₦airaland Forum

To Mark Its 10th Anniversary, Independent Film Initiative Promoting Inclusion at Cannes Film Festival Celebrates Diverse Filmmakers With Top Ten Filmmaker Series

In celebration of Black History Month and it’s 10th anniversary, Diversity in Cannes, the independent film movement promoting inclusion at the Cannes Film Festival announces its Top 10 Black Filmmakers to Watch.

Curated by the movement’s creator, Yolonda Brinkley and its globally diverse screening committee, the filmmakers are chosen based on their body of work, their ability to positively shape the perception of the black experience globally and their approach to filmmaking.

Selected from one thousand filmmakers who have submitted their short films and webseries to the Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase between January 2013 and April 2018, the filmmakers represent Ghana, Jamaica, Kenya, the United Kingdom and the United States. While all filmmakers weren’t official selections of the Showcase, they are recognized for their ability to educate, entertain and to impact the black narrative worldwide.

“I am excited to celebrate 10 years of independently promoting inclusion at the Cannes Film Festival and to announce the Diversity in Cannes Top 10 Black Filmmakers To Watch in honor of Black History Month,” comments Yolonda Brinkley, U.S. based entertainment publicist and creator of Beyond Borders: Diversity in Cannes. “At a time when the film industry continues to struggle with inclusion, I am thrilled to salut black filmmakers doing it for the culture.”

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The Inaugural Diversity in Cannes Top 10 Black Filmmakers To Watch are:

· Jordan Pitt (United Kingdom)

· Nathan Hale Williams (United States)

· Shahari Moore (United States)

· Sean Addo (Ghana)

· Courtney Miller (United States)

· Candice Vernon (Jamaica)

· Bobby Ashley (United States)

· Tracy “Twinkie” Byrd (United States)

· Ng’endo Mukii (Kenya)

· Derek Dow (United States)

The filmmakers selected to the 2019 Top 10 Black Filmmakers to Watch will be celebrated on social media and acknowledged at the independent Diversity Day Reception during the 72nd Festival de Cannes. The inaugural Top 10 Filmmakers to Watch series will feature women during Women’s History Month and will culminate with the Diversity in Cannes Top 10 Filmmakers announced in May 2019.

Source: In Celebration Of Black History Month Diversity In Cannes Announces Top 10 Black Filmmakers To Watch

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By Odoh Michael

In 2003 when President Muhammadu Buhari first ran for the office of President and lost, he went to court to challenge the result of the election because he felt he was cheated out and his mandate stolen and he did same in 2007 and 2011, he never called to congratulate his opponents in these elections. Adams Oshiomole, Rotimi Ameachi and Rauf Aregbeshola, stalwarts of the ruling party also challenged their various governorship elections and won at the supreme court.

The electoral act that gave room for candidates to go to court and challenge their election results did that to checkmate the rigging of elections. Destiny may be delayed but it cannot be denied and this to me is the reason for the tribunal. I was shocked when I read Dele Momodu’s tweet asking Atiku Abubakar to call President Muhammadu Buhari and congratulate him. The worse one was when I saw same from a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olisa Abgakoba.

Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to call his opponent in 2015 was because he felt that the election, he conducted was free and fair but that is not the same with 2019. Atiku’s decision to go to court is a victory for democracy. The court is there to settle issues between parties, it is legal so Atiku’s decision to go to the court is in line with the law. The benefit of this is simple, if Atiku emerges victorious in court, Nigeria’s democracy will become reborn. No leader will have the mind to sit back, do nothing and when the people decides to vote him out, he/she rigs the election in their favour because they will know that they will have their day in court and be disgraced out of office. If Atiku sits back and do nothing, two things will happen which will be bad for our democracy, Nigerians will no longer have the zeal to go and vote because they would have lost faith in the electoral system and secondly, it will give room for massive rigging and manipulation of election results and nothing will happen to the perpetrators.

The former Vice President has not declared himself president-elect, neither has he asked his supporters to go against the law so it beats my imagination why people who claim to defenders of democracy will be against an idea that will strengthen our democracy and give power back to the people. If Atiku refuses to go to court, it means he will fail the millions of Nigerians who came out to vote him and who believe that he won the elections. The decision will also affect our democracy negatively as stated above. My advice to Dele Momodu and Olisa Agbakoba, SAN is simple, Atiku is not going against the law, he is exercising his right as enshrined in our electoral act, Buhari has done it 3 times in past, let Atiku be. If the APC feels they won the election free and fair, they will have their day in court to defend the victory but let it be known, that Nigerians will no longer sit back under a false peace agreement that will look the other way when our mandate is stolen and expect us to do nothing but remain silent like a lamb that is being led to the slaughter house. Just like I said earlier, if Atiku does nothing, our democracy will die because it will give room for what we saw on the 19th of February 2019. People must be held accountable for their actions. He who has nothing to hide goes to equity with clean hands.

Atiku is a true democrat who has continued to fight for democracy and 2019 should not be different. Let both parties meet in court, it will only strengthen our democracy. No matter the outcome, the Nigerian people and our democracy will emerge victorious because Nigerians will now know that, the court is there for us and we have a right to use it whenever we feel cheated.

The Judiciary is the best part of democracy and today, Nigeria’s democracy lies before our judiciary, it is up to them to either save it and be on the right side of history or destroy it permanently. Time will tell.

Source: Why Atiku Should Go to Court: Response to Dele Momodu and Olisa Agbakoba SAN

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

If you are not living on the Island side of Lagos, especially VI-Ikoyi-Lekki-Ajah axis, you may be missing the following:

1.Fresher air and sands: Truth be told, there is this special air you feel on entering Island, starting from Bonny cantonment, or, especially, entering through Ikoyi. Island generally has fresher air. Mainland air can be thicker and more polluted. Even the sands on the Island are fresher - the white, beach-type sands everywhere compared to the dirty brown sands of Mainland. There is even less noise on the Island. Less indiscriminate honking of vehicle horns by hardened drivers that are the kings of the roads on the Mainland, more neighbourhoods using soundproof generators, etc.

2. Less aggressive LASTMA: LASTMA, the Lagos traffic police, are generally more gentle and less aggressive than on Mainland. In fact, apart from a few spots on the Lekki-Ajah expressway, you hardly see LASTMA guys on Island. You hardly see LASTMA arguing with people. You hardly also come across VIO and other traffic law enforcement agents. Perhaps because Island drivers are more law abiding? Perhaps because of potential of the driver of that private car being a big man?

3. More exotic autos: Driving on VI-Lekki-Ikoyi axis on a Sunday evening can be therapeutic. You see fine cars being driven by young and upwardly mobile folks. You don't get much of that on the Mainland except in a couple of places.

4. Less heavy trucks: Until very recently due to Dangote refinery construction, you hardly see heavy duty vehicles on the Island. Although you now see a couple of them, usually late in the night, on Lekki-Epe expressway, the situation is still far better than in many parts of the Mainland.



5. Better security at night: You can drive around  late in night on the Island with little worry about security. You see heavily armed security men at almost every turning late into the night. If you are a night crawler, you have little worry on the Island as you are almost always covered.

6. No yellow buses: Let's face it, those yellow buses are an eyesore. No wonder the state government banned them from entering Island.

7. More orderly traffic: While there is traffic on the Island as it is on Mainland, there is hardly complete lock-down on the Island. No matter how bad, the traffic will still be moving. Island traffic is more orderly. Probably because there are more corporate gentlemen as road users. A major source of traffic on the Mainland is breakdown of one long articulated truck, you hardly see that on the Island. Add the fact that there are less trucks and carelessly driven yellow buses, and you will understand why Island traffic "schooled abroad" while that of Mainland "schooled" in you-know-where.

8. Less one-chance: Cases of one-chance, robbery using public transportation system, while they exist, are far less heard of on the Island.

9. Less traffic robbery:  Cases of brazen robbery inside traffic are very few and far between on the Island, although they exist.

10. Natural swimming pool: Okay, you may not miss this: your street (or even bedroom) turning into swimming pool at the slightest downpour!



Any other thing we have missed?

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/living-on-the-island-10-things-lagos-mainlanders-are-missing/

[URL=http://www.opinions.ng/video-crowd-atikus-rally-kano/]See the amazing crowd in stadium[/url]

Watch Lagosians Mobbed President Buhari’s Vehicle after his Visit to Oba of Lagos

Let Keep staring unto Feb 16

Watch President Muhammadu Buhari’s Entrance at Adamawa Rally as Supporters Go Wild

'The Bull'

The world has too many idle people.

A normal activity.

Experienced journalist, Kadaria Ahmed has stylishly responded to those criticizing her over the method she deployed in interviewing the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday, 30th January, 2019 at a Town Hall style interview tagged ‘The Candidate’.

The supporters of the 2 men have suggested that Kadaria was a lot tougher with the PDP duo than she was with President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on January 16, 2019 when the two men appeared on the same programme.

Well, Kadaria obviously does not agree with her critics and took to Twitter to express herself tweeting:

“It is an honour to be despised by fools.” (Nichiren Daishoni)

This will definitely not help the controversy around the 2 interviews and it would be interesting to note how her critics react.

See more and react to the tweet here.

cc: Lalasticlala, Mynd44

You didn't give Ray Power? That is perhaps the most guilty station.

Atiku disowned his company website.

Obi hiding under family to cover shady and unethical deals.

Nigeria needs to think carefully about its future.

cc: Lalasticlala, Mynd44

The case of Justice Onnoghen and the Puerile defences of some people comes to mind.

By P.J.

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The last General election in the UK ushered in a record number of women and minorities. Amongst them were a few of Ghanaian origin and women of Nigerian background.

While the Ghanaians and other ethnic minorities went about their parliamentary duties and responsibilities to their constituents, some of the Nigerians as usual have gone ahead to soil and tarnish our already dented image.

Fiona Onasanya the Labour MP representing Peterborough was jailed today for 3 months for lying to the Police to avoid speeding points.

Her brother who colluded and tried to conspire with her was jailed for 10 months. Onasanya has already been suspended by the Labour party. She has refused to resign her seat and is now an Independent.

In an unrelated case, Kate Osamor another Nigerian MP has resigned her Position.

Osamor who was promoted to the front bench by the Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn as Shadow International Development Secretary (Secretary of a Dept is the Equivalent of a Minister in Nigeria).

She resigned from her role amid accusations that she had misled the public over her son's drug conviction.

In our usual practice of Nepotism, she employed her son Ishmael in her parliamentary office as a Senior Communications Officer. He was caught with drugs worth £2,500 last year.

A series of bizzare behaviour from Osamor followed. She lied and denied knowledge of the case, she told journalists to "F...off" and "Smash his face in" according to the Times. She also threatened another with a bat and threw a bucket of water at him.

Several MPs have expressed outrage that their behaviour " failed to uphold" the code of conduct for MP's. They asked for the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner to conduct an inquiry to these matters and the continued employment of Osamor's son in Parliament.

These cases exemplify the typical Nigerian norm of the lack of respect for the law. In Nigeria, Onasanya and Osamor would have gotten away with it. They would have used their influence to quash the cases. Although In Osamor's case it is not for lack of trying. She wrote to the Judge on behalf of her son and later denied it.

These women should be role models and a pride to our children in the UK and the Nigerian Community in general.

What are the chances of the electorate electing British/Nigerians again after the shameful conduct of these women? While other African Countries will treasure representation in the British Parliament, some privileged Nigerians there are misusing they opportunity. Something is definitely wrong with Nigerians.

Source: What Exactly is Wrong With Nigerians?

President Muhammadu Okechukwu Buhari.

Meanwhile, See Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Historic Town of Idanre

This year, there would be a dynamic change and evolvement in almost everything, every sector, and our lifestyle. The way things are done would begin to change such that some job roles would begin to fade out as technology, digitalization, and machine learning begin to take over, to increase productivity and make life easier.

The following are a few areas in which there would be a swift change in the way and tools they use to operate.

Business Trends
Whether you own your business or you are working with someone that does, either way, the way you do business, the tools and how you reach your customers would become more customized and personalized. Customers are not loyal and they are ready to move to the next thing or business that interests them. Therefore businesses are now adapting machine learning and Artificial Intelligence to help them know what their customers want, what they are doing and where to reach them and at what time. Therefore you need to equip yourself with the necessary skills required to make use of machine learning tools to find your customers and sell to them.

Workplace Trends
The generation Z are now going to work. They are tech savvy, they are on the go, they don’t like to be tied down and are always ready to express themselves. They are innovative and ready to experiment and those are the people that would be at work now. This means organizations would have to improve the tools and devices used at work to fit into the devise and tools generation Zs can work with.
Also, organizations would begin to adopt social behaviors at work and improve policies that enhance innovation because the world is changing fast and they cannot afford to stick to rigid policies that put them behind the rest of the world. Now it is about keeping an eye on the trends and adjust accordingly.

Banking and Finance
Before going into details about this, when was the last time you visited a bank to do anything? You can’t remember, right? If you had gone to the bank recently you either just used the ATM or you must have discovered that what you needed to do could have been done online.
The way we now carry out our financial transaction shows that the banking and finance sector is adapting fast to technological trends and would not stop anytime soon. This year we should expect to start social banking such that, you would be able to send money, receive money, apply for a loan, start an investment and much more over a chat without leaving your chat App or visiting a website.

Technology Trends
This is the major reason every other thing is changing. Mobile phones, laptops, speakers, mode of communication and interaction, UI on websites, social media, literally everything is changing and would keep changing. Businesses with websites now update their websites with the User interface (UI) that enables chatbots, voice search and other forms of artificial intelligence and automation to make it easy for customers to find what they need on time and interact with them better and faster.

Gadgets such as speakers are now smarter and have gone beyond being just speakers to being personal assistants. Phones are also equipped to enable, voice search, message automation etc.

This is just a few of the other trends that would begin to take shape in the few months ahead, and it’s best to be prepared so you don’t get lost in transition.

Source: Trends to watch out for in the next few months

cc: Lalasticlala, Mynd44

Every now and then, you need to retreat and upgrade your resume with relevant skills needed to make you work smarter, achieve more and forge ahead in your career.

When talking about job skills, we should be aware that they are divided into two sections: soft skills and hard skills. Soft skills are the type of abilities that can’t be proven with a certificate or degree, and because they can’t be automated, they’re increasingly in demand and take time and more effort to be noticed by others. Soft skills have to be done repeatedly over time for it to become a skill. They include skills like collaboration, creativity, negotiation, time and risk management, etc.

Hard skills, on the other hand, is quite different and more rigorous than soft skills. They have to be learned as a course, practiced and certified through a test or examination process. Unlike soft skills, hard skills have to be backed up by certification, while soft skill would be realized over time. The similarities they both have is that they both require action and time for it to be perfected.

In 2019, employers are hoping to see their employees improve on some soft skills and also train some when necessary on some hard skills to ensure they become better at their task and achieve goals without limitations and on time.

Some of the soft skills are;

Creativity: This is perhaps one of the skills that would remain relevant for growth in any business. There is a problem to solve and that’s why there is a business, therefore, employers’ needs employees that are able to think outside the box to solve a problem with an unorthodox approach.

Time Management: The world is evolving fast and in business, there is a need to catch up with the trends that pertain to your industry in order to keep your customers closer. Therefore, employers need their employees that can use their time effectively and productively to achieve more goals within a short period of time.

Adaptability: Constant change is the new norm. Based on the daily change in technology, innovation, and world business policies, employers need to be sure that their employees can adapt to the trends and would consistently stay abreast of things for easy adaptation.

Some of the Hard Skills are:

Data and Analytical Reasoning: Every business needs information about their clients and/or customers in order to serve them better. This is why employers are looking for people who can read and analyze data and make profitable decisions from it.

Digital Marketing: Now that everything is done online including sending and receiving money, employers need digital marketers that understand the digital space, trends, and data and also use data to develop content that resonates with the target audience and the business objectives.

People Management: The world has moved from rigid business policies that promote a “command-and-control” model to flexible and empowering policies that promote creativity, productivity, staff work fulfillment, and overall growth. Which is why employers need professionals that can coach and lead the people that work with them for the overall success of the organization.

These are just a few of the many skills employers are seeking for in 2019, and if you already have one of these skills, then lucky you.

Improve Your Skills, Improve Your Worth: Skills Employers are looking for in 2019

Igbo Canadian Community Association has joined the ongoing debate on the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen by President Muhammadu Buhari. Read their press release next…

SUSPENSION OF CJN: YOUR ACTION A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY AND 2019 ELECTIONS.

The Executive and Board of the Igbo Canadian Community Association (ICCA/Umunna) has described the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter S.C Onnoghen (GCON) by President Muhammadu Buhari as an ill-conceived and provocative attempt at usurping the constitution to give way to dictatorial hormones intoxicating his DNA.

In a statement issued in Toronto, Canada by the President, Chief Ugochukwu Okoro, through the Public Relations Officer, Ahaoma Kanu, the socio-cultural and pressure group said that President Buhari has brazenly unveiled his plans to rig the 2019 elections by suspending the constitution in order to pave way for his handlers to teleguide and corrupt the election tribunals having seen the evidence that Nigerians have rejected his incompetent government.

“We stand with Nigerians and lovers of democracy across the globe in condemning the selfish, unconscionable, undemocratic and unconstitutional action of President Muhammadu Buhari in suspending the Chief Justice of the Federal Republic without recourse to constitutional procedures requiring such action. The action of Mr. President is dangerous to our democracy and should be fought against through all constitutional means.

The Nigeria constitution Section 292 (1) and paragraph 20 and 21 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution stipulates that the CJN enjoys security of tenure and is not removable except within the strict procedure and for the specific reasons enshrined therein. The CJN can only be removed from office by the President acting on an address supported by two thirds majority of the senate for his inability to discharge the functions of his office or appointment.

It is not surprising that President Buhari, in all his attempts to overthrow democracy which have all been met with strong opposition, has unleashed a mutiny on the judiciary in a manner which illuminates his preference for overtaking power.

President Buhari’s action only exposes the desperate measures he and his handlers are now employing having gone across the country and seen how unpopular his government is hence his resort to unconstitutional means to remove the CJN. Also sad and diminishing is the reasons Mr. President premised his actions on.

This is a President that has constantly disobeyed court orders; shielded indicted criminals and turned a blind eye to hard evidences exposing his loyalists in corrupt practices. Listening to President Buhari give such fragile statements as his basis for taking on an unconstitutional path to usurp democracy does him no good but adds further assault to his already tattered reputation in respecting the rule of law.

We call on President Buhari to, with immediate effect, reinstate Justice Onnoghen as the constitutionally appointed Chief Justice of Nigeria failure of which we urge both chambers of the National Assembly to confront this ugly and detestable development with the full wrath of its authority, invoking impeachment proceedings if need be.”

God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Source: Igbo Community in Canada to Buhari: Your Action a threat to Democracy and 2019 Election

Yes, he can be going around courts now.

Lai Mohammed breaks down Onnoghen's suspension

The Best Mobile Apps for Kids you Should Know

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This story is making me want to go get a Kolo.

Lalasticlala, Mynd44 did you ever own a Kolo?

What about Seun?

Time ran by and it was time for Eid-ul- Kabir (Muslim festival, people call it Ileya), I was super-happy. You know why? My savings gave me the strength to feel proud as my parents’ child. My relatives were wondering why I was that happy but I didn’t disclose it to them. Some days to Eid on a Sunday afternoon, when my parents and my sisters had gone out. I happily brought out my kolo, I unfolded my money and I counted it. Guess what? To my surprise, it was N5,050 after eight months(1st term, 2nd term and towards the end of 3rd term). I shouted at the top of my voice with joy without caring if anyone would hear my voice or not. I danced happily and thanked God.

So I folded the money properly and kept it in my kolo, I returned it to its normal place. The remaining days before Eid my siblings started contributing money according to their capability for my parents to prepare for the festival. They were able to raise N15,000. They knew I was not capable yet. So they didn’t bother to ask me, and I kept quiet too. It remained two days to Eid, so I decided to spend N50 out of my N5,050 and my N20 break time money to enjoy my Goody Goody, Uncle John’s snacks, lolly etc. I thought of what to buy with the money for my parents and sought the help my foster mother’s (Iya Aafe in Yoruba) advice.

I listened to her advice attentively and I later concluded on buying 5 litres of groundnut oil for my dad, to fry our Ileya ram, bought one quality hijab (Iborun in Yoruba) for my mum, a crate of soft drink for my relatives and a small side purse and a pair of slippers for myself. Nigerian money had greater value back then. N5,000 was a considerable amount then. I asked my foster mother to accompany me to the market so that I wouldn’t be cheated.

She helped me to price the items and I brought out my money confidently and paid for them.

I was so happy, I felt like a boss. I took the items home and when my parents saw I and my foster mother with the items, their thought was that it was probably an extended family member that brought the gifts.

I proudly and confidently greeted them and presented the gifts to them. Everyone present there were so surprised and happy, throwing different questions at me. I quickly cleared their curiosity by telling them the whole story, including how the carpenter dashed me kolo but I didn’t tell them where I used to hide it oooo.

After my story, my mother gave me a warm hug, showered me with prayers and burst into tears of joy. My dad too prayed for my mum, my siblings and me.

They were all proud to have me in the family.

I was so glad too and I told myself. YES … I MADE IT HAPPEN, I MADE THEM PROUD OF ME.

What I Like Best

However what I like best about savings is the spirit of self-confidence, targeting a goal and independence it brings. In fact, one of my hobbies is saving. I totally recommend the habit to everyone both young and old.

Saving has a lot of great benefits. For me, the best are preparing one for emergency and building wealth. What about you? Do you like to save? What are your reasons for saving?

The Story of How I Became a Super Saver as a Young Girl

By Monsurat Omosolape Otun

Saving money has contributed greatly to people’s life. It starts by setting aside a particular amount of money for future use in a safe place. In the old days – underground, inside pillow cases, under the bed, in the ceiling, wardrobe, tins, wooden box (kolo) and so on.

Nowadays savings got easier with the help of technology through banks and other financial institutions found almost everywhere. You can even use your smartphone to save money as we rapidly move towards the cashless economy. Saving makes one to be financially secure, independent, for meeting future emergency and building wealth, I love it.

One of the coolest things about saving is that it gives you confidence and strength to rely on yourself during emergencies. Let me share the story of how I began saving. I was a 10-year-old kid and my elder siblings would give different kinds of gifts to my parents to show them love during Eid, the Muslim holiday. But I as a kid had no work nor skills to earn a stipend on my own to do the same. I always felt jealous because I couldn’t show my parents I love them too by giving them gifts, thou, they prayed for me as well as they did for the older ones that bought them gifts. But I felt I needed to show them how much I love them and value them too with gifts. I wasn’t taught to take what doesn’t belong to me or tell lies. So, I couldn’t steal. I sat down one day sadly and a thought came to my mind: “why can’t you save your break time money for a while and then use it to buy wonderful gifts for your parents”?

I was so happy about the idea before the following thoughts came to my mind that:

You won’t enjoy your favorites during break time anymore, you that you like: Uncle John’s snacks, Banana biscuit, goody-goody, yoghurt, lolly
How would you cope when your friends buy those things and they were like showing it to you to make you feel like begging for some?
Would you beg when you have already promised your parents to always be contented with whatever you are given?
What if you summon courage and beg, would your friends not abuse you and even report you to Aunty Sola (class teacher)? Would Aunty Sola not beat you?

All these thoughts made me sad and I felt bad as if I was beaten. As I was thinking of forgetting about saving my breakfast money, another thought just came gbam ...”why don’t you save part of your breakfast money, not all o, save little, buy little. I was so happy that despite the fact that I knew I wouldn’t be able to get all what I used to buy, I could still get my parents some gifts with the little money I saved before another Eid arrived.

After that, another thought just came to my mind gbaounce... “Sebi visitors come and check on my parents at times, instead of spending the money they give to me, I could be saving that too, to make me to be able to buy bigger gift than my older siblings’ own.

I was so happy with my new ideas and decided to follow my thought of saving part of my break time money. Another frustrating thought just came up again: “what if I save my money and it was taken, what would I do?” So, I was meditating over it again and again till another thought just came up gegeun... “all I needed to do is to save my money in a place that would be secretive and no one would see me when I hid it”. This thought brightened my mood again and I decided to use the amount of money I was able to save for couple of days to get a small wooden box with padlock (we call it ‘Kolo’ in Yoruba language) to save my money.

The next day, out of N20 I was given by my parents for break time, I spent N10 and I saved N10. It is not easy ooo when I saw my friends buying plenty Uncle John’s snacks I was tempted to take the remaining N10 I saved but I thought of buying Kolo again and I decided not to spend the money.

During closing hour again, my friends bought so many things and they were like using it to tempt me, I couldn’t stand the challenge so I took out the remaining N10 too and I went to buy plenty things too. After eating what I bought, I felt bad that I shouldn’t have spent the money I intended to save so I decided that the next day I wouldn’t bring the money I want to save to school, I would leave it at home to discipline myself from not spending it again.

The next day I kept my money inside my clothe that had pocket and I neatly folded it and put it at the bottom of my wardrobe, I made sure no one saw me while I was doing this, not because I didn’t trust my family members but I didn’t want them to know I was saving money. Whenever they needed money, they would beg me to lend them and I wouldn’t have any choice than to lend them because of my love for them. I kept saving money there for two weeks and was able to save N100. So, I ran so happily to a carpenter near my house to tell him to make a Kolo for me. The man noticed I was so happy while I was explaining what I wanted to him. So he asked me: "are you the owner"? I said, yes so he told me to come back after some hours. I couldn’t wait too long because I was eager to put my money in my safe (Kolo). So after some hours, I ran back to the carpenter to collect my kolo.

On getting there, I met the man sitting, he offered me a seat. I sat down and he asked me about my plans for the Kolo. I shared my plan, intention and purpose of saving with him, he was so impressed and encouraged me. He told his apprentice to give me the Kolo without collecting a kobo. I thanked him joyfully and left. I had my N100 on me and a Kolo as well, I was ecstatic, I stopped at a shop and I bought a small padlock for N30, I was left with N70.

On getting home, I was so happy that I almost told my immediate elder sister about it but I was able to control myself. At night, I was unable to sleep, while others were sleeping, I brought out my Kolo, unlocked it, folded my N70 inside it and locked it again. Then I opened my wardrobe, brought out all my clothes and kept the Kolo at the extreme end. I packed my clothes back into my wardrobe and I tried sleeping. That night was a sleepless night for me because the thought of my savings filled my mind.

I got committed to my savings after this and saved more than N10. At times, I saved all my N20 feeding money. I tried never to miss school even when ill because I knew I would have to stay back home and I wouldn’t be given break time money. Therefore, there would be no savings for the day. When visitors came around, any money they give me I dropped it in my Kolo through the small opening on it. If people sent me on an errand and I was given the remaining changed, I saved it in my Kolo as well. So all those petty “take this money" made me to save more.

Read more here