Nigeria, Feb. 7 -- Change, the inevitable catalyst of development, has also affected the occupations. In some societies, for example in Yoruba kingdoms, different families were distinguished by different occupations. Some were smiths, some hunters, some spiritualists, some drummers and entertainers, some merchants, some farmers, some royalty. Many family names and the attendant praise names (Oriki) derived from those elements that distinguished each family.

But times have changed. It is not uncommon now to find the descendants of hunters who are now engineers; those of smiths who are now medics, those of drummers who are now academics and those of witchdoctors who are now scientists. Change is the only constant factor in every society. T...