#MyWordForToday is #Contribution

#MyWordForToday is #Contribution

Nigerians, in fact, many African countries have a contribution system called "Esusu or Ajo". Each tribe/country has its own name for it. 

It is formed by a group of people, usually friends, that come together, to contribute an x amount of money, for an agreed number of Months. Each person may contribute N200,000 Naira monthly for 10 months. 

They will then chose by ballot, a recipient for each month. This means that each month, a recipient goes home with 2 Million Naira. This cycle continues, until the 10 months is spent.

It is an interesting, but risky way of saving money. Done with trusted friends, it is a great way of taking a loan, paid back in bits, without interest. 

This style of saving embodies today's theme on "Contribution". What it means is that everyone involved, contributes their money and time, and they all reap the benefits. 

Someone, often the team lead, is responsible for ensuring timely contributions and payment by members. 

I am giving this instance to buttress the Yoruba saying that a society cannot do much, or be more, without the positive contribution of its members. 

The adage reads: "cooperation, where everyone contributes positively, works better than individualism; one hand cannot lift the load to the head". 

This translation is not so apt, but I'm sure you get the idea.

In many parts of Yorubaland, SW Nigeria, we traditionally carry stuff on the head. This practice is still very rife in rural areas, so one would typically need another pair of hands to help lift one's load onto the head. 

If you have ever led a team, you will know that you truly cannot survive or be successful without your team's active support. This adage readily comes to mind. 

Contribute originates from a Latin word that means "to bring together, to add, or unite". 

So in a familial setting, a unit of people may not thrive if one member of the family is not actively and positively present. 

According to the National Institute of  Justice (NJI) "Children of incarcerated parents face profound and complex threats to their emotional, physical, educational, and financial well-being."

This is because the contribution of that one parent is vital to the well being of the Children. 

I read statistics made by a psychologist who researched the impact of absent fathers on children, the London Prisons which apparently houses a lot of men, was the test subject. 

She said the absence of fathers that led to mothers raising the children is causing a parenting deficit. This thus means that each member of the family is valuable, and their contributions can never be underestimated.

The African Society is built on communal living, and sadly we seem to be losing this culture of ours. Africans believe that it takes a village to raise a child, it takes the contribution of each member of the Society to raise children. 

Taking a look at the role of teachers and their contribution to the child, and ergo the society. It is pivotal to the learning of a child for both the teacher and parents to be consensus ad idem. 

If the parent does not agree with the teaching method adopted by their Child's teacher, the child's education may suffer and if the teacher is impervious or not committed to the learning needs of the wards, same happens.

That child's contribution to society becomes endangered. Every valuable contribution is needed for The Society to thrive a tree does not make a forest.

Let me tell you a story. There was this support staff at my university.  Although, not being the vice-chancellor nor was she part of the school senate, her contributions to our lives was too important. 

Her job is to compile transcripts for students wanting to travel abroad for further studies or those needing it for myriad reasons. 

She was the oil that helped to keep that particular engine moving. This means that as small as our little finger is, its loss may disable us from holding our pens comfortably. 

As the leader of a team, you must consider the contribution of every member must be considered valuable. 

Remember the story of Naaman and the Hebrew girl (it is instructive to note that she was referred to as "the servant girl). Without her contribution that fateful day,  Naaman might have been a leper for the rest of his life. 

When I conduct leadership classes, I like to focus on the quieter members of my class. I find that the stiller a person is, the more they hold inside of them. Every word they speak has been carefully considered before they utter it. 

When we allow and appreciate the contribution of everyone, even those of the children that came out of our vaginas, there is a sense of fulfilment that comes with this, that helps us all to thrive. 

Remember "one hand cannot carry the load onto the head."

Namaste🙏🏽

Bibireosefowora💌