VIABLE TOPICS WORTHY OF CONSIDERATION FOR GEOGRAPHY AND SPORTS LEARNING!

For primary school learners, you could focus on introducing basic geographical concepts through fun activities like:

1. "Around the World" scavenger hunts, where students locate countries on a map and learn about their cultures.

2. Geography-based relays or races that incorporate elements like continents, oceans, and famous landmarks.

3. Cultural exchange projects where students learn about different countries' traditional games or sports.

For secondary school learners, consider delving deeper into geography and sports:

1. Exploring the geography of sports: Analyze how geographical factors (climate, terrain) influence the popularity of sports in different regions.

2. Global sports events: Study the locations and backgrounds of major international tournaments like the Olympics, FIFA World Cup, or the Rugby World Cup.

3. Sporting icons around the world: Research and present on famous athletes from diverse countries, connecting their success to their geographical origins.

4. Mapping sports: Engage students in creating maps that show where various sports originated and how they spread globally.

5. Geographical challenges in sports: Discuss how geography impacts sports infrastructure, like building stadiums in diverse landscapes or hosting events in extreme weather conditions.

Remember to adapt the complexity of these topics based on the age and understanding level of the students.

Researched by:

Bolaji M. Anifowose

August 23, 2023

ASSEMBLY MORNING TONIC!

 *LEARNERS' ASSEMBLY'S 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗗𝗥𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗦*

Activities with which the day is opened with usually have indelible impacts on kids. Morning drills that children are guided to participate in, fall into this category. Besides the fact that such activities have higher probability of being appropriately comprehended by the children,  they are also a form of advert for our schools. This seems a plus for all.

_Below are a number of guidelines to consider to have a successful implementation of the drills:_

👉 Assembly activities should be organised into a *time table* for the children and teachers to see.

👉 Allow the children to be the main participants. 

👉 Ensure that the morning drills are lively, and not boring as that may affect other activities of the day.

👉 Plan the drills within the assembly timeframe so that it doesn't affect other subjects to be taught for the day.

*A𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀* to pick to expect positive results 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲:

*1. ROTATIONAL CLASS' PRESENTATIONS:* This should be properly planned with each class having their own day of presentation while a student or at most two present for each class. Educational _topics of interest_ should be encouraged for this drill.

*2. NEWS HEADLINE:* Children in upper grade or secondary should do this. They would have to collate recent news from home based on guidance from a teacher (probably English/Literature Mistress). This can be done once, weekly and probably on Mondays.

*3. FUN FACTS:* This will feature some exceptional facts about things, places, animals and people. It could take the format of ```DO YOU KNOW THAT...``` The lower grade's pupils should be allowed with this. They can even present using some teaching aids to make it real fun as intended.

*4. VOCABULARY OF THE WEEK:* This is done by picking a word and teaching its meaning, pronunciation and spelling. Based on need, this can be done twice or more than once in a week.

*5. WEEKLY MEMORY VERSES:* One verse for each week. Those on morals may be considered. We will be surprised that some children don't even learn those verses at their various religious centres. But morning drills will help.

*6. CURRENT AFFAIRS:* This is optional especially if our schools have that as part of the curriculum already as taught in Civic Education and the rest.

*7. SPEAK RIGHT/ELOCUTION:* The children should be taught right and wrong grammatical expressions, mispronounced words, phrases and clauses. This should be conducted by an English or a Diction teacher.

As a safe practice, we may consider recording these presentations. Apart from archiving these, the viable ones among them can serve advertisement purpose for our schools' social media handles. Additionally, they can be a propelling factor to fast-track having our schools' _youtube channels._ 

Our belief is that we are going to record outstanding results with our children once we take appropriate measures to get two or more of the above listed drills implemented during the period of their morning assembly. At the end of the day, it becomes crystal clear that  what we are having is truly a win-win situation for all.

Edited and Adapted by:

       _Bolaji M. Anifowose_

             [01-01-2023CE]

                       

                    From

```ASSEMBLY/MORNING DRILLS ACTIVITIES```

                 Posted by

Alhaji Abubakar Muftau Kunle

 [CEO Kunlaab Edu. Services]

PROGRAMS FOR HEALTHY ORGANS!

 

DEACTIVATING NUCLEAR-INDUCED PROGRAMS: A WAY TO ATTAIN HUMAN HEALTHY ORGANS

 Penned since July, 2022 by Bolaji M. Anifowose

            The world, as it is known, has a beginning and will equally end one day. However, the incessant production of toxic substances in some quarters might fast-forward the end of the mother earth than ever thought before. The deactivation of nuclear militarization programs in the world should be upheld by every well-meaning nation.

            One of the reasons to have the nuclear energy programs stopped in countries where they are being embarked on is the unresolved nature of the issues surrounding waste management. Where can those by-products of the activities involved in generating nuclear energy be disposed if not into the body of water around or at least somewhere on the surface of the earth? The cost of keeping those stuffs safe from human contact should be something that should have discouraged going into the program in the first place. A situation of “more borrowing” was noted for Japan in its bid to clear the mess created by the nuclear energy trouble of 2011 in Fukushima and it was posited that that could “lead to higher interest rates in [the country] and in the world as a whole” (Oka). Deactivating nuclear programs due to unresolved issues on nuclear wastes should be strongly considered.

            For instance and as a matter of fact, France who was observed to be “relying on nuclear for 80% of its energy production” still considered it a necessity to contact other countries like Germany “to meet their needs.” And apparently, Germany is a country that is doing away with nuclear energy programs and it is in the fore-front of countries advocating for clean energy. It had energy during the winter naturally from the sunlight and wind, and thus could provide France with such. Whatever the mother earth provides mankind with, is ordinarily enough to sustain them. It is clear from this that, that a country is relying on nuclear does not make it energy-independent.

            Another reason to go for nuclear programs’ deactivation is the unsafe condition such create. Uranium is a material used in the generation of nuclear energy and it can only be mined. Besides the fact that this resource is unlike the renewable fossil fuels, and that the process of mining it posed danger, keeping it safe afterwards is another threat to life. The meltdown instance of the reactors kept in the nuclear plant at Fukushima in 2011 was not a good scene to remember. A call for “a stress-test for all nuclear power stations” was afterwards deemed necessary, as a result, in Europe and “in neighboring countries” (Leinen). Unsafe condition created by the nuclear programs is a vital reason to disregard going back on the decision to deactivate nuclear programs.

            The threat of possible repetition of the like of atomic bomb witnessed in Hiroshima and Nagasaki as seen in Fukushima’s nuclear event of 2011 mentioned above bluntly pointed out the risks of nuclear power. As a reactionary development, Italy masses voted out every idea on the continuation of nuclear energy program in their country. A total sum of some 90% votes recorded apparently shrank back the nuclear energy’s programs in Italy. In the same way as read on https://www.debatingeurope.eu, other European countries including the Left ideologies, the Social Democrats and the Greens all displayed some levels of disavow towards the nuclear energy programs. They all want that the programs should be put under close check.

            The last reason provided here to buttress the need for the deactivation of all nuclear programs on the surface of the earth is the concerns nursed on nuclear weapons proliferation. One of such concerns centers on the situation requiring avoiding unplanned wars which could be apparently catastrophic. While Peter Schellinck posits that “nuclear energy is remarkably clean, safe and powerful,” there is no 100% guarantee that it could not fall on wrong hands. Even countries like Iran that claims to be embarking on a nuclear program for peaceful use, still declared it needs nuclear power to protect its nuclear plants. Nuclear weapons proliferation is real, and it is enough a reason to rollback the nuclear energy programs wherever they are.

            The need to deactivate nuclear-induced programs has been made necessary because of unresolved issues on toxic nuclear waste management, unsafe condition of the nuclear plants’ situations and the concerns on the nuclear weapons proliferation. Despite the fact that nuclear power is pointed as the only serious option in availability if humans “are serious about cutting carbon emissions,” doing away with it in its totality is the quickest way to help man attains healthy organs and a definite clean atmosphere (Schellinck).

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SCHOOLS, PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN

 HOW SCHOOLS CAN ADD VALUE TO THEIR CUSTOMERS AS WELL AS THEIR SERVICES' CONSUMERS

Tapping from the cordial relationship already built with the learners and their parents as the 'brain industry' dictates, a school should not suffer any setback or delay in creating values for her students, and their parents in the long run.

The fact that you have always been sympathetic and have not stopped to show empathy towards the parents and their children will incessantly push you to create value for them, and to always be of help to them.

Many a time people tend to believe that values that stem from a number of unexpected selfless endeavours are devoid of monetary obligations from the recipients of such (e.g. scholarships). However, a number of instances that showcase schools in the light of value-creation are often financially induced (e.g. excursion, field trip).

Be that as it may, listed below are some of the ways schools can make themselves more valuable and helpful not only to their learners but also to the parents:

1- provision of new educational support for the learners e.g. before assembly extra coaching, speech elocution program, bi-weekly new vocabularies' introduction on the assembly ground etc.

2- introduction of entrepreneurial program in the school e.g. coding club, graphics and design club, tailoring club etc.

3- sending information on available scholarships (internal/external) to  parents/students

4- enlisting learners for internal and external competitions such as quizzes, spelling-bee, inter-house sports etc.

5- engaging the learners in career prospects' endeavours e.g. inviting a medical doctor, an engineer, a lawyer, a correspondent, a programmer, an accountant to give a lecture on their professions' prospects

6- establishing career counseling unit in the school to help learners with easy transition to careers that match their potentialities, and on how to go about achieving those nationally, regionally or internationally

7- taking the learners to places of interest for recreational and educational purposes e.g. sugar processing plant, a media house, a zoo, a botanical garden etc.

8- organising end of academic session's prize-giving day and get-together for all stakeholders of the school among other means.


In conclusion, it is clear that there are cases wherein values could be created for your students and their parents without spending a dine. Yet, that does not belie the availability of countless beneficial opportunities  that are meant to be paid for by both parents and their kids. The ball is always in the school's court for decision, and this is advised to be aimed at value-creations that will end up giving the establishment a positive facelift above its current status.


Bolaji M. Anifowose
+2348063198660
_Sales Executive_
            @
```StackbJunior```

MAKING THEM WORK AGAIN!

  

*NIGERIA'S NON-FUNCTIONAL REFINERIES*

Not everyone agrees to what to do about Nigeria's non-functional refineries. Part of the reason is that not everyone agrees it is a real problem. However, it is getting harder not to notice the effects of the non-functionality of the refineries on virtually all human endeavours. Today, these non-functional refineries are having serious effects on Nigerians' use of energy as well as the environment, and these will continue for a longer time if they are left unattended to.

First of all, rising rate of refined petroleum products' importation will continue to be detrimental to the country's monetary value. This will make dollar to continue appreciating against naira. This will be so as it is the main means of exchange used in international transactions. Due to this, many people will find no reason not to start hoarding dollars, asking to be paid with it and even converting their savings in banks to dollar. Doing all these will see the naira losing value further. The cost of this devaluation of naira will be billions of dollars, which individuals and governments will have to pay for directly or indirectly. No one will be spared from this because of its interwoven nature with every human endeavours. Therefore, economies will be hurt, and this  could lead to a national down turn. Furthermore, industries such as textiles, cosmetics, chemical and others that are relying on petroleum products for their production processes will suffer a lot. They will experience shortage in supply of these products as the few businesses in the supply chain will start hoarding the few they have with them. Hike in prices of these will set in, and this will eventually lead to stoppage of operations in some of those industries which may not be replaced or revived. This will finally affect the final consumers, and thus they will begin the search for an alternative which is readily available in the foreign markets. This will also contribute to economic troubles. This cost is only the beginning.

Another effect of Nigeria's non-functional refineries is lost of jobs. The redundancy that will be experienced in industries that find it difficulty to source for the energy to service their machineries will lead to many being laid off and failing to retain their jobs. This lost will disturb the already tensed unemployment rate being experienced in the country. Most of the victims here are skilled technicians and industrial workers; they may, as a matter of fact, not find appropriate establishments that will be suitable for their expertise. This will create a menace on the society and on the country at large. These workers will fail to fulfill their financial familial obligations at their various homes, and some will end up finding their way out of the country to seek better offer at industries that will appreciate their skills. The current exodus of banking and industrial experts going out of the country is very apt here as an example. Yet, these effects are hardly noticeable to those living in affluence.

Equally, Nigeria's non-functional refineries is making more storms and making the storms worse. These storms are the illegal bunkering activities going on at the creeks as well as elsewhere. First, cases of vandalisation of pipeline have been causing damages in  recent years, even in places that never had one before. With the number of cases of pipeline vandalisation increasing, inland population have had greater loss of life and property from the fire incidences that always happen after such illegal operations. Second, the proliferation of illegal refineries  along with increase in the bunkering activities in the creeks are becoming ever glaring. Due to the availability of market and the inability of the imported petroleum products to meet people's need, the illegal refineries have become alternatives. It is, therefore, not surprising to observe that the bunkering efforts at the creeks are ever on the increase. Incessant loss of lives and aquatic splendour are some of the demerits here. However, the youths carrying out these illegal operations remain adamant as a number of our big men and military men are also involved in the deal.

Finally, Nigeria's non-functional refineries has created lots of other spill over effects on other daily human endeavours. One of such is transportation. Transport fares have rising to a state higher than at any other time. Though the need to take detours to avoid the bandits and insurgent-proned areas by drivers is given as a reason for the high transport costs, the bandits must have also been rendered idled in one way or the other by the non-functional state of the refineries before venturing into banditry or insurgency. It is, in fact, gathered somewhere that five litres of PMS goes for =N=25,000 before the bandits/terrorists in places closer to Nigerian-Nigerien boarders.  This is not restricted to road transportation; water and air transportations are also not exempted. We read recently in the news about a plan by the aviation industry to go on strike due to unprofitability that hike in the cost of gasoline has brought in to their operations. Again, hospitalisation and medical services have also suffered some setbacks from the non-functionality of the refineries. Costs of surgeries are becoming unbearable to the ordinary citizens. The hospitals need to fuel their industrial plants to be on standby for every of their dicey operations against the unpredictable power supply in the country. And lastly, communication is another noticeable sector that is experiencing the effects of the non-functional refineries in Nigeria. There is a particular increment in the percentage of the tariff levied on calls recently announced by the country's communication commission. People communicate extensively these days. They subscribe virtually to engage one another across transnational and international borders. The pronlonged deadlock between the country and the recognised lecturers'  association also increased the volume of online education tremendously. (Though this has attained some level of sanity as the lecturers have eventually called off the strike, lots are still unfulfilled by the both parties involved.) Not to remain idle, the students need to power their gadgets, and this is only achieved through the utilization of energy which the non-functionality of the country's refineries has made not easily accessible.

In conclusion, these problems are not going away. Being pushed by the rising petroleum products' importation, loosing aquatic splendour, and being innocently killed by fire resulting from pipeline vandalism should make everyone concerned about Nigeria's non-functional refineries.

Getting the refineries back working appears to pose more good to the well-being of the populace than retarding them to their moribund state. Yet, a sincere approach should be utilized to determine how better the refineries should be  managed. Is continuing maintaining them as federal government projects the best or handling them over to private hands. I personally prefer going the private way, and even with this, the government need to be sincere, and should try to take active roles in such arrangement.

Bolaji, M. Anifowose

Wrote in from Warri            (5/10/2022)

RAMADAAN RANDOM REASONING!

```What's your score today? 100% or 50% or 0%```

Every Muslim who has the right intention for fasting Ramadaan starts fasting after Sahur with a score of 100%...But our actions, inactions and reactions during the day determine what we close the day with...Many definitely close with 0%...Yeees *Zero percent!!*

Abu Hurairah narrated:

The Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ) said: “ *There are people who fast and get nothing from their fast except hunger, and there are those who pray and get nothing from their prayer but a sleepless night. (Because of not abstaining from sins)*”

Ibn Majah-1690, classed as saheeh by Ibn Hibbaan (8/257) and by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb (1/262). 

Many of our daily misdeeds get accumulated to deny us the 100%

The Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) warned us against being negligent with regard to minor sins, and said: 

“Beware of minor sins, like a people who camped in the bottom of a valley, and one man brought a stick, another man brought a stick, and so on, until they managed to bake their bread. There are some insignificant sins which, once (they accumulate) and a person is questioned about them, they lead to his doom.”

Narrated by Ahmad, 2/223, from the hadeeth of Sahl ibn Sa’d (may Allaah have mercy on him). Al-Haafiz said: Its isnaad is hasan. 


No matter how small we deem those to be; they are impactful...

1. A lie here and there...reduces our 100% score;

2. A glance at this lady or that lady...lessens our 100% score;

3. Continuing bribing and corrupting?...lowers our 100% score;

4. Backbiting, slandering and gossiping (through physical talk or writing/spreading through social media)...shortens our 100%;

5. Watching obscene things like movies, videos and related stuff...diminishes our 100%;

6. Many other acts we consider insignificant like arguing and blasting each other with hot/strategic decreases our 100%;

...So many other...the list goes on and on...They all reduce our 100%.

Unfortunately, we cannot know how much each of these acts/desires reduces from our 100%. Needless to say though, it's possible a person is already at Zero...why?

*Because Allaah rewards fasting specially* and He alone really knows if we are really fasting!

The Messenger of Allaah (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon him) said: “Every deed of the son of Aadam will be multiplied between ten and seven hundred times. Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, said: Except fasting. It is for Me and I shall reward for it. He gives up his desires and his food for My sake.”

Narrated by Muslim (1151) 

This is why some Muslims don't joke at all with Ramadaan!!! They run away totally from social media; even run away from work (by going on vacation/ planning spending their leave during it). The efforts of those who do itikaf in the last 10 days... are also worthwhile to protect their 100%.

The key question now is *How are you protecting your 100% score? And what is your score at the end of today?*

Indeed, we should leave no measures unimplemented to see that our fasting is protected. None of us knows if we will get to the end of Ramadaan this year, let alone getting assurance for another opportunity next year!!!


*O Allaah! Accept our Ramadaan from us; make it easy for us to strive for 100% of its daily reward(s); and make us among those that will enter al-Jannah through the gate of Ar-Rayyãn. Aameen*

 

 

Originally written by: Arch. Abdullaah World-Trotter

 

Edited by: M. A. BOLAJI

 

6-9-1443AH (7-4-2022CE)

 

 

FACING CHALLENGES WITH POSITIVE MINDSET

 

THE HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS TO MY STUDYING SOCIAL COHESION COURSES

For longer years even before I was born, my father had been a strong upholder of the rights of kinship. He held and led Bolaji family in Ibadan and elsewhere to which I belong with empathy and open-mindedness. The narratives on Alhaji Apola Bolaji were tactful. They were reminiscent of linking every individual; whether familial or marital. This is part and parcel of my family traditions. He would persuade adults to be conscious of compatibility in their choice of future partners. Besides, he was used to encouraging broadening the family size.  Even an inclusion from other tangential or distant tribes was never a headache to him. In fact, he always stands to perfect that. As a result of the large presence of family members around him, my father displayed extra boldness in confronting challenges of piloting this affairs and his approach of making everyone felt important contributed greatly towards his successes. His incessant encouragement did transfer an indelible impact on me. I cannot give a second thought to an opportunity promoting a concern for human well-being except to go for it. Thus, a career in Social Science and Humanities remains a plus for me.

Tangible events around have concretized that interest in me. In a self-willingness exploit, I made it to Lagos. I could remember that vividly now. It was on one of Chief Jimoh Bolaji - my cousin’s visits to Ibadan. I found myself clung to his neck determined to accompany him to Lagos in his Toyota Corolla car. My father could do nothing but inform my Mum. Being a true soul-mate of my father, she joined him in bidding me farewell. I recognize this moment as the epiphany of the struggle of many heads of African families, sacrificing the enjoyment felt with the presence of their off-springs around themselves for a greater good in linking and keeping the rights of kinship.  It was not surprising to me as the head of Lagos Bolajis himself has one time fared under the tutelage of my father before establishing himself in Lagos. Therefore, I refuse to consider my adamant to go with them strange. Yet every time I took a breeze of memory from this incidence, curiosity and inspiration to excel always overcome me.

Though my father is late now, the two marriages of the family’s eldest son and his immediate sisters to a somewhat fetish tribe in Yorubaland remained peaceful and prolific till date. I observed this as a trait from bravery in facing challenges with positive mindset. This line of thought was exactly recorded to my feats when I met my father-in-law some years back. It was in Ondo State, Nigeria. I have gone to him along with a friend of mine to ask for my wife’s hand in marriage. Prior to this, I never had any chat with her but had only stolen a glance at her once. I approached my father-in-law while being confident of my readiness to get married and not to commence a game. Everything thereafter worked out well!