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The Power Behind Every Success and Failure: Cause and Effect
The Power Behind Every Success and Failure: Cause and Effect.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester — published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
Cause and effect is not a soft, spiritual hunch. It is the hard backbone of reality. From the motion of galaxies to the choices we make at breakfast, actions precipitate consequences. That chain (sometimes linear, sometimes tangled) governs physical phenomena and human experience alike. To understand it is to gain leverage over the world; to ignore it is to surrender to confusion, superstition and avoidable failure.
The Physics: Where Causality Wears a Lab Coat. In physics, causality is the basic expectation that effects follow causes in an orderly sequence. Newton’s mechanics capture this clearly. His third law (“for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction”) does not merely describe colliding billiard balls; it codifies the reciprocity of interactions. Push the world and it pushes back with measurable, predictable force. That symmetry undergirds engineering, aerospace and even the feel of the ground beneath your feet.
Thermodynamics adds a crucial texture: direction. The second law tells us entropy tends to increase in a closed system. In plainer language, heat flows from hot to cold; eggs scramble but do not un-scramble by themselves. This “ARROW of TIME” is the macroscopic fingerprint of CAUSE-AND-EFFECT: we can distinguish past from future because the causal chain drives systems toward more dispersed, less ordered states unless we invest energy to reverse local disorder. Every refrigerator, air-conditioner and vaccine cold chain is a deliberate intervention against entropy’s drift.
Quantum mechanics complicates (but does not erase) this picture. At microscopic scales, we exchange deterministic prediction for probabilistic causation. We cannot predict exactly when a radioactive atom will decay, but the statistical laws are astonishingly precise. Even here, causes constrain effects, just with probability distributions instead of certainty. Einstein bristled at this fuzziness (“God does not play dice with the universe,” he famously remarked) but experiment after experiment confirms that probabilistic rules are still rules. The dice are loaded by the laws of nature.
The Philosophy: Making Sense of the Chain. Philosophers have wrestled with causation for centuries because it underwrites explanation itself. Aristotle mapped “FOUR CAUSES” material (what something is made of), formal (its form or pattern), efficient (the immediate trigger) and final (its purpose). Modern science largely trades in efficient causes: this force produced that acceleration; this pathogen triggered that fever.
David Hume, the great skeptic, warned that we never see causation directly; we see constant conjunctions and infer that one event makes another follow. “All events seem entirely loose and separate,” he wrote, insisting that necessity is a mental overlay on repeated patterns. Hume’s challenge matters because it humbles us: causal belief must be earned by evidence, not asserted by habit.
Bertrand Russell went further, provocatively declaring that “the law of causality is a relic of a bygone age.” What he meant (often misread) was not that causes do not exist, but that simplistic, single-line causal talk can fail in modern physics. That is a warning label against lazy thinking, not a license to deny causal structure. The right response is not abandonment, but refinement.
That refinement is exactly what contemporary researchers have delivered. Computer scientist Judea Pearl and colleagues formalized causal reasoning with graphical models and counterfactuals, giving us tools to move beyond mere correlation. Their message is simple and devastating to sloppy analysis: if you cannot say what would have happened if not for a given action, you do not understand the cause.
The Human Domain: Decisions, Systems and Consequences. If physics supplies CAUSE-AND-EFFECT with equations, everyday life supplies it with stakes. Actions and policies generate ripples; intended and unintended. In personal finance, spend more than you earn and debt compounds; invest regularly and returns compound. In public health, vaccination rates cause measurable shifts in disease prevalence. In education, hours of deliberate practice, quality of instruction and mentorship produce predictable distributions of skill.
Real life also features feedback loops, delays and hidden variables that make causality look messy. Consider traffic congestion: adding road capacity can initially relieve delays (short-term effect) but later induce more driving (long-term effect), landing us back in gridlock. Or economic policy: slash interest rates and you stimulate borrowing and growth; leave them low for too long and you may sow asset bubbles. Causes often arrive bundled and effects unfold on multiple clocks.
This is where causal thinking earns its keep. It forces us to ask:
What is the mechanism?
What time scale am I measuring?
What counterfactual am I comparing against?
What confounders might be fooling me?
“CORRELATION is not CAUSATION” is more than a slogan; it is a public-safety announcement for the mind. Ice cream sales rise with drownings, but neither causes the other; warm weather causes both. Without causal discipline, we will fall for mirages; superstitions in folk clothing or statistics in academic clothing.
Freedom, Responsibility, and the Myth of Inevitability. A common misreading of causality is fatalism: if everything has a cause, then nothing could be otherwise. Stephen Hawking skewered this posture with dry wit: people who say everything is predetermined still look before crossing the road. We behave as though our choices matter because they do. Causality does not erase agency; it explains it. Our brains are pattern-learning engines, exquisitely tuned to forecast consequences and choose actions accordingly. Habits are causal devices we install in ourselves.
At scale, the same logic governs institutions. Accountability is applied causality: trace an outcome back through decisions, incentives and failures, then re-engineer the system. Good governance is not about rhetoric; it is about pinpointing levers that predictably change results. Bad governance blurs causes with excuses and swaps evidence for slogans.
Evidence, Not Incantation: How to Think Causally. To move from slogans to substance, adopt the scientist’s discipline:
Define the intervention. What exactly is the action whose effect you care about? Vagueness kills causal inference.
Specify the counterfactual. Compared to what? Yesterday? A different policy? No intervention at all?
Measure on the right timeline. Short-run effects can conflict with long-run effects; report both.
Control confounders. If you can’t randomize, adjust intelligently: match groups, use instrumental variables or analyze natural experiments.
Seek mechanisms. Numbers persuade, mechanisms explain. How does A produce B?
Replicate. One study is a hint; converging evidence is a case.
These are not just academic niceties. They are the difference between policies that save lives and policies that waste money; between businesses that grow and businesses that guess.
The Moral of the Chain: Power With Responsibility. Causality confers power. If we can map the levers that move outcomes, we can design better cities, craft smarter regulations and build more resilient businesses. Power without humility invites catastrophe. Complex systems bite back. Interventions in healthcare, energy or education must be piloted, monitored and corrected. The goal is not perfect prediction, that belongs to Laplace’s mythical demon, an intelligence that knows every particle’s position and could thereby foresee the entire future. The goal is useful prediction: ENOUGH UNDERSTANDING to tilt probabilities in our favor.
We do this every day. Seat belts reduce fatalities. Smoking cessation lowers cancer risk. Early childhood education improves lifetime outcomes. These are not miracles; they are examples of measured causes yielding reliable effects. Progress is the patient accumulation of such levers.
Quotable Anchors for the Mind. A few concise lines, properly used, sharpen our causal instincts:
Isaac Newton: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. That’s reciprocity made law.
Albert Einstein: “God does not play dice with the universe.” A dissent that keeps us honest about the limits of randomness.
David Hume: We infer necessary connection from repeated patterns; we must not mistake habit for proof.
Stephen Hawking: Even those who preach predestination look before crossing the street, agency lives within causality.
Judea Pearl (paraphrased): Without counterfactuals and models, we cannot speak meaningfully about causes.
Bertrand Russell: Beware simplistic causal talk; modern science demands precision.
Each quote, trimmed to its essence, points the same way: understand the chain or be dragged by it.
Closing Argument: Master the Chain, Don’t Be Chained by It. The law of cause and effect is the world’s operating system. It is not a metaphysical garnish but the main course. Physics gives it equations; philosophy gives it clarity; data science gives it tools; and everyday life gives it consequences. When we act with causal literacy (naming mechanisms, testing interventions, measuring timeliness) we become responsible authors of our outcomes.
Leave nothing to luck that you can assign to law. Name your levers. Test your assumptions. Demand the counterfactual. Then PULL, MEASURE and ADJUST. That is how rockets reach orbit, hospitals cut mortality, startups escape gravity and citizens bend history toward justice. The chain is unbreakable; but in your hands, it is also steerable.
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NNPP Chieftain Olufemi Ajadi writes a letter to President Trump over the stringent US visa rules for Nigerians
NNPP Chieftain Olufemi Ajadi writes a letter to President Trump over the stringent US visa rules for Nigerians
Ambassador Ajadi and Donald Trump – By Our Correspondent
A chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has written an open letter to former United States President Donald J. Trump, advising to him to remove the stringent visa restrictions currently affecting Nigerians who wish to travel to the US.
In the strongly worded letter made available to journalists on Tuesday, Ajadi noted that Nigerians have long enjoyed cordial relations with the United States, and that the imposition of harsh visa rules undermines people-to-people ties, business collaborations, and educational opportunities.
According to him, many law-abiding Nigerians are unfairly denied access to the US due to policies that stereotype the country’s citizens, despite Nigeria’s significant contributions to global development and the large Nigerian diaspora community in America.
“Mr. President, Nigeria is a nation of hardworking and resourceful people,” Ajadi wrote. “Our citizens contribute positively to the US economy, academia, technology, medicine, and culture. It is therefore unfair to subject them to unnecessary bottlenecks and humiliating visa processes. I respectfully urge you to consider a review of these rules in the spirit of fairness, justice, and mutual respect.”
Ajadi, who is also a businessman and social activist, emphasized that easing visa restrictions would not only strengthen diplomatic ties but also create opportunities for trade, cultural exchange, and bilateral cooperation.
He called for fairer treatment of Nigerian travelers, while assuring that the government and people of Nigeria remain committed to international peace and collaboration.
READ ALSO: State Clear Reasons for U.S. Visa Denial -Ajadi’s Legal Team Demands CCTV, Audio Tape Review, Document Re-Examination
He further argued that many young Nigerians look up to the US as a destination for higher education and innovation, stressing that rigid visa hurdles discourage intellectual growth and international partnerships.
Ajadi concluded his letter by expressing optimism that President Trump, known for his bold decisions, would give fair consideration to the plight of millions of Nigerians who seek legitimate entry into the United States for studies, tourism, business, and family reunification.
The NNPP chieftain’s appeal adds to growing voices from civil society, political leaders, and the Nigerian diaspora calling for a review of immigration policies that affect the movement of Nigerians to the United States.
“Lagos is Africa’s foremost investment destination,” Speaker Obasa Declares
With a 20-million-strong population, $260 billion GDP, and status as West Africa’s maritime gateway, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon.. (Dr.) Mudashiru Obasa has once again declared Lagos as Africa’s premium business destination.
The Speaker reaffirmed this stance when he hosted a high-profile delegation from China’s Guangxi Province, led by Zhang Xiaoqin, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Guangxi People’s Congress, on Monday at the Assembly complex.
While hailing the visit as a ‘watershed moment’ for cross-continental collaboration, Speaker Obasa lauded the delegation’s expression of interest in deepening bilateral ties between Nigeria and China, with Lagos as a focal point – saying it underscores the state’s growing geopolitical clout as Africa’s fifth-largest economy and a hub of innovation, commerce, and cultural dynamism.
He said, “Lagos is more than a city – it is a vision of progress. Lagos is the best place to invest in Africa because we have the population and the enabling laws for ease of doing business. Our economy is huge and vibrant, one of the biggest in Africa. Whatever you invest here, you will recoup your investment. In the area of tourism, we are still expanding, and every idea is welcome to make us harness our potential.”
Further, he declared the state’s readiness to welcome investments in infrastructure, citing the existing collaboration between Lagos and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) in the construction and operation of the Red and Blue Rail lines.
The proposed engagement with Guangxi Province, the Speaker said, unlocks doors for mutual growth in trade, technology, and cultural exchange. Therefore, he continued, “Our Assembly is committed to crafting legislative frameworks that foster sustainable development and global partnerships, and collaborating in the area of legislation and exchange of ideas for good governance.
“Lawmaking is the bedrock of progress. We will ensure our statutes align with global best practices to secure win-win outcomes for Lagos and our partners.”
Earlier, Xiaoqin had described the visit as “a foundation for enduring friendship,” with plans for follow-up technical exchanges. He described Lagos as a “vibrant economic ecosystem” and said that it shares maritime advantages with Guangxi that could be leveraged to grow tourism. “We are looking forward to enhancing collaboration in the area of trade, economy, and tourism. We hope you will provide more care for the Chinese citizens in Lagos,” he said.
Indeed, Guangxi, a southern Chinese region bordering Vietnam and famed for its ASEAN trade corridors, shares synergies with Lagos in port logistics, agriculture, and tourism. Guangxi’s interest signals China’s broader strategy to expand its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) footprint in Nigeria, with Lagos positioned as a linchpin.
For Obasa, the engagement is both diplomatic and symbolic: a reaffirmation of Lagos’s legislative maturity and its readiness to shape Africa’s 21st-century narrative.
From Skill to Wealth: Why Mastery, Not Luck, Creates Financial Freedom.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | SaharaWeeklyNG.com
Wealth is not a miracle, nor is it a product of luck. It is the fruit of discipline, skill, foresight and relentless determination. The road to financial freedom is paved not with shortcuts but with the bricks of hard work, sacrifice and mastery. Every empire we admire today (from global retail chains to family-built enterprises) was birthed from knowledge applied with consistency. One must understand that wealth creation is not a mystical event; it is a DELIBERATE PROCESS that can be learned, replicated and expanded.
The Four Stages of Wealth Building.
The framework of wealth creation can be summarized in four simple yet profound steps:
Your skill earns you money.
Your money buys you assets.
Your assets bring you wealth.
Your wealth brings you freedom. At the core of this sequence is skill. If you do not come from a family with generational wealth or established business connections, your best entry point into financial stability and eventual prosperity is through acquiring a skill. Skill is the tool that transforms poverty into possibility.
As management guru Peter Drucker once said: “Knowledge has to be improved, challenged and increased constantly or it vanishes.” Without skill, money slips through your fingers like water. With skill, you create value and value, in turn, attracts wealth.
Why Skill Is the Cornerstone of Wealth. Many young people mistakenly believe that capital alone builds businesses. This is a dangerous illusion. The foundation of every great company is not money but knowledge applied to solve problems.
Colin du Plessis, the founder of Talisman Hire, did not start with immense wealth. He began as a mechanic with deep knowledge of machines and the hire industry. In 1993, with little more than his skill and determination, he started Talisman Hire. Today, the company has grown into a leading equipment rental business in South Africa.
The story of WeBuyCars follows the same principle. The Fouché brothers, Dirk and Faan, did not inherit millions. They inherited knowledge (the art of mechanics) from their father. With skill as their currency, they built WeBuyCars into South Africa’s dominant pre-owned car buying and selling empire.
Even Shoprite, Africa’s largest retail giant, was not born out of endless capital. Whitey Basson, often regarded as South Africa’s greatest retailer, acquired just eight small stores in 1979. Through strategic foresight, hands-on experience and a deep understanding of retail dynamics, he transformed Shoprite into a massive retail chain employing over 140,000 people across Africa.
These stories emphasize one timeless truth: skill and mastery, not luck or inheritance, are the real engines of wealth creation.
The Harsh Reality: Wealth Demands Excellence. One indisputable fact must be hammered into the consciousness of every aspiring entrepreneur: Wealth is not built by mediocrity. You cannot stumble your way to financial freedom.
If you are a carpenter, you must strive to be the carpenter whose craftsmanship speaks louder than words. If you are a teacher, you must be so effective that your name commands respect. If you are a business owner, you must understand your industry so deeply that you can predict its shifts before they occur.
As Aristotle famously said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”
The marketplace is ruthless. Customers will not reward incompetence. Investors will not fund ignorance. Only those who rise above the ordinary by excelling in their craft can reap the benefits of wealth.
Skill as an Equalizer: The Path for the Ordinary Person. We live in a world where inequality is vast and opportunities are often distributed unfairly. Skill is the equalizer. You may not inherit a trust fund, but you can learn coding, carpentry, medicine, mechanics or entrepreneurship.
Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad, put it plainly: “Wealth is a person’s ability to survive so many number of days forward; if I stopped working today, how long could I survive?” That ability to survive and thrive in the absence of daily labor depends entirely on how you convert your skill into assets and ultimately, into wealth.
If you lack the resources to launch a business today, do not despair. Begin with skill. Master it, monetize it and reinvest the earnings.
The Role of Knowledge in Business Expansion. A business is not a lottery ticket; it is a battlefield of ideas, strategy and execution. Without profound knowledge, businesses collapse like houses built on sand.
Consider this: statistics from the Small Business Administration (SBA) reveal that 20% of businesses fail in the first year, 50% within five years and 70% within ten years. The common denominator among failures is not just lack of funding but lack of knowledge, poor planning and weak execution.
Renowned economist Adam Smith once declared: “The real tragedy of the poor is the poverty of their aspirations.” But aspirations alone are insufficient. Aspiration must be married with preparation and execution.
This is why every successful entrepreneur invests heavily in continuous learning. Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, taught himself rocket science before founding SpaceX. Warren Buffett, one of the greatest investors alive, spends 80% of his day reading. Knowledge is the compass that guides wealth creation.
Wealth and Freedom: The Ultimate Goal. Money, by itself, is not wealth. Wealth is the ownership of assets that generate income whether you work or not. True wealth gives birth to freedom; the freedom to live life on your terms, the freedom to walk away from toxic jobs, the freedom to provide generational security for your family.
Thomas Jefferson, one of the founding fathers of the United States, warned: “Never spend your money before you have earned it.” This advice remains relevant today. Acquiring assets (real estate, stocks, businesses or intellectual property) ensures that your wealth compounds while you sleep.
Wealth is not just about personal luxury; it is about impact. As Andrew Carnegie said, “The man who dies rich, dies disgraced.” Wealth becomes meaningful only when it is used to uplift others, create opportunities and transform society.
Practical Steps to Begin Your Journey. Acquire a skill. It could be digital, vocational or entrepreneurial.
Master your craft. Excellence makes you indispensable.
Earn and save. Avoid unnecessary consumption; reinvest profits.
Buy assets, not liabilities. Assets generate wealth; liabilities drain it.
Expand your knowledge. Read, research and forecast industry trends.
Build systems. Create businesses that function beyond your presence.
Give back. Use your wealth to uplift others and strengthen communities.
Final Word: Your Destiny Is in Your Hands. Whether you inherit a business or start from scratch with a skill, the path is equally honorable. Do not allow lack of capital, lack of support or fear of failure to cripple you. History has shown us that the greatest wealth builders were not always the richest at the beginning; they were simply those who mastered their craft and persisted.
As Confucius wisely said: “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
So, start today. Acquire a skill. Build assets. Seek knowledge. And remember, wealth is not an end; it is the means to freedom.
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