Angry words

Posted in Uncategorized on July 14, 2008 by omosolatola

Words are like raw eggs and once dropped can never be the same again, some people say. Others claim they are like feathers and once put in the wind can never be recovered cause they would have flown away. True, when words are uttered you can not “unutter” them. They do exactly what they are meant to do, either hurt or encourage or inform. I like this illustration best about words spoken when angry.

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence. By the end of the first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next  few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all.

He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, “You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same again.  When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.  You can put a knife in a man and draw it out.  But It won’t matter how many times you say I’m sorry, the wound will still be there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one”. Remember that friends are very rare jewels, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us.’

A good friend sent this to me and it hit me cause this is so very common between friends.  We all should learn how not to react immediately cause what we destroy is usually more than what got us angry in the first place.

Respond OOOOOOOO

Posted in Uncategorized on July 10, 2008 by omosolatola

Lol. Please respond to my posts.

I know I write well, hahahahahaha, I can hear some people laughing and saying in my mind, but I write well, guys agree now, I dey write! I write from the bottom of my heart so I am sure that it strikes a chord in you my readers. I know several people who visit this blog and comment to my face, but abeg, make una write una comment for the blog. I don’t want to call names o, you know yourselves, so COMMENT!

Its not like I am canvassing for comments or encouragement! but the truth is your comments will go along way to encourage and motivate me to do more. Don’t get me wrong I love what I do and regardless I will continue to do it, but you don’t want to leave a sister wondering if she is really making impact with her desire because that for me is the ultimate. The purpose of these write ups apart from expressing my self and my fulfilling my passion is motivating people, giving them hope through my experiences and insights form God.

Guys, if you read any thing on this blog and you have any thoughts on it, questions or similar experience, I expect you to share it, let me know about it. Don’t make me feel like I am winking at a girl in the dark and whether or not she is responding, I will never know, you don’t want to do that to a sister! So hence forth, it is a crime for you to come to this blog, read, wonder, agree and keep to your self. This is a crime punishable by….

Leave your comments, suggestions and feel free to ask questions. I am here at your service, doing what I love doing…writing.

I acknowledge you

Posted in Uncategorized on July 9, 2008 by omosolatola

This article is in appreciation of all the people that do the menial jobs, people that have their offices/duty posts on the road etc.

This is to acknowledge all our road workers, from the TRAFFIC CONTROL WARDEN, the LASTMA personnels, to the FERMA guys, who make sure right working vehicles ply the road and traffic rules are obeyed to the POLICE MEN at every check post searching suspicious vehicles and passersby ensuring our safety. These men and women stand on the road under the sun daily doing their jobs.

All hail to those LAWMA guys who toil under the sun and the rain everyday to make sure our roads are clean. They are individuals most of them old men and women with families to cater for and pride dropped at home. They clean our roads regardless of the low compensation, lack of ideal tools to make the work easier, bad road network and risk of crazy drivers who can run into them at any time and arrogant citizens who scoff at them.

Taken this morning in front of the Ikeja general post office. These are men working on the beautification of Mobolaji Bankanthony way Ikeja.

Respect to those road construction workers especially those on Isheri/ Lasu road(these are the ones I see regularly). Even with you fellow citizens looking down on you and insulting your personalty and hard work, claiming you are slaving all over again for expatriates. I say well done, its your fatherland, and courtesy of you w have a 2 road network on Isheri/Lasu road.

To all the PSP truck drivers, their conductors and the men that carry the wastes, you all have my respect. Its not a very good choice of work to do but you do all the same and I commend you for it. Well done.

My hardworking cattle rearers that give me the privilege to eat meat and farmers- wherever you are- in the north cultivating onions, ginger, garlic, tomatoes, yam etc. My eastern brothers, providing us with cashew, pear, palmoil etc and my western farmers, well done for your cassava, vegetables, rice etc. You guys, thank you all for putting food on our tables.

To every one of you menial workers that people scoff at ignorantly forgetting that you make the society easier to live in, this Nigerian society of ours. God bless you. Keep up the good work and God will repay you abundantly.

I’m not oblivious to the fact that most of the people in this category might never get to read this post but as many of you who get to read it, never fail to commend these people when you get the chance to or tell as many of them that you have around them that I hail them.

Give it up for them…they try.

Take the limits off of me

Posted in Uncategorized on July 8, 2008 by omosolatola

“I’m not a man, I can not lie.

I know the plans for your life. I’m asking you to dream again, believe again, and take the limits off of me.

No I’m not a man. No, I can not lie, I know the plans I have for you and my desire, so I am asking you just to hope again, and trust again, and take the limits off of me.

And I hear the lord say Take the limits off of me, take the limits off, release me to accomplish what I’ve promised you I will, take the limits off me, take the limits off, release me, believe me.”

By Israel and the new breed

That is God speaking. He says you should take the limits off of Him. I don’t know what your expectations are, I don’t know what yo want or what you desire but you just don’t believe enough that you can get it, God is saying please believe.

See God has good plans for you, His plans for you are of good and not of evil, to prosper you, give you hope and a future. He wishes the best for us all. Like this quote said…God wants you to trust Him, to dream again, believe in him again and see what he will do.

Is there something you want, that you desire but you find hard to believe you can get because you’re not sure where it will come from? God is saying He is the maker of heaven and earth and what ever you so desire He will give. He will give to you.

Let me make a list for you… a Toyota camry 2008 model? A range rover 2009 model, A pretty, fair skinned, well spoken, brilliant born again christain for a wife? A handsome dark skinned, rich, sexy…guy all rolled into one for a husband?…He can give you all that. What do you want? tell me, a trip to a choice country? A tastefully furnished house in GRA or VGC? What do you want? God is saying what do you want, He has given you a blank check, why is it so difficult to write what you want and just walk up to the bank and cash it? Could it be because there is no visible bank that gives you a husband or a house across the counter?

You get only what you see, but God is imploring you today not to limit Him. See big, dream big. He wants to surprise you, all He requires of you is to believe, trust in Him and tell him what you desire through the dreams you have. Today my dear, I dare you to dream big. Dream of anything in the world that you want and believe in God, cause He is about to make your dreams come true.

I need a car

Posted in Uncategorized on July 7, 2008 by omosolatola

I NEED A CAR.

This morning’s trip to work is making me desire more than ever the need for a car. I left the house for work at 6.40 am, not envisaging the crazy downpour that took place 45mins later. luckily for me, I was in the bus by the time the rain started and thought it would stop before I alight at Ikeja bus stop considering the mad traffic I was in..now that is another gist for another time. I spent 2 hours in the traffic and when I finally got to Ikeja it was raining hard. Cause its a monday I decided to spot a new next shirt and a very beautiful pair of snake skin shoes, I also decided to carry this very old school perm on my head….guys I was looking tight!

What I met on getting down down scared me. Every where was flooded. I quickly thought what the next step was and decided to take keke Marwa, that seemed better considering that the top would be covered, unlike my comfortable and ever bankable Bike. I set off to the park and met millions of people queing up, long and short, I spent another one 4o mins on the que. The rain increased and what I was avoiding happened, I got drenched…to my shoes. My precious shoes were soaked wet cos I couldn’t avoid standing in a puddle of water! There was traffic and it seemed like all drivers had gone gaga, no one was wiling to allow the other space to move or turn, making it difficult  for the keke Marwa to turn. Eventually o, one came and the next set of people all rushed in, I made the seat on the driver’s side. It didn’t have a cover. The rain was still pouring, I was getting agitated…not very good for a Monday morning, all these wasn’t getting funny at all. just as I was settling in and thinking well its only a few minutes ride and I’ll be home free, one crazy keke Marwa driver sped pass and splashed all the dirty water on Awolowo road on me, before I could scream, our keke Marwa broke down. Please tell me how bad can it get. really how bad can it get. I wanted to cry, my bag was soaked, with my laptop inside. I claimed to be a chick and I was going through all these. I can’t take it any more, I must move, I must elevate, permit me to use that English, I must elevate o.

I couldn’t help envying those in cars. Haa, I couldn’t help it o, not in a bad way but it dawned on me that no matter how handy bikes are they can not be compared to cars. I NEED A CAR O. I have decided to get one now at all cost, yes at all cost. This rain showed me today, really did. Needless to say I came into the office looking the exact opposite of what I had in mind. People were even laughing at my hair calling it “jerry curl”! cause it was looking a mess…and you say I should not buy car! I MUST BUY A CAR!

Onaivi Dania

Posted in Uncategorized on July 4, 2008 by omosolatola

Onaivi Dania is the name of a young chap. I call him young cause he is just 24 years old. He is an old friend to my younger brother. We all grew up together, attended the same church and parted ways while we were still teenagers. He finished months ago from the University of Benin and resides in Benin now even when we grew up together in Lagos. Onaivi is a computer freak! always has been so we meet once in a while on line.

I made another one of my trips to Enugu on Tuesday but had to be back in the office latest by Friday because of the things I have to deliver on this week. By 3pm on Thursday I was still in Enugu so obviously I could not make it to the office on Friday except I fly which I wasn’t going to do. I started racking my brain as to what to do and remembered my childhood friend Onaivi, I called a friend whom I was sure would have his no, and called him up. Luckily for me Onaivi picked his call on the first ring, I was so glad even as he told me it was alright to come over to Benin to spend the night. Minutes later, I set out for Onitsha where I  boarded a bus to Benin and to cut a long story short I met him up at an eatery close to his office at about 9pm.

After getting me something to eat, Onaivi said we should go together to his office to pick up his laptop before setting for home, what I met there shocked me. His office is tastefully furnished and has different up to date gadgets. I couldn’t believe this is a fresh graduate who has not even seen his final result. I couldn’t hide my surprise and I went on to ask if he has employees…well I was expecting him to say yes, cos the office had sub offices, what I did not expect was that he had paying employees. I was so impressed.

When we got home(his place) we started gisting, he told me about his fiancee, what his company is into, his challenges and his plans. Hmn, people, I couldn’t help but admire this guy. He has passion for Human Resource Development, hopes to go into public speaking and is passionate about developing people to bring out the best in them. Onaivi registered his company when he was in 3oo level, bear in mind he did a 5 year course, computer engineering. Onaivi’s company designs websites, sends bulk SMS for companies, developed some applications for secondary schools and and a whole lot of other things. According to him, he is torn between personnel development and IT. When I asked Onaivi how he managed to put up all these, as per the funding, he said he took a loan from a friend at intercontinental bank and asked the friend to be a director with 5% equity in the company. For a fresh man in the business industry, I was once again impressed.

Onaivi is writing a book titled “once upon an employee”. In this book he talked about two major things that I agree with totally:
1. Personal Service Proprietorship: Questions such as where do you work? Who are you at the work place? What do you stand for? What are you known for? etc. These are questions I expect average individuals to ask themselves and work towards. This is simply saying that at every point in time you represent a brand- yourself. What do you want people to perceive when your name is mentioned at the work place, It is not a permanent place for you yes but what legacy do you want to leave behind when eventually you leave?

2. Think like the boss: Your boss expects you to think big, to see the big picture. There are expectations from your company, employer, people you work with, so you must take the lead where ever you are. You must see yourself as been involved, have initiative, be a goal getter.

You might be wondering what the moral in this article is but if after the last paragraph you still don’t know then…. I wrote this to challenge as many people as are willing to be. What are you doing with your passion? Do you believe in your self enough to go after your dream? If you are an employee and you do not feel passion enough for what you do to to make a brand for yourself and see the picture like your boss does, then you need to have a rethink.

Onaivi as young as he is challenged me and I am sure now that God took me to Benin city for a purpose.

My day so far

Posted in Uncategorized on July 1, 2008 by omosolatola

Thank God, I’m a year older today. My day started a text message from my boyfriend. I woke up from sleep to read it and it was full of prayers. that served as an opening for others as people that I have even forgotten about sent me blessings in form of messages. I kept receiving calls from people…my boyfriend, family members, my parents…’though my mom was in the next room! I felt so special.

After the calls receded I prayed to God, thanked Him for my life so far, asked Him for direction for the coming days and years, reaffirmed my covenant with him, then went back to sleep. I woke up again at 5am with so much joy in my heart and a promise to myself that no matter what happens to me today, I will not be sad, after taking my bath, ironing my clothes, I set off to work. On getting to Egbeda which is the last bus stop I get to to take an Ikeja bus, the fare was double. On finding out,  was told that there was crazy traffic on the road. I decided to take a bike, it was 4 times the usual price but it was worth it, if I won’t be in the bus for 3 hrs before getting to work.

I did not tell you all that I was wearing a new Zara shirt that I had been saving for an important occasion. Well I decided to sport the shirt today along with a new shoe, bag,…all the works, IT”S MY BIRTHDAY! Like I was saying, I hopped on this bike and Ikeja here I come! Just before we moved about  a meter, it started drizzling. Christ, I am wearing a light coloured shirt and the fabric is also light, let me leave the rest to your imaginations. Gradually and surely we got to Ikeja but just before Allen round about a MISERABLE KEKE MARWA splashed dirty, muddy ….water on me, my first…was to scream and throw tantrums at the driver but i just started laughing. It was crazy and funny. I made up my mind that nothing would make me sad today.

I am sure you are waiting anxiously for the rest of the story which tells about the gifts I got, surprise party planned for me by my boyfriend and some colleagues, the board meeting I had that day and the trouble I got into which almost spoilt my day….

…before I die

Posted in Uncategorized on June 17, 2008 by omosolatola

As I rushed into the meeting room early yesterday I knew i had missed somethings. The topic of discussion was ‘what if there is no tomorrow?’ Different people came up with different reasons why they aren’t doing some things which they plan to do yet and plans to make them done today….well thats a topic for another day…What if there is no tomorrow?

Before I die, I have some things I must do…well I feel like I should do, will be happy doing. A quick deviation, have you seen the movie ‘Bucket List’? makes you wonder what is stopping you from doing all that you desire to do in life now. The movie is about two men that are opposites in every way…one a billionaire and the other a motor mechanic. One way or the other they find themselves sharing the same hospital room and not just that but a malignant growth in the brain. To cut a long story short, they were both given the dates of their deaths…6months thereabout. It was then it dawned on them they had a lot of desires pushed to the back ‘cos they were too busy “living”. They drafted a list and touchingly they did everything in the list, even though it was just one of them that completed it because the other ppassed away.

Noticeable the last days of their lives were the best. It was their happiest. They did all they wanted to do, without holding back; they laughed till they cried, they visited countries they always wanted to, they sky dived, they raced in their dream cars, they lived. It set me thinking, what do I really want to do before I die? Here is my bucket list:

1. Crash the price of food in Nigeria

2. Act in a movie

3. Race a fast car

4. Visit Zimbabwe

5. Will update it as soon as I have another urge!

Strange list you’ll say, I know. I have a list of desires, normal stuff…have 4 kids, own a boutique, have a specific amount in investments, own so and so…This is my bucket list because it is not the regular desire of an average person but I will do all that is in it…by God’s grace of cause.

Enjoy yourself, be happy, live life at its fullest. Don’t wait for tomorrow to even know what will make you happy, think about it now, swing into action and live a fulfilling and joyous life.

Zimbabwe

Posted in Uncategorized on June 12, 2008 by omosolatola

A man set on fire in South Africa

I have been doing a lot of reading on Zimbabwe and its dictator Robert Mugabe. I have always been interested in politics, human right activities, public welfare etc. However my interest was picqued some weeks ago when I heard of the foriegners massacre in South Africa. Further investigation led me to the fact that majority of those attacked are Zimbabweans. Zimbabwe as a country shares border with South Africa (the North East region) making migration easier and an option over other African Countries. When I saw the brutality metted out on these people I had to ask questions. Some of these include why are they in South Africa in such a number? What are they running from in Zimbabwe? What is the world doing about the situation?

The Flag of Zimbabwe

Firstly let me tell you a few things about Zimbabwe. As mentioned above the president is Robert Mugabe and has been president since they got Independence in 1980. The fortunes of Zimbabwe have for almost three decades been tied to President Robert Mugabe, the pro-independence campaigner who wrested control from a small white community and became the country’s first black leader. Now, he presides over a nation whose economy is in tatters, where poverty and unemployment are endemic and political strife and repression commonplace.

AT A GLANCE
Zimbabwe is home to the Victoria Falls, one of the natural wonders of the world, the stone enclosures of Great Zimbabwe – remnants of a past empire – and to herds of elephant and other game roaming vast stretches of wilderness.

Politics: President Robert Mugabe, in office since 1980, has been accused of resorting to heavy-handed methods to remain in power. He lost the first round of the presidential election in 2008.
Economy: Zimbabwe’s economy is in crisis, with rampant inflation, “de-industrialisation” and shortages of food and fuel. Agricultural production is shrinking.
International: It faces increasing international isolation over human rights abuses and restrictions on freedom.

For years it was a major tobacco producer and a potential bread basket for surrounding countries. But the forced seizure of almost all white-owned commercial farms, with the stated aim of benefiting landless black Zimbabweans, led to sharp falls in production and precipitated the collapse of the agriculture-based economy. The country has endured rampant inflation and critical food and fuel shortages.

Many Zimbabweans survive on grain handouts. Others have voted with their feet; hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans, including much-needed professionals, have emigrated. Aid agencies and critics partly blame food shortages on the land reform programme. The government blames a long-running drought, and Mr Mugabe has accused Britain and its allies of sabotaging the economy in revenge for the redistribution programme. The government’s urban slum demolition drive in 2005 drew more international condemnation. The president said it was an effort to boost law and order and development; critics accused him of destroying slums housing opposition supporters. Either way, the razing of “illegal structures” left some 700,000 people without jobs or homes, according to UN estimates.

A typical uproar scenario in Zimbabwe

Now I understand why Zimbabweans migrate from their country to South Africa…the country is not conducive for them, there is famine and there is no regard for human lives as the leader is only concerned about himself. In subsequent times I will be writing more about Mugabe and Zimbabwe.

Investing in the Agricultural Sector

Posted in Uncategorized on May 26, 2008 by omosolatola

Brief History

The agricultural history of Nigeria is intertwined with its political history. This can be assessed from the pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial periods. Before the British conquest the pre-colonial society strived on agriculture as the main stay of the traditional economy. The period of the colonial administration in Nigeria, 1861 – 1960, was punctuated by rather ad hoc attention to agricultural development. During the era, considerable emphasis was placed on research and extension services. But of importance to the writer is the post-colonial period.

The 1962-1968 development plan was Nigeria’s first national plan. Among several objectives, it emphasized the introduction of more modern agricultural methods through farm settlements, co-operative (nucleus) plantations, supply of improved farm implements (e.g. hydraulic hand presses for oil palm processing) and a greatly expanded agricultural extension service.

Some of the specialized development schemes initiated or implemented during this period included:

  • Farm Settlement Schemes;
  • National Accelerated Food Production Program (NAFPP), launched in 1972.

There were also a number of agricultural development intervention experiments, notably

  • Operation Feed the Nation, launched in 1976;
  • River Basin and Rural Development Authorities, established in 1976;
  • Green Revolution Program, inaugurated in 1980; and
  • The World Bank-funded Agricultural Development Projects (ADP).

While each of the above programs sought to improve food production, the ADPs represented the major practical demonstration of the integrated approach to agricultural development in Nigeria.

In spite of the growing importance of oil, Nigeria has remained essentially an agrarian economy, with agriculture still accounting for significant shares in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and total exports as well as employing the bulk of the labour force. Available data show that at independence in 1960 the contribution of agriculture to the GDP was about 60%, which is typical for developing agrarian nations. However, this share declined over time to only about 25% between 1975 and 1979, this was due partly to the phenomenal growth of the mining and manufacturing sectors during the period and partly as a result of the disincentives created by the macroeconomic environment.

Opportunities in the Agricultural Sector

With the right technological base, investors can get good return on investments in livestock and fish production which studies have shown to be viable, storage facility services is another unexplored area, efficient distribution network, oil palm products – palm oil, palm kernel cake, cooking oil, vegetable ghee, shortenings, margarine, CBS, CBE, ice cream, dough, creaming, coating and other specialty fats -, food processing is still under-utilized especially the exportation of Nigeria’s local delicacies and food stuffs – beans flour, yam flour, fufu flour, poundo yam flour, cassava flour, plantain flour, melon, ogbono -, also sea foods either dried in whole or blended – shrimps, crayfish, crabs etc, mechanized and plantation farming and cash cropping in cocoa, groundnut, rubber, cotton and timber are also area for exploration.