced human rights and alleviated human suffering. We grieve the death of Jimmy Carter for spearheading the campaign to eradicate dracunculiasis, onchocerciasis, trachoma, lymphatic filariasis, and malaria across over eighty countries in Africa and Asia. We will continue to cherish and immortalize President Jimmy Carter, who passed on at the Centurian age. As part of the mourning, I lifted and edited (for clarity) Dr. Wumi Akintide’s comment on my article published two weeks ago to further enlighten my readers on the excellent job to humanity performed by Jimmy Carter during his 100-year journey on earth. Happy reading. Dr. Akint...

 Chinese Insatiable Desire to Mechanize African Agriculture, Nay Nigeria By Prof. M. K. Othman In February 2024, a Nigerian-based Chinese agricultural machinery and equipment company, Chinige Technology Services Limited, invited me to speak as the keynote speaker at a high-level agricultural mechanization sensitization workshop for policymakers and managers of agricultural institutions. I used the NAERLS results of the 2023 wet-season agricultural performance survey (APS) to present the abysmal level of farm productivity and the vast unexplored and untapped agricultural potential that needed investment. The primary factor responsible for agriculture's appalling and disappointing productivity level is inadequate, inaccessible, and unaffordable farm machinery and equipment for small-scale farmers, who constitute about 90% of the Nigerian farming population. NAERLS survey revealed that in the 2023 farming season, 80 percent of the farmers used hand tools – cutlass and hoe to carry out...

 Smart Farming: A Pathway for Food Security in Nigeria By Prof. M. K. Othman The world population in 2024 is slightly less than 8.2 billion from the population of 2.5 billion in 1952, a wolfing increase of 5.7 billion people over 72 years. This analysis is made from the information obtained from Worldmeters (http://www.worldometers.info/). The Worldometers is one of the respectable organizations that presents estimated world population based on statistics and projections from the most reputable official organizations such as the United Nations Population Division, World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), and World Bank. Population in the world is growing at around 0.87% per year in 2024 (from 0.88% in 2023 and down from 0.97% in 2020 and 1.05% in 2019). The current population increase is estimated at around 71 million people per year, with an estimated population of 9.6 billion people in 2050. Many countries have a...

 Gender Agenda: Woman as a Vanguard of Change in Society By Prof MK Othman Is a man more powerful than a woman? A woman with a sound anatomic physique, high physiological provocative, and sensitive intellectual inertia can be a conqueror and vanguard of societal change. God has made the world to be that of a woman for her to pick, use, and abuse. This is a woman's world to the envy of a man. What is the reasonable request of a woman that a man can deny? More than two decades ago, the government-ASUU crisis was stalemated. A female catalyst was added to the "chemical" formula. The problem was resolved in no time - ASUU, the government, and the nation were all happy as several milestones were attained for good. ETF, now TETFUND, is one of the products of that crisis resolution that still benefits society. My 13-year-old daughter peeped through my window and requested my audience in the early hours of the day, which I reluctantly granted. She entered my room profusely weepin...