Life exists in a constant state of flux and people continually set out through different paths to achieve their desires and they are ultimately rated by the course they choose to follow in life - Value or Money!
Value is the quality that renders something desirable. On the other hand, Money is used to facilitate transactions. For the purpose of this discourse, Money represents the ''immediate'', while Value represents the ''ultimate''.
We live in an era that is characterized by the pursuit of the money at the expense of value. In other words, the society is more receptive to money than value, irrespective of the source of the money. The values and traditions for which the foundations of the world are hinged upon are gradually being eroded in the pursuit of the ''immediate'' (money) at the expense of the ultimate (value).
Value system differs from society to society and the success or failure of any society is hinged upon their predominant value system. The pursuit of currency has weakened several institutions that hold the conscience of the society, leading to the loss of value and general unrest.
For instance, a builder who builds a house with cheap materials just to keep some extra funds have succeeded in satisfying his immediate but would have lost credibility for subsequent jobs (value) and this is the ultimate!
Every time young people get paid by politicians to vote for them during elections, they have sacrificed the Ultimate (Good infrastructure, School, etc) for the immediate(money). When young people pursue internet fraud rather than seeking legitimate businesses on the internet to indulge in, the result is that other nations would shut their country out of most genuine online businesses and rate of unemployment increases!
Also, when Chiefs and elders of communities accept huge monies from companies and share same instead of allowing the developmental agenda of such organizations for their communities thrive, they have sacrificed the ultimate for the immediate and are losing value.
Switzerland has little or no natural resource but it is one of the wealthiest nations on earth today. WHY? How did they become so wealthy? The answer is ''Value System''. The average Swiss citizen is known to be very honest (Value) and over time, individuals from all over the world were comfortably entrusting their valuables to Swiss families for safekeeping and this culture resulted in the banking system. This explains why Switzerland has some of the strongest and reliable financial institutions in the world.
MOVING FROM THE IMMEDIATE TO THE ULTIMATE
Value shift is the answer! No matter how rotten and corrupt a society becomes, there is still a ''faithful remnant''. My target audience is to the faithful remnant in Nigeria.
I urge us all to be social reformers, we must refuse to accept the status quo. You can decide to be the Nigerian with a difference!
Young Nigerians are making giant strides all over the world and we must all synergize with like minds and restore confidence in our country rather than joining the crowd.
While it is good to have money in abundance, without developing a sound value system, it becomes a tool to hunt and frustrate other lives.
It is time to arise and blaze a new trail towards a value-driven country.
Prepared by
Mr. Irikefe Ogbakpah
kefenoble@hotmail.com
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