On Saturday 11th of August, the news was making headlines that Dr. Yakubu Nura won the World Physics Competition. It was reported that Dr. Nura of the University of Maiduguri beat about 5720 other contenders from 97 countries to clinch the title. It was widely celebrated in Nigeria, every Dick and Harry were heaping praises on the Yobe state born Lecturer until Dr. Farooq Kperogi took a look, and his bubbles were busted.

It seems the celebrated distinction, “the father of modern Einstein’s planetary equation studies in physics” is a scam. And Dr. Yakubu Nura is a victim without knowing it, and so were so many others, from the newspapers to every person who was gullible enough to celebrate the fictitious achievement. The Guardian, Sahara Reporters, Senator Shehu Sani, and the famous Journalist, Kadaria Ahmed, all lend voices to the chorus of praise.

The organizer of the award, who goes by the name, International Agency for Standards and Ratings (IASR), has no official website with its name. It uses Google free domain to function. A closer look reveals that the site has been operational since 2013, and has been scamming people since 2014, under the guise of world championship for scientific feats.

Their application form is simple:

Name of program: Application for World Championship

Name of Applicant:

Detailed Resume:

Passport Photograph:

The Applicant is therefore expected to include his works and send them to the email address: plojindexing@gmail.com, which is open to receive applications on the 31st of every month, but the yearly review is done by July.

In 2018, there were 34 Nigerians out of 187 people in the list of winners in different categories of scientific feats, and some of them were highly celebrated just as Dr. Nura. A certain Dr. Kaywood Leizou of the Niger Delta University, who became the Nigerian champion in chemical science (Metal Speciation in Sediment), got the Guardian newspaper to publish an article about his award on October 19, 2018.

There are several other victims of this “scams of ego,” as Dr. Kperogi described it, from around the world. Professionals from 97 countries, mainly from Africa and Asia, whose desire for recognition and award blinded their sight so that they couldn’t pay attention to obvious details. For instance, the site and email (gmail) speak with voluminous evidence of sham. A credible organization with the capacity to award international medals for scientific feats should have a secure website with its name and a professional email that rhymes.

The world of science has over 100 recognized award giving organizations for scientific inventories, discoveries and breakthroughs. Physics isn’t left out that someone like Dr. Yakubu Nura who claimed to have broken Albert Einstein’s planetary equations record would not be recognized for his work.

There is Albert Einstein World Award of Science created to recognize and serve as an incentive to scientific and technological research and development. The award is made by the World Cultural Council (WCC), and the winner is elected by the interdisciplinary committee, which is composed of world renowned scientists, among them 25 Nobel laureates. The award consists of a Diploma, a commemorative medal, and $10, 000.

There is also Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics: It recognizes individuals who have made profound contributions to human knowledge. It is open to all Physicists – theoretical, mathematical and experimental. The prize can be shared among any number of scientists.

The Kavli Prize in Astrophysics is awarded for outstanding achievement in advancing our knowledge of cosmology, astrophysics, astronomy, planetary science, solar physics, space science, astrobiology astronomical and astrophysical instrumentation, and particle astrophysics. This is exactly where Dr. Nura is supposed to be awarded or at least mentioned, but it didn’t happen.

There are so far, over 30 recipients of medals in 2019, in different categories of physics feats, and all of them are listed on the Isaac Newton Medal and Prize portal. For instance, Dr. Lisa Jardine-wright and Prof. Mark Warner receive the Lawrence Bragg Medal and Prize for jointly setting up and directing the Isaac Physics Programme which has revolutionized physics education for teachers and students in UK schools.

And there is also Prof. Chris Hancock who received the Katharine Burr Blodgett Medal and Prize for designing and patenting an electro-surgery platform enabling microwave and bipolar radio frequency energy to be delivered from a range of miniature endoscopic devices to treat lesions in the gastrointestinal tract.

The fact is, the traces are too bold to miss and the recipients are too good to overlook. It was in the wake of the bust that several other Nigerians opened up about sham online awards in many places. Most of them charging fees instead of giving prize money to the awardees.

A Twitter user, Jideofor Akpa lamented how he was exploited, by Arc of Europe Award in gold category for innovation and excellence in business, that would be held in Berlin. Another victim said he was contacted back in 2014, for an award for the most influential 100 Young Entrepreneurs in Shipping, Maritime and Stevedoring.

It seems the scammers would sit back and collect informative data from some online activities, or advertise it online waiting for the gullible. However, one thing is for sure, many have fallen to their baits, and many more are going to fall. The self-recognition thirst is rising to a dehydration degree, not only in Nigeria, but the world over, and scammers are capitalizing on it to push their fraudulent agenda.

As an African and a proud Nigerian, I love the fact that we are always looking out for our family and friends. Ironically, an average African man has bigger responsibilities than the wealthiest man in the world, especially if he’s the first child. He is mandated to take care of his siblings and other extended family irrespective of his financial status. 

As much as this may sound good, however, it tends to demand too much from every African first child. The fact that they are the first child doesn’t make them the Messiah. African parents demand too much from their first child. Right from birth to when he gets old, he is always reminded of the responsibility he has to shoulder. 

There is this belief that he must lead by example. Although it is true, as the younger siblings are liable to copy him. But it is not enough to put a heavy responsibility on such a child. Because it makes him live all his life thinking about his family, and less about himself. Whenever he’s failing, he feels bad because he knows he’s not meeting standards. Many had been pushed into doing what they don’t intend to do because they fear their parents would tag them as a failure. They don’t want their parents to call and remind them of another first child doing better than them in the community. You know African parents are good at doing that. No wonder some ladies are skeptical when it comes to marrying a man who is the first child of his family. 

Enough is enough! 

Let every first child be. Let them work the best way they can. The messiah tag should be taken off their heads. Life is personal. Helping siblings should be willing and not mandated. When we put that responsibility on them at a younger age, we tend to make them desperate. I am not the first child of my parents but I can tell you from my experience. 

My parents demanded too much from my poor sister. When she’s running at her pace, they would complain. ”Is this how you will take care of your siblings?” They would say to her. She had to start running faster than her legs could carry her. 

My plea to every African parent, teach your kids to be responsible for themselves. Don’t put the burden of others on the first child. I understand our grandparents taught you that, but we can’t continue to apply a 100-year-old method in this new era. Things have changed and are still changing. It is your responsibility to look after your own children. It is your duty to teach them how to fend for themselves and not to depend only on the first child. Everyone has got his own life to live. 

Besides, what makes you think the first child would even be wealthier than his younger siblings? 

I beg to differ on this mentality. No first child chose to be first. It happened by chance, so they should not be made to pay for that. 

Live and let others live.

Listen, I owe nobody mentality is not going to work anywhere because there’s everything wrong with this kind of mentality, especially in a country like Nigeria.

Is it because of the fear of entitlement?

Yeah, we’re all trying to get rid of the gross sense of entitlement of the new age but this is not the way to go. Proponents call it, “instilling a mind shift” but I honestly do not believe this is the right phrase to put into anybody’s mind.

Trust me, a person who thinks nobody owes him anything has a high tendency to also believe he doesn’t owe anybody anything as well! Something like a tit for tat. Take it or leave it, we all can’t go with such mentality anymore. Enough is enough. 

That’s why we have a system of “unaccountability” in Nigeria. 

You vote in a government that feels there’s no need to provide you stable power supply, construct good roads, give quality education, good medical facilities, jobs creation, security and so on. 

Let’s delve into the work environment. The ”I don’t owe you anything mentality” strikes again. Employers don’t see anything wrong with treating their employees poorly. Most of them perceived to be doing the employees a favour because they feel they don’t owe them fair treatment. 

That is why jungle justice is still a thing because nobody owes citizens any fair hearing. Police brutality is the order of the day. The police are not ready to hear you. 

What about soldiers?

The greatest crime in Nigeria is to talk back to a soldier man. Even when you are innocent, you dare not speak back because he doesn’t owe you a fair hearing.

The motivational speakers will tell the youths boldly to “go and hustle” because, you know, Nobody Owes You Anything!

While this may serve as a push to struggle against all odds, let’s not forget that it is fueling a culture of not demanding for what’s due for oneself. A tradition of excusing bad behavior.

As they say, it takes two to tango. But how do two tango when they owe each other nothing. As much as the adage might be meant to motivate and promote self-independent, it is also constituting to the lack of proper accountability.

Do not be covered with such words. Boldly demand for what’s duly yours today. It is your right; not a privilege!

We all must be our brother’s keeper. A better Nigeria starts with proper accountability. This can only be achieved when every citizen sees himself as a giver. 

Remember, it is what you can do for your country.

Credit: Ginika Oluchi Okeke

This was my life in 2016. I woke up and felt very tired. I was hoping I would feel good. After all, I slept for almost 10 hours. For months, I would struggle to go to work and feel ill almost weekly. I was not ill enough to not go to work but I was always in pain and some degree of discomfort. I was thinking this was going to last for a while but after weeks and months. I decided to go to the doctor. This did not go as I expected. 

I was examined and diagnosed. I was not satisfied with the diagnosis. It was too vague. High Blood Pressure and High Cholesterol. It did not mean much to mean as it did not explain the nausea and bouts of sickness I was going through. But, taking the medication did brings some relief. But, it would come and go. After some months, it really went bad and I had to go to the hospital again. I had chest pain that I took it as angina. I had to go to the teaching hospital and find out what to do. I went to the hospital and was told to take some tests. The result was that I was pre-diabetic, hypertensive and, of course, had high cholesterol. The treatment involved medication and a visit to the nutritionist. I was told that I had to change my diet and eating habits. I had to be careful on what I choose to eat and how to prepare meals. At that point, I decided I had had enough.

I listened and I knew this was not for me. I couldn’t afford the time and money to change diet and follow the new regimen. I knew I would not be able to follow the directions as they wouldn’t follow my lifestyle. And finally, I just wasn’t convinced they knew what they were talking about. I couldn’t get a second opinion. So, I took the worst advice to try. I went on the internet. I have spent too much of my life on-line watching movies, reading websites, and playing games. But as always, when I was in bind, I turned to the internet for a solution.  This was obviously a bad and maybe arrogant idea. But, then again, I have history of bad life choices. So, I might as well be consistent.

My main source was YouTube and after weeks of viewing; my main interest was on diet and health. A new concept stood out: Intermittent Fasting. Fasting was always something I didn’t like. I like to comfort eat. When I am tired, I drink coke. When I am sad, I eat cake. But, I came across Dr. Jason Fung. He is a Canadian Nephrologist and runs a practice where he treats people with type 2 diabetes. Most of his patients recover from diabetes without taking medication. His main method of treatment is intermittent fasting. He focuses a lot more on the functions of the body especially how the hormones function. The main hormone insulin. Dr. Jason Fung pointed out something about insulin sensitivity. In summary, he said sugar does not cause diabetes. This was not surprising to me. But, what he made me realize was how hormones regulated the body and health. Ghrelin controlled appetite. HGH makes a person stronger and testosterone could be stimulated through fasting. This was intriguing to me as he showed how diet was more important than exercise. His books, The Diabetes Code and The Obesity Code showed the medical history that was not highlighted in the mainstream. He even went on to demonstrate how hospital food made people sicker. This took me aback a bit. But then it got worse.

I also read Nassim Taleb. He was famous because of his concept of “The Black Swan”. But, he also picks on medical dogmas that he thinks are misguided and sometimes malicious. He presented information that indicates that medical organisations take money from corporations such as Coca-Cola to spread bad information. He is also a big critic of Monsanto but that’s a topic for another day. Namely, the idea that sugar is more healthy than fat. This was easy for me to believe as many have said that. But, Nassim provides lots of supporting evidence that in my opinion, goes beyond reasonable doubt. Nassim also supports fasting which he asserts make one “Anti-fragile”. This is a concept in his book “Anti-Fragile’ that pushes some damage would be necessary to make one stronger. 

There was also some other people that I watched on YouTube or followed on twitter. I found their videos very well researched and they seemed very credible. Fledge Fitness, Dr. Eric Berg, What I’ve Learned, High Intensity Health, and Found My Health are really great channels. They provide a lot of information and interview guests that a lot of information that has strong scientific backing but for some reason are not in the mainstream. The main twitter accounts that had good information was Mike Cernovich and Scott Adams. These people help give the information context and perspective.

So, with the advice of Dr. Jason Fung, Nassim Taleb, Matthew Walker (having a least 8 hours of sleep), Dr. Robert Morse (eat only raw fruit and vegetables) Dr. Ken Barry (Keto and foods that suit you), Dr. Eric Berg, I started fasting. I started with breaking the fast at 6 pm and tried to do it every day. I was taking salt water during the day but I realized that was a bad idea and stopped. I found that fasting had the additional benefits that Dr. Fung mentioned. Fasting costs less because obviously you are not eating and does not need any preparation or equipment. I also was more focused as I was not thinking about breakfast or lunch. At night, I didn’t even need to eat that much. Sometimes, I fasted for 2 days and I felt good. But, sometimes, I could take a break and eat what I like. I found this gave me a lot of flexibility and extra time. I was able to prepare and use food as a motivation not a compulsion. 

A lot about fasting seems likes forbearance, hunger, some amount of pain, self-regulation and self-control. But, I think there is one thing that ties it all together and makes it easier and more manageable: Self Recovery. Most of time, it is the body that repairs itself. As opposed to medication or surgery, the body would repair and heal itself. I think it is vital to make this easier for the body to do. Fasting allows the body to full absorb and use the food that was eaten. It usually takes about 16-24 hours to do this. Given the gap in eating, the food is broken down and stored energy as fat is used through lipolysis. Lipolysis is used to mobilize stored energy during fasting or exercise. Another way is through sleep. Sleeping forms an important part of self-recovery. Deep sleep is where the tissue repair is done by the body. This is why sleeping 8 hours is key. Also, sleep helps to suppress appetite which makes fasting easier. This made it possible and easier for me to keep doing Intermittent Fasting regularly. After a year, I had to go to the hospital for a different reason. I had a boil and I had to see a doctor. 

Since, it was the same hospital and I had to take the same tests, I had to see the same doctor. He looked at my results. My BP was normal, my cholesterol was normal, and all my lipids were now good. I was no more pre-diabetic. He asked whether I was still doing my fasting routine. I said yes. He said I should stop it. That’s why I don’t listen to my doctor.