Sweet and sour
The bittersweet taste
Highs and lows
The human life state
Today you’re here
Tomorrow you’re up there
What prints did you leave here?
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How do you tell a story that is both yours and not yours to tell? A story about the great warriors of the past, of men and women of valour who fought the good fight for the advancement of their communities. Names like King Jaja of Opobo, Queen Amina of Zazzau, Mandela of South Africa and the many others who the annals of history were unable to capture come to mind.
How do I talk about the future of Africa when the larger population of Africans do not believe in it? I do not blame them anyway, for I too, lose my beliefs sometimes especially in the face of the recent #EndSARS saga which lead to the Lekki tool gate massacre that is still shrouded in mystery. The current realities of daily kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, ethnic and religious crises also add to the mix, dashing ones hope for a better Nigeria. Once upon a time, these were unheard of, my neighborhood back then in Taraba comes to mind. It had people drawn from across the country, from different religions and we all lived in harmony embracing our diversity and respecting each other’s views, but today? People are kidnapped from their homes, communities are demarcated along the lines of religious, ethnic and even political affiliations in some instances. The disparity and hate is gradually becoming a norm so much so that I wonder what kind of country —if at all there will still be a country— my children will find themselves in when they are born. These and many more make one unable to imagine what the future holds.
Knowing little to nothing about our history has also not helped, for it is commonly said that “you cannot know where you’re going to if you don’t know where you’re coming from.” As I lie on my bed, musing about my future, that of my children, my country and Africa as a whole, all I can see at first is just the bleak reality which made me reflect on how my life has turned out thus far. Growing up, my one sole aim in life was to become a medical doctor to assist as many people as possible through the medical profession, children were my obsession so I naturally wanted to become a pediatric specialist but life happened along the way and I found myself studying Biology, I hated every second of it initially until our introduction to biogenetic engineering! I was swallowed up in the world of DNA sequencing and loved it so much that I began to envision myself in my white lab coat spending hours in the laboratory viewing samples and creating biological magic, then, life happened again after school when I realized my new field of interest —genetic engineering— had no known career path within the country and I had to choose between going abroad —which I neither had the resources nor willingness for— and trailing another path which could provide both satisfaction and cash. I choose the latter and tailoring came into the mix. Then came the surge of suicide and depression in the country and I was drawn to getting trained on caregiving channeled towards trauma healing.
Remembering this trajectory I’ve been through, my focus shifts back to Africa, how our culture is getting eroded with every passing day, how a lot of us can’t even speak our indigenous languages talk more of writing in them, how we’ve adopted foreign ways of dressing and choose foreign forms of entertainment over the local one. However, upon closer observation, I realize that my thoughts aren’t wholly accurate because there are still Africans albeit a minute number, who still see value in Africa and being African. I’m I among those few? Maybe and maybe not, it all depends on the perspective from which you look at it. So, what then is the future of Africa?
For me, the future of Africa is in the silent whispers of dissatisfaction that is gradually picking up voice all over the continent, it is in that official who is daily choosing developing his community over enriching himself, it is in that uniformed personnel who is dedicated to his duties and doesn’t use his position to intermediate civilians, it is in that little child who doesn’t pass his elders without greeting them, it is in that hawker who does not litter the environment, it is in that bike man who does not charge you double the price just because you’re a stranger who speaks a different language from him, it is in that friend who encourages you daily, it is in that stranger who notices you’re stranded and offers you help, it is in every individual doing their little quota and changing the narrative in their immediate environment. The future of Africa I see is like a diamond yet to be polished, which just like my career journey, doesn’t look glamorous and inviting at first sight but upon consistent cleaning and polishing reveals the sparkling diamond beneath the gore. For us to come to this point of satisfaction in ourselves as Africans and in our continent, we have to beautify ourselves individually by doing our own little quota of that which is needed in the various communities where we are so that collectively, like the little grains of sand that make the mighty ocean, our little efforts merged together become so enormous, creating the desired positive changes we seek. Making the Africa we desire become the Africa we live in and are happy to birth our children in. As it is said in Swahili, twaweza. -
There are days I wake up and go all out -exercise, affirmations, reading, writing, smiling, reaching out to friends and family- the whole nine yards and even more. On such days, I’m pumped up, fully ready to actualize all my dreams and put in all the hard work but not everyday is like that even though I wish it is. On other days, I’m unmotivated, tired, irritable and sometimes hopeless. My dreams, vision and goals seem too far off, a cataclysmic mixture of nothing.
Yesterday I was a happy and satisfied man, my company which I’d been struggling with for the past fifteen years of my life had a turn around; when Chief called to say my bid for the contract was approved some months ago, I wasn’t moved, not because it wasn’t exciting news but because I’ve heard that line one time too many only to be told at the last minute that “something came up and we can’t use your company,” in that patronizing tone they always use.
When the down payment got paid, I was still skeptical, I didn’t even inform Laura about it until when we’d worked on the project for a month, I’d raised her hopes high too often without any result at the end and I didn’t want to do that to her again. When the contract was completed and commissioned, I got my balance with which I was finally able to complete the house we’d been building for eight years without meaningful improvements. It was as if my company had been unveiled and placed on Mount Everest for all to see, clients were pouring in like a flood.
Soon, I had branches in all the major cities in the country, family meetings were no longer started without me, even Uncle George who said nothing good will come out of my life now calls me sir. The person that said “money dey stop nonsense” knew what he was talking about. Friends who had deserted Laura and I started coming back and forming “love.”
Life was good and enjoyable until this morning when I woke up to hear that the President and all State Governors had been ousted by the terrorists. It was a well planned and executed act, the country was in chaos and to send their message home to the citizens, they went about on rampage, “cleansing” they called it. Razing down down houses, businesses, parastatals, offices, schools, financial institutions and every other structure they deemed not inline with their plans for the country. By evening, a lot of people, myself inclusive went back to nothingness.
It’s morning, I’m unmotivated, tired, irritable and hopeless. My dreams, vision and goals once achieved have gone back to being a cataclysmic mixture of nothing.
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One sniff was all it took
To drag him down the abyss
Hearing voices in his head
Roaming the streets; insane.
Village people were blamed
For this self-inflicted insanity
Resulting from peer pressure
Praying amiss without effect.
Now he roams around
Running from pillar to post
Another brilliant boy
The country lost to drugs. -
Externally–
Dressed in gold
Painting the town red
Walking on the red carpet
Smiling for the camera.
Internally–
Battling uncertainties
Poor as a church rat
Lone as a street cat
Broken as shattered pottery.
Reflection–
Blurred by societal opinions
Locked in a quagmire
Sinking deeper daily
Famished! Dreary! Weary!
Restoration–
Healing therapeutically
Picking up the pieces
Trudging through the process
Determined to sail through.
Renewed–
Disregarding the status quo
Wiping the slate clean
Gaining a new self-image
Changing the narrative. -
Life is fleeting, say or write what you have to say to who you need to say it to while they’re still here to hear it. Do not wait to say it by their graveside: to their dead bodies or pictures.
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As we begin this month of August, let’s look at an interesting topic, skill.
WHAT IS SKILL?
According to Mariam Webster dictionary, skill is an ability to do an activity or job well, especially because you have practised it. Or a particular ability that you develop through training and experience and that is useful in a job.
According to Wikipedia, A skill is the learned ability to perform an action with determined results with good execution often within a given amount of time.
I define skill as the ability to perform a specific task aimed at achieving a specific goal. This mean that for every skill, there must be an end result.
CLASSIFICATION OF SKILLS
Generally, there are three broad categories of skills:
1) Technical or hard skills are teachable abilities or skill sets that are easy to quantify. Typically, you’ll learn hard skills in the classroom, through books or other training materials, or on the job.
2) Human or Soft skills are subjective skills that are much harder to quantify because they refer to the way you relate to and interact with other people. It is also known as people skills or interpersonal skills.
3) Conceptual skills are the abilities that allow an individual to better understand complex scenarios and develop creative solutions. This is often a mix of both technical and human skills.
IMPORTANCE OF SKILL
From time immemorial, skills have been considered important and very useful. In recent times, even with the great advancement in technology and robotics, skills are still essential. Some of its importance include:
– It provides jobs; among us here, I believe our skills have provided jobs for most of us. E.g Bakers, Mechanics, Doctors, Actors, Lawyers, Tailors, Shoe makers, Accountants, Bankers, Drivers etc In the Bible, it is seen in the case of David who became king (sherpard) of Israel because he was skilled in shepherding sheep. Psalms 78:70-72 He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them. (NIV) and also in the case of Hiram and other workers who got hired by King Solomon to work in the temple construction. 1 Kings 7:14-15 He was a widow’s son from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze; and he was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill for doing any work in bronze. So he came to King Solomon and performed all his work. (NKJV) 2 Chronicles 2:7 Now therefore, send a man skilled to work in gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and in purple, crimson, and blue colors, who is a trained engraver, to work with the skilled men who are with me in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided. (AMP)
– It creates access to people of influence. The most common case being that of Osuolale Farouq who made an improved logo for Innoson motors and posted it on Twitter. This created access for him to the innoson group. The Bible acknowledges this in Proverbs 22:29 Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men. (ESV)
– It distinguishes you from others and also serves as a source of Income. We all possess different skills and this distinguishes each one of us. For example, two people here could be caterers but, each of them will cook and serve their meals in different ways. They also earn from this skill. In the Bible, Bezalel and Oholiab were not only skilled but also had the ability to teach others and were choosen specifically and endowed with skills by God. Exodus 35:30-35 Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers. (NIV)
– They are important in worship and daily living. Psalms 33:3 Sing new songs of praise to him; play skillfully on the harp and sing with joy. (NLT)
As Christians, we are encouraged by
Colossians 3:23-24 Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and the Master you are serving is Christ. (NLT) This makes us work with excellence in delivering our skills because we are doing so unto Christ.
Now, there’s one aspect that might seem off but, it shows us the extent to which skill is important and that is
– Destroying things or people. If you have ever encountered armed robbers or have been betrayed by someone, you’ll agree with me that it requires some kind of skill to be an armed robber or betrayer. The Bible records in Ezekiel 21:31 I will pour out my fury on you and blow on you with the fire of my anger. I will hand you over to cruel men who are skilled in destruction. (NIV) You’ll notice that this people who God used to punish the Ammonites were skilled in destruction.
In conclusion, everything we do is centered around skills of different kinds, hence from birth until when we die, we keep acquiring different skills. From the simplest skills of learning to eat, talk, walk, wash and other basic human functions to learning in a formal setting and acquiring certificates, to working and upskilling daily to keep up with our professions.
Life in it’s totally, is about skills. -
As a man thinketh book cover When I first saw the title of this book, the King James Version rendition of Proverbs 23:7a which says “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” came to mind. I wondered what this little book by James Allen had to teach.
Reading through the seven chapters of the book, James presents deep and insightful lessons about the power of thoughts in brevity, yet, saying all that needs to be said and giving an endless ocean of food for thought.
The book not only encourages one to mind the thoughts we think but goes further to show us the effects and results of both right and wrong thinking. It buttresses the importance of right thinking for it isn’t just enough to think, it is important to think the right thoughts. Just as it is commonly said, “watch your thoughts for they become your actions.”
Reading this book was totally worth every minute as it has personally challenged me to think differently and then go beyond thinking, by putting my right thoughts into actions that will ultimately culminate into results which will move me physically to where my thoughts are. I’d like to conclude with James’s concluding words, “Tempest-tossed souls, wherever you may be, under whatever conditions you may live, know this: In the ocean of life the isles of blessedness are smiling and the sunny shore of your ideal awaits your coming. Keep your hands firmly upon the helm of thought. In the core of your soul reclines the commanding Master; He does but sleep; wake Him. Self-control is strength. Right thought is mastery. Calmness is power. Say unto your heart, “Peace. Be still.” -
Hello there, yes, you.
Normalize looking at yourself in the mirror and appreciating the bundle of awesomeness staring right back at you, which is you.
Say wonderful things about yourself to you, encourage yourself for the good things you’ve done, correct yourself on those you can do better, pray for yourself, take yourself out and spend your money on you.
You are worth much more than gold that is why God personally handcrafted you by himself. -
God is good
He’s Alpha, Omega
Source, sustainer
Doing much more than I’ve ever imaginedThank you for your grace and mercies
They are new every second.
