Childhood Immunisation

The measles outbreak currently causing concern in the United States can probably be traced to an increasing number of parents choosing not to allow their children to participate in childhood immunisation programmes. This is in spite of the fact that it is a legal requirement. Unfortunately, the decentralisation of power, and the rolling back of federal authority means that states can water down the requirement to make all children receive a prescribed set of vaccinations. In America they readily give farmers subsidies for producing surplus food but get all philosophical about immunising their children. 

Childhood immunisations not only provide protection for individual children they also contribute to general public health protection. Contrary to some dubious claims avoiding immunising does not build up a natural immunity. What it in fact does is multiply the risk of future infection across a wider ranging area. Over a period immunity levels drop and communities become vulnerable to widespread infection from isolated cases that are introduced into their area. In communities where a large proportion of residents refuse to vaccinate their children a single case can potentially affect a huge proportion of the children in the area. In the UK the link being made between childhood immunisation and autism has been discredited. And with increasing levels of social mobility it is very likely that children can potentially come into contact with previously eradicated diseases. Whatever your beliefs may be immunisation is the right thing to do for your children; and the ethical thing to do for the community you live in. 

Protecting Women, Saving the World

A suicide bomber recently attacked a market in Maiduguri; Nigeria. Jordan has just executed an abortive ISIS suicide bomber. In America a person who shot at an alleged abusive partner was convicted but given a non-custodial sentence. The Sun newspaper in the UK was recently embroiled in a controversy about the use of topless models on it's page 3. What all thse cases have in common is that they involved females. And they represent instances where women are being exploited and abused by men. What is striking is that in the countries where these things happen there appears to be a tolerance, and even acceptance for this type of treatment of females.

ISIS and Boko Haram both claim to be religious movements but it appears the pursuit of their objectives is fuelled by good old fashioned misogyny. All over the world women are being subjected to prejudice, abuse and exploitation because societies have a great difficulty in acknowledging that the inequality between genders is rooted in years of male chauvinism and ignorance. Men in authority still seem to actively seek out opportunities to humiliate and undermine women in their personal and professional lives. And until the law and every decent person in society starts respecting the right of females and offering them their due regard the world will continue to witness injustices and oppression against a group who deserve both our respect and the full protection of the law. 

Multinationals Still Bleeding Africa Dry

The recently released African Union report into illicit financial flows claims that between 1970 and 2008 $850b has been siphoned out of the continent through illegal payments and tax avoidance schemes by multinationals. $20b has been lost since 2008. This one of damaging legacies of colonialism exacerbated by a culture of local corruption that has gone unchecked. It is easy to see why there is so much underdevelopment in the continent. It is no surprise that current campaign pledges to curb corruption being made in the lead up to next week's elections in Nigeria do not include any specifics on what fraudulent practices and how they will be tackled. That is no surprise since both presidential candidates are probably implicated in the tolerance of this bleeding of resources. Unfortunately, even if the problem of illicit flows by multinationals is addressed it doesn't stop rampant financial fraud and misappropriation that have become the norm across the continent. 

Strategy of Life

Whether it's in business, corporate affairs, military operations, politics, sports, games, romance or life you need a strategy to ensure you successfully achieve your objective. A strategy is what takes a hold of insight and creates achievement. In the world of practical application strategy is what brings genius forth. It would be right to call strategy a carefully laid out plan. Every aspect of the phrase "carefully laid out plan" tells you something about how critical strategy is in endeavour. It gives a hint of the forethought, development and execution that is required to successfully reach a goal. 

As Machiavelli and Sun Tsu have shown strategy can either be used to manoeuvre or manipulate. I am not sure that I agree that "all is fair in Iove and war" but the truth is that if you leave home without a plan you will most likely return home dusty, drained and defeated. A good strategy identifies where you are at in regards to achieving your objective and analyses the extra distance you need to travel to help you maximise your chances of success. While a good strategy might stun and surprise your competitors and leave them in disarray it should never leave you befuddled and confused. In short, using Marshawn Lynch as a decoy and attempting to pass the ball 3 yards from the goal line while a score down in the final minutes of the Super Bowl is not a good strategy. Inevitably, it led to defeat. A good strategy makes the best use of your resources at the right time and in a precise way. 

While a good strategy might not guarantee you success it will most likely offer you your best chance of achieving it. You have to remember that in the hands of a fool the goose that lays the golden eggs will most likely end up missing or dead. There are those who will say the only strategy you need is God. However, the bible says "faith without works is dead". Strategy not only helps you plot a path to success it also allows to respond to unforeseen circumstances that crop up along the way. So making the right use of a good strategy is the sign of an ace strategist. And that is why they are a premium in whatever field you are in. 

So remember, if you want to develop a good strategy you need ideas, analysis, planning and execution. There are different elements that optimise the impact of each of these components but putting them together is a good way to start your venture. 

Who Needs a Business Plan?!

Over a number of years people I know in Nigeria have consulted with me on business start ups. Very often they have found a venture they like or are good at and noticed that it appears to be a profitable trend. Proposals have included farming, shopping malls, business consultancies, wedding planning, event management and transportation. All very marketable ideas. However, each time I have mentioned putting together a business plan a lot of people have hesitated. One person remarked that business plans don't work in Nigeria; you just go for it and try to make the best of it. Needless to say quite a few of these ventures have gone down the pan. 

Typically in Nigeria people have raised money for business by borrowing from family and friends, or getting a loan through a friend who is a bank manager. People have been known to take out car loans and use the money for business. Nowadays, banks are stricter with lending, and micro finance institutions require very detailed business planning. So the benefits of having a business plan aren't just to show you can make a profit. Whether it's a bank or a friend investors want to understand what your marketing strategy is, how much your set up and operational costs are, what your profit projections are  and how the business will be run for the first five years. Of course, this might not be applicable if your proposal is to secure a government contract and abandon it midway after pocketing the money!

Having a business plan is more than just having a document to wave around. It's a sign that you have subjected your idea to a thorough cost-benefit analysis and you have identified the milestones you need to reach to ensure success. It also gives your investors an assurance that you will be accountable and mindful of the risks to be managed. It takes some effort to prepare a business plan but it is well worth it both in raising finance and managing the business.

For Better, or Until the Break Up!

I read a recent news report in which a woman has filed a claim against the estate of her former partner (who has since died) claiming she was misled in negotiating a settlement based on a falsely reported lower net worth. They were in a 19 year relationship but broke up and her partner died a year later. She now wants the courts to review the case and award her a higher settlement. The case has now gone to appeal. 

Negotiating a settlement after the break up of a marriage or relationship is a necessary evil. No one prays for a marriage to end but sometimes you have to plan for the possibility. In principle I agree with the payment of spousal support. If a partner has sacrificed a career or personal ambition to create a good family and home then they should be reasonably considered to have contributed to the income that the partner brings into the household. In some cases where spouses are more of a trophy there may not be so much of a contribution. But that's why there are prenuptial agreements. Whatever people say, love doesn't insure you against future loss. No matter how much love you start out with if things break up the then it can get messy.

In practice though, the laws in many countries are very antiquated when it comes to dealing with spousal settlements. They either cast the woman as a helpless stray who will not be able to survive unless the ex partner supports her; or they offer no protection whatsoever to women who have devoted their lives to bringing up children and maintaining a home. The law in some of these cases ends up fostering a feeling of unfairness and creating further hostility between already unhappy people. 

Unfortunately, religious guidance hasn't always proved helpful or conclusive in resolving relationship disputes. A lot of religious texts do tend to apportion all the power to the man. This is unlikely to help matters in situations where the man hasn't been very reasonable. That notwithstanding there is plenty of counselling about how to have a good relationship but not much about how to achieve a good break up. It will take a shift in legislation and social norms to address the anomalies in break up settlements. In the meantime, amidst all the loving and hugging people better keep a watchful eye on how much money their partners are earning. 

It's What We Believe But Is It Moral?

A lot of us confuse adhering to a belief with being morally upright. There is the assumption that if you are a believer of a widely held belief then anything you do in the name of that belief must be morally right. This is often seen in how people practice their religious faiths. There is the recent opposition to the ordination of female bishops in the Anglican Church for instance. We also have the Charlie Hebdo murders in France to draw upon. In the bible Jesus drew the distinction between morally right and lawfully right when he stopped the stoning of Mary Magdalene, asking the crowd to examine their own righteousness first. Whether you look at capitalism, democracy or jurisprudence; there are a wide variety of belief systems that would probably not be rightfully considered moral.

In our daily lives there are too many instances where we fail to do what is just and fair because we claim to be following a belief. Too many instances where we treat people badly but justify it on being true to a belief. There are times we sacrifice the wellbeing and feelings of others in order to feed our own need for piety. While it is difficult to close every ethical loophole in a belief system it isn't impossible to weigh up our own actions on the basis of what is morally right. Just as Pope Francis is attempting to do in stating that there is a place for transgender people in the Catholic Church.