Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia
People who indulged in inordinate quest for instant wealth would have shorter lifespan while those that made their money through normal process would live longer to enjoy their wealth.
This scientific finding was made known by the Executive Director of the National Institute for Nigerian Languages (NINLAN), Aba, Professor Obiajulu Emejulu, while featuring at the 2023 Odenigbo Lecture.
The Odenigbo lecture is an annual lecture series organised by the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri in which Igbo intellectuals use Igbo language to deliver a lecture on a particular topic, which the late iconic literary and intellectual giant, Professor Chinua Achebe, featured in 1999 edition.
Emejulu, who is a language and communication expert, delivered the 2023 edition of the lecture series that now in its 28th year.
He lamented the havoc that get-rich-quick syndrome has wrecked on the Nigerian society and warned people to desist from the mad rush to acquire wealth..
In the 109-page lecture he delivered in Igbo language, which was titled “Akwa Ana-Ebere Ego: Uru na Oghom Di Na Ya,” which translates to “The Quest for Money: Its Pros and Cons,” Emejulu attributed many ills in the society to the reckless pursuit of money.
According to him, the Nigerian society is currently suffering as a result of the greed, recklessness, callousness, insensitivity and inhumanity with which people are seeking for money.
He reeled out the many heinous criminal activities that have characterised the contemporary Nigerian society as a result of “unrestrained and unethical pursuit of money.”
These crimes included kidnapping, human trafficking, money rituals with human sacrifice, cannibalism, Internet fraud or yahoo-yahoo, use of charms to enhance business success, drug peddling among others.
“It is the ‘extra-terrestrial’ value placed on money that makes some people vow that whatever it takes, come rain ,come shine, they must get rich,” he said.
However, the 2023 Odenigbo lecturer harped on the downside of excessive and unbridled quest for wealth at all cost, using scientifically proven research to drive home his views.
He stated that socio-psychologists have in their research found that people who are driven by excessive ambition to be rich might eventually get rich but all that glitters is not gold.
“They never get contented. This lack of contentment drives them on in the mad race for money until they get into trouble,” he said.
Referencing another research finding, Prof. Emejulu further stated that while “those who believe in unbridled rush for money may really get rich, those who believe in getting money through cool-headed approach live longer lives.”
He noted that some factors could push some otherwise normal people to join the mad rush for wealth acquisition and its attendant criminal activities.
He said: “Such triggers are penury and suffering, greed, laziness, fear of what people will say, competition, injustice, fear of failure, weak faith and indebtedness, among others.”
Emejulu, however, pointed out that money as a generally accepted means of exchange and measure of value was not to blame for the many vices linked to it. Rather, people “are to blame for the evil they do with money,” he said.
“Money can do nothing except what man wants to do with it. Money is not responsible for all the atrocities in the world today; men are the culprits,” he stated.
The professor of language regretted that man “has enthroned money as a king ruling in their lives,” and offered a number of admonitions as sustainable attitude to pursuit of money.
He said: “To work hard for money is not bad. But we should be contented with what we have and avoid greed.
“Avoid living beyond your means. Remember, the more money one gets, the bigger one’s problems get.
“If you work hard for money but do not get much money, thank God all the same for God knows what is the best for you.
“God could leave you without surplus money but give you what is greater and better than money.”
