Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Myself as a Global citizen – My reflection



I consider myself as a global citizen in every sense of the world.
I look upon the whole world as my constituency, a world to which I feel obliged to ensure I contribute to its sustenance and development.

I see all fellow inhabitants of the Earth, as fellow workers with whom I have to create and maintain a harmonious relationship for our mutual existence on be peaceful, successful, and worthwhile.

Coming from a multicultural background, I have seen and experienced the negative effects of sectionalism in its many forms, and this has brought me to a realization that unquestioned allegiance to one country actually puts you in a position whereby you have to reject and people from some other countries, simply because you are citizens of different countries.

I am a Nigerian by birth and in the context of citizenship as presently understood, owe my allegiance to the Nigerian nation, but I have come a point in my life most of life’s works have a global perspective to them. I have come a realization that I cannot exist in narrow confines of being a Nigerian; I have a lot contributed to the wider world, and also have a lot to gain from other around the world.

As a local ICT educator teacher Computer Applications her in Kano, my outlook to my work is that of equipping my students with occupational skills that prepare to become functional contributors to a global society. Integration of Peace education concepts like respect for diversity, multiculturalism, cooperation, non-violence etc. helps my students better equipped to see the world with a more open mind. They are prepared to be able to function in today’s globalized world.

My NGO activities encompass a lot of issues like social justice activism and youth empowerment. I am actively involved in the activities of many local and global organizations that are actively involved in rights issues and a good example of a successful collaboration was the case of an African immigrant in the US who faced unjust deportation with her daughter earlier this year. Through my NGO’s petitions in collaboration with international partners, we started an e-petition that brought her a review of her case. By seeing myself as my brother’s keeper, I hold to the conviction that whatever little I do is more or less as if I am helping myself! I could be the one who is stuck, and I’d expect the same.

Another example is the ongoing non-violent protest in India, by showing Ana Hazare our support, he knows he not alone and the world is with him. Anticorruption in India will mean public funds from there will not be stolen and thus depriving local masses of basic amenities they deserve as a right. If I think it doesn’t concern me, I may in fact find myself relocating to India tomorrow; I’d also suffer the direct of the corruption Mr Hazare is fighting against!

My volunteering activities with UNV, SBTF, and others have afforded me a great opportunity to play a useful role in various crisis-mapping efforts across the world.

My personal and professional relationships with other colleagues and organizations all over the world have really helped me feel more of a global citizen than just a Nigerian.

2 comments:

  1. Ibrahim,

    Seeing the world as our country is so important as you have stated. I commend you on all the work that you do to put your beliefs into action/practice. I'm convinced that you will help your students become more aware of the world's interconnectedness and the importance of being a global citizen.

    Gwen

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gwen,
    Thanks for your kind words.
    As i try my contributing my little bit to making the world a better place, I hope my efforts motivate my students to do more.

    ReplyDelete

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This work by Ibrahim K. Oyekanmi (mallamibro@gmail.com) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.