Oluyomi Ola-David Insights

I am happy to join forces with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group  (NESG) as a Senior Non-resident Fellow. At this critical  point in our nation's economic history, when the majority pass a vote of no confidence in our national systems and structures, we need a unique breed of thinkers who are peddlers of hope.  Such persons, on the one hand, would possess an indepth understanding of the root causes of our socio-economic conundrums. While, on the other hand, retaining a growing capacity to generate appropriate enterprise-driven, research-driven, and policy-driven solutions to the problems identified. For a long while now, I have retained a penchant for influencing policy from my little corner, and am glad for the learning experience  that the NESG Fellowship affords. I am very grateful to the Nigerian Economic Summit Group and its stakeholders for granting me the opportunity to be party to the reconstruction and development of the Nigerian economy. By the mercy and grace of God, I

Isn't human capital is the most important of all forms of capital? I am currently brooding over SDGs education to map out a viable research plan. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...  Loading... Loading... .... Photo credit: United Nations

We see their signs And we know their heart They shine like stars I call them men We hear their words And we know their thoughts They reflect like mirror I call them men We sniff their presence And we know their substance They lead like eagles I call them men We raise their hair And we know their strength They create like nature I call them men We hear their roar And we know their whisper They protect like saviours I call them men We win their smile And we know their frown They sound like thunder I call them men We follow their gait And we know their faith They win like warriors I call them men We like their guts And we know their fears They trust like children I call them men We sight their box And we know their parts They change like weather I call them men We feel their air And we know their cause They thrive like roses I call them men  We hail their meekness And we know their pride They nurture like nature  I call them men We see their vision And we know their mission They love like

Call me black Yes, I am dark And you seek my tan all summer So I still tick Call me ancient Yes, I am historical And you plundered artefacts from forebears  So I still tick Call me weak Yes, I am work-in-progress And full of rare strength that you hunt  So I still tick Call me backward Yes, I am late-in-coming And I see no-go-tracks from your mistakes So I still tick Call me traditional Yes, I am ingenious  And I create pieces you may not dare So I still tick Call me failure Yes, I am learning And I don't like succeeding at wrong work So I still tick  Call me laggard Yes, I am steady And I like to navigate my own lane So I still tick Call me useless Yes, I am valuable  And I know where my usefulness counts So I still tick Call me coward Yes, I am thoughtful and wary And I choose battles I always win So I still tick Call me kinky Yes, I am natural And I love the curls you like to copy So I still tick  Call me misfit Yes, I am an outlier And I stand on ideals I conform to So I still

No place Like home No sweet Like fatherland No journey Like home No trophy  Like now No mountain Like home No valley Like motherland No wool Like home No warmth Like fatherland No fireplace Like home No cooler Like now No meal Like home No drink Like motherland No market Like home No goods Like fatherland No playground Like home No work Like now No school  Like home No certificate Like motherland No idea Like home No nurture Like fatherland No season Like home No time Like now No work Like home No power Like motherland ... Photo credit: Wikipedia/ Nigeria

Be wary Of the blind bat  Who offers you vision For your daylight trip Be wary Of the termite Who waits in patience For your green leaves Be wary Of the aquarium fish Who gives you winning strategy For your life at sea Be wary Of the naked emperor Who offers you covering For your royal body Be wary Of the fox Who offers a safe shoulder For your crying spree Be wary Of the fallen star Who chairs a coaching session For your sky-bound flight Be wary Of the ice cream Who offers you heat For your winter nights Be wary  Of the lion Who offers you territory For your occupation Be wary Of the ladder Who leans on tottering wall For your jolly climb Be wary Of the drowning captain Who guides the compass For your maiden voyage Be wary Of the snake Who spits out water For your facial crub Be wary Of the bumble bee Who offers free music For your listening pleasure ... Photo credit: Shetland.Org

If you are a true Nigerian Your speech shows it If you begin to curse and swear Then you are illegitimate If you are an economist Your cost-benefit analysis shows it If you begin to despise the facts Then you are an outlier If you are a nurse Your selfless caring shows it If you begin to torment the patient Then you are illegal If you are a teacher Your exemplary lifestyle shows it If you begin to spoon-feed Then you are a baby sitter If you are a governor Your sensitivity to the vulnerable shows it If you begin to exploit the weak Then you are a parasite If you are a shepherd Your fresh greenery shows it If you begin to fleece the lambs Then you are a hireling If you are a debtor Your humility shows it If you begin to be arrogant  Then you are a creditor If you are a priest Your piety cloak shows it If you begin to sell your wares Then you are a merchant If you are a fund raiser  Your fair throngs show it  If you begin to raise people Then you are a trustee If you are a parent  Your p

You bully the child And it seems right Now they bully other children And you think it offensive You name-call the child And it seems right They name-call other children And you think it indecent You beat up your maid And it seems right Now your child beats up his mates And you think it weird You babysit with inhumane screens And it seems right Now your baby has become inhuman And you think it wicked You abuse everyone and them And it seems right Now they abuse other children And you think it unlawful You rob the child of time And it seems right Now they rob you of sleep And you think it frustrating You spoil the child with things And it seems right Now they want nothing but toys And you think it absurb You feed the child with junk And it seems right Now they are obese And you think it hereditary You play violence as fun And it seems right Now they are criminals And you think it inappropriate  You lie to the child And it seems right Now they lie to everyone else And you think it abnorma

Economy may be sluggish And the youth violently idle The forecasts may seem bleak But you made it so School teachers may be overworked And the pupils bullied to submission The social learning may be adverse But you made it so Farm goods may be wasting away And processing plants underpowered The nourishment may be toxic But you made it so Moral values may be waning And healthy culture stale The streets may be dangerous But you made it so Inflation may be unbearable And prices never free The cost of living may be rising But you made it so Foreign debt may be increasing And misappropriation very likely The interest rates may be high But you made it so Corruption may be second nature And manipulation the stock-in-trade The rule of law may hold no water But you made it so Government may be irresponsible And the leaders insensitive The followers may be wandering But you made it so Firms may be brutally competitive And the people policies gruesome The legislations may be perverse But you made

They have to move You need to push We all want to slide Should I just be still? They have to speak You need to sense We all want to shout Should I just be mute? They have to run You need to walk We all want to fly Should I just be laid? They have to come You need to go We all want to feast  Should I just be home? They have to look You need to see We all want to shine Should I just be sharp?  They have to climb You need to jump We all want to rise Should I just be down? They have to sit You need to stay We all want to stand Should I just be aloof? They have to spring You need to summer We all want to winter Should I just be fall? They have to glow You need to copy We all want to turn up  Should I just be absent? They have to work You need to read We all want to write Should I just be lounging? They have to win You need to count We all want to profit Should I just be loss? They have to sell You need to make We all want to bargain Should I just be free? ... Photo credit: Tenor

Welcome information Albeit with caution Fight overload Conquer the age Welcome speed Albeit with caution Fight impatience Conquer the age Welcome sexuality Albeit with caution Fight perversion Conquer the age Welcome handouts Albeit with caution Fight inaction Conquer the age Welcome diversity Albeit with caution Fight insecurities Conquer the age Welcome robots Albeit with caution Fight inhumanity Conquer the age Welcome philosophy Albeit with caution Fight falsehood Conquer the age Welcome food Albeit with caution Fight obesity Conquer the age Welcome laissez-faire Albeit with caution Fight impunity Conquer the age Welcome openness Albeit with caution Fight intrusion Conquer the age Welcome women Albeit with caution Fight imbalance Conquer the age Welcome focus Albeit with caution Fight distraction Conquer the age ... Photo credit: BG Mahesh

Lockdown enterprise And release her crime Open the air And restore her dignity Lockdown creativity And release her craving Open her womb And restore her posterity Lockdown energy And release her corruption Open her doors And restore her market Lockdown culture And release her falsehood Open the truth And restore her sanity Lockdown price And release her debt Open her stream And restore her progress Lockdown time And release her slavery Open her space And restore her freedom Lockdown ladder And release her anxiety Open the skies And restore her flight Lockdown identity And release her insecurity Open her diversity And restore her unity Lockdown vision And release her chaos Open her eyes And restore her peace Lockdown talent And release her idleness Open the gates And restore her products  Lockdown palace And release her destruction Open her tent And restore her adventure Lockdown speech And release her noise Open her practice And restore her voice ... Photo credit:  BBC

When we fail in depth  We seek heights When we fail in breadth We clamour for length When we fail in thought We seek actions When we fail in virtue We clamour for results When we fail in strength We seek accolades  When we fail in heart We clamour for validation When we fail in faith We seek signs When we fail to trust We clamour for wind When we fail in reverence We seek profundity When we fail in wisdom We clamour for gold When we fail in patience We seek microwaves When we fail in contentment We clamour for speed When we fail in vision We seek shadows When we fail in truth We clamour for errors When we fail in enterprise We seek aids When we fail in diversity We clamour for secession When we fail in structure We seek plasters When we fail in beauty We clamour for masks When we fail in identity We seek approvals When we fail in talent We clamour for stamps When we fail in health We seek junks When we fail in wealth We clamour for assets When we fail in practice We seek quantity When

I am rare I am wholesome I am matter I am valued I am worthy of trust I always do mankind good I seek raw material I willingly work I am like a trader I am loaded with offerings I bring from a distance I am loaded, and so are mine I come from a depth I walk on knowledge seas  I rise in busts I shine at night I provide nourishment I am a house holder I provide portions I serve attendants I am a steward I am attended to I consider one field I purchase one field I am profit-in-person I don't seek what I already am I plant My fruits are life-giving I gird myself I am surrounded with strength I strengthen my arms I know my tools I am perceptive My offerings are good I am full of fuel I am empty of pride My energy is secure, clean, sustainable, and renewable. I stretch I am global I locally hold I handle with skill I extend and expand I reach out I know my audience I love my territory I guard my air I am clothed I am settled and so are mine I am fearless I am sorted and so are mine. I ha

When you are thirsty What do you drink? When you are hungry What do you eat? When you are weak Who do you seek? When you are strong Who do you call? When you are down Where do you look? When you are up Where do you turn?  When you are silent What do you say? When you are loud What do you think? When you are present Who do you lead? When you are absent Who do you trail? When you are late Where do you sit? When you are early Where do you stand? When you are poor What do you give? When you are rich What do you get? When you are alone  Who do you find? When you are surrounded Who do you prime? When you are loved Where do you go? When you are loathed Where do you stay? When you are free What do you buy? When you are priced What do you sell? When you are dull Who do you heed? When you are sound Who do you hail? When you are blind Where do you see? When you are light Where do you shine? ... Photo credit: Britannica 

There are names That ring a bell But there is a name That makes the difference  There are thoughts That make us think But there is a thought That transforms the mind There are people That come and leave But there is a person That abides still There are words That fizzle with the wind But there is a word That sounds every time There are places That we like to tour But there is a place That is worthy habitat There are trees That yield juicy fruits But there is a tree  That breathes out life There are books That need revision But there is a book That is ever true There are ideas That win the game But there is an idea That creates the stage There are stars That shine at night But there is a star That rules every day There are visions That sound high and lofty But there is a vision That heals scaly eyes There are mountains That we like to conquer But there is a mountain That seeks to conquer us There are kings That reign to live But there is a king Who lives to reign ... Photo credit: Nord