Akinbode's BLOG on Faith, Politics, Science, Engineering, Education and Health

Prince Harry and his wife released their long-expected docuseries on Netflix in pieces and the majority of the British people and press have berated them since. I have not seen all of the documentary but from excerpts, here are a couple of conclusions: 1. Queen Elizabeth was not responsible for most of the face decisions of the monarchy in her latter days - the FIRM and the INSTITUTION (a bunch of influential royals who serve the FIRM and are zealous about protecting the "honor" of the institution) took a lot of decisions that were perceived to be taken from the textbook of Racism 101 - ignore them, suppress them, deny them, under-report their extra-ordinary achievement, us and them, ......). Harry's description of the conversation before the Queen is a case in point. 2. Harry's heart left the Royal Family long before Meghan, he left the day his mother died, and how she was vilified by the FIRM, the INSTITUTION, and the British TABLOIDS for leaving a chronic cheating

Success in show business is a mixture of talent and luck. There are so many talented actors in Hollywood who have never had a break because they have not been at the right place at the right time. There are many endowed musicians in Nashville who have been singing karaoke songs in bars forever while doubling as a chef or bartenders, Uber driver, and what have you to survive. Why, because they have just not had that break. Truth be told, fewer people will become known among many talented actors, musicians, poets, writers, athletes, etc. Sometimes, I wonder when some lucky minority celebrities like Denzel Washington, Ben Carson, Morgan Freeman, and Lil Wayne, tell ordinary brothers and sisters (African Americans) to pull up their pants. Lil Wayne once said he does not believe there is racism in America because "white" people love him, dance, and sing to his music ( https://www.theguardian.com/.../lil-wayne-explains-why-he... ). Majority of us are ordinary people wi

I congratulate the newly sworn-in governor of Osun state, Governor Adeleke a.k.a., dancing senator. As Osun state starts a new chapter in its history, I hope the new governor will learn a lesson or two from the party who lost the election to his party. 1. Respect the wishes of the people, if you believe the electorate count and that they are your boss, do what will transform their lives. 2. Being in government is not an opportunity to practice nepotism, choose the best among your ranks and other intellectuals who are thinkers who are loyal Osun indigenes irrespective of party affiliation. Not your family members.. 3. Government purse is our commonwealth, it should not be looted or spent on white elephant projects. Rather, it should be used for developmental activities that will bring returns in the interim and foreseeable future. You are blessed with wealth already, the little you will oversee in Osun should not be used to lay your pocket or those of your cronies but to serve the peopl

Decades of policies that have helped to re-write centuries of systemic and intentional deprivation and racism are being erased by activist justices strategically installed by a section of Americans society who want to maintain the status quo where minority, who have next to zero wealth to pass down to generations because of perpetual poverty, are kept under.... The wealth gap instigated by quality education is part of what births Affirmative Action. The average asset of a Caucasian family in America is 8 times that of their African American counterpart and transferred generational wealth is 5 times more with an average Caucasian than for a black man, we know why and it was partly addressed ..... Having worked in an American higher institution for almost a decade, I can't explain enough the importance of diversity and inclusion.... What it does to enrollment and retention. Those who know the American educational system well will tell you that your zip code determines the quality of

I have listened to many Nigerians, especially non-Ibo Nigerians that say over their dead bodies that an Ibo man will become the president because they will practice the worst form of tribalism and take our land. I ask them, what of a Fulani man - has he not taken your land, has his kinsmen not killed your people - my people? And no one, I mean no single Fulani man has been prosecuted to the full extent of the law since Buhari became the president. "Ibo man will take your land," what of Fulani man who has taken it, and is plotting to take more lawfully through RUGA or whatever law he is trying to get the House to promulgate before he lives the presidency? If after 55 years and we think we cannot live past the civil war, then we should let the Ibos go...... PERIOD! If the Yorubas are the ones in the position the Ibos find themselves, would we stay in Nigeria? If the other ethnic group says we cannot produce the leader after 55 years, would we stay in such union.....? Let us be

  Congratulations to Nigerians, especially millions of students who have been forced to stay at home in the last 8 months. ASUU has suspended its strike. I think it is high time the Nigerian university system is properly restructured - some level of autonomy that allows significant internally generated revenue (IGR), and private sector audit coordinated by the stakeholders are critical. It is time to introduce tuition and scholarship. The latter is for brilliant students whose parents cannot afford part or full tuition. There are more than a million students (2.1 million as of 2021) in public universities in Nigeria, a tuition of N100k/student translates to N2 trillion in revenue per annum; N50k tuition will create over N1 trillion in revenue. There are several university ventures that can generate revenue - press, guest house, license to private taxi owners and companies, rent from lecturers and staff, etc. Sports could be a means to generate funds if properly managed - soccer, baske

The British, under the powerful monarch overseeing a vast empire that stretched from the Atlantic sea to the Pacific oceans, were among the 1st to abolish slave trade in 19th century but continued to plunder the wealth of Africa and terrorize its people under the guise of colonialism. They stopped slave trade but overturned the continent by dividing it among themselves. The death of Queen Elizabeth II creates a mixed feelings on the continent of Africa. Should we celebrate her humanity without questioning the atrocities of her ancestors that made her so rich that she was an unnamed billionaire, an empire she sustained until it was no longer possible to hold.   She was the monarch compelled to modernize the British imperialist approach by granting independence to several former colonies in the process falsifying documents, hiding/distorting history, and installing their stooge who protected the kingdom's interests for decades after their hold on these colonies were superficially l

This is a true story of what happened to one of the Nigerian students I hired as a graduate student in 2019. The outcome was not wholesome for the student, and this was partly because of the perceived low quality of education in Nigerian public universities. When a session is shortened to 5 or 6 months instead of the normal 9 months, there is no way the quality will not be watered down for the majority. Here is the story: I hired this smart student from one of the leading public universities in Nigeria. He graduated with first-class honors ( summa cum laude ). He did not disappoint when he joined my group. He worked in a very difficult area of research. He was done with lab work mid-way into his 3rd semester. Since he told me of his interest to proceed to Ph.D. after his master's, I began to pursue opportunity for him to be fast-tracked to Ph.D. at the end of his 2nd semester of M.S. When he put in his application, the DGS of the program told me that there is no way he would suppor

If the electorate decides the result of elections in Nigeria, an incumbent government would not allow ASUU labor unrest to linger for seven months. If they believe the electorates' vote will decide the fate of their candidates in the next major election in 5 months, they will engage in reasonable dialogue with ASUU who have genuine grievances that border on development and qualitative education for our wards and resolve the problem asap. And this will not be a concern for APC's incumbent government alone, it will raise a red flag for other major parties and their politicians. They will mount pressure on the APC government to engage and be reasonable with ASUU's demands. The majority of Nigerian politicians send their children to private schools or schools abroad, so, they are not directly impacted. But the children of the voters or young voters are affected. Does Tinubu think that youths who have been home because his party refused to engage will vote for him? I believe he

The PANDEMIC - created problems within the supply chain  Workers laid off affected the production of essential commodities like electronic chips, processed foods, baby foods,etc. The supply chain disruption caused congestion at the shipping ports and delayed the distribution of goods. Many ports are still not operating at the level of efficiency pre-pandemic. Ukraine-Russia war caused a shortage of petroleum products and a hike at the pump - this hike is transferred to consumers, and everything that needs to be shipped has experienced a price hike; Ukraine and Russian combined supply over 25% of global wheat need and a significant amount of sunflower oil among other agricultural products - the blockage at the Ukrainian ports by Russia is causing global shortage of foods and hence, the high price of many essential food items. Shortage of labor. Human movement was curtailed by the pandemic; there was also "the great resignation" - many quit their jobs since the pandemic bro

Buhari's government has finally ruined Nigeria in less than 8 years in office, our monthly debt servicing is now more than our revenue... Very soon, Nigeria will declare bankruptcy.... soon, we will not be able to pay salaries again and our creditors will begin to take over our country. How can a country so blessed be this poor? When Buhari's government was borrowing money for white elephant projects (projects that are not bringing return nor advancing our economy in a way to bolster the nation's revenue) and the likes of Fashola and Amaechi (who have allegedly become billionaires in dollars) were justifying the need to borrow to stupor, we told them they are selfish. The corruption that ruined Nigeria is not just from the politicians alone, most of it comes from ordinary Nigerians - civil servants. Civil servants entrusted with the duties of administration have created artificial bottlenecks in order to fleece everyone they are supposed to serve including other parastatal

  Africans, we are often our own enemy - many are greedy (for money, power, influence, etc.) and lack loyalty to the cause of the motherland. They betray their brother at a wink and sell their soul to the devil for a piece of porridge. So is the story of Patrick Lumumba and the dreaded Mobutu Sese Seko - the ruthless leader of Zaire now the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mobutu was a right-hand man to Lumumba but he sold him out to the Americans and the Belgians who wanted to topple Lumumba who they saw as a threat to their national interest - interest in Uranium by the U.S., and Belgium's interest in neo-colonialism. Mobutu allegedly overthrew Lumumba with the help of the West and began three decades rule of terror on his people while the West looked the other way. This is why some people castigate and criticize the U.S. and Europe for taking a stand against Russia for its atrocities in Syria, Georgia, Chechnya and now Ukraine. The U.S. has done worse directly or indirectly, and Ru

The world seemed shocked by Will Smith's behavior at the Oscars last Sunday. He thought it is freedom to assault a fellow man on prime time television because the lad joked about his wife - in his little mind, he thought the world will embrace him for purportedly defending his wife's honor. It does not appear so - he actually committed a felony. Thank God Chris did not press charges, he would have become a felon the same night he received the highest accolade of his career.    What many do not know is that this man has lived free most of his life. He and his wife fashioned a lifestyle based on acting on impulse, they act on instinct at will without considering societal norms and consequences. Both of their children were raised to do what they like without boundaries; they experimented with open marriage. He permitted the wife to have an affair while they were still married allegedly. Nobody knows how "faithful" he has been to his wife too in their open relationship. T

With Russia's 2nd (1st was seizing of Crimea in 2014) invasion of Ukraine today, the world peace order has changed in a way that many who are students of history will understand. We are at a perilous time. This is how Hitler started his madness in Europe in the early 20th century and the world looked on. Putin's vision is to reclaim the old USSR that has fueled the current strategic move to invade its neighbor, it has nothing to do with Ukraine joining NATO. Putin let out his original intent yesterday in a one-hour ranting - he does not believe Ukraine should be an independent nation. Putin's number one goal in 1999 when he seized the rein of power in Russia was to restore the USSR kingdom - he started with the Georgian Republic, followed it with the annexation of Crimea in southern Ukraine, and he controls a lot of the former USSR republics like Belarus where he continues to prop a dictator who brutalizes oppositions. Africans may say it does not concern us - I disagree.

  Late last year, I was listening to NPR (WEKU) as usual on my way to work. Can't remember which of the programs it was, and the topic of discussion was "Impostor Syndrome" (IS). I was struck by this discovery. I had thought I was the only one that suffered from this experience - apparently, it is a common feeling among those we respect, people who have inspired in history, and those who continue to motivate us. Maya Angelou was a renowned poet and she continues to inspire humanity long after her death, here is what she wrote: "I have written eleven books, but each time I think, 'Uh oh, they're going to find out now. '” Can you imagine, Maya saying this - of course, she was an African American woman who came out of the civil rights era - being a colored person and a woman for that matter, and with a dark past. But she was highly accomplished. Here is an endless list of famous entertainers that have suffered from IS at one point in their life: Tina Fey Sop

When prejudice, bias, and racism (implicit/explicit) prevail, society at large loses. Many talented people will be prevented from using their gifts to add value to their community (organization, county, state, university, country, etc.) while below par candidates are fielded and given chance to lead with more of the same .. all because of "self-preservation" or perception based on stereotype - students of history will never participate in the stupidity of discrimination. More than enough evidence to debunk any form of homo-superiority The gains of capitalism are the evidence of freedom - let there be an equal playing field for all, let us create an equitable platform for all to thrive and we will be beyond convinced that we are all equally blessed - the environment and the opportunity are two of the factors that shape who we become. Let freedom reign wherever you find yourself ... #opportunity , #letfreedomreign , #allliveshouldmatter

I just saw the excerpt from President Buhari's most recent interview with Channel's TV to discuss the state of the nation Nigeria, and I am ashamed that this is the man leading a country full of intellectuals like Nigeria - pardon me, he has nothing upstairs. He should never have sought to lead Nigeria - Nigeria has been running on autopilot since he assumed office - he has never been different. It was Idiagbon that ran the country when he was the military head of state now it is his Fulani cronies who are ruling Nigeria and they are old and have nothing to offer. They continue to lead Nigeria like the analog age of the 1970s and 1980s in a digital era. President Buhari had no answer to simple questions - why is insecurity still rampant (answer: he claimed in the last four weeks security situation has improved while during the same period over 100 Nigerians were massacred in a terrorist attack); why have the economic indices of inflation (8.5% to 33%), unemployment (8% to 15%)