god of Love

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 As much as I respect the viewpoints, opinions, perspectives and advice given by a godfather towards the life of a godchild, I also strongly feel there is a limitation to such imposition. A godfather or mentor might be relevant in dishing out instructions and advice up to a certain extent but not on some other matters, especially as regards matters of the heart. I know a young lady that has been getting a lot of disturbance from her godfather about her relationship. She strongly wants to have the relationship with a guy she made first contact with on social media but her dear godfather is telling her not to be involved with him. This in effect has rendered the relationship tumultuous every time he called or texted her. He believes she isn’t ripe for a relationship at 20, even though she feels that she is ready to love for the first time in her life. He asserts that she needs to find purpose before the relationship, but she is a woman of purpose and vision even at her young age. With all his bugging she doesn’t even know what he wants!

In such instances as this, I feel there is a major role of using one’s discretion and using wisdom to sift through a mentor’s/godfather’s advice. As much as they may want the best for us (for folks that have one), they may sometimes be wrong, just as our biological parents may be about certain decisions that concern our lives. If the matter has been settled in the place of prayer with God and you have peace about the relationship, even though your godfather is still very reluctant to give a green flag about the relationship, you can trust that God’s say is over that of his/hers. Also even the disparagement of the mentor about the relationship should be enough propellant to surge the relationship to a success. The individuals involved should stay motivated to make sure that the relationship works out enough to disenfranchise the ‘prophecy’ of the godfather.

With these few words of mine, I hope I have been able to convince and not to confuse you that godfatherism should not play a major role in the happiness experienced in a relationship but rather should God’s say be and the inputs of the two people involved.

Best Regards

©Tobi Gbemisola

Image credit:

http://www.mindstyle.com

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You are Powerful

‘’Arise, O Compatriots, Nigeria’s call obey….’’

Nigeria is rising and all of us have a part to play in bringing about this much desired state of well-being, without any doubt. One of the primary functions of leadership is to inspire, and if there is inspiring leadership to be found anywhere in the country today, many would agree that it is in Lagos state. It is sad however, to hear that there are some who are grumbling seriously against the efforts of the state government at transforming Lagos, and even working hard to undermine them. Such people would rather have us return to the days of street made impassable not by potholes but by traders who have seized them from the public. They argue that by taking back the streets and railway tracks from traders and roadside mechanics, “Fashola” is removing food from their mouths.

Listening to such arguments makes one tend towards despair for this nation, for one then wonders which is the sorrier state to be in: having a leadership which does not care for the people or having a people who are unable to recognise when they are being cared for? Well irrespective of whatever might be the situation let me submit by saying that although ‘’EKO oni’’ (today’s Lagos) still needs quite a reasonable amount of fixing because there are aspects of it which are actually ‘’baje’’ (spoilt) at the moment, it is the hope of all of us (well-meaning and  right-thinking Nigerians) that the state of beauty and wellness which we long to see realised in Lagos will be attained sooner rather than later, so that we can then, with our whole hearts and minds, uphold it with our prayers. EKO ko nii baje o !

I pointed out the above from the Lagos situation so as to slowly delve into my brief discuss.

Firstly, let’s imagine a Nigerian election without the participation of the youths, i.e. no youth contested, no youth voted. We would have side-lined over 40 percent of Nigerians and over 70 percent of eligible voters from rightly participating in the elections.

Let’s now imagine a Nigeria that had a majority of youths that will rather do the right thing than otherwise, that will stand up for what is right, not just on social media but venture also into the field of action with the intent to do something differently.

Let’sfinally imagine a Lagos state with this kind of youths, or better still a Nigeria, with this kind of youths. I confidently put it to you that, if Nigeria had this kind of youths, even the most influential of the ogas at the top will be forced to rule right or step down for competence to reign.

Listen,they’vetried to bury us, but they didn’t know we are seeds. But how will this matter if we refuse to utilise all that we’vegrown to become in the betterment of our nation and we just selfishly concentrate on personal dreams and goals forgetting that Nigeria is ours to build. Youths, we have been buried for so long. The time to transform to fruition is now. Have you ever noticed that seeds are not usually so big but they have the capacity to produce very large trees and have beautiful fruits?

You are powerful but really, how did we develop this corporate indomitable, apparently unique Nigerian (Naija) mind-set which cannot but laugh at its own woes? This must be the reason we have been called ‘’the happiest people on earth’’. However, could it not also be the same reason that we continue to be exploited by our leaders, both politically and traditionally? They believe they can get away with anything with us, knowing that ‘’the heavens won’t fall’’. It was Richard Dowden, in his book, Africa: Altered States, ordinary miracles, who made two very insightful statements about the continent. ‘’Africa always has hope’’, and ‘’ African patience allows exploitation and oppression to thrive’’.

Sincerely, I so much love this Naijamind-set and would not wish to trade it for anything else. It constitutes, probably, the most defining trait of our national identity just like that! Laughter, it has also been said, is the best medicine, and God knows we do need some good medicine to face up to the challenges of everyday life in this present world! However, you should not engage in mindless laughter at such a time like this which clearly calls for serious reflection and decisive action because #YouArePowerful.

While you laugh and joke about our peculiar predicament, take a pause, recognise the seriousness of our situation and rouse yourselves to act decisively because #YouArePowerful.

We stand now at the threshold of a golden opportunity to impress upon our leaders that we demand good governance based on justice, equity, accountability, transparency and integrity from them because we know #We and our Choices Are Powerful.

We should expand the current palaver over the unscrupulous act of terror in the nation and make it a launching pad to call for far-reaching and very fundamental changes in the way this country is being governed.

You know why all these things will happen? Yes, you are right! It’s because You and your Choices Are Powerful.

Note that an accumulated right stand is all it will take to help NAIJA STAND.

As for me I have pledged to serve Nigeria with all my strength, I want to see Nigeria grow younger as I grow older. This is my dream and it shall surely come to pass.

You are powerful, what will you do for Nigeria? Think about this!

Thank you.

'Seun Fakorede-Noah

Seun Fakorede-Noah is the Arrowhead of Eden, Obafemi Awolowo University chapter. He is an active member of the Judicial Council of the Student Union Government in OAU. He is also an aspiring politician.

callfakorede@gmail.com | 2BB5987C | 07068407228 

Inspiring Through 2015

For majority of us reading this article, I would like to presume 3 things about you.  First I presume that you are in the youth developmental stage of living. Second I presume that you are intent on #making2015count which is why you are here, not elsewhere. Third is that you are probably tired at staring at your goals at the end of each year and being discouraged to set new goals for the coming year. The danger in that pattern of negativity results in a lifestyle of apathy, or in what we may call Moogenic Neurosis (Google it for more info). My mission is to help you stay motivated and #inspiringthrough2015 in the pursuit of your goals, intents and decisions you have taken regarding 2015. By the way, Happy new year to you! I am not dealing with how to set goals here, but instead on how to keep in step with your set goals. So I begin!

No amount of psych up motivational talk or literature will actualise your goals for you. It boils down to you making a final decision to make changes in your life. Discontentment precipates change. When you have gotten tired of being stuck in the same place for years, whether be it your finances, relationship, career or business, you will then begin to take the necessary and strategic steps to change your situation and your life. So are you really tired of being broke, lonely, depressed, down with low self esteem? If it is so then your journey to #making2015count has begun!

You must be before you do. Do before you have-The Inside Out Approach. If your end goal is to have a fit body for instance, be a person with a fit body. Your values and beliefs must align with your goals. Possibility, success, wealth, confidence, discipline are necessary values in goal setting. Goals begin with being, having and then doing. Having a million naira begins with being a person with a million naira. Develop the mental capacity for your goals by imbibing the values coherent with those goals. ''If you want the secondary greatness of recognised talent, focus 1st on primary greatness of character.''-S.R Covey

Awake! A simple but great call to reality. We often set goals that we know in our hearts of hearts that can't be achieved. Mustering all the willpower, endurance and self belief we can get, we still will not be able to achieve them. Some goals are not for the present but the future. In setting goals, take into cognizance various issues: financial, time, human, intellectual limitations before you. There is a place of faith, but also importantly, of wisdom. Wisdom, the Scripture says, is the principal thing. So get wisdom by setting goals that are within your reach of achievement. Not too low, and not too high-just enough to keep you going!

In closing, don't embark on this adventurous journey alone. Factor in a friend, family member, mentor or personal coach as an accountability partner to put you in check. Your wife (if married and a male) or girlfriend will come in handy especially. Now that you have set your goals, find someone who can ensure your continuous productivity and motivation. Because there will be 'dark times'. Times when there will be doubt, self pity and lots of excuses. But your accountability partner will help you through these times pushing you to maintain momentum.

I wish you the very best of the years of your life in 2015. And I pray that 2015 would yield more results than all other years combined! Have a blissful 2015 friends!

#ConnectingTheDucts

By Joseph Ilerioluwa Adeosun

1.       The brutal aspect of every mistake we make in our daily lifestyle is the power of replication.

2.       That is to say every mistake has the tendency to repeat itself if not considered properly.

3.       To consider one's mistake does not follow the motive of meditating on it (the mistake) as though all about oneself is but a mistake.

4.       FACT: Mistakes don’t just occur neither is it a personality, they are results of series of decision, choices and lots more.

5.       To properly consider one's mistake is to highlight the process that led to it with an intent to right the wrong.

6.       This is what most of us do towards the end of a particular year into the beginning of another.

7.       My session is to help in #ConnectingTheDuct to #making2015count.

8.       How you can make 5 a reality and not just a possibility is my focus.

Let’s follow keenly

9.       Ducts as you must have checked in your dictionary or not could mean several things aside what we would want it to mean as regard thetopic of discuss.

10.   In basic term, ducts are tubes which things can pass through, or channels to a specific end.

11.   As to align it to our topic of discuss, a duct would mean a process containing the highlights which would lead to a desired end in 2015.

12.   Did I just hear someone say Amen, oh.....I probably just heard myself.

13.   In this session we are more concerned about the highlights, say we use highlights as a synonym for ducts.

14.   I have driven this highlights into modes, four (4) to be precise. Each one lead to the other and so would be dealt with in details with very explanatory example.

15.   The first mode is that people connect to things, no man is an island but if you want to be the first man island, you still have to connect with the environs (grass, insects…).

16.   Your journey begins when you start connecting to things be it your career, Talent, your vision. Everybody connects to something.

17.   Find that thing that you can’t just let go when talking about, that thing which makes you want to scream to prove your point. That thing if recognized is what you connect to.

18.   So there has to be a live connection between yourself and things you connect to naturally either directly or indirectly.

19.   In maintaining that live connection, so many things have to be developed in you.

20.   The first in this category is the will power. Where there is a will there is always way.

21.   Finding that way depends on how strong your will is. How bad do you want it?

22.   In this several other things surface say passion, training, skill acquisition and lots more.

23.   The second mode is things connect with/to things,the former referring to intangible things and the later referring to tangible things. DO NOT BE CONFUSED.

24.   Guess you heard a saying that goes thus ‘you are what you think’. The material equivalent of immaterial thing you connected to at first pops out in time.

25.   This will happen and even be steadier if you can follow the right principle to bringing them forth.

26.   The principles in summary is to find a problem to attach everything you connected at first to and in time it will produce the material equivalent.

27.   The third mode is that things connect people.The things you connected to will bring people of like minds towards your direction.

28.   Some once defined a nation by using the words ‘a people of like minds in a specific environment’

29.   This means the things you connect to can build you a nation.

30.   The forth mode is the least valued in this part of the world where we hold little value for human lives.

31.   The forth mode is sine qua non to saying one has learnt the mastery of #ConnectingTheDuct.

32.   The forth mode thereby is people connecting to people.

33.   People are seldom defined has an agent of change, I say I agree and then also state that they are also agent for sustainability, continuity and accountability.

34.   You can build a system that would need little workforce but can do one that would imbibe having no workforce.

35.   The thing you do will connect to other personalities of like minds, but it takes deliberateness to build a connection with them. This in the business world is called Network.

36.   A strong network can redefine one’s lifestyle for life.

37.   It easier read than done, but I for one can assure you that if you would read all of these for the sake of reading, then it is not worth your time.

38.   But to the doer, follow keenly and explore your options…take the risk.

39.   I wish you a prosperous 2015

40.   Thank you.

For enquiries you can reach me on the following:

08131008974, Email, @josephkrista, 52FA703B

Joseph Adeosun is an entrepreneur and CEO of Prudent Cleaners, a dry cleaning and laundry outfit in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. An effective manager of the eden center, he is also the visionary of the Plus Initiative.

Welcome to 2015!

Officially, from The Tablet Blog, I wish everyone a happy new year. 2014 was great, but 2015 holds greater things in store for us all. I know that there is a fable that we all start a new year with a lot of

positive beliefs and attitudes but as we progress into the year, all that goes down the drain and people revert back to their 'default' mode of giving excuses for not living up to their goals and resolutions. But it doesn't have to be so, you always have a choice to either live up or continue the old cycle of giving excuses. Today is the 1st of January. I enjoy you to make a decision with me that you will not veer away from this path that you have chosen. I won't tell you that things will be rosy in 2015, far from it, things will also

get rough but with it there will be times of refreshing. I write this not just for everyone to read but to return to myself and reflect on during the course of the year. This time reminds me of such a time like this when the nation of Israel had mourned the death of Moses, the Lord God then spoke to Joshua the new leader of the people to ''be strong and courageous''. Keep that in mind everyday as you progress in

the year- each week, each month, January to December. I believe it's going to be a fantastic year for me personally and I am excited for one thing among others- I get to graduate from the university at last

(my graduation this year-Jaywon lol). I can't wait to go out to experience the next level of what life has to offer. I know with me are many other people that will be seeing great things happen in their

lives- marriage, job securing, house warming, child bearing, promotion at work, buying of a new car etc.

I personally would like to thank everyone that frequents this blog to read my articles and those of other inspiring writers. For you all I shall be consistent in putting up very inspiring articles for your

read and enjoyment throughout the course of the year. Once again, I wish you a happy, blissful and prosperous 2015. Till we see again, continue to be the best!