Social innovations are new strategies, concepts, ideas and organizations that
meet the social needs of different elements, which can be from working
conditions and education to community development and health-they extend and
strengthen civil society (Wikipedia).
Drug abuse according to Wikipedia, is a “patterned use of a drug in which the
user consumes the substance in amounts or with methods which are harmful to
themselves or others”. The abuse of drugs among youths has become a
disturbing trend in Nigeria. This recently led to the Federal government’s ban on
codeine as an active pharmaceutical ingredient for making cough syrup. There
is little information on how many drug users there are in Nigeria .The ban on
codeine-related drugs might only spur many youths to look for alternative
substances like methane gas that oozes from soak-away and toilets to satisfy
their urge. Harnessing the methane that is produced in septic systems holds
great untapped potential. It is called anaerobic digester gas because it is
produced by breaking down sewage sludge or other organic material in the
absence of oxygen. It consist of a mixture of about half methane and 30%
carbon di oxide that is usually flared, or burnt , to mitigate environmental
damage. I suggest that corporate organizations within the country should create
a platform where youths can be trained on how to convert this gas to marketable
fuel for the purpose of discouraging its abuse and for wealth creation.
Human waste handling has continued to cause more harm to rural communities
on a yearly basis. Cholera and other deadly diseases could be easily controlled
if communities can be educated on how to manage waste and convert waste to
organic fertilizer. There is a current campaign against the use of inorganic
fertilizer for farming. This has created an open chain in the organic fertilizer
industry thereby, promoting the use of organic input for the purpose of
agriculture.
The farmer-herdsmen clash has led to the destruction of lives and properties
tuning to billions of naira. The transhumance system of keeping cattle is now
obsolete as herdsmen end up losing their cattle to rustlers and there is difficulty
in collecting dung for use. Animal farmers in developed countries harvest dung
from their farms to produce bio fuel, which could be sold or used to power
farmhouses. Corporate organizations should encourage herdsmen to adopt
ranching to curb this menace.
Pollution in the form of oil spillage and atmosphere contamination is causing
untold hardship to people living around oil exploration regions. It has also led to
the destruction of aquatic habitats, contamination of farmlands and respiratory
diseases. Plant species like Hibiscus cannabinus and Vetiveria zizanioides have
the ability to control oil spill while tree species like Caesalpinia sappan,
Psidium guajava, Dalbergia sissoo and Albizia lebbeck are capable of purifying
the air in highly polluted regions. Organizations operating in these areas should
train citizens on how to nurture these species from seedling to maturity in order
to combat the problem of pollution and improve the income of communities
through the sale of these species . Recycling is might just seem like a small
action, but it is one of the most important way of reducing pollution and
ensuring safety to the environment. Garbage dumped into the ocean has created
a large area in the Pacific Ocean called the Pacific Garbage patch, an area
covered in floating plastic that is twice the size of the state of Texas. Removing
this waste from the waste cycle plays an important role in reducing land and
water pollution.
Corporate organizations spend huge sum of money yearly to fund education but
despite this investment, many kids in the rural areas have not been able to
compete with their peers in the urban regions of the country due to the non-
availability of teaching gears like textbooks. To breach this gap, I am of the
opinion that solar powered pads with long lasting batteries should be provided
for students across the country. This will help students to be able to access
textbooks and educative materials as they progress from one level to the other.
It therefore means a child who should have spent a hundred thousand on text
books will end up spending a minimal amount to access study materials.
All over the world, there has been a campaign for the welfare of the girl child.
Many women and girls have been lured from Nigeria in recent years with
promises of work and good wages only to end up trapped in debt bondage or
used as sex tools. A scheme that will reward families with $5 when such
families save $10 for the purpose of funding girl child education should be
implemented. This will help poor families in the Niger Delta region where
trafficking is prevalent to educate their children thereby, helping to discourage
this ugly trend.
Culture can be defined as the total way of life of a people. It comprises of
language, food, music, clothing, and a host of other elements. “When humanity
loses a language, we also lose the potential for greater diversity in art, music,
literature, and oral traditions”, says Bogre Udell. Many Nigerians find it difficult
communicating in their local dialect and this is because of a total neglect of
language education among children. I am of the opinion that digital technology
be used to teach children about their culture. Organizations operating within the
country can organize cultural days where cultures can be show cased to
captivate the interest of children. In addition, most kids own phones in this age
so application developers should be encouraged to develop applications that will
help to take Nigerian culture closer to the youths despite the present infiltration
of foreign culture.
Many corporate organizations in the Nigeria have contributed meaningfully to
the social development of the country but more needs to be done. All thanks to for granting me this platform to share my idea. God bless you
References
*www.wikepedia.com
*http://homesteady.com/list-6520733-benefits- recycling-plastic-bags.html
*http://homesteady.com/list-8642626-capture-gas-septic-system-energy.html
*http://www.premiumtimesng.com/health/health-news/267563-codeine -ban-five-other-pharmaceutical-drugs-abused-by-nigerians.html