151216

 

365 days of disclosure

Many of which were a blur

Unclear paintings of me

Trying to build a new life – a new me

Struggling between holding the reins

And letting go for Omega who reigns

Forgetting that Alpha started it

And stands at the end to complete it

Prayers in May that birthed a vision

Supplication became a mission

Of equations that end in same numbers

Of serene sleep and slumbers

Again I stand at the door

Looking back at my store

But gripping unto futures hope

A new age of beauty's scope

I flourish

I flourish

I flourish

Opening this door of light

I am ready to continue the fight

Baring my scars as conqueror

Offspring of the divine Emperor

I win

I win

I win

 

10 Great Lessons Of 2015

1. Everything matters! What you do or do not do now will affect something or someone sometime

2. Friendship is a 2 way street - you're both giver and receiver anything else is parasitic


3. Trust should only be earned. You can hope that they will do better but until they do keep your 2cents

4. There's someone willing to give you a soft landing if you leap, find them b4 u leap

5. Follow people objectively otherwise their flaws will hurt you too

6. Your mentors are human and they will be found wanting in an area. Don't freak out

7. The waiting period never ends it only gets easier with time because your goal will keep moving

8. Do unto others what you'll have them do to you and vice versa

9. Don't trust the silence deal with it, its like a pregnant woman whose outcome is unknown

10. Be conscious of the God factor. Life is so much easier with God in it "Learning is a skill only the wise possess"

~ ihotuAMUTA
‪#‎MyWeekendLessons‬ every other Monday on twitter, follow @aihot to get them

Leadership By Bullets

On my way to church I noticed that the street to church was blocked off by the police and all the streets down the road as well and I had to turn back and park by the road side to get to church on foot. I asked why there were so many angry-trigger-happy-men-in-black blocking of 4 major streets in Lekki1 and I was told someone with a political office was in one of the houses. My informant noticed my perplexed expression and added that the politician was of the wrong party and on the wrong side of the opposition’s godfather. I laughed out loud before I could control myself and walked off smiling.

How is it possible that a politician who is not the president can block off 4 major streets in a famous neighbourhood and all we can do it stand around and watch to see if other “goons” were coming for a fight. I could see the expectation in the eyes of those standing around and it made me sad.

True leadership is service to the people anything else is terrorism.

You don’t need to bear a certain crest and blow people up to be a terrorist. The fact that those who put you in office now have to cower at your presence and suffer because you came into town is cruel and makes you undeserving of that position.

I was smiling because he was more afraid of his opponents than the man of the street. But the man on the street was his worst enemy. As someone has said, "when the poor have nothing left to eat they will eat the rich".

Leadership entails direction. If you are pointing us to decadence and disruptive behaviour you are an anarchist not a leader

I am one of the millions of Nigerians waiting for the new administration to work a miracle and praying for divine help for right decisions and protection. I didn't write about missing money, election drama, peoples opinion or fuel scarcity because I am holding out for “change” and it has to be a complete “transformation” if not we are only ‘mice on a wheel’.

God help us.



image curtsey nairaland.com

I DID IT…excelling in a male dominated environment

10 years ago I decided that I wanted to be famous. I didn't know how I will become that person I saw in the mirror every morning but I was determined. Seven years later, I just wanted to be the best at what I did and I worked very hard and tried to always go the extra mile. Three years afterwards and all I think about is the impact my work is making on individuals, organisations and the nation.

I started with curiosity!

I wanted to know more about everything and I was competitive. I desperately needed to be the best but I found out as I grew older that it was impossible to always top every interest I had and so I decided to choose a few things I knew how to do very well and excel in them. I didn’t want to try what I wasn’t good at so I don’t flunk it or come out at average and this made my options limited. I was good with English, Literature and History and I focused on this subjects in secondary school more than I did for other subjects and I topped the class all the time.

Don’t be a jack of all trades,

your name will get lost in the long list of experts.

You will be seen as a side dish and not the main meal

Be the only option for that one thing that is needed.

During my teens, I discovered I could dance and act but singing wasn't my forte so I danced and acted and only sang in groups. I also noticed I had a flare for writing and I poured myself into that.

Overtime, I noticed my curiosity had pushed me into learning business principles and development and I read every book and article I could find on the subject. I attended meetings and tried to get opportunities to share my ideas and with time I became known to have opinions.

Let your voice be heard for what you know about

 and you will become the go-to person on that issue.

Don’t just think it, say it;

you won’t be paid for your private thoughts.

Fast forward 10 years and I have worked my mind into a constant state of curiosity which is needed for strategy, creative thinking and business development which are the 3 main areas of my current expertise.

A few weeks ago I heard Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa say, “It’s not a man’s world, it’s our world” and I agree with her.

It is how you choose to play the game of chess that determines how you win

Do you want to win? Learn the tricks of your business

Men natural tend to be go-getters and hustlers. Women are more nurturers and receivers. But with our natural disposition as nurturers and inert intuition it is easy to build keen expertise in an area of interest. That’s all I did! I pushed my energies into my natural abilities, turned them into skills and was not afraid to be assertive.

It is important that what you say should count for something and your presence should be added value to everyone around you. This implies diligence and consistency in acquiring and retaining knowledge for whatever industry you find yourself and life in general.

Yes I failed a few times but I learnt my lessons and tried again. You may fail but know there is always a way to success, and the fastest route there is adding value and being a solution provider to a recognisable need.

Go the extra mile.

Do more than you think you can.

Push yourself to be the best in your own unique way.

It is quite common now to find intimidation a constant in business but those who try to intimidate are those who are threatened by your knowledge.

If you can learn right and act right then you can do right and you will be alright

from: "Young Voices" featured on Olatunji.com.

Nation Building by Mr Fantastic

If you are close to me, you'll know I have been a protegee of Fela Durotoye's (without his
knowing) for the last 8years. Guess what? I work for him now (whoop whoop...*dancing alingo*) and its been fantastic, no wonder they call him, "Mr Fantastic"

When you say nation building in Nigeria, few names come to mind and one of those names is Fela Durotoye. Popularly called FD, he has shown a passion for Nigeria that has proven to be genuine by his activities and involvements. Apart from the fact that he is a change agent, leadership, training and management consulting are his forte. This UNITED NATIONS YOUNG AMBASSADOR FOR PEACE has received so many awards for his consistency as an excellent exemplary figure and an inspiration to thousands of young people. Since 1992, Fela Durotoye has worked in various positions that ultimately prepared him for what he is currently doing now.

Star Struck with Ramsey Noah

I spoke with Ramsey Noah today!

I know for some of you that doesn't mean a thing but for me it means a lot. Growing up, Ramsey Noah was the "oyinbo" of Nigerian movies and he spoke so well we were all star-struck. I thought I was over it until I saw him a few years ago at a friends event in Makurdi and he looked so clean and well dressed he literally shone (well compared to the people around him) and then Stella Damasus showed up at the same event and I promised myself I will act in a movie just to see if it gives you a freshness that you can't get otherwise. Stella looked so beautiful, the governor had her moved to sit beside him further away from my view but who can blame him, she was the most beautiful lady there.

I concluded that day that money shows if you know how to apply it. And yes, I will make lots of it and show it!

I had heard from a friend that I could get very nice laptop bags from mega plaza and so I went there and tried to find one. Well I didn't and as I turned away from the aisle to walk out, there stood Ramsey Noah talking with a sales agent about a microwave. I kept walking towards them thinking, do I smile and play cool, do I ask for a picture, do I mention a movie of his I liked, I couldn't come up with anyone as it had been a really long time since I had watched any then I remembered "Dangerous Twins" but in all honesty I had only watched the soundtrack and I was getting closer. I got to them and he politely moved out of the way for me and I said, "Hello Ramsey" with a shy smile and he said, "Hello Madam" with a small smile and I moved on like that was the most normal thing to do still smiling silly.
I almost ran over my friend in my excitement although I caught myself and instead said very calmly, "I just saw Ramsey Noah and I said hi, he replied" and he goes, "They say he is a nice guy" I then blurt out, "But he is going bald" and my friend says, "He's getting old" and I was suddenly horrified at the thought of one day running into an aging Ramsey Noah or Denzel Washington or George Clooney. . . I screamed "the horror" in Sheldon Coppers (The Big Bang Theory) voice and turned my mind to more pleasant thoughts.

For Elder

I am in pain!
Death has struck again and I am stuck with all these questions again. My heart aches not just for the family and friends of the deceased but for another brilliant mind taken from us, our loss.

The last conversation I had with Elder went like this;

In-love With Start-ups

Between the heat, humidity and traffic I did not fall for Lagos as many of my friends predicted I will. In fact a former Lagosian told me, “all you need is three weeks and it will be difficult for you to live anywhere else” and I asked him, “why are you in Abuja then?” and I got a self-implicating smile. I must say housing is cheap here in Lagos but everything else is just plain exorbitant.

I have been working as a business developer/consultant in a company for the last 2 months and I have got 1 month left on my contract. I have enjoyed doing what I love but then there are always issues with working with start-ups especially when they are owned by absentee CEO’s. Here I am putting in my best because in a month’s time I will be done and I will need a recommendation for my next job and then my ‘boss’ is more absent than present. The stories of working in this company have been many and though we get to laugh afterwards it is a tedious time during the actual experience.

Apple or Pear

I’m standing in front of the mirror rubbing my cheeks to get some life into them. I look different this morning, maybe because I applied my makeup differently and had a bad dress day. Yeah, I woke up this morning with my mind set on an outfit and just as I put it on I realized what I had been afraid to admit; I need a budget for skirts! While all my tops still look pretty good on me my skirt size has increased and I am suddenly with only 1 skirt that fits because it flared. I ran through all my skirts in less than 10 minutes and opted for trousers, dashed out of the door into the cab and now I’m at the office feeling...well, alright, they’re just skirts right?

I Pledge

Happy independence to all Nigerians!

I am a proud Nigerian, anyone who knows me knows that and I get frustrated at the pessimists who go on and on about the issues we have. I love my country and I will keep the picture of a great country ever before me.

This morning I woke up with Nigeria on my mind and then my phone beeped and I got this rendition of the pledge from my friend and straight away I knew I had to share it with everyone.

                   

Way To Go

The most recent irritation to road users is the number of tariffs they have to pay just to use the roads. It’s amazing how different groups waylay drivers and collect all kinds of amounts of money from them as payment for one thing or the other. The worst part is the mode of payment. We all know tax laws are slack in this country but that doesn’t give every union and corporative the excuse to become hoodlums and terrorists.

Take Abuja for example (I live here so I should know), road workers are made to pay for tickets everyday or they will be penalized with a higher sum than they owed. A few months ago, a taxi driver I know went to Mararaba, the first town in Nasarawa State coming from Abuja and was fined for not having a receipt that carries the Nasarawa State emblem even though he had one with the FCTs’. You have to note that the only demarcation between Mararaba and Abuja is a pillar and the same buses run through the two towns.

WALKING PHONES

GSM Mobile phone use came into Nigeria in 2001 with Econet. As usual, they started in Lagos as the commercial center of the country and those of us in other areas just heard about experiences of its users. We only saw it on television and heard about it on the radio. It had become one of the fantastic things that were to remain a fantasy to those of us without a lot of thousands to spend on its acquisition. Then in came MTN, then known as “your best connection”. Apart from the competition and its wider coverage, it was a little lower than Econet in cost. By 2003, a large number of Nigerians could afford mobile phones because of the flood of options from Nokia and Samsung especially. I could afford a phone too. My father bought my very first mobile phone, a Samsung R220 popularly called “blue face” and I joined the league of GSM users. However, I had to squeeze out N12,000 to get an MTN sim card.

My Condolences to Us All

A friend of mine asked me a few days ago what my take on the Dana plane crash and its resultant reactions from people was and I answered that I didn't have one. He was shocked because I'm opinionated and I often have something to say. At his expression, I said, "its a sad situation" and gingerly left the conversation. I have read posts and comments from blogs and twitter and Facebook and listened in on conversations and its sad that we don't seem to be improving in our appreciation of the situation of our country, Nigeria.
What we face from corruption, to irresponsibility and arrogance is BAD (read my post "My Nigeria"). And even though we are all educated to an extent about how our leaders decisions and inaction is depreciating to us all by ripple effect, we still blame it on others. Most of what I read was that the fault of the crash was from Indians, Indians??? How dumb are we? Can't we see that because we can not service our own industries we have to bring in expatriates and then turn around and blame them for their failures? which really is ours because we manage to go to their schools, learn to be 'world best' and then remain in their countries to work for them as we can't cope the 'backwardness' of our own. Yes we pay them the big bucks, but if we are patriotic in any sense we will double check on what they are doing and not leave our lives in their hands.

Phlegm

I hate phlegm!

It’s not only disgusting in itself but the sound it makes trying to find its way up the walls of the throat is completely nauseating. Firstly, I can’t seem to be able to get it out of my throat whenever it manages to get all wobbly in there. I’ve heard people clear their throats or cough in order to free themselves from the clingy-ness of it but all I can do is watch. I’ve tried to copy the actions or sounds made by people around me just to get it out of its lodgings but it just wouldn’t budge from my own throat. I’ve seen people throw their heads backwards and make the weirdest sounds ever and spit it out or just grunt and there it goes. I can practically hear it grudging dislodging itself part by part from the throat walls and roll into a ball that finally comes out through the mouth with the force created by the sound made by the individual (exasperating I know). I have tried it all; coughing, clearing my throat, bending over, leaning backwards, jumping, drinking water in large gulps, swallowing food to push it down, sticking my hand in my throat, wishing it away, and trying to forget its presence… all to no effect. Phlegm just won’t come out of my throat. Fortunately, I hardly have it stuck in there but when it does I’m restless and distracted. It’s like watching a dog try to remove a tick from the base of its back. You’ll hear whimpering and sheer agony.