The Nigeria of my dream

Nigeria, Nigeria
I dream of a not too distant future when things works,
When people have enough and good quality food to eat.
When diseases that have been conquered in other climes are not conquering us
When unemployment has no say on our skilled and semi-skilled labours.
When the faces of our people is not showing the shape of our map
When are citizens are happy, hardworking and patriotic.
When our leaders are both responsible and responsive.
When corruption is unheard of.
When our security personnel frown at bribe and perform their work with their whole heart
Where the physically challenged are not at a disadvantage because of their constrain
Where mothers and children are not dying a needless death
When the mention of Nigeria does not remind foreigners of frauds or scam of any kind.

Ṣiṣe Iṣẹ Daradara (Job Quality Control).

Ohun kan ti o ṣe pataki nipa ṣiṣe iṣẹ olutumọ ede ni lati ṣee iṣẹ naa daradara (quality). Opọlọpọ igba ti mo ba ni lati yẹ iṣẹ kan wo, ti mo si rii wipe a ko ṣe iṣẹ naa daradara, ara mi maa nbu m’aṣọ. O jẹ ohun ti yoo mu ki iṣẹ eniyan dayatọ gedegbe si ti awọn ẹlomiran bi eniyan, gẹgẹ bii olutumọ ede ba tiraka tabi gbiyanju lati ṣe iṣẹ ti o ba ri gba daradara. Awọn ti o ma ngbe iṣẹ (atumọ ede fun eniyan) ma nsaba gbe iṣẹ ti olutumọ ede ba ba wọn ṣe lọ fun olutumọ ede miiran lati ṣe ayẹwo boya olutumọ ede ba ṣe iṣẹ naa doju aami tabi oju oṣuwọn. Bi o ba ṣe iṣẹ ti o ri gba daradara, awọn eniyan ti o ngbe iṣẹ fun ọ yii yoo ni ifọkọtan ninu rẹ, wọn yoo si gbe iṣẹ wa ni igba miiran. Ṣugbọn bi o ba gba iṣẹ ti o ko ṣee bi o ti yẹ, ti wọn si gbe lọ fun ayẹwo ti wọn ri gbogbo koba-kogbe inu iṣẹ naa, ti wọn tun ni lati san owo miiran fun ẹlomiran lati tun ṣe, wọn yoo woye wipe olutumọ ede naa ko kun oju oṣuwọn, wọn ko si ni gbe iṣẹ wa mọ. Ni ọpọlọpọ igba, awọn ẹlomiran ti wọn ba fẹ gbe iṣẹ fun ọ yoo fẹ mọ awọn ti o ti ba ṣiṣẹ ri, ti wọn yoo si ko’we lati beere lọwọ wọn bi iṣẹ rẹ gẹgẹ bi olutumọ ede ṣe ri. Bi o ba si ṣe ṣe iṣẹ wọn ni wọn yoo ti wi, wọn ko ni bo ‘aṣiri’ rẹ rara.

Ohun miiran ti o tun ṣe koko ni ki o ri wipe o da iṣẹ naa ti o ri gba pada ni akoko ti o ba da lati daa pada tabi akoko ti wọn ṣeto wipe ki o daa pada. Akoko ṣe pataki. Maṣe fi ṣofo rara. Bi o ba ri iṣe kan gba gẹgẹbii olutumọ ede, rii daju wipe o ṣe e daradara ki o si da pada l’akoko, ki o ba le niyi lọwọ awọn ti o ngbe iṣẹ fun ọ.

Bi o ba nilo alaye siwaju sii, fi iwe ranṣẹ si bodunley@gmail.com

Ẹrin musẹ kan

O rẹrin musẹ kan si ajeji kan ti inu rẹ ko dun. Ẹrin naa jẹ ki ara ajeji naa ya. O ranti awọn oore atijọ kan ti ọrẹ rẹ ṣe fun-un, o si kọ lẹta idupẹ kan sii. Inu ọrẹ yii dun to bẹẹ gẹ fun lẹta idupẹ yii ti o fi fi owo gọbọyi t’ọrẹ fun agbe-ounjẹ lẹyin ti o jẹun tan. Ẹnu ya agbe-ounjẹ fun owo gọbọyi yii, ti o fi fi gbogbo rẹ ta tẹtẹ. Ni ọjọ keji, o gba owo bibori tẹtẹ ti o ta, o si fun ọkunrin kan l’oju popo lara rẹ. okunrin oju popo naa dupẹ; o si jẹun fun ọjọ meji ti ko ti fi ri nkankan jẹ. Lẹyin ti o jẹun tan, o lọ si ile-kereje rẹ, ko si mọ ni igba naa ewu ti ohun yoo koju.
Li ọna, o gbe ọmọ-aja kan ti otutu nmu ki o baa le ya ooru ni ile rẹ. Inu aja naa dun lati kuro ninu iji. Ni alẹ ọjọ naa, ile gba ina. Ọmọ aja naa gbo bii [aago] itaniji o gbo titi o fi ji gbogbo ara ile, o si gba wọn lọwọ ewu. Ọkan lara awọn ọmọde-kunrin ti a gbala dagba, o si di Olori orile-ede. Gbogbo eleyi nitori wipe ẹnikan rẹrin musẹ ti ko kasi kan ti ko si naa ni owo kankan.

Ivan Minic
http://my.opera.com/SerbianFighter/blog/show.dml/70109

Translated by Biodun

Naira Mẹwa Mi/My Ten Naira

Ni ọpọlọpọ oṣu sẹyin, mo lọ bẹ ọrẹ mi kan wo. Mo wa ninu ọkọ akero to gbajumọ nii, ‘moluẹ’ nigbati ọkunrin kan ti o nlaagun bọyọbọyọ bii ẹniti o ṣẹṣẹ padanu iṣẹ rẹ tabi bii ẹniti iyawo rẹ ṣẹṣẹ bi ibẹjọ ba wọle. O ni, “Ẹ ma binu si mi wipe mo nyọ yin l’ẹnu l’ọsan yii. Mo duro n’iwaju yi lati beere fun iranlọwọ yin ni lati le wọ ọkọ pada si ile. Ibi ti mo ti wa jina si Eko. Mo wa lati wa ra awọn ọja kan ni, ṣugbọn o ṣe ni laanu wipe wọn ti yọ apo-owo mi lọ, mi o si mọ ibi ti nba dori kọ. Ẹ jọwọ, ẹran mi lọwọ. O jẹ ohun itiju fun mi wipe mo ni lati ṣe eleyi. Bi ẹnikeni lati ilu mi ba ti ẹ ri mi, ṣe wọn ko ni lero wipe iṣẹ ti mo nṣe niyi, ṣugbọn nko ni nkan miiran ti mo le ṣe” o bẹbẹ.

Ọrọ rẹ mu irunisoke wa bi awọn eniyan inu ọkọ pẹlu ikaanu ti bẹrẹ sii da owo fun. Ẹlomiran ti ẹ nso wipe, “wọn ti f’Eko han ẹ ni yẹn o.” Ti awon miiran nso wipe, “ha ara ilu wa ni, ila ilu wa lo wa lẹẹkẹ ẹ!” Ti wọn si nda owo fun. Emi naa da naira mẹwa fun. Nigbati o ya o bọ silẹ ninu ọkọ pẹlu ọrẹ rẹ ti o si ngbadura fun wa.
Lẹyin oṣu diẹ, mo nbọ lati yara ayelujara, ọkunrin ọjọsi yi ni mo ri n’iwaju awọn eniyan miiran pẹlu ẹbẹ rẹ ọjọsi wipe wọn ji apo-owo ohun ati bẹẹ bẹẹ lọ. Igba yẹn ni mo to mọ wipe ati fi jibiti gba naira mẹwa mi lọwọ mi.


English

Several months ago, I went to visit a friend and was on my way home in the popular commuter bus called "molue" when a man sweating profusely as if he has just lost his job or as if his wife has just given birth to a set of quadruplets came on board. He said, "I am very sorry to disturb your peace this afternoon. I stand here today to seek your assistance in transporting myself back to my home. I have come from a distant place to Lagos to buy some goods unfortunately my wallet has been stolen and I’m here stranded. Please, do help me." he pleaded. "I feel ashamed having to do this should in case anybody from my part of the world should see me but I have got no choice."

His words generate reactions as some of the passengers in pity contributed money for him. Some were even saying, ‘they have revealed Lagos to him. While some were saying, ah, he is someone from our town; it is the tribal marks of our town that are on his cheeks! I also donated ten naira. He later alighted with the contribution showering us all with prayers.

After some months, I was coming from the cybercafé and right there in front was the same man before some people making the same passionate plea that they have stolen his wallet and bla, bla, bla.

It then dawn on me, I have been duped of my precious ten naira.

Molue - is a rickety kind of bus use for transportation in Lagos.

Work, Antidote for Poverty

Work is the antidote for poverty;
Do work hard, my friend.
Elevation to great height is dependent on hard work.
We appear insolent, if we have no one to rely on,
If we have no one to depend on,
One (should) simply work harder.
Your mother may be wealthy,
Your father may have a ranch full of horses,
If you depend on them,
I tell you, you may be, disgraced.
Whatever one does not strife for,
Does not last.
Whatever one works hard for [to earn],
Is that which last in one’s possession.
The arm is a relative, the elbow is a sibling.
If the world loves you today,
Peradventure you have money.
They will love you tomorrow
Or you if you are highly placed [in the society],
The world will honor you with cheers and smiles.
Wait till you become poor or are struggling to get by
And you will see how all grimace at you.
Education also elevates and makes one a master,
Strife hard to acquire it [good education].
And if you see multitude
Making a mockery of education,
Please do not emulate them [or keep their company].
Suffering is lying in wait for an unwise child,
Weeping is in reserve for a truant child.
Toy not with your early years, my friend
Work harder, time and tide waits for no one.

Lati ṣiṣẹ olutumọ-ede

Gbogbo iṣẹ ni o ni iyi tirẹ. Iṣẹ olutumọ ede jẹ iṣẹ ti o dara. Iṣẹ ole ni o ba ọmọ jẹ, gẹgẹ bi awọn Yoruba ti ṣe ma nsọ. Iṣẹ olutumọ ede jẹ iṣẹ ti yoo fun eniyan ni anfaani lati le ṣe nkan miiran. Yoo fun eniyan ni owo ati ifọkanbalẹ pẹlu, ṣugbọn kii ṣe owo ọfẹ rara. Owo ti eniyan yoo ṣiṣẹ fun ni. Owo ti o nwa lati ibi ki eniyan tumọ ede kii ṣe owo awufuu. Eniyan nlati ṣiṣẹ ki o to le ri owo gba ni. Bi o ba ṣiṣẹ fun eniyan kan, o le to laarin osẹ meji, oṣu kan, oṣu mẹta tabi ju bẹẹ lọ ki eniyan to ri owo gba. Eyi dale lori akọsilẹ ile-iṣẹ ti eniyan baa ṣiṣẹ ba ṣe ri.

Bawo ni eniyan ti ṣe le ṣe iṣẹ olutumọ ede? Ikinni ni lati mọ ede abinibi ẹni sọọ ati lati le kọọ daradara. Ekeji ni lati mọ ibiti iṣẹ ti eniyan fẹ ṣe naa wa. Bawo ni eniyan yoo ṣe ti ri awọn iṣẹ wọnyii? Orilẹ-ede Naijiria jẹ eyiti o tobi pupọ ti o si ni awọn anfaani ti o pọ lọpọ yanturu bakanna. Ọpọlọpọ awọn orile-ede ti wọn nṣe ohun kan tabi omiran ni wọn nfẹ lati taa ni orilẹ-ede wa. Ọna kan pato lati jẹ ki awọn ọja wọn wọnyii ta tabi niyi ni oju awọn eniyan wa ni lati kọọ ni ede abinibi awọn eniyan wa, paapaa ni awọn ede mẹta ti o wọpọ julọ ni orilẹ-ede wa: Hausa, Yoruba ati Igbo.

Ibiti eniyan yoo ti ri ọpọlọpọ awọn iṣẹ yii ni lori ayelujara (Internet). Awọn ipo kan wa lori ayelujara ti awọn eniyan ti wọn ni iṣẹ kan tabi omiran lati ṣe ti wọn ti maa nfi lọ pe awọn nwa eniyan ti oni-imọ lati ṣee. Ọkan ninu awọn ibi ti eniyan ti le ri awọn iṣẹ wọnyi ni www.proz.com, tanslationdirectory.com, traduguide.com ati bẹẹ bẹẹ lọ. Eniyan yoo ni lati kọkọ fi orukọsilẹ lori ipo yii ki eniyan to le gba iṣẹ nibẹ. A ni awọn ti o nsan owo lati fi orukọ silẹ ni ipo ayelujara yii bẹẹ si ni awọn ti kii san owo wa. Awọn ti o ba nsan owo ni awọn anfaani kan ti ẹni ti kii san owo ko ni, ti ko si le ni rara. Tẹlẹ tẹlẹ bakanna, ẹniti o ba forukọsilẹ ni ipo yi le gba iṣẹ laijẹ ọmọ ẹgbẹ ti o nsan owo. Ṣugbọn ki o to le gba iṣẹ lori ipo yii nisinyi owo dola kan ($1) ni eniyan yoo fi ja (bid) fun iṣẹ yii.

Iṣẹ́ ni òògùn ìṣẹ́

Iṣẹ́ ni òògùn ìṣẹ́,
Múra sí iṣẹ́ rẹ ọrẹẹ mi.
Iṣẹ́ ni a fií ndi ẹni gíga.
Bí a kò bá rẹni fẹyìn tì,
Bí òlẹ làá rí.
Bí a kò bá rẹni gbẹkẹlẹ,
À tẹra mọ iṣẹ́ ẹni.
Ìyá rẹ lè lówó lọwọ,
Ki bàbá rẹ sì lè lẹsin lékan,
Bí o bá gbójú lé wọn;
O tẹ tán ni mo sọ fún ọ.
Ohun tí a kò bá jìyà fún,
Kìí lè tọjọ.
Ohun tí a bá fara ṣiṣẹ fún,
Níí pé lọwọ ẹni.
Apá lará, ìgùnpá nì’yekan.
Bí ayé ba nfẹ ọ lónìí,
Bí o bá lówó lọwọ ní,
Wọn á máa fẹ ọ lọla.
Tàbí tí o bá wà ní ipò àtàtà,
Ayé á yé ọ sí tẹrin-tẹrin,
Jẹ kí o di ẹni ti nráágó,
Kí o rí báyé tií yímú sí ọ.
Ẹkọ sì tún nsọnií dọgá,
Múra kí o kọọ dáradára.
Bí o sì rí ọpọ ènìyàn,
Tí wọn nfi ẹkọ ṣe èrín rín,
Dákun má ṣe f’ara wé wọn.
Ìyà nbọ f’ọmọ tí kò gbọn,
Ẹkún nbẹ f’ọmọ tó nsá kiri.
Má f’òwúrọ ṣeré, ọrẹẹ mi,
Múra ṣiṣẹ, ọjọ nlọ.