I often wonder at the antipathy in the world that seems to seize one individual after the other on a daily basis. Of course, antipathy is not exactly a strange term to mankind, we’ve been through many forms of it: bullying, apartheid, racism, slavery, genocides, terrorism, even full blown civil wars and world wars. But what really strikes me about this particular form is the fact that it is perpetrated by man not against his fellow man- though that is worrisome enough- but against himself. The fact that man makes himself a target for himself is what bothers me. But what bothers me even more, is that I also find myself guilty of it.

 

Perhaps it is because I don’t have that beauteous body that I think the sleek black leather jacket that I saw at the mall won’t look good on me. Perhaps that is also why I eat once in three days and wear only baggy clothes. Perhaps it is because I got a D on my last test that I don’t think I’m worthy of achieving my dream of becoming the first pilot from my town. Perhaps that is also why I steer clear of the smart kids in my class and avoid talking to them, since I probably won’t understand a word they say. Perhaps it is because my smile is nowhere near mesmerizing that I don’t have a love interest. Perhaps that is also why I spend hours on the internet looking for the cheapest plastic surgeon around. Perhaps it’s because…

 

Sigh.

 

To be honest, I’m not perfect. I’m not the type that’ll ever get asked to model for a clothing line, I’ve never come in top 5 in my class and my parents say I’ll never get married. I’m not happy with that, I wish I was different. I wish I could be the me of my dreams. But who is the me of my dreams? The person with the hot body and genius brains who’s got tens of people drooping saliva? Is that the me I want to be? Again, to be honest, yes. Why? Because I’ve never been that way before and I’m sure it feels good. How do I know that? I just do.

 

But now, I choose to ask myself, why is that the me of my dreams? Why do I want to ‘feel good’ that way so badly? Fine, feeling good in itself isn’t a bad thing; but should that be a good enough reason for me to choose who I want to be and make my decisions? Should that image be the blueprint for my life?

 

True, I only live once. Since that’s the case, how should I play out the only chance I have at life? Should I aim to do what I want and keep myself feeling good? Or aim to be a person of value and virtue? I have only one shot at life. This means I have only one chance to excel at life and do all the things I want to. So what do I really want for myself? Who do I really want to be? Perhaps it’s something I need to take time to think about.

 

Yes! I have it; the image of who I want to be. I want to be a person of value and virtue and feel good while I’m at it. But then I can’t change my face or outfit just to impress others and call myself someone of value, can I? I can’t avoid being involved in intellectual discussions and expect myself to be valued as possibly the first pilot from here, can I? Because that’s simply me not valuing myself. If I don’t value myself, how can I expect others to value me? How will they even know who to value? I’m too busy hiding the real me anyway. But then, if I don’t have an alluring face and dress to impress, I won’t hang out with the popular crowd or go on dates. And if I have neither the popular crowd nor the dating escapades, how do I feel good? What exactly does feeling good mean anyway? It means to be happy, right? Well, what makes me happy? What should make me happy?

 

Right now, I’ll definitely be happy if someone walks up to me and says I’m the smartest, most talented, alluring youngster they’ve ever seen. No one has ever said that to me before, so maybe I do need to change a bit. But then, do I have to change just because no one compliments me? Do I need anyone to compliment me? Should I lose myself just because they don’t compliment me? No, never!

 

What then?

 

I compliment myself. I tell myself I look great even I have a cold and there’s mucus dripping from my nose. I eat when I’m hungry. I talk with who I want and ask questions about things I’m curious about whether people find me ignorant or not. I study. I wear what I love. I refuse to get myself in a relationship with someone interested only in how I look and not who I am. I forget about plastic surgeons and crazy diets. I take care of me.

 

The me of my dreams should be confident and bold, not looking to others for self-validation, or following trends just because they’re trending. The me of my dreams studies and works hard to achieve long-held dreams. That me is selfless and doesn’t just live in the moment for the moment, but looks ahead and makes plans. The me of my dreams is awesome and smart because that’s simply the truth. The me of my dreams feels good because self-care is prioritized and is a person of value and virtue because self-love is practised. That me positively impacts everyone I come in contact with.

 

The me of my dreams; that’s who I want to be. That’s who I’m going to be.

 

The gray hair shone

 

Attitude still cold

 

All bad habits sold

 

She said kill any foe

 

That step on her toe

 

Many truths unfold

 

Life secrets she told

 

Shooting stars break the mold

 

There’s beauty in fire and coal

 

Gleaming with joy when retired

 

Grandma said build me an Empire

 

Cuz that is what the heart desires

 

She taught mom how to inquire

 

All the skill full needs to inspire

 

And set our youthful age on fire

 

Knowing that this generation entire

 

Will make the feelings of love expire

 

She said let’s sit round the campfire

 

And watch till when the sky’s Sapphire

 

Too much wisdom the aged acquires

 

Like a lifetime of a vampire

 

That same wisdom the young Requires

 

For the journey ahead is hotter than fire

 

Some say experience is legendary

 

But you must do what is necessary

 

The less you show, the less they know

 

The less you speak the more you think

 

We all are in the same game

 

Just different levels

 

Dealing with the same hell

 

Just different devils

 

If people looked just like their personalities

 

Then there will be no trace of any abnormalities

 

No nice in me, left with vulnerabilities

 

We all want to live in luxuries just like celebrities

 

Cutting people out with no hesitation

 

Doing your own thing owing no explanation

 

Play the victim role control every situation

 

If you sell by the roadside you will see many things

 

Watching other people, you will get many dreams

 

Wishing you had a life so full of luxuries

 

But in this case you can’t even stay away from enemies

 

You see some girls try to play hard to get

 

But some lessons are not meant to forget

 

If you go to the market

 

And break a person’s bucket

 

Then you put hand in your Pocket

 

But you can’t find your wallet

 

Stop that nonsense you tell your conscience

 

But rugged is he that took the content

 

A young boy of seven

 

Not scared to hold the AK47

 

But may not live long

 

Die at twenty seven

 

The high man be flexing

 

His colleagues not minding

 

Whatever is happening

 

Because they are already planning

 

For their next generations

 

The low guys no see light

 

They go still use generator

 

That is how it always has been

 

A tradition gone back generations

 

We don’t get to talk so much about our failures, do we?

 

I mean, who wants to read about how you failed and did something that wasn’t winning?

 

Who cares about how your business idea was a huge fail or how you had to sit for an external examination seven times in a row or how you got heartbroken or how you applied for a job and got rejected or how you auditioned for a role and didn’t get selected?

 

Our world is so into success stories to the extent that we’ve neglected failures and progress stories (that are not entirely about how you excelled all the time) as one of those things that count.

 

But speaking of failures, here’s a failure episode from my life you might want to read.

 

A tale of how I got an unforgettable but not-so-pleasant memory.

 

Of how I stood.

 

Mic in hand.

 

A myriad of bulging human eyes fixed on me.

 

The hall, placid and tranquil.

 

My being, tensed.

 

And all I had rehearsed for my presentation, forgotten.

 

Obviously, I felt so embarrassed.

 

Got home and couldn’t stop thinking about what all had happened and wishing I could take back the hands of time and do things a bit differently. But we just can’t do that, can we?

 

But here lies the crux of this tale:

 

Do not let the plethora of success stories you see online push you into thinking that if you don’t get it right and perfectly then your story doesn’t need to be heard.

 

It broke my heart when a friend of mine who writes so well told me he was waiting till he got really good at writing before he would begin putting out his works for the world to see. No doubt, this is the fate of so many other people out there.

 

Of you reading this, maybe.

 

You have a business idea and you’re waiting till you are convinced of zero risks.

 

You have a craft you’re good at and you’re waiting till you can deliver flawlessly before you start showing up.

 

Come on, now.

 

Salem King would say: “Journey over Destination”.

 

It doesn’t matter when you get to where you’re going to, it is the progressive little steps you take that matters even more.

 

Imagine trying to cut down a tree with an axe.

 

Let’s say it takes 7 hits to cut down that tree. For the first six attempts you would look stupid and it would feel as though you’re wasting your time. But with the seventh hit, the tree comes falling down and it all makes sense.

 

Be aware that it is not the seventh hit that made the difference, but instead it is the six consistent hits before that.

 

So, dear young person,

 

As much as success stories are an interesting read, we want to watch you grow into that star we know you are.

Own your failures. Own your progress story. Own your six hits.

 

It may not look like you’re getting anywhere with it now. It may not be making much sense. But when that seventh hit comes, you’d be glad you persisted.

 

Just as Winston Churchill said, “success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.”

 

Remember, someone’s counting on you.

 

I’m counting on you.

 

We all are.

 

The Nigerian society is one that have gratified men dominance in all phase. This is further helped by the fact that most traditions relegates women to lesser beings thus, a restriction to explore their full potential. This cry-able fate did not just hinder the woman-fold from making exploits, but by extension has robbed the world of most of what the female gender has to offer. These all are true owing to the patriarchal society we live in.

Patriarchy originally defined puts regards to men (father) as the head of the family but this concept have been further stretchered into other sphere of life thus putting the men as the head in all cases. This ideology now means that women will have to fight much more than their male counterpart in order to be eligible for the same leadership position; sometimes requiring them to go against their standards.

Patriarchy is one of the major reason for the cry for gender equality as some level of marginalization befall women in their place of work, political sphere, business, societal recognition and most commonly, the family. Imagine the most basic ground for the formation of the society giving preference to the male child and in effect planting in the girl child the sense of defeat relative to a man as well as low self-worth and esteem. In some cases, this leads to hatred for the male gender thus an unhealthy relationship, another source of violence in families as well as in the society.

Looking majorly at the potentials and capabilities of individuals when leadership is spoken of, will go a long way in changing the patriarchal mindset.

The fact that ‘what a man can do, a woman can do and even better’ can be seen, take a look at one woman whom has time and again proven this fact, Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala being the first female minister for finance under the Goodluck Jonathan led administration and currently Director general of World Trade. On the business front, we can see the like of Mrs. Folorunshuno Alakija, the Vice-Chairman of FAMFA Oil Ltd and Managing Director of Rose of Sharon Group whom in 2015 was ranked the second most powerful woman in Africa behind Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala. Politically, Obiangeli Ezekwesili and Princess Stella Oduah are examples of women who have kept relevance in politics as they climbed the ladder of leadership. The list go on and on in different spheres of life as women are now carving a niche for themselves irrespective of what the society offers even against incredible odds.

Though it is important for women to know their place, it sure is not as second fiddle, true they ought to respect the man folks but society should not see it as opportunity to belittle them.

From Biblical narrative, we come to find out that it goes that the creation  of a woman was out of necessity that a man needs a helper “comparable” to him thus in relegating a woman to a help, the need to take note that it is of a magnitude comparable to the work of a man. It does not go without saying that “behind every successful man is a woman” so also it is for every unsuccessful man. This highlight the vast power in a woman which patriarchy has helped to keep untapped. It also shows the need for the voice of the woman to be heard and hearkened to at least for the benefit of doubt and truly we can know if when women are in leadership they can do what men can do and even better.

 

 

Ever stepped into a restaurant and suddenly felt conscious of your skin color? Or have you ever boarded a bus and you felt like you’re the wrong color?

 

Between 1525 and 1860, 12.5 million people were kidnapped from Africa and sent to America through the transatlantic slave trade. Only 10.7 million survived the harrowing two months journey. Up until the slave trade was abolished and the ‘Blacks’ were able to enjoy some rights, the prevailing narrative about African Americans was one of the model minority.

 

The model minority concept, developed during and after World War II, posits that African Americans were the ideal immigrants of color to the United States. In the United States, African Americans have long been considered as a threat to a nation that promoted a Whites-only immigration policy. They were called a “yellow-peril” unclean and unfit for citizenship in Africa. Even after almost 14 years after Barack Obama’s election as the nation’s first ‘black’ President, Africans, far more than whites, say Africans are treated unfairly across different realms of life, from dealing with the police to applying for a loan or mortgage. And for many Africans, racial equality remains an elusive goal.

 

In recent years, this centuries old divide has garnered renewed attention following the deaths of unarmed African Americans during encounters with the police, as well as a racially motivated shooting that killed nine black parishioners at a church in Charleston, South Carolina in 2015.

 

 

Movements clamoring for the preservation of African lives have emerged, one of such is Black Lives Matter. BLM is an activist movement that first came to national prominence following the 2014 shooting death of an unarmed black 18-year-old by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. “I Can’t Breathe” is a slogan associated with the movement in the United States. The phrase originates from the last words of Eric Garner, an unarmed ‘black’ man who was killed in 2014 after being put in a chokehold by a New York City Police Officer.

 

 

George Perry Floyd JR. (October 14, 1973- May 25, 2020) was an African-American man who was murdered by a police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during an arrest after a store clerk suspected Floyd may have used a counterfeit twenty-dollar bill, on May 25, 2020. Derek Chauvin, one of four police officers who arrived on the scene, knelt on Floyd’s neck and back for 9 minutes and 29 seconds. After his murder, protests against police brutality, especially towards Africans, quickly spread across the United States and globally. His dying words “I Can’t Breathe” became a rallying cry.

 

 

It’s ironically amusing how racism has spread from Whites-Blacks to Blacks-Blacks. In September 2020, thousands of South Africans marched along the streets with banners and placards demanding that Nigerians, Zimbabweans, and other foreigners leave their country. It is a bitter form of discrimination in a country that is proud of being a so-called rainbow nation itself, one that takes some of the old bigotries of apartheid and repurposed them against other Africans. The general feelings on the streets of South Africa towards foreigners is a mixture of antagonism and stereotypes. Now, an African not only from Whites, but also from his fellow African. Will it ever end?

 

Many Africans in their distress have written poems about the daily troubles they face just because they are Africans. One of them was Maya Angelou who wrote “The Caged Bird.” It is clear that this title had great significance to Angelou, as it was the title of her entire life story. In her autobiography, she talked about the struggle of being an African author and poet. She often felt that her words were not heard because of the color of her skin. She felt that in some ways, she was still experiencing slavery. Although African Americans were free people in Angelou’s time, there were still many restrictions on them in society, making it so that many African Americans did not feel free at all.

 

 

“The Caged Bird” is an extended metaphor for the African community in America and around the world. Angelou is alluding to the lived experience of millions of men, women, and children since the beginning of time and the variety of oppressive tactics, whether physical, mental or economic employed by those in power. ‘Black’ men, women, and children see “through…bars” while the free bird sores the sky. The caged bird sings from a place of sadness rather than joy, in order to convey a broader history of sorrow. While the free bird gets to enjoy the full sky, the caged bird rarely even gets a glimpse of the sky. She claims that “his wings are clipped and his feet are tied.” Text from her autobiography reveals that Angelou often felt this way in life. She felt restricted from enjoying the freedom that should have been her right as a human being. The speaker then reveals that these are the very reasons that the caged bird “opens his throat to sing.”

 

 

Another African who took up the pen to relay his dilemma and the dilemma of Africa was Agostinho Neto, who wrote “The Grieved Lands.” The poem presents the uniqueness of Africans’ race and their resistance to slavery and colonial rule. A part of the poem talks about the degradation of Africa by slavery, imperialism, colonialism and westernization. “The modern slave” refers to the present psychological and mental slavery in Africa and among Africans, where Africans depend on the west for aids and solutions. In the 3rd stanza, the poet bemoans the destruction of African dreams. All those ‘Blacks’ sold into slavery had their dreams in life but were stifled out by slavery while the Africans under the colonialist administration were exiled to prevent them from attaining their dreams in their father’s land, hence, the land grieves for her children.

 

The Poet was sent to Cape Verde for exile amidst his struggle for the liberation of Angola. This was the fate of most other African nationalists fighting for the liberation and independence of their countries from other parts of the continent. The poet concludes by presenting Africa as an imperishable race and African land as a land that can withstand anything – “Because we are living/ And are imperishable particles.”

 

We have a reputation. We’ve heard it all; arrogant, too loud, scammers, they made us so small. They refer to us as apes. We’re treated as second-class citizens, even in our own land. But they forget one thing. We are the generations of giants. No matter what it is we are labelled, we are Africans. It’s not about the color of our skin. In fact, Black is not a color, Black is every color all together. And we Blacks are imperishable.

 

 

 

 

“I would love to be…” is a popular phrase that precedes the most beautiful imaginative picture of the future profession of any child. But then life happens. For some persons, they achieve their lifelong dreams and become successful in their own practice. While for others, life takes a rocky turn-failures, disappointment, death or loss of a loved one, crash of a business-that possess the capability to extinguish the fire that burned in the heart of their younger selves. Or these disadvantages fan the flames within and destroy stereotypes, eliminate distractions, and overcome mediocrity.

 

There’s no doubt that being born with a blue blood (coming from a wealthy family) plays a big role in helping privileged people achieve their life goals and becoming successful, but success is not reserved for a selected few.

 

Anybody can be successful. Anyone. Success is no respecter of class, race, colour, age, or gender. With the right application of its principles, success will gladly sit and dine with such a person in life. No where is it written that people who have left a positive mark in the world today, people who are successful today, ever slept on themselves or worst-case, gave up.

 

It is easy to slide into self-pity if a person is less-privileged than others in the society. Stuck in mediocre society, people who wallow in self-pity many a time assume that there is an ominous process or a magical spell to attain excellence. Yet, there are no strict rules for becoming successful in whatever endeavour anyone chooses in their lifetime. We can create our wildest imagination, our dreams are valid. All there is to do is simply to follow the principles of success-discipline, consistency, dedication and putting in the work-every other thing falls into wellness.

 

The very moment you decide to aim for ‘excellence’, avoid wishful thinking, because if wishes were horses, the word ‘beggars’ will not exist (sic). No one successful man or woman hung the fate of their success on the neck of wishful thinking. These people have a track record of working hard, grinding and hustling behind the scenes! The evidence is in recognition of their results in the society, country or worldwide.

 

Star Wars is one of the most successful movies of all time. The thrill of extraterrestrial creatures fighting against evil, conquering new planets, leaves many people around the globe in anticipation of the release of new episodes. One careful look in the background, out of the sight of the public, is where lies the life of the movie. Not the finished product. Behind the scenes of every success story, you will find long days of constant hard work, determination, practice, consistency and discipline. Overcoming the fear of failure because there definitely will be moments of failure. Taking risks and getting rid of the negative mindset that thinks success is only for lucky people.

 

Our earth is a massive world of unending possibilities and opportunities. Anything is possible if you put your mind to it. Irrespective of your clime, dream big. Get behind the scene, put in the work. Reach for more, for there is so much more!

Cheers to your success!

 

 

It is no new information that South Korea and North Korea have been divided for more than 70 years now . While South Korea has grown massively in Technology and entertainment, North Korea has grown in arms, nuclear weapons and ammunition. Korea has often been the centre of conflicts among larger and more powerful countries and this had a great impact on their division.
Before the division
The Korean Peninsula was a united territory under the Joseon dynasty that ruled over the region for more than 500 years, starting from 1392 after the fall of the Goryeo dynasty. This rule came to an end in 1910, with the Japanese annexation of Korea. Between 1910 and 1945, Korea was ruled as a part of the Empire of Japan. The Korean Empire, proclaimed in 1897, became a protectorate of Japan with the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905; thereafter Japan ruled the country indirectly through the Japanese Resident-General of Korea . Japan formally annexed Korea with the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910, without the consent of the former Korean Emperor Gojong, the regent of Emperor Sunjong. Upon its annexation, Japan declared that Korea would henceforth be officially named Joseon. This name was recognized internationally until the end of the Japanese occupation. Japanese rule over Korea ended on 15 August 1945 with the surrender of Japan in World War II; the armed forces of the United States and the Soviet Union subsequently occupied this region.

The Role of World War II in the division of Korea
World War II began in the early part of 1939 when the German dictator Adolf Hitler made efforts to invade and occupy Poland. Poland, for its part, had guarantees of French and British military support should it be attacked by Germany . However, the Empire of Japan entered World War II on 22 September 1940 when it invaded French Indochina, at this time Korea was annexed by Japan. Japan made its entrance into the war official five days later with the signing of the Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy on 27 September 1940, but it wasn’t until the attack on Pearl Harbour on 7 December 1941 that the U.S. entered the conflict . The United States and Japan had been engaged in negotiations in an attempt to improve their strained relations and end the war in China. During these negotiations, Japan advanced several proposals which were dismissed by the Americans as inadequate. Frustrated at the lack of progress and feeling the pinch of the American–British–Dutch sanctions, Japan prepared for war. The attack was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service upon the United States against the naval base at Pearl Harbour on Sunday, December 7, 1941. The United States was a neutral country at the time; the attack led to its formal entry into World War II the next day. Japan intended the attack as a preventive action. It aimed to prevent the United States Pacific Fleet from interfering with its planned military actions in Southeast Asia against overseas territories of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and those of the United States.
However, the tide turned in 1942 when Japan was bombed for the first time in the Doolittle Raid. This setback was followed in June 1942 by the catastrophic loss of four fleet carriers at the Battle of Midway, the first decisive defeat for the Imperial Japanese Navy. Australian land forces defeated Japanese Marines in New Guinea at the Battle of Milne Bay in September 1942, which was the first land defeat suffered by the Japanese in the Pacific . In the summer of 1944, the United States Army Air Forces undertook an intense strategic bombing campaign, using incendiary bombs, burning Japanese cities to pulverize Japan’s industry and shatter its morale. In mid-August 1945, the United States dropped nuclear weapons on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These atomic bombings were the first and only such weapons used against another nation in warfare .
Despite Soviet–Japanese Neutrality Pact, at the Yalta agreement in February 1945, the US, the UK and the USSR had agreed that the USSR would enter the war on Japan within three months of the defeat of Germany in Europe. It was agreed that Soviet troops would occupy the northern portion of Korea, while American forces would take similar action in southern Korea to secure the area and liberate it from Japanese control. On August 9, Soviet forces invaded northern Korea and a few days later, Japan surrendered. Keeping to their part of the bargain, U.S. forces entered southern Korea on September 8, 1945 . This Soviet–Japanese War led to the fall of Japan’s Manchurian occupation and a real, imminent threat of Soviet invasion of the home islands of Japan.

The Aftermath of World War II
Because Japan surrendered earlier than the US expected, the US at that point did not have a base in Korea and feared a full takeover of the peninsula by the Soviet forces. The absence of US troops was mainly due to a miscalculation of when Japan would surrender. To restrict the USSR from seizing the entire peninsula, the US suggested a temporary division of the Korean peninsula between the US and the USSR. The U.S. proposed dividing the Korean peninsula into two occupation zones (a U.S. and Soviet one) with the 38th parallel as the dividing line.
The Soviets accepted their proposal and agreed to divide Korea . It was understood that this division was only a temporary arrangement until the trusteeship could be implemented. The Moscow Conference of Foreign Ministers in December 1945 resulted in an agreement on a four-power Korean trusteeship lasting up to five years.

The Final Division
However, with the onset of the Cold War and other factors both international and domestic, including Korean opposition to the trusteeship, negotiations between the United States and the Soviet Union over the next two years regarding the implementation of the trusteeship failed, thus effectively nullifying the only agreed-upon framework for the re-establishment of an independent and unified Korean state . With this, the Korean question was referred to the United Nations. In 1948, after the UN failed to produce an outcome acceptable to the Soviet Union, UN-supervised elections were held in the US-occupied south only. The American backed Syngman Rhee won the election, while Kim Il-sung consolidated his position as the leader of Soviet-occupied northern Korea. This led to the establishment of the Republic of Korea in South Korea on 15 August 1948, promptly followed by the establishment of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in North Korea on 9 September 1948. The United States supported the South, the Soviet Union supported the North, and each government claimed sovereignty over the whole Korean peninsula .
In 1950, after years of mutual hostilities, North Korea, supplied and advised by the Soviet Union invaded South Korea in an attempt to re-unify the peninsula under its communist rule . The United Nations, with the United States as the principal participant, joined the war on the side of the South Koreans, and the People’s Republic of China came to North Korea’s aid. After more than a million combat casualties had been suffered on both sides, the fighting ended in July 1953 with Korea still divided into two hostile states. The Korean War, which lasted from 1950 to 1953, ended with a stalemate and has left Korea divided by the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) up to the present day.

If only a motivational speech could deliver us from the harsh reality of the world we live in. If a speech was all it took to bring life to the skeleton our country has become, what a happy day that would be. But alas, it is not so.
When you are a child, you can’t wait to grow up. You can’t wait to explore what lies beyond your youth. Then you become an adult, and you wish you could travel back in time. You wish you could revisit those days of innocence. Those days which were empty of anxiety or disappointments. Those days which were full of hope and trust.
It’s hard to have hope in a country that constantly dashes your hopes and dreams. It hard to believe in a country that has failed you. It’s hard to trust people who constantly lie to your face. It’s hard to be love a country led by selfish humans. Please note that it’s hard, not impossible.
Nigeria has a cancer. This sickness ravages the land, eating away at it, and it slowly fades away. A dark cloud hovers over this land. It’s only a matter of time before it reaches the end point.
How do we save our country? What will it take to get rid of this cancer? By words? No. By actions? Yes.
It’s easier to move through this world passively and pretend everything will be fine. But problems never resolve themselves. It’s easier to put the blame on one person, but in one way or the other, we all share the blame. It is accurate that with the right set of leaders, our country will make waves. But with the right mindset, we can slowly rebuild our country.
We can decide to be the generation who becomes accountable for our actions. We can decide to take the high road. To avoid corruption. We can decide to vote without prejudice or bribery for the right set of leaders. We can choose to fix the wrong, starting with ourselves, then our communities.
We can start small. We can start by disposing garbage the proper way. We can build our own security. We can contribute money to provide for feed and clothe those who cannot provide for themselves. We can choose to treat both the rich and those of a lower class with equal respect. Estate by estate, area by area, community by community, we can do this. If we accomplish this feat, our country will come back to life.
We can participate in politics, not for personal gain but for the interest of our country. We can educate each other on how to build our country. Let the sweat of the past heroes to grant us independence not be in vain. We do not have time to wait for the perfect set of leaders. That day may never come.
There is hope for Nigeria and that hope is with the people. We have not reached the end. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Let’s hold on to each other. Let’s remind ourselves that what this country needs is inside each and every one of us.
In my imaginations, Nigeria is a warm country envied by other countries of the world. It is a land where anything is possible. It is a land overflowing with resources. It brims with foodstuff from pyramids of groundnuts to tubers of yams. It is a land of peace and laughter. It is a land where it is most beautiful and safe when the sun goes down. It is a land that accommodates and protects.
Let us make our imaginations a reality.

Many have considered this statement to be dreadful as a result of the circumstances and conditions that surround their immediate environment or their nation as a whole. Having tackled the difficulties as well as constraints of different shapes and sizes while on Campus, they anticipate a better future and a good life thereafter.
Many times, the scenario presented to them after school punctures their great expectations. This is more evident when the individual in question did not handle his or her school experiences and learning processes appropriately. Particularly, such individual tends to join the list of unemployed or unemployable graduates in the country.
However, such students in this category should not conclude that their after-school experience is a dead end. Rather than sit on their hands and mock their government, they should look away from their present discouraging situation, and prepare themselves to live purposefully. Consequently, they should pick up vital lessons from their previous ordeal and begin to invest their strength to learn. They should learn things that are lawful and beneficial as they find opportunities.
The second category of students in the group portrayed diligence, determination, and dexterity concerning their learning processes through their years on Campus. More often than not, they graduate with flying colours. It is important to state that this is the group of people who decided to stand out and did not bow to examination malpractice. They maintained the original standard placed by the examination governing authorities. In other words, they decided to model the ethics of a standard educational system rather than become helpers and givers during examinations.
More so, it is appalling that a majority seems to be supporting examination malpractice also known as Help Malpractice (H. M). Nevertheless, the undaunted students have scaled through the hurdles without getting stained by any involvement in examination malpractice. At times, such students graduate from school to walk into enviable opportunities which are a reward for their exceptional excellence.
But my focus is on the subgroup within the second category whose future looks blurry in their eyes. I beseech you to follow this Biblical injunction; this is the authority that delivers the best rescue from such anxiety. Keep in step with your Creator and watch Him unveil the hidden, amazing details of your life. Do not be rushing to know everything your life will become; however, this is not equivalent to being lazy. Just rest assured that He has the details of your every move and turn. Or Hello? Do you think that you can become the All-Knowing?
Please understand then that there are particular steps, preordained paths, and peculiar roads to a destination. Therefore, just as every aircraft you board cannot land in Nigeria, so assuming uncoordinated steps, paths, or roads may not lead to your destination. Just like the first category of people, you should take advantage of your youthful strength to learn within and beyond your career scope as you live for a good purpose. It may not look like it as you begin but know that you are preparing yourself for an enviable stature in life, a fruitful future, and an exceptional lifetime.
Certainly, growth takes time, needs focus, and requires patience. So, keep growing, keep submitting to the pieces of training for your equipping in different areas of life, keep making positive investments in your life, and keep striving for depth in proper things. Your seed will surely yield!

 

The feeling of confusion that plagues you time and time again, it comes and goes leaving you exhausted most of the time, but with a short-time window of some clarity when you feel like you can smash your goals, start that business, complete that course in 1 week, or even graduate with a first class upper! Then you are back to feeling confused, maybe even sad when you see someone doing ‘Doings’ and it seems like they have it all together and you think to yourself ‘I want that’.
That feeling! You see that feeling… Did I describe it properly enough for you? Were you nodding your head as you read that paragraph? Did I explain it properly? Could you relate? If your answer to all these questions is yes, then let me announce to you that YOU ARE NOT ALONE in it.
If you are wondering how I know this so well, I was feeling confused very recently, I opened up to a few amazing people God brought my way and who seem to have it all together. In a nutshell, I discovered that no one ever really has it all together and I learned a few lessons I will share with you.
First, let it dawn on you and sink into your subconscious that you are not alone. How you are feeling is not anything new, it is not foreign, someone has been where you are and they have moved on to do great. It probably won’t be the last time you’ll feel this way too so stop stressing!

Next, Be Strategic. Do you have a plan? Have you tried to create plans? If you have not, or have tried without success, what have been your stumbling blocks? Do you have varying interests? Can your interests be streamlined or do they contradict each other? In case of contradicting interests, try to group them and create plans towards an end goal for each group. This will help you be more focused as you have identified what you will need to do to achieve your goal. Make sure that each task or activity puts you in position to achieve the next activity and the end goal as a whole.

Finally! And this tip was common to all the people I spoke with. Pick one thing and get it done. I’m bringing you back to the beginning of your plan. That first thing you need to do to achieve your end goal? Do it, review its effect, and move on to the next activity. Be committed to the hard work you have to put in to hone your craft, perfect a skill and achieve your goals. Play your part and let God play his! In no time, you would look back, see how far you have come, and with pride, you will celebrate the success of your achievements.

A few other helpful tips would be to outline your values, as they’ll serve as a sort of moral compass to guide you in each step you take. Celebrate your wins every step of the way and internalize positivity. There is way too much bad in our world today, but there’s plenty good too. For your mental wellbeing, I advise you to be intentional about being positive and rest when you need to. After all, you can only enjoy the fruits of your labor when you are alive. Lastly, believe you have the capacity to bring your dreams to fruition. As you get to work I hope you achieve your goals and speedily too.

If your answer to my questions in paragraph 2 is no, then accept my congratulations but before then, I would like to ask you why? If you cannot relate to ever being confused, is it because you have it all figured out or you just cannot be bothered to care? If you have it all figured out, then, my congratulations are for you, you’re doing well! You’re in a good place. Share your knowledge with someone so they can be in a good place too.

If, on the other hand, you just cannot be bothered to care, then all is not well, and unless you have everything sorted for life like a trust fund kid, there’s a problem you need to identify and solve. Either ways, you’re still not alone. Open up to be helped and you’d be surprised to find other people who have being where you are and are willing to help.