THE NEED FOR INTEGRITY IN A TRUST DEPRIVED CONTINENT
Development / Education / Values

THE NEED FOR INTEGRITY IN A TRUST DEPRIVED CONTINENT

125 Comments
Image Credit: Dreamstime.com

For development to happen in any nation there is a need for a foundation of trust and to have trust, integrity is paramount. The nations of our continent Africa are in dire need of trust and people of integrity. The led do not trust the leaders to make decisions in their best interest, doubts exist at several levels in different contexts and the politicians do no help matters as arguably, the majority lack the virtue of integrity. Take Nigeria for instance. Globally, the perception once you introduce yourself as a Nigerian or present the green passport, to some you are considered industrious and hardworking but to others – perhaps the majority –  there is that first look of ‘hmm…wait a minute Nigerian?’ and only time vindicates you.  The ‘yahoo-yahoo/419’ angle further compounds and stains our reputation as Nigerians. Poverty, victimization and corruption have been given as reasons for this but no excuse can ever validate fraud. Several examples exist of people without integrity who are successful and who win without ever getting caught, and this creates a false perception of the path to success that one should follow. Dishonesty may provide instant gratification at the moment but it will never last. 

There are of course consequences – negative – in an atmosphere devoid of trust as we miss out on some opportunities like taking longer periods to get a visa, going through an unnecessary search at the airport to name but a few. There is always an ‘extra’ check to be done and question mark attached by virtue of being Nigerian. Our different nations have a specific issue related to trust. Some people believe in African time which is something that does not exist. Let us call it what it is, late coming and not keeping to your words.  For the millions of hardworking and honest African’s out there, an environment devoid of trust and integrity is an injustice that we must correct but first let’s understand the word trust and integrity.

Trust and integrity are two intertwined concepts although interconnected, they are different. Trust is the degree to which you can predict someone or something. The expectation that the faith one places in someone else will be honoured. Do you do what you say you will do? Integrity, on the other hand, is behaving in accordance with morals, ethics and values.  It is internal and personal. Since values drive your behavioural decisions, integrity could be said to be how well you live according to your values. Integrity means doing the right thing at all times and in all circumstances, whether or not anyone is watching. It takes having the courage to do the right thing, no matter what the consequences will be. Building a reputation of integrity takes years, but it takes only a second to lose. The more you are known to have the value of integrity as an individual, the more trust people can have in you.

I know from experience that the integrity lane is not an easy one or something you build in a day. In the past, when I lacked an understanding of how important it is to keep my words and be truthful at all times, trust was broken and trust broken is not easily regained.  The building of trust begins with you and me and we can start today by showing up on time to agreed meetings, making your word your bond, not signing the attendance sheet for another person not present at a meeting, maintaining transparency showing up early to work and meetings,  filling in the exact time you got to work in the logbook, using the allotted time for lunch and not extending it, doing work when you are meant to rather than socialising at the wrong time and so many more. What action can you take right now personally to start living a life of integrity? Integrity starts with an individual and gradually permeates into society. We should also start building trust by trusting other people, reinforcing it with our behaviours, stop making excuses for dishonest people and where you fall be vulnerable and open up about your struggles, deciding to be always truthful. Being truthful will require you to leave personal interest aside in favour of the truth at all times. Ask yourself deep questions about your motives before taking any action and decision. If the only answer you can come up with is for your personal and temporary benefit, think about Africa and our children coming after us. Care about the truth when it’s in your favour and does not affect you and when the table turns, still care about upholding the value of integrity.   

In conclusion, with the high levels of suspicion among us as a people, being trusted as a person of integrity in my opinion is the most valuable quality anyone can have in their life and we can start now as ambassadors from our different families, tribes, culture and religion as we serve our nations to be agents that will uphold and promote integrity across Africa – a great continent blessed with great people. Will you join me today and stand for the truth in words and actions even if it means standing alone as we rebuild our foundation of trust? 

125 Comments

  1. Pingback: WHERE ARE YOU RUSHING TO? – Dr Progress

  2. pożyczki
    Reply

    Witryna, który jest nakierowany na płaszczyźnie rzeczy sugerowanych za pośrednictwem placówki bankowe, stale rozbudowuje swą własną podstawę. Co chwila są zamieszczane dzisiejsze newsy, oraz wskazówki pomagające żywić poprawne decyzje. Użytkownik bankowy zwiedzający krajowy blog dowie się, gdzie banku opłaca się faktycznie zaplanować rachunek rozliczeniowy własne, zaten w jakiej placówce kretytowej korzystny zostanie zobowiązanie. Dodatkowo rekomendacje organizowane za pośrednictwem fachowych znawców wspomagają nakierować od prawidłowy twór monetarny. Wraz z wpisów możemy dowiedzieć się, że nie ma co zdaje się być się sugerować chwytami marketingowymi. Tak by zwietrzyć radość a, także zalet upływające spośród włączonej transakcji trzeba wziąć pod lupę danemu produktowi niewiele więcej. Bardzo przydatne za serwisie internetowym będą aktualizowane porównywarki finansowe. Dzięki rankingom, wolno zweryfikować, zezwoli lokata bądź jaki to kredyt mieszkaniowy w tej chwili wydaje się być faktycznie intratny. Należy śledzić aktualności, jakie to pojawiają się za stronie. W takim przypadku możemy stanowić regularnie iz światem zasobów, chwilówek, inwestycji jak również różnego wariantu zabezpieczeń. https://finanero.pl/pozyczki – Pożyczki bez zdolności kredytowej.

  66. ผล บอล สด
    Reply

    ดูบอล ดูบอลออนไลน์ ที่นี่กับ ดูบอลสด บอลวันนี้ พรีเมียร์ลีกอังกฤษ ไทยลีก ลาลีกาสเปน.

    พร้อมอัพเดทข่าวสาร วงการกีฬาทั่วโลกมากมาย ดูผลบอล แบบเรียลไทม์ขอ
    ดู บอล สด หน่อย ครับผล บอล 168
    ผล ฟุตบอล พรีเมียร์ ลีก อังกฤษ เมื่อ คืน ว ดู
    บอล ออนไลน์ ฟรี ไม่ กระตุก hd ดู บอล
    ออนไลน์ ฟุตบอลตาราง แข่ง ฟุตบอล

  73. site
    Reply

    Muito bom! Obrigado por compartilhar, tenho dificuldade sobre
    este tema, mas neste momento lendo esse artigo tudo se tornou mais claro.
    Com toda certeza voltarei por aqui para postar algumas questões sobre o tema.
    Mais 1 vez meus parabéns.

    Feel free to visit my homepage; site

  77. Victoria
    Reply

    Heya i am for the first time here. I came across this
    board and I in findibg It truly helpful & it heled me out a lot.
    I am hopijng to present one thing again and aid others such as you
    aided me.

    Feel free to visit my website; 바이낸스 레퍼럴 (Victoria)

  82. eVDen EVe naKLiyaT
    Reply

    Do you mind if I quote a few of your articles as long as I provide credit and sources back to your webpage?
    My blog site is in the exact same niche as yours and my users would truly benefit
    from some of the information you provide here.
    Please let me know if this alright with you. Appreciate
    it!

  93. bsbotnet
    Reply

    It’s the best time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy.
    I’ve read this post and if I could I wish to suggest you
    few interesting things or suggestions. Maybe you can write next articles referring to this article.
    I wish to read more things about it!

  95. abortion
    Reply

    I bⅼog quite often аnnd I truly thank you for yоur informatiߋn.
    This great artiϲle haas rｅally peaked my interest.
    I’m going to take a note off уour blo and kesep checқing for new details abouht ⲟnce per ᴡeеk.
    I opted in ffor your Feeed too.

  96. Sang
    Reply

    I must thank you for thee efforts you’ve put in penning tthis website.
    I am hoping to view the sake high-grade blog posts by you later on as well.
    In fact, your creative writing abilities has motivated me
    to gett my own website now 😉

    Here iis my web blog 바이낸스 추천코드 (Sang)

  97. online
    Reply

    Hmm it looks like your website ate my first comment (it was extremely long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I wrote and say, I’m
    thoroughly enjoying your blog. I too am an aspiring blog writer but I’m still new to everything.
    Do you have any suggestions for novice blog writers?
    I’d genuinely appreciate it.

  110. vivo-slot.com.co
    Reply

    Does your site have a contact page? I’m having
    trouble locating it but, I’d like to send you an email.

    I’ve got some creative ideas for your blog you might be interested in hearing.
    Either way, great site and I look forward to
    seeing it expand over time.

  115. cmd 368
    Reply

    Hello! I could have sworn I’ve visited this site before but after going through many of the posts I realized it’s new to me.
    Anyhow, I’m definitely pleased I came across it and I’ll be book-marking
    it and checking back often!

  117. situs bokep
    Reply

    Heya just wanted to give you a quick heads up and let you know a few of the pictures aren’t loading correctly.
    I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve
    tried it in two different web browsers and both show the same outcome.

  120. https://Allslotwow.com/superslot-15100--2022/
    Reply

    Although this is the principle highlight of the PowerBucks
    Wheel of Fortune Exotic Far East slot machine, our reviewers found that it’s not the only one.
    Our reviewers discovered that there’s lots to love about the PowerBucks Wheel of Fortune Exotic Far East
    slots sport. The PowerBucks Wheel of Fortune Exotic Far East on-line slot is just considered one of a collection of comparable games from IGT.
    You could have Autoplay and Turbo choices, and
    you’ll play Scarab Link for free here at VegasSlotsOnline earlier
    than making money bets at our top IGT Casinos.
    Scuttle across to IGT casinos to expertise this Egyptian adventure for
    your self. You’ll discover it at our hand-picked IGT casinos.

    It’s a trickier matter to learn the way much energy a USB-C cable
    can go, though you can begin with sure assumptions. They haven’t
    moved the graphics along an excessive amount of in this recreation, but it’s still a good-looking slot machine that you’ll discover in desktop and mobile versions.
    It can be tough to discern precisely which pill models are nonetheless available on the market, however going by the offerings
    of huge shops like Sears and Walmart, every part
    besides the M-a hundred and fifty is still out there online or in shops.
    How can I get a desk at a top restaurant?

  121. Nakliyat
    Reply

    First of all I want to say excellent blog! I had
    a quick question that I’d like to ask if you
    do not mind. I was curious to know how you center yourself and clear your thoughts prior to writing.
    I have had a hard time clearing my thoughts in getting my ideas out there.
    I do enjoy writing however it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are
    lost just trying to figure out how to begin. Any recommendations or
    tips? Kudos!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Instagram