The Daughter of a Driver

 

Each time I walk past through a particular street in Ikeja, I can't just but thank my father from the very depth of my heart for the sacrifice he made for my siblings and I so that we could get the best of education. This is always the feeling every time I'm on this street because sometimes tears of joy roll freely from my eyes.

 

Maybe that is why I love the hit track titled "the son of a kapenta by Brymo", the Nigeria's newest hip-hop sensation. He carefully painted the picture of what an average person who has risen from lowest ladder of the society to at least an average level of the social ladder, feel like.

 

I'm proud to tell chauffeurs that I'm a daughter of a driver. If I'm privilege to be chauffer driven, I'm quick to tell them that I'm from their constituency and this makes me have soft spots for drivers especially the honest and hard working ones. This always makes us bond immediately.

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

 

January is earmarked as cervical cancer awareness month.

 

 I’m feeling very bad that I’m just talking about this almost at the end of January. I must apologies to my women folks and the wonderful men who truly care about their mothers, sisters, wives, girlfriends and female colleagues and friends. As you all know that the beginning of the year is usually very tight, my schedule is very busy now that’s why I have very little time for posting on the blog.

 

I guest is good to be late than never, I promise to fully resume back soon.

 

Cervical cancer is the genital cancer that kills at least one woman in every one hour especially in Sub-Saharan Africa including Nigeria. It is also the second commonest cancer after breast cancer affecting women in Nigeria. It is preventable and could be managed if detected very early.

 

Cervical cancer is said to occur in midlife however it does occur even in women below 20 years of age, some older women do not seem to realize that they are susceptible to developing the cancer as they age.

Medical expert noted that at least 70 per cent of cervical cancer is caused by a virus known as the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and mostly contacted through sexual intercourse, women who are sexually active are vulnerable to the HPV infection.

 

Aside HPV other factors that may increase chances of contracting cervical cancer are smoking, having HIV and using birth control pills for a long time or having given birth to three or more children. (African men I hope you are reading this), starting sex at an early age, having many sex partners and sex partners also having many multiple sex partners.

Quote of the Week!

"Poverty is not an accident but man-made like slavery and apartheid" -Nelson Mandela

 

As Madiba has said, we caused poverty by our attitudes but the good thing is that we can break its long chain.

So friends, wherever you are you can help an orphan, a widow, the homeless , the  senior citizen uncared for or that poor brilliant little boy/girl in your neigbourhood. You can get a child back to school, you could volunteer to do free coaching for those who can't afford a class.

You can share your used textbook or story books with those who are willing to read but that can afford a book. Education and knowledge break the rope of poverty.

This is not about giving money because a helping hand to pull someone up from going down could save them from poverty.

A genuine smile to that loneliness child could save his/her life.

Go out and make a different because it could change a generation.

Believe me, we can collectively conquer POVERTY by caring for those who need it and don't have those to care for them .

Bon weekend, a la prochaine!

 

Year 2012 in Retrospect

How far did I go?

Last year was fantastic but it also has many challenges however I will give it a pass mark.

Some of the thing I touched and I’m extremely happy to share with you are:

· -I knew God better, the relationship with Him is not what any money can buy. I pray I know Him better, serve Him more, do His will more and I pray His mercy endureth forever more in my life

· -The Connectivity with my family was like never before, Mama et Papa, MJ, TY, Fourpointer, GBoy. Mama and Papa, you are simply irreplaceable. You all rock my world!

· -Improved at work, the level at which my boss recommended me for leadership position was simply amazing.

· -I got to know more on legal proceeding and legal terms. It was incredible and I'm beginning to love it. Maybe someday I might buckle up for a law degree.

Happpppy New Year!

 

Year 2012 has come and gone, it has is up and down, low and high moments.

 

This is a brand new year, nothing and I mean nothing will stop me from achieving my goals. All I pray to God for is good health and His mercy.

 

New year resolutions for me is just another phrase which a lot of poeple have misused over time maybe that's the reason I wouldn't use it as a benchmark for my new year goal setting or I just don't want to be cuaght in it world web.

 

One thing that I know that I need to seriously work on this year is my habit of late coming for functions and activities, I'm very sure Ola and Oyeronke are praying about this unbecoming attitude of mine. I'm very tired of running helther skelther to events and now that Okada is a no go area in Lagos it has been pretty difficult "by force by fire change is inevetable".

 

Merry Christmas

I can't thank God enough for seeing another Christmas, it's a rear privilege “if one can look back since January” - all the blessings from Him. It has been terrific moments.

To all my friends who have made this year 2012 a race worth running , kindly accept a token of my love and kisses.

This moment is special to me because it’s a time to be with your love ones, friends and plenty of chicken and rice to eat and share.

For all my friends whom cold and ice is like your second skin at this joyous season, I hope you're not missing home too much? Remember you're always in our thoughts we love you always especially Omotola, TY, Gboy and Abby my love.

 I wish you all my beautiful friends around the world merry Christmas. To all my acquaintances and my unknowns friends who have been visiting this page since inception I wish you all Merrier Christmas and I hope we’ll do it together next year God’s willing.

 

Kk, thank you for making this year love filled 'cos without you it could have been really really boring, I truly love you.

 

Je vous aime!

I'm thankful!

“A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart.” –Unknown

My family, friends and colleagues showed this yesterday (oh it was my birthday, I’m sure you remember I told you that I love November dearly) by their numerous messages and best wishes that they all sent to me from far and near, special songs birthday songs especially the one from Pupa Orits Williki, cakes, lunch orders, my picture display on the timelines and blackberries’ DPs, the gifts especially the chocolates and the cake.

 I love that cake, thank you Darling I TRULY LOVE YOU.

This means so much to me.

What more can I say that I’m humbled by all your love towards me and I mean this “I love all from the very depth of my heart”.

  

To the generous minds the heaviest debt is that of gratitude, when it is not in our power to repay it.”- Benjamin Franklin

I can’t ask for a better family, friends and colleagues from God than these beautiful people He has already given and surrounded me with. Baba God you are simply too much, I’m thankful for this!

I hope I will (Retaliate) soonest!

Kisses.

Quote of the Week!

 "Resentment is like drinking poison and hope it will kill your enemies."      Nelson Mandela

At one time or the other of our lives we've had issues with people or better still they've also had problems with us and we resented them with every energy in us. I know how painful it could be to be badly hurt by the ones you truly love.

 

It doesn’t matter who was wrong or right or who caused the issues. People, I think in the spirit of the season we are about to enter let’s get out there to make up with the people who we’ve resented in this past few months of the year.

If we don’t stop the fights now, so when do we come back to fight another day.

The beauty of friendship sometime is found in the small fights we usually have with our friends especially when will settle our differences over lunch or dinner quaffing coffee or tea.

For me it is TJ and Bicci, my gals where are thou please let meet at our usual amala junction? I love you both and I can wait to hear your baby voices when Bicci is playing the smart one over our Ogunfe meat.

Bisous.

A Night with the Jailer

I have listened to Asa’s music “Jailer” many times, each time I listened to it I get goose pimples all over my body but I have never been anywhere near jail but the way she intelligently painted the picture and analyzed the relationship between a Jailer and a Prisoner will make you realize that the relationship between the two is most times not convivial. 

Reading Nelson Mandela autobiography “Long Road to Freedom” also gave me a clearer understanding that Jailers anywhere and everywhere are almost the same especially when the SYSTEM is fighting you or vice a visa. Their psychology approach towards prisoners is the same and this treatment transcends culture, colour and languages.

Jailers sometimes lose their civility and most times throw away all their profession ethics, they forget that first and foremost the prisoners are also human beings. I’m sure you are wondering “wetin concern agbero with overload- what concerns her with jail matter”. The late Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), late Fela Anikulapo Kuti and most of the activists jailed during the Abacha’s era all saw the very bad side of these errand men whom Fela (Baba 70) referred to as Zombies because even when they know the truth and their conscience is not settle about the treatments they melted on the prisoners they can’t definitely go against their bosses who most time dictate the tunes of their operandi from their Palais de chef.

 

I love my job with every blood in my system, meeting the stars which people pay a lot of money to watch.  My job has given me the opportunity to see them not only as stars but to see them at the early stage of their career, trust me this is a fantastic feeling.

Zombies at work

 

On Tuesday, September18, 2012 at about 11.00am eight men including a camera man, a middle aged woman and 15 fully armed police officers stormed our office located at No. 6, Olaribiro Street, off Allen Avenue, Lagos; ignoring our security personnel, they walked directly to the reception area. In a stern voice, a man who I later learnt is Mathew Ojo and leader of the team, demanded to see Mr. Mayo Ayilaran, our Chief Executive Officer/Director General.

When I informed him that he was yet to resume for the day, he asked who was next in hierarchy. Sensing that something must be amiss, I asked him what I could do to help. It was at this point that he flashed his identification card of Nigerian Copyright Commission, NCC, adding for effect that they were in the office to see our top executives.

How much are you worths?

In marketing up till today I still marvel on how the marketing grandmasters come to conclusion on what a premium or low end brands should be and how they also managed to place values on such products.

Another one that always dazzles me is how God Almighty made such a fantastic decision on making most things like the air we breathe that should ordinarily cost us zillions of dollars and made them absolutely free for humanity. He made sure that valuable resources are not just where they will be seeing and touched just by anybody. 

If you want diamond or petrol for instance you just don’t dig the ground as if you want ordinary water from borehole or well which you can get in some area with about 900meters below the sea level.

For you to get these valuables which are placed within the premium products by God and men, you have to use high end technologies and machines to drill most times 5000 meters below the sea level and they must also be refined with high technological processes. 

The high premium brands can not be found ordinary street shops but in high end and sophisticated classy stores for the few people who put so much attention on details who can afford the premium brands created by God and reshaped by man.

I Love the Eleventh Month

 

Happy New Month friends.

 

November is the eleventh month of the year and I love this special month.

 

This month is so special to me because I was born on the eleventh month of the year, my special baby brother was also born in November;  it is also the thankgiving month in some country; this special month is always a reminder that the year is rolling to an end and viola, christmas is around the corner.

Holiday is always on my mind from November, so let's meet on the west coast in December.

 

November is all I know, and all I ever wanna know.  To all the November babies out there I wish you all happy birthday in advance.

Je vous aime!

Eid Mubarak to you

From me to millions of  my Muslim brothers and sisters all over the world I wish all EID MUBARAK!

I pray that may the  blessings and mercies of Almighty Allah will be with us in Dunya and Hereafter.

As we celebrate this great Eid ul-'Adha I implore you to remember how our noble Mohammad (SAW) celebrated it. We should share and give because this is one of the many good deeds a good Muslim and Muslimah should imbibe.

Give to the less privileged in your community, society and also share with your love ones.

The festival is synonymous to giving  and sharing from Allah's mercy with mankind, that is why it's call Feast of the Sacrifice.

"And whatever of good you give, be assured that Allah knows well." -Quran 2:273

 "Whatever of good you give in benefits your own souls, and you shall only do so seeking the 'Face' of Allah. Whatever good you give, shall be rendered back to you shall not be dealt with unjustly." -Quran 2:272

The QUEEN of May Flower Schools

Mrs. Solarin with Queen Elizabeth 11

Just some few days to Salah, I've decided much earlier not to blog today because I need to have enough rest for this special festival but here I am now writing about a woman who has inspired at least five generations of Nigerians. Many of my friends are product of May Flower School, Ikenne and they proudly call themselves Ex-Mays.

You will not totally blame me if I’m doing this because May Flower school in the 90's in Ogun State  was like the British International School or American International School of today amongst secondary schools in the state; it was a dream school for most pupils furthering their secondary school education. May Flower school's uniform (Short and top for both sexes) is totally different from all the school uniforms I've seen.

My parents will not forget in a hurry the pestering I gave them about going to May Flower School but trust my father he was smarter than me in.

I've to thank my friend Moyo Osifodunrin (he inspired this special piece because of her picture  he used on his  timeline, ore oooose "friend thanks"). Moyo is an ex-may and he wrote this about  the May Flower's QUEEN -Mrs. SHEILA SOLARIN

"The queen shaking the legend without gloves whilst knighting her as a Dame."

Les Rois de la rue de Lagos

 Okada, the kings of Lagos Road!

Okada, Les Rois de la route de Lagos. Okada, the kings of Lagos Road!   Okada (Commercial motorcycle) which is known with its different names like Acahaba (northern Nigeria), Okada (western Nigeria), Going (plateau, Nigeria), Zemijan (Cotonou, Benin). It's actually got this name from a defunct airline named Okada Air which was owned by Esama of Benin chief Gabriel Igbinedion who hailed from Okada village in Edo State. Okada is Known with speed and it does not waste time waiting for full passengers on board; sometimes it could fly to the passengers' destination without much delay.   Since the ban of commercial motorcycles in Lagos I have decided not contribute to this sensitive issue (on either side of the government or the cyclists) because some of my friends who knew my position about this means of transportation will think I'm prejudice against this trade; I have had my own share of their reckless riding. (The rider hung me on a moving vehicle, but I'm sure you don't want to imagine what went through my mind!).

FAAN Award for DANA Air, this must be a JOKE

Following the ill fated crash of June 13, 2012 Dana Boeing MD-83 plane, a lot of agitations have trailed the company on their best practices on safety.

Some of the Customers flying Dana flights said safety was a major challenge; Governor Goodwill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom categorically said "he called the attention of Dana authority to the airworthiness of their airplanes so as not to endanger the lives of Nigerians". This was a call he made to the airline authority after his experience when Dana aircraft enroute Lagos from Uyo had technical problems that led to it hovering for hours before finally landed.

 

The petitions (I signed one written by Late Levi Ajunoma's son) and uproars from the families of victims is still very fresh in our memories following the given back of Dana's license that was early revoked by Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) just immediately after the crash.

 

The compensation issues has not been totally resolved, the legal tussle on the coroner's inquest is still pending in court.

 

I woke up this early Monday morning to read in all major newspapers available that FAAN last weekend awarded Dana airline the best domestic carrier for 2011. (Just thinking this must be some sort of joke!) I hope this is not April fool in October.

 

If this is real, I think one need to sincerely ask the authority in FAAN the following questions:

-What is the yardstick for an airline to deserve this prestigious award? (#mywish)

-Who are the panelists for this award?

-What are the pedigrees of the members on this panel?

-What is their (panelists) training and where are they trained?

-Does the customers flying the local carriers have a say in this awards or are they giving voting option?

 

-Is this award made public so as to have their opinion on this award? (I might be rambling)

 

 

You'll probably be wondering if I’m cross examining the FAAN authority? I should state here that I'm confused like most Nigerians on this award and the factors that led to it given.

 

Having read what the Regional General Manager of FAAN, Mr. Christopher Batoure said that the airline excelled amongst all domestic carriers in 2011 hence they need to encourage them.

 

Batoure said, “They were selected as the best considering their passenger load, the frequency of their landings and take offs and their response to payment of bills in 2011. They had the best volume, they were punctual in their operations and they had an excellent service discharge.” (at least we now know that safety measure is not part of  the criteria used for this award)

 

One might be confuse that is there any moral justification on the part of FAAN on given this award which is some sort of node of well done to Dana or that, should Dana airline have shown some respect and empathy to the dead  by rejecting this awards even if they truly deserve it?

 

I will finally ask; are the authorities using this strategy to launch DANA back into business? (Anything happens in Naija)
 

I know that Nigerians and the rest of the world are watching. Definitely this might not be the end of this twist.

 

Happy New Week Peeps!

 

Quote of the week!

"I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them. I’ve learned that no matter how much I care, some people just don't care back. And it's not the end of the world." - By Unknown

Me think this is very, very, very, true. Do have a great weekend peeps!

A lesson from American Polities

Republican candidate Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama at presidential debate

 

Polities and electioneering in America is a big business and it is taken serious by everybody involved, events of the past weeks has shown that an average American is interested in what their leaders have to offer.

Contestants are well groomed, they deal with issues and they sell their parties ideology to the voters using all avenues and channels accepted by the system.

But what we have at home is far less than what is done in the america’s presidential debates, I can remember vividly during the 2011 elections in Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan boycotted one of the presidential debates to have a presidential chat with D'banj. (Till now I can't figure out the correlation).

Our ruling class must learn from this and we the voters must also hold the politicians responsible so that they don't take us for granted. They must come and explain what values they will add to governance in other to improve the lots of an average Nigerian in the south, north, west or east.

 Governance is not only about lucky, it requires adequate strategic planning.

God bless America and also bless my nation "Nigeria".

I hope my candidate win this election, please don't ask me who he is because I guess you should know where I’m pitching my tent.

 

Book of the Month- The Mystery of Capital

 

The events of past few weeks has made the reading of this interesting book draged for awhile but I finally finished reading it and I'm to happy to share my thoughts on it.

This book is a must read for anyone who is interested in property ownership and whoever is keen in ending poverty chain. In a simple language it showcased how an average person can use their properties to generate further wealth.

Mr. Hernando De Soto analyzed the problems associated with lands in the third world, the solutions to end this from the part of government, the developed nations and the citizens themselves.

He honestly described how many nations especially third world like Nigeria can improve the lots of the poor by creating an enabling environment and policies that will help them in upholding private properties.

He sincerely answered some of the critical questions on why capitalism triumph in the west but failed almost everywhere, he wasn’t afraid to draw our attention to the Peru’s land property situation (his home country).

This book contains seven incisive chapters which drew my attention to some of the things I never knew that could cause turmoil to peace and prosperity even in the developed world.

My memorable moments(issues) in the book

“Since the nineteenth century, nations have been copying the laws of the west t give citizens the institutional framework to produce wealth. They continue to copy such laws today, and, obviously, it doesn’t work. Most citizens still cannot use the law to convert their saving into capital. Why this is so and what is needed the law work remain a mystery” –page 13

Lesson learnt-don’t follow the trend apply your solutions to fix your peculiar issues”

Au Revoir, the Ogbuefi of the Universe

Late Amadi Ogbonna, former group entertainment editor of Vanguard Newspaper

Forever will this charming smile on your face be in my memory; you were a premium brand in an outstanding small package. Mr. Amadin this was my usual way of calling your name, to others you were simply Amadi Ogbonna.

 

 On my birthday November 27 in 2005, that day was the first time I met you, you came in to my office in your usually bubbling way, you exchanged pleasantries with my other colleagues who were all hailing you name. You finally came to me and said "damsel won't you say Hi to your darling you're seeing for the first time" in your voice you told me your name "I'm Amadi Ogbonnaya, the Guru". There and there you became my friend, you ordered snacks and drinks for me on my day.

 

 You became my mentor and a big brother, you saw the talent that was hidden in me and you encouraged me to pursue the dream I never saw. I can still remember when you called me and said "Bibi, why don't you go to Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) and register for the their profession exams, I'm very sure you will do well" I had my doubts but because I have taken you as a confidant, mentor and a wonderful brother, I weighed the possibilities and keyed into the vision, boss today it has paid off.