Late Professor Tam David-West once said that we are a country of unserious people and that, when we are serious, things can afford to work and get better than hitherto. Advanced countries where institutions function with optimal efficiency and effectiveness got David-West’s message right and had a change of attitude towards Nigerians. One expression of such attitude was to subject students coming from developing countries, especially those for post-graduate studies, to some orientation programmes.
Such pre-studies orientation programmes would last for between three months to one year, no matter what certificates and documents such prospective students may present. Effects of mixing students of various backgrounds and ability profiles together in classes brought about a policy of positive discrimination whose purpose was to group students according to abilities. Thus, pre-studies orientation programmes were meant to “brush up foreign students” to make them fit to join advanced learners. Good idea!
Classified reports arising from managers of orientation programmes for foreign students can throw some light into deficiencies identified among students from various countries. Apart from issues having to do with language proficiency, there were some “off record” observations covering peculiarities about students from various countries. One of such peculiarities had to do with “capacity for sustainable productivity”.
There was also a frank observation touching on “wide disparities” (ability-wise) among Nigerian students, pointing towards “seriousness and laxity”. The core value and essence of the orientation pre-study programmes for foreign students included building up and fostering a culture of productivity among the participants. Apart from compulsory aspects of the programmes, such as improved language proficiency, faster reading, etc, there were opportunities for participants to choose other self-enhancement elective programmes.
For individuals, including students who could afford the fee and time, there was a special self-enhancement progrmame tagged “DIY”, whose purpose was to foster and enhance a culture of productivity. DIY or “Do-It-Yourself” was an activity-packed learning exercises and drills meant to increase working and endurance capacity of programme participants. Comparable to military training programme, DIY is packaged in such a way that every participant is his own instructor, motivator, assessor and commander.
An unfailing testimony which any honest participant in the DIY programme can always give is that average humans utilise less than 20% of the resources available to everyone. No extra cost is demanded to activate and unbundle such dormant energy and power left to waste, untapped. Rather, there are many ways that individuals abuse, waste, misdirect and even turn enormous resources available to everyone into liabilities, rather than the assets which they are. Everyone discovers this secret himself!
One of the ways anyone can short-change himself in this regard is the lifestyle of the individual. Lifestyles can mean quite a lot of things which can also include some activities that sap vital energy of an individual. Foremost in energy-sapping activities are how and what we think; value and essence of what we say; nature and quality of what we eat and drink; and how we spend our leisure hours. In summary, disciplined lifestyle counts, which includes being awake and alert.
Experts in Yoga would tell us that the vital business in life consists in how and where we direct the energy and resources within ourselves. Without going into religion, with regards to the proverbial talents every individual is endowed with, the best admonition is to guard our thought with utmost diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. As a means of fostering the culture of productivity, the DIY project was designed for personal up-building, whereby participants teach themselves what they choose to learn or develop.
From the choice of what value and priority that an individual wants to cultivate, the contents, depth and the mode of inculcation, every individual does what his volition prompts him to do. Without seeking to be a lone island, DIY project demands from participants’ maximum exploration and application of personal ability and exploration and application of personal ability and expansion of consciousness. It is a project meant to enthrone self-reliance, sharpen personal perception and a reminder that everyone is here on earth to address challenges peculiar to himself, with nobody as a personal servant or slave. Therefore, work!
The culture of enslaving or hiring other people to work for you while you enjoy rest and easy comfort, arose from different circumstances and also produced different results. To exert oneself is intended as a means of bringing out the best in an individual, neither must the fear of making mistakes be an excuse for not taking the initiative in doing things. Without anyone making himself a jack-of-all-trades, DIY culture is intended to discourage a habit of getting someone else to do for you, what you can do yourself. Force yourself to do things! Work!
In this regard, indolence is defined in the context of an individual passing personal responsibility on to someone else. There are many examples and instances to illustrate how individuals make others to serve them, even when the person being given such extra burden is over worked. A number of people do such things out of a habit of not wanting to exert themselves. To cultivate such lifestyle of wanting to be served by others, is indicative of some deficiency in productive capacity. Alertness counts!
Productivity goes beyond physical exertion but expresses more in readiness to serve in an unassuming manner, especially where there is an inner volition to render selfless services. It is a practical expression of the dignity of labour, whereby an individual sees where a need for service beckons. A culture of productivity through willingness to serve is indicative of nobility of soul. Vulgar ones demand to be served.

Dr Amirize is a retired lecturer from the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.