The Development Conundrum

THE DEVELOPMENT CONUNDRUM
Is there Hope?? I’ve been asking myself this question since it truly hit me that development is wayyy more complicated than I had anticipated.
Development shouldn’t be that hard, right? Billions of dollars in aid flow to developing countries every year, money is all that is needed, isn’t it? But obviously, it takes a whole lot more than money to bring a country out of ruins.

The success story of China is always a wonder to read, in about fifty years, they developed and the economy is doing way better than the global west countries that have been developed even before time immemorial (I exaggerate but you get the point). I don’t know the intricate details of how they climbed to victory but I know it wasn’t through receiving aid in cash or kind from western governments.
Literature on China suggests the Chinese culture and tradition had a lot to do with the rapid development, sacrifices had to be made by the citizens to see a better China. I ask myself why can’t other developing countries follow suit? Especially Africa, where I’m from and where my heart lies. Was Africa doomed from the beginning? Was it as soon as the white man set foot on our land? So many questions, so little answers. We can say development in Africa took a nose dive when we tried to copy and paste what supposedly worked in the west “neo-liberalism” that’s right, the dreadful Structural Adjustment Programme supposed to work wonders, was the final straw that seemed to break the camel’s back.


Since studying development, one thing I keep getting is questions. So, if aid, humanitarian assistance, social protection, etc., doesn’t work, what will? I expected answers but all I get is questions. There are so many problems in developing countries but so little solutions.
From bad governance from extremely corrupt leaders to political manipulation and domination from the west. Even the countries supposedly trying to help, have hidden motives that most often than not damages these countries’ economies further. So, then what can be done, if the corrupt leaders don’t care about development, the west is more concerned about what they can get out of it all and development projects, by their very design undermine and ignore the knowledge of the supposed “beneficiaries”? This is the ultimate question in development.

It almost wants to make you give up on it all, think there’s no hope or whatsoever for development in Africa and other developing countries. BUT I do believe there’s hope, and its people that genuinely care and are passionate about seeing and making a real difference. People that have no hidden agendas but to help make lives better for the billion-people living in extreme poverty. Those are the people that give me hope. Even though I have more questions than answers, I won’t stop searching for solutions and doing my part in seeing a better world in my lifetime.

Boladale Shobowale.

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MEET BOLADALE SHOBOWALE.

Boladale Shobowale was born in Lagos State where she had her basic education. She proceeded to the Prestigious Babcock University, Ilisan Remo, Ogun State, where she bagged her Bachelors Degree in International Law and Diplomacy. Being the very ingenious and dynamic personality that she is, Boladale has over the years developed great mastery and skill in the field of International Development.

In her quest to possess the requisite skill and expertise needed in International Development, she served as a Public Relations Intern at the United Nations Information Center, Lagos State, Nigeria in 2014. She went on to gain further refinement in the process of law making in 2016 working at the Lagos State House of Assembly. She is a skilled mediator who duly served her country, Nigeria in the Ministry of Justice, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Boladale is currently a postgraduate student of Development Studies in the University of Sussex, United Kingdom. It thus goes without saying, that Boladale is highly skilled and well versed in the field of International Development.

It will be a great time and privilege of learning only from the best, as Boladale will be educating us tomorrow on Aid, Development and Active Citizenship.

Please Stay tuned to this blog as the best is coming your way!

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ENGAGE!

ENGAGE!

The global call to change as regards our attitudes, disposition to nature, use of land resources, interaction with people, our environment and so much more is one that must not be ignored. The goals seem difficult to achieve, technical and impossible to meet given the global scheme of things. However, what I have come to understand is that, joint and collaborative efforts towards the achievement of the global goals makes it an easy and interesting ride towards the achievement of the goals.

Below are five (5) simple but compelling reasons why you should participate in the global march for change.

1. It doesn't hurt to join but it potentially hurts when you don't.

The global drive towards change in our way of interacting with our world and its constituents is one that is 100% guaranteed to be beneficial. A lot of people do not engage in global development for many reasons I cannot begin to discuss, however, the reason you should do away with whatever stereotype is stopping you from participating is simple: it doesn't hurt when you do but it hurts when you don't. Your ambivalence towards partipation or engagement can be resolved this way, when you take action, no matter how little, you have solved a problem that potentially has the capacity to cause more damage than you can imagine but when you don't, the problem gets compounded and ultimately, constitutes itself a glosbal cause for alarm. A basic example is this; it doesn't hurt to reduce your use of plastic bags and materials, but it hurts when you don't because it compounds the global concern about waste management especially non biodegradable waste. Save the environment, reduce by half, your use of plastic materials in the coming week.

2. All you would rather do depends largely on it.

Many of us are guilty of staying away from the global action scene because we are busy doing other "important " things. We would rather engage in matters that we feel affect our lives forgetting that the existence of a healthy globe is an indispensable condition for your efforts in every other field to be made manifest, imagine issues of peace and conflict were not dealt with as they ought to... how do yo intend to carry out your activities in an unstable environment?  Make a decision this week to take action in relation to peace and conflict this coming week , it may be as little as signing a petition to end violence somewhere in the world.

3. Just as you met a world you could thrive in, some other people also deserve the opportunity.

You did not have to "build " the world you came into, you met it because some people treated it right thus it was available for you to thrive. You are also obliged to take steps to ensure that the world the coming generation is to meet and inherit is easily habitable for them without having to struggle to survive under a poor climate. This week reduce your energy consumption by keeping your light bulbs and sockets off more than they are left on without use.

4. There are limitless opportunities when you do.

The opportunity to do more, increase in every area of life and experience limitless growth is guaranteed by a healthy and peaceful globe. Won't you rather take action? This week, make a decision to engage in the achievement of goal 17: Partnership for the Goals in your little way.

5. You will be glad you did.

In end, when you look back on how things used to be and the better position the world is because of positive actions from people all over the world, you will be glad you contributed your quota.

Engage! Participate ! Change.

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DIVERSITY AND GLOBAL HAPPINESS

Diversity and Global Happiness...

Strong feelings v. Right actions.

The global scene is neutral and diverse , it's a platform meant for everyone regardless of race, culture, beliefs, religion, creed, likes, dislikes or any other qualifying attributes. The global scene is the largest platform that seeks to balance the interests of everyone, meet general and specific needs and most importantly, ensure that everyone gets a chance to live a good life that they deserve. The global mandate is to ensure that the well being of everyone is guaranteed; EVERYONE.

The difficulty in achieving the global mandate is apparent. An attempt to strike a balance that cuts across all persons regardless of their differences is one that is by default almost impossible, however, is there a possibility of a common ground that almost achieves the global mandate regardless of our differences and beliefs? YES.
Imagine we were all born into the world and allowed to grow as we babies? Open minded, plain and devoid of teachings that help us to exalt rather than appreciate, accommodate and work on our differences?

The impossibility of the above highlighted is beneficial and destructive, the latter being the most prominent and a major ground for clashes and chaos on the global scene.

Our focus today is on the ability to identify, appraise and approach differences in view of the march towards sustainability. We find it easy use mass media to air our opinion on our differences. Once we identify what makes someone else different from us, we often begin to analyze and show cause as to why our position as regards the ground of difference is the best forgetting that the other person through whom you realized the difference believes so too, that is, his position is the best.

It's important to understand that every ground of difference on the global scene was a result of one person or the other thinking it's the best practice, to this extent, we must ensure that these grounds are appraised and solved with a great understanding of the sensitivity of the belief, the believer and the ardent passion to sustain it.

An understanding of the sensitivity of these 3 variables would help us approach matters with the right attitude; in love and faith in the ability for everyone to thrive on the global scene regardless of our differences. It will help us see the destructive, retarded and non favorable differences as another opportunity to show love and bring about change and development on the global scene.

We must not put our distaste before our ability to approach matters with wisdom, patience and good judgment.
We need to understand that our differences are the most difficult aspect of our lives to modify, yet the easiest to change with the right attitude and approach.

We must, identity, appraise and approach these differences with a clear mind, wisdom, patience; not acting in the heat  of the moment but understanding of the need to appreciate people for their differences as well as the need to adjust some to meet the need for change, sustainability and happiness of EVERYONE on the global scene.

Your approach to difference should not always be to change the belief of a person ( because yours might just be totally wrong).
The identification of a ground of difference is not a call to incite hate, hurt feelings and castigate, rather it's a call to love, discussion and calculated steps towards a better globe for us to thrive .
Remember that our differences go to the root of our feelings and to deal with them unreasonably and selfishly is to open doors for chaos that could be avoided with weapons of healthy character.

TASK: List 5 differences that you find distasteful on the global scene and list five healthy ways to balance and adjust them.

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INNOVATIVE CITIZENSHIP

It's easy to believe that anyone can hold the government responsible for their actions (which should be) but what obtains outside the realm of that thought is the difficulty in maximizing that which we believe and are advised by others to do.

Innovation as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary is "a new idea, device, method ". The need for innovation in every aspect of life cannot be done away with as it ensures that our lives evolve thus making life better and interesting.

The last post highlighted the fact that good governance is imperative for sustainable development and this post seeks to highlight ways in which we can make the government accountable to its people.

You would expect me to highlight serially what can be done but that is not what this post will do as it is conventional bringing about the same results. A lot has been said on the internet and by experts yet only so much has been done. 

More can be done and achieved through what I call "Innovative Citizenship ".

Innovative citizenship is a form of active citizenship which involves seeking new ideas, devices and methods through which we can bring about a change in our countries, including the guarantee of good governance.

As an Innovative Citizen, you should search yourself for ways that you may participate in the governance  of your nation to bring about a change and accountability. No one should teach you how to exercise your right to ensure the government is accountable with all that you have entrusted in its care.

The global cry for development is multifaceted and requires action by everyone with the government being the ground for the synchronization of individual efforts. To this extent, just as we are encouraged to be innovative in our quest to achieve a sustainable world, so should we be in our citizenship in order to ensure visible progress and development.

Innovative citizenship pushes everyone to undertake the task of looking for new ways to participate in governance and with this comes the drive to follow through with such innovation. The sustainability of our actions seem more feasible that way.

Innovative citizenship brings about novel ideas to proffer solutions to issues caused by bad governance, thereby increasing the glimmer of hope in the guarantee of the fact that power rests with the people and must do so perpetually.

You must search yourself for your capabilities and interests, find a way to channel them into ensuring good governance wherever you are. It could be through your ability to research, speak or analyze amongst others. What is important is that you channel your energy and talents into ensuring that your country is purged of bad governance. 

The world you seek to thrive needs your innovation, what can you do about it?

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POWER TO WHO?

What do we mean when we say "power to the people?"
Power to the people might just , on research, be the most chanted mantra by activists and politicians around the world.

The mantra might be a true intention expressed or a cloak to garner the support of people to foster their own undoing in the next few years comprising the regime of a person in power.
To what extent do we mean this mantra and in what light: the truth or a cloak?
The quest for sustainable development is a long term one, achievable only through collaborative efforts but what happens when people deliberately excuse themselves because they believe that the quest is the governments' and not theirs to ensure?

The last post discussed the need to take action by everyone and not the judgement. All our posts preceding this have emphasized and reiterated the need for active citizenship but it might be far fetched in the face of bad governance, hence the need for collaborative efforts.
The global destiny is shared. It lies in the hands of everyone leaving no one behind; a refreshing start point for inclusion in the society.
Every member of the society owes it a duty to call the government to order when acting in breach of public faith reposed on them.

The place of good governance in the realization of a sustainable world cannot be shoved aside.
It is important that the government of nations all over the world take guided steps in the achievement of the sustainable development goals. It is common place to see messages on social media about the promises made by governments to commit to the SDGs, it must not stop there, they must swing into action and when they do not, citizens must call them to accountability as power indeed belongs to the people.

Strong governments and economies in realization of the fact that the imperative of sustainability is shared and fruitless if some parts of the world cannot step up to the task for peculiar or general reasons must commit to throw their weight behind the struggling economies and governments in order to achieve an inclusive and sustainable world for everyone.
This may be done through sharing ideas on best practices, experience and knowledge sharing, technology transfer (with caution), collaboration to act amongst others.
Bad governance in one country is a cause for alarm in every country, the truth in this statement is not far fetched. The effects of bad governance resonate all over the world, it causes poverty, migration, violence, unhealthy struggle for social amenities amongst others, all of which are the causes of global crisis all around the world.
Bad governance is the bane of sustainable development, it therefore behoves on everyone of us to seek ways to purge of country of every form of bad governance.

Bad governance just like a weak pillar in a building pulls down all efforts made by anyone or group of persons walking towards sustainable development.
Bad governance fosters the impediments to sustainable development and as such its important to find a way to make the government accountable to its people, the question is how?

This again, is achievable through citizens action by working hard against bad governance, exercising their rights and asserting it through the best means possible, acting right so that bad governance cannot thrive and collaborating with the government to take the world to the next level.
It is not enough to rant on social media and do no more, you must act, ensure accountability, speak up and resist bad governance through all peaceful means possible, use the social media to garner support to question the government responsibly.
Remind the government once again, that power belongs to the people and not to the government, hence the "p" and people which is absent in government (on a lighter note)

Power is vested in the government by the people and not the other way round, the power vested is what enables the government to act. There is no gain saying the fact that you cannot give what you do not have, power truly belongs to the people who give it to the government, to this extent, we are encouraged to take the global destiny in our hands and question every authority that acts in ways to impede the achievement of sustainable development.

The next post will highlight the ways we can peacefully resist bad governance. Have a beautiful week ahead.

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Much Ado about Action.

...Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. 
-Marianne Williamson.

The sudden global fuss about the need to take action and the call for active citizenship evades many of us, we just do not get it, we begin to ask ourselves questions such as , why is it so important ?, even if it is important, why now? If so, what has it got to do with me? These questions sometimes throw us into confusion.

The need for action especially when things seem to have gone completely out of hands or have solutions which are seemingly beyond reach may seem as one which cannot be met especially when you innocently find yourself in the midst of such need by no deed or inadvertence on your part.
Earlier this week, we took an opinion poll via our twitter account (@19_nineteen), we asked the question; who should take action for sustainable development? the government or anyone. The result of the poll revealed that more voters believe that anyone can take action for sustainable development. Do we really think so ?because if we really do, we would have achieved more than we have today.

The question of how far a private individual can go as regards taking action for sustainable development is usually answered in the negative. However, think about the extent of impact that will be achieved when every one that thinks it is possible decides to take action and make impact. Imagine that a hundred persons in different locations, without any consultation from one another take action about one global issue... we all should be conditioned to think along that line. The urge to take action, to make a difference is not felt by you alone but by thousands of people around the world, however, your bold step can trigger other persons with or without the similar urge to act. That way, results are seen and  a difference more resounding than you set out to make is made visible. Imagine how many of your friends will decide to volunteer for a cause having seen the impact or potential of your courage to take an issue and transform it, how much dirt would be off the shanty slums if ten persons at different times decide to do a community service, educate persons in the slum on waste disposal and provide alternative means for safe waste disposal, imagine what difference would be made if ten persons decide to take on an education project in ten locations; would there or would there not be an increase in global literacy?

You should not be bothered about who is joining you to act , but the impact of your actions. If your actions do not show results immediately, it is not a sign to give up but a sign to wait, do something better or try a different approach.
It should be inconsequential at some point if the government is not doing what they ought to do, your action and not incessant complaint is a sufficient call to action.
You will be discouraged but the results of your action would outweigh the challenges and that should be sufficient motivation.
The world is ours to thrive, hence its protection and sustainability should be made priority over our shortcomings or lack of sufficient resources to act.
Actions no matter how little make a difference. You may not see it but others do and the change you bring or inspire, is sufficient for the world to be better and sustainable.
See a need and meet the need don't just complain and do nothing.
The world is ours not for the Government, United Nations or similar bodies, Charities or a select few.

This should be your thought: if my action can inspire change even in just one person, then I'm good to go. It's not in your place to ask questions such as , what if nobody joins me ? or even if decide to act, if it's just me, the change will not be so profound. There are a million reasons not to act but one compelling reason to act: the future of the globe may be thoroughly changed by my decision to act and eventual action, so why not?

There is nothing beyond the reach of ordinary citizens doing the daily work of democracy, and no problem too great to tackle with the power of active citizenship. 
-Joan Claybrook.
   
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