CHOOSING A CAREER IN CHEMISTRY

Chemistry, arguably the toughest of the physical science courses, and perhaps the widest, can be such a tough puzzle choosing a career from its myriads of options, however, with careful examination of the individual interest and experience garnered, you can easily choose whatsoever career path to thread been a Chemist.

The need for this post is due to the frequent questions I’ve been opportuned to address for a while now. So I hope this post help someone defines his/her career path.

Chemist as defined by the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria (ICCON): “is a person who, having obtained the requisite academic qualifications and satisfied the criteria set by the institute’s Governing Council has been formally inducted into and enrolled in the register of ICCON. An intending member of the Institute should possess a minimum of a bachelor’s degree or Higher National Diploma (HND) in Chemistry or Chemistry – related discipline, e.g. Biochemistry, Food Science and Technology, Science Laboratory Technology (Chemistry Option), Science Education (Chemistry Option), Chemical Engineering etc”.

That been said, what becomes of your qualification thereafter? If you’ve studied any of the courses listed above, I’m 💯% sure you’ve had one on two Industrial exposure during your degree program, if your answer is yes, yes, then that leads us to the effectiveness of your Industrial attachment. This is where most students miss it – you undermine the SIWES program which should not just be the foundation to your career but an integral scheme that gives you an insight into your career options and help you define your career field (I’ve found out that 85% of career oriented people often first reach out to their Industrial Attachment placement for possible employment).

Chemistry, as a discipline, does not just limit one to the laboratory, it avails its enthusiasts with a wide range of career positioning ranging from Quality Assurance, analytical chemist, production superintendent, clinical scientist, water treatment specialist, consultants, and so on, in different sectors such as agrochemicals, petrochemicals, metallurgical, government and scientific research organization, medicine, pharmaceutical, plastics and polymer, cosmetics and toiletries, food and beverages industries as well as education.

Having known what options are available, you must believe in yourself and be steadfast in your choosen career because unlike politics, cross-carpeting doesn’t pay. Search for organizations that fit your career choice, apply (either as a staff or volunteer), keep improving yourself by acquiring knowledge relating to your field (search of necessary standards and certification)

Choose a job you love but choose the right path and don’t forget that continuous learning is the minimum requirement for success in any field. May I wrap it up with the very opulent words of Mahatma Gandhi “The future depends on what you do today“.

Chemistry – recreates nature!!!

WHAT WE NEED TO FACE-OUT CORRUPTION ARE LEADERS WHO TRULY LOVE NIGERIA

WHAT WE NEED TO FACEOUT CORRUPTION ARE LEADERS WHO TRULY LOVE NIGERIA

In 2019, Bill Gates opined that “As we look ahead into the next century, leaders would be those who empower others”. Going by his words, and considering the surreal effects of the pandemic to a population of over 200million, what else can we expect than passionate leaders with solutions to the felt need problems and sustainability of the nation?

Having said that we need great leaders, what do you think great leaders should be doing to pivot and meet the demand of its people in today’s harsh economy?

Unlike our pre-COVID19 understanding of leaders here in Nigeria/Africa, which involves our supposed leaders empowering their people by buying wheelbarrows, imported keke napep, motorcycle, machines for grinding pepper and so on which did not manage to liberate people out of poverty not to mention empower them, we must begin to look into the development of the human assets.

The need to empower people doesn’t change just because circumstances do, it is what great leaders do to set themselves apart from others by effectively influencing and empowering other human beings. These includes:

1. Putting the people first.
2. Looking inwardly for solutions.
3. Investment in digital solutions.

China is what it is today because of the love the leaders/government have towards their people. The goal was to take millions of their people out of poverty (out of their archaic system into a digitalized market) and make them employers of labour.

So, they gave their people proper education to become competitive. This is what is called human assets development. They empowered their people by enrolling them in heavy machine manufacturing industries, so they may learn how to manufacture heavy duty machines. Some where enrolled in the electronic manufacturing industries, so they may learn how to manufacture consumer electronics like smartphone, wrist watches, TV, radio, laptops, etc. Some were enrolled in the building materials and manufacturing industries while others were enrolled in the textile industries.
They went as far as sending their citizens to USA, UK, Germany & France to get first class education, to learn whatever technological skills they need for manufacturing machines and electronics right in their own country. Today, China is an industrialized nation and indeed it has paid off.
China now sells to the USA, rendering manufacturing services to foreign nationals.
China is the envy of USA.

Unfortunately, corruption would not let the light shine in Nigeria for our “leaders” steal public money, which in return, leads to murdering the citizens because the money meant to build infrastructure for the wellbeing of the people, for improving the economy, for funding researches, scholarships opportunities and so on, if not used for its purpose thus have a vile impact on the people.

Now I keep asking what value will Nigeria/Africa sell to the world in the post-COVID19 era, because it’s obvious crude oil will keep loosing market value, and various events in the past have continued to prove to us that sticking to this crude oil-based economy isn’t sustainable. Imagine for the next 10 years, crude oil sells for $8/barrel. What will the Nigerian economy look like? What will be the exchange rate? I doubt if there won’t be a great depression. This is what will happen if the elites don’t quickly switch to developing and monetizing our human assets (not resources, as a boss of mine would say).

We have over 200 million people in Nigeria. We need leaders who would engage its people and transcend them to heavy duty machine makers. And put their brains and human energies to work for the betterment of the African continent. Enough of our dependency on the European giants or the G7. Some Asian countries took that step some years ago, today, they are refered to as the Asian Tigers. Statictics shows that Taiwan, one of the Asian Tigers, has the largest economy and it is the most populous state that is not a member of the United Nations.

Leaders of Nigeria government (Local, State and Federal level) must be selfless, love their people and be after their wellbeing.

And I think we will need a lot of community organizers across the 776 LGAs to educate our rural people in their local language on politics and economy.

Don’t forget we’re already in that year (2020) when we should be among the 20 largest economies in the world – the failed #Vision2020. Leadership is not title. In the words of Warren Gamaliel Bennis, “Leadership is the capacity to translate visions into reality”. For that vision to fail, it shows that we had no true leaders (need I tell you the president then was the Chairman of the National Council on #Vision2020)

I hope the very words of the Co-founder of Microsoft would resonate deep into our collective conscience.

Originally coined by
Odunayo Ayeni

As edited by,

Oluwafemi Joseph Oguntimehin

Extinction of Teachers

It’s World Teachers’ Day…

One of the “evergreen debate topics” in this part of the world is that simple but enigmatic statement – “Teachers are better than Doctors”. (If you’ve never had this experience then we must query your nationality).

It’s not by chance that these two professionals have and will continue to receive fair share of criticism from its aggrieved and vocal debaters when we consider how those individuals have inherently made and marred our society.

While we are always quick to drive our points, either supporting or opposing the motion, often and often times, we’ve failed to highlight and effectively improve the working conditions of those labour force in Nigeria. And in reverse, we stand the chance of “extinction” in those portfolios as we might, in years to come, have low influx into those discipline, most especially in teaching.

With the alarming deterioration in the educational sector; dilapidated buildings, poor/lack of physical libraries, limited teaching staff, poor remuneration, lack of motivation and reinforcements, little/no support to research work, increasing online-academic, examination malpractice just to mention a few, who knows, that reverential title – Teacher, might just become a thing of the past.

#ImproveOurWorkingConditions #GreatTeachers #QualityEducation #ConduciveClassrooms #Infrastructure
#SDGs – Goal 4

Happy World Teachers’ Day

At The Brink of Civil War

The most concerned happenings to anyone Nigerian right now should be the #RevolutionNow and #FreeSowore campaigns – the “demands” and possible retaliation from aggrieved citizens should the matter go out of hand.

Nigeria can be best described as a nation of: arrogant leaders, complacent followers, stagnant development, unjust judiciary, partial law enforcers, and so on, but one thing is gradually changing – our wax of complacency are now melting from the overheated suffering and hardship endured over time.

Dialogue, which used to be the hallmark of democracy has now been substituted for protest. Protesting is the order of the day. Some decades ago, protest is quite an effective tool, mostly used by employees to express their grievances about hostile policies and make certain demands that promote their welfare. And in no time, attention and audience are given, both parties resolves to restore the order. Unfortunately, as time passes, our leaders (employers) have become so pigheaded that they will not only turn deaf ears to those demands but fire “rebelling” staff, thus leaving their employees become so intimidated and succumbing. Same can be said of our society.

As the reacting species are disappearing due to bond breaking, the products are appearing due to bond formation – says basic law of Chemistry, whether physical or chemical reactions. Likewise, as we go through those intimidation and systemic corruption, our pupa has eventually metamorphosed and our philosophy of protest might soon become bloody confrontation, yet our so-called leaders are stiff-necked, hence this lingering, gradually tumorous rancour might just turn out to becoming a civil war.

What then shall become of Nigeria, my father and mothers’ land? What is a leader without followers or a Nation without her nationalities?

Think!

From Akure, Ondo State.

Oluwafemi Joseph Oguntimehin
oguntimehinfemi11@gmail.com
08129255597

WHAT HAVEN’T I TRIED?

What Haven’t I Tried?

In the midst of fear, worries, unpleasant situation and destructive evaluations, we ask ourselves this rhetorical question; “What haven’t I done?” Sometimes we are the judge and at the same time, the prosecutor in our psychological trial – providing answers that beg the questions.
Since human beings are the only animal capable of ‘thinking’, hence, man will always examine, evaluate, and analyze his/her present position with respect to individual goals. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being concerned with the effectiveness of your current state, however, allowing your mind to be consumed by the grip of such worries is definitely a suicide mission.

Being a young man – energetic, industrious, enthusiastic, and with a sense of self reliance, I’ve tried a lot of things on the journey of self-discovery. Sometimes I wonder how I had gone through them in such short space of my existence. I’ve had a fair share of the street hustling and series of vocations; catery, music, trading, teaching, the “now branded” fashion designing, name it. No regret! I chose those line. So WHAT HAVEN’T I TRIED?

Recently, I had to choose between being stuck in a rat race and facing unknown challenges. Have you ever thought of quiting your current employment without any glimpse of the “next action”? Not for some financial reasons, but for an honest reason of pursuing your dreams. It was my toughest decision so far. I wouldn’t know what thoughts and evaluation you may be battling with right now, but trust me, I share your affection b’cus I’ve been there. And should I give a word or two, I’ll tell you one thing that sees me through all the time – ONE THING I’VE NEVER TRIED, I’VE NEVER STOPPED TRUSTING GOD.
Oh yes. Over six months down to it now, I’m doing well. So brethren, no matter what, don’t ever give up on God. Trust Him. He’s got you. Apostle Paul puts it better when he said “what can separate me from the love of God?” Romans 8:35

To every great invention, there’re fallouts. And to every success, there are brutal stories. Truth is; it’s never gonna be easy. You might have to learn something new, or change your job like I did but if you must succeed and have a mark you will NEVER STOP TRUSTING GOD.

Take a leaf from a brother on that.

I’m
Oluwafemi J. O

A GOOD CHANGE

The study of semantics has proven that a particular word can have several meanings, based on content, perspective, custom, culture, intonation, or mood. Generally, a lesson can be an experience or action that we can learn from. Paradoxically, a good lesson is a bad one (experience) – a tragic.
Human lives, actions, inactions, and our daily engagements are filled with series of “lessons”.

Many a time we’re oblivious of them. Although some exceptional individuals are quite sensitive to the lessons from their actions, they easily take and make notes of the lessons learnt, some have the habits of writing them down; which is good, and are not just good at memorizing them, but also recalling the memories when needed. However, a great number of us are less conscientious to those didactics.
Growing up in this part of the world is quite a hell… I wouldn’t like to stress that. That will be a topical issue some other time. But the good thing about this unfortunate circumstance is that you get a lot of lessons here and there. Need I say that challenges are meant to make us stronger?
I remember vividly back then whenever I had an ugly experience, I’m always quick to make my resolutions…and for the next three – four weeks, heaven knows I’m an unwavering devotee to my decisions. One of my earliest resolutions back then in high school was to avoid a particular individual or action in a bid of preventing future reoccurrence. Learning my lessons, making strong resolutions, and moving on were how I deal with my issues.

Later this year, I went through series of disappointments, but in the grief of my profound sorrow, I was able to pick up the positives, learning the great lessons that you don’t get to hear of between the walls of classrooms. No doubts, human (friends and relatives) are important and instrumental to our success. They can be catalysts, facilitator and instrumental to our success. However, when they act as such, we must realize God’s at work. God is the only reliable being (He’s alive). Parents, friends, and our relatives can fail us, but God is faithful. He’s not a man that He should lie. Hence, we must trust in Him. In life, I’ve learnt to be responsible for my life. Oftentimes, we blame humans for failing/disappointing us. We’ve forgotten that it is one of the attribute of man to fail. So why not entrust your life to God – who doesn’t fail, despite our unfaithfulness, He remains faithful. Learn to acknowledge him above others. Trust me; I learnt this the hard way.
How we respond to challenges matters a lot. God has created natural means for man to grow up physically, spiritually, intellectually and morally. Here is an example of what I mean; (our acquired knowledge may be influential) when hungry, something interprets it as hunger in our system, and we’re prompted to ingest nutritious chemical substances. Learning/knowing the impulses (which is the lesson), taking and making notes (i.e. memorizing) of it and recalling it when similar situation presents itself, is basically how the human system operates.

Often times, we depend on movies and home videos to learn some lessons. Well, it’s good to have foresights. But my problem with those melodramas and farce in the name of movies is that they are full of exaggerated scenes and situations. Most times, the actions are not realistic. Some are just across territorial boundaries – it’s like a Nigerian watching a Korean movie to up his/her love game, that’s vain effort! Maybe knowledge and feelings of the ideal situation could spark our mojo, fine! But I’ll advise minimal dose. A common quote goes thus, “Your life is a great movie, and you’re the star in it.” Hey! You need to turn in and get locked in/wired in to your great movie. It’s on!

Humans tend to forget so many things (we all have a natural tendency for amnesia). As we filter our myriad of activities, we drop the less interesting ones into the recycle bin, and occasionally, we empty it. The best of movies/the most-watched movie is a tragedy. We have a natural fluke for sorrow, pain, love – emotions. That’s how the human heart is designed. You may have forgotten your matriculation number, but you certainly won’t forget some ugly experience like “your encounter with that wicked teacher back in secondary school,” or “your awkward nickname back then”. Of the truth, what you really forget/remember isn’t the digits or the teacher’s annoying name, but the lessons embedded in that story.

Mind you, the world is looking forward to your movie. So be sensitive to lessons around you. In your job, your relationship with others, in disappointments, success, and so on…they all have lessons for you.

I look forward to share and hear/read about your lessons.

Your partner in progress,

OLUWAFEMI JOSEPH OGUNTIMEHIN
+2348129255597
Femiyoung03@yahoo.com

LETTER TO NIGERIANS

LETTER TO NIGERIANS

Dear Nigerians,

Compliment of the season to you. It is quite important to write you at this point owing to the increasing intensity of our political atmosphere which is proportional to the fate of our beloved motherland – Nigeria.

First and foremost, dear compatriots, I must commend your endurance and patience over the past 20 years of “below par political dispensation” which has wrecked our economic growth; sacrifices many innocent lives on the altar of insecurity; mis-managed our mineral resources; denied us justice; monetized and build a high wall around our inherited free western education and keep recycling the same set of intellectually exhausted leaders. Indeed it is disheartening how the “GIANT OF AFRICA” has been sporadically reduced to a mere ant.

Dear countrymen, as we approach another deciding period, we must ensure that we get Nigeria back on her feet by transmiting your true presidential and other political desires into voting. Though reduced to an ant, we’re not helpless. There’s strength in our numbers, if only we can unanimously vote in a new breeds of vibrant, mass-oriented, and credible candidates into offices. If an ant could carry an object a hundred times its weight, then we can salvage Nigeria from its perils.

To live is to suffer, and to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering. My heart is so heavy as I write following series of conversations with Nigerians, especially youths. And I can submit on this note, that the hardship we’ve long experienced has overshadowed our intuition and caged our mind into a web of inferiority. So we ask, in a bemoaning tone, can we have a fresh blood at the apex seat?

Brethren, we must give it our best shot and for the first time in the history of this historical nation, unite all forces towards positioning the old politicians to where they really belong, and give them a run for their money in the forthcoming elections. For I can tell you one fact that the older folks have no good intentions for us, if all they could think we deserve as workers is a meagre monthly thirty thousand naira (N30,000) while they bagged home millions on monthly basis.

Dear Nigerians, I’ll conclude with the very words of two great leaders, firstly, Franklin D. Roosevelt – “democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choices are prepared to choose wisely” and secondly, John F. Kennedy – “the ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all”.

Good bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Best regards,

OLUWAFEMI J. O.
oguntimehinfemi11@gmail.com

5 YEARS AFTER PRIVATIZATION OF THE POWER SECTOR

So I was being a good uncle last night – helping my little cousin do some hols assignment in Government (subject). The first question reads; “State the reasons for commercialization, privatization and deregulation”, I had to use the power sector as explanation, from its days of government control as NEPA, to its eventual privatization.

It occur to me that it’s ssßß we faired?

The power distribution companies have failed to provide consumers a tangible means of measuring power consumption (meter), yet for five years, thsssey’ve been charging Nigerians estimated outrageous bills only for the Minister of Power, whose ministry should be the government agency to protect consumers interest, turns down people’s opinion on revisiting the contract that has failed to meet its promises. I’m sure he’s got lots of consumers complaint on his desk to instigate him to action.

There’s no doubt that the meter is consumers-oriented as envisaged by the promoters of the contract, but what has stopped distribution of the meters as promised by the distribution companies? And why can’t consumers obtain the meters in market at their own conveniences? Many questions lingering there…

Share your thoughts.

Yours-in-thought,

Oluwafemi J.O

IT’S UNDEMOCRATIC

If you’re so abreast of happenings in Nigeria, the most populous black country, your eardrum (or optic nerve) must have become accustomed to one word that keeps reappearing all over our media space, UNDEMOCRATIC. The word “undemocratic” was suddenly reincarnated into Nigerians’ vocabularies following recent political hullabaloo.

I wonder how convenient it is for our corrupt leaders to use the word effortlessly. Those who have no such records of anything democratic, yet they scream out the word ‘undemocratic’ pretentiously to seek strands of pathos from our worn-out eyes. Try pronouncing “It’s Undemocratic” with a mouthful of roasted corn. Hilarious! Isn’t it? Such is the croaking sound effect they make whenever they attempt the word.

Maybe the siege of the National Assembly Complex last Tuesday is indeed a threat to our democracy and shouldn’t be tolerated. Fine! However, there have been more assaults on our democracy perpetrated by these same wailers over the years which were either unnoticed, under-investigated or swept under the carpet.

Is there anything democratic about a State Government that owe its employees accumulated salaries? What is democratic about the unending recurring budgets on our annual National budgets? What’s democratic about the several unfulfilled campaign promises? Is there anything democratic about our taxation system where the poor are subjected to pay through their nose. Or what is democratic about the fat pay cheques that our political leaders receive monthly leaving the mass to struggle with crumbles from their tables. I really need to know. What is democratic about the Fulani herdsmen who go around with arms in their purse, eliminating any opposition in their way, yet they live on while it’s a punishable offence for a civilian to have common pepper spray in his/her bag? What’s democratic about the “common and uncommon defectors” running from pillars to post like matter undergoing physical changes with no form of newness nor betterment? Is there anything democratic about buying people’s vote with resources meant for development or diverting public funds into sponsoring political agendas, personal social functions and acquisition of properties in foreign countries? When your actions contravene the rule of merit and fairness, you’re undemocratic. What is democratic about the President’s incessant health trips and holidays outside the shores of the country?
Obviously, we’re far from democracy and democracy is far from us. As long as your personal interest comes before your neighbour’s or country’s; you deceive people through some shenanigan means; or you unduly treat people around you, you’re guilty, hence, you’re undemocratic!

Democracy! The system of government which promises ‘liberation’, ‘freedom’, ‘equality’ and ‘justice’ in theory has been nothing but a fallacy in practical (in Nigeria). Nevertheless, it works perfectly well in other countries where its members are active participants. So if we want a democratic nation, we (you and I) have to be democratic in our everyday transactions.

Plato once opined that “dictatorship naturally arises out of democracy, and the most aggravated form of tyranny and slavery out of the most extreme liberty”. Because people change when in power, hence we must be careful who we entrust our mandates on. The ignorance of one voter in democracy impairs the security of all.

#BeDemocratic
#YourDecisionMatters
Thanks for reading through.

This is The Voice of

Oluwafemi J. O
oguntimehinfemi11@gmail.com

SARS; A Threat to Freedom

“A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones,” a famous quote from Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom. The late South Africa Ex President captured the shambles of a country on how it entreats its citizens in a “jail” -making reference to his jail-time experience. When an institution of the government (SARS) that is established and charged with a quick response to robbery cases eventually becomes a threat to human right, then our pen and ink must echo our plights.

In the past few months, there has been continuous #EndSARS campaigns across the federation by Nigerians to express their dissatisfaction about the operatives of the “Special Anti-robbery Squad”. There’re several published and unpublished reports of the SARS’s gruesome and tyrannical treatments against our human right.
The Federal Government, in its response to the yawning of the #EndSARS campaigners, orders the restructuring of SARS through the Police Complaint Rapid Response Unit. The operations of SARS include arrest, investigation and prosecution of suspected armed robbers, murderers, kidnappers, hired assassins and others involved in violent crimes. The NPF has also taken step to correct the human right abuses levied on the citizens by men of the police force. Over a month to the FG promises, here we are, locked down in ball and chains at the mercy of arbitrary powers. We get daily reports of SARS’s maltreatments against innocent lives. Just last week, I lost an acquaintance of mine following an encounter with SARS.

The founder of the special anti-robbery unit was called upon to share his view and response to the #EndSARS campaigns. The Special Anti-Robbery Squad was founded in 1992 by a former Commission of Police, RTD CP Simeon Danladi Midenda. The security unit started in Lagos State and expanded, following successful operations across the 36 States in the country. The former CP explained that the unit has deviated from the original concept. He further stressed that the controversies engulfing SARS today will not disappear unless they return to the original concept. They should undergo reorientation and thereafter, disappear from public view and remain faceless.

Although most of the campaigns against SARS has just one request – #EndSARS, but in my own view, looking at the current security challenges in the country, dissolving the Special Anti-Robbery Unit will only give room to more criminals to flex their muscles with impunity. A reform is desperately needed but we mustn’t throw the baby out with the bath water. Hence, I’ll subscribe to the former CP’s suggestions.

Dear Nigerians, we’ve all suffered and shared a pain or two. Right now, the country needs more effective security measures than any other thing. Let’s demand for that. Unfortunately, the attention of our political leaders are drifted towards the 2019 election. But as a concerned-citizen, whose life and properties are vulnerable, and can’t sleep with your two eyes closed, kindly share your way-forward regarding SARS operatives in the country. Should the unit be scrapped or reformed? How?

Hit the comment box. I look forward to your response…

Oluwafemi J. O