Be a Beacon of Hope in the World

Why does one youngster stab another with a knife which they will never, ever dare to stab themselves with? Why are our young people killing themselves without thinking of the pains and sorrow such barbarism and bestiality will leave their loved ones with for the rest of their lives? Why do some young persons—members of the same community—prey on one another with such jungle-like ferocity in the nation’s cities? Why are there now so many of such gruesome, purposeless, wicked and unwarranted killings in the nation’s cities as if Britain is now a land that devours its children? More worrisome is the fact that when they are hacked to death so young, what happens to their dreams, visions, goals and aspirations?Heart-rending as these painful questions are, Be a Beacon of Hope in the World: A Message to Young Britain does not attempt to offer answers to these puzzles arising from the untimely deaths of Britain’s children through knifings. However, it seeks to act as a guidepost, compass and a Sat Nav to point young persons in the right direction and on the path of civility, decency, common sense, humaneness and universal altruism, whereupon they are expected to have respect: for themselves, for others and for all of life’s forms. Therefore, let the alarm bell, which this book will trigger, warn all young persons in Britain and the world over that to live in the fast lane is to die young. Let this message reverberate through the vista of time.

John Aduma, British Chevening Scholar, poet and a veteran journalist with industry prizes – Reporter of the Year, 1992 and Investigative Reporter of the Year, 1992 – was formerly chairman editorial board of the Daily Times of Nigeria Plc, 2000–2003; executive secretary, Foundry Association of Nigeria (FAN), 1997–2000; between 1994 and 1997, he was at various times assistant features editor, assistant news editor, head, property and environment desk and city watch editor at The Punch; senior correspondent, The Independent Weekly, 1993, and staff reporter with The Guardian, 1990–1993.

Educated both in Nigeria and in the United Kingdom, Mr Aduma attended Christ the King’s School, Okpoma, Yala, Ogoja in 1969 in the former South Eastern State of Nigeria, now Cross River State; St. Mel’s Primary School, Woleche, Ebo, 1971; St. Gabriel’s Primary School, Ebo Ipuole, 1972–1974; Christian Vocational Commercial School, Okuku, Ogoja, 1975; Faith Institute of Stenography, Shogunle, Lagos, Nigeria, 1976; and for his secondary school, he attended and obtained the joint School Certificate and General Certificate of Education (GCE), Ordinary Level at Aladura Comprehensive High School, Anthony Village, Lagos, Nigeria from 1977–1982; University of Ibadan Extra-Mural Studies, Department of Adult Education, 1983–1984; worked at Exam Success Correspondence College, Lagos, between 1983 and 1985, and he holds an MA in international journalism with specialism in environment from City, University of London; City Business College, London, 2005–2006; MA in English, University of Lagos, Nigeria; a BA (Hons) English Studies from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; post-graduate diploma in journalism, Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos; specialist diploma in teaching English: Literacy and ESOL, Level 5; Certificate in Education and Training (CET), Level 4 and an Award in Education and Training (AET), Level 3, CONEL, London.

He is the author of the inspirational bestseller The Diamonds Are Here, Lord Rumens (ed.), and the publisher of Vigilance – the world’s leading security magazine (www.vigilance-securitymagazine.com) and Scorpion News Corp (www.scorpionnewscorp.com).

Besides, he is involved in City, University of London’s professional mentoring scheme as a Post Graduate Professional Mentor (PGPM).

Mr Aduma is currently a doctoral researcher at the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics, Centre for Cultural, Literary and Postcolonial Studies (CCLPS), SOAS, University of London.