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The Virus of Pains – Nigeria’s 2020 Budget Shrinks

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If oil money powers your budget, and the benchmark is at $57 per barrel, giving you a $31 billion budget, there is sad news. Nigeria feels that way because the nation has cut the benchmark to $30. Largely, Nigerian budget is now sub-$20 billion, for 200 million people.

In the evening of Tuesday, December 17, 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari appended his signature to the 2020 Appropriation Bill of N10.59 trillion (about $31 billion at black market rate or $35 billion at official exchange rate)

The budget was sent to the President last week by the national assembly for signing. Buhari who used the occasion of his 77th birthday to endorse the Appropriation Bill was surrounded by some members of his party administration.

Vice President Yemi Osibanjo; Senate President, Ahmed Lawan; House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed and the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba, all graced the occasion.

There would be so much financial engineering for even that low number: the Federal Executive Council has approved reductions on capital budget by 20%, and 25% cut in recurrent expenditures. In short, I expect customs revenue to drop as import from Asia has crashed. Government’s plan to sell some assets like power systems will struggle as there would be fewer buyers; so that number has to go low in the budget.

And the big one: the government has frozen recruitment except for health services and security. I do not believe that one though, relying on past records. Tough months ahead across all sectors because this sub-$20 billion cannot be 70% executed. In other words, the real 2020 Nigerian budget is below $14 billion.

Of course, the Central Bank of Nigeria has promised to inject N1 trillion into the economy. Yet, I do not see how Nigeria can service its debts obligations, pay politicians-at-service, pay public sector workers, and not devalue Naira or flood everywhere with treasury bills to mop cash. But we will see: miracles happen on Fridays and Sundays in that country, always.

“What Is The Best Business I Can Start Now?”

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Tekedia Mini-MBA Participant: Sir, what is the best business I can start now?

My Response: A business to deliver cooked or semi-cooked or ready-to-cook food to people in urban areas looks promising. As restaurants close, due to coronavirus and government instructions, mailed meal kits will become exceedingly vital. Data supports this: Blue Apron which delivers packaged ready to cook meals has seen its stock jump from $2.25 to $16.25 within two days! Unfortunately, coronavirus makes it nearly impossible to start such a business now as you would need to deal with many supply chain partners before you can put the digital sign, “We’re Open”.

Source: Medium

4.0 – Physics As An Instrument for National Development

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When the population of a nation grows, there is always need for increase in welfare; to further close the gap between the rich and the poor. It is obvious the no nation can develop arbitrarily; certain factors necessitate it. To this end, Nigeria has been running as a nation on probability. No goals, policies, no reasonable reform. This is what gives birth to the kind of nation we have today vision-less; it is time we start setting attainable goals and consciously pursue them to the end. Physics, has solved many problems of man in years past ranging from poverty, underdevelopment and so on. I want to call to your attention to what physics can do in national growth and development and will do if we give it chance.

We see a picture of a nation where unemployment will be a thing of the past, poverty banished, economic rejuvenation and intelligent politics (rather than the display of foolishness) will be practiced. Like a patient on the hospital bed, Nigeria need to take this pearl “physics” for recovery. We consider certain issues as it pertains to the nations well-being in turns.

ENERGY CRISIS AND PHYSICS

Nigeria-born America based computer scientist Phillip Emeagweali stated that after every exploration process, oil wells deplete by about 30%. We also know that crude oil (the national heritage) is a non-renewable energy source. Besides, the issue of environmental friendliness, safety is also putting cure oil on a global check. It is wise for countries to seek alternatives energy sources.

Various alternatives like nuclear energy, hydrogen fuel, reformate, liquefied and natural gas, fuel ethanol methanol etc.

Several nations are already projecting into using hydrogen fuel as a means of powering their economic activities. There are laptops, electronic gadgets, engine and vehicles running on hydrogen fuel.

Nigeria has launched 10% bending of petrol with ethanol fuel, which is also a good idea.

In the area of power generation, nuclear energy has played a very tremendous role in other nations. We hope this will gradually move to our shores. I must emphasis that nuclear energy is still the best for power generation but its issues of  ingredient destitution, health and manpower is still a problem. Nigeria as a nation cannot boast of 100 nuclear physicist, this is bad. In fact I don’t think Nigeria has up to 10,000  physicists at present. I challenge our young stars to launch into this field and make Nigeria greater than ever.

We need physicist in the energy sector to research. Recent research have shown that hydrogen can be generated from groundnut oil, this is what we are talking about, vision, passion, purpose and change.

      HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT AND PHYSICS

Nigeria has paid little or no attention to physics in year past and this has no doubt accounted for our backwardness. There is little or no emphasis on education especially, the physics education our yearly budget is a testimony and a fine picture of the productiveness that chair our policy and decision making. There is need to raise young physicist in this country. This means that our educational system must change. It is sad that many of us are a production of this structure, name little and certificate driven learning system yet we must change.

There is a relationship between the educational system and the economy and between the output of skilled personal and the society real needs. It generally reflects in the fact that the content and quality of training educated personnel does not correspond to the task of modernizing our nation, and at times is in direct conflict with our national goals. This happens because the current level of educational provision, curricula and syllabuses, teaching method and the structure of the educational system itself correspond less and less to the changing conditions of development in our world. A gap is beginning to emerge between education and the economy which is beginning to put a brake on economic development.

Lets equip laboratories, research institutes and educational institutions, man by competent and proficient teaching and research staff. Let me at this juncture, stress language as a barrier to passing education. Am of these opinion that every student should study at least a Nigerian language at the senior secondary school aside the English language. I think the idea of denying students admission into our higher due to failure in English language. To this end, I know several individuals think English is education let me inform you that is not the only reliable means of passing an idea, so lets stop glorying in foreign language. The African language is rich and all encompassing lets adopt it in teaching and check the quality of graduate with their English trained counterpart. The onus is up to our linguist to expedite action.

POLITICAL STABILITY AND PHYSICS

Political stability and serenity of a society, is a function of the influence of power on the governed by the government we need nuclear weapons and sophisticated arms and ammunition made in Nigeria. The era of importation should die a gradual death. This is not a way of sponsoring terrorism but to show way of gaining power among other nations. Lets sponsor research, encourage innovation and make this nation great through this millennium miracle physics. It is time to utilize their expertise and build missile, bombs, rocket, jet fighter, submarines and biological decimal weapons. The basic scientist must arise to the challenging days ahead. Nigeria will be great.

ECONOMIC LIBERATION AND PHYSICS

Welfare is the ultimate goals of all research, education and policies, physics not an exception to this. When Nigeria begins to innovate and build technology. Once we look into research, he produce goods and services that makes this world a better place. We can develop our technology to world standard then in other countries will enumerate us.

PHYSICS AND PROBLEM SOLVING

These are national issuing seeking solutions that grapes our attention when we produce quality mathematicians and physicist they can model their problems and interpret the solution and produce solution to the government . Everything on earth is ruled by mathematical and physical laws expressed in equations.

As a nation we need “think bank” those that apply known  principles in the books to solve problems.

There is a story of a great mathematician called Alkwarizemi who used the principle of prime number to solve a dispute resulting among 3 persons with regard to heritage. Books are not just meant to be read and crammed and awarded a certificate for leaving well but as a guide for sharpen our mind to fire turn our thought and produce solution to issues affecting our environment. If all we do is read and no fruit is borne by we processing our indigenous physicists to wake up. The world is waiting for our ejections as a solution tto their problems.

PHYSICS AND YOU

It will be an absurd matter for you to think physics is just some abstract conjuration of the mind without a physical relevant and so meant for some genuine. I am glad to say there is a physicist in everyone.

According to Prof. S.B. Ojo even the human body is a simple harmonic system with the neck like a string, the head is ball and has a natural frequency of oscillation. Any frequency introduced to the body higher than this brings out injuries. So the whole embodiment of  man is physics. Without any iota of ridicule it is possible to predict when an individual can die because the whole system bores down to a physical phenomenon. The mind of man is dimensionless. Ideas are numerous; Nigeria must not lie in this state for long with this “pearl” that has healed many nations. It is interesting to know that security largest share in the 2008 national budget. One of the primary need of is security and its properties. There are cases of car trackers, ICT compliant security budget where physics must be given a credence.

WHY STUDENT FAIL PHYSICS

To make this work relevant to all spheres of the populace, the student and the professional physicists alike. We consider though in passing the reason for the failure of physics especially at the post primary level.

You failed physics because:

  1. You crammed: Several students instead of understanding concept taught they cram and find it difficult to solve other questions except the same question is repeated.
  2. You leaped before thinking: Several students just jump into solution of physics question without digesting the question and gain meaningful understanding so they err
  3. You narrowed your mind: Anything that happens physically obeys several rules. Physics are practical questions and so you must keep all laws and formula at your finger tips.
  4. Fear: You fear the subject this had made you to think it is impossible to know it. Change from being fearful to being adventurous.
  5. You don’t practice: It is being said that exercise begets expertise. As you practice on and on you become a master, solve many questions, get use to all questions and be inquisitive to ask your instructor questions.
  6. You don’t share: Share your knowledge with your colleague and hear their opinion on a particular question.

If you put these things in place, you are on your way to stardom in physics.


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3.0 – Qualifies of a Physicist

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Having discussed the necessary tool of learning physics which is the mind; It will be right to consider certain traits to watch out for in people on who this great responsibility is saddled.

I must admit that mathematics and physics are like two sides of a coin but it is adequate to say “Mathematics is the language of physics”.

Physics is the “why” of any physical phenomenon i.e what gives the reason for any behavior of matter in nature.

It will be wise to itemize what parents, schools, government and private individuals should look out for in th uo coming generation in raising competent and proficient physicists.

  1. Insightful thought: Physics is a course of the 4-D which is called the mind.It is the thought of individuals through the exercise of the mind to better their lot and their society’s. So, what we exercise our mind towards matters a lot.

The problem with many people around the world is that they expend about 90% of their energy on the physical and emotional activities leaving only about 10% to think. This is very evident in our response to basic science in this country since their product are not directly consumed but need to be applied by the applied scientist to bring comfort to man. If we begin to mind intelligence and respect innovation Nigeria will grow.

So, parent should allow their children think, question them on the principle behind the operations of system and hear their mind on issue. Give them period of brainstorming and communicating the result of their brainstorm session.

  1. Mathematical Aptitude: As it was said earlier that mathematics is the language of physics. The recesses of our mind cannot be understood by our word except when communicated in number expression, equation and functional relation. The abstract world will bridged by mathematics with the physical through equation. I will advice parents to groom mathematics genius to major in any field of physics. Schools should get good physics and mathematics teachers. Government can encourage the citizen by sponsoring mathematics and physics quizzes in primary, secondary and tertiary levels.
  2. Detailedness: Any individual that considers details will flourish in physics. It takes a mind that looks into the details of a particular system to apply physics. It means seeing physics in everything. This will no doubt mean physicist will be needed in every sphere of life, even in electioneering or social events, the burden of analysis anchor on them..
  3. Flexible mind: A rigid or dogmatic individual cannot do well in physics because in physics, concepts can be conjure to produce another difficult concept. The speed with which the mind transposes from the abstract to the natural makes a good physicist. You can navigate the abstract with ease and bless your generation with your ideology.
  4. “Why” attitude/analytical mind: This is the research attitude any prospective physics must possess. It is the aim of physics to unravel features and characteristics of system and phenomena.

Constructive criticism of the pulse of the mind of an individual builds the mind and enhance the intellectual gymnastic.

  1. Reasonable play: It will be absurd to paint physics as a course for the serious only. In playing the mind is sharpened. Imagine the technology of the guitar, it is obviously a product of an insightful play and consistent work on the discovery.

VARIOUS BRANCHES OF SPECIALIZATION OF IN PHYSICS

As a way of advertising the physics profession it will be good to see possible careers in physics that individuals can launch into to better their lot and the nation’s.

  • Mathematical and computational physics
  • Physics electronics and instrumentation
  • Telecommunication physics
  • Solid state physics and material science
  • Geophysics/geodesy
  • Astronomy/astrophysics
  • Nuclear physics/ engineering
  • Energy studies/physics
  • Radiation biophysics
  • Medical physics
  • Cosmology and high energy physics
  • Environmental physics
  • Theoretical physics
  • Reactor physics
  • Atomic physics
  • Industrial physics
  • Engineering physics
  • Meteorology/atmospheric physics

And a lot of other subsidiaries as the need may arise; soil physics, plant physics etc. But essentially they are applicable principles of physics to direct issues pressing on man.

Each of the above branches still have such divisions and very challenging. If individuals man there fields Nigeria will improve drastically.

RECENT CHALLENGES IN PHYSICS

There are certain issues that are currently very suitable issues among physicists. So it will be a good start for those who want to lavish their intellectual strength and those who enter the profession with a vision. They are:

  • Super conductivity
  • Age dating of the earth
  • Energy crisis
  • Telecommuting
  • Earthquake prediction
  • Gravity network of the earth
  • Quantum computers

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2.0 – Physics: The 4th Dimension Concept

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Man is a complex “being” comprising of the spirit, the soul and the body. The soul comprises the mind which is seat of decision, emotions, thoughts, to insights and so on. It is to tantamount examine physics as a concept of the mind.

Physics and other field of human endeavor evolve by thoughts of individuals to accelerate the events of their time. In this chapter, the mind will be discussed in detail and there are natural traits that places people favourable to do well in physics. We also, investigate how our thoughts can be transformed into “physics worhiness” to ensure Nigeria grows into the kind of nation we dream of.

TEMPERAMENTS THAT FAVOUR PHYSICS

There is nothing more fascinating about people than their inherited temperament. It is temperament that provides each human being with the distinguished qualities. Temperament is the unseen force underlying actions.

Temperament analysis is a useful tool in helping people reach their maximum potential. Among the many behavior theories are transactional analysis and Freudian theory.

Hippocrates, the brilliant Greek physician and philosopher named temperament in accordance with the liquids he thought were the cause. The sanguine, he thought, is characterized by rich, warm blood. Choleric must have too much yellow bile. Melancholy he saw as having black dark bile. Phlegmatic he saw having thick blood which he called phlegm. To him, these suggest the lively (sanguine) active (colonic), black (melancholy) and soul (phlegmatic) temperament. With advance of modern medical science, the idea is already discarded, but the four-fold names for the classifications are still widely used.

In explaining different temperament we consider only the habits and career bits of the four basics and 12 secondary temperature types

Sparky sanguine: Sparky sanguine is the warm, buoyant, lively and fun loving temperament. He is receptive in nature and external impression easily find their way to his heart. When he comes into a room of people, he has a tendency to lift the spirit of everyone present by his exuberant flow of conversation.

Without any malice, sparkly tight forget his resolution, appointment and obligations. The sanguine is never at a loss of words, though he often speaks without thinking. His freewill, seemingly exciting, extroverts way of life makes him the envy of the more timid temperaments types.

HABIT

  • People oriented
  • Great procrastinator
  • Eats everything insight
  • Bad accountability skills

CAREER BEST

  • Sales people
  • Excellent actors, entertainer and preacher
  • Outstanding master of ceremonies
  • Excellent hospital workers

Rocky Choleric: Rocky choleric is hot, quick, active, practical and strong-willed temperament. He is often self sufficient and very independent. He does not need to be stimulated by his environment but stimulate it by his endless ideas, plans and ambition.

Emotionally undeveloped, he is often embarrassed or disgusted by the tears of others. He is quick to recognize opportunities and harness them through his strong will.

HABIT

  • Hate yard work
  • A stereotype eater
  • Hate details

CAREER BEST

  • Project supervisor e.g foreman
  • A builder
  • Vibrant in businesss when in partnership with a melancholy, they make an unbeatable team
  • A natural leader
  • Sales, teaching, painters, support
  • Military

Maestro melancholy: He is analytical, self sacrificing, gifted, perfectionist type. No other temperament has a higher IQ or more creativity or imagination than a melancholy.

HABITS

  • Rarely speed when driving
  • Maintain the best yard
  • A picky eater

CAREER BEST

  • Composer, artist, musician, inventor, philosopher, theoriticians, theologians, scientist and dedicated, educated
  • Engineering, building
  • Good doctors

Flip phlegmatic: Calm, easy going, never ruffled temperament. Timid but ones around to action, proves to be a most competent and efficient person.

HABITS

  • Slowest driver
  • A deliberate eater
  • An accurate bookkeeper

CAREER BEST

  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Civil service, military

The fact is anybody can be a physicist with hard work but certain individual can do it stress free and these sets are those that have melancholy or phlegmatic temperament either as primary or secondary component.


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