Is Knowledge Power?

Hello steem for Nigeria, am so excited joining this contest organized by @sahmie on steem for Nigeria with a great topic " is knowledge power?". The distinguishable characteristics of man with other animals is in the ability of man to develop his brain by acquiring Knowledge. Knowledge is therefore a basic necessities for all humans. It can be acquired through learning, observation, indoctrination, training, family and churches. It is the most powerful strength of man in the world. It is through the knowledge of man that the world is shaped and beautified. It is also through knowledge that man distinguishes between bad and good, justice and injustice. Let think about how the world would have been without knowledge and intelligence. There wouldn't be any different between man with other animals. Therefore I will love to defined knowledge in my own terms as the human intellectual ability to think, observed, learn and reasoned and challenges ignorance. It is the ability to acquired new thing through thinking, the ability to observed, and the strive to create new thing and make life easier and enjoyable. Every one is born as a "Tabula rasa", (An empty sheet). Therefore knowledge is impacted on the learner for his own betterment and for the betterment of the society, for the transformation of the societies, and empowerment of individuals to rise above their limitations. knowledge is a lasting asset that cannot be depleted, or destroyed. It grows the more it is shared, and it lights the way for progress in all aspects of life. The power of knowledge is life itself. It lies in its ability to either transform lives and the world at large or destroyed lives.

All the benefits of creativity and invention is through knowledge, but man also in his quest for knowledge can go extra miles. Knowledge also have a negative influence on the world, outside it advantages there is also a great disadvantages. Technology and sciences had transform the world in both positive and negative ways. Natural products are now replaced with synthetic products through science and technology. The invention of nuclear weapons which are capable of destroying the whole world holds the negative effects to the power of knowledge.

What is knowledge and how does knowledge help people achieve goals?.

Knowledge is the intellectual capability of man to think, observed, reason, construct, create, invent and transform its physical world.
Through knowledge man is different from other animals because of the ability of man to think, and transform or procreate to make life more comfortable to live. Knowledge has help man in so many ways, for example, in the early days life wasn't as easier as what we are having now. In innovation of science and technology, has help man to actualized his dreams of creating world where life will be more comfortable to live.
People who dream of acquiring some certain goals need to acquire knowledge first either through learning or observation. There are so many ways on how knowledge can be acquired. Because no one is born with instilled knowledge,but all men are born as tabula rasa, there to acquire their dreams the knowledge need to be impacted either through knowledge impacting institutions like schools, family, church, training institutions etc. It all has to do with mans willingness to accept the knowledge and be enrolled in any of this institutions.
The first place that help a man to actualized his goals is the family, because the ability of the family to expand the learning process of a child reflect the level of knowledge the child will acquire. Therefore for a child to achieve his goals he must first of all acquired knowledge.

What do you understand by the saying, "Ignorance is bliss". Can ignorance be powerful?

To me I don't agree with the school of thought that says "ignorance is bliss" because ignorance is a self destruction. How can it be bliss. There is no power in ignorance it only reflects limited knowledge acquired by man.
We can also see that ignorance is never an excuse in the law court as it is usually said. Though is is impossible for man to know everything but there are necessary knowledge that every man should acquired, when the man is ignorant about such fact or things it becomes ignorant and and lacks knowledge. Being ignorant sometimes make one feel happy, free, and unaffected, it makes one feel perfect when you are not. It also make one have a peace of mind, but does that make you fulfill?. I guess no,
Let us look at some instances of ignorance, like a child that is ignorance about that fire or sharp objects hurt, is very happy and have joy in playing with them. But when he or she is hurted by those objects will feel the pains in place of the happiness and at that moment he or she will have a clear knowledge about the objects. But if he was taught that those objects do hurt and he or she has the knowledge about it will know the level to which he will play and definitely will avoid the negative impact of the objects. Therefore ignorance is never a bliss but a limited knowledge which needs to be acquired. Because when once ignorance hurt or fails, knowledge is set in. When the joy or happiness associated with ignorance fails it is replaced with pains and punishment. Ignorance is temporary but knowledge is permanent. Knowledge is to be pursued and ignorance is to be avoided and conquered.

How does misinformation affect knowledge?

Information is a live wire. It saves as the medium through which knowledge is transferred from one person to another and for a better understanding of certain fact and concept about life. When ever a man get accurate information and something which he was ignorance about, knowledge set in. But misinformation instead cases ignorance.
Misinformation affects knowledge in so many ways, like misplacing of values to something, making the learner lack accurate knowledge about the fact, making someone act out of ignorance, etc. for example, teaching someone that taking of synthetic drugs kills, and if those people in the villages doesn't have someone who will counter such knowledge will live out of the ignorance of what they heard by gaining the wrong knowledge and truth which in most cases resulting in death. Therefore misinformation has a very negative effects on knowledge because it leads one into a wrong path of knowledge.

Is knowledge really power?

Knowledge is very powerful, it is the basis for a for self awareness, a means that enhances a better understanding of the world, It enhances personal and collective advancement. It opens doors, breaks chains, and paves the way for a better future.
knowledge has been a tool for liberation. It power also lies in its ability to challenge ignorance, to invent and transform life into comfortable experiences.
The power of knowledge can also be negative because it is capable to consume the world, it's now let for man to control his power.

In conclusion, The power of knowledge lies not just in its ability to inform but in its capacity to transform lives and the world at large. Most importantly In its ability to challenge ignorance, challenge inequality among genders, and enhances a better and more comfortable life of existence.
Thank you for your time, and I used this opportunity to invite @basil20 @bossj23 @nsijoro @ruthjoe @otisbrown @wakeupkitty @ngoenyi @okere-blessing to the contest.