A few weeks ago, CNN talked about our Same Sex Prohibition Act which has now become an issue of whether it is right or not to deny the basic human rights of a minority within a democratic society or the injustice of the Bill. Many Nigerians are careful not to flood Social Media with their views because of the embarrassment they felt when they took a stand against the Senate for the Underage girl marriage amendment, which they thought was being made to the 1999 constitution, only to be told they read the bill out of context. The penalties of this Bill, I agree, are a bit too stiff (e.g. 14 years imprisonment) and I also concur with some Nigerians that some terms in the Act need to be properly clarified so Law enforcers do not abuse it. Nigerians also need proper orientation on the Act so as not confuse it with Sharia Law which prosecutes homosexuals for being gay.
While the Act may seem extreme, keeping quiet about the matter will only make it worst. Being gay is a personal choice but robbing it in the face of the Majority that do not accept it as a way of life is pushing it too far. But that doesn't give anyone the right to molest Gay people. Understanding of this matter is imperative to enable one take a stand and to do that, you need to read the Prohibition Act or the interpretation of the Act from a legal stand point, see http://t.co/fmJpONpZ0F. And one last thing, please stop attacking Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ) for signing the Bill. If the Bill reflects the wishes of Majority of the Nigerian people whether it be based on cultural or religious preferences, should he not sign it? Are we not in an era of democracy where the Government is answerable to the people? (see dailypost.com.ng/2014/01/22/reno-omokri-sex-marriage-government-teacher/).
This post was first hosted on my facebook page, Life, Love and Anything Goes
Friday, January 31, 2014
Saturday, January 18, 2014
THE MEETING POINT (PT. 2)
...continued from last blog post
POLITICS
• MRS JOE OKEI-ODUMAKIN
(Human Rights Activist in Nigeria; President of Women Arise for change Initiative, Center for Change in CDP and Democracy for Change Campaign, etc and has received Multiple Awards)
Change does not come down from Heaven; we have to be part of that change. My cause is to see a system that works. Women who have been given the opportunity to serve have delivered, apart from a few who have let us down. We need to have that passion for change, we also need to change our mindsets and have a goal. We need to be assertive, study and stand up for what is right. The youth remains he lubricant of the survival of any society. Let us believe that what we do today with determination, posterity will outlive us. Let’s believe that anything we do today will live on. The more united we are as agents of change, the greater our chances of making Nigeria flourish again.
• JOHN OYEGUN
(Former Governor of Edo State during Babangida’s transition from Military to Democratic rule between 1992 -1993, Chairman Technical Working Committee of CODER and Leader of ANPP political party)
People look at Politics as a money making venture because people do not have alternative employment, we have a comatose economy, graduates without job or people serving with no experience. Before I entered Politics, I used to work in Development where doing projects to enrich society was the emphasis, so it formed the mindset/idea I had when I decided to go into Politics. With a civil servant father, growing up I learned to have a clear idea of what should not be done because the price to pay is high. The remedy for choosing service oriented political leaders is: Nobody should be entrusted with an office if they do not have their own business, worked in a structured environment or managed something because he won’t have what it takes to govern. You don’t practice governance with the Nigerian Populace of over 100million. Youths have to be prepared by being knowledgeable, aggressive, setting goals and persevering in pursuing them. You must be in command of your field don’t let anyone shut you out or down. Choose a direction to which you want to make an impact and you’ll get there sooner than later.
• MR. IYOBOSA
(Former Reporter of the News Temple Magazine, known for investigative Journalism)
Media is one of the institutions that have a role to play in advancing the society. In 1999 Nigerian constitution, the media were mandated to hold the government accountable to the people and we have been doing that quite well. Investigative journalism has been a tool in exposing corruption. The youths are no longer leaders of tomorrow but of today. Most Nations that have made progress turn to their young because the youths have more energy; they are more daring because they don’t know the cost of failure. Jesus and Alexander the Great are a few young people who changed the world but age should not be the factor. The question is as young people do we prepare ourselves for leadership? Back in the days, University students usually stood up to government when policies and unpopular decisions are made, it showed that we were engaged in the governance of the Nation.
BUSINESS
• DR. FEB IDAHOSA (BISHOP FEB)
(Son of Archbishop Benson A. Idahosa of blessed memory; founder of thirteen companies and brands, CEO of six Nigerian Companies and board member of two American Universities)
Learn to start small. Start with what you have and what you know how to do and as you do that, your business will grow to become as big as the business you aspire it to become. Get a mentor, someone who has done what you want to do and has gone further than you. Study the person, read their stories; when you are in the presence of greatness, ask questions. Always solve problems and people will chase after you.
• AUSTINE ASIMONYE
(CEO Austin Laz and company Plc, an indigenous manufacturer & specialist in refrigeration equipment and plastic products)
It is where you are that matters, God will always locate you at your location. Don’t focus on problems, focus on your goals and let them motivate you to find solutions to the challenges on your path. Government has made funds available for the manufacturing sector. To overcome the national challenge of power supply in manufacturing, have multiple production lines functioning at the same time, that way your generator covers your cost and compensates for any loss in profit.
• GABRIEL OGBECHIE
(Founder and MD Rainoil Ltd, a leading company in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Sector)
No one will give a ‘broke’ person money to start a business. You need to have equity before a bank will take your business proposal seriously. When starting up, create structures that your business will need when it grows. The most important thing you need to start any business is knowledge not cash; God will bring people to assist you. If you don’t know much about the business you want to venture into, set your capital aside and study the business. The best time to so business is when you are young with lots of energy and drive not when you are retired or put out of work.
CAREER
• MRS. LAURIE WHETSONE IDAHOSA
(Director of Campus Life in Benson Idahosa University, Real Estate Investor, Event Planner, Executive Member of CWFI and Faith Mediplex board, Co-founder of Big Ben children’s Hospital, Pastor, Mentor and Motivational Speaker)
Do with your life what you are passionate about. Every day you have opportunities that can make or break your future. Take decisions everyday that draws you closer to the path you were chosen for. As a woman, learn to switch ‘hats’ when actively engaging in multiple responsibilities.
• ARUOSA OSEMWEGIE
(An alumnus of Harvard Business School, Human Resource Consultant, Job Search Strategist, Life and Career Coach and Author)
Your career is your life’s expression. Your profession is a tool towards your career. What do you want to be remembered for such that when you look back, you’ll see the channel that took you there. Stop looking for jobs and try to make something out of the place you are in. Your career is different from your profession.
• ELVIS DANIELS
(Head of Youth segment for Etisalat (telecoms company), Marketing professional with over 10 years experience in fields like Relationship, Telecomms, Communications, Sponsorship, Media and Event management.)
People are different and what works for one person may not work for another. Know what you want and it’ll determine your career. If you put your mind at it, you’ll succeed. Study the field you want to excel at, become an expert in it. You have to get out there and make things work for you. If you are focused and persistent with your vision, you will get there. When you are convinced about what you want to achieve, sell it with confidence.
I hope you are inspired to excel in every aspect of your life by these words. Don't just read them, act on them.
POLITICS
• MRS JOE OKEI-ODUMAKIN
(Human Rights Activist in Nigeria; President of Women Arise for change Initiative, Center for Change in CDP and Democracy for Change Campaign, etc and has received Multiple Awards)
Change does not come down from Heaven; we have to be part of that change. My cause is to see a system that works. Women who have been given the opportunity to serve have delivered, apart from a few who have let us down. We need to have that passion for change, we also need to change our mindsets and have a goal. We need to be assertive, study and stand up for what is right. The youth remains he lubricant of the survival of any society. Let us believe that what we do today with determination, posterity will outlive us. Let’s believe that anything we do today will live on. The more united we are as agents of change, the greater our chances of making Nigeria flourish again.
• JOHN OYEGUN
(Former Governor of Edo State during Babangida’s transition from Military to Democratic rule between 1992 -1993, Chairman Technical Working Committee of CODER and Leader of ANPP political party)
People look at Politics as a money making venture because people do not have alternative employment, we have a comatose economy, graduates without job or people serving with no experience. Before I entered Politics, I used to work in Development where doing projects to enrich society was the emphasis, so it formed the mindset/idea I had when I decided to go into Politics. With a civil servant father, growing up I learned to have a clear idea of what should not be done because the price to pay is high. The remedy for choosing service oriented political leaders is: Nobody should be entrusted with an office if they do not have their own business, worked in a structured environment or managed something because he won’t have what it takes to govern. You don’t practice governance with the Nigerian Populace of over 100million. Youths have to be prepared by being knowledgeable, aggressive, setting goals and persevering in pursuing them. You must be in command of your field don’t let anyone shut you out or down. Choose a direction to which you want to make an impact and you’ll get there sooner than later.
• MR. IYOBOSA
(Former Reporter of the News Temple Magazine, known for investigative Journalism)
Media is one of the institutions that have a role to play in advancing the society. In 1999 Nigerian constitution, the media were mandated to hold the government accountable to the people and we have been doing that quite well. Investigative journalism has been a tool in exposing corruption. The youths are no longer leaders of tomorrow but of today. Most Nations that have made progress turn to their young because the youths have more energy; they are more daring because they don’t know the cost of failure. Jesus and Alexander the Great are a few young people who changed the world but age should not be the factor. The question is as young people do we prepare ourselves for leadership? Back in the days, University students usually stood up to government when policies and unpopular decisions are made, it showed that we were engaged in the governance of the Nation.
BUSINESS
• DR. FEB IDAHOSA (BISHOP FEB)
(Son of Archbishop Benson A. Idahosa of blessed memory; founder of thirteen companies and brands, CEO of six Nigerian Companies and board member of two American Universities)
Learn to start small. Start with what you have and what you know how to do and as you do that, your business will grow to become as big as the business you aspire it to become. Get a mentor, someone who has done what you want to do and has gone further than you. Study the person, read their stories; when you are in the presence of greatness, ask questions. Always solve problems and people will chase after you.
• AUSTINE ASIMONYE
(CEO Austin Laz and company Plc, an indigenous manufacturer & specialist in refrigeration equipment and plastic products)
It is where you are that matters, God will always locate you at your location. Don’t focus on problems, focus on your goals and let them motivate you to find solutions to the challenges on your path. Government has made funds available for the manufacturing sector. To overcome the national challenge of power supply in manufacturing, have multiple production lines functioning at the same time, that way your generator covers your cost and compensates for any loss in profit.
• GABRIEL OGBECHIE
(Founder and MD Rainoil Ltd, a leading company in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Sector)
No one will give a ‘broke’ person money to start a business. You need to have equity before a bank will take your business proposal seriously. When starting up, create structures that your business will need when it grows. The most important thing you need to start any business is knowledge not cash; God will bring people to assist you. If you don’t know much about the business you want to venture into, set your capital aside and study the business. The best time to so business is when you are young with lots of energy and drive not when you are retired or put out of work.
CAREER
(Director of Campus Life in Benson Idahosa University, Real Estate Investor, Event Planner, Executive Member of CWFI and Faith Mediplex board, Co-founder of Big Ben children’s Hospital, Pastor, Mentor and Motivational Speaker)
Do with your life what you are passionate about. Every day you have opportunities that can make or break your future. Take decisions everyday that draws you closer to the path you were chosen for. As a woman, learn to switch ‘hats’ when actively engaging in multiple responsibilities.
• ARUOSA OSEMWEGIE
(An alumnus of Harvard Business School, Human Resource Consultant, Job Search Strategist, Life and Career Coach and Author)
Your career is your life’s expression. Your profession is a tool towards your career. What do you want to be remembered for such that when you look back, you’ll see the channel that took you there. Stop looking for jobs and try to make something out of the place you are in. Your career is different from your profession.
• ELVIS DANIELS
(Head of Youth segment for Etisalat (telecoms company), Marketing professional with over 10 years experience in fields like Relationship, Telecomms, Communications, Sponsorship, Media and Event management.)
People are different and what works for one person may not work for another. Know what you want and it’ll determine your career. If you put your mind at it, you’ll succeed. Study the field you want to excel at, become an expert in it. You have to get out there and make things work for you. If you are focused and persistent with your vision, you will get there. When you are convinced about what you want to achieve, sell it with confidence.
I hope you are inspired to excel in every aspect of your life by these words. Don't just read them, act on them.
Friday, January 10, 2014
THE MEETING POINT
So, a lot of readers enjoyed my Brian Tracy Seminar pointers and since I attended another seminar like it a few days after, I decided to share once again. This time, it was a program (The Meeting Point) organized by Niyi Adesanya, one of the top 10 public speakers in Nigeria, an author and business consultant. The first time I heard him speak was in 2010 during Walk With Will Conference organized by CGMi Church Unusual. I remember thinking he blew my mind with his down to earth practical solution to problems and issues.
So when I heard he was bringing ‘heavy weight champions’ in politics, business and career to the same venue I first heard him here in Benin City and that the Seminar would be free for all, I couldn’t resist the urge to tag along with my baby and hubby to be mentally enriched. From the sessions’ moderators – Efex Iyamu, Teajay Chunu and Daniel Ikuenobe – to the panelists, it was hard not to pick up something from this event. It lasted for 7 hours and no matter how quick I am with the pen, there’s only so little time will permit me to share.
Oh, lest I forget. The meeting point is a seminar organized to link Luminaries (high level achievers in different sectors) and Visionaries (young aspiring achievers) together in 6 Geo-political zones in Nigeria – Kano, Abuja, Ibadan, Enugu, Benin and Lagos.
So here are nuggets of wisdom from the amazing personalities that showed up that day.
• PAT UTOMI
(Founder, center of values in Leadership; founding senior of Lagos Business School and onetime special adviser to the president)
On Politics: Some people believe in the central conservative truth that it is not politics but culture that is responsible for the progress of a society (Republican point of view). While others believe in the liberal truth that politics can change a culture and save it from itself (Liberals point of view). Singapore is prove of the liberals view as politics help change it from 3rd world country to a 1st world country and Harvard University used value chain analysis years ago to discover how Colombia was an example of how family values/culture affects the progress of a nation. Poverty comes down to our values. What do we hold dear? Culture damages society in a fundamental way. When we say value can shape the progress of a nation, it’s not hard to see why a nation like Nigeria with resource-full and talented citizenry is not more progressive than it is. The collapse of culture has produced a regime of incentives where it pays to be a criminal or extortionist. That kind of culture of illegally obtaining wealth does not sustain progress.
On business: making money in business is a side effect of doing well in business. When you have a burden for something, it’ll translate into a vision and that vision is what will enable you make wealth. Entrepreneurship is about adding value, and then going on to create a venture, commercialize it and institutionalize it. We are a lazy society looking for money making opportunities when there are problems to be systematically solved all around us that has potential to give wealth to the initiator. An entrepreneur builds ladders of opportunities; think global value chain. In all consciousness, we should pursue an entrepreneurial culture as a people because there in lies our business and ability to enrich the nation.
to be continued...
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Welcome to 2014
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
It has been ages since I used this blog to write anything. This doesn't mean I haven't been writing. But rather, I have been writing...
-
Being Mummy and Me [The tales of Motherhood] is a non-fiction book on motherhood and balancing individuality in different facets of life. ... -
Fixing Cornrows with Attachments, French Braids, Weave-on and Dreads have become a vital part of the modern day African woman’s fashion. Eve... -
I know it’s not the best time to discuss elections since they are almost over and the freelance as well as paid journalists have already di...