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Showing posts with the label Religion

YOUTH RESTIVENESS: TIME FOR ACTION

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The choice is before us: listen to young people and deal with the problems early, or wait until frustration becomes another crisis. Youth restiveness has become impossible to ignore in Nigeria. From street protests to arguments that explode on social media, from community clashes to cultism and cybercrime, the signs are everywhere. Many young Nigerians are frustrated and no longer willing to stay quiet. Walk through the streets of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Delta or Edo and you will see young people of different backgrounds - graduates and artisans alike, holding plastic bottles that look like soft drinks. What is inside is often hard drugs. They loiter around hotels, clubs, drinking spots and motor parks. Some sleep in awkward positions from the effects of what they have taken. Girls are not left out. After taking the same substances, some of them behave in ways they would never do when sober - promiscuity, prostitution, suggestive dancing and smoking. The real question is not only why young p...

THE COLOUR OF A WITCH IN AFRICA

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Photo credit: freepik.com In Africa, particularly in Nigeria, the color black is often negatively associated with witchcraft. Despite black symbolizing power, authority, and elegance, many Nigerians—especially in rural areas—frequently label elderly, dark-skinned women as witches. This perception is unjust and harmful. It is rare to find a fair-skinned woman suspected or accused of witchcraft in Africa. This is largely because fair complexions are often associated with innocence and harmlessness. I recall an incident years ago when a spirit was consulted to identify the witch or wizard responsible for the death of a two-month-old baby boy. To the surprise of many, a fair-skinned woman was accused of being behind the tragedy. In many African cultures, colors carry profound symbolic meanings connected to nature, spirituality, and societal values. The symbolism of black and white is far more complex than a simple good-versus-evil contrast often seen in Western cultures. Black frequently r...

Good Friday Passion Play

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https://fb.watch/z34DrR81HB/?mibextid=Nif5oz Watch the Good Friday Passion Play performed at St. Peter's Parish Ota Ogun State Abeokuta Diocese .

ENHANCING CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

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Organizations and individuals establish businesses in environments they believe will foster growth, sustainability, and progress. While operating in these locations, these entities have the opportunity to contribute positively to the social and economic well-being of the surrounding communities. This practice is known as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), also referred to as Corporate Impact. In several African countries, particularly Nigeria, the contributions of many organizations to the economic and social development of their host communities often fall short of local expectations. This article highlights some critical areas that have been largely neglected, including road maintenance, rural and urban electrification, environmental sanitation, and scholarships for indigent students. Road Maintenance : Feeder roads, which organizations frequently use to transport raw materials and finished goods, often suffer from poor maintenance. Although it is not the direct responsibility...

BETWEEN GOD AND THE GODS: A QUESTION OF FAITH

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THE MYTH AND DANGER OF CURE-ALL DRUGS: A CALL FOR STRICTER REGULATION

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Cure-all Drugs :  The concept of cure-all drugs, also known as panaceas, refers to medicines that claim to heal every human ailment—a universal solution to all health problems. This idea traces back to Greek mythology, where Panacea, the daughter of Asclepius and Epione, was believed to possess a potion capable of healing the sick. This myth gave rise to the medical notion of a panacea. Figuratively, the term "panacea" is used to describe something believed—often mistakenly—to solve all problems or cure a wide range of illnesses. According to the Collins Dictionary, a panacea is “something that is believed, usually wrongly, to be able to solve all the problems someone or something has, or to cure a wide range of illnesses.” Given these definitions, one might wonder if there truly exists a single drug capable of curing all ailments. If such a drug exists, does it appear in modern pharmaceutical medicine? The answer is almost certainly no. Unfortunately, in many parts of Africa...

BRIDGING THE NORTH-SOUTH DIVIDE: THE CASE FOR RANCHING TO RESOLVE AGRICULTURAL CONFLICTS IN NIGERIA

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The growing divide between Northern and Southern Nigeria is fueled by escalating tensions rooted in agricultural conflicts involving individuals and groups across the country. This dangerous trend must be halted to preserve the fragile peace that has existed among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups since independence in 1960. Cattle rearing, a significant aspect of animal husbandry, is predominantly practiced by peasant farmers and businesspeople in Northern Nigeria. While cattle rearing occurs in other regions, the scale of the trade is far greater in the North. The Fulani nomads, primarily among the Hausa, dominate this sector, moving their herds across the country in search of quality grazing land. Unfortunately, as these animals roam, they often stray into farmlands, consuming and destroying crops. This destruction has frequently sparked violent clashes between farmers and herdsmen, sometimes resulting in fatalities among those directly or indirectly involved. Some have proposed desig...

THE HIGH COST OF EASY MONEY: WHY TURNING TO WITCH DOCTORS RARELY ENDS WELL

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A traditional African herbalist preparing remedies with herbs, gourds, and symbolic artifacts in a vibrant cultural setting. Source: Google  In moments of financial desperation, people often reach for the fastest solution they can find. Bills pile up, opportunities dry up, and the pressure to “make it” becomes overwhelming. For many, that search leads not to a bank, a mentor, or a legitimate side hustle, but to a witch doctor or Voodoo priest promising quick and lasting relief. The appeal is understandable.  When conventional paths feel slow or blocked, the promise of supernatural intervention can feel like the only remaining option. Yet what begins as a search for help frequently becomes a costly descent into manipulation, escalating demands, and lasting harm. The Allure of Instant Solutions Most people who visit these practitioners are not seeking spiritual enlightenment. They are looking for money, protection from creditors, business success, or an end to a run of bad luck....

NON-CATHOLIC AND THE HOLY COMMUNION

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Photo: Priest Giving Holy Communion  WHY DOES THE CATHOLIC CHURCH RESTRICT HOLY COMMUNION? Amara Blessing Nwosu once asked: “Why does the Roman Catholic Church stop non-Catholics from partaking in Holy Communion? My father is a Pentecostal pastor, and from childhood till now, I have never heard him stop non-Pentecostals from receiving communion. The only warning he gives is against taking it without first confessing your sins and making peace with God. Is the Catholic Church suggesting that the body of Christ is divided? Did Christ shed His blood for Catholics alone? Are non-Catholics all going to hell?” (Facebook, January 24, 2013). The Catholic Church teaches that Holy Communion is not simply a symbolic act but the actual reception of the Body and Blood of Christ. Because of this, the Church sets specific conditions for who may receive it: - Non-Catholics and even baptized Catholics who have not yet made their First Holy Communion or who are not in a state of grace are not permi...

SHOULD THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ACCEPT WOMEN INTO PRIESTHOOD?

Should The Catholic Church Accept Women Into Priesthood? The above question came up recently in a forum and this is my opinion. No. Women have their defined roles in the Church. God created man for specific functions while women are designed for particular roles. If you say ‘there is no man or woman in Christ’, you are invariably saying that Adam is the same thing as Eve. Women can help in the distribution of holy Communion and in some parish administration duties. Note that women are CONSECRATED and not ORDAINED in the Roman Catholic Church. This is not a question of gender inequality; it is about following standard procedures – a fair division of Labour if you like. Consider this fact for instance; can a woman impregnate herself? No. Hence, some one else - a man has to undertake that role of impregnating a woman. In the same way, a man cannot and does not have the capacity to carry pregnancy. In this case, man plays a defined role, while woman carries out her own function. The...

IS NIGERIA AT WAR WITH HERSELF?

The Boko Haram insurgency in northern Nigeria remains one of the country’s most persistent and devastating crises. What began as a seemingly fringe movement has grown into a prolonged catastrophe that has claimed tens of thousands of lives, displaced millions, and affected both Nigerians and foreigners alike. To this day, the true origins of the group are still debated, and its leadership has long been shrouded in mystery. Abubakar Shekau, long presented as its commander, was reported dead and “resurrected” multiple times before his eventual confirmed death. The identity of those who truly direct the group continues to elude clear public understanding. Successive Nigerian governments, working with regional partners, have poured enormous human and material resources into confronting the threat. Yet the crisis has refused to heal; it remains an open wound that continues to inflict deep suffering. This raises fundamental questions: What do the members of this group actually want? What gri...

CHARLATANS AND FALSE PROPHETS

The bible tells us that when Jesus commissioned the twelve apostles, he gave them the foremost task of preaching the Good News to everyone irrespective of religious, social or economic affiliation. The aim of this evangelical duty was to ensure the salvation of humanity. This onerous task that was hung on the shoulders of the apostles several centuries ago is still far from being accomplished till this day. Hence, many people, particularly here in Nigeria have offered to help carry out this herculean task. In this article, we shall discuss the quality of people involved in this business and the rationale behind it. As a matter of fact,  it is not uncommon these days to find people in different categories of employment such as teachers, electricians, peasant farmers, masons, carpenters, etc., abandoning their jobs to embrace church business in the name of being called to Jesus’ service. Some of them claim to have received the signal in a dream while others will not hesitate to tell ...