May your days be merry and bright

I remember a carol that has this line 'May your days be merry and bright' and I smile. Not the kind of smile that comes from fond memories but one that actually comes from remembering some sad occurences.

On the 16th of this month, I lost a very dear friend. We practically grew up together. Same primary school, same secondary school and we were seat partners in class throughtout our junior days. It was a very bad blow. This christmas comes with a lil' shadow over it...

And my heart goes out to all, I remember one now - Gambo, who this season remind of their loss. May God, who alone can comfort the mourning and downcast, comfort our hearts and apply the balm that soothes all pain on our heart. I'm with you this period, accept my heartfelt sympathy.

The future will bring smiles to our faces and a new occurence that'll overshadow the past bitter one will come our way, Amen.

Once, not so long ago...

In five days, it'll be christmas again. This picture reminds me of santa and my visits to him in those days. It looks so long ago but really it isn't that long. Reminiscence...the yuletide season brings about many memories:
- of santa and his grotto
- of new clothes and the enthusiasm to wear them
- of gifts and the delight they brought
- of the food and drinks that came with the season
- of the beautiful green, red and gold colour combination
- of the sweet smell of harmattan
The list is endless but really, not so long ago, there was this eager look out for the yuletide, now, it's more of reflections. Anyone share this sentiment?

Christmas is made!

Tonight, something beautiful happened to me! And to this blog! I got my account information mixed up somehow and from the time of the last post till now, I've not been happy with myself. I just could not get into my dashboard but after a lot of trouble shooting tonight, I got in! Glad am I? That makes christmas for me and to you, I say, have a really swell time.

In the celebration of the season, I plead that you remember Nigeria in your prayers so that next year christmas, we'll have better and sweeter stories to share on our democracy - democracy transition.

God bless Naija!

Decoration? Food?

You'll agree with me that these pictures really look like pictures and not what they really are - food! Many times I wonder if the plates we see or that are set before us are actually suppossed to be devoured or admired. Thinking of how long it must have taken the chef to prepare such a delicacy, I think it would be cruel to dig into them and consume them and on the other hand, I think we might just be breaking the chef's heart if we don't savour the nicely painstakingly prepared food.

What do you think?

Soar

The way and precison an eagle glides over mountains and through the sky is enough reason for anyone to be determined to surpass all that may come along the journey of life. I watched a documentary on the eagle recently and discovered that there a quite a number of eagle species and each has its' own adaptation for the kind of region it can survive in, the kind of prey it hunts and the type of flight it engages in. None tries to stand in a place where it cannot survive and continue to strive there without success.

This reminds me of what some human beings do. We generally tend to envy those around us and manytimes wish we were where they were. Do we pause to ask ourselves if we are 'adapted' for that kind of position? Rather than sit, sulk and wish, why don't you decide, like the eagle, to soar above your limitation(s) and leave your mark there?

Add a smile

I'm smiling all the way now. Really. What would have been a really dull and boring evening for me was turned around by a very wonderful soul who chose to respond to the call of a soul.

I had asked this friend of mine (sorry, I can't name him cuz I didn't ask for the permission to do so) if I could visit him to brighten up my evening. Instead of telling me to come over, he came over to my place and took me out.

Take a pause here, apart from the 'going out' and its' attendant pleasures, I thought how beautiful the world would be with such more wonderful souls out there adding a smile to someone's face and removing the blue from our days. Will you dare to be the answer to someone's prayer today?

On the plough

This afternoon, I ran into a friend who told me he had seen my blog and he liked it. But he said I should upgrade more often. Now, that said a lot to me. It told me people look out for you when you set out to do something. It may not mean anything to you but people are watching and I dare say, waiting for you. They wait to see if you're improving or not and to criticize you either destructively or constructively. The choice is yours to pick the one you want. I didn't really have to time for a post today but remembering what my friend said, I had to do this. It was a big challenge and I hereby promise him, my visitors and myself that this blog will never grow cobwebs.

A little secret here. My friend has a blog too and I just checked date of his last post. Guess what, it is Monday, November 6! I hereby challenge you ... oops! I almost mentioned his name. Keep that page fresh and hot.

I stand rock solid

Really, I wish I didn't have to do this. Well, I take that back. I wish I didn't have to do this under the present circumstances. I'm not happy. Sounds like 'er...that's your problem. You get on the world wide web and tell the world you're not happy? Well then, it's really your look out'. Yeah, I agree it's entirely my business and believe me, it's MINE! But I'll tell you why I'm not ahppy all the same.

It's a little difficult to accept some changes or circumstances in your life but when they become inevitable, you've just got to stand up to them, face them squarely and make the most of such situations. NEVER let any situation make you an object of sympathy. NEVER. Stand and look 'em all in da face.

I haven't gotten round to my story, have I? Well, I had to confront a 'mountain'. It wasn't easy, rather, it isn't easy but like the picture above shows, I've picked up a hand lens, scanned through the issue and unlike any other time, I'm poised to stare this 'fellow' right on in the face. I have to dissapoint IT and make IT realize IT doesn't have the power It seems to be weilding. I've picked up the loopholes and I'm forging ahead. Warning! Clear out, else you get cleared up!

I may not really get down to the details, infact, I don't intend to make this a dairy of sorts but I'll say this. Do not allow anything snatch your laughter from your face. Interestingly enough, I just read an interview with a woman who decided not to allow the 'odds' work against her and she rose beyond expectations. I walk on the street, watch the TV, hear news and even have as friends, folks who are much less advantaged than me and THEY ARE MAKIING THEIR LIVES COUNT. I sit down and ask myself, "wetin be your own sef? You see man wey no get cap, you wey get head con dey halla say you no get cap" (What's wrong with you? There are much more disadvantaged people who are making the best out of their situations). I then change the screen saver on my phone to a big laugh, actually, a comical laugh to remind me that life is not as difficult as it appears and that it is he who laughs that has the world.

I don't know what the situation with you may be but I know that while you can still see the sun and feel the freshness of the air, you are above that issue. Just brace up and stand rock solid. Refuse to be moved from your vantage position cuz the truth really is that you stand at a vantage position over that circumstance!

Aim at ...?

I've heard it said time and over that if you aim at the sky, if you don't get there, you'll at least land among the galaxies. How true that is. I also thought, what if you're not aiming at all? Where might you land? Not aiming? Possible destination?

Many times, we walk around without a definite direction or aim of where we're going and what we're doing or even living for. This is most tragic especially where the 'focusless' person is the man of the house. I imagine someone who claims he's heading a whole household, a whole destiny and he doesn't know where he's headed.

Sit down. Talk with yourself. Talk to yourself. Scold where necessary and commend where you have to. Redefine your focus. I imagine if individuals in the Nigerian state sat down and really had a gist with themselves, what the nation would turn out to be. Dare to aim Aim high. Aim REAL high.

I cry for them

Though I cry for them, yet I believe there is hope for them.

An experience I recently went through opened my eyes to a lot of realities. Realities, especially in the educational sector. Or, do I say in the attitude of people and how they feel? When someone neglects what he/she is suppossed to do, realizing it has long term effect on the recipient, yet would go ahead and remain unfeeling, I wonder if it was the same God that created us all.

My most recent involvement with some people made me wonder what would happen when kids in the secondary schools now get into the University. Some claim they went through the same thing in their days but I wonder who will stop this vicious cycle.

Who will have a heart?

Who will feel the emotions we feel when we can't help ourselves and need those in power to do what they should do to make life bearable and beautiful for us? Who will stop this vicious cycle?

Who would make our children see that the status quo is not necessarily the right status and work at making a positive change?

Who? Do you dare to be ONE?

We shall laugh again

I can laugh. I know you will soon too. By the time I'm done with this, you'll join me to laugh.

Yesterday morning, I heard an advert on the radio that sought to draw attention to the pronunciation of children and was I glad? At least, someone somewhere has also realized the need to have our children pronounce correctly! Then later in the day, a friend told me how he had taken particular attention to correct pronunciation and I felt 'finally, there's hope for the future in the pronunciation of words'. Wasn't I glad? Coincidentally, my final year research project was on the effect of the mother tongue on the pronunciation of English words and the findings were revealing. Most of the respondents thought children between the ages of 1 and 5 are most affected by interference and the next group thought the ages 5 - 10 are most affected. Whatever group you chose to agree with, something struck me from the responses, children between ages 1 - 10 aquire the basics of their language and kinda perfect it at that age. They only build on what they already know as they grow. Now, don't you just want to be a part of the foundation laying and join me in peals of joyful laughter as we watch our children get proficient in their official language but also not lose their mother tongue!

We will surely be proud again!

I see many Nigerian children in shirts that carry or bear NY, Calif., Bahamas and all sorts. And I get angry at that kind of mentality. I try to picture the youth of those countries carrying a t-shirt that boldly carry Nigeria and I can't seem to fix the picture straight. Why, just why won't we buy shirts that proudly spell and proclaim Nigeria? Why would mothers go to the market and look for shirts that carry the faces of American rapsters and stars for their children to don? Why won't we just...

Aight, an idea just struck me. I'll soon be out with t-shirts carrying my face and every Nigerian will scramble to buy one cuz soon, very soon, I'll represent Nigeria to the ends of the earth and you'll be proud to see what a home girl is doing with her green and white heart and brand. You'll sure want to proclaim that we were classmates, roommates, hallmates, blockmates, met me somewhere before, something to just relate us together. And then, we'll all be proud to be Nigerian.

I'll buy yours too if you'll rep Nigeria well.

Our Papa for Naija

I got a comment on the last post which made my head swell well and like never before, I was proud to be Nigerian. the fellow started something on Nigeria and was looking for other related sites and he just stumbled on this. Men, ain't that cool? I then got more interested in looking more critically at Nigeria (I'm not abandoning my kids though) and as characteristic of me, to see how the children fit in.

I was at an Independence day celebration (October 1st) in one of the Nigerian campuses. It was a celebration that gave everyone present there, who is a Nigerian a sense of pride and belonging. I pitied all non Nigerians there. If you're not Green and White, you just can't be Nigerian. I never knew that colour combination was that beautiful.

That same day, I watched another celebration that took place in Abuja, the capital city and that took some 'uhs' and 'ahs' from me. It was really splendid. But the most captivating part was on Monday, which was a public holiday, when reporters went round Abuja to sample opinion on the celebration and they caught up with Papa Nigeria in one of the parks with some kids. They were so awed to have the president sit with them, play with them and laugh with them.

Reminds me of the childrens' party that he organized for them based on a letter he received from a little brave Nigerian girl! The kids had the fun of their lives. Now, I sat back and smiled. I'm finally seeing the Nigeria of my dreams. If kids have the opportunity to 'play' with their president, having close contact with him, how would they not want to be like him? That dream erases the thirst for crime in our youth. There is a model for them to look up to. For those who think that it will take Nigeria ages to get to the place of greatness, I tell y'all something, that future is closer to us than we think. This rising generation is the future of Nigeria. As you watch us grow, you see the future grow and the closer we are to you, the closer the future is to us.

Proudly Nigeria

Arise O compatriots
Nigeria's call obey
To serve our Fatherland
With love and strength and faith
The labour of our heros past shall never be in vain
To serve with heart and might
One nation bound in freedom, peace and unity

O God of creation
Direct our nobel cause
Guide our leaders right
Help our youth the truth to know
In love and honesty to grow
And living just and true
Great lofty heights attain
To build a nation where peace and justice shall reign

I pledge to Nigeria my country
To be faithful loyal and honest
To serve Nigeria with all my strength
To defend her unity
And uphold her honor and glory
SO HELP ME GOD

Who says Nigeria is not beautiful? Look at her flag and appreciate ingenuity. On that flag, there's no representation of violence or bloodshed. Rather we have growth, peace, productivity, fertlilty, purity, etc represented on that flag. A friend once told me "we didn't get our independence by bloodshed, we cannot maintain it with bloodshed". I believe that and I can proudly say anywhere that I am Nigerian.

Wait a minute, how beautiful would our country be if we can all hang a flag in our homes, cars, offices, shops, workshops, etc and let the green and white paint our nation beautiful.

Who bears the brunt?

I've had a Monday that is so - so. From one not too cheering news to another till I'm wondering, just what is happening today? And just like me to extend my thinking a little more, I thought of myself being a mother and wife.

I can imagine coming home from work with all this load on my head, my mind not so settled and a not too cheerful expression. Who bears the brunt of the fallout of my day? My hubby? Nah, that would be unfair, considering that he would have had his share of a busy day too and dumping all that emotional burden on him would not augur well for us both. And the kids? Not at all. Such wonderful innocent gifts do not deserve to be laced with such load to carry. Now tell me, who bears the brunt?

I picture a situation where both mummy and daddy are trying to unburden on each other and neither is finding it pleasant to add more to what was brought home and then both unleash on the kids! Poor innocent things. Who is to blame?

Finding a solution, I decided that if I were a mummy, I would drive from work to a pool side or a recreation spot, take a cold drink, think over the day, sort issues out in my head and delete the bad memories and be ready to face my hubby and kids like I just woke up on a bright beautiful day! If more mummies and daddies did this, what a world of difference it would create for children. They would not have to scamper for safety when they her the beep of daddy's car horn neither would have have to stand mummy's constant nagging (they didnt cause the bad day, did they?). But they would have a beautiful environment to grow and express themselves in, passing the tradition to their children and children's children.

And the smiles pass on...

That career woman

I had a chat with a friend some time ago and it gave me an idea of my next post. We were talking about a boss in an office. When the chat started initially, I smiled and thought how true the phrase 'women are the weaker sex' is. This particular boss was creating a 'slight' (if I'm permitted to water it down that much) inconvienience for my friend. I'm not a feminist, neither am I a sexist. I believe God has assigned roles to men and women which no amount of yelling or screaming 'equality' can alter.

I then tried to think back and wondered how it comes about that women acquire such power and I came up with quite a number of interesting sources. The girl child when growng up is saddled with the responsibilty of understudying mummy such that when mummy is not around, she convieniently steps into that position. While in school, she looks out for her male colleagues importing what she learnt at home to cater for them and see to their well being. When she eventually starts working, quite a lot of pressure is placed on her. As this development progresses, she begins to acquire that inner strenght to fight and withstand pressure.

This training comes from the male folk also. When eventually these girls get to a position of authority, they find it very easy to fall into the position of 'bossing' the same men who trained them. Interestng right? You really can't blame them. Many a woman has to assert her role to command the respect of men especially if she's the boss around there (counter opinion welcome). The girl child grows up learning to oversee, control and take charge of situations.

But as my friend and I concluded, the solution to this problem is the same MEN! How? Give a career girl a man and you divert her energy from the work to caring and taking charge where the man is concerned. What she deposits in the office automatically goes home. The men give the training, complain about the outcomes, yet are the solution needed!

Boys? Men?

My friends say I like controversy. Well, I don't know but I sure like to deviate from the normal.

I really did not know the difference between these two till much later in my life. Don't laugh at me, I'm sure some of you still mix both up (what's the difference anyway?). I watched a nice debate a little while ago. An undergraduate male of roughly 22 years screaming it down the throat of a colleague that he's a man and not a boy. To me, he's neither of both, he's a kid.

Now, does age separate both? Candidly, I'll say no, you're free to think otherwise. For you to assert so noisily that you are a man simply means you are not one. I have no grudge with the ale folk, nah nah, but I have problems with them wanting to be both boys and men and most annoying, being boys when they ought to be men.

A boy doesn't just want to take revenge. A man's mature both in mind and body. He may be young but he thinks and talks deep. And a man, a true man cries. My pain with men crying? You can't blame me. I'm the only girl in the house and I hate to see my dear brothers stiffle issues when they could bury their heads in their pillows and have a good cry over it. I also have a great number of male friends too. I'm not asking you to go in the public and let the tears run loose but in your privacy, let off a little more heat. Infact, a true boy hollers off in public.

A true man releases the tears and comes out to face the world with a better determination to lead and take things in his own hands.

I pray my first child is a son so I can teach him to be a man indeed. I'll tell him never to be rude to the female folk, never raise his voice on her, neither his hand, watch his words with her and on her and be careful not to hurt her feelings. I'll teach him to be tender, yet firm, loving yet a disciplinarian. I'll teach him to take charge of his emotions and to be shield indeed for all ladies that come into his life. I'll teach him never to toy with a lady's emotions or heart and be true to one and only one. He would carefully assert his manliness, quietly, without force os harshness. He would be a MAN indeed.

My pride

Several times I have seen daddies go out with their little girls all dressed up with ribbons in their hair and dresses that look like pictures themselves.

But there's also another picture I love to see! Daddy and boy with a fishing kit or a ball or even a cutlass and hoe on their way to the farm, gym, lake, whatever. The talks along the way are different from those with the girls. The dad prepares the girl to see herself as miss universe and to prepare for that time when she'll be a mummy like Mummy and have her own little girl. But for the lass, daddy teaches him survival tips right from such a tender age. What to and not to do in cases that arise and then, he is told 'men don't cry'. Imagine, a lil boy of barely 8 being told that! I have no problems with that as long as he grows up to a stage where he can correct put that last insruction in his mind. Men cry, but not the way women do! Many men die nowadays from issues they could have cried out. They lock them all up and burst in their secret and attimes openly sef. Who says men don't cry? Ask that one who just got jilted or the guy who lost his mum (no hard feelings).

Back to the talk along the way. The lass is prepared to face the future. He is trained to take responsiblilty for himself and for others. The building starts there on that road. Block by block is added until one day, that lass can hoist his own boy too on the neck and cradle a 'girlie' who's dad told her on the way that she'll marry a prince who'll take her to the end of the earth and tell him the same things he heard at his age. Hmn... wonder

Life is beautiful!

It really feels good to be back after a break from posting. Didn't really feel good about that though.

There's this ad that says 'Life is beautiful'. Hmn... really it is. In the past couple of weeks, it looked like there was no truth in that saying. Everything looked too bleak and black and the world looked and felt so heavy. I actually lost what it was that was left as interest in everything around me. But thankfully, I have a hold on life again. You know, if you can just determine to, you can actually own the world! Big dream hun?

But, life sure is beautiful. The Yorubas say that the people around one are the clothes on one. I really found that true too in this past weeks. After strolling around the campus of Africa's most beautiful university for a while and trying to take in the beauty both in the world and in the campus, I settled for a spot and tried to get somethings straight in my head. Just at that time when it looked like the world was vacant, my cell rang. It was a new friend who wanted us to meet and see the faces behind the letters and then, I decided to flex my thumb a bit and send a few texts (graciously, I got some credit this morning). I did send them and one of them produced what snapped me out of that feeling for that moment. Another call! A friend too who I've been communicationg with for almost a year but who I've never seen before. He (you could guess it'ld be a 'he'. Guys have a way of popping up just at the nick of time. God bless the dear souls.) said he would be visiting during the weekend!

Ask me, I don't know how that did it but the clouds cleared. I just loved life again! I saw the beauty and then, the sun rose in its' glory! I could feel it and then I smiled. The sun itself was part of the beauty. I got up, returned to my room and have been bubbly ever since. I want to spread a lil' of that to you. Look up, look beyond the situation now. It cannot be worse than it is and even if it is worse, you'll always come out the best for it.

Nice enough, yet another friend sent me this text just as I was inputing this and I'll like to share it with you even as I wish you a smiles filled dreamy night.
"Reignite the light inside you. Banish indifference to sulk in the shadows. Don't dare settle for a life of 'survival'". He's been a blessing to me. Daniel, God bless you.

Poised to face the future

I am poised to face the future
Really, poised to face my future
Enough of repeating the mistakes of my predecessors
I am taking my life in my hands
I am raising my head up in the midst of a crazy world
I refuse to look at my peers
I refuse to be negatively influenced
I refuse the normal excuses
I face the world with determination
Against all odds
Against all sneers
Against all limitations
I choose to be a model in my generation
I will rewrite history
I dream of the pride of feminity being restored
I see us taking our rightful place in the world
I see good mothers, caring wives and committed friends
I see beauty in the female body
I see her encaspulated in honour and grace
I see her smile and her touch healing wounded hearts
I see her creating a way for others to follow
She will get there... She will be great
Help me attain this greatness.

This is my dream
- Young African Female Teenager

Another Weekend

This is another weekend gone past. It was busy for me as usual. I hardly have any weekend free of activities. I had the privilege of seeing an old friend and then he told me about the wedding of a well known 'friend' too. Then I got thinking and got a new post!

No weekend passes in Nigeria without at least fifty new couples signing the dotted lines. No weeekend passes without families shedding 'nostalgic tears'. Mummy sees her baby girl going away, though she's happy, yet she's sad that the girl is leaving (she had always dreamt of this day though). Daddy sees his 'little' angel being whsked away by another man and the bride or groom themselves can't really take it all in - so this is finally the new life I had been dreaming of. Me and my loved one, together, forever! The vows have been exchanged and the butterflies are really having it nice turning your tummy around.

Apart from the glitz of the ceremony, one other thing struck me. This union has the potential of producing the greatest leaders in the world. This union can also bring forth the best in their selected industries and very beautiful kids too who you'll love to cuddle. Something else. How many of these will stay, remain together, not because they have no choice though but because the original binding love is still there, fanning the embers of this love till their dying minutes, to take proper care of these kids and to help them imbibe the love the world needs. How many of them will not stiffle the existing love and throw into the society hurting children and deviant teens? How many of them will really stand by "I DO" till they see their own kids re- enact the same event that happened this last weekend?

I See

I see a generation that wants to take its' future in its' hands. I see a generation that speaks out against injustice, corruption and misconduct. I see a generation that stands together a sone against societal ills. A generation where girls dress to cover their nakedness and guys dress respectfully. I see a generation where all speak out their mind without fear of victimization or loss of life. I see a generation of friendly mother and daughter in laws. I see a generation that does not shout down its' children, rather, one that takes time out to explain things to them so that they do not repeat generational mistakes. I see a generation that stands as ambassadors of her motherland, a generation that takes the lead in the world with its' peers following joyfully after. I see truth and beauty in this generation...

This generation will not just spring out of space. This generation is with you, with me, with us, closer than we think. This generation walks around on the street, this generation lives next door, this generation sits behind a desk in the schools, this generation just smiled at you a few minutes ago, this generation is crying out loud - 'Do you see us?'

When Sleep is Sweet

Some weeks back, I had a little problem falling asleep. I tried all I could to sleep as I wanted but all failed. I read, had cold shower, changed my sleeping position, tried all, even prayed bt the result was not much different from the previous. Something then happened. I changed the sheet on my bed!

I changed to a blue background with large flower print sheet and somehow, the sleep just came. I'm not saying the change of sheet did the therapy but I sure noticed a difference.

How many times do we just feel refreshed simply because we changed the flowers in our vase? When new flowers spring up in the backyard, doesn't it just give you a sense of 'hmn... this is the feeling'? A floral background on your PC makes work more interesting to do and a large poster on the wall in your home can be very welcoming.

Give yourself a floral week. Just spread the flowers all around you and see the wonders. Most especially, add a tinge of flowers to your room and have that lovely sleep! Don't you just want to sleep away...? Not working hours anyway.

Together, Forever

When people come together to do things, they end up doing it faster, and easier. The work is well distributed and everyone should be happier at the end of it all. I said should cuz the end is not always as interesting or as enjoyable as one intends.

But, I looked at a bunch of flowers (ODODO) and I learnt something. They are bound together whether they like it or not and they have to do the same work together - add beauty. If one decides to come out of the bunch, who loses? It does. People may not even notice! But if all sticks decide to fall out, then the beauty is diminished and the sweet scent that was to emanate becomes a stench of rotting flowers and all are sad.

Do we not learn something from the bunch of flowers? We can collectively work towards making things better in our world, exude beauty and a nice aroma and at the end of it, experience the refreshing cool feel of water that the bunch feels when it it is bought off the floral shelf and presented as a gift and the recipient loosens the ribbon and places them in a cool glass of water to do a better work of unity!

Working together can actually be fun. Try it this week.

How easy to laugh?

How easy is it for you to laugh? Do you laugh heartily without 'forming' for those around you? Are you bothered who is watching and what they think about you? You think you're making a fool of yourself? You think it contributes to societal noise? Is it as therapeutic as it was when you were a child and had no cares?

Listen close, hear the ringing of that laughter. Look out of your window. Who is laughing? Kids! Without any care(s) in the world! Throw your cares away and laugh away the blueness this weekend. Really, you'ld get that glow you so admire on those kids.

I want to be a Queen

'What would you like to be in future?' I'm sure you were asked that question several times as a growing kid. You probably said a doctor, lawyer, engineer, writer... anything. You just thought wide. Now, you ask the same question of some other kid and you expect them to answer.

For some of you, the dream has come to pass while for others, the dream changed and for some of us, the dream is in the making process. I heard this particular child say 'I want to be a queen'. Funny aint it? But that is what she wants to become. Come to think of it, as a queen, she can change so many things! She can change policies to suit other kids (she is one and knows how they think and what they wished adults were not doing), she could do something to stop dadies from running away from their mummies, she could just have the answer to the problem of run away kids! So much from the wish of a child. Don't you just want to be queen?

The beauty of a child

Hmn... this picture reminds me how beautiful our world really is with the countless wonderful kids we see around. Do you think the same? No? Not that child with mucus dripping down his nostrils or that one who is dirty from playing in the sand or that particular one who as oil all over his body. Definitely, that aint beautiful I hear you say.

But pause a bit. What makes a woman cuddle that liitle pink or brown bundle that comes out of her even when he doesn't seem to have any form? There's a natural beauty attached to these dear souls.

Stumbling on this picture just brought together the three definitions I gave of ODODO. Truth, beauty and the child! Look around you, when next it looks like the world is crumbling down and appreciate the innocent look and play of that child, enjoy the richness of his laughter and let his cry pierce your conscience to come to his aid as that cry is actually one of HELP ME!

Would they read?

We have this general saying that Nigerians do not read. I totally diagree with this though a visit to secondary schools recently further 'confirmed' this saying. Teachers were asked what the learning problems of students were and they responded that they do not read. How would they read? What would they read?

I discovered it isn't that they do not want to read, just that they are many times not motivated to. English language is their second language and many dread that language. Who would help them overcome this fear of starting out in a strange language? A nation that reads is empowered. A child that reads is on his way to being a world leader.

Many of them also do not have the books available. I was just thinking about this. When next that child (teenagers inclusive) is receiving a gift from you, why don't you get a book he can begin with instead of building his toy pool or adding more chocolate layers to his teeth? Buy him that book but also find the time to answer the questions that arise after the reading is completed.

Do you see the future?

I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them al the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be

Everyone is looking for a hero
People need someone to look up to
I never found anyone who fulfil my needs
A lonely place to be
So I learnt to depend on me

These are the first verses of Whitney Houston's Greatest love of all. This song tells me alot about these lil kids we see everyday and just pass as 'the kid next door'. Let me ask this question. Can you count how many 'kids next door' you know who have risen to be world figures? Even if they have grown to be international figures yet, at least folks who have become national figures? People you look at and you just remember those times you used to play together in the sand and on the street? And you wonder, what happened?

What happened was that someone saw a future in that kid and helped him get there. Even if the idea was conceived in his head, he had someone at least who helped him rise. Picture this, the president of Nigeria in a few years from now is reaing his appreciation speech and while mentioning names he cannot forget in his rise to what he is, your name is heard. How would you feel?

There is a 'little' star out there who is waiting for his hand to be pulled up. He wants to leave that sitting position and stand in that place where his peers have only dreamed about. He wants to read his speech on that day when his invention and effort is recognized internationally and proudly call your name for an international standing ovation. I'm almost tempted to put on a global page the names of those who have contributed to making me who I am today but I feel I would be cheating some people of adding their contribution. So, as strong as the temptation is, I refuse to fall for it. I'll do my 'thank yous' soon anyway.

You know what would add an eternal star to your name? Seeing the future in that little one who you see or pass or even know about. Do you see the future? I see it.

What is beautiful?

Ododo in the Yoruba language, a tribe in Nigeria means many things. Three meanings readily come to mind. One, it means flower, two, it means truth and in the third place, another word is added to it to mean a child is a flower of honour.

This word to me with it's diverse meanings convey one meaning. There's truth in beauty and beauty in truth. Have you ever wondered what makes a flower what it is? How many people would not stop at one time or the other in their life to appreciate a flower? They are there all around you to appreciate always. The scent fills the earth with a lovely aroma and the colours add that special touch to our world.

Truth, hmn... that's something that seems to be diminishing fast in our society but who says it doesn't still exist? Is there someone out there who would stand for the truth even when it hurts?

And the children, oh, so pretty things. They are my passion. I love them and I see beauty in their innocent looks, questions and 'unguarded' play. How I wish time could be reversed so I could be like one of these again, no cares, no worries, plain innocence! Would you like to add positively to the lives of the future? Then, you're in the right place!

Starting Out Again

Starting out is fun but starting out again is more fun. I tried before, made some mistakes and determined to try again. This tells me something. If you do not fail once, you cannot learn better. Really, this thrills me and I hope someone out there learns something from this. You cannot afford to sit still, fold your arms and accept defeat. Let's start this trip together and I'm sure you'll enjoy this just as I look forward to enjoying your company.

Welcome to my world.