IGNORANTIA JURIS NON EXCUSAT

A very beautiful day to you all.

Let me expose myself a little bit. There is this popular phrase in Nigeria that quite a lot of us really say wrongly: "AS AND WHEN DUE." A lot of people mishear this phrase to be "AS AT WHEN DUE." Well, maybe not quite a lot of people. But I own up to the fact that I have always thoughT the latter is the correct form. As a matter of fact, I was on the verge of correcting one of my bosses that makes use of this phrase a lot. I already made up my mind that the next time she repeats it, I was going to send her a message privately and correct her. How so thoughtful of me. But my instinct just pushed me to check it out first. Alas, I have been the wrong user all along. I can't imagine the disgrace of trying to correct what was never wrong in the first place.

The purpose of that story is to make us realize the importance of knowledge. There is nothing too big or too small to know. There is this popular phrase that says: Unlearn, Learn and Re-learn. This is the essence of living. No matter how knowledgeable or well informed you are, there is definitely going to be an area that requires you to sought out for more information. 

Ours is a generation with so many information all around us. We live in a period where you can easily gain access to virtually any kind of information you so desire. But the truth of the matter is that having them benefits no one. We can only benefit from these bulk of knowledge when we make effort to learn through them.

The day we stop learning is the day we start dying so they say. What was correct last year might not be accurately correct this year. That is the essence of seeking out for knowledge on a routine basis. One factor that we need to look out for however is ASSUMPTION. Assumption has killed a lot of dreams and desire. 

I was once scheduled for an interview session many years back. Because i have interned with them before, I assumed a lot of things about the structure of the company. In my folly, I only prepared for the technical part of my interview that has to do with the job role while I neglected the other part that deals with knowing about the company you wish to work for. It was during the interview session I realized that quite a lot has changed. Of course I lost out.

Ignorance is a killer. It robs us of what should be ours. Never allow the school of thought that says what you don't know can't kill you. Nothing can be farther from the truth. Knowing gives you an edge wherever you find yourself. It gives you a leverage in any field you find yourself. Career progression in the world we live in now is subjected to what you have learnt. You can never know it all.

Finally, make a conscious effort in learning on a daily basis. Increase and expand your knowledge. Be sure of whatever you are not sure of. Never allow assumption to rob you of the streams of opportunities that awaits you. Kick out ignorance and give knowledge through learning a chance.

Remember, ignorantia juris non excusat.

#mindyourminute 'keeplearning #saynotoignorance #neverstoplearning

WHY SIT WE HERE TILL WE DIE?

Sometimes around October 2019, I traveled with a friend to the University of Ibadan in Oyo state Nigeria. The purpose of the journey was to make some findings as regards a postgraduate program in the institution. A colleague was able to link us up with a lady to help our findings and make it an easy adventure for us. Someone we have never met or known before.

We left Lagos as early as possible in order for us to be able to meet up and make necessary assessments before offices begin to close down for the day. On arrival, we called up our contact, but she begged that we give her some time to wrap up what she was doing and meet up with us. Seconds turned to minutes and minutes turned to hours. While waiting, we diligently parked the car somewhere around one of the campus’s car parks while we feast our eyes on the beautiful resources that the institution is endowed with. Both natural and human.

After some hours, a lady tapped the door of the car and we opened for her to enter. She sat down and we exchange pleasantries. We were about setting out on our journey only for us to discover that we had the wrong person in the car. The lady in the car is not who we were actually waiting for!!!!!! According to her, she thought the car is a taxi that conveys students within the school premises. It was a very funny incident.

Have you come to realize in this life that where you are determines the kind of people you attract? Location is a very important factor as we journey through life. Little wonder there is a saying that your location determines your allocation. The only reason we almost end up picking the wrong person was because of where we parked. There were actually other parks for private cars like ours however ignorance played a fast one on us.

We should have an understanding that where we are determines who we know. Who we know determines our network. Our network determines our net worth. It’s that simple. Ever asked yourself why some people will never stay in some particular areas? It is because of the kind of people they wish to associate with.

By location, we are not necessarily speaking to where you live. Your location could mean your place of work, place of worship, circle of friends etc.

In what ways does location affect our lives?

 Ever imagined how the clique of friends you keep has an adverse effect on the way you see life? Show me your friend and I will tell you the kind of person you are. The circle of people you move with will go a long way in impacting your ethics, values and morals. And this definitely decides what you get from life.

It doesn’t matter the level of hard work you might put into every effort, there is always little or nothing to show for it. The results you get is never at par with what you desired. And this is where frustration and depression sets in.

What is the way forward?

Knowledge is key!

With ignorance comes a price, hence knowledge is never a waste. Like they say, he who knows not and knows not that he knows not has a problem. (Let’s not call him a fool). Until you are first able to realize and admit that where you are is not where you are supposed to be, then there can be no way forward.

However, there must be a self-realization to the fact that what you are getting from your present location is not what you want. Complacency is never an option in this case. You can never be satisfied with your present predicament and expect any form of change. You are on a long thing.

After this, with the knowledge you have, take action. In taking action, be informed that there is never a perfect moment to start. There is never a perfect moment to launch. But there is a right moment to propel.

Make the move. Make it now. And you’re on the right track to have a change of story.

Remember the words of the four Lepers in the Holy Bible: “why sit we here till we die”

#mindyourminute because every minute counts.

ALL LIVES MATTER

I remember quite vividly the story of a footballer for FC Barcelona by name Dani Alves in April 2014. During the course of play, a spectator threw a banana at him; a gesture that translates to racial abuse. Dani picked up the banana, ate and continued playing his match.  In December 2018, the popular Arsenal footballer Patrick Aubameyang had a banana peel thrown at him after scoring a goal. This is just one out of the many cases of records of racism that is being faced all around. Talk about the movie industry, sports, and most importantly security. The earlier we have something to do about this now, the better for us as a human race.

In the wake of the recent happenings around the world, there is a need for us to look back as humanity and review how far we have come. And how far we still have to go. Many authors have given various review of their thought about this long-lasting menace in the society. Clergies, politicians, scholars and all have contributed knowledge to what they think about the discourse of racism. The genesis, the cause, the implications and what have you. But again, I say can we have a review?

Many are of the believe that there is a particular group of races that are superior or inferior to another. As a result of this, prejudice, antagonization, discrimination and so on are directed and targeted towards these particular set of people because of their ancestry, color or origin.

In essence, this particular set of people are blamed and made to pay for being who they are despite being outside of their own control or will. Institutions and societies are built in such a way and manner as to discriminate against this people. This has gone for such a long time and hence the need for us to have a review as humanity.

In the words of Martin Luther King Jr., he said “we must rapidly begin the shift from the thing-oriented society to a people-oriented society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of Racism, Materialism and Militarism can never be conquered.”

This could not have been better said. Considering the gulf in which we have been thrown into as a race.

The fight against racism begins with you and I. institutions are all made up of people who have vowed to be an agent of this menace to humanity. Do you treat me based on the ethics of your profession or based on the fact that I have a color you so much despised? How deep do you think racial abuses eats deep into the mental soundness of who is been abused?

Mention any profession today and see for yourself how discriminatory people can be. How long do we continue with this scourge? How long do we bear with this menace? Can we as human being begin to think of doing better? Can we all put a stop to this pandemic causing enmity between us? How long before we realize that irrespective of colors, race or tribes, we are all human before being of a color.

Whatever you do, all lives matter. Be you black, white, Hispanic or whatever color we have out there, we are all humans created by God and no one has a say as to determine what color to become.

Like Martin Luther King Jr said: “I have a dream.”

 

#mindyourminute