ROLE OF MENTORS IN CHARACTER FORMATION AND NATION BUILDING

THE ROLE OF MENTORS IN CHARACTER FORMATION  AND NATION BUILDING.

 

History abound with great men who helped shaped the world. One of such men was Socrates.  He was a classical Greek Philosopher  credited as one of the founders of western Philosophy.

 

The mentoring session he began in Greece helped advanced civilization.  Greece became influential in ancient  time  not only in military expedition  but a citadel of learning.

 

He mentored Plato, who also contributed  extensively to the growth of western Philosophy. Aristotle  who later became one  the greatest philosophers  the world has ever known was ably mentored by Plato.  The chain of mentoring in Greece continued when Alexander of Macedon who was later known as Alexander  the great became one of the students of  Aristotle.

Alexander  the great created one of the largest empires of the ancient world.

 

Mentors are highly influential  and quintessential.  Jesus Christ is arguably the greatest mentor of all times. All his disciples did well except  one.

 

All known motivational  experts directly  or indirectly were mentored or influenced by Napoleon  Hill. Such great experts like w. Clement Stone of Napoleon Hill foundation,  TONEY Robbin, author of Awaken the giant within, Robert  Kiyasoki of Rich Dad, Poor Dad firm,  Jack Canfied author of the success principles, Donald Trump,  United States president and Creator of ‘ The Apprentice and Co author of ‘Think  Big’ etc.

 

EMEKA Ugwuonye  (esq) is an amiable, influential and quintessential man of letters. He founded Due Process Advocates  (DPA). A group that promotes and advocates  for rule of law, human Rights, due process, equality and access to Justice for all.  Large group of people began to follow him. His mentoring session  through his social media platforms grew and expanded. His style of teaching and protest is superb  and unprecedented. He helped members realise their rights denied them long ago.

 

Martin Luther King Jr was mentored by the eccentric and diminutive Indian Statesman, Mahatma Gandhi. Even though,  time and distance separated them remarkably, he poured himself into the works and contributions  of Gandhi. He learnt the principles of non violent  struggle from him and effectively applied it  to the freedom struggles  for the emancipation  of the Negroes from the shackles of racism in  America.

 

Patrick Otieno Lumumba ,  the director  of Kenyan School of law. He is one of the greatest  and most eloquent  Pan Africanist of the 21st century. He is a great admirer and highly influenced by Patrice Lumumba of Congo DR. He is as passionate  as he is eloquent in his persistent  call for Africans to free themselves  from mental slavery and neo-colonialism.

 

Most of the lawyers that passed through the chambers of Gani Fawehinmi are doing exceptionally well in Nigeria’s  legal system.

 

But regrettably today,  Nigeria is in short supply of men of extraordinary  valour. There is no doubt at all that there is a strand in contemporary  Nigeria behaviour which offend by its exhibition and disregard  for humility and loyalty . Many Nigerians appear to be hasty  and impatient  to pass through the mentoring processes. Rather,  they tend to consider  such inconsequential   things like the height of  the mentor, where he came from or his marital status.

 

We have more to gain if we humble ourselves to pass through the mentoring processes. We’ll not only maximise our potentials but achieve greatness in our life time.

 

Ifeanyi Calistus,

Director of Information /Communication

DPA