'COO COO' - by Jefferson Nnadiekwe

The most common Nigerian response to economic hardship/relief measures is wait for it... rice! You might expect policy reviews or implementation, creation of jobs, financial improvement measures, etc. But no, each and every time, the government's answer is rice. Distribution of bags of rice, subsidization of bags of rice, importation of rice, empowering rice farmers, anything rice... everything rice. Like a friend of mine would ask; 'are Nigerians birds'? Frankly, it's pathetic and farcical that in the 21st century, the most common solution to our problems lies inside a bag of rice - maybe that's why it is so expensive.<img src="/media/inline_insight_image/8-P4vZLRKigtUtc7H.png" alt=""> During one of my up all night thinking sessions, I pondered on the possible reason for this. Why is rice always the answer? Bad news, I couldn't find a solution, but I came to another realization. The government aside, a lot of charitable acts in this country begin and end with food - of course with rice being the guest of honor. Just yesterday, I came across a certain recent ex convict's post, where he displayed all the packs of jollof rice he had made for prison inmates. In his words 'I fed over 2,500 inmates'. Of course, it's commendable. Any act of charity should be applauded right? But let's move away from commendation to pondering. In 24 hours, all those packs of jollof rice would most likely become human waste. Then it's back to how things were for the inmates. What's my point? There has to be some other more effective form of charity. Something that truly changes the dynamics of the society. We have a lot of foundations who specialize in feeding the poor. It's a noble fight against hunger - but not so effective. Rice will not solve the problem if the root isn't tackled. Don't get me wrong, I'm not the charity prefect. What I'm trying to say is that we need to start thinking of more permanent means to curb the rising level of poverty other than food. I personally believe that the problem of African countries is not food. Contrary to what the media portrays, Africa is blessed with an abundance of food. It erks me whenever foreign nations send down grains to Africa to fight hunger, like we live in one massive poultry. What we require, is more human friendly policies. The idea of cash crops needs to be cast away - it makes zero sense to prioritize the exportation of crops for money when your people are dying of hunger. It all just seems like rice has become 'weaponized' - make it unaffordable to the poor, so that the generosity that comes with distribution shuts the people up.<img src="/media/inline_insight_image/8-yFFcVTvFWRSxo8Y.png"> Moving away from the government to private philanthropists. Again, I might have no right to tell you how to go about your charity, but consider investing in rural development other than a meal a day schemes. Rural development doesn't have to be wide scale, it can be in your street or community. You might argue that such things are the duties of the government, however, the government doesn't suffer the effects. Give a man a plate of food and he goes back to being hungry in few hours. Equip a man to be able to feed himself, and he will never disturb you for grain again. Maybe all of this is rubbish. Maybe, in some weird way, rice is the answer. We might be some sort of birds after all - so 'cluck cluck' friends.

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