₦airaland Forum

Nigeria has witnessed several political midwifing and reactions. The most recent being the reaction that produced Muhammadu Buhari as President. The reaction was in stages, the first phase was between political parties, Alliance for Democracy (AD) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) which produced All Progressive Congress (APC). The reaction that produced APC was exothermic in nature, the heat and energy that accompanied it resulted in the melting and collapse of the once formidable Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the then ruling party christened largest political party in Africa reduced to naught. Have a look at the equations below:

AD + CPC = APC

APC + PDP + Other Political Parties + Nigerians = Buhari + (Recession?)

Upon assumption of duty, President Muhammadu Buhari body language and anti-corruption crusade showed signs of positive energy. The attendant hunger, pay cuts, sky rocketing prices of goods and services, alarming unemployment rate that now characterize the life of the Buhari administration questions the potency of body language in reducing the entropy of the Nigerian nation.

History has it that Nigeria resulted from the fusion of tribes intended for administrative convenience by the British colonial masters. The independence granted Nigeria in 1960 forced the colonial masters to abandon their experiment. An experiment that saw a mole of Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo tribes mix with moles of other tribes.

Successive administrations who have ruled Nigeria since independence have continued the experiment. Some of the results produced so far include, bloody and bloodless coups, civil war, annulled election, religious bigots and extremist, high illiteracy level, leaders who offer stomach infrastructure as dividends of democracy, citizens with “short memory syndrome” who allow negative history to repeat itself.

It therefore calls for concern, the quality of ‘scientists’ experimenting with the Nigerian socio-economic, political test-tube. We have had products like Structural Adjustment Program (SAP), Better Life Program (BLP), Family Support Program (FSP), Family Economic Advancement Program (FEAP), National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEED) National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP), Vision 20-20, Youth and Entrepreneurial Empowerment Scheme (YouWIN) and recently N-power. How it is that successive governments have not been able to sustain economic programmes of its successors? Can this development be linked with incompetence, greed, culture of mediocrity, lack of unity, no sense of focus or lack of willpower?

Having lived my life in Nigeria’s test tube, witnessed and survived experiments led by greedy and unpatriotic elements dubbed leaders across various organs of government, I am bothered what they aim to achieve by creating a society with so many ills – epileptic power supply, poorly equipped hospitals and non-functional systems. How long will they catalyze the Nigerian reactions with ethnicity, corruption, religious sentiments and mediocrity?

Are you a docile or active citizen? What is your position on matters that bother on Nigeria – the fence? Do you care to cast your vote for credible candidates when it’s time to choose our leaders and representatives? Do you join efforts with other citizens who call out to elected leaders for an account of their representation? We can choose to fold our arms and not get involved in the electoral process and governance but we cannot choose the dire consequence of decaying infrastructure, frightening crime rate, extreme hunger, gross disregard for citizens’ rights, and government of stomach infrastructure. There is no end to the negative consequences of abuse of your vote and civil responsibilities.

The belief that the Nigerian socio-economic, political reactions can be reversed gives me hope. If we all join forces to vote in credible leaders in future elections, we would succeed at installing competent ‘scientists’ with the experience, integrity, goodwill and purposefulness needed to make Nigeria great.

Source: http://olorunfemibabatunde.com/blog/2016/12/15/nigerian-test-tube-socio-economic-political-reactions/

Emptying a bowl of water on my head, I watched streams form, flow down their preferred paths, they later converge then part ways before hitting the bathtub. It took about 30 seconds for each droplet of water to travel from my head to my feet. The friendly exchange between the tributaries before reaching their final destination left me in awe. I observed this process each time I emptied a bowl of water on my head. At one point, a voice screamed within me, “This is not Lagos!” I was bathing in the land of my birth – Kabba, in Kogi State.

In Lagos, no sooner than I raise a bowl of water above my head, the water jumps down at me and whoops, the bucket is empty. A droplet of water will barely take 3 seconds before it hits the sink. In Lagos, you find people rushing into the bathroom and out. They rush to work and rush back home. Kilode gan! (Wooh ris it – In Jenifas voice)

If you are currently in Lagos, I beg you to take some time to breathe. Life should not always be on the fast lane. Take some time to love, to laugh, to give and live.

I shared this experience with Arike, she did not believe me, and she thinks I was exaggerating. So I decided to share it with you. What do you think?

Find my other writings (stories and editorials) on www.olorunfemibabatunde.com, leave your email in the subscription box to receive future updates from me.

Hi Mark, I hope you find your eyes on this letter. I felt so sad that I was not opportune to meet you during your Nigeria visit. I read it on your timeline that you were in Nigeria and wondered why and how I did not get wind of your visit. I had always wanted to meet you, my heart soured to know that my first chance to meet you had slipped. I searched the web to confirm if there was any prior mention of your visit, the only notice of your visit was on a Nigerian tech info website. I discovered that some entrepreneurs had been pre-registered to meet you.

I joined Facebook in 2008 and have since become an addict. I must say that Facebook has been a blessing to the world and has helped connect family and friends. Beyond connecting family and friends, I was attracted to Facebooks business empowerment offerings, I soon became a Facebook entrepreneur, helping small business owners advertise their products using Facebook sponsored ads. I have recently applied to become an Express Wifi retailer in Nigeria.

I studied the Facebook help resources to master campaign best practices and ads optimization techniques. External resources obtained on socialmediaexaminer and jonloomer were helpful. Over the years, I have kept pace with Facebook offerings, products and tools, they include, Business Manager, Live rail, Atlas, Power Editor, Workplace, Free Basics, Instagram ads, Express Wifi, blueprint Certification resources amongst others. I also follow the activities of Chan Zuckerberg Initiative with keen interest and thrilled by your commitment to creating a better world through your interest in education and health related concerns. The most recent is the audacious effort to cure “all diseases in our children’s lifetime”.

Given the foregoing, I have every reason to be in love with Facebook. The realization that the passion and energy behind Facebook is not driven by monetary gains but a resolve to meeting humanity most basic needs and advancing human interaction and relationship across borders warm my heart. Your efforts at beaming the internet to all the people of the world is phenomenal. I am particularly thrilled by the investment and technology that Facebook represents.

As a Facebook entrepreneur, I provide support to small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs in Nigeria. I urgently need to get this message to you, “many Nigerian small and medium scale business owners can no longer afford to promote their products and services via Facebook ads”. This is largely because Facebook does not receive Naira payments. The Dollar-Naira conversion rate continues to widen, more so, Facebook charges Nigerian advertisers at parallel market rate.

Mark, kindly allow Nigerians make ad payments in their local currency – the Naira. By allowing Naira payments, you will be supporting and saving my business and those of several others from collapse. It will also lead to the revival of businesses that have already collapsed due to inability to market their products and services.

Nigeria is currently battling economic recession, millions of jobs are being lost on daily basis. Entrepreneurship and self-employment is no longer considered an option in this part of the world; it is the only viable choice left to millions of unemployed youths. Accessibility to Facebook ads will go a long way in creating jobs and keeping the Nigerian entrepreneur afloat.

Mark, I sincerely hope you read this letter and look forward to getting a positive feedback from you and your team. My warm regards to the Facebook team, Priscilla and Max.

You can reach me via https://m.me/olorunfemib, email: babt@olorunfemibabatunde.com and Mobile: +2348120252692. Let’s connect on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/olorunfemib. My website: www.olorunfemibabatunde.com

I have seen it all, what exactly is one living for? If not for my children…, once they grow up to fend for themselves, I’ll consider my assignment on earth done. I would have completed my course and be in good stead to bid the world farewell.

The mindset expressed above, is typical of the average Nigerian. To think that child tending is the primary reason for one’s existence is limiting. Parents are exceptionally proud whenever their children come top in class, there is nothing bad about this, but what if we help all children come top in their areas of strength, interest and aspiration? Beyond caring for your children, how about the other children? What if we shift focus from “Me, Myself, Mine & I” to “Us, Nigeria, We, fellow Humans”.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation commits to combating poverty and malaria in Africa, the founders are not of Africa descent. Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, recently revealed plans and commitments of Chan Zuckerberg initiative towards curing “all diseases in our children’s lifetime”. I agree that it is an ambitious plan but should humanity strive for less? Mark has also voted a sizable percentage of his wealth towards making the world a better place.

Beyond colonialist maneuvering and manipulations, our mindset as Nigerians has played a big role in dwarfing our potentials. Our frontline position in the comity of consuming nations and a choice dumping ground for all manner of inferior products is a testament to our limiting mindset. Over five decades, stable electricity has remained elusive to a nation who prides of intellectual giants in every field of human endeavor. I am not in doubt that we have the human and natural resources to surmount our many problems. What I find deficient is the will power.

To birth the Nigeria of our dreams, we must flee self-centered and selfish endeavours for daring goals that will leave our society better than we met it. We need to dream big as a nation and as individuals. Let’s begin to task our minds on how to solve our collective problems, including those of neighbouring African countries. It is not impossible for Nigeria to be the food basket of Africa. It is in reaching for the skies that we find our greatest strength and reach our full potentials.

What can your contribute to a better world, a better Nigeria? I suggest you start by patronizing made in Nigerian products. Also look inwards to question the motive behind the things you do. Is it all about you, your children and family?

As for me, Olorunfemi Babatunde, I have a 10 years goal, to train at least One Million Nigerians in basic computing for free or at subsidized rate. The targeted beneficiaries are public school students. I trained 30 students in computing fundamentals for free during my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) days at Ijaloke Grammar School, Emure, Emure-Ekiti, this was made possible by the support received from the Towns elite club, Ayodele Cephas, a computer training center owner who allowed me to use his facilities to train the students and the Principal of Ijaloke Grammar School whose support enabled me revive and re-equip the schools abandoned computer room.

In the near future, I will be reaching out to individuals and organisations to support “Project One Million” – computer training initiative targeted at One Million Nigerians who cannot afford computer education. You may consider sponsoring your relatives, church members, neighbours to be beneficiaries. Individuals and organisations willing to support this initiative can reach me on 08120252692 or via mirthfemi@gmail.com for further information.

Through my start up, Appswheel Wheel Koncepts (Appswheel), I am committed to supporting young Nigerians, Africans with their ICT needs – web designing, copy writing, digital marketing, ICT consulting– all at minimal fee (targeted beneficiaries are Youth Corps members and aspiring entrepreneurs). Individuals in this category should contact me on 08120252692, send an email to mirthfemi@gmail.com or meet me on Fridays, at an location in Bode Thomas Street, Surulere, Lagos. Please endeavor to schedule a meeting before visiting.

By reading this piece to this point, I am convinced that you can make a positive difference in our world. When our time is up, may it be said that we ran a generous race. Let’s connect @ www.olorunfemibabatunde.com

http://olorunfemibabatunde.com/blog/2016/12/06/to-realize-your-full-potential-resist-the-enemy-within/

There seem to be no sign of redemption in sight, yet I refuse to give up on the land of my birth. We would get it right someday. When will this happen? In my generation? 900 years’ time like one of my geologist acquaintance suggested?

After reading Chinua Achebe’s, “There was a country” and drawing from my interactions with many Nigerians, it’s evident we make light our strength, we abuse our strength to stagnate growth.

The idea that Nigeria is a contraption, handiwork of British colonialist and therefore a forced marriage of irreconcilable elements must be rethought and "re-engineered" for Nation building . The commercially viable mineral deposits underneath our soil are not in conflict. If “unselfishly” mined, processed and managed, they guarantee wealth for every Nigerian. Why then are we in conflict?

Researches are ongoing in many parts of the world, technologies are being developed to connect the globe - Mark Zuckerberg Facebook is a dominant example. I am at a lost why some Nigerians in this age and time are wearing themselves out to pull the nation apart. Particularly, the segment of Biafra advocates who are calling for WAR. I recommend such individuals to get a copy of Chinua Achebes, “There was a country”.
If Nigeria must work, her constituents must see her as a whole and tackle her development from a holistic viewpoint. NO TRIBE SHOULD SEE ITSELF AS SUPERIOR TO THE OTHERS. Such mindset at best keep us close to the Stone Age – we have been here for too long.

The concept of quota system, federal character is not out of place in its entirety as long as there is a plan to replace it (quota system) with meritocracy in the long term. This is achievable by investing in education; bringing all the regions at par educationally. How long will this take? 50 years? 100 years? A journey of a thousand miles is said to begin with a step, just as tiny drops of water make an ocean. When shall we make the necessary investment that will lift us from our self-inflicted problems?

Nigeria will be the giant it should be when we all begin to play our part in nation building. This will only happen when we discover that our diversity is strength. When we bury mindsets that position our tribe as superior over another. We must unite against visionless and thieving politicians, leaders who exploit religion and ethnicity to enslave us in our own land.

One reason to still have hope in Nigeria is that there are a few good men and women, and the belief that Evil never triumph over Good.

Nigeria the land of my birth;
I pray for peace upon thee
May your seeds unite
May they not greed, grind to a halt
May they love wisdom and apply it
May justice, peace and progress find rich soil to bloom
May generations unborn be proud to bear your name

Nigerians Unite!

Some weeks back, my colleague called my attention to an article written by Reuben Abati in The Guardian Newspaper titled – “The Spiritual Side of Aso Rock”. Reuben Abati was spokesperson to erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan. I told my colleague that reading the article does not worth my time. I needed no one to tell me there are evil spirits in Aso Rock. I await other versions of his article chronicling the activities of the witches, wizards in the house of assembly, civil service, police force, Censors board and other government owned institutions.

Once were the time when evil spirits were invisible, preferred to wreak havoc in the night and at odd hours. They now go about their activities in broad daylight in Nigeria. Taking front seats in the Church, robbing the people’s treasury dry to pay abominable tithes. Evil spirits now show off their wealth on Facebook, they now travel abroad in airplane as against “ofe” (disappearing).

They have proved too hot for the Burahi’s led administration to handle. At the last check, they are winning more converts to their side. Planting, watering and multiplying their seeds at geometric rate. Their fruits liter the length and breadth of Nigeria. Increasing crime rate, cooperate begging is at an all-time high, extreme hunger amongst the populace. To say the least, Nigerians are living in a time of lack and lamentation.

In their days of invisibility, prayers was the best weapon to fight evil spirits. Now that they are visible, is prayer the only weapon at our disposal? For one, I have made a resolve not to join in the ritual of praying and fasting. Not for spirits that eat the best foods, drink the most expensive wines, spirits who are given audience in the church, to make mockery of God and fellow Nigerians. I refuse to shed weight to spirits who never get tired of passing self-promoting bills, holding fruitless meetings and scheming how best to fool the people and keep them in eternal bondage.

Their key strategy has been to get the people divided along ethnic, religious and tribal lines. The strategy has been highly effective and successful. They are winning, Nigerians are losing. I see many Nigerians dancing to their tunes on social media, on radio programmes, on TV shows and in print media. These evil spirits are singing “holy, holy, holy” to the high heavens waving cursed hands in thanksgiving for a strategy that seem to defy all solutions. A strategy simple yet effective, visible, yet untamed.

Every time you find yourself defending Buhari against Jonathan or Vice Versa, know that you are a key component in the hands of evil spirits, you have agreed to be manipulated and spun at will. You have gone through the walls of primary, secondary, tertiary and life schools but have remained unschooled in one of the vital aspects of life – admitting reality, focusing on the now and channeling your energy, best resources in making the most of the moment. Dear Nigerian, do not be a bigot for retrogression and mediocrity.

We must measure every leaders’ activities against reasonable and measurable standards, we must engage them to live by these standards and ready to work with them to achieve laudable goals and objectives. We must be willing to fight them to live by these standards where it becomes clear that they are unwilling to live by them. So far, the Nigerian nation seem to defy well thought out logic and strategies, this is so because many so-called leaders saddled with implementation and execution of these strategies are master saboteurs. They are professionals, emeritus professors in the art of con and craftiness.

The American election that saw Trump emerge President has come and gone. The lessons of building working and reliable institutions remains the strength of the American nation. When shall we get our institutions to work? When will our leaders commit to make them work? At the onset of this administration the body language of Mr President was said to perform magic. Body language has since been exorcised, rendered inefficient and ineffective. Civil servants have remained largely a bunch of unproductive army. The police force, my indicator of the Nigerian state, has continue to give the citizenry cause to worry. Only this week, I read accounts of police officers who killed themselves over cash gifts. Not minding the irreconcilable deaths attributable to careless and drunken discharge dubbed “accidental discharge”. Sometimes one wonders if our police officers passed through a training college.

I am yet to see a Nigerian government with an enviable and untainted track record. It is for this reason I am at lost when I see, read oppressed Nigerians at loggerheads to paint one government blue black and the other as God sent. So far they have all come in the same shade – rotten blue black. When then shall we lean our ears and give our hearts to the Redemption Song? When shall we break loose from mental slavery? Bob Marley rightly taught, “None but ourselves can free our minds”.

I call upon the few men of God in Nigeria to consider organizing deliverance service for their members who occupy Political positions. They need deliverance from greed, con and thievery. They must stay alert not to fall to their charm and scam – brown envelopes. The Church, Mosques, Traditional places of worship should set aside a “Stewardship Service”, where their members holding elective positions give an account of their representation.

I am afraid, if nothing is done about the increasing lassitude amongst the populace and mouthing of our most basic problems, dancing to the tunes and puppets of greedy politicians, the nation is no doubt on cruise speed to strife and destruction. If we must overcome our current challenges, we must unite to demand from all our leaders what is duly ours – responsible and purposeful leadership.

May all the evil spirits that have held Nigeria bound and retrogressive catch fire! May their abode and household know no rest until they return to the path of accountability, righteousness and selflessness.
Written by Olorunfemi Babatunde
mirthfemi@gmail.com

While undergoing the Student Work Experience Programme as an undergraduate at the University of Ilorin, I attended a Church Programme (Fellowship) where my friend, Olatunji Adeolu (Now lecturer at the department of Electrical Engineering) was invited to give a talk about TIME. In the course of his talk, he asked, “What is the definition of time?” I realized I had no ready definition for TIME. He went on to define Time as, “A statement of our priorities.”

Lately I got thinking about life, my reflection lead me to Adeolu’s talk. My mind collaborated the relationship between Life and Time as LIFETIME. Every life is referenced by Time, hence, it is safe to say that Life is Time and Time is Life.
So friend, what is your definition of Life? Consult no dictionary or search Engine… search your mind for the answer. I have documented my response to WHAT IS LIFE below. I came up with a formula, have a look and let me know what you think.

LIFE=TIME = nGt + (C +V)^D

Where n is number of years lived.
G is a constant, Grand time measured in seconds = 365 x 24 x 60 x 60
C is Constant = Challenges and Physical Death.
D is divinity while
V is variable = Associations, Risks, Opportunities, Commitments etc

Major Assumption
n >= 1

What you make of the variable (V) will largely determine if your LIFETIME is classed as successful or otherwise. A good association, resolute commitment to worthy causes, subjects, weighing the consequences of every action considered, taking opportunities when they come will cumulate to a legacy of blessedness and success.
Share with me, your definition of Life.

khadaffi:
All those other stuff you mentioned: visiting project sites, town hall bla bla bla are also performed by the so called governors that have been voted out by their people as failures. What I'm saying is that the difference between lagos administrators and other states is the money available to execute world class project.

Now don't get me wrong, you are free to praise any administrator you like but I still maintain that with the available resources that lagos has compared to work been done by government, I rate them poor. That is not to say lagos is not better than other states but using the executed project as a yardstick in comparing the individual governors to me is wrong.

You rate them poor... So tell us what your expectations are.

khadaffi:
The bolded is what many uninformed people don't know. They talk as if these men are spending their money repairing the state. Since I've been in Lagos even in the military era, lagos administrators have always been praised because they performed visible project. That is not to say they are not thieves.

You may be correct in your submission. That should not stop us from giving credit to his style on Governance thus far. Mind you, its not about visible projects, its more about style of Governance. Visiting project sites unannounced, regular retreats and town hall meetings, ensuring reasonable quality of executed project... these is more than just expending monies my brother. Lets give credits to him and let him know that we are watching and following.....

mrvitalis:
Bayelsa has a high working staffs so salaries are much( we know it may be fake) and they dont recive as high as rivers and Akwa-Ibom

Now its clear that you are a professor of "Biascology", you mean Bayelsa has larger working population than Lagos. You dont need to justify what is unjustifiable!

Nah i don't think so.. when the likes of Rivers and Akwa-Ibom were earning high.. . People saw the difference

koladebrainiac:
Tell us the difference with Bayelsa with tiny population.

Spot on!

mrvitalis:
Ambode just has money to spend that's all

Really? why are other states earning huge figures from the federal purse not doing same. Oga, if person dey work make we admit am, it doesnt hurt.

What is working for Ambode?
The once dark and dared streets now alive and revel
The light up project worked the magic and now we marvel
114 local roads awarded and commissioned in one year
Roads once crowned with potholes and erosion now smooth everywhere

What is working for Ambode?
Ojota axis of Ikorodu road rescued from deadly hit and runs
A feat achieved by mesh wire borders and ingenious partitions
The once soaring crime rate tremendously subdued
Patrol vehicles sighted at every street and adjoining neighbourhood

What is working for Ambode?
Cabinet members well learned and vastly read
With right qualifications obtained and the call to serve ready to heed
Regular retreats and progressive town hall meetings bearing positive fruits
Stewardship account rendered and feedbacks perfectly in line with pursuits

What is working for Ambode?
Constant and unscheduled visits to work sites
Keeping contractors on toes and projects completed without plights
Some say he wants to erase and outdo Fashola’s record
But should that be the case, Lagos still in one accord

What is working for Ambode?
It is audible to the deaf and clearly visible to the blind
That the Lagos of now is an improvement from the previous kind
And we can all unanimously agree from our own different abodes
That something is definitely working for Ambode

Credit: http://ekocitymagazine.com/blog/2016/10/22/what-is-working-for-ambode

A glance at my watch left me panicking, I had barely an hour to catch up an 8am appointment on Victoria Island. While waiting to board a Keke (tricycle) to Stadium BRT bus stop, I got distracted by a school boy who dropped a biscuit wrap on the ground, “Hey, come back here and pick that Nylon”, I ordered. Now speaking in a low but firm voice I advised, “It’s not good to litter the ground with dirt, always use the waste bin”. While heading to Stadium Bus Stop in a Keke, I wondered if school children were still made to pick nylon and paper waste within the school surrounding as it obtained during my school days.

I switched thoughts to focus and prepare myself for the meeting, my eyes posed a serious threat to my concentration as it kept focus on the spotless, fair and soft skinned lady that sat next to me. My eyes had it way but the experienced turned sour when she flung out what seemed like a pure water sachet on the road. “But that is not right!” I screamed, looking her in the eyes. Startled at my reaction, she eyed me and pretended I did not exist.

“I am sorry for coming late Sir, it’s due to heavy traffic from CMS road to Law school” I explained to Mr. Ibrahim. I had barely completed my explanation when I was interrupted by what seemed like a heated argument, only then did I realize that the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) air conditioner had led me to my destination through a nap. With less than 30 minutes to my appointment, I rehearsed my presentation on introducing Ekocity brand to Mr. Ibrahim, “www.ekocitymagazine.com is a 100% Lagos focused portal, L.A.G.O.S – LIFESTYLE, ATTRACTIONS, GOVERANCE, OPPORTUNITIES & START UP”.

The raging argument caught my interest afterwards, “Excuse me, what is the argument about?” I inquired from the man seated next to me. He gave me a heads up, “That man over there, threw banana peels out of the BRT window and was challenged. Rather than feel remorse he came up with an annoying defense”. Oh I see, that’s why he has been repeating, “I pay my taxes! Even Ambode cannot do anything”.
I refrained from joining in bashing the man, he had gotten enough from the other passengers.

10 minutes to 8am, I heaved a sigh of relieve, I was on Ajose Adeogun Strt and will be at my destination on time. While celebrating the rare feat of beating the Lagos traffic, a PET bottle nearly hit me in the face, it was flung out of a black SUV that drove past. I hurriedly reached for my smart phone with an intent of registering the number plate, I pulled out a biscuit wrap with my phone; I had put the wrap in my pocket the day before in a bid to dispose it properly when I got to my house.

I reached a conclusion that the rich, poor, young, old, educated, illiterate are guilty of littering Lagos roads, streets with nylons, PET bottles and other waste materials which accumulates to block the drainages and results to loss of lives and properties through flooding.
8:05am – making presentation to Mr. Ibrahim and his team.

“Sir, at this moment, a Lagosian somewhere is dropping a waste in the wrong place. Ekocity Magazine www.ekocitymagazine.com is determined to raise the advocacy for a clean Lagos and support existing efforts through the #PickaBottle,PickaNylon campaign. We look forward to your support and sponsorship on this project”.

Reacting to my presentation, Mr Ibrahim remarked, “Thank you for the presentation Mr. Tobiloba, on behalf of the management of XXXXX, we are happy to associate with the #PickaBottlePickaNylon Campaign and assure you of our support”. THE END

Now it’s your turn, will you join the #PickaBottlePickaNylon Campaign? Will you join in contributing to a Clean and dirt free Lagos? Find out more about the Campaign and Volunteer to be part of positive history – www.ekocitymagazine.com/cleanlagos

Do well to share the Campaign with your friends. Do you have a similar story as Tobiloba? Share it with us at info@ekocitymagazine.com, you will be duly acknowledged for your entry.

Thanks for sharing this information. Useful, articulate and insightful

To care less is to be careless. Carelessness… moments attributed to loss of treasured gifts, talent, relationships and opportunities. When you care less, a seed is lost, a rich harvest lost, positive history murdered.

Give love a place in your decisions, let it catalyze and fertilize kindness, thoughtful deeds and acts that preserve the essence of humanity.

I celebrate the canonization of Mother Theresa of Calcutta and remember Maami, Theresa Edun Rowland whose memory and lifetime constantly remind me the language of Love… I call her Mother Theresa of Kabba descent.

Do not be Careless…. Love wins… Love builds…..

#LateNightMusing.

kowasco:
.
pls bro I want to register for fc bescola I know it will close by Sunday by God grace I will register on Saturday or Sunday pls if I register where will I stay cuz I live in ogunstate I know there is limited space if I register can I still have where I will stay how much is the money for registration and pls direct the bus I will take from sango ota in ogunstate to get to teslimbalogun stadium all I know is that from sango ota I will take a bus going to oshodi if I come down at oshodi will I see a bus going to surulere if I see if I come down at sulere bustop how will I get to teslim balogun thanks I need your help.

Kowasco, sorry I am just seeing your comment. I hope you made it to the tryout session.

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stephanos:
Everyone is assumed to be a criminal in lagos....you can't just trust anyone...in a minute he/she asked you about a direction, in another minute, JuJu already working around your body systems....in an hour's time, calabash already on the victim's head.
Its so crazy.
I was driving towards oshodi under bridge so I decided to stop and ask a lastma if am going towards the right direction because I want to link the other side of the road, just wanna be sure if its not a one way, the lastma said I should follow a different direction in which I complied, to my greatest surprise another set of lastma couple with KAI and police doubled crossed me and said I followed one way, to cut the story shot I paid 2k with abeg to bail out my self.

What an experience.....

freeeeme:
As for me, i wouldn't even stop if u start greeting me on the road like a Yoruba person.. Everyone is a criminal....esp on the street of Lagos. The same applicable to me whenever i want to ask for direction from anyone..Please which way to Oshodi?

Interesting perspective...

smithsydny:
I asked for brt going to CMS the guy said Noah boat done go since.. I was so weak I just. Looked at him and left..

Thats so mean of him..

Unable to locate his route around Yaba, Segun decided to ask for directions from passersby. Tapping the lady walking ahead of him, he greeted, “Good Morning….”, he had not completed the greeting when she switched lanes and increased her pace, she soon disappeared from his sight. Segun experienced the same with the other three people he approached.

Here are 4 techniques for asking directions from Lagosians
1. Ask for directions from Uniformed officials e.g Police, LASTMA etc
2. Bus Conductors are mostly willing to help with directions
3. When asking directions from Lagosians, avoid greeting (If on foot)…. just go straight to your question. Example, “Excuse me, which road leads to Ojuelegba”…..
4. Google Map – The mastery of google maps for direction is very important. Most streets in Lagos are named, this makes locating places easy.
Do you have a similar experience? How do you react when asked a question by strangers on the streets of Lagos? Do you have other techniques for asking direction?

EKoforShow is a weekly publication of www.ekocitymagazine.com – a portal exclusively focused on LAGOS – LIFESTYLE, ATTRACTIONS, GOVERNANCE, OPPORTUNITIES and START UPS

The FC Bescola Lagos, one of 22 FC Barcelona soccer schools spread across different countries of the world and the first in Africa has commenced tryouts for the first set of intakes. The closing date for the tryout is August 28, 2016.

Parents and Guardians who have talented wards within Lagos and across the nation should seize this opportunity to brighten the chances of having them trained in a world class training facility and by the best training instructors.

The academy named, FC Bescola International Soccer School, has its temporary site at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere.

Source: EkoCity Magazine

https://ekocitymagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Yudala-Bodethomas-Outlet.jpg

Ekocity Magazine streamed live, the unveiling of the Yudala Bode Thomas offline retails store on her facebook Fanpage – www.facebook.com/ekocitymagazine. Olajide Dada and Olorunfemi Babatunde reports for Ekocity.

Yudala limited, one of the fast rising online and retail stores in Nigeria has opened an outlet at No 78 Bode Thomas, Surulere, Lagos.

Hon. Olusola Desmond Elliot, a member of the Lagos house of assembly representing Surulere constituency performed the tape cutting ceremony. He expressed his joy at the development and urged the Yudala Management to consider Surulere youths for employment. He boasted that Surulere is a safe and good haven for business. He made the first purchase at the center.

In a brief Interview granted Ekocity Magazine, Hon. Olusola admitted that he doesn’t make regular online purchases, but stated that the ease of buying online is a key advantage. He expressed optimism that Yudala will soon become the market leader in the Nigerian eCommerce industry.

Atoyebi Oyeronke, Manager Offline retail stated that the Surulere outlet will give the residents the option of collecting products bought online at the center. She also confirmed that 80% discount is available on purchases made between today and Saturday, July 30, 2016.

Since launching in Nigeria, Yudala continues to make steady progress in positioning the organization to deliver outstanding customer experience to her customers.

N-power, is a Federal Government initiative targeted at training and empowering 600,000 young Nigerians to drive social and economic development. The programme is segmented into 3 areas namely, N-Power Teachers Corps- 500,000 graduates, N-Power Knowledge – 25,000 non-graduates, N-Power Build- 75,000 non-graduates. See full details of the Programme on the Npower website.

A school of thought have opined that the N-power programme is a duplication and somewhat extension of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme. Do we now say that the Npower scheme offers a lifeline to “lazy” Nigerian youths who did not make the best of their service year?

I remember my first day at Ijaloke Community School, Emure-Ekiti; my place of primary assignment as a corp member, one of the older corp members said to me, “You will have enough time to watch movies and sleep”, I looked at him in disbelief and replied, “I don’t see myself watching movies and sleeping for a year. I will rather spend my time adding value and impacting the students and community members”.

To would be beneficiaries of the Npower scheme, I pray you will get it right this time by not repeating the mistakes you made during your service year.

Let me sound a note of warning to individuals who see the Npower programme as an avenue to merely earn monthly stipends. Individuals with such mindsets have a tendency to end up as wretched church rats.

To would be beneficiaries of the Npower scheme, to make the best of the opportunities the program offers, you should answer this question – what am I going to do with the skills I will acquire at the end of the program? It’s very important you decide what you will make of the program from the onset.

While the training is on, open your mind to the opportunities around you – the ability to recognize available opportunities is a skill to have, even if you are not disposed to taking such opportunities at that particular instance. It is equally important that you do not limit your post training plans to paid employment. This will enable you take full advantage of the opportunities within your immediate surroundings.

For those who will fall in the N-Power Teachers Corps category, I understand that the training will last for 2 years. Do not wait until the end of the training before deciding what to make of the knowledge and experience gathered. The “empowerment” the programme holds is not in the 23,000 Naira stipend you will earn while the training lasts, rather it is about what you will make of the knowledge acquired. In what ways will you transform the 23,000 Naira into products and services worth over 500,000 Naira etc How can you explore the mobile technology and internet to make a difference with the knowledge you will acquire? Your focus should always be on what you can do with the acquired knowledge. The reason for this is not far-fetched; employers of labour are on the lookout for employees who take initiative.

For those who will be enrolled into the Innovation and building aspect of the Npower scheme, I congratulate you in advance and will like to prepare your mind in advance, 3 months will not make you an expert in your chosen field. Regular practice during and after the training period combined with hard work and positivism – can do spirit will see you become an expert someday. Also be on the lookout for opportunities to showcase your skills.

Post training: do not despise the days of little beginning. For instance, as a graphic artiste, you may be approached to create logo, design banners at rates well below the amount charged by professionals in the industry. Do not turned down such offers, executing such jobs helps to build your work profile and validate your skills. In the near future, your worth will increase greatly and you will earn as much as the professionals do.

Summarily, the application of the knowledge the Npower will provide is the empowerment that the programme offers.

Finally, hone your people skills and ability to work with a team, reach out and network with other professionals.

Photo Credit: Npower.gov.ng