REORDERING PERCEPTIONS:

MIND SHIFT FOR MONUMENTAL TRANSFORMATION

Anne Omokhele Imomoh

OUTLINE

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Introduction Reordering Perceptions Case Study The Indomie Example The Gala Example The Pampers Example The Asian Example

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Perception is not Fact Exploring the Concept of Subtlety The Media The Presidential Campaign of the Jonathan Administration

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Developing the Value System Implementation Conclusion References

INTRODUCTION Every enterprise is built by wise planning. It becomes strong through common sense and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast of facts (Taylor, 1971). Facts have overtime played a pivotal role to the strategic growth and development of the individual but the change in itself does not come from the fact or knowledge. The reality is that fact and indeed information are but tools waiting for the individual to happen upon it, and put it to productive use to bring about the desired result. Newton happened upon the law of gravity (Newton, 1686). Before then the law of gravity had always existed, waiting for the time someone will happen along it and put it to use, bringing about monumental development. Alongside the development to the society, the impact made upon the life of the individual is outstanding, altering her life and mindset completely.

The government of Nigeria has severally undertaken extensive projects to portray Nigeria as the giant of the African nation as a measure to control the repeated bashing it has suffered on its image on varying fronts; from the politys indiscretion to governments excesses. These projects (some of them hastily set up), have sought to project to the West the potentiality, credibility and integrity of Nigeria as a nation with the bid to lure foreign investors to provide financial backing for economic growth.

One project of note, the most recent, sought to include the reorientation of the mindset of the Nigerian populace. The campaign was carried out to convince the Nigerian populace of their dignity and provide as a people, portraying that the collection of good people make for the greatness of the nation, hence the slogan, Good People, Great Nation. The strategy of the then Information Minister, Dr. Dora Akinyuli, was that the nation is nothing without its people, and the quality of the people, would in essence determine the quality of the nation. She termed it Rebranding Nigeria. Sadly, the campaign failed to garner the desired effect, and did little to alter the opinions of the populace, and the rest of the world. In fact, the reverse was the case. The campaign did nothing to tackle the underlying problem, and became a mockery. The otherwise good intentioned project was a massive waste of resources, as had become the norm with government projects. The underlying problem, and its solution, is the main thrust of this research paper.

REORDERING PERCEPTIONS Perception is the process of attaining awareness or understanding of the environment by organizing and interpreting sensory information (Oxford, n.d.). Data is provided for perception via the physiological capabilities of the organism (in this case the human individual). It is interesting to note that perception is also actively shaped by learning, memory and expectation (Gregory, 1987), (Bernstein, 2010). In essence, the way an individual viewed a particular subject or article of interest accounted for the motivation behind his action, or inaction. This is perception.

CASE STUDY The Indomie Example The local mallams kiosk provides an interesting scenario. The buyer goes to buy noodles. He asks the mallam for noodles (the generic name for that kind of pasta) but is told it is unavailable. The buyer then asked for indomie and the mallam became animated, proceeding to get the noodles for the buyer. In the end he brings out the Chikki brand of noodles and is yet corrected by the buyer until he is given the right brand. The Gala Example Asking for sausage roll from the mobile hawkers of the product will be answered with blank stares until Gala is requested, and the specific brand of Gala pointed out.

The Pampers Example Many mothers may not know that the generic name for the Pampers brand they use on their babies are actually called diapers. The perceptions of these individuals have overtime been shaped by memory. In the Nigerian context, the populace has had their perceptions largely shaped by culture over time, in the last decade; the media has played a huge role in forming perceptions of the people, especially the younger generation.

PERCEPTION IS NOT FACT The thinking of a man is shaped by the information available to him is not actually true. His thinking is actually shaped by the understanding or misunderstanding of the information he has gotten, as well as the correct or incorrect application of that information. (Nelson, 1982) The fact or information is there for all to see. This probably tells why different people armed with the same information achieve different results. (Nelson, 1982) The notion that perception can be shaped, nurtured or even coerced obviously shows that previous perceptions can be unlearned. Indeed the prevailing situation in todays society worldwide indicates the eroding of cultural norms largely accepted two decades ago. Though the blame is being laid at the door of technological advancement, the real dispute is not with the machinery as it were, but the interpretation of the information being passed across and the level of influence it has had on ones mindset. (Postman, 1992)

The Asian Example Gladwells (2008) book sought to explain effectively the working of perceptions in the school system, showing the disparity between the school child in the US and the school child in Asia. The average child in Asia spends more days at school, than the average child in America. He observed that the average school year is 180 days in the US, while the average school year is 220 and 240 days in South Korea and Japan respectively. The average child in Asia spends 50% more time at school than the average child in America, hence do better. No wonder the outstanding track records in Math and the science by the Asians. The children, spending more days in school and longer hours are being ingrained with the perception that school and learning was of the utmost importance than any other thing, They have been driven with the mindset that they were to give their all to what they did as that would in essence make a pathway for monumental development in their nation. Is it any wonder that the Asians are leading the pack in the field of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence by encouraging rigorous research and churning out outstanding discoveries?

EXPLORING THE CONCEPT OF SUBTLETY One distinguishing factor that largely influencing ones interpretation of information is the manner it is presented. More often than not, it isn t the obvious information stated that influences the individual, it is rather, the underlying message being transmitted. It is usually this message that persuades the individual to see things differently.

The Media The MTV Video Music Awards of 2003 paints a very vivid picture (Warn, 2003).Britney Spears was performing on stage with her role model, Madonna. Sometime into the performance, the two artistes share a kiss. The world was in shock when that happened, but the message passed across was clear, and was implanted in the minds of millions of people; lesbianism was okay. The Nigerian Nollywood scene more or less does the same. Though the moral connotation of the story plays out at the end, the underlying message of haphazard dressing, bleached skin tones, outrageous hair styles, the standard of flashy cars and houses are ingrained in the mind of the viewers, who in turn see that as the norm, they standard to attain to. The Presidential Campaign of the Jonathan Administration The message of subtlety played out in this case. Though the candidate contested under the auspices of the PDP, Nigerians, despite their mistrust of the party, voted for the candidate because they perceived him to be neutral, as he was from a different part of the country. They believed they were voting for the individual, and did so.

DEVELOPING A VALUE SYSTEM The average American takes great pride in the values of their ancestry because they have been taught, right from elementary school of its history. An iCNN report proved that the average American did not even know that America lost the Vietnam War fought from 1945 to 1954. Though an inexcusable display of ignorance, this also showed the superiority mentality they have been made to perceive of themselves, via learning.

IMPLEMENTATION One perceived need of this country is a mind shift. Window dressing our problems to look like they are not as salient as they seem will further deepen the rot in the system. The experiences garnered over time have reiterated the fact that a more permanent solution is needed. It goes beyond infrastructural development when the majority of the polity and indeed the government do not practice and implement the maintenance culture. It also goes beyond placing a few adverts in the newspapers, lyrical jingles and engaging discourse by celebrities in the entertainment sector. It is making a commitment to the extensive education of the Nigerian with uncommon dedication to reordering his negative thinking pattern. It starts from our schools, teaching the new generation Nigerian about our Value System, causing it to be ingrained in the Nigerian child until he is totally convinced of the picture of a new Nigeria. It is presenting information to the Nigerian youth and creative the conducive environment to allow for the furtherance of his goals and dreams. Only then will we begin to see that change, which earnestly desired mind shift, making for monumental transformation in the nation as we know it.

CONCLUSION There is a vital need for the implementation of the findings of this research as failure to implement recommendations results in retardation of a polity.

Perception spurs motion, and action. It gives room for the desired result that is largely sought, and brings with it great rewards. The best time to take action was yesterday. The next best time is now. The reality is tackling the mindset of a polity is indeed a most odious task and need extensive planning and project management for the task to be achieved but it is a task to be done. Soon is a language of deception. It keeps people hoping endlessly until they waste. If you introduce massive action into your life, in a short while, you become a man of your dreams. - Dr. David Oyedepo

REFERENCES Taylor Ken, The Living Bible, Tyndale, 1971, Proverbs 24:1-3 Newton Isaac, Principia, 1686 Oxford English Dictionary Gregory Richard, Perception in Gregory, Zangwill, 1987, pgs. 598-601 Bernstein Douglas A., Essentials of Psychology, Cengage Learning, pgs. 123-124 Taylor Ken, The Living Bible, Tyndale, 1971, Proverbs 23:7 Taylor Ken, The Living Bible, Tyndale, 1971, Matthew 13:8 Postman Neil, Technopoly, The Surrender of Culture to Technology, 1992 Gladwell Malcolm, Outliers, 2008 Warn Sarah, afterellen.com, 2003