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TUBERCULOSIS: A STRONG SHADOW IN PUBLIC HEALTH DETERMINANT

…..A.G Kingsley….. The 24th of March every year is set aside to commemorate the World Tuberculosis Day.  As a remarkable day, it is celebrated the world over with activities to draw the  attention of all – government, corporate organization, private individual and infected persons to the significance of Tuberculosis to public health. Over the years, several government and donor-driven efforts…

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#NTBLCP #World Tuberculosis Day

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MARKET DEVELOPMENT FOR RICE AND COCOA GROWN IN AKWA IBOM STATE - NIGERIA

MARKET DEVELOPMENT FOR RICE AND COCOA GROWN IN AKWA IBOM STATE – NIGERIA

As Youths of Akwa Ibom State joined the world to mark the 2021 International Youth Day with the Global Theme – TRANSFORMING FOOD SYSTEMS: YOUTH INNOVATION FOR HUMAN AND PLANETARY HEALTH, we need to think locally and act globally. Modern markets are replacing traditional markets and outlets for small scale producers are reduced considerably. This comes with a risks of increasing poverty, not just…

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My Personal Experience with SPECIAL ANTI-ROBBERY SQUAD (SARS)

My Personal Experience with SPECIAL ANTI-ROBBERY SQUAD (SARS)

My name is Kingsley George, a Citizen and twice a victim of SARS brutal tactics of illegal arrest and detention.

Nigerian Lives Matter Campaign

The memory is indelible because of the uniqueness in dates of encounters: March 10th, 2010 and March 11th, 2011.

I am sharing the first experience which gave me the deepest cut.

It was around 6PM and the evening was breezy,…

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Dear Development Practicioners,

Is unethical to place the pursuit of knowledge above the people who made that knowledge possible. In order words, don't make your 'Case Studies, Clients and Stakeholders' feel like a Laboratory Experiment Rat.

Create Inclusiveness and Sustainable result using Behavioral Economics and Human Centered Design approaches in Development Planning.

Also, study new approaches and recreate existing models and tools to suit context.

Refine skills.

Test knowledge through Practice.

Connect with Community of Practices(CoPs) on thematic focus.

Approach competition with ease and seek clarification from experts were necessary for possible Co-Creation and Ideations.

Contribute to knowledge Management (KM) and global good practices by sharing briefs in CoPs.

Learn from the best and do not under-rate others.

Reference and Acknowledge contributors.

Kingsley George

Non-Profit Specialist

[email protected]

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https://docs.google.com/document/d/148iuvdp5BX5FH74yyXwn-Z_0whAqgwngrg1fU6OaEPo/edit?usp=drivesdk

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CITIZENS PARTICIPATION IN A NIGERIA-STYLED DEMOCRACY

In the Ladder of Citizens Participation as illustrated by Arnstein in 1967, the 8 rungs are:

8. CITIZEN CONTROL

7. DELEGATED POWER

6. PARTNERSHIP

5. PLACATION

4. CONSULTATION

3. INFORMING

2. THERAPY

1. MANIPULATION

This model and others were behind the real motives of participatory projects in Europe and America's until there was nothing left to be identified as social needs, resulting in the formation of development aid baskets to the developing world, which Nigeria is a major beneficiary over the years.

To shock you, rural Communities ceased to exist in Europe since after the Marshal Plan.

Having remodeled this framework, it is obvious that the progenitors of Nigeria-styled democracy understood these elements of participation and adopted thus during campaigns, but only sticking to MANIPULATION rung which is the bottom Rung of the LADDER OF CITIZENS PARTICIPATION.

Achieving Citizens participation in governance in a Nigeria-styled democracy has lots of roadblocks and challenges and as CSOs, we can reverse the MANIPULATION rung to the advantage of our communities and constituencies by equipping them with Charters and Community Development Action Plans (CDAPs), while CSOs BUFFER at any point of the rungs (depending on skills and resources) until citizens participation is achieved at the critical mass level.

In the meanwhile, the time to test our individual and collective principles is here. Citizens, Primary and Secondary Stakeholders, and Party Leaders (Electoral college) should be encouraged to engage Aspirants with their Local Community Development Action Plans, charters and blueprints, containing their prioritized Community needs.

This plan should be produced and presented in triplicate copies as follows:

A copy for the Aspirant;

A copy for the community and;

A copy for the Party/ sponsor.

Before the presentation, The Aspirant should be engaged to identify and adopt at least one need from the community plan

Commitments should be secured through signature, fingerprints/seal, in videos and Voice Notes, that during the first 100 days in office, S/He will incorporate that NEED in the LGA budget estimates and also link other NEEDs to relevant MDAs during the State Budget Preparations.

These commitments are part of social accountability.

There are Organisations willing to take up the Advocacy using the Community Copy of the Plan as a tool, if there is a Breach of Trust.

Is time Citizens woke up because NATURE ADHORS VACUUM.

Kingsley George

Non-Profit Specialist

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HERMAPHRODITISM and Social Construct: Lessons from the past.

If HERMAPHRODITISM condition does exist in humans, then ignorance owes victims an apology.

There lived a certain woman (name withheld in order to respect the dead) in Nsit Ibom LGA, precisely Mbiokporo Nsit, whom during her death, rumors went round the Community that she was a witch.

How did she become a witch? Her condition of HERMAPHRODITISM made her a ‘witch’.

In African settings, being labeled a witch comes with inter-related social embargoes ranging from ostracizing, aliniation, shaming, isolation etc. Pychologically, victims are faced with identify and social acceptability crises.

I have come to believe that the combination of these social construct made my Case Study to live in isolation, constantly withdrawing from social and communal activities except tending to her private business which still drew villagers to her because of sole monopoly in the her trade. Meaning that if Community members had options, she would never have been an alternative.

The stigma of being a hermaphrodite lingered through her life time and made worse in the hands of the Mortician, on sighting her male reproductive organ, validated the social construct of witchcraft even at her death bed. And her condition was internalized by Community members and shared as myth and folklores till date.

In various societies, very few are bold enough to face this health and social conditions. And very few are aware of their conditions.

However, this article is careful enough to avoid usage of related modern nomenclatures around the condition because our laws are parallel and may never align to recognize such conditions. But as development practicioners, these conditions should attract empathy and corresponding advocacies for the sake of Human Rights.

Kingsley George

Non Profit Specialist.