Hello,
This time, Uncle Leke Alder faces the Guys – the Jacks in our midst.
In his words, “God over-endowed the African continent. Nigeria alone has 34 mineral resources. Yet the nations with the least resources are the most successful, and richest!” Why? What have they done right?
Today, Leke Alder explains to Jack what the true development of a nation really means and the practical steps he can take in becoming politically and economically responsible. Indeed, this concerns all of us. Read on….
1. My very own Jack, my letter to you today will take on a different hue. Today I want to talk about political responsibility. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
2. The drums of war are rolling, the cymbals are clanging, the eagles are gathering. Where are you Jack? #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
3. Don't blame the politicians for the ills of the nation if you don't want to get involved. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
4. He who does not prevent a crime when he can, encourages it, Seneca said. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
5. Things are not just going to fall into place. A successful nation is not an accident. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
6. The failure of a nation is invariably occassioned by the failings of the middle class. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
7. My definition of middle class includes the educationally potentiated. Pretty much covers you. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
8. It is this group of people that can make intelligent demands on government. The uneducated masses lack wherewithal. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
9. They cannot appreciate their rights or place visionary obligations on government. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
10. They are thus exploitative fodder in the hands of unscrupulous politicians. They're the numbers needed in a democracy. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
11. Democracy as a game of numbers only works well when there are educated numbers. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
12. If you don't want to leave your fate in the hands of the ignorant you better get involved. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
13. The democratic tragedy of Africa lies in the fact that decisive voting power lies in the mass of the uneducated. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
14. If the continent must rise to fulfill its potential, education must be a priority for governments in Africa. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
15. If you build fantastic roads and install traffic lights and the people can't read the highway code what's the point?! #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
16. It's all about people! Has to be about the people. There is a difference between running a government and building a nation. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
17. We develop nations by developing people. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
18. Buoyant economic statistics are useless when the lives of the people remain unchanged. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
19. We should be talking about Gross Human Development (GHD) not just Gross Development Product (GDP). #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
20. Religion is big in Africa as you well know, but you can't even appreciate the person of God without sound education. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
21. Apostle Paul prayed: "I ask God to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally…" (Eph.1:15-19 MSG) #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
22. How can religion then be opposed to education? Education is at the heart of religion! #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
23. You can't even read your Bible without literacy. Spirituality does not preclude intellectual development. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
24. Education MUST BE a priority in Africa. When we build the mind we build the nation. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
25. God over-endowed the African continent. (Nigeria alone has 34 mineral resources). #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
26. Yet the nations with the least resources are the most successful, and richest! #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
27. They paid attention to the fundamentals- education being critical. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
28. They proved it's not the number of resources that matter. It's resourcefulness that counts. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
29. The purpose of resource endowment of a nation has to be the provision of means for the development of the people. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
30. Ideally the nations with the most means should have the highest levels of human development. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
31. The main cause of insecurity and instability in many African countries is the lack of opportunities for the youths. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
32. Education gives a child a fighting chance in life. Every child must have access to quality education. It's enablement. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
33. Education is the greatest investment a nation can make. It's the strategic route to national development. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
34. And it's a long term strategy, leading up to tertiary education. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
35. Basic numeracy and literacy CANNOT be the vision of Africa. It's an under-development agenda. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
36. Why must we always aim for the lowest common denominator?! #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
37. But when kids come out of school they must have jobs. Or we'll have a high youth unemployment rate. That's dangerous! #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
38. How do we create jobs? To answer that question we might as well ask how NOT to create jobs! #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
39. We shouldn't create jobs by bloating up the civil service with redundant human resources. It's false job creation. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
40. And it's costly! It's inefficient and unsustainable. It unduly increases the cost of national administration. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
41. The State must nonetheless staff social services adequately. Hospitals, schools, etc must be well resourced. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
42. But it is more efficient to create job creators than to seek to create jobs by bloating up the civil service. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
43. Entrepreneurship development is not an option for nations like Nigeria. Other African nations as well. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
44. Youth unemployment is a time bomb- an incubating biological explosive device. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
45. Invariably though, a youth must take his destiny into his own hands. If they won't offer you a job create one for yourself! #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
46. But entrepreneurship development policy mandates an enabling environment and adequate infrastructure. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
47. Aside from power, massive investments must be made in internet connectivity. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
48. Internet connectivity is an enabler of dreams for youths. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
49. It will unleash their potential, connect them to the global knowledge community, put them on the global economic grid. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
50. It will create market opportunities for their creativity. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
51. In today's global economy internet connectivity is a utility, a fundamental utility like power and water. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
52. We must also have adequate protection of intellectual property. Creativity must be well protected. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
53. I'm laying down a few ideas for you to advocate on. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
54. A sound venture capital system must be created to finance dreams. Angel investment is needed to get ideas off the ground. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
55. Young men must be trained in entrepreneurship in very practical terms. It can be learned. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
56. But a head crammed with visions of money must be mitigated by a heart crammed with nobility and values. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
57. Without values such motivated youths will become economic threats to the nation's survival. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
58. We must teach Purpose as well. That's a missing piece in our curriculum and it's critical for community sensitivity. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
59. An entire policy infrastructure has to be built around youth development agenda- with ministerial portfolio coordination. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
60. Now you see why you need to get involved. It's in your enlightened self interest. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
61. Join a political party, join an activist group, write the newspapers, publish ideas- your solutions, speak up, vote! #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
62. Your solutions must be mature: "Let not our proposal be disregarded on the score of our youth" – Virgil. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
62. Your solutions must be mature: "Let not our proposal be disregarded on the score of our youth" – Virgil. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
63. Our country is our inheritance from God. We must not abdicate responsibility over it. The consequences are dire. #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
64. Read my book Grim White Green. There are a few ideas there as well. Your mentor, LA. ©Leke Alder #Letr2Jack
— Leke Alder (@LekeAlder) November 2, 2013
