The Executive Director of the National Institute for Nigerian Languages, Aba, Prof. Obiajulu Emejulu, has delivered this year’s annual Odenigbo Lecture with a call on Nigerians to guard against excessive pursuit of money.
The Odenigbo lecture is an annual Lecture in Igbo language delivered by Igbo intellectuals and professional elite, as organised by the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri. The literary icon Chinua Achebe delivered the 1999 edition of the Lecture Series which is now in its 28th year .
In a 109 – page Lecture delivered in Igbo language on the topic, “ Akwa Ana- Ebere Ego: Uru na Oghom Di Na Ya,” meaning “ The Quest for Money: Its Pros and Cons,” Prof. Emejulu, a language and communication expert, admonished Nigerians to show more restraint in their quest for money so as to minimise the many adverse consequences that the society is currently suffering as a result of the greed, recklessness, callousness, insensitivity and inhumanity with which people seek money.
According to the Odenigbo Lecture presenter, unrestrained and unethical pursuit of money is at the root of such heinous crimes as kidnapping, human trafficking, money rituals with human sacrifice, cannibalism, Internet fraud or yahoo – yahoo,use of charms to enhance business success, drug peddling etc. which characterize contemporary society. “ He regretted that “ it is the ‘extra- terrestrial’ value placed on money that makes some people vow that whatever it takes, come rain ,come shine, they must get rich.”
The Professor noted that socio- psychologists have found through research that people who are driven by excessive ambition to be rich may eventually get rich but “ they never get contented. This lack of contentment drives them on in the mad race for money until they get into trouble.”
Prof. Emejulu went on to say that another research by experts found out that ,whereas those who believe in unbridled rush for money may really get rich, those who believe in getting money through cool -headed approach live longer lives.
He blamed some factors as triggers of the craving for money by some otherwise normal people. Such triggers are penury and suffering, greed, laziness, fear of what people will say, competition, injustice, fear of failure, weak faith, indebtedness among others.
Prof. Emejulu said money was not to blame for the many vices linked to it, but people are to blame for the evil they do with money.”
“Money can do nothing except what man wants to do with it. Money is not responsible for all the atrocities in the world today; men are the culprits,” he posited.
The Professor regretted that man has enthroned money as a king ruling in their lives, and offered a number of admonitions as sustainable attitude to pursuit of money: “ To work hard for money is not bad….We should be contented with what we have,and avoid greed.
Avoid living beyond your means.Remember , the more money one gets, the bigger one’s problems get. If you work hard for money but do not get much money,thank God all the same for God knows what is the best for you. God could leave you without surplus money but give you what is greater and better than money, ” Prof. Emejulu concluded.
Chris Nwankwor,
Head, Information, Protocol and Public Relations
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