I love this guy!!!!. Follow your heart, it knows what it wants(well sometimes, don't trust it when it comes to relationships use your head and think ahead. #Punchline)
Have you ever thought of this? Imagine if Satan just one day says "I'm sorry God for trying to overthrow you". What do you think would happen?. I really don't know but i'm so certain that our Church prayer points would experience a drastic change and some Churches would fold up due to lack of devils..... but really what do you think would happen?
One
of the truest tests of integrity is
its blunt refusal to be compromised
-Sir Chinua Achebe,
Renowned
Author and Critic.
(1930-2013)
Chinualumogu Albert Achebe, born on the 16th day of November, 1930, until 21st March 2013, was one of the greatest writers that ever walked the face of this earth. From the eastern town of Ogidiin Anambra State, Nigeria, he truly was one of the true evidences that Nigeria was the Giant of Africa. Popular author of the infamous novel, Things Fall Apart, a work that in part led to his being called the ‘patriarch of the African novel’, has won him so many laurels among them the Man Booker International Prize (2007) and the Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize (2010). He has also received honorary degrees from more than 30 universities around the world.
After he was educated (in English) at the University of Ibadan, Achebe taught briefly before joining the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) as director of external broadcasting (1961–1966).Just prior to joining NBC, Achebe saw his first novel published, 1958’s Things Fall Apart. The groundbreaking novel centers on the cultural clash between native African culture and the traditional white culture of missionaries and the colonial government in place in Nigeria. An unflinching look at the discord, the book was a startling success and has become required reading in many schools across the world.
The 1960s proved to be a creatively fertile period for Achebe, and he wrote the novels No Longer at Ease (1960), Arrow of God (1964) and A Man of the People (1966), all of which address the issue of traditional ways of life coming into conflict with new, often colonial, points of view. (Anthills of the Savannah [1987] took on a similar theme.)The 1960s also marked Achebe’s wedding to Christie Chinwe Okoli in 1961, producing four children.
When he returned to Nigeria from the United States, Achebe became a research fellow and later a professor of English (1976–1981) at the University of Nigeria. During this time he also served as director of two Nigerian publishing houses, Heinemann Educational Books Ltd. and Nwankwo-Ifejika Ltd.
On the writing front, the 1970s proved equally productive, and Achebe published several collections of short stories and a children’s book, How the Leopard Got His Claws (1973). Also coming out at this time were Beware, Soul-Brother (1971) and Christmas in Biafra (1973), both poetry collections, and Achebe’s first book of essays, Morning Yet on Creation Day (1975). While back in the United States in 1975, at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst Achebe gave a lecture called “An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness,” in which Achebe asserted that Conrad's famous novel dehumanizes Africans. The work referred to Conrad as a “thoroughgoing racist,” and, when published in essay form, it went on to become a seminal postcolonial African work.
It is clear that his love for his culture and his country was unshakeable. He was always just as quick to criticize as to praise his country in good or bad times. Even outside his beloved country, he was known as a proud patriot.
He lived in America since he suffered a terrible car accident in 1990, which left him paralysed from the waist down and in a wheelchair. His medical needs could not be served in Nigeria at present.But he always said "I do miss Nigeria, which is very strange because when I am here, we are constantly quarrelling."
His passion showed when he began writing in the 1950s when much of Africa was preparing for independence from British and French imperial rule. He was inspired to write when he realised that Africa's story was being told by outsiders, writers like Joseph Conrad and Joyce Cary whose descriptions of Africans he found offensive.
His selfless nature was shown when he was determined to tell the story of his own people. But he did not at first write about the struggle for freedom that was going on around him.
Instead, he says he wanted to understand "why it happened in the first place".
"Why did my parents leave their religion and become Christians... why did those people lose their independence?"
His father was a Christian convert and missionary, but his great uncle was a keeper of the shrine to traditional gods.
Late Mr Achebe was one of the last generations of Africans who heard first-hand from their elders what life was like before the white man came. That is what made his stories so vivid.
His high level of discipline was portrayed In “Trouble with Nigeria”, where he wrote that "there is indeed no better place to observe the thrusting indiscipline of Nigerian behaviour than on the roads: frenetic energy, rudeness, noisiness".
He described their indifference to safety as of "truly psychiatric proportions" and complained of convoys of VIPs travelling with police escorts becoming a "childish and cacophonous instrument for the celebration of status... a medieval chieftain's progress complete with magicians and acrobats chasing citizens out of the way".
Yet he was forced to travel just like that to reach his home state in south-east Nigeria.
His optimistic nature on the issue of development of Nigeria was as steadfast as his belief in its people. He once delivered a lecture at Owerri, the regional capital of Igbo land where more than 2,000 people turned out to listen to him.
He spoke to them in a slow, gentle but strong voice. His message was clear. He is deeply disappointed at how little Nigeria has achieved since independence.
His generation struggled for freedom, but "we don't seem to have the receipt", he said.
Nigerians must "overcome that ‘miseducation’ that we received under colonial rule... and celebrate our lives".
He believed that Africans must not reject their own culture but look to their past to discover values that will enable Africa to develop now.
On maintaining the Igbo language, his mother tongue, Achebe, who was very critical of colonialism and its aftermath in Africa, explained that he himself writes in English because he is a victim of linguistic colonialism.
But he added that he felt it was important not to "lose sight of the need for our mother tongue."
"The situation may well develop in the future, in which the different languages of Africa will begin to reassert themselves," he added.
"I have made provision for that myself, by writing certain kinds of material in Igbo. For instance, I will insist my poetry is translated back into Igbo while I'm still around."
He insisted that he wrote in English not to attract a wide international audience, but simply because he had been educated in English.
But he added that his use of English was inspired by his Igbo background.
"When I'm writing in English, Igbo is standing next to it," he added.
"I have therefore developed, I think, this possibly, in which these two languages are in communion.
"I hope I have shown it is possible, in these two languages, to show respect to English and Igbo together."
His selflessness and contentment was never overemphasized as he humbly declined the Nigerian government's attempt to name him a Commander of the Federal Republic.
This is the second time the Nigerian author has rejected the Nigerian national honour, after he initially refused it in 2004. Achebe issued a statement to Nigerian press to say that he was turning down the award because "the reasons for rejecting the offer when it was first made have not been addressed let alone solved. It is inappropriate to offer it again to me".
"I have watched particularly the chaos in my own state of Anambra where a small clique of renegades, openly boasting its connections in high places, seems determined to turn my homeland into a bankrupt and lawless fiefdom. I am appalled by the brazenness of this clique and the silence, if not connivance, of the Presidency," he wrote.
"Forty-three years ago, at the first anniversary of Nigeria's independence I was given the first Nigerian National Trophy for Literature. In 1979, I received two further honours – the Nigerian National Order of Merit and the Order of the Federal Republic – and in 1999 the first National Creativity Award. I accepted all these honours fully aware that Nigeria was not perfect; but I had a strong belief that we would outgrow our shortcomings under leaders committed to uniting our diverse peoples. Nigeria's condition today under your watch is, however, too dangerous for silence. I must register my disappointment and protest by declining to accept the high honour awarded me in the 2004 Honours List."
Nigeria's current president, Goodluck Jonathan, called Achebe's refusal of this year's award "a regrettable decision which may have been borne out of misinformation as to the true state of affairs in Nigeria". In a statement, published in full in Nigerian newspaper the Nation, he expressed his hope that Achebe "will find time to visit home soon and see the progress being made by the Jonathan Administration for himself".
"Professor Achebe remains in President Jonathan's consideration a national icon, a Nigerian of high attainments, indeed one of the greatest living Africans of our time."
This great icon would always be remembered for the books he has written which have touched the lives of many, given hopes to the hopeless, beliefs to the unbelievers and knowledge to the ignorant. The most famous, Things Fall Apart, remains the most translated piece of African literature, with over 50 translations and 80,000,000 copies sold worldwide. To have read Things Fall Apart between the experimental ages of eleven and fourteen is marveling. Its psychological firmness, using the Igbo culture as a premise for demystifying the ideology cemented by the racist colonialists that Africans were a lost and hopeless race, was not something my young mind could grapple with and understand. The world to me was simple and straightforward — humanity was good, progressive and supportive of each other.Achebe was a moral and literary model for countless Africans and a profound influence on such American writers as Morrison, Ha Jin and Junot Diaz.
He wouldn’t be forgotten in haste due to his help in defining revolutionary change in his country, from independence to dictatorship to the disastrous war between Nigeria and the breakaway country of Biafra in the late 1960s. He knew both the prestige of serving on government commissions and the fear of being declared an enemy of the state.
I will always describe him as a person of modest abilities. In reality he was a colossus. He was our hero. He brought fame to our country. I admired his achievements and the great international respect in which he was held.
But above all, I loved him for what he represented – a determination to succeed against the odds, humility, an innate sense of fair play, and a tremendous sense of service to the community, at home and abroad.
Sir Chinua Achebe’s extraordinary life has been an inspiration to our small nation and to many beyond our shores.
As individuals, we may not be able to match his imaginations and thoughts, his values were strong; they are timeless; and they will endure.
May God grant us the fortitude to bear this great loss...
May His Gentle soul, and all that it stood for, rest in peace.
By: Iweanya Chika
For a few seconds, with the knife still in
the air, I began to whisper “I can’t, I’ve never killed anybody before, I don’t
know how to”. With those words, the knife dropped from my hand on the floor as
I began to sob gently. Even if I killed him, I wasn’t going to succeed in
killing the pain he had planted in my soul. An inbuilt pain, which was going to
remain with me, unless someone saved me. In tears, I picked up the knife and
left the room. I cried until there were no more tears in my tear-gland, I cried
till I slept off with dried tear stains on my face. At about past one (1) in
the morning, I heard a knock on the door and before I could respond, someone
crept into my room. In my sleepy state, I tried to rub my eyes to find out who
it was when I noticed that the person began to touch me. Instantly, I knew that
Uncle Lugo had come to end the remaining ruins of my life again. I tried to
struggle but it was no use, he over-powered me and raped me. This was the tenth
(10) time he had raped me in ten weeks since my aunty commenced the job that
took her to Abuja every weekend. I kept mute in cold tears as he inflicted me
with pains just in a bid to satisfy his own pleasure. When he was done, he left
without apology, without a word, he slammed the door and went to his own room.
Two (2) days after, aunty returned from
Abuja. I wasn’t excited even though she had bought so many things for me. She
tried to act like my mother but the truth was self-evident, she could and would
never be my late mother. I watched as she kissed her husband in front of me
talking about how much she had missed him, I was disgusted. Not out of jealousy
“God forbid” but out of “what kind of wicked life is this?” With that on my
mind, I stood up angrily and walked out of the sitting-room. Just as I was
about to enter into my room, I noticed a Bible on the table. My first reaction
was a hiss but for some reason I couldn’t explain, something moved me to look
at the Bible. I picked it up and noticed that it belonged to my late father;
apparently, he must have given it to my aunty before he died. Immediately, I
began to recall all the times he sat me and my twin sister down and taught us
the word of God every morning and night. That was when life was still going
great. But now, I definitely couldn’t say the same. Then, daddy would give us
assignments to study a verse in the Bible and talk about it. At the thought of
how things used to be, I began to shed tears. I had completely strayed from my
faith in Christ and the thought of what my late father would think if he knew
my reaction to things that involved God, made me cry even more. I felt more
miserable than ever. I went into my room, and tried reading the Bible. The
first page I open was John 3:16 and it read “For God so loved the world that
whosoever believes in him would not perish but have everlasting life”. At that
moment I recalled the first time our church pastor preached using this scripture,
that was the day I gave my life to Christ. It was over nine (9) years ago but
the testimony wasn’t the same now. With the Bible still opened on my bed, I
felt a nudge from within telling me to look for my phone which had been
switched off since my life switched off. I put it on and was surprised at the
millions of text-messages that had been sent by friends and well-wishers. Just
then, a call came in. Initially, I wanted to ignore the call but it felt like
something was controlling me so I answered the call.
“Hello” I mouthed into the phone. I
listened as one of my few friend ranted how she had searched for me, wondering
why I hadn’t been coming to school and never stopped dialling my number. After
a very long conversation, she invited me for a crusade that was to hold next
week. The call ended with a promise from me not to allow for us to lose
contact. I dropped the phone and was about to pick the phone when I felt an
urge to vomit that was coupled with a nauseous feeling. This went on for
several days and thankfully my aunt didn’t noticed. Eventually, I took up the
courage to go and see a doctor on my own. And then, my worst fears were
confirmed.
“You’re ten (10) weeks pregnant” the doctor
confirmed.
Just a couple of months back, i posted a write up titled "Apple products aren't that cool" its still my most popular post click here to read it. Now, I realize how shallow and superficial my thoughts were at that time because I wasn't really informed. As they say ignorance is a disease.
My epiphany occurred while reading a biography of Steve Jobs titled "Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson" the book revealed to me the genius and creativity behind all apple products. From the simplicity which is the ultimate sophistication to its functionality. Apple products really dented the universe.
I was first perturbed about how tightly secure and inflexible apple products are, until i understood why. Steve Jobs wanted a product with class, yet for mass consumers but he didn't want anybody toying with the high level of creativity behind an Apple product and so he tightly sealed it; both hardware and software.
There was a distinct statement he made which goes;
"Microsoft writes softwares
Dell & Compaq, hardware
Adobe, Applications
But Apple, we do all these things from hardware to software to operating system"
Apple excellently tied these things to make an awesome user friendly device.
I could go on and on writing about the magnificence of apple products but i want you to eat from the same plate i did therefore i'm offering the book here for free.
Just Click Here to Download "Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson"
When you're done with the book, you would also agree with me that Apple is one of the best things to happen to Technological and Human Development. What a paradigm shift for me....
I got this title from a friend's Personal Message on Blackberry Messenger and it struck me as very very true. As much as the question is rhetorical it also needs a desperate answer.. "Why Always Bad News in Nigeria?" If its not killings, its corruption. If its not rape, its armed robbery and this is what proliferates the atmosphere through the media.. Do you in anyway have an answer to this disturbing question.
I cried, I screamed, he held my mouth and
warned out loudly “If you make noise, I’ll kill you and drop your dead body in
the sea”. At a point, I became numb and kept silent as the tears gushed out of
my eyes like rivers of water. When he was done, he left me on the floor weak,
used, abandoned and worse than ever. He took my only sanity from me and my
little treasure for dust. What made it even worse was this, I didn't know who
talk to, whether to tell my aunty and face the death that Uncle Lugo had
promised me but what I feared most was breaking her marriage and having the
whole extended family regard me as a home-breaker or having my Uncle paint me
as liar in a bid to defend his-self. My aunty returned the next-week and life
went on for them but not for me. However, little did I know that my sorrows had
just began. As my aunty continued with her series of business-related trips,
Uncle Lugo used that opportunity to take any innocence that was left in me.
Every single week, when aunty was away, he forcefully slept with me. Out of
frustration, I stopped attending school, I became highly suicidal and couldn't find the most appropriate means to end my life.
One day, while I sat in my room crying
(that had become a regular pattern), a thought flashed in my head and it
involved me taking the life of my Uncle. I embraced it gladly and began to make
plans on how to go about it. I finally decided that my best option was to use a
sharp knife since I didn't have access to a gun. Slowly, I began to master-mind
the plan of how I was going to kill Uncle Lugo.
It was a bright Saturday morning. As usual,
aunty wasn't around and it was just me and Uncle Lugo in the house. Uncle Lugo
had gone to the supermarket to obtain groceries for the house. While he was
away, I hid a sharp knife in my back pocket with the intention of using it on him
once I had the opportunity to come close to him. Later in the day, when he
returned from work, he dropped the groceries and decided to take a short nap.
“Yes” I whispered to myself as I brought out the knife. I crept silently into
his room as I watched him snore with intensity. I hissed as walked to the side
of his bed. “This is for taking away the last joy in my life” I whispered
angrily. With those words, I raised the knife at him.
Words cant describe how ashamed i am watching a Top official displaying this level of ignorance. The video didn't even waste time to trend, even T-Shirts displaying "My Oga At The Top" are out already... We may waste so much time dwelling on how funny and ridiculous the video is, but i guess there are hidden lessons to be learnt.
- Its not by position. The Lagos State Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp , is the guy above. But look at the length of the title wouldn't it suggest that there should be more packaging in his being.
- If you don't know, don't be proud. Look at the surety and "bragadociality" - I just had to derive that word - in his voice and countenance. You would have thought the website was the website of the FBI
- If someone is fooling himself, keep a straight face. What made me really laugh my brains out is the way the TV presenters just looked so serious while he was manifesting. If I was there, i would have lost my job that same time.
Pardon the seemingly big grammar I've been trying to upgrade my level to Okechukwu Ofili and Relentless Builder level.. But let me be me and try to define it in simpler terms. Proximity infatuation is a terminology used to describe a situation whereby you to start 'liking' someone because you spend time with the person either at work, in school or anywhere else OR just because the person is physically close to you.
I've experienced this a lot of times in this short period I've lived on earth. Probably the girl I like didn't give a damn about my existence and then somehow I start liking the girl I used to beat her brother often. I'm sure a good number of you can identify with this situation, infact I'm very very sure of one person right now. Proximity infatuation is even more dramatic when the person you have started having feelings for already has a partner you probably didn't know of and then you start having cancer, HIV, Arthritis, High and low blood pressure slight worries as to whether you are a stumbling block in their relationship.
The question I want to ask is how can we handle proximity infatuation because I experience it very often......
Everything was happening so fast and it felt like a dream, no! It was more like a night-mare. Two (2) years ago I lost my twin-sister to lung cancer and two years after, my parents joined by reason of a ghastly motor accident. "How could God do this me?" I wondered as a flopped on the floor and began another round of tears. All efforts made by my family members to comfort me had proved abortive. Many of them had come from far and wide to sympathize with me and assist in burying my parents but none of them had taken time to ask me where I was going to stay now that my immediate family had come to extinction. Burial had come and gone, my life had to continue but one thing I was assured of, my life was never going to remain the same. Some days after the final burial rights have been finalised, family members began to return to their destination. Very few asked me about where I was going to stay but I simply replied "I'd be very fine". None of them went past that statement but deep down within, I knew that I had absolutely no where to lay my head. It was bad enough that I had just lost my parents but far worse was the thought that nobody really cared. I could sense suicidal thoughts crawling into my mind but it took all the strength in me to fight them and just when I was considering it, a young lady walked up to me. She was my father's sister. "Why don't you come and stay with us in Oyo State?"
I simply stared into thin air but couldn't find the right words to say so I responded "I don't want to be a burden"
"It's okay Sabrina, my husband and I have discussed it and we feel it's a great idea besides who knows, maybe through your presence God might give us our own kids". Instantly I recalled that they had believed God for children for over ten (10) years in marriage. For some reason, I sympathized with her and decided to accept her offer. "Alright" I voiced as she embraced me. Deep within, I still wasn't convinced that staying with them was going to end the sufferings in my life but then, it was worth the try.
My first few weeks in Oyo State were very unusual, I found it very difficult to concentrate during lectures at school, most of the time I felt frustrated, depression became my middle name and when no-one was watching, I cried my eye-balls out. Deep within me, I was screaming "somebody save Sabrina" but outside I was wondering if there was any saviour for me. It was exactly four (4) weeks after I started staying with my late father's sister and her husband when my aunty acquired a job that involved her travelling every weekend to Abuja. It was great news for the family, but for me, I didn't really care. Maybe, I should have been more interested in what was going to happen to me when my aunty left but then, I had already been through series of bad events, what more could happen...death. Well I'd gladly embrace it.
On the 13th August 2005, my aunty travelled to Abuja to commence work. It was late at night and her husband - my uncle had gone to drop her off at the airport. I lit a candle and watched it melt as I sat in a corner. "God, where are you" I whispered still angrily remembering what had happened to my late family. Just then, I heard the sound of a car tire screeching "Uncle must be back" I whispered to myself as I got up to go and open the door for him. He came in grumpy as usual with a scowl on his fore-head, sometimes I wondered whether he detested my being around. That night, as I served him dinner, I noticed that he stared at me in an unusual way. Bothered, I went to my room to have an early night when I heard my name. "Sabrina" Uncle Lugo repeated in a strange voice. Quickly, I put on my slippers as I went to meet him. "You're too cold for my liking" he continued as he stood up and walked towards me. Shaking like a leaf, I responded "Uncle, I don't know what you're talking about". Then, he grabbed me by the waist "Let me explain better". I tried to shrug him off but his grip was firm and strong. "Please let me go" I began to plead. "I would let you go, after I'm done with you". With those words, he tossed me to the sofa and began to pull down his trousers. "Uncle, please don't do this!" I tried to reason with him in a sacred voice. "Shhhh" he continued as he put his finger to his mouth. The next ten (10) minutes were worse than death for me as Uncle Lugo brutally raped me without apology.
I simply stared into thin air but couldn't find the right words to say so I responded "I don't want to be a burden"
"It's okay Sabrina, my husband and I have discussed it and we feel it's a great idea besides who knows, maybe through your presence God might give us our own kids". Instantly I recalled that they had believed God for children for over ten (10) years in marriage. For some reason, I sympathized with her and decided to accept her offer. "Alright" I voiced as she embraced me. Deep within, I still wasn't convinced that staying with them was going to end the sufferings in my life but then, it was worth the try.
My first few weeks in Oyo State were very unusual, I found it very difficult to concentrate during lectures at school, most of the time I felt frustrated, depression became my middle name and when no-one was watching, I cried my eye-balls out. Deep within me, I was screaming "somebody save Sabrina" but outside I was wondering if there was any saviour for me. It was exactly four (4) weeks after I started staying with my late father's sister and her husband when my aunty acquired a job that involved her travelling every weekend to Abuja. It was great news for the family, but for me, I didn't really care. Maybe, I should have been more interested in what was going to happen to me when my aunty left but then, I had already been through series of bad events, what more could happen...death. Well I'd gladly embrace it.
On the 13th August 2005, my aunty travelled to Abuja to commence work. It was late at night and her husband - my uncle had gone to drop her off at the airport. I lit a candle and watched it melt as I sat in a corner. "God, where are you" I whispered still angrily remembering what had happened to my late family. Just then, I heard the sound of a car tire screeching "Uncle must be back" I whispered to myself as I got up to go and open the door for him. He came in grumpy as usual with a scowl on his fore-head, sometimes I wondered whether he detested my being around. That night, as I served him dinner, I noticed that he stared at me in an unusual way. Bothered, I went to my room to have an early night when I heard my name. "Sabrina" Uncle Lugo repeated in a strange voice. Quickly, I put on my slippers as I went to meet him. "You're too cold for my liking" he continued as he stood up and walked towards me. Shaking like a leaf, I responded "Uncle, I don't know what you're talking about". Then, he grabbed me by the waist "Let me explain better". I tried to shrug him off but his grip was firm and strong. "Please let me go" I began to plead. "I would let you go, after I'm done with you". With those words, he tossed me to the sofa and began to pull down his trousers. "Uncle, please don't do this!" I tried to reason with him in a sacred voice. "Shhhh" he continued as he put his finger to his mouth. The next ten (10) minutes were worse than death for me as Uncle Lugo brutally raped me without apology.
Recently, I've been trying to upgrade my financial IQ because I'm not so sure I have the tenacity to apply for a job and hear words like "we would get back to you later". And what I realized in this adventure is that for you to survive in this new age you have to sell something; it could be a product, it could be a sellable skill, it could be your ideas or anything; but the bottom line is that you have to sell something.
The young ladies in Wuse Zone 4,Abuja and Allen avenue, Lagos are applying this principle even though it's the wrong way. They are selling something. The Oil companies are making so much money from our land because they are selling something that is in high demand. The reason I'm going to be so Rich is because I'm going to sell something. Lol!!!!
Truth is, if you have nothing to sell -wisdom, knowledge, understanding, skill, product, idea, concept, truths etc you would watch with your eyes open how we are going to take over the world's economy. If you're with me say ohoy ohoy
The young ladies in Wuse Zone 4,Abuja and Allen avenue, Lagos are applying this principle even though it's the wrong way. They are selling something. The Oil companies are making so much money from our land because they are selling something that is in high demand. The reason I'm going to be so Rich is because I'm going to sell something. Lol!!!!
Truth is, if you have nothing to sell -wisdom, knowledge, understanding, skill, product, idea, concept, truths etc you would watch with your eyes open how we are going to take over the world's economy. If you're with me say ohoy ohoy
The idea for 9ine with Iweanya Victor came in a very funny way and also was executed in a funny way. Below are what I experienced/learnt in that awesome venture
1. TRY TO BE MORE IN A HASTE THAN IN A RUSH
I might be sounding poetic but this is very true. The video was shot and produced in 4 days. During the planning phase, I said this video must be shot on the 25th and must be released on the 28th of February and lo and behold it came to pass. Haste is taking precalculated steps realizing that you don't have much time, while hurrying/rushing is taking abnormal uncalculated steps just to wrap up with something.
2. WHEN YOU FAIL TRY TRY AGAIN
It's awesome to note that the video was actually shot twice. The first video shoot lasted for about 9 hours and by the time I went back to my Dorm Room(feeling like zuckerberg and gates) and watched the videos I realized that it was a highly flopped enterprise. Everything that could ever go wrong went wrong. I wanted to manage it like that considering the expenses and the fact that it was a first time but two awesome friends of mine, specifically Chukwurah Fluorish and Ubanyi David told me to shoot the video again. After so much brooding I decided to shoot the video again and this time it took just 2 hours to shoot and it came out almost as I envisioned it. I learnt so much from the failed video shoot. Notice I said when you fail because if you've never failed then you've never attempted something new to you.
3. THE POWER OF PEOPLE
90% of the success of the video shoot can be accrued to the people who worked with me in executing this project. From the person I shared the idea with; to the person that edited the script; to the person that shot the video; to the person that edited the video; to the people who sponsored the project, the list could go on and on. If you ever want to climb the ladder in life, you have to move with people. You have to appreciate people.
1. TRY TO BE MORE IN A HASTE THAN IN A RUSH
I might be sounding poetic but this is very true. The video was shot and produced in 4 days. During the planning phase, I said this video must be shot on the 25th and must be released on the 28th of February and lo and behold it came to pass. Haste is taking precalculated steps realizing that you don't have much time, while hurrying/rushing is taking abnormal uncalculated steps just to wrap up with something.
2. WHEN YOU FAIL TRY TRY AGAIN
It's awesome to note that the video was actually shot twice. The first video shoot lasted for about 9 hours and by the time I went back to my Dorm Room(feeling like zuckerberg and gates) and watched the videos I realized that it was a highly flopped enterprise. Everything that could ever go wrong went wrong. I wanted to manage it like that considering the expenses and the fact that it was a first time but two awesome friends of mine, specifically Chukwurah Fluorish and Ubanyi David told me to shoot the video again. After so much brooding I decided to shoot the video again and this time it took just 2 hours to shoot and it came out almost as I envisioned it. I learnt so much from the failed video shoot. Notice I said when you fail because if you've never failed then you've never attempted something new to you.
3. THE POWER OF PEOPLE
90% of the success of the video shoot can be accrued to the people who worked with me in executing this project. From the person I shared the idea with; to the person that edited the script; to the person that shot the video; to the person that edited the video; to the people who sponsored the project, the list could go on and on. If you ever want to climb the ladder in life, you have to move with people. You have to appreciate people.
It was the 2nd of May 2005. I had just finished from evening lectures when I received a call from an unknown number. Puzzled, I answered the call mouthing "Hello!"
"Please, am I on to Sabrina Ademoriyo" the caller responded calmly.
The voice was very unfamiliar but my major concern was what the caller had said before ending the call "Please come to Zoe Medical Hospital, Gbagada".
I wearily boarded a bus going towards Gbagada as I sincerely hoped that nothing was wrong. The last time I entered a hospital was to mourn the death of my twin sister who passed away due lungs cancer at twenty (20) years old. I had cried, prayed, read scriptures, prayed again then cried some more but that night, when I came to drop flowers for her with the intention of telling her that God was going to heal her, I saw a still body on the bed who the doctor later confirmed as dead. I was mortified, depressed and sad. Pain tugged at my heart for loss of my only sibling, anger at God heated my soul for not answering my only prayer request and taking away my twin sister but worse of all was the fear that gripped my mind telling me that God would never answer my prayers. For days, I mourned the loss of my sister and two (2) years after her death, I was yet to forgive God for taking her away.
Now it was just my parents and I that were left. I jostled back to reality as I scratched my head. Whatever reason was taking me to the hospital had better not be another sorry case and even though a tiny part of me suggested that I engage prayers, a bigger part of me kept reminding of what happened two (2) years ago. In no time, we arrived at the bus-stop. The hospital was a walking distance from the bus-stop so I took advantage of my legs and kept hoping that all was well. When I arrived at the hospital, I was too scared to enter so I simply remained at the entrance and stared at the sign-post beside Zoe Medical Hospital for a while. After wasting some time, I eventually entered and the moment I stepped into the hospital, pictures of my late sister in her sick bed began to flash through my head. Immediately, I knew something was wrong and at that point, I began to wish that I remained outside and kept on staring at the sign-post that read "Zoe Medical Hospital.......we try our best but God heals". At a point, I got to fed up with seeing images of Sandra (my twin sister) that I turned to leave the hospital but before I could get far, a nurse approached me and spoke gently "Are you Sabrina Ademoriyo?"
"Yes!" I responded trying to sound calm.
"Follow me" she continued as she led the way. After a few turnings, we arrived at the doctor's office.
He was really nice to me and that scared me even more. As far as I was concerned, doctors were only nice when they had bad reports to give. I gave him a numb look as I expected the worst from him. Then he asked me the strangest question ever "Do you have any relations in Lagos?"
"No Sir but my father's sister and her husband live in Oyo State", I responded as I wondered why he posed such a question. After staring at me for a while, he spoke "Your parents were involved in fatal accident earlier this evening". It was my turn to stare at him for a while before I finally spoke "Where are they? Are they okay? Can I see them now?"
He titled his eye-glasses on his face before he finally spoke "I'm sorry but they were dead before they arrived at this hospital"
The first episode would be posted in a couple of hours and subsequent episodes would run weekly till the end of march before a new series kicks off. Read and enjoy.....
In life, do we always get what we want? Indeed we have needs and pressing issues you can’t always satisfy, but we strive to be contended with what we have.
Trust, why is it so difficult to find someone to trust; irrespective of what you have, who you are, who you are with. Is there any need to trust, one might ask. Life seems so sweet when you are alone with family , but it is also sweeter (pardon the word) when there is someone who cares to listen to what you have to say, who cares for you, who will appreciate what you do and help you stand on your feet when you fall. But is there such a person?
Some say I LOVE YOU but there is more to loving someone, it’s sweet when someone says I LOVE YOU, but love is not just a mere word, but sacrifice. But do they really love you or is it just a rite to say when you are in a relationship with someone? Well life is not all it seems to be but indeed you have the right to write down your life the way you want it to be. Life is not a bed of roses, even roses have thorns but what keeps a man after such great fall, after such comments from friends and people. Is it encouragement, fear of failing in the future or wanting to prove that he is not a failure? A wise man said when fear knocks at the door faith opens the door and you will find that there is no one there. Life is not a competition but the strive to be at the top is always there.
What makes a man fail after much encouragement for success? is it the ability of not looking above his present state and look at the future? some say its the mind set of determination, but sometimes you find determination but also regrets for failing the first time. The race is not to the swift nor to the strong. It is not how well you started but how well you ended the race. Nothing does good than self encouragement. Many have died full of potential. Why? because of the fear of trying again.
By: Sandra Amarachi
Website: http://sandramarachi.wordpress.com/
I love the Super Eagles so much, they made us extremely proud and by God's grace they won the AFCON. The part that is leaving me bewildered is the presentation of National Honours, Land and Money by the Government of Nigeria to the Super Eagles.
This is an excerpt from Linda Ikeji's blog
Coach Stephen Keshi - Commander of the Order of Niger. N10million. Plot of land in Abuja.Asst Coach Daniel Amokachi - Officer of the Order of Niger. N5m. Plot of land in AbujaAsst Coach Ike Shorumu - Officer of the Order of Niger. N5m. Plot of land in AbujaCaptain Joseph Yobo - Officer of the Order of Niger. N5million. Plot of land in AbujaSuper Eagles players - Member of the Order of Niger. N5million. Plot of land in AbujaTechnical crew - N2 million
Do we just dole out Commander of the Order of Niger? or give plots of land just like that? it means there's no real worth in all these National honours. All the Super Eagles players including those that played and those that did not, are holders of National Honours, lol!!!!. The big men of Nigeria are already fattening the Eagles by giving them lots of cash. The problem is; giving them cash and pumping money on them is shortsightedness, why don't we revamp the sports sector and make Nigerian football worth watching.
(Happy Valentine's day, By the way)
I really have to give a big kudos to the Super Eagles for their exclusive performance in the just concluded AFCON. Initially I was expecting them to return home sooner than today but they have really impressed us by defeating Burkina faso 1 goal to nil.
But its funny i'm now hearing shouts of Nigeria is my country, I love Nigeria, Nigeria is tight and the rest. I pity all of you lol. This is just a couple of days after president Jonathan was interviewed on CNN and we didnt spare any words on our beloved country (I'm saying beloved country now). But really Nigeria is the best country in the world, you may not like us, but you cant deny our effect.
In order to sustain a great relationship, this should be the don'ts;
- Never play to win: What I mean is; never be in a destructive competition with your partner. Compete to build each other up.
- Never distrust: The beginning of the decline in Trust in a relationship is the beginning of the end of that relationship be it friendship or romantic relationship.
- Don't stop talking: Talk about what annoys you, talk about what you don't like in fact talk about everything and anything. Keeping quiet reflects a lack of trust. You are not accusing your partner, you are discussing with your partner.
- Don't stop listening: Listening is really hard ohhhhh.... listening is paying rapt attention without any interruption and deciphering every word spoken by your partner
- Don't stop working on your relationship: Because you guys love each other doesn't mean everything would be like me(SWEET). You need to work on the relationship and make it grow.
Relationships are a beautiful thing, it has a very positive effect if its a right relationship. Try as much as possible never to do any of the above mentioned "DON'Ts"
The Nigerian Football League was formed in 1972 and then renamed Nigerian Premier League in 1990 after their counterparts, English Premier League... But right now you can't compare the quality of the both games even though
So i ask, what exactly is wrong with our premier league?
I love my Country and I love my President because its not child's play to be the president of a country, not to talk of this complexity called Nigeria. The recent interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour on issues pertaining to Nigeria was one I looked forward to watching because Im expriencing a paradigm shift on how I view my President. I wasn't very impressed but I won't say he needs to be impeached. President Jonathan made some very controversial statements especially with the one on Power Generation and he also didn't quite answer the questions to my satisfaction. I know he has good intentions but I doubt he has the Iron hands to mend what has taking over 30 years to degrade....
If he didn't want to prove himself capable and at least make Nigerians a bit happy with his administration, I doubt he would have accepted the interview in the first place...
If he didn't want to prove himself capable and at least make Nigerians a bit happy with his administration, I doubt he would have accepted the interview in the first place...
Culled from Charisma News
A few weeks ago I preached on the subject of worship using 2 Samuel 6, a passage that outlines King David's two attempts to bring the ark of the covenant to the city of Jerusalem.
On his first endeavor, David transported the ark in the way that seemed best to him--on a cart pulled by oxen--and lost one of his men in the process. God struck the man down for touching the ark while trying to steady it. David became disgusted, fearful and unwilling to move the ark any further, and he dropped it off at the house of Obed-Edom, a Philistine who had become a Jewish proselyte. When David left the ark, God visited Obed-Edom's house and blessed the man abundantly.
At this point in the story, I began to think about the church in America--our history and our now arguably beleaguered condition. For generations, the American church has prioritized sending purveyors of the gospel throughout the known world. Now we are hearing reports of God blessing the people we touched.
Vibrant churches in Asia, Africa and South America are multiplying--many under persecution--at rates that defy logic. In fact, the presence of God for which we in America now long, the move of God for which we are crying, seems to be visible everywhere U.S. missionaries have gone except America. Maybe we dropped off some things in those places that we need to pick up again.
When David heard of Obed-Edom's good fortune, he made an executive decision: Go get the ark! David wanted to bring the presence and blessings of God into his nation's midst. So does the American church. I submit that if we can recover our purpose, passion and prayer life, we can experience God in ways we've never dreamed and become the catalyst for change our society desperately needs.
Purpose. When Jesus established His church, He was clear about its destiny: "The gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18, KJV). If hell's gates are fighting to hold our children, our cities and our country captive, then hell must understand that we have the power to prevail. Now is the time to remember we were born to overcome our enemy.
Passion. When purpose exits, passion is never far behind. David allowed his failure with the ark to destroy his passion to re-establish worship as the central focus in Judah and Israel. He became angry, confused and afraid.
In Revelation, Jesus speaks strong words about passion to the church at Ephesus. While the works of Ephesus had been purposeful and consistent, the Lord took issue with the church. The Ephesians had forgotten their first love, a lack of regard that could have cost them the entire ministry (see Rev. 2:4-5).
We must do what Ephesus was commanded to do: repent and remember. Repent of our fall from passionate pursuit of God and His will. Remember where we used to be in our relationship with Jesus and return to that place.
Prayer. Before successfully retrieving the ark from the house of Obed-Edom, David learned that God had a protocol for the ark's transport. Rather than being pulled on a cart by oxen, the ark was to be carried on the shoulders of the priests. Technology and ingenuity can be assets in the church as we work to expand God's kingdom, but we must shoulder the presence of God ourselves--in prayer.
Our nation is blessed, and often that very blessing deters revival. The dearth of prayer in the American church has less to do with our schedules and more to do with our dependence on ourselves. When we become convinced that our own efforts are in vain, we can begin to give attention to the only source of power capable of addressing the issues of our day: the power of God through prayer.
God is no respecter of persons. What He is doing in the nations He will do in America if we give Him preeminence in our lives. The ark of the covenant was a picture of the presence of God. If our churches will arm themselves with God's presence again, we, too, can experience the greatest days of the church.
B. Courtney McBath (revivalword.org) is senior pastor of Calvary Revival Church in Norfolk, Va., and senior overseer of Calvary Alliance, a global network of churches. He is the author of Maximize Your Marriage.
The Arabs got tired of this impartiality and by the wisdom of their leader, Aljazeera was formed with the aim of providing accurate and impartial news with a global, international perspective. Aljazeera broadcasts both the good stuff and the bad that goes on in the Arab world with fairness.
We here in Africa have allowed the "BRAGADOCIOUS" CNN tell us what and who we are, I believe its time we broadcast from Africa to the world with fairness the GOOD and BAD that goes on in Africa because Africa is not synonymous with CRIME, EVIL and ATROCITIES....
I have decided to start posting positive and negative realities that go on, not just waiting for PATIENCE JONATHAN to make a grammatical error or JONATHAN to make a slight mistake in his speech because Africa is worth much more than what the MEDIA show us.......
Google servers are currently melting because I spent quality time looking for a decent picture of you to attach to this post.
Honestly I shouldn't have any problem with you, you have your life to live, but reading all the insulting stuff you said to a fellow blogger like me really pissed me off.....
Hello ma, you think you are hot, but remember this:
NAKED WOMEN ARE HOT, CLOTHED WOMEN ARE BEAUTIFUL
HELL IS HOT, HEAVEN IS BEAUTIFUL
THE CHOICE IS YOURS
I'll pray for you by 4pm today, if you are interested you can also pray at that same time.
The Lord bless you. I love you with the love of Christ
PS: Nothing personal
The end of a relationship, and a cherished one at that, sometimes leaves one feeling quite disillusioned with life. If it has happened to you, take heart and remember that sooner or later, the feeling of misery will subside. So go through the following points and get over being dumped.
Accept the present situation
Start by accepting that the relationship has ended. Hard as it may sound, it is very necessary to be realistic at this stage and face the fact that your partner is not coming back. You cannot begin the healing process unless you consciously realize that your relationship is over.
Avoid the let's-be-friends trap
The fastest way to get over being dumped is to cut off all manner of contact with your ex. There is no sense in wanting to remain “friends” as it will only encourage hopes of reconciliation and thus further delay the healing process. Make a clean break and get on with your life.
Don’t succumb to a rebound relationship
Breaking up may goad you into having an affair, just to prove the point that not everybody thinks you a loser. But remember, rebound affairs never work, because you are just not emotionally ready for a new relationship. And even if you are not serious about it yourself, it is grossly unfair to the other person, who may not be aware of your real feelings.
Value your friends more
There is no substitute for real friends, they are always there even the hard times
Don't worry, there's always someone who will cherish and love you
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