A Comparative Study On The Representation Of E-learning Pre & Post Pandemic On Nigerian Twitter Space.
A Comparative Study On The Representation Of E-learning Pre & Post Pandemic On Nigerian Twitter Space.
covid-19
COVID-19 Pandemic: The Unveiling Of The Future Of Education by Folarin Oluwatimilehin.
“The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do,”
Take Responsibility.
How can we begin to adjust to a new normal or if you like a different normal as we transit to the post lockdown era? I will answer shortly but please permit me to tell a brief story. A few days ago while rummaging through Twitter I stumbled on two successive video clips that evoked some raw emotions. One was about a stray dog that made it his job to protect school kids and ensure that they cross the busy street safely. Extolling the dog, the narrator said that he shows up every single day to shepherd the kids through the pedestrian crossing and even curses out at drivers that refuse to stop. In one instance he chased a car for a few metres, barking repeatedly at the driver before returning to continue his duty. It was a spectacle really and I hadn’t seen anything like that before. The second was on the BBC. A viral video of the multitude at Bournemouth beach on the second day of the recent UK heatwave. I watched as adults carelessly mingled in total disregard of the laid down guidelines to prevent further spread of the COVID-19 virus. The BBC reporter said there had been ongoing problems with “huge numbers” of people visiting the beach, despite the coronavirus pandemic. And that many had camped overnight, parked illegally and even used resident’s front gardens as toilets. Shocking! I was struck by the contrasting events of the two videos and it got me querying why we can’t be like dogs. Frankly, how often have we seen these lovely creatures in acts of protection and compassion? Countless times they have displayed better ability to take responsibility than some adults. You see, it will be easier to get carried away as we begin to enjoy more freedom going into the post lockdown period. Many of us have planned a break or a vacation within the state. Some may have even scheduled an international trip when the quarantine restrictions are lifted in the coming days. But let us have one important thing in mind; The virus is still here with us. It did not go anywhere, it is just that we have managed to curb the spread or as they say “flatten the curve”. However, until we have a vaccine or attain herd immunity as the case may be then no one is entirely safe from contracting the virus. We can be proud that we made it to this stage because many of us complied with the guidelines from health experts. But we must proceed cautiously. The basic instructions are quite simple to maintain. Avoid non-essential activities, observe social distancing, wash your hands regularly and wear a face mask when applicable. Like the dog, let us take responsibility.
Pendulum by Victor Oladejo.
𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠……….. Corona virus became a major headline in the news across the globe after it’s outbreak in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. The first comfirmation of corona virus came on December 31, 2019, when the W.H.O(world health organization) was informed about a cluster of pneumonia cases of unknown etiology detected in wuhan. [1] In the mid of January 2020, cases started to appear in other provinces in china due to the population and movement during the Chinese new year holidays, and in other countries such as Thailand, USA, South korea, and Japan due to International travel. Africa had her first comfirmed case of corona virus when it was announced in Egypt on the 14 of febuary 2020. Within the duration of three months from the 14 of febuary , the deadly virus had spread across the countries of the continent. Lesotho was the last country to record a case of the virus on the 13 of may . By the 26 of may the communities of the effected countries were experiencing transmission of the corona virus. Though the virus originated from China, due to the international travels , most cases of the virus arrived from Europe and United states with non from China. Nigeria confirmed her firstcase of Corona Virus on the 27 of febuary 2020, making her the country with the first case of the virus in the sub saharan Africa. The first case came into place when an Italian citizen arrived Nigeria through Murtala Mohammed Airport from milan, Italy. The italian fell ill on 26 of febuary and was transferred to Lagos state Biosecurity facilities for isolation and testing. The test was confirmed positive in Lagos state teaching hospital’s virology laboratory which happen to be a centre for disease control. Prior to the first case of the pandemic in the country, on the 28 of january, the federal government of Nigeria assured citizens of the country of her readiness to strengthen survelliance of the five international airports : Enugu, Lagos, Rivers , Kano , FCT(Abuja). However, due to lapse in the watchfulness of the watchmen, the first case occurred. In place to aid the combat the virus was an NDDC (The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control) lead corona virus E.o.c ( Emergency Operation Centre). At the state level, preparedness and response activities were coordinated through the public Health E.O.C in each state. Announcement of the use of nose masks and hand sanitizers were made to better the awareness of the public on how to prevent the contraction of the virus. The first wave of the virus started on march when cases of the virus appeared in lagos state and Ekiti state, this was followed by other cases in other parts of the federation. Nigeria announced her first lockdown in Lagos, Abuja, and ogun state with just 97 confirmed infections of the virus. Before the order for lockdown and nationwide curfew , several other states including Lagos had already put in place restrictions and closure of places which involves crowd which includes schools, shut down of non food shops and other non essential services. With the lockdown in place and the announcement of the ban on airports, closure of the educational sectors, land borders by the federal government the adverse effect of the restriction begun to rise. As expected , the pandemic didn’t live only on the screens of the television and the screens of the smartphones with Nddc update on confirmed cases and fatalities on the headlines, the pandemic also took abode in the four walls of the economically vulnerable of Nigeria. The lockdown that was imposed was mearnt to halt the spread of the pandemic in Nigeria but in the process it created a block in the activities of thosd working in the informal sector. The informal sector which includes the artisans, traders, taxi drivers, tradesmen , hairdressers became vulnerable because they could no longer conduct their business. [2] The disruption in their daily livelood played huge and significant impact on their ability to meet their most basic needs. Aside from the incapacitated informal workers, the price of available food products skyrocket due to the restriction the lockdown placed on the transportation of food. In addition, the citizens of the country were informed of the distribution of palliatives in the country to cushion the effect of the lockdown on citizens. The problem that the scheme encounteree was transparency. For example in Lagos, complains were aired that the stimulus packages were not sincerly deployed. It was made known by the citizen that the distributions were politicized. [3] Similar situations were replicated in other parts of the country. Cases of hoarding and hijack by the political head was witnessed too. After several months of efforts of containment of the virus, the federal government lifted the ban that was placed on interstate travel and opening of schools on 29 of june with the number of cases at what could be said to be minimal, the citizens returned to their daily life. As the months went by the regard to the safety measures weakened and the cases rose. The country entered into the second wave of the pandemic as announced by boss Mustafa, secretary of the government of the federation and presidential taskforce. The cases that was disclosed in january , 2021 is more than 76,000 diagonised to be infected and 1,201 people died from the virus . With the pendulum of the Nigerian nation on the verge of swinging into another era of dealths and disruption as encountered in the previous year, the Nigerian government should pay attention to her previous mistakes and look internally ahead of the awaited vaccination. In a aid to hold the pendulum of the country’s health and financial security in the second wave the following should be in place: A — lockdown should not come into place because of its economical effect and it’s enhancement of lack of compliance to safety measures. B- The various borders that link the country to other countries should be monitored. C- The distribution of face masks and sanitizers should be
Securing Pandemic-Free Years In The Future by Oluremi Daniel.
There I was, in the living room with my siblings at noon. It was probably a week day, but there was no need to know which one. I was in the clothes I wore the day before. It wasn’t like I was going anywhere. In fact, at this point, personal hygiene and grooming feels overrated. My younger brother is, for the lack of better words, academically stranded at this point. He is done with his secondary education and was gearing up for his entry exams into university when the news of the lockdown’s sequel reached us. I now find it hard to even encourage study consistency in him. Anyway, I was diligently working on my double-stops and chord tehniques for Bach’s Sonata I: Fugue in G minor. I had to make sure my intonation and dynamics were in pristine condition, but my violin was not experienced in such virtuoso techniques. Well, the lazy worker, they say, always blames his tools. In the middle of the rigorous but somewhat stagnant practice, I started thinking. The night before, we received the grim news of the possible indefinite postponement of our already fragile chance of resumption to my university this early in the year. Thoughts went through my mind, “Was I going to be a doctor soon?” “Should I start learning a trade or looking for a job?” ”Is it wise to continue studying, hoping that we would resume soon?” “Should I also start crypto business before bitcoin gets too expensive to buy?” ”When will I be able to eat bread and groundnut as night food or even receive pocket money for that matter…..” I was pulled out of the sea of thoughts by the going-off of my timer. I packed up my instrument after browsing through the music piece I was working on. I had made a little progress, but it was way better progress than what I have recorded officially in my university education in almost a year. But who was I to complain? Everyone is in it together! We all had our roles in this resurgence and we all have to bear the consequences. The menace is worse than ever and now we all have to look over our heads to avoid the Grim Reaper’s scythe! According to the Nairametrics COVID-19 tracker, caseloads dropped significantly between September and November of last year. Even though prior to the occurrence, many Nigerians had already thrown caution to the wind, the government relaxed lockdowns, closed isolation centres and opened up the economy. The storm was finally getting still! To our surprise actually, the Nigerian government had to reopen isolation and treatment centres in the country on the 10th of December due to the increased number of cases. Only 7 days later, from 7,125 test samples taken across the country, Nigeria recorded a whopping 930 confirmed COVID-19 cases nation-wide! This very incidence secured us a pass into the second wave of the very pandemic that held us at ransom for most of the year. As if that of last year’s ending wasn’t enough, on the 7th of January, Nigeria recorded 1,565 confirmed new cases across 25 states and the Federal Capital Territory. This figure pushed the total number of confirmed cases to 95,934 and 1,330 casualties. The most recent statistics show the total cases exceeding a hundred thousand and also about a hundred more deaths in a few days. Lagos, the economical centre of the nation is the most plagued of the states. It is the epicentre of the pandemic in the country with 22,562 cases and 220 death. The Grim Reaper was no respecter of persons, like in its first production. Among the latest casualties were a former VC of the University of Lagos, Professor Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe who died on January 3, a retired professor of science education at the same university, Duro Ajeyalemi, Haroun Hamzat, a medical doctor as well as the younger brother of the deputy governor of the Lagos State who all died on January 6. What a sad news on the last day of the 12 days of Christmas! Lagos scarily recorded its highest number of infection in one day: 712 recently! As a resident of Ogun state, there is a temptation to feel relaxed, seeing that we have only had 2,103 cases and 31 deaths so far. However, there is a possibility of diffusion to our side seeing that Ogun state and Lagos state share a connection geographically, economically and road-wise. Enough with the woes and numbers! If this angel of trial is to pass over us with as little as possible new casualties, we have to look back, around and even in front. These directions hold the key to generation of a sustainable solution. Looking back Nigeria as a whole had very poor medical preparation for any type of global health issue! Our facilities are in very bad shape, we do not effectively encourage and sponsor research if we do any at all and our medical personnel are getting “ babysitting” pays in comparison to their foreign counterparts. The health sector is undermanaged, underdeveloped and underrated when in fact, millions of dollars are spent each year by the high and mighty for medical treatment outside of the country. If the coronavirus started its spread from Nigeria, we could not have handled it the way China did! Fine, our economy is not in the best of shapes, but we have enough funds to set up a couple solid facilities. If we are to defeat this virus and any possible successor, we need to look back at the amount of stress and trouble that we could have saved ourselves if we had invested well in our health sector. We lose many bright doctors each year to other countries because these countries have better working conditions. Without good health, the economy is inevitably wounded. So why not invest in it? Looking around As they say; no body is an island. We aren’t even that rich! Hence, we need
Moving Ahead Post Coronavirus Pandemic by Oyinola Abosede.
Introduction “To expect the unexpected shows a thoroughly modern intellect” Oscar Wilde The truth is that however prepared the world might have seemed for any sudden occurrence, it definitely did not see the Covid-19 pandemic or its aftermath coming. The current Covid-19 world statistic depicts above 90 million confirmed cases since the inception, and Nigeria presently has a total well above 100,000 cases in a recent report rightly asserted by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. While the nation is presently out of the lockdown, and is gradually resuming business activities in various sectors of the economy with many schools planning towards the much-awaited resumption, I was torn between disbelief and worry when an official announcement was recently made by the health minister about the need to prepare for the second wave of the pandemic that affected our markets and economy due to its unprecedented disruptions. Now, with the rising cases of the Covid-19, we are faced with a critical challenge on our response to the second wave of this virus. I strongly believe deep beneath the depressing curtain of darkness; the stars do exist and moreover every cloud has its silver lining. Analysis from the First Wave Pandemic Definitely, Nigeria wasn’t sufficiently prepared to tackle the effect that the outbreak of the Corona virus disease would have on the economy and this can partially but surely be linked to the over reliance on petroleum as the national source of revenue. However, with the fall in the price of crude oil and the general downturn in major sectors of our economy including construction, tourism, real-estate, manufacturing and aviation; the economic impact of the Covid-19 was drastic. As quite expected, the national budget for the year was unattainable in terms of the expected revenue as oil prices had to fall below the actual price fixed for the year. This was unavoidable as the international demand for oil fell and national demand was also lesser than supply. Needless to say, the nation wasn’t prepared for the hit on its major source of revenue: oil. Undeniably, the fact that Nigeria was barely recovering from the recession from years back also contributed to the severe effect the lockdown had on the economy. Small business owners could not open and this affected the livelihood of the average Nigerian citizen who had to go to work daily before feeding. The predicted laying off of workers happened massively and many were left unemployed. To worsen the situation, the prices of essential commodities also rose significantly. Also, the immediate effect of the national economic decline owing to the lockdown was the increase in crime rates, as more crimes were reported in various parts of the country every day. Though the government took measures to ensure that the effects of the lockdown would be reduced to the achievable minimum by disbursing funds to state governments and communities, as well as loans, only a little could be alleviated as the economy rather became worse. Indeed, the question that lies ahead of us as a nation is whether we are able to learn from the crisis presented by the pandemic and how to position ourselves to move ahead in the post Covid-19 world even as we still hope and await a vaccine to be produced. The globally experienced disruption that the pandemic has foisted on humanity is no doubt harrowing. However, the bitter truth is that the pandemic has taught humanity several positive lessons. Learning Development from the Pandemic Need I say that this pandemic has led to improved hygiene of most people in our nation today. Even at the individual level, most people forget to wash their hands as often as necessary because of a hectic lifestyle. Since part of the safety precautions to keep the Covid-19 spread at bay requires consistent washing of hands. I believe this habit will most likely remain in the lives of the people long after the pandemic is over. The physical well-being of the people will be better maintained since people are likely to wash their hands frequently and correctly while sanitizing surfaces may be a larger priority. Furthermore, the Covid-19 has caused most private sector to rise for a social cause. Even with government resources under strain as public health professionals ramp up efforts to test more people and provide care for the coronavirus patients, the private sectors stepped up to help fight against this pandemic. Significant financial contributions have been made through the special fund set up in various parts of the country. In addition to the contributions made, many organizations have switched from their major business activities to producing materials needed such as personal-protective-equipment, sanitizers, face-masks etc. to support the government in the battle against this pandemic. Moreover, the pandemic has called our attention as a nation to a shift in the diversification of our economy and to focus more on the agricultural sector. In addition to this, it has exposed us to digital transformation -telelearning, telecommuting and most especially telemedicine which could actually be an effective way of getting things done. Moving Ahead towards the Second Wave Indeed, the biggest opportunity presented by Covid-19 in Nigeria is the chance to reset some of our economic approaches in a way that maximizes our chances of developing more resilient and sustainable approach to globalization. The battle against the Coronavirus disease elucidates the importance of technology. For instance, Eric Yuan, the founder of Zoom, a video communication tool that became popular for its use in virtual meetings became a billionaire during the Coronavirus saga. No matter the stumbling blocks, it is the responsibility of every citizen in the country to take the bull by the horns. I strongly believe Nigeria is blessed with brilliant and tech savvy youths. Innovation and digital technology should be embraced in the country since it is particularly important when dealing with global challenges such as pandemics and climate change, that threaten everyone. Also, the post covid-19 world will be shaped by decisions being made in
The War We Want To End Soon by Oluwatimilehin Folarin.
A common enemy that is threatening human survival I have finally figured out the ripostes to the questions enveloping the atmosphere. The aged ones are terrified, the youths are petrified, and the young ones are horrified. It came hastily, progressed from a cradle of worriment to sources of unbiased demise of people. We are now in a season when every second is accompanied by two thoughts: either we win this war or we lose our lives in the process. COVID-19 brought the entire world to a cessation, so much that the economic, social, and legal order of human existence was altered. Beyond that, COVID-19 launched us into a war-like situation where all human entities have transited into soldiers militating against a common enemy that is threatening human survival. In fact, a new feature of using a nose mask has been added to any formal dress or traditional wear. Sporadic and intermittent washing of hands has become a culture. Interestingly, the brain has even configured its settings that alcohol-based hand sanitizer should be applied on the hands as frequently as possible. Deepening the sore of the wound caused by the deadly virus, the death toll being experienced now is second to none in recent months. While efforts are being geared towards putting an end to the war, the second wave of the coronavirus could not be evaded due to some underlying factors. This has however left us with a conundrum to rejoinder on the plausible steps to take for the development of homegrown solutions needed in this situation. The prediction of a second wave war According to James Gallagher, amongst many other medical practitioners, a second wave was predicted some months ago.[1] The audacity with which many health tycoons presaged the possibility, without doubt, makes it look like the war we are in, just began. Although in June 2020 when there was an observed decline in the new number of confirmed cases, a professor of epidemiology and director of Center for infection and immunity at Columbia University, Ian Lipkin opined that a time will come when the virus would massively return or new strains of the virus will colossally develop.[2] As lockdowns were eased across all countries, months after months, the last quarter of the year 2020 experienced a sudden upsurge in the number of new cases of the deadly coronavirus. This trend gave rise to an average of 22,000 confirmed new cases per day in December among the Africa nations, surpassing the peak rate of 18,000 during the first wave. Sadly, in the continent, nearly half of the total cases are the ones recorded from October till now.[3] When we thought the second quarter of last year will be the peak of it, the gear has been changed, and the war is still much ongoing. Reasons for the second wave Judging from the outcome, the early unmonitored green light on easing the restriction of movement was dangerous. If we had phenomenally learnt from the Spanish flu that escalated in 1918, wiping millions of people from the face of the earth, the people vested with authority would not have been ‘careless’ in lifting too soon, the restriction on movement without adequate measures to prevent a second wave from emanating. To be candid, the perfect explanation to the situation of things can be concisely explained by a message on a building in the Chilean capital Santiago – ‘No volveremos a la normalidad, porque’ la normalidad era el problema.’ In English, it reads, “we won’t get back to normal because normal was the problem.”[4] Many people were too adamant and resolute that the government should make things return back to normal, and in the call for that, they neglected the consequences of rushing without the acumen required to fight the war against a deadly virus. Without any iota of doubt, we are already in the new ‘normal,’ and patience is all that is required for us to fight this war well, and end it soon. Also, the disparity in the responses of various individuals, organizations, and nations to the pandemic, affected the collective strategy needed to end the war against COVID-19 early. While some have been following COVID-19 precautions, some observed for a few months and then regressed, and others, erroneously believe that the source of the death of millions of people is a mirage. So sad! No wonder the Holy bible stated in Hosea 4:1, ‘My people perish because of lack of wisdom.’ Furthermore, the decline in the compliance of the masses in using nose-mask can be attributed to the spike in the COVID-19 cases being recorded. Based on the research led by scientists at Britain’s Cambridge and Greenwich Universities, they educated the populace that lockdowns alone will not stop the renaissance of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, but also, adoption of consistent nose mask-wearing. Even the homemade masks can intensely reduce transmission rates if everyone in the battleground wears them perpetually.[5] In addition, in some cities, towns, and communities, while only few or no public places are shutdown or practicing social distancing, others are operating normally as if a virus that is airborne does not exist. While some government and community leaders have taken the right path to mandate mask-wearing and physical distancing in public areas, some opined that is a matter of personal choice. We cannot be fighting a common enemy with complete dissimilarities in ideology, war stratagems, or methodologies. It is utterly wrong! Strategies needed to do to put an end to the war Learning from what my father usually iterate to me when I was young, “the wise man foresees the struggle ahead and creates defense mechanism for them: the blockhead goes blindly on and suffers the repercussion.” Just like I will not want the world to encounter the third wave of war, I will like to suggest the following solutions to be employed by various leaders in order to win the battle against coronavirus in due time. First, everyone needs
The 2nd Wave Of Covid-19 : Building A Resilient Capacity To A Glorious Exit by Victor Okonjo.
The invasion of the dreaded monster corona virus also known as the covid 19 pandemic into the human race was one that caught all and sundry unaware. Human activities and life style have been adjusted in different dimension due to the resultant effects of the covid 19 pandemic. With Nigeria as a case study, the emergence of corona virus redirected the usual agenda of both the government and the governed. All effort was put in place to curb the spread of the covid 19 pandemic since its inception. At a time when one thought we were rounding up the fight against covid 19 the second wave came more intense. Before we talk about how to defeat the second wave of the covid 19 pandemic especially through the use of home grown solutions, let us see how we handled the first wave of the covid 19 pandemic. A Review on the First Wave of Covid 19 Pandemic and it Management: In Nigeria, some persons would agree that the emergence of corona virus exposed the level of deficit in infrastructural development across board. It made everyone to realize that there were alternatives to the normal ways of doing things and that became the new normal. The threat of covid 19 pandemic and it attendant effect forced hands to be on deck. This paved way for the application of local content to prevent the spread of covid 19. We saw how face mask were improvised to meet local demand; Members of the academia intensified effort to scale up the production of hand sanitizer and automated hand washing compartment; automated body sanitizing machine and improvised ventilators were produced by science and technology experts. There were also attempt by herbal specialists to see the possibility of developing curative measure against covid 19 pandemic through herbal remedy but are yet to be scientifically proven. All these took place in the period under review during the first wave of the covid 19 pandemic amidst several challenges. Government was dared to do the needful by upgrading health facilities after reckless abandon for years. At a time when the tide of the first wave was going down, many thought it was a good omen until the re-insurgence of the second wave of covid 19. Applying Gained Lessons to Develop Resilient Capacity Over Second Wave of Covid 19: The re-insurgence of the covid 19 pandemic popularly addressed as the second wave is said to be more deadly than the former and a setback on the fight against covid 19 pandemic. However, with the development and production of vaccines, there is a sense of optimism for a way out. Nigeria, on her own path, must seize the opportunity to be more responsible in the fight against covid 19. This can be done using gained lessons from the former to develop resilient capacity towards a glorious exist. For it is our common wish to see covid 19 go extinct from our domain and come out victorious against the dreaded monster (covid 19). Furthermore, the moment of time send us a clear signal that we have no choice than to rise to the occasion in dealing with the covid 19 pandemic. To achieve this, we must look inward and take close scrutiny on the lessons gained thus far with a view to deliberately develop homegrown solutions. As a country, we should be looking inward more than outward in galvanizing steps to tackle major confronting issues. This is the time to articulate local resources to deal with the spread and prevention of covid 19. While other countries of the world spend time in developing their local base with local resources, Nigeria should not stay put but get busy in rallying her scientists and medical experts to a cooperative effort in enhancing local content and human capacity development. This is with a view to facilitate the development of treatment and prevention mechanism against covid 19. Nigeria has a league of talented individuals especially in the area of science and technology the only problem is lack of encouragement and support. It should not be on every occasion that the country seeks help over her problems outside her shores even without first looking inward for local solutions. We should believe in our local content and capacities to prove our resilience in order to witness a glorious exist from the covid 19 pandemic. Covid 19 pandemic has opened our eyes to the true realities that charity indeed begins at home. As people who seek development and growth, we should be crusaders in advancing the campaign of improved inclusion of local content to address local problems and concerns. Homegrown solutions are usually more effective than imported ones if given due preference. This is because, it is been developed by local experts who have a good understanding of local concerns. Just as we were able to express the ingenuity of local skills to improvise non pharmaceutical items like face mask , hand sanitizer, hand washing facilities, ventilator e.t.c during the first wave, we can also improve and advance further in harnessing the potential of local content through the homegrown solution ideology. Nigeria has a lot to gain in giving due appraisal and consideration to homegrown solution. When we embrace this path, with conscious and consistent effort, we will invigorate a resilient capacity against the second wave of covid 19 or any other odds and achieve a glorious exist. Victor Okonjo wrote in via okonjovico@gmail.com
Covid-21 by Ojetunde Esther.
COVID-21! The Coronavirus disease 2019(Covid-19) started in Wuhan city, China and has since then spread throughout the world locking down even the strongest economy. A virus as dangerous still requires a human being to replicate and without them, it is like an object. The Covid-19 virus like other viruses in Nigeria, HIV, tuberculosis has come to stay. The high time we accept that the better for us. In this second wave of the virus which has started ravaging the countries of the world is said to have been a mutation of the virus in the United kingdom. Hence making the vaccine almost useless. There are lessons Nigerians need to take home from this virus; Prevention is better than cure. Improvement on research. Enlightenment of the public. Empowerment of local herbal cure people. PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE. One thing this virus exposed in people was our weakness in preventing our selves. Before we point accusing fingers at the government for not closing the airline early and borders, let us reflect on ourselves too. When last did we use our nose masks? Oh ok I used it yesterday Ok yes, but where on your chin or nose or even your neck? Did you sneeze on your elbow? What of that your uncle that came back from Benin republic? Did you allow him self-isolate for 14 days upon return? Or no you smuggle him in The bulk of these problems are on us, the faster we take the bull by the horn the better for us. The more we fight the disease by protecting ourselves, we reduce the risk of transferring it on ourselves. We also prevent the death of health workers most especially doctors, this disease has sent them to their early graves. IMPROVEMENT ON RESEARCH I have always passed by a research institute beside my hostel on the way to class and back and wondered what those people were always doing there. Not until this pandemic and I started hearing about NCDC results then I understood their significance. Even though I was a literate like many other people we weren’t even aware of what they really do or 10% are vaguely familiar of what they do. This should not be so. The government need to invest money into research. If these had be done we won’t be facing the high transmission rate we are facing now. Researchers would have gone into investigating the disease right from when we were hearing rumors of it. ENLIGHTENMENT OF THE PUBLIC When you ask people on the streets if Covid-19 is real, 5% believe it is real while the remaining 95% argue with whether it is real or it been a disease for only the reach. What a tragedy it is! The government needs to step up it’s games by coming down to the level of the masses and saying it in a way that can understand. Not just organizing meetings at Abuja and propounding laws that are not feasible. A visit to the market will give a good instance of that. People muddled up together in a place. The place been dirty, dirty beggers on the road sides and sellers dragging people to buy their wares. How do you practice social distancing in that kind of situation? The leaders know the way they clamour and gather people together during campaign, those market people especially. If they can do that the rate of transmission would reduce. Government should also bring people out to show people so they can see with their eyes the effect of the virus and how real it is. EMPOWERMENT OF LOCAL HERBAL CURE PEOPLE In Pharmacy, drugs are obtained from two main sources; Plants and Animals. Those in research could also employ the help of these people. It would hasten their process of producing the drug. These people have worked with the plants for years. The knowledge passed down to then by their fore-fathers. Though they might not know the chemical composition of those mixtures but compromise between the two will make a great combo, and the drug is produced!This is the knowledge that India use to produce herbal tea we drink and other treatment and today they are called the father of modern medicine. Therefore, the second wave been Covid-21 for it not to become covid-22 or covid-22 the above listed points should be considered and everyone taking the parts they consign them home to work on. Ojetunde Esther, a first-year student of Pharmacy in the University of Lagos wrote in via ojetundeesther45@gmail.com
Take Away From The COVID-19 Pandemic by Ojesola Itunu.
November 2019, a spectacular month that will remain evergreen in the hearts of humanity. For in this month, the world played host to an extemporaneous visitor which brought it to a standstill. It started as an epidemic in the city of Wuhan and metamorphosed that found its way into Nigeria on February 27, 2020 This pandemic, which in common parlance is referred to as COVID-19, brought the world to a momentary cessation, turned facemask to our daily apparel and continuously confines us to our domiciles. It is indeed a threat to our hope, freedom, and unity. Day after day, we are glued to our screens, waiting solemnly like rams being led to the slaughterhouse, for the next bombshell about the seemingly in-exorable rise in the number of infections to be dropped. It has proven to be a thorn in our flesh and a barrier to national progress, as economists have gravely forewarned about the woes that besiege our economy after this pandemic, that even after the frenzied war against this unseen enemy, our country is faced with the risk of plunging into the abyss of economic ruins! Oh! We are totally lost in the gloomy climate of this pandemic and are frantically struggling to get back on our feet. Furthermore , the emergence of this global pandemic has left many destitute, as individuals who could previously boast of three square meals a day now struggle just to afford a miserable meal , many have lost their jobs and are left to the mercy of hunger which is now emblazoned on the forehead of our nation, thus most individuals are left with no option than to get onto the streets and pitifully beg for alms, while some individuals blindly resort to criminality and continuously throw many families into agony. However, due to the plethora of scientific knowledge at the disposal of man today, there is the hope that in no distant time, this common enemy will be defeated. Although, the havocs wrecked by this pandemic may take up to a lifetime to be rectified, it has helped to enlighten us on the need for a radical departure from the primitive ideas that have from time immemorial proven to be the problems of this generation, thereby making it opium for this dying generation. Firstly , this pandemic eliminated all barriers which have been the basis for discrimination in the past, as all and sundry are at the mercy of this pandemic, such that every nation has to depend on another for one assistance or the other, thereby accentuating the fact that inter- dependencies are indispensable.. In addition, a slogan that has become ubiquitous goes thus, “You protect me, and I protect you” further emphasizes the need to collectively take preventive measures against COVID-19, as failure of someone in this regard will result in an astronomical increase in the transmission and continued prevalence of this pandemic. This further highlights the beauty that exists in our collective humanity. Also, because of the pandemic, we continue to hear the cries of innocent citizens for justice due to the spike in criminality, occasioned by the ruptured value system of the offenders. This implies that any action taken by an individual will not only have a resultant effect on him but the entire populace. It is no news that some countries of the world continue to receive donations and support from various organizations and individuals to ease the stress of combating the pandemic, there is no gainsaying that they are currently enjoying the merits of their efficient relationships in the pre COVID-19 era, while some countries so far have received little or no donations due to their feeble relationship status and thus are left to wander un-aided in the gloomy weather of this pandemic, as they cannot reap where they have not sown. Without mincing words, this pandemic has left an indelible mark on all facets of human endeavors and served as an eye opener in various ramifications, it will forever remain evergreen in our minds. We hope that we are almost out of this tunnel; we all need to stay safe and come together in order to win this war as one and live to tell the story. Ojesola Itunu wrote in via ojesolaitunu@gmail.com
My Takeaway From The COVID-19 Pandemic by Odediran Anointed Ifekristi.
Just when we were saying there is nothing new under the sun, COVID-19 hit us like the ray of the sun, forcing everybody to lift up their umbrellas. COVID-19 turned everybody to superheroes with our masks on, and we can’t even deny the fact that COVID-19 is leaving giant footprints on the sands of the whole world; footprints that would last for many years to come. I was preparing for my First Semester Examinations when we heard that a virus was spreading like wildfire. It was first a rumour until we heard that Nigeria recorded its first victim already and within the blinking of an eye, Coronavirus was spreading in Nigeria. We thought that was all until the government announced that all schools in the nation were to be closed down and academic activities suspended. I received the news with mixed feelings, every student loves the holiday, but it should be after examinations not before it. It is no longer news that COVID-19 first surfaced in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and since then spreading to over 196 countries and territories around the world. It has since claimed the lives of over 822,000 people with over 24 million cases, and over 15.6 million recovered. People were forced to stay at home due to the fast spread of the Corona Virus. Markets were closed, companies closed, shops closed, and everything was put an abrupt full stop and the health sector bombarded with patients. Due to this many staff was laid off, and many institutions faced bankruptcy, human capital left with nothing but to stay at home. With no means of income, to this end, people began to resort to many ways of getting money which had led to increase in kidnapping, theft, and other crimes, in fact, shops that have been locked down due to the pandemic are being burgled due to the fact that people are at home. But as it stands, it seemed things are back to normal. The inter-state travel ban has been lifted, markets have been opened and people are back to work, only schools are left to be opened, even though the JSS 3 AND SS3 students are back in school to write their exams. But that’s not why I’m here today, is it? I’m here to share my takeaway from the Covid-19 pandemic. As I have explained above, there are no many negatives from the COVID-19 pandemic, but fortunately, I have many positives to be taken away from the pandemic, and I’ll share below; Firstly, I am known for complaining that; ‘I DON’T HAVE TIME’, guess what COVID-19 did; it gave me all the time in the world. But funny enough, I kept complaining I didn’t have time, and then I learnt an important lesson: whether there is luxury of time or not, you have to plan your schedule, otherwise, there will be plenty of time yet you’ll complain of no time. So I kept that on my left hand, plan my schedule, harnessed my energy into profiting from the stay at home. Secondly, I learnt something from the ‘ZOOM’ app. To be sincere, it was during the COVID-19 pandemic that I heard about the app. Only for me to discover that the app had been founded since April 21, 2011. But the app didn’t get the recognition it deserved, the founded never gave up, and the advent of the pandemic gave it its deserved recognition, in a matter of months, the founder is now a billionaire. Out of every disaster is an opportunity. Many are complaining of hunger and poverty due to the rise of the pandemic and on the other hand, some are getting richer. Just few days ago, Jeff Bezos became the first person to worth more than $200 billion in the world, in the same pandemic. As a result, I decided to learn software engineering, making use of the time and opportunity before me. In fact, this is the best time to be innovative. In addition, life is short, live life before you leave life. Lastly, family is all we got. When the lockdown was declared, no friends, no classmates, nobody, just me and my family, it was then I realized that, whatever happens, we should never neglect family. I’ve learnt to place family high, and never disregard family. In conclusion, history has been made; we can’t say if the world would experience something like this again, but this is a turning point in all our lives. I hope people really utilize this period, because, we have no excuse, much has been given, much is now expected. COVID-19, thank you. Anointed Ifekristi is a Part 4 student of the Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Nigeria and can be reached on Twitter @@ifekrist
