Effects Of Social Media, Other Digital Technologies On Human Behavior

 Written by Blessed Adjekpagbon

 Marianne Van der Wel

The advent of social media as a result of Internet technology has been affecting the way people think and do things individually and structurally in different families, organizations, societies and cultures over the years.

Various folks have different stories to tell about how digital technology especially about facebook- arguably the most popular social media on the internet has revolutionized global interactions among its users for the immediate past years it came into existence.

Speaking with Bulkybon News about how social media/Internet technology (Digital media) has affected her life in various ways, Marianne Van der Wel, a retired lecturer who specializes in Natural Sciences and Mathematics at Mc Master University, Canada, said “In 1991 or 1992 or 1993, when I saw a web site for the first time and the internet was becoming a world standard for computer networks, I said to myself  ‘Pay attention, Marianne. If humanity is to survive, this tool will play a vital role!’

“During the latter half of the last decade, social media has risen to the forefront. I said the same thing to myself and forced myself to look into these phenomena. I started with twitter but have since moved over to facebook. Instagram has not yet peaked my interest nor the other 300 or so social media apps out there.

“Life on facebook, more or less, parallels life offline. Hence I find facebook useful to study human behaviour and try to understand it (the good, the bad and the in between).

“I am interested in the question: ‘Is it possible to build a positive relation using only words- (which make up about 7 per cent of all human communication)?’ I do not yet have a conclusive answer for this one.

“I find that using only words, I get more acceptance as a white person by blacks than I do in real life. I find this an interesting observation but I certainly have made no definitive conclusions as to whether this is accurate or not.

“Since at least a few people see what I write and I get to see what others write (bypassing borders, the media and governments), my time is more productive on facebook than expressing my opinion to the media, letters to my politicians and the like.

“I am learning to write (though writing is something I hate doing). Sometimes I have an opportunity to show empathy or encourage another person whose path I would not have been able to cross otherwise

“Through facebook especially, and other websites, I learn information and facts from others, I would not have learned anywhere else.

“I did try to use facebook to promote ‘A Tiny Shift In Connecting Schools’ programme (which is now shut down); but other than that, I am more interested in encouraging others to think for themselves than follow how I think. I will make statements for others to consider, doing my best to focus on behaviour rather than the person. While agreement generally feels better than disagreement, I do learn more when others disagree.”

Nonetheless, according to “Dimensions of leisure for Life” by Human Kinetics, with the proliferation of technologies that are able to overcome the obstacles of time and space (e.g., airplanes, cars, the Internet), one would think that these tools would be used to gain an understanding of other cultures, meet people all over the world, maintain and strengthen familial relationships, communicate effectively with others, and help people to become more socially adept.

Commenting on the negative effects of technology, Kinetics posits that “Some technological advances cause people to be distracted, overly stressed, and increasingly isolated. Many people are involved in an abundant number of relationships through technology, but sometimes the quantity of these associations leaves people feeling qualitatively empty. Obviously, technology has had a profound impact on what it means to be social. “Society is likely on the cusp of a social revolution, during which it will be important to redefine socially appropriate and acceptable behaviors (with regard to digital or virtual interaction). We are at a point in history where very few people have given critical thought to new social realities created by technology and what those realities mean for the individual and society.

“A few social technologies influence leisure in terms of virtual communities, social networking sites, and today’s communication tools.

“The use of social networking sites has both positive and negative consequences. It is amazing how someone can find a long-lost friend through a social networking site, enabling them to reconnect. In a society where people have become quite mobile and family and friends are often geographically separated, it is convenient to keep in touch through technology. However, one need not look far to find problems associated with social networking sites. There is a lively debate about whether Internet addictions are real.

“To me it appears to be a real problem (perception is often reality in a social context) with which people have to grapple. Some assert that these Web sites contributed to cheating on significant others, often leading to divorce. “People have been fired from their jobs or put under pressure because they use these sites at work or because something is posted on a site that undermined the person’s professional standing. Although divorce and loss of employment are serious issues, perhaps they are not as common as other problems that have the potential to stem from social networking sites. Narcissism—excessive interest in one’s appearance and in oneself—is sometimes manifested on social networking sites. These Web sites have been found to be an avenue for people to display their narcissistic traits online (Buffardi & Campbell, 2008).

“I often wonder whether people use these sites to display their popularity to the world rather than use them as a vehicle to develop meaningful relationships. Creating meaningful relationships is often about sharing our lives with others, and technology can allow us to do so through photos, videos, text, and music. In conducting research for my doctoral dissertation, I looked at how eight senior citizens used technology and how it affected their lives.

“Someone might feel like an outcast in her own community or family but might find someone online with similar hobbies, pursuits, and interests. Consider someone who enjoys photography as a serious leisure pursuit. This person would be able to share that passion with people all over the world by using the Internet and its powerful tools (e-mail, video chat, discussion boards, online video, family Web sites). However, simply sharing common interests and pursuits with people through technology does not necessarily have a positive impact on social skills and social development.”

Kinetics also point out that Television and Social Development Television is another technology that has mixed reviews with regard to social skills and social lives. Some researchers suggest that spending a limited amount of time watching wholesome programs can strengthen families and friendships. Others believe that television contributes to the downfall of social values in this country. It does seem that many people spend less time with others in their community than they do with the people they watch daily on television. Television tends to be a passive medium, which requires little skill and thought on our part (although some programming bucks this trend). Therefore, television provides little opportunity for meaningful interaction while watching. Watchers simply sit there and ingest what is presented to them without having to respond or react to another person. Obviously this can have serious effects on people’s social skills because viewers are not practicing how to relate to and deal with other people. Exposure to what is viewed on television can have some other serious effects on people’s social lives. For example, exposure to television shows with sexual content may increase the chance of teen pregnancy (Chandra et al., 2008). Furthermore, when some people see violence, sex, and all manner of lasciviousness on television, they may be prone to mimic the behavior and think that it is acceptable. Were everyone to copy the social behaviors portrayed on television, our society would lack morals, and many levels of individuals’ lives would be destroyed. It is apparent that technology has the potential to harm or enhance your social skills and social life. The key is to analyze how technology affects you socially. Do technologies help you build positive, meaningful relationships, or do technologies hinder this process? It is one of the critical questions regarding technology and social development.

From the forgoing, it can be concluded that technology has great effects on human behavior both positively and negatively. What is left for the consumers of technological devices is to be able to sift good characters from what they are exposed to from different cultural settings as they navigate the great time consuming and emerging sapping waters of modern technologies worldwide.

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Africa ELTA's President, Amira Salama invites members to online meeting

 . Written by Blessed Adjekpagbon

Amira Salama

The President of Africa English Language Teachers Association (Africa ELTA), Amira Salama, has invited the members of the teachers’ body to a meeting that will take place on Facebook.

In a post shared to members of African ELTA’s whatsapp group on Monday 26 July 2022, she says; “On behalf of the Africa ELTA Board, I would like to invite you to join us in the first FB Live event with the board to discuss the Africa ELTA programs, upcoming conference on August 12-13, share ways for engaging members in addition to receiving any questions you may have about our activities and teacher development initiatives.”

She humbly encourages members by adding that, “Please join us on Monday, August 1st, 2022, at 6:00 PM GMT on the Africa ELTA Facebook Page and use this link to submit your questions or suggestions in advance.” The link is:
https://forms.gle/jKNvFVKZtQA97VEC6  

However, Amira is an academic English instructor at Nile University, Egypt. She holds a MATESOL from the American University in Cairo with a research focus on teacher leadership and she is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in Egypt. Moreover, she is the former president of NileTESOL in Egypt, a 2020 TESOL International Leadership Mentoring Award winner and a current member of the TESOL Research Professional Council. Currently, her position aa President of Africa ELTA lasts from 2021-2023. Her research and professional interests include teacher mentoring and training, materials development in ELT and teacher leadership development

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Universal Basic Education (UBE) poems for children

Book:             Rhymes from the Nile

Author:          Blessed Mudiaga Adje

Publisher:     Bulkybon Books, Lagos,

Reviewer:     Victor Bruce

The summation that with Adje’s children’s Literature masterpiece he has proffered an African substitute to poems imported from Europe can not be overemphasized when one succinctly scans through the book.

The entire volume of sixty nine pages is made up of thirty poems that are so excellently selected to address present realities of our children as it were, as well as spring forth nostalgic feelings from the consciousness of craving adults.

Some of these poems include the following, Book, Reading, Children, My Pen 1, My School, Be Kind, African Sun, The Longest River, The Wind Vane, Time for Everything, Little Bird, Plane Crashes, Gifts from Above, The Cat, Baby, Children of God, Glory be to God, Clock, Mother, What Nigeria Alphabet Says, Roaming Dove, Butterfly 2, Judgement Bell, Mosquito, Prayer, and a host of others.

X-raying some of the poems on the basis of subject matter, it is quite obvious that most of these poems could be clothed within the spheres  of simple advises, excellence in morals and a good degree of expository which truly places the poet as a remarkable teacher. For  instance, the very first poem of the collection is so significant here, as it not only promotes the relevance of reading a good book but also advises that the child or reader- “Pick a book and read today / Read to learn and don’t delay,” shows that it is wrong to keep procrastinating.

Coming on the heels of the first poem is Reading, which also largely shares the same subject matters of advising, expository and good morals promotion as shown in the following lines - “Reading is like a healthy food / To give you knowledge bright and good / Learn to read-and don’t be rude / To bury any manner that is crude/.”

For Children, the poem advises that they should not fight and never walk in darkness but sing and play where there is light as well as cultivate the habit of cleanliness.

The piece titled, My Pen 1 tells of the poet persona’s and extensively, the conscious reader’s pen as one that preaches hope and unity and fight against corruption and confusion. While My School tells of the inherent benefits of the school – (any school); Be Kind teaches of the virtues placed in kindness. As for the African Sun, the poet persona asks some rhetorical questions which is still germane and which would still remain remarkably important. In The Longest River the child/reader comes to terms with the Nile as the longest river in Africa even though some say it is the longest in the world, while he/she is also made aware that The Wind Vane tells the direction of the wind.

Moreover, the poem– Time for Everything calls to mind the biblical king Solomon’s wise words in the book of Ecclesiastics. Apart from remarking that there is time for everything, the poet persona, admonishes on numerous moral values.  Poems such as Little Bird, Roaming Dove, Butterfly 2, and Sunbird espouses or calls to the fore the lovely nature of these wonderful creatures. They are aptly juxtaposed with the unhealthy antics of The Cat as well as the fever causing demon, the Mosquito, which the poet persona advises that, ‘All hands should be on deck / To put this killer in check.’

With the poems- Gifts from Above, Baby and Children of God, the author brings to light the precious nature of children and their inherent unrestrained traits. He uses the poems to advise parents to see children as special gifts from God and direct them in the right direction which eventually, extensively as it were, leads to a better world.

In Glory Be to God, Prayer, and Worship, the voice of the author goes spiritual. Adje implicitly admonishes all to be thankful to the Almighty God, no matter the circumstances or challenges confronting man. He advances the inherent values in praises and worship as seen in the following lines in Worship- “Praise Him, praise Him and don’t be shy / Till the day we shall heavenly fly / When we kiss this world goodbye.”

With regards to the style employed by Adje, at a first glance, it could easily be adduced that most of the poems are crafted in a single stanza formation but a few are made up of two or three stanzas such as– Little Bird, Clock, Roaming Dove, Prayer, and specifically three others.

And apart from the fact that there is a greater use of the rhyming patterns in virtually all the poems, they are also characterized with a rhythmic dexterity that is typical of great children classic poetry. In addition, besides the use of familiar imagery (mental /psychological pictures) laced in first rate poetic devices such as similes, metaphors and personification to state but a few, the diction is veritably simple and reasonably well chosen to give credence to a perfect understanding by any child/reader of the poem at the very first attempt.

Most significantly, with the use of bold prints, reasonably thought-out questions after each poem and the handing of germane issues as well as the dexterous approach employed by Adje, one wouldn’t be wrong in ascertaining and lauding his effort as remarkably fantastic, enough to place him on the pedestal of great classic children literature writer.

 END

Africa ELTA, EVE announces leadership mentoring program for female teachers

Written by Adjekpagbon Blessed Mudiaga

The association of African teachers of English Language otherwise known as "Africa ELTA" (English Language Teachers Association), in collaboration with a group recognized as Equal Voices in ELT (EVE), have announced a program to mentor female teachers on leadership and teaching skills. 

In a press release posted on Saturday 23 July 2022  to members of Africa ELTA whatsapp group,  it says "In collaboration with Equal Voices in ELT (EVE) group, Africa ELTA is pleased to offer a third round of the female leadership mentoring program to mentor selected African female classroom teachers to become professional conference presenters.

"The selected participants will receive mentoring offered by mentors from Africa ELTA and EVE from September 2022 to January 2023." 

However, Bulkybon News was informed that the program will begin in mid-September 2022 and the final webinar will take place in January 2023.

The release further says that, "The aims of this mentoring are to equip the participants with the necessary skills to write conference proposals and present at international conferences in addition to online and local professional development events.

" Upon their successful completion of the training, the successful trainees will be added to the Africa ELTA official list of webinar and conference speakers."

According to the statement, the program is meant to also galvanize the envisaged participants as examples of successful classroom teachers to the forefront and training them on presentation and public speaking skills.

Moreover, the release also posits that it is an opportunity to highlight the commendable work done by Africa female classroom teachers and inspire others who may be intimidated or suffering from stage fright, to become professional conference presenters, to share their successful classroom stories.

Interested female teachers are directed to fill out an online application form via a link. The deadline for registration is August 13, 2022. The link is 

https://forms.gle/oDrGpNkbvFXpjHw36

For any inquiries about the program, interested female teachers can contact the organizers through this email address: africaelta@gmail.com

END

 

 

Some Pampering Gifts For Loved Ones

Written by Adjekpagbon Blessed

Teaser: Are you thinking about ways or gifts that you can use to pamper your loved ones? There are many kinds and ways to pamper our loved ones. It depends on the category they belong in your life.

Various types of pampering gifts are available for you to show how much you care for diverse classes of folks. For instance, they could be men, women or soon-to-be-parents. The gifts can be tangible or intangible gifts.

Introduction: Pampering simply means to give someone great attention, or being often kind and caring to someone. We are not created to go through life alone. If you are looking for the best items or ways to show kindness or love to people you care for, this piece is for you.

As there is a saying that "There are different strokes for different folks," likewise there are different pampering gifts for different categories of people. Here, Bulkybon News is concerned with some gifts and ways to pamper women, men and soon-to-be-parents.

Some cozy, affordable, unique and luxury pampering gifts which you can choose from are the meat and potatoes here. They are tangible and intangible in nature, such as: time, face fresher, spa, classic t-shirts, sport, hugs/kisses, baby diapers, classic toys and books for babies. 

Others are; neck pillow, scuff slippers, bliss plush throw, bath pillow, nail tools/polish, body spray, stretch marks cream, etc that are categorized in this piece.

Pampering Gifts For Women: 

Women generally like to be pampered by men. Do you have a mother, sister, wife or lover, you want to show love with special gifts? We are here to guide you on how you can use three different categories of gifts to pamper any woman or lady. Pampering a woman is not just all about giving her money or tangible things every time. Many women like spouses that create time to be with them once in a while. 

Time: is one of the most valuable intangible gifts you could use to pamper a woman. Take one or two days break from your personal schedules and take her out or spend the whole time at home or at a cozy resort with her. Even though time is an intangible phenomenon, it is highly valued by the majority of women. 

Face fresher: The first part of a woman's body that she wants everyone to admire is her face. Buy her beauty products that are especially meant to make her face lovingly fresh like an apple. Some top skin care products women uses to fresh up their face include lancome, clinique and clarins etc. They are available at some beauty shops online and offline. 

Clothes: Women likes looking good in the public and at home. Buy some romantic lingerie for your woman to look sweet for you at home. Lovely lingerie makes women look "tenderly – genderly," with enticing feelings such as those evoked in a romantic poem titled "Tenderly - genderly," by Blessed Mudiaga Adjekpagbon. You may also order for attractive blouses, gowns or skirts that can accentuate her body size or shape in the public. Some top ranking shops dealing on female clothing could be found online and offline.

Pampering Gifts For Men:

Even though men are seen as brave and could withstand tough situations, they are humans with feelings too. They like to be pampered by their loved ones as well, with tangible and intangible gifts.

Hugs/kisses: Many men appreciate when they are constantly hugged, pecked or kissed by their female spouses or lovers. It is very important to give your man hugs, pecks and kisses from time to time. It will make him feel loved by you. Whisper a sweet rambling into his ear, while pecking or hugging him.

Sport: lf your partner is the type that loves watching football, or any other type of sporting activity, you can show your care for him by also watching it while seated close to him. Support his favourite football team like Manchester United or Real Madrid or Barcelona. By doing so, you are pampering him with his sporting passion and fanship. Such support is very fulfilling even though it is an intangible gift. 

Classic t-shirt: Apart from intangible things, men also like receiving tangible gifts. One of the tangible things you can use to pamper a man includes colourful t-shirts. Most men like wearing t-shirt  on jean pant during summer weekends. Classic t-shirts are available at various online and offline shops.

Pampering Gifts For Soon-To-Be-Parents:

Three pampering gifts that can be presented to show love to soon-to-be-parents includes baby diapers, classic baby toys or baby books for the baby, and stretch marks cream for the mother. 

However, in terms of other classifications, pampering gifts can be classified into cozy, affordable, unique and luxury pampering gifts.

Three cozy pampering gifts: Cozy gifts are tangible items that are mostly used indoors. There are some that are meant for outdoors purpose too. You can give any of your loved ones cozy gifts such as Tempur - neck pillows, cuff slippers and bliss plush throws. These are pampering gifts for warmth indoors.

Three affordable pampering gifts: Bath - pillow, nail tool/polish and body spray are pampering gifts you can give to your loved ones without emptying your bank account.

Three unique pampering gifts for women: There are various pampering gifts that can be given to women. But the three most unique ones that we chose here for you, are; time, face fresher and clothes.

Three luxury pampering gifts: Holiday scented candles set; fragrances and lipsticks are on top of the list of luxury gifts that are cherished by women.

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Niger Delta's recurring controversies

Book: Friends and Enemies of  the Niger Delta

Author: Jeremiah Egbemo Ifie

Publisher: Designers Palace and Azuka Books Incorporation, Lagos

Book Reviewer: Adjekpagbon Blessed

Friends and Enemies of the Niger Delta, is a compilation of all the views of Comrade Joseph Angodeme Evah, Coordinator, Ijaw Monitoring Group and former Publicity Secretary, Ijaw National Congress (INC). The book mirrors the Niger Delta problems, challenges and the way forward.

The book was edited by late Jeremiah Egbemo Ifie, who was a lecturer in the Department of Classics, University of Ibadan. The compilation was first published in 2005 and re-edited in 2006. All the issues raised in its content are still as fresh as ever as Joseph Evah, whose activities of quest for rights and betterment of life for the people of the oil producing region forms the musings in the book.

It contains 400 pages made up of 19 chapters. The briefs of Evah and the editor/author are stated in the pages before the contents page. The mission of the compilation, according to Ifie is: "The total emancipation of the Niger Delta from social, economic, political and educational bondage."

Ijaw and the Niger Delta in Nigerian History, is theme of discussed in Chapter One. It is a historical analysis of who the Ijaw people are, which is an adaptation from a paper delivered as a key note address at the 'Boro Day' celebration of the Ijaw National Alliance of the Americas (INNA) at the Hilton, Woodbridge, New Jersey, on May 24, 2003.

The first publication signed by Evah on behalf of the Ijaw National Congress that led to his first detention by security agents during the Abacha regime is the concern of Chapter Two. Under the theme Ijaw Declare War on Oil Firm, Evah says: "Everything in this world comes and goes; the oil wealth cannot be an exception. When such moment comes, what do we tell our children? The future generation will never forgive us."

Ijaw Youths vow to resist River Niger Dredging is the topical issue of Chapter Three. Evah explains; "The dredging of the lower Niger Delta is a time bomb to our fragile ecosystem which we must resist with our last blood." He further discloses that, "Our youths are prepared along the water ways. We are not only going to line up along the dredging routes, but we are also going to use the oil companies workers as shield in terms of dredging ourselves." He is of the opinion that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is a smokescreen.

The exploit of Nigeria in the world beauty pageant won by Miss Agbani Darego, in 2001, which brought pride to the people of the entire black race is the meat of Chapter Four. Other issues raised in this chapter are under sub-themes such as Ijaw Seek Support For New Local Government in Warri; Ijaw Congratulates Clark, Dafinone; Ijaw Ready For Peace; Ijaw Students Should Embrace Peace; Group Applauds Ijaw Women Over Seizure of Oil Wells; Ijaw Condemns Biafra Map; Niger Delta Crisis; Ijaw Ready For Dialogue; Ijaw Mourn Brisibe; Marshal Harry: Ijaw Group Indicts Federal Government; and Ijaws Console NUJ Over Drowned Journalists, and others.

In Chapter Five with the thematic headline, Niger Delta Breeds Bread and Butter Politicians, Evah in his no nonsense manner, lampoons some sycophantic politicians of the Niger Delta region. He further points out that without a visionary leadership both at the federal and state government levels, no appreciable progress can be made by the NNDC or any other ministry set up to look into the problems and needs of the Niger Delta people. This section tackles the issue of the newly established Niger Delta Ministry. He expresses fear that it does not go the same way like NDDC and OMPADEC.

The social crusader expresses his joy over the day Ijaw, Urhobo and Itsekiri mixed together freely to organise a boat regatta on Warri River, as a common source that binds them together. Hence, the people of the Niger Delta should cooperate to find a common ground to live and love one another as a people united by not only water, but also by blood through intermarriages over the years. He says it is symbolic for Warri, the engine room and heartbeat of the Niger Delta. The human rights activist is a man of peace, love and cooperation, judging from his general concern for the people of different ethnic nationalities in the oil producing region of the country. If such spirit of good neighbourliness can be inculcated and displayed by our communities, local and national leaders, discrimination about where you come from and the religion you practice will no longer act as clog in the wheel of our national harmony and development.

From Chapter Six to 15, different topical issues that are very engaging are highlighted with eloquent sagacity. Such issues include, Leadership Problem of Niger Delta; On the Destruction of Odi; and Finding A Lasting Solution to Niger Delta Youths Restiveness, and so on.

Chapters 16 to 19 deals with miscellaneous issues. Social critics and environmental activists from the Niger Delta speak on topics such as Ijaw National Congress (INC); Constitutional-making and the struggle for resource control in Nigeria, amongst others. These issues are very thought provoking considering previous statements made by Evah in the past, which later turned out real.

Evah says the only solution to the Niger Delta problem is when the federal government, the oil companies and some flatterers claiming to be patriots of the Niger Delta stop telling lies, and make genuine efforts to develop the area to look like Abuja.

The book ends with a pictorial of the activist and some notable personalities from the Niger Delta and other regions of country such as, Miss Anne Kio Briggs, Director of Mobilization of Ijaw Monitoring Group; former governor of Delta state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan; members of the Niger Delta Blind Students; former President of Arewa Youth Consultative Assembly; former Ndigbo Leader of Lagos and a host of others.

For those who are not well enlightened about the problems and degradation facing the Niger Delta people from time immemorial, Friends and Enemies of the Niger Delta is a good material to read. Experts working on issues concerning the Niger Delta will also find the book resourceful for study.

However, there are some shortcomings in the book. Typographical errors here and there and the non-specific identification of the Arewa President and Lagos Ndigbo leader by their proper names for better clarification in the pictorial pages are major flaws. Such errors need to be corrected during re-impression of the book. These errors notwithstanding, it is an eye-opening book which every individual who has the Niger Delta people's love at heart need to read.

                                                            END

 

Book Review: Media's Role As Environmental Watchdog

Book: The Environment As Seen By The Nigerian Media

Edited by: Philip Jakpor

Publisher: Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria

Year: 2012

Pages: 88

Reviewer of book: Adjekpagbon Blessed Mudiaga

"The Environment As Seen By The Nigerian Media," is a book that highlights the importance of reporting the environment through proper journalistic training to enhance information dissemination to the public concerning climate change, gas flaring, desertification, environmental governance, deforestation amongst other issues.

In the foreword, renowned environmental activist and executive director of "Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria," Nnimmo Bassey says the book “is an attempt to assess the quality of reports from journalists that have participated in the trainings as well as those that subsequently agreed to be part of the Journalist Network for the Environment (JNE). Like the trainings, it is our belief that this book will contribute to enhancing the capacity of members of the network and media users to further broaden the environmental discourse by opening new vistas for investigation.”

Philip Jakpor - book Editor

From the foregoing, the 88-page book which contains sixteen articles throw light on various environmental issues under different themes as follows: ‘Something is wrong with the Water,’ ‘Tsunami in Lagos: Coast not Clear,’ ‘When quest for profit endangers lives,’ ‘Global warming: How poverty supports the most dangerous kind of emissions,’ ‘What a waste,’ ‘Are Lagos canals ready for the rainy season?,’ ‘Deforestation: Looming Self-Inflicted Disaster,’ ‘Use of explosives in mining business undermines national security,’ ‘Nigeria’s Horrifying Oil Spill Response Management,’ ‘Ibadan Flood: The Story Three Months After,’ ‘Nigeria’s growing environmental challenges,’ ‘Nasarawa’s ever-present refuse dumps,’ ‘Spilling a Controversy,’ ‘Drying Lake Chad Puts 30 million Lives on Edge,’ ‘Tsekelewu: A community ravaged by oil prospecting activities,’ and ‘Radioactivity threatens miners in Plateau, Nasarawa- Why residents of affected areas give b
irth to deformed babies.’

Apart from the aforementioned articles, the book also contains four news reports namely, ‘ERA Exposes Shell Again On Environmental Terror,’ ‘Nigeria loses 3,000 hectares of vegetation yearly- ERA,’ ‘Lead Poison: ERA Blames Zamfara Government,’ ‘Environmental say COP 17 agreement hazy,’ respectively, and pictures from the JNE media training.

The outbreak of cholera at a particular time in Lagos and other states of the country makes Ben Ezeamalu’s article titled ‘Something is wrong with the Water,’ very refreshing. Its sub-theme titled ‘Petrol-water mixture,’ brings to the fore the importance of making sure water being consumed by the public is well taken care of. Cholera respects no age as water pollution can cause danger to anybody’s health based on some respondents statements quoted in the article. According to a saying, ‘a stitch in time saves nine.’ Hence, it is important to avert water pollution before it gets out of hand as it is the quickest means through which diseases could spread.

‘When quest for profit endangers lives,’ written by Sam Nzeh, is another notable article that discusses the establishment of companies in residential areas and the subsequent harms they could cause to people living in such environments. Making reference to some companies threat to folks living in the localities where they are sited, Nzeh says: “Since the companies began operation some years ago, not only have both communities been subjected to rising noise level, the air and water sources in these communities have been polluted… This is aside the fact that roofs of several buildings in the communities have also been perforated courtesy of flying stones from the quarries.”  The article also beams about how ERA demanded that the companies be compelled to produce the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) conducted on the existing project sites and mitigation measures contained therein. This underscores ERA as an environmental warlord that protects the rights of oppressed folks by nonchalant companies in the communities they operate in.

The power poverty has over many people in the world which makes them reside in horrible environments, comes to the fore in Ugochukwu Chemziri’s article titled ‘Global warming: How poverty supports the most dangerous kind of emissions. The writer says, “Poverty has immense contribution to gender imbalance, abuse of rights, inability to access good food, water, healthcare amongst others… Nigeria is one or perhaps the only country in Africa housing over 15 million of various versions of 2-stroke engines… there are three types of 2-stroke engines that dominate the system. The two-wheeled bikes are called ‘Okada’ while the tree-wheeled ones are named ‘keke or Napep.’  The article says many local respiratory related deaths are either not investigated or believed to be effects of tobacco smoking; it is becoming evident that most cases linked to tobacco smoking in these countries are actually caused by 2-stroke engine emissions in the air.”

Poverty has therefore been contributing to more gas emission as many jobless people have been using 2-stroke engines for transport business over a decade, to make ends meet.

‘What a waste,’ written by Ben Ezeamalu, Segun Balogun, and Simon Ejembi, reminds the reader of  the constant indiscriminate burning of waste by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) at the Olusosun-Ojota waste dump, which always choke residents of Ojota and Ketu, and makes them cough ceaselessly from time to time. The article highlights the danger inherent in constant burning of waste by not only LAWMA but individuals and companies nationwide. Government’s effort to curb the menace is also elaborated in the article.

‘Nigeria’s Horrifying Oil Spill Response Management,’ written by Clara Nwachukwu is a very commendable piece about oil spill in the Niger Delta area; the nonchalant attitude of multinational oil companies and the federal government to clean up the damages; and the duo's refusal to adequately compensate folks whose water, land and atmosphere are rendered useless. The article asserts that in Nigeria, “Government cannot hold oil companies accountable like the US Government did with BP” in the Gulf of Mexico incident.

Tina Hassan’s ‘Nigeria’s growing environmental challenges,’ and ‘Nasarawa’s ever-present refuse dumps,’ are two interesting but worrisome articles that discusses environmental challenges that borders on desertification, wind erosion in the north, gully erosion and severe floods that ravaged the country’s six geopolitical zones in some years ago, and some people’s attitude of dumping refuse on major roads and street corners not only in Nasarawa but in many other states nationwide, are issues telescopically captured in them. This reminds the reader about Blessed Mudiaga Adjekpagbon's anthology of short stories titled "When the King cries and other stories," that contain issues relating to environmental degradation and the bad habits of some Nigerians fond of either dumping refuse in drainage systems or building illegal structures on sewage channels.

Also worthy of mention is ‘ERA Exposes Shell Again On Environment Terror." It is a very good news report written by Akanimo Sampson, where underhand dealings of environmental degradation by multinational oil companies against host oil communities are revealed with factual electricity.

By and large, the book is a commendable compilation by Philip Jakpor. It is a book all government agencies concerned with environmental issues should read from time to time, to refresh their minds about the necessary things they ought to be doing to take proactive steps in preventing environmental pollution nationwide. The journalists who wrote the articles have shown that the training they underwent for environmental reporting was worth the efforts and time they invested in participating in the project.

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