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Food for Living: The Dignity of Labour
By Henry Ukazu
Greetings Friends,
I will begin today’s article with a question: What do you stand for in life?
While it is not compulsory you have to answer the question now, it is imperative you take some time to think about it. So, please take a minute or two to evaluate this breath-taking question.
I asked this question because it will go a long way to defining you, in addition to expressing the kind of life you truly want to live.
If you had taken time to reflect on the above question, I want to inform you that you need courage to make your dreams come true. In order to truly live the kind of life you want to be remembered for when you depart this world to the land of the unknown, I charge you therefore, to do a sober reflection and ask yourself if you have the courage and integrity to truly live the kind of life you desire. You must remember that no individual, organization, company, community can survive in isolation, let alone prosper. They are bound to depend on the manual labour of farmers, industrial employees, construction workers, miners, and other innumerable men and women who toil to complement everyone’s day-to-day living.
According to Lao Tzu “Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny.” In my humble opinion and understanding, one of the unspoken words Lao Tzu is trying to tell us in this quote is that one of the ways to succeed in life is by knowing what you stand for and also, know how to articulate your vision and mission in order to achieve the set goals. Another line of thought I will like to attend to in this quote pertains to integrity and dignity because for you to truly succeed in life, you must stand for something or die for nothing. The question now is, what are you willing to stand or die for? Are you willing to stand up for a cause you believe in?
It should be noted that your reputation is what people think about you, and your character is who you are. Character, courage, and integrity can be categorized as some of the most defining traits or characteristics that can define a man. According to Martin Luther King, Jr. “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy”. It’s pertinent to note that the unspoken words of Martin Luther Jr lie in integrity and dignity in addition to standing for whatever you believe in regardless of societal pressure. It is in the light of this quote we shall be discussing the dignity of labour.
What truly is the dignity of labor? Dignity of labor simply means the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect of whatever work you are doing. If you will agree with me, it is always good to be busy because an idle man is a devils workshop. Progressive mind likes to work in order to solve the challenges facing them. Dignity of labor also has the underlying philosophy that all decent jobs should be respected equally, and no occupation should be considered superior. It doesn’t matter if you are the President, C.E.O, manager, security officer, janitor, or even house cleaner, no job should be considered superior or inferior. Therefore, it advisable for everybody to adopt the Ubuntu policy in order to function in unison.
I likened the dignity of labor to the human body because no human part is superior to the other. If the brain or eyes decides it has more value than the anus, the anus can decide to prevent any bowel from leaving the anus for three days and the whole body will be uncomfortable. We shall be discussing dignity of labor as it relates to dignifying humanity and how it can boost our self esteem. It should be noted that no work is insignificant. All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance should be taken undertaken with painstaking excellence.
In our contemporary society, many people seem to have less regard for integrity, dignity, and dignity of work due to how our society has relegated those traits and standards of living. This category of people has been brainwashed by what the society made them feel and this thought seems to have eroded their common sense and common sense. According to these beings, you are judged by your salary and position/title at work. These set of interesting people seems to go with what’s trending or what’s in vogue.
Another set of individuals I will like to mention here are the hardworking individuals who are doing their best by working decent menial jobs just to put food on the table for their loved ones in addition to taking care of responsibilities by staying away from dubious means of making money like dealing on drugs, and internet fraud, just to mention a few. These are the people I can MVP’s because they are not influenced by the standard of the society. It’s worthy to note that every worthy job you have ever had has a corresponding role and worthy experience that it leaves you with if you think out of the box.
Let me share a personal experience with you, during my formative years in USA, I had the humble opportunity of working several jobs, but of particular interest was being a security officer. Despite working in consulting companies, law firms as an intern and legal assistant, none gave me the real fulfillment I really needed to jump-start a career. It was during one of my job as a security officer in New York City I got the inspiration to write a book, I can vividly remember when my security license expired and I had to stay off work for about two weeks. I used the opportunity to complete the process of writing my book. The moral of this message is that assuming I was working for a big corporation, I may not have had sufficient time to research and publish my book the way I did when I was working as a security officer. Again, ordinarily I would have felt bad working as a security officer, but the job later turned out to be the icing on my cake because it gave me the time to research for my book and also the opportunity of meeting other great resourceful during networking events and these great minds have turned out to be great assets to me. Moral: Never you despise humble beginnings.
That being said, regardless of what you are currently going through now. I have one word for you, hang in there, and appreciate the experience you are gaining because they will all add up at the end of the day. Don’t allow the craze for money, social media stunts seeking validation to have any atom of psychological effect on you. There’s always light at the end of the tunnel if you play by the rules, have a positive mental attitude and work smart.
Let’s discuss a little about the types of labor
- Skilled labor and unskilled labor: Skilled labor requires workers to possess specific talents that are utilized within an industry to highly technical activities and unskilled labor refers to workers who lack technical training and expertise. Both are necessary for success to see the light of the day.
- Physical labor: This is the type of labor in which the laborer uses his physical exertion to complete a task. Mental laboris a type of labor in which the laborer uses mental efforts to complete a task. For example, technocrats.
In conclusion, I will strongly advise, every working man/woman to look upon yourself with respect, be honest, industrious, with grace in your speech and conduct, and never give yourself a thought about the work you are doing. Appreciate the work because it can pave a way for greater opportunities if you have the right attitude.
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with New York City Department of Correction as the legal Coordinator. He’s the author of the acclaimed book Design Your Destiny – Actualizing Your Birthright To Success
Foremost security news beat association, National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) felicitates with the Force PRO of Nigeria Police, Olumuyiwa Adejobi on his new promotion and decoration with the rank of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun at the Force Headquarters Abuja.
The well-deserved promotion of DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, alongside other newly promoted officers across various ranks, was approved by the Police Service Commission at the recent plenary session presided over by the PSC Honorable Chairman, DIG Hashimu Salihu Argungu (retd).
Widely regarded for his dynamic approach to police-community relations, quick response and transparency in public communications, DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi has served as the image maker of the Nigeria Police Force with distinction and excellence. His promotion underscores and recognizes exceptional service, professionalism, and unwavering dedication to the ideals of policing in Nigeria. Since his appointment as Force PRO, DCP Adejobi has led several strategic initiatives to rebuild public trust, effective media relations, improve accountability, and modernize the Force’s communication channels across the Country.
Conveying the felicitations of NAOSNP to the Force PRO, the National President of the association popularly known for covering the Nigeria Police and other security agencies, Comrade Oki O. Samson highlighted the great impact work of DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi noting that ‘he has proven to be an asset to the Nigeria Police helping to spotlight the values and ethics of the Force as a citizen-friendly agency as well as its mandate as the prime agency in charge of internal security.’
‘For us at NAOSNP, DCP Adejobi is a great and reliable friend; he has contributed significantly to us, being a great supporter speaking at many of our security conferences and trainings and providing deep insights to conversations. The exploits of Nigeria Police across operations, administration, public relations, advocacy, and other sectors are given the much-needed attention. We celebrate a refined senior police officer, a PR guru, an excellent communicator, a Media-Friendly Force PRO, a capacity building officer and wish him greater heights in the service of our motherland’, Oki said.
The blue blood, DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi is a great role model who portrays the policing values of discipline, service, professionalism and integrity. He has a rich blend of expertise and experience having served in various capacities such as the Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos and Ogun States among others.
He is a recipients of the prestigious NAOSNP Best Security Agency Image Maker of the Year Award and many other International awards.
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SPIN Hosts Inaugural Scientific Induction Committee, Makes Case for Reseach-Based Sustainability
The Sustainability Professionals Institute of Nigeria (SPIN) convened its inaugural Scientific Induction Committee on Thursday, March 27, 2025.
The virtual event, themed “Mainstreaming Sustainability in Africa: Professionalism, Standardization, and Capabilities,” brought together distinguished scholars, industry leaders, and sustainability professionals to chart a path for Africa-centric sustainability solutions.
Moderated by Dr. Mories Atoki (Hon.), SPIN’s Legal Director, and headlined by First Bank of Nigeria PLC, the event featured keynote addresses and panel discussions with globally recognized experts. These included Professor Kenneth Amaeshi, President of SPIN and Professor of Sustainable Finance at the European University Institute.
Professor Amaeshi stressed the importance of “decolonizing sustainability frameworks” and prioritizing local contexts. He noted, “Africa must redefine sustainability on its own terms, balancing environmental, social, and economic imperatives unique to our realities.”
Vice President Ini Abimbola, while administering the SPIN induction oath, charged the newly inducted scientific committee members to advance professionalism, drive standardization, and strengthen capacity building in sustainability, ultimately shaping the future of sustainability in Africa.
The newly inducted scientific committee of the Sustainability Professionals Institute of Nigeria (SPIN) comprises seven distinguished scholars and practitioners. Professor Emmanuel Adegbite, Professor of Accounting and Corporate Governance at Nottingham University Business School, emphasized the critical role of corporate governance in driving sustainable business practices.
Professor Judy Muthuri, Professor of Sustainable Business and Development at the University of West Indies, stressed the importance of integrating indigenous knowledge and community-led approaches into sustainability strategies. The committee members highlighted the complexities of sustainability in Africa.
Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, Professor of Global Climate Governance and Public Policy at the University of Bristol, advocated for justice-centered policies that address historical inequities.
Professor Uwafiokun Idemudia, Dean of the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences at the University of Guelph, called for multi-stakeholder collaboration to mitigate environmental degradation.
Dr. Adaeze Okoye, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Lead at the University of Brighton, underscored the need for regulatory frameworks that promote equity and inclusion.
The committee emphasized innovative approaches to sustainability, featuring expert insights from renowned thought leaders. Dr. Natalie Beinisch, Co-founder of the Circular Economy Innovation Partnership, shared insights on leveraging circular economy principles.
Professor Tazeeb Rajwani, Chaired Professor of International Business and Strategy at Surrey Business School, analyzed geopolitical shifts impacting sustainability practices and emphasized the need for African businesses to develop resilient, context-specific strategies.
Building on these insights, Ismail Omamegbe, SPIN’s Director of Advocacy and Stakeholder Engagement, outlined the committee’s roadmap. “We look forward to our new scientific committee members’ insights in shaping our research agenda, policy formulation, and capacity-building initiatives,” he stated.
In her closing remarks, Mrs. Eunice Sampson, SPIN’s Director of Learning and Development, reaffirmed the committee’s vision. “Through this distinguished committee, we will transform sustainability in Africa by localizing solutions and decolonizing approaches. Our focus remains on driving inclusive, data-driven growth through strong political commitments and cross-sector collaboration.”
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Gatmash Partners Access Bank to End ‘Period’ Poverty in Nigeria with ‘PAD Me a Girl Initiative’
Access Bank Plc, a leading financial institution in Nigeria, is partnering the “PAD Me A Girl Initiative,” a project of GATMASH MEDIA, to launch a ‘Pad Bank’ aimed at providing free sanitary pads to girls and women in need.
The groundbreaking initiative is founded by Theresa Moses, a renowned journalist and Editor-in-Chief of GATMASH NEWS. The project seeks to address the pressing conundrum of ‘period’ poverty, which is affecting millions of girls and women in Nigeria.
The initiative will help address pads deficit among the less privileged members of the society as its aim is to promote menstrual health and hygiene, as well as provide educational materials, and support girls and women in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.
The Access PAD Me A Girl Initiative is also partnering with several organizations, including Checkers Custard, Empowered Girls for Christ Foundation, Jeffrey Kuraun Foundation, ProStar, Vita Baites Foods, and many more.
This is a unique and innovative concept, designed to store and distribute free sanitary pads to the needy. The ‘Pad Bank’ will be stocked with sanitary pads donated by Access Bank, other corporate organizations, and individuals. The idea is to collect and distribute over 1 million sanitary pads annually.
“We are excited to partner with Access Bank to launch the Pad Bank,” said Theresa Moses, Convener of the “PAD Me A Girl Initiative.”
“Access Bank is committed to making a positive impact in the lives of Nigerians. Therefore, Access PAD Me A Girl project is a testament to its dedication to creating a more inclusive and equitable society that every girl and woman deserves access to sanitary pads.
“The Pad Bank is a game-changer in the fight against period poverty, as it will provide a safe and accessible space for girls and women to access sanitary pads, promoting dignity and empowering them to reach their full potential.”
The Access PAD Me A Girl Project aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
In addition, the initiative will provide educational materials and support (Exercise books and pen), thereby helping to promote literacy and educational attainment, in consonance with SDG 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empowering all women and girls to reach their full potentials.
The Access PAD Me A Girl Project, which includes the launch of the Pad Bank, will kick off on April 3rd, 2025, in Gofye Community, Kuje Area Council, New Kunchingoro, Opposite Games Village, Kaura, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, and on April 5th, 2025, in Ortese IDP Camp, Guma LGA, Benue State.
