NO SUBSTITUTE FOR EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP

It's been 58 years she had her independence, yet her freedom is still fictitious. Like a child weaned before her time, Nigeria’s institutions have been ineptly formed. President Nelson Mandela declared to the world that freedom is a long walk. Unfortunately, Nigeria isn’t walking; she’s crawling and, perhaps, heavily derailed at the moment. The nation of Israel had 40 years long walk from the wilderness of independence, however, slavery mentality and attitudinal deficit had to be completely got rid of before they entered into their freedom. Similarly, 58 years of wandering in the wilderness of independence, Nigeria is still not free. Her precarious situations beg for working solutions. They require urgent and concrete attention, as her future looks nebulous.

Almost every generation from independence has looked up to United States, Canada, Australia or United Kingdom for education, exposure, equity or aids in order to sustain vitality; and young people do in order to protect the great potentials they carry from suffering miscarriage. Nigerians, the truth remains that, leadership is critical in the transformation of any nation.  Leadership is the most important factor in piloting human society. Everything rises and falls on leadership. In my extensive research into human society and civilization, I discovered that humanity had cried more as a result of leadership than all natural disasters put together. Whenever people wept bitterly or rejoiced exceedingly in history, leadership was probably implicated. Quick example is abolition of slavery by Abraham Lincoln through the Emancipation Proclamation, and orchestration of World War II by Adolf Hitler and other brutalities through the Malicious Practices Act 1933 in Nazi Germany.

There's no substitute for compassionate, competent and visionary leadership in bringing Nigeria to her Canaan Land. Leadership determines the destiny of a nation. Yet, our leaders seem to be more concerned about next positions than next generation. It was the iconic leadership coach, Dr. Myles Munroe, who said, "Nations of the world do not lack people in leadership. What they lack is leadership in the people who are in leadership. Government is only as effective as the leaders in it. No government is better than the people in it."  We have been swindled over the years with the lies of the so called leaders. They come subtly through our weaknesses: our attitude, habit and stomach. I have been writing for years that the problem of Nigeria is not the geographical location because we are pleasantly situated. The problem of Nigeria is Nigerians and their attitude. There's hope for Nigeria to be a better country if there's hope for Nigerians to be better citizens. Over the years we have cultivated habit of gullible acceptance and tolerance of incompetency, inefficiency and averageness in government. Excellence seems to be far from our personal or nation culture. Our habits have made us captives, and we’re being preyed both from within and outside our country. "The world is ruled by habit." Said Wallace D. Wattles "Kings, tyrants, masters, and plutocrats hold their positions solely because the people have come to habitually accept them. Things are as they are only because people have formed the habit of accepting them as they are. When the people change their habitual thought about governmental, social, and industrial institutions, they will change the institutions," he concluded.

"We cannot solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them", said a world-renown genius. Fellow citizens, it's becoming sin accepting our leaders as they are, just because they are from our ethnic or religious background. It's time Nigeria takes bold step in creating a national curriculum for Intentional Leadership Training and Development for next generation who would cause a wave of next national transformation. We urgently need proactive and competent situational leaders who would take command of the situations, apply right leadership style, form best leadership team, employ finest leadership skills, offer their deepest leadership insights, utilize their most profound leadership training and exposure to lead an inclusive government.

Happy Independence.

Pharm. 'Yemi Adekunle
+2348136194649
www.yemiadekunle.com.ng

7 Principles and Benefits of Planning in Effective Living

Early in April this year, I joined a team for an outreach in Oyo State. We were at the place on a Thursday till Sunday. On the last day of the exercise, a friend made a comment that sparked a train of thoughts in me on how people sometimes allow time to be wasted without a plan, and consequently, purpose is helplessly unpreserved. She said, “We were here on Thursday but it was just like an hour gone.”
Life runs in similar way: We were here some years ago and we will soon leave this planet. There are two irrevocable gifts of life that one has to be wise in handling: Time and opportunity. This is because what we do or don’t do with opportunity when time lasts invariably becomes the net worth of life.
While pondering on her words, my mind was inundated with hundreds of thoughts. I observed we were on a mission and we had a purpose to accomplish; we encountered unforeseen circumstances such as rainfall; we had reasons to make adjustment such as change venue, time or method; and despite the fact that the circumstances were not lenient on us, the time didn’t stop. If we had not planned our time, it would have just kept burning for nothing. Time waits for no persons, no matter their status.
Dr Mike Murdock wrote, “Planning is the starting point for any dream or goal that you possess.” He defined a plan as “a written list of arranged actions necessary to achieve your desired goal.” Planning becomes the highest form of faith in God. Failure to plan in the name of spirituality is foolishness. Such a deception is born out of lack of understanding of how God works. God is the planner of ages who never does anything without planning. Evidently, God never starts anything He has not finished. God stands in eternity and says, “Only my plan shall prevail.” Therefore, any visions or dreams that aren’t documented are mere wishes or hopes.
Follow me closely as I earmark the seven (7) principles and benefits of planning I learnt from our outreach.

Principle #1
Planning Preserves Purpose
On the second day of the outreach, we were heavily disturbed by rain. Nevertheless, we were able to accomplish our purpose for the hour because we had a guiding plan. Planning preserves purpose even though procedure may change.
Every man is here on earth to fulfill a purpose. However, discouragements will sediment at the bottom of our hearts from time to time. We will keep having discouraging thoughts, moments and circumstances to fight. But it is relieving to know that when we have a guiding plan for our lives, our purpose for each moment of our lives shall be preserved.

Principle #2
Planning Regulates Time
The greatest commodity in our life is time. Time is the only thing that is unambiguously equivalent to life.  Our life end up becoming what we exchange our time for. Therefore, time should be made accountable. It should be monitored and effectively spent
Time drips continually like the eastern earthen roof: sixty drops of the measure of time make one hour. When we have twenty-four hours, it makes one day. It doesn’t take long for time to accumulate. However, planning is the strategy by which time is prolifically captured.
Planning is the most effective time management strategy and a sure way of living effectively. Success is accomplishment and accomplishment is in doing. However, work will be uncoordinated or simply unregulated without adequate planning.
At the outreach, our time was regulated by planning. Everybody knew what to do, how to do, when to do, for what reason to do and when to do any items in our agenda of program. Our order of programme outlined when to sleep, when to eat, when to pray and when to work. So our time was well managed. Not only does planning regulate time, it also redeems time.

Principle #3
Planning Gives Value to Time
You probably have heard the saying: “How time flies!” Time is volatile; it vapourizes readily where there’s no planning. Our time out for the outreach from Thursday to Sunday was just like a few hours gone. On the last day, we could not believe we had spent about 3 days already for the program. Nonetheless, what counted at the end of the day was what we were able to accomplish according to our planning, even though time itself had flown away.
The best judge of our effectiveness in life is time. The quality of life is measured in domination or donation, not in duration. It is in what we have been able to do between the first life cry and the final breath.

Principle #4
Planning Helps to Accomplish Much within Short Time
A dream or goal with not deadline can last till eternity. An academic program that’s supposed to last for 3 years can be run for 7 years if there is no solid plan for it. For instance, you may be a PhD student and goes to the laboratory any day you feel like. However, having a plan can make a difference. This is because planning makes you to be disciplined.
Planning will dictate what kind of friend you choose, what number of hours you spend on TV, and what kind of book you read. In a nutshell, planning will help you to accomplish much within a short time.
Planning also monitors the progress of purpose. One can monitor one’s progress in business, academic, or ministry with a plan. During our outreach, we simply confirmed our progress by checking what agenda we had accomplished compared with what we set out to accomplish. So in short time, we made a great impact in the community.

Principle #5
Planning Helps to Shun Distractions
It is natural for discouragements to come. Many circumstances cannot be figured out at the beginning. But they will surface somewhere in the middle of the way. Both expected and unexpected distractions are best handle by having a solid plan.
The wisdom needed for the moment will come if there is a plan. Of course, you can’t adjust a plan you don’t have. When we were distracted by rain at our outreach, we changed the venue. In fact, some of us quickly came up with an alternative program that somewhat fulfilled the initial plan. A person who works with a plan is not readily distracted by little challenges.

Principle #6
Planning Checks Procrastination
A Planned Life is a Captured Destiny. You see, life can be funny. One may be at the realm of profession of what one would love to accomplish in life for the whole first half of one’s life. John Mason rightly said, “Some people spend half their lives telling what they are going to do, and the other half explaining why they didn’t do it.”
What you ought to do today may be postponed till tomorrow because nothing is planned for tomorrow. That of tomorrow too can be postponed till next tomorrow because every new day is always an unoccupied, unplanned day.
A loosed destiny is the one that is not planned. It can stray at will following the dictate of societal happenings. An unplanned life can be stopped by economic hardship but the mind of a planned one will devise a surviving mechanism no matter how difficult is it.
For our outreach, we never allowed our time to be dictated for by harsh circumstances we met on ground. We never procrastinate what we ought to do per time. Procrastination is not only a thief of time but also a thief of life because time is life.

Principle #7
Planning Helps in Maintaining Priority and Focus
There are one thousand and one things that will demand one’s attention in life. You cannot do or become everything. You don’t have to be everywhere; however, you can be somewhere and affects everywhere. This is the nature of light. Light only stays at the lamp-stand and gives illumination to everyone that comes in or goes out.
There are many good things that may demand for your time but not all good are right. A little deviation from what your priority should be may lead you where you should not be. Therefore, the key to effective living is priority. Planning is important in setting right priority. It will help you focus on few but glorious things you’ve carefully selected among other important things. By this, planning gives meaning to life.

'Yemi Adekunle
Writer, and Pharmacist.

TWO EDGED SWORD; GRATITUDE AND DECLARATION.

My colleagues 've achieved far better than me in academics....

My friends are now employed in big parastatals both within and outside the country....

My mates are now known globally for what they do, many now hold big positions in the country....

My friends are now getting married and having children....

Yes you are right! Your friends are 'these' and 'that'..., however 've you forgotten that not all of your so called friends you started your primary education with are still alive till now?

You are right to some extent... if you think critically well, you 'll know that there are many of your age group/(mates) that are presently in the mortuary waiting for their families to claim their bodies....

When last did you visit the the Prison? Just try to pay the inmates a visit one day, you 'll see different age range including those you can categorise as "age mates".

Yes there are many of your colleagues that 've ended their sojourn on earth before you, just try to go to the cemetery and see the lists of names engraved on the each tombstones at the cemetery that are not even up to your age but are having eternal rest in their various graves.

I might not be where I want to be for now but I give glory to God for what, where I'm, and where He is taking me to. We should stop grumbling but show our gratitude to our maker. There are ways we can lay our petition to HIm without grumbling and comparing ourselves to others.

As I enter into another new year of birth, I give all the Glory and adoration to Him for the new age. It has been Him all these while. I decree and declare in this 5th Month of the year, and 5th day of the Month:

5 stands for Grace.
Grace has 5 letters
Mercy has 5 letters
Favor is 5 letters!
Peace has 5 letters
Water has 5 letters
Bread has 5 letters

I receive the GRACE of God, enjoy the MERCY of God, live a life of FAVOUR throughout the days of my life.
The PEACE of God that surpasses man understanding is with me and my household. There shall be peace into everything and everyone around me.
The Lord will WATER my life with great testimonies.
I will not lack BREAD, I will not beg for bread.
I will begin to open heaven and showers of blessing.

However, Death has 5 letters,
Grave has 5 letters,
Shame is 5 letters.

I prophesy into my life and family, I will not share in the DEATH that goes about in this new year and throughout the days of my life.
The GRAVE will not swallow me and everyone related to me.
I will never be put to SHAME.
In Jesus name!

#May5
I_am_Grace

© Ayokunmi Solomon Jimoh

Managing Vision with Attitude

Vision is the ability to think about or plan the future with great imagination or wisdom. It is also an ideal or goal toward which one aspires. There has now been subject of comparison between Vision and Ambition; the former is God’s design while the latter is an inordinate desire to achieve a particular aim or objective. An ambition that is not in line with God’s design (Vision) for your life will lead to problem for your destiny. Vision is the mental picture of a better future.

 

“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” (Proverbs 29 verse 18 KJV). The phrase “Keep the Law” has to do with your attitude. Attitude is a ‘mental set’ held by an individual which affect the way the person respond to events and organizes his/her cognition(thought process). The extent to which the person is prepared to act on the attitude that he or she holds is the Behaviour. How you behave when you are left alone or when there is nobody with you defines your attitude. Your attitude determines your Altitude – the height or level of your attainable dreams for a better future.

Vision and anointing are not enough without a good character. When a man loses character, then he has lost all. May you not lose your character. How positive or negative is my character? Is my attitude helping or damaging my vision? How disobedient, cheatable or stubborn am I? How godly or deadly is my character? In what areas are people complaining about my character? These are the questions you need to ask yourself and make corrections where necessary.

A king once instructed the head of his loyal servants to select children who are potent in skills, knowledge, and worthy in characters. He wanted them to be trained in new skills in other for other generations to learn from them too. Your skill and knowledge can take you to a very high position, however it takes a good character to sustain you and keep you there. Among the children selected, a particular person distinguished himself from others. Apart from possessing all the above required credentials, he consolidated it with good attitude.

One of the attribute you need to manage your vision aright is SELF DISCIPLINE. You must possess the willpower or ability to control yourself. While others engaged in all sorts of activities that can distract them from achieving the major purpose they were chosen, the boy remained focused and didn’t join the multitude. Do not let what you see or any environmental activities distract you from making your vision come into reality. You have to “cost your opportunities”; set priorities and disregard every other engagements that are not of serious importance to you. Discipline requires sacrifice, you have to let go of many things so as to reach your potential. Although discipline might not be an easy task but it is a ladder you have to climb for your vision to manifest.

Discipline is just choosing between "What you want NOW and What you want MOST". - Abraham Lincoln







 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another attribute you need to have in other to properly manage your vision is DILIGENCE. You must be diligent in your pursue to lead a good life. It is very important you add an extra output in other to get a bogus return. When others are crawling, that is the time for you to stand on your feet and walk. When your colleagues are walking, I expect you to run. When your counterparts are running, try as much as possible to outrun them at a higher speed and if possible take a flight at a very high attitude. A discipline and diligent person should not be idle when it is expected of him to work harder.  Diligence is an important catalyst in achieving a better future. After the trainings and teachings, the young boy spent more time to put all the skills learned into practice, no wonder the common saying “practice done in a right way makes perfect”. The more time he spent on studying, the more he became an expert; this made him to stand out among his peers. He achieved greater feat than the others.

 

Never underestimate God’s Factor! That should be your foundation. This is very important because there is nothing that can be achieved without God, we are nothing without Him. Consolidate the DISCIPLINE and DILIGENCE with PRAYER. Let God be the Alpha and Omega of any journey you want to embark on. With God you can do the impossible. The boy was able to achieve the impossible because he placed God in a very high esteem in his heart and ways. Because of his achievement in the training, the young boy joined the team of scholars and wise men in the kingdom. In the course of his new attainment, a great challenge came on his way, the king required someone that could tell him his dream, the dream he himself couldn't even remember. The king threatened to kill all the scholars and wise men in the land if they were unable to find a way of telling the dreams. When people think a situation is over, God always looks for a way to take over it, we only need to trust Him. The boy neither relied on his wisdom, nor his understanding but instead decided to seek for the face of God. If indeed you trust in God with all your heart, and at the same time you are discipline, diligent in your dealings, and communicate with Him in prayers, He will answer you.

The boy called the name of his God in prayer, tendered his supplication to God, and in return, He answered him and showed him greater and mighty things, things he had never seen or heard before. He was showed mysterious thing that was beyond his wisdom; or what should we say in a situation where you are asked to relay a dream dreamt by someone that couldn’t even remember his own dream?  He was not only able to relay the dream correctly, he was able to interpret the meaning of the king’s dream, achievement the king’s wizards couldn’t achieve. As a result of his attitude, the boy was speedily promoted to the position of the head of king’s counsel in a strange land. The boy in this story was Daniel at Kingdom of Babylon in the Holy Bible.

When you plan your future with great imagination and control it with the ideal attitude, your future will be as bright as the sun. Remember that when you have nothing to pursue, something will be pursuing you and you might end up not having anything to possess in the process. Therefore I besiege you to locate your vision and manage it with good attitude.

 

Ayokunmi Solomon Jimoh

@apostleayoks

+2347034586467

7 SMART WAYS TO START THE NEW YEAR

Happy New Year.

Wow. Like the freshness of the dawn comes a newness of season! It's like sun regally coming out of its chamber in the morning time fresh, bright and pleasant ready for a great day. I have here 7 guides to help you plan the new year so as to have bountiful harvest when it runs quickly to an ebb.

1. Gratitude, Celebration and Reflection.
No better way to start new year but to be thankful for who you are, what you have and where you are. You've go to use what you have to get what you want. Celebrate and be grateful to those who have been part of your life, business and success. Never forget to say thank you to myriad of disappointments, No, Yes and testimonies you got last year. Reflect on how last year was spent and how to make new year a more productive one. Last year disappointment will make you do it this year reflectively, novelly, diligently, and more enthusiastically. Never keep gratitude in your luggage, it's not yours.

2. Total Commitment to Creative Goals or Visions.
Goal is like roadmap; it gives direction all the way. Those beautiful dreams of your heart become goals when you write them down with set time. Then do something everyday (or every week) that will move you closer to your goals.
To desire or wish for great things in new year is inherently human but to achieve great things is not spontaneous. Dreams are better lived than told. As beautiful as your aspirations are they cannot achieve themselves. Successful people set goals and give themselves wholly to their goals. If you have a vision which seems not working; stick to it, it will work. That's characteristic of visions especially at the beginning.

3. Build Healthy Relationships.
The best memories in our lives may not necessarily be in our aloneness. Life is designed to be lived in association not isolation. In new year, make some adjustment in your personal life such as dressing, habits and character. Be determined to be a better friend, husband, wife, father, mother and citizen. Share yourself and build values into others.

4. Networking and Partnership.
One simple principle that have been proven effective in almost all fields of endeavour is networking. The principle says: Iron sharpens iron. Look for people who share common convictions. Look for people you can complement whether in business, ministry, education, entertainment or sports. You will always see people who will help you or those you will help. Networking gives you opportunity to expand your coast and see with other people's view.

5. Search and Prepare for Opportunities.
One of the saddest moments in our lives is that awkward one when an unexpected opportunity springs up but you don't have the required criteria which you should have. It is usually good to always wash the pot in case it rains over the night. Some opportunities may decide to stay in a distance. You have to build a bridge when opportunities stand aloof.

6. Intentional Personal Growth
You have to let go of comfortability and security if you really want to grow. Nobody is too old to learn. In fact, one of the closet companions of great people is learning. Anybody can easily find excuses for being a dwarf since learning on its own is not palatable. But understanding that life itself is serious, as Jim Rohn observed, will make you take responsibility for your life. I personally keep a Growth Journal. In new year, learn new things, read great books, go for workshops or seminars, volunteer at NGOs, go for internships or find a mentor.
Have you heard about StrengthsFinder which helps you detect your top strengths? Are you aware of the ground-breaking work of Howard Gardner on Multiple Intelligence? These will help you to grow productively.

7. God in the Picture.
I deliberately make this the last on the list of ways of starting a new year. It is the most important because God is the planner of ages and in Him all things find meaning. He created time but He is not affected by it. An outstanding way of starting a new year is to make commitment to walk with God.

I Wish You a Prolific 2017


Apostleayoks Blog wishes you Happy New Year 2017

 

Pharm 'Yemi Adekunle

He shares inspirational insights with youth and purpose-driven individuals through his simple writing and speaking styles. He has earned a degree from Nation's Premier University of Ibadan where he banged distinction in Pharmacy. 'Yemi also keeps a watchful eye on humanitarian needs and community works.

+2348136194649

Email: yemiadekunle03@yahoo.com

Watch out for mind blowing articles from Ayokunmi in this year 2017. Thanks for visiting our blog. 

 

Pain of the Heart

I remember spending few years at home after my secondary school education. Gaining admission into the University was not a problem then but a challenge. I had a very close friend; in short my best friend then was privileged to gain admission before me. After few weeks on campus, she developed strange attitude towards me. She became another person entirely, she was no longer a friend I used to know. She no longer visit me at my house unlike before despite the fact that I visit her regularly . I asked her what the problem was, she opened up and told me she was no longer comfortable associating with me since we were no longer on the "same page".  Ayokunmi, how will you expect me to mingle with you when you are still at home, struggling to gain admission! she said.

Honestly I was pained with her actions but decided to take heart.

A year later, I gained admission in that same school, and eventually graduated before her.

Some of us are equally guilty of this. Don't ever look down on anybody if you can't lift them up.

Life is dynamic and not static. Many times things aren't the way we see them, they might move and change within a twinkle of an eye. No condition is permanent. When you condemn a situation along with the person in the situation, you are only playing "god" in a condition you don't have power over.

There is this common Yoruba adage that says "A masquerade that dances first will become a spectator before the end of the contest". He who laugh last laugh best.

NB: This Story isn't fictional but my true life personal experience.

Ayokunmi Solomon Jimoh

@apostleayoks

Restructure Nigerians, not Nigeria!

Map of Nigeria Showing the Geo-Political Zones

Many have come out to boldly call out for the restructuring of the country. They claim its a way out of the myriads of problems confronting us as a Nation. Lot of notable names have lent their voices to the regionalizing of the country so as to give each part full control of its natural resource especially the Niger  Delta Region. Many have stood up to claim that the country as it is now has derailed from its past glory when we had it regionalized. Nigeria doesn't need to be fragmented further or restructured in order to live up to our status as the giant of Africa. This article is all about how we can achieve greatness without further compartmentalization, but by addressing some common issues which we haven't paid closer attention to as a Nation.

Tribalism in Nigeria now is at a very saddening high. We see different parts of the country label those of other tribes with derogatory names. The youths are worst hit by this tribalism epidemic. We are ever ready to conjure a plethora of inhumane appellations for our brothers and sisters from tribes that are not ours especially on various platforms of the social media.

Another issue to be addressed is lack of the spirit of Nationalism amongst the Nigerian polity. Majority of Nigerians are only Nigerians by nomenclature and not by the heart. Nigerians do no longer believe in the Nigerian project. I bet most Nigerians would readily change their nationality to any country with better prospects who offers such opportunity. This is partly why Nigerians prefer to patronize foreign goods and emphasize all the bad things about made in Nigerian merchandise. The death of Nationalism gave birth to and is responsible for the growth of tribalism.

 

I love Nigeria
 

 

 

This is why a Nigerian would first identify himself as an Igbo, a Yoruba or Hausa man including the over 250 ethnic nationalities before identifying as a Nigerian. The death of Nationalism also took another casualty and that is, the spirit of patriotism. Very few Nigerians are patriots. Most Nigerians wouldn't go the extra mile for the country if there's nothing in it for them. This is further shown in how Nigerians treat government property and even how politicians treat government infrastructure and institutions e.g. dilapidated schools, stadiums and poorly equipped hospitals and death trap roads that abound in the country.

 

This is also responsible for the wanton destruction of oil and power installations especially in the South south because they do not feel as part of the Nigerian project . Government at all levels should embark on a major campaign to eschew away the spirit of tribalism and ethnic sentiment and for all to embrace nationalism . Government should also introduce the history of Nigeria into the curriculum of schools in the country.

 

Nigerians need to know the story of the independence and how the dreams of our founding fathers can be actualized. Nigerians need to know the story of the Civil War. We need to know the sacrifices made from all divides for our unity and what lessons we can learn from the war. Nigerians need to know the great political icons that have made positive and meaningful contributions for our sustained growth and how the upcoming generation can draw strength from their determination .

 

Nigeria Flag

Nigeria can be better if it conquers corruption. If the current crop of our greedy, selfish, wicked and uncreative leaders were at the helm of affairs when we had the regions, I bet we would not have anything to say about those past glorious days. Fellow Nigerians rather than restructuring our nation, we need to restructure our values. We need to evaluate what's important and what's not and this must start from the very foundation of every society-the family. It should be of note that leaders during the regional times in which Nigeria flourished were a product of a balanced family system which promoted the right values and virtues of hard work, honesty, creativity and selflessness.

I've heard many a Nigerian youth complain bitterly about how we've been short-changed by the older generation in our social contract. The older generation deem us unfit to handle Nigerian affairs aright. There are more than 30 million of us roaming the streets jobless and hopeless. When it comes to election times, we shy away from doing the needful or even accept to short-change ourselves by taking peanuts from the older generation to install their crook friends in power instead of we taking charge. Dear Nigerian youths, the older generation would never give us a chance if we do not SPEAK TO BE HEARD.

 

We speak to be heard when we do the needful during electioneering-vote credible people and defend your votes. We speak to be heard when we say no to stomach infrastructure and request for developmental governance. We speak to be heard when we submit ourselves to serve our fellow compatriots. Most Nigerian youths are ignorant of the fact that we are truly the leaders of tomorrow. when the older generation is gone, we have to take the lead but the truth is we are not ready and we don't really care and with that fact, the future of Nigeria still looks gloomy. If we do not collectively desire and work towards a new Nigeria, we have no future to look up to. The youths of today are the Nigeria of tomorrow just like our inept leaders of today were once irresponsible youths of yesterday.

Nigeria belongs to we all whether we like it or not . What ever we make of it will be borne by we all whether we like it or not . Let us all eschew tribalism. Let us show love to and support our brothers in the north east and donate towards the young ones starving and dying off there . Let us plead with our brothers in the Niger Delta region to quit bombing oil and power installations and sheath their swords because the use of violence will destroy more than the good we can ever achieve. Let us all demand for accountability on behalf of our Niger Delta brothers from the political elite in the region to tell us how the billions invested there has been spent.

 

Let us demand for justice from our political class that cannot pay pensioners and salary earners but can still afford to live in stupendous wealth. Let us demand for a new Nigeria brothers and sisters. Nigerian youths obey the clarion call and seize your own future. Nigerians, old and young let us restructure our mind-set, eschew tribalism and embrace nationalism, shun corruption and start believing in the Nigerian project because without restructuring Nigerians, restructuring Nigeria will only be an exercise in futility.

 

Tolu Olakanmi
toluolakanmi007@gmail.com

PROPOSAL AND ACCEPTANCE (Manifestation of God's favour at work).

Will you marry Me?

 

The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favour from the LORD. Proverbs 18:20.

 

1. The process and method of the finding determine how 'treasurable' she will be.

There is a difference between finding a wife and finding a 'Girlfriend' and then making the 'girlfriend' a 'wife'.
A wife (in terms of materials and qualities) is a 'wife' even while she is singles.

Here is why:
'In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use'. 1st Tim. 2:20.

A Marriage Proposal

 

2. Your Wife is a treasure unto you. Why? Because she is a manifestation of God's favour on you.

 

3. That you propose and she said 'Yes' is a favour from God, and that you as a sister was purposefully convinced to say Yes is God's grace.
There are other brothers that even laboured more than you to get her, and there are other Sisters that have gone on Vigils and taken his name to Pastors, just to get him. But here you are; Grace and favour from God made it happen for you.
As someone that has gotten a 'No' before, an understandable 'No'  (Lol), the last part of that passage makes so much sense to me.

Am recently studying on Grace, and I can see how Men have taken for granted God's grace.

You see, until we begin to understand that marriage is a partnership unto destiny, may be we can then appreciate the Grace of God or pray for the grace of God as regard making marital choice.

When you marry someone, you are not just choosing one person; you are through him/her  choosing who your father In-Law will be, your Mother In-law, brother In-law, Sister In-law, extended family relatives, friends In-law (lol), etc.

You can fast and pray for seven days on Mont Kilimanjaro or Mount Everest, and be very sure that she is your wife. (I believe you that she is your wife), after several attempts of proposing and she is not taking you serious, you decide to wait for ten years for her to say Yes; Buy gift for her, take her to Mr. Biggs, and spend all you can on her. Bro, if you are yet to obtain the grace and favour from God for her to be your wife, You are only taking care of another man's wife.
(I remember Prof. Sunday Isehunwa once advising us to pray on early mercy as regard marriage. He told us a story of a friend that the wife said Yes after ten years of proposal. That my bro, is waste of time. Do you know what they could have accomplish as a Team in ten years? Some waiting can be wasting).

 

4. So, what is it with obtaining the favour?

I happen to be blessed with four elder brothers. As the last born in my family, I have learnt a lot about marital choice, relationship, and marriage as a destiny, from them.
Almost all of them have stylishly or practically being in a relationship before the sister they eventually marry.
But the process of they obtaining God's favour about their choice tells me more about the fact that the favour for finding a treasurable wife is based on Purpose and destiny.

You may not understand the depth of God's will and purpose for you and your marriage when you propose to her, She may not understand you completely when she accepted your proposal; but God gave you the favour of she accepting your proposal because He (God) has in stock for the union between both what eyes have not seen, what ears have not heard and even mind is yet to imagine. Something great that God wants to do through you and your seeds.
And he can't afford that the ignorance of you too about the depth of His will for your union will be a set back to the manifestation of His plan for your marriage.
God's favour is attached to a responsibility.
It's a favour from God that she said Yes, because she is the ordained mother that will nurse your seed and build your home.

 

5. Every marriage according to God's design is a product of God's favour.

That you as a lady was convinced to say Yes to him, not minding his stature, his 'Six-packlessness', his Oily face, his financial status and social class, his 'leggedesbenz', his 'three -shirtness' and 'four-trouserness'; that, despite all of these attributes that can justify your refusal of his proposal, you became so convinced in the purpose and plan of God for the union of both of you; that my sister, is God's grace at work.

Understanding that all we've been given and blessed with is all by the grace of God, will strengthen our heart to appreciate the purpose of God's design for marriage and the family unit, especially your marriage.

Thank you.

 

 

Pharm John Oluwadero
Executive Coordinator, Better Nigeria Initiative(BNI), a youth work and community development agency. He also serves as African Regional Representative for Commonwealth Youth Sport for Development and Peace Working Group.

Email: johnoluwadero@gmail.com