Tit-bits for Nigerian Students at New Year.
World over, January 1st is celebrated as “new year day.” This day comes with glows of hopes in our minds. It gives us new confidence and courage for a fresh start. As we embark on a new year with new milestones and aspirations, we need to take into consideration, the assertion of Abraham Lincoln, which states that: “in the end, it is not the years in your life that counts, but the life in your years.”
Journalism and Mass Communication students in Nigeria (prospective journalists) who are often referred to as “specialists” and “generalists” ought to remember that they owe the society some inevitable and uncompromised responsibilities. As patriotic citizens and leaders of tomorrow, we must learn to live in peace and tolerance with one another despite our ethnic and religious differences. The responsibility of peace building lies on us, not only on our leaders. At this critical moment of our country, Nigerian students must learn to exhibit the good knowledge and experiences they have garnered from classrooms and the cosmopolitan environments they live in.
In many parts of the world, elections generate a lot of socio-political excitement, but in Nigeria, the reverse is the case as it increases the rate of violence and ethno-religious crises. This has been attributed to lack of tolerance among ourselves. As the 2019 general elections draws closer, Nigeria continues to dance on the brinks of insecurity and socio-political crises.
Remember, the two Holy Books (Qur’an and Bible) enjoin us to be at peace with one another and to payback evil deeds with good ones. All the prophets of God were champions of peace. Romans 12:17-21 reads that: “repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceable with all men. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Similarly, Qur’an 41:34 says: “the good deed and evil the evil deed cannot be equal. Repel (the evil) with one which is better (Allah ordered the faithful believers to be patient at the time of anger, and to excuse those who treat them badly), then verily! He, between whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend.”
At this juncture, I will like to draw our attentions to the assertion of Martin Luther King Jnr. when he postulates that: “if we are to have peace on earth, our loyalties must become ecumenical rather than sectional. Our loyalties must transcend our race, our tribe, our class and our nation: and this means we must develop a world perspective… Now the judgment of God is upon us and we must either learn to live together as brothers or we are all going to perish together as fools.”
As students, we must study to learn and not to earn. What you learn today will be useful to you tomorrow and will determine who you become tomorrow. A student’s life is all about focusing on goals and achieving them with determination, discipline and hard work. Every problem might not have a solution but every solution was once a problem. Focus on your goals and study hard; it is like preparing yourself for a marathon which will begin after your school days.
May this New Year bring good fortunes and prosperity to our dear country and may God grant all Nigerian students retentive memories. Amen.
Written by Ahmad Muhammad Auwal (400-level, Mass Comm. Student at NSUK)
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