'Ask not what your country can do for you' says...
SirKnight!
- Quest master and ultimate 'Lord of the Steem'.
- Concept creator behind Steemit's 'Masters of the Universe.'
- Inventor of the acclaimed 'Celestial Challenge'.
And ultimately... founder and parish leader of SteemChurch - the first church of the blockchain, an order of incredibly talented Christians and the most spiritual Community in Steemit.
I am... Steemit's Largest Living Legend!
How could this Knight possibly achieve so much in under 12 months?
- Did SirKnight wait for a government Steem handout?
- Did SirKnight ask a government bureaucrat for posting ideas to earn Steem Rewards?
- Did SirKnight follow the crowd?
- Did SirKnight choose the safe and well worn path?
ABSOLUTELY NOT!
SirKnight is creative, inventive, proactive and works like a farm dog.
So why is SirKnight writing about this?
This is why... a post today by well respected SteemChurch parishioner Langford! (@langford)
https://steemit.com/nigeria/@langford/sniffnscurry-freedom-from-bad-change-government
(This Knight would never aim to personally insult any SteemChurch parishioner, so Langford should not take this personally.)
In his post Langford quickly glossed over the short term political history of Nigeria, blaming a cascading series of economic events on the government in power at the time. To which this Knight would say - this is a narrow view. For instance, hyper-inflation doesn't happen overnight - it builds up for years through bad economic policy (generally socialist policies) and is often hidden. Sometimes it might take a good (even a great) leader to actually bring the inflation out and reset the system. However this is not the point of this Knight's post.
This Knight's point stems from the speech of President Buhari, as described in Langford's post...
President Buhari, while speaking during a panel discussion at the Commonwealth business forum in Westminster, London, expressed displeasure with youths in Nigeria because they were dependent on revenue from oil to survive.
He said the youths, who make up 60 percent of the population, were waiting to get social amenities free without doing anything.
"And then the economy. We have a very young population and our population is estimated conservatively to be 180 million. The 60 percent of the population is below the age of 30. A lot of them have not been to school and they are claiming that Nigeria has been an oil producing country and therefore they should sit and do nothing and get housing, healthcare and education free, The moderator had asked Buhari to give his final thoughts on the issues discussed. The President said he had fulfilled his campaign promises by improving on the nation’s security and the economy.
To which Langford's response was this...
'Below are Images of the hostel conditions from one of the best Universities in the country'
Followed by this...
'The so called lazy Nigerian youths are forced to live under harsh conditions and some students have died from diseases in these hostels. During my stay in these hostels I was always falling sick and it was same for many other students.'
And you know what - to this Knight, Langford unfortunately sounds like 90% of university students he has met.
It doesn't matter what country it is...
- 'Government not doing enough for students'.
- 'Universities not good enough.'
- 'Accommodation is poor and too expensive.'
- 'Not enough support.'
- 'Not enough equipment.'
- and on and on.
Do you know what SirKnight would have done...
He would have picked up a broom and started sweeping. Then he would have got some pipes together and started plumbing, and some timber and mended, then some tinkering, more cleaning; and.... he would have got a community involved and got this place cleaned up in no time.
If you sit back and wait for government assistance - you are destined to be destitute!
This Knight has no idea who President Bulhari is... but from this speech, SirKnight reckons he knows what he is talking about and that he could be the guy to turn around Nigeria's fortunes. Any politician can look good making promises they won't be able to keep. The great politicians are the ones who tell the people the truth, which they don't want to hear, so as to get them off their arses, into jobs, to start building a great nation.
Take JFK for instance:
There is only one way to make Nigeria great - WORK! And with 60% of the population under 30 - opportunities will be bountiful. You simply need to know where to look.
So where should you look?
Certainly not University - because there are no opportunities here. University is great for those in the top 10% of a grade academically. If you are not in the top 10% you are simply wasting your time. So don't waste 3-5 of your most productive years.
Get a trade - learn to build, to plumb, to lay brick, to repair cars, to farm, to weld, to bake or provide services to your local community.
In the meantime - read! As many books as you can - you don't need to go to University to read books.
A government can't make a country great - but the people can!
So get out there and build. Not just houses, build communities! Pool your assets to buy land. Cultivate that land and farm as a community. Live a simple life and produce what you need. What you don't need, trade with other communities. If you are unhappy with the taxation system, barter and trade for cryptocurrencies.
In a country of 180 million people, there will be opportunities galore for industrious people who think outside the square - but you will not find these opportunities in universities.
Finally - what makes a country great... is it the lawyers, accountants and marketing executives? Or is it the farms, the factories, the infrastructure?
If this Knight can convince just one Nigerian parishioner to take that path less trodden and be genuinely productive each and every day - you will achieve success far beyond that of the academic herd.
So in response to your big question Langford, a question asked by so many young people...
... who will free us from this bad Cheese?
YOU!
I must admit, I am not very well informed about the politics of Nigeria. As such I will not comment on Nigeria or its leadership. What I will do is compliment Sir Knight for his efforts to inspire others to take actions into their own hands and work hard to build something together. This is a message encouraging people to fight through and over obstacles, regardless of what that obstacle is. Every great accomplishment has one share ingredient: people working together to accomplish it.
Thank you friend Han and well said.
SirKnight.
This is very striking.
I was kind of upset when I heard that our president (Buhari) made that statement at a public gathering. Yet I still nurtured a secret feeling that he may be right afterwards.
Indeed we need to look away from the opportunities University can give us and take a minutes to consider other "fertile grounds" that haven't been harnessed.
We can can make Nigeria great one life at a time.
This is not a yardstick for the government to "lazy around" doing nothing Sha.
The government should be more concerned with the growth of this country too, not just the youths.
I'm a Nigerian and I understand well what the situation is, here in Nigeria. The truth is that, government has done nothing to improve the standard of living and make life comfortable for the citizens. Despite that, Nigerian most especially the youth are trying their best to make a living. It's not just right for the President to say that statement.
I'm @fatherfaith, a Nigerian and I live in Nigeria. My country has never done anything for me.
I'm a graduate, I have my masters degree and currently doing my PhD program. Never had a scholarship, I paid through school for my education.
I've never driven on a smooth road without pot holes
I've never tasted pipe borne water in all city I've stayed
I've never enjoyed uninterrupted power supply for 24hrs in my life despite the fact that I pay my electricity bills. As a matter of fact, I've not had power supply in my place since the beginning of this year
And I have never for once failed to pay my tax.
I agreed totally with you that we should not ask what our country can do for us but we should rather ask what we can do for our self and our country.
I've hussle my way to where I am now and I've dedicated myself to helping others. I have some people on my payroll that I pay their school fees and I help people around me in my own little way. I also organise charity. I've done two this year.
I've also been showing people the way by introducing them to steemit.
My advice for Nigerians is that, they should always seek to improve themselves and have it at the back of their mind that this country have nothing to give them, rather they should think on how to help themselves, help the country and help others around them
Once again thanks @sirknight for this great post
Thank you fatherfaith - we may be from the same mould! Please come find me - brother TH will explain how.
Ok. Thanks for the support and the resteem. I really appreciate.
Waiting for brother TH to explain how
Hello dear FF, check ur replies!
Done
@sirknight
In Areas like Aba, Anambra, Lagos, Kano There are a lot of Youths who are educated up to B.sc and Masters level. Who have forgotten about their certificate and are "On The Street" to make sure they contribute their own quota to the development and improvement of the Nigerian economy of which the current and past Government met when it was still good.
These youths who are situated at Ariaria market at Aba, The Onitsha main market, the Alaba international market and other markets in Lagos as well as the Innoson motors in Nnewi Anambra state, usually wake up even before the cock crows. It will also interest us to know that the footsteps of these youths awakens the sleeping cock, as early as 4:30 am, just to catch a bus or other transportation means leading to their shops and offices.
These same youths have gone far in the #Music and #Movie Industries as it is internationally recognized. Others have excellently excel in ICT and meeting up with The Information and Telecommunications Technology world.
These young youths are into fashion making, Shoe-Making, Entrepreneurs and fantastically the employers of Labour than the Government Of Nigeria.
I do not want to be too biased but if truth be told, it is from his zone that we have alot of youths who are lazy. Most into drug abuse, others drop outs and street beggars as the case maybe.
The words of Mr President On Nigerian Youth was not as true as he said it, i am sure if he get home that day, he would really blame himself for saying such a LIE In the presence of the world.
The president and its Government cannot deny that the Nigerian youth does not contribute even up to 70% of what ever is positive to Our Country Nigeria.
The problems the youths are facing is that the system has failed them, years after years there are no Policies that recognizes and encourage the YOUTHS.
If you visit Nigeria Again, visit these areas i mentioned earlier, then use it to evaluate what happens in other parts of Nigeria.
God bless the Federal Republic Of Nigeria 🇳🇬
You don't have to convince this knight that there are plenty of hardworking, intelligent, creative Nigerians - bosscharlze - there are a tonne of them here at SteemChurch. You seem to have a good handle on geographical demographics too. Maybe this could come in handy for swaying political policy - ever considered a life in politics?
I have, i have been looking forward to this @sirknight . The true thing is there are no formidable structure for young politicians to come from, you can find these structures in most developing countries where other youths are either commissioners, ministers and other relevant positions.
Another problem here again is that politics especially in Nigeria has been monetized and thereby making it expensive for the middle and lower class to participate, thereby making us spectators.
But at the University, before graduation i held key positions provided below,
President at the Departmental Level.
Parliamentarian at the Faculty Level.
Electoral Chairman At The State Association level.
Dinner Committee Chairman at the faculty Level.
And finally was Appointed the Chairman tax force and allocation at the Student Union Level.
These Positions were based on ma track-records and other meaningful achievements.
But i am planning on a grass root sensitization, to enlighten the lower class about "The Effects Of Money exchanging hands, Before and After Elections"
Impressive resume and the strategy you have outlined is the best available IMO. The blockchain social media and monetary revolution may be the soapbox you have been missing too. They do say the Church and politics shouldn't mix. I think in your case BC - we would make an exception.
SK.
You have giving me "HOPE"!
Hope to be stronger, but not hope to sit and do nothing, wait for free healthcare and housing.
I hope i can work something-Out with you? We Need Your type.
The working people are the back bone of every successful country. We take what is we have and make it better. There is a way. Sitting back and waiting for the government to do anything is counterproductive to what a group of people or even a single person can accomplish together. It is up to the people to make a country great and if the leaders are threatened by this change then they are not leaders, they are opportunists.
My brother this is total facing anarchy.
I pray this country gets better leaders.
#prayforNigeria
Hi, how are you? Excellent Post, Thanks for the contribution. God bless you
thanks for sharing this posts!
yes i absoutly thanks for sharing this posts!
i am supported to #steemchurch was the first ever church of blockchain and i am like to @steemchurch
and i am supported to @steemchurch
and @sniffnscurry @Sirknight @abiye @tikhub @iksilva @josediccus
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Thanks for watching this comments!
Sonetimes, situations leave us with so much, that we don't even know what to do, sometimes I get to complain about government too, I dropped out of university because there wasn't any situation on ground that could salvage me.
However, I saw that even if I shout till the too of the mountain, nothing will still happen, I took my future into hands,
Not family not president not country, we are responsible to ourselves when the mentioned people refuse to get involved.
@sirknight. You don't have a clue of who this Buhari is. He is not the type that speaks the truth.
Let me give you a run down of how he operate. All his Minister are above 60 years of age, totally against the youth. Assuming office from 2015 to 2018, According to Nigeria Federal Bureau of Statistics Over 5 million Nigerians has lost their jobs. The President is sentiment, tribalistic and religiously sentimental.
95% of his cabinet are people from his State and Local government.
The most deadly herdsmen are causing havoc and never for once has he ordered the military to address this issue because they are his people.
In Germany while meeting with Merkel, he said on air that his wife belongs to the kitchen and the other room. His wife came publicly to say her husband the President is not fit to rule and that was his response.
I will implore you @sirknight to make a little research about him
I know we as citizens can make a change and we are doing the best we can. Change begins with everyone cos I don't look up to the government
@Ehiboss just spoke about this
Love the fire Yungchief! This Knight smells revolution. But this Knight's premise remains true - get busy working... or get busy fighting - whinging ain't going to help.
You are right. An online revolution has been on-going for years.
The youth are still focus and hardworking and ever ready to make that positive change
Thanks for your concerns.
I can proudly say, you have touched our lives positively than our government
The Steem Church Bingo is a blessing to us all. Thanks for the support
The Nigerian situation is dynamic, I don't think we can have a better understanding than those fully on ground. The ethno-religious, economic and social climate differs significantly from that of Australia. I really hate to generalize, because ive come to realize the unique nature of every situation. So perhaps @langford is speaking from a place of better understanding.
God bless you for all the work you do on SteemChurch
All economies, social and political climates are dynamic empress. And often it is those operating in the darkest of times who achieve the greatest success. This Knight loves to generalise so he will add - freedom does not come freely.
Dear apostle Sirk, really you are a genius, your extended vision motivates and drives me, is exactly what happens in nigeria the same happens in venezuela my country, more than a great advice is a great push and motivation what you have imparted in the heart, we do not need the government to achieve success and unfortunately in my country the government mismanages our resources but we Venezuelans (those who want to get ahead without expecting anything from the government) are struggling strongly with our talents to get up, in In the midst of the crisis, the lack of food in supermarkets, in the midst of the lack of medicines we are getting up among ourselves, learning new things and above all extending the boundaries of our mind, which was long limited due to the abundance of our country and now that there is a lack of creativity has arisen. Your message touched my heart because it is the advice that everyone in a crisis country needs, you are a genius and your brilliant mind has impacted my life. Please apostle Sirk we want more of those thoughts, learn from you and follow your steps as your disciples. God bless you
If you ask me i would say grass root sensitization and awareness should start up in countries that faces such. There should be mass enlightenment on the need for a self reliance nation.
But again, i must say the Government are not helping.