The Learner

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(174): Messi and Ronaldo: Success and patriotism in the world of football

By Muhsin Ibrahim Messi and Ronaldo need no introduction. The stories of their long-lasting, exceptionally record-breaking careers are ubiquitous. What do you think they share in common? Many things. But their thirst for success and patriotism stand out. As it's said, Messi has "completed" football. While Ronaldo hasn't won the World Cup, he has won several other trophies, including the Euros. Yet, both wept over the same trophies they had won in the past few days. Would a Nigerian player do the same? Super Eagles player Victor Osimhen and former coach Finidi George recently had a disagreement. The player expressed his frustration on social media, speaking about the coach as if they were on the same level. This kind of public disagreement is rare in the world of professional sports. Despite their remarkable success in their respecti ve clubs, Messi and Ronaldo have never had any public disputes with their national team managers. Looking beyond their foot

(173): Girls: Between Education and Marriage

Marriage is vital. I am a product of marriage and have been married for over a decade. However, we must teach our daughters that there are other achievements besides or in addition to getting married. While looking for a second wife, a friend met a girl. However, upon realising that she was not his type and that she "accepted" him only because she was idle and had no other suitor, he promised to help her start a business and return to school. He first gave her a small amount of capital to restart the snacks business, which she said she had once done. Months later, she did not do anything. He, in fact, realised that she had most likely wasted the money. He was angry and sad but didn't give up on his mission to better her life. Since she left secondary school without sitting for the senior secondary school examination (SSCE) due to family issues, he gave her money to register for this year's WAEC/NECO examination. As I type this, she has not done so yet. She only

(172): A solution to procrastination

By Muhsin Ibrahim Procrastination affects not only writers but also people from almost all walks of life. We all have tasks to do. However, due to procrastination, we keep saying that we will do them later again and again until the time is gone. When I was writing my dissertation, I struggled with procrastination. I would often put off writing, thinking that I could do it later. This led to a lot of stress and anxiety as deadlines approached. However, I was determined to find a solution. I tried different techniques, such as setting strict deadlines for myself and breaking up my work into smaller, more manageable tasks. Eventually, I found a solution that worked for me. I was reading a book with a ‘funny’ title: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck , when I found the following: ‘When I was in high school, my math teacher, Mr. Packwood, used to say, “If you’re stuck on a problem, don’t sit there and think about it; just start working on it. Even if you don’t know what you’re doing, th

(171): Islam: Conversion during 1445/2024 Ramadan

Islam: Conversion during 1445/2024 Ramadan Many people are embracing Islam more than usual during this ongoing Ramadan. Their stories are all over social media. One of the most popular stories is that of American writer and activist Shaun King and his wife, Rai King. We also witnessed one such conversation in our mosque last weekend. He is a young man of Congolese origin. He was born and raised here (in Germany). The good conduct of his friend, the son of our chairman, influenced his decision. He fell in love with Islam, did his homework and, bingo, embraced it. May Allah grant him steadfastness, amin. Shaun King (middle) and Rai King (right) Islam has been getting more members since the start of the Gaza war. That, too, continues. A few days ago, I saw a white Swedish young lady accepting Islam. She said the resilience and fortitude of Gazans in the face of what many people described as "genocide" happening in Gaza led her to their religion. Honestly, seeing and readin

(170): Saudi Arabia and the need for more reforms

By Muhsin Ibrahim Even a visually impaired individual can perceive the evident transformation taking place in Saudi Arabia. Although we came from Germany, a country renowned for its technological advancements, we express our admiration for the aesthetic and infrastructural qualities of the Haramain High Speed Railway station. Furthermore, we observed a vast expanse of land undergoing construction, situated a short distance from the station. The name of this project, the Knowledge Economic City, provides an indication of its intended purpose. This is part of the Vision 2030 project. Additionally, numerous construction sites for hospitals, schools, and other facilities are visible in the surrounding area of the railway station. However, it is evident that further reform is necessary. Our taxi driver appeared to be of South Asian descent. During our brief conversation, I discovered that despite his grandfather being born in Saudi Arabia, he does not possess a Saudi passport and is consid

(169): Local languages: Panacea for social interaction and more?

By Muhsin Ibrahim Language is one of the most amazing things in the world. We often overlook its influence in our lives because it is mundane . W e all use a language , verbally or non-verbally , daily. We acquire language , i.e., we grow up speaki ng effortlessly. Thus, we don't care much about its profound impact and influence on how we interact with others, think about and view the world . We had international conferences on Africa in Cologne, Germany and San Francisco, United States. This short piece is about something other than the many academic papers presented; it is about how hearing someone speaking our language or a local language we are familiar with in a foreign country attracts our attention. In both Cologne and San Francisco, I observed a pattern. People speaking the same language form a circle. It does not matter if you are an ethnic speake r of the language or just a speaker . People quickly click, for i t is easy to use a l