There is no set of people in the World that has been monkeyfied like Nigerians. Students of the English World are amazed, I am sure, about my use of such a word non-existent in any dictionary of the Queen’s tongue. But if a word like Vuvuzela could find its way into the dictionary; then I think monkeyfied, monkeyfication and all other variants of the word must be allowed too. Lets start with a definition of the various words.

Monkeyfication : A deliberate attempt at undermining the intelligence of a people without a recourse to their possession of a brain and will. An obnoxious replay of the concept involving bananas and monkey.

Monkeyfied : A successful act of distorting history and law even in the clearest situation.

I will stop my journey to new word construction now and move on to the sore in my heart. Remember the award Nigerians got affirming us as the happiest set of people in the World? The World monkeyed us. That was a painful reminder of the extent to which our psyche has been destroyed. A nation full of potentials but blinded with so much greed and evil. A nation where politics and kidnapping are fast becoming the only prosperous business. Lets just examine a few sectors where we have been monkeyed.

The Monkey Independence of 1960
The union jack was finally lowered and the green-white-green flag designed by Mr. Akinkunmi was hoisted. The new super power has just been born. God bless the Queen replaced by Arise O Compatriots. A country touted to be the emancipator of the black race, the black race’s most populous nation – a nation with the 2nd biggest city in Africa, Ibadan. Ibadan that elicited so much emotion from the poem of JP Clarke. The country with the groundnut pyramid in the North, rubber in the East and cocoa to the West. I was not born then but I can feel the euphoria of the reality of a won battle, a people freed from the shackles of colonialism.

But alas, it was all a facade. My first realization of this sad fact came from the book written by the famous African nationalist and statesman – Kwame Nkhruma titled – Neo-Colonialism, the last stage of imperialism (1965). He was of the opinion that Imperialism just shifted for a more subtle form of slavery. According to Wikipedia –

Neocolonialism is a term used by post-colonial critics of developed countries’ involvement in the developing world. Writings within the theoretical framework of neocolonialism argue that existing or past international economic arrangements created by former colonial powers were or are used to maintain control of their former colonies and dependencies after the colonial independence movements of the post-World War II period.

Recently, I read the second autobiography of Wole Soyinka titled – You Must Set Forth At Dawn and see below an excerpt.

Recent memoirs by former colonial officers revealed how crooked that beginning was. The elections that placed a government in power at the center were rigged – by the British! John Bull was not about to leave an independent Nigeria under the control of any uppity radicals – as the southern nationalists – the East and the West – were perceived. Thus, on instructions from the British Home Office, even the Nigerian census was falsified, giving an artificial majority to a North that was largely feudalist by tradition and conservative in political outlook. The census was actually based on sample head counts- random or selective, no one knew – which were then roughly multiplied by the acreage of the land mass, irrespective of actual population densities!

Isn’t it very clear that our monkeyfication started from the beginning? We were deceived into thinking that a new nation so independent has been formed but alas- it was a smokescreen. Interestingly, rigging has never stopped being a part of us – the foundation was wrong.

Various Military Incursions and the Lies
Each of Nigeria’s Military coup came with the same message – The condemnation of the past regime. Each one accused its predecessor either civilian or military of corruption and we bought it most of the time. By the time the new regime settled in, we knew better. They promised to spend just a few months and organize elections but we know how many years were spent by the likes of Gowon, Babangida (Who by the way wants to come and collect what he left behind) and Abacha (Whose family and friends are trying to beatify).

We know how Babangida deceived and took us on a jolly ride from 1985 to 1993. We remember vividly how a nation voted massively for Abiola on June 12 1993 and the evil one annulled the election. How can we forget how we were monkeyed with a new phenomenon in modern politics – the Interim National Government, a very crafty and stupid creation of a warped mind. And who better to head it than a kinsman of Abiola’s.

What have done to deserve such cruelty? What have we done to deserve such monkeyfication?

Nollywood and the Monkeying business
Yeah I know what I am saying. This is just to prove that every facet of our lives is filled with a propensity to monkey people. I do sit through the torture of watching Nollywood movies once in a while. I find myself drawn to the absurd ones maybe due to my Nigerian blood and our affinity to want monkeyness. Or how can I go through the hell of watching a film set in 1950 where the lead actor was using GSM phones and driving a 2009 Toyota Avensis? How monkeying loving can one be not to run when an actress wears the same hairstyle throughout a film that spanned 12 years. I can go on and on. But we keep watching. Same can be said of a Yakubu who has set a new World record of the most absurd miss in football history. But I can bet that 1 year down the line when Eneramo misses a goal, we would call for Yakubu to be reinstated to the Super Eagles. What a people we are.

The Monkeyfication of Ogun People
I cannot finish this piece without remembering the people of the Gateway State. A state so close to Lagos that the spirit of excellence being exhibited by Babatunde Raji Fasola should be seeping to them. But Otunba Gbenga Daniel has other plans. He doesn’t like photocopying, hence he decided that a dance of shame is the best way to go. Talk about ingenuity, and you are talking about the man OGD.
He is such a political maverick. Wow, a man who could pull such a stunt must be given a Nobel for stupidity. Or in what other place could a governor convince legislators loyal to him to impeach a sitting speaker with 9 out of 26 members present. Even unread citizens who take part in Cooperative society know about the word – QUORUM. So how can one tell me that OGD is oblivious of such a word. It is part of the monkeyfication business. This business didn’t start from the impeachment but from ridiculous attempt at monkeying the future of Ogun State with the 100B Naira bond. I wonder how some people think. Kudos must be given to the legislators who stood their ground, at least they have shown that a few of us cannot be easily monkeyed.

Conclusion
Our problem in Nigeria is not that we are illiterates or ignorant. Our problem is that we know we are being raped and killed but not ready to take action. Our problem is that unlike the real monkey in a zoo who has no choice but depends on the magnanimity of the zoo visitor who hands him bananas to dance for him; we do have a choice but we agree to every manipulation of the few idiots ruining our nation.

Maybe one day when we look inwards and see how bad things are, maybe we will wake up from our slumber and take charge. Maybe people will register to vote this time. Maybe they will also vote. Maybe credible candidates will start campaigning early and better than the thieves who are the only ones making noise at the moment.
Maybe one day, we will refuse to be monkeyed. Until then, I keep my fingers crossed!

The greatest showmanship in the World is here. History has been made! Africa has arrived. The word is KENAKO, and yes the spirit of Ubuntu is already showing itself in EGOLI, the land of gold. Mzansi is hosting the biggest event in the World, the rainbow nation is indeed very colorful. That is why a group of young people are using this auspicious time to introduce you to a new thing to spice your soccer life.

This is introducing www.mysoccertalk.com/forum. This is not exclusively for the World Cup but is there a better time to start such a site than now? The atmosphere is electric and even though we will be focusing on our normal leagues, competitions and the likes; it is an honor to start off with the World Cup about to be kicked off in a matter of hours at the Soccer City in Johannesburg South Africa.

The website has a forum where hot football topics will be debated by lovers of the beautiful game. The kind of topics you will be seeing on this forum are going to be controversial, fun and with a lot of life in them. This is borne out of different mailing lists that have been existing for a long time and a need to consolidate the lists into one. This is also to get like minds into a forum where it is only about soccer.

Expect to meet your match in great football minds and analysis that are sure to blow your minds. We will not be vulgar but I must warn you that it can get cheeky . The website is also going to be running a blog with articles from talented soccer minds on various hot topics from the past and present. You will also be able to have your say and get your article online to audiences you have never thought of before.

We will have fun together, and that is the least I can promise you. So, what are you waiting for? Go on to www.mysoccertalk.com/forum and register to start kicking balls. Topics are already trending and your thoughts are needed. This is no time to be quiet, when the premiership and other leagues kick off, it will get hotter but yeah it is the World Cup people. Lets do it!

And yes, I must add that the same Soccer City where the World will kick off is located in Soweto. Soweto, the slum where many South Africans paid the supreme price to ensure freedom for their nation. Same Soweto that is so looked down on is now the Chief corner stone. It is the same place that will forever boast of being the first place to host a World Cup match in Africa.

As we welcome the whole World to Mzansi, to South Africa and to Africa. We also welcome you to www.mysoccertalk.com. Please invite your friends and spread the word. We want you to be active, so please feel free to start your own topics.
The main website- www.mysoccertalk.com is still under development. Once it is done, the whole picture will be clearer as we will be having lots of features.
Happy deliberation!

Paradigm Initiative Nigeria and Microsoft Nigeria are proud to announce The Alternative 2.0, the event that highlights the need for young Nigerians to redirect their energy – from cybercrime – towards positive online opportunities. The event is free and open to all, but you must RSVP through FaceBook or by eMail to info[at]pinigeria.org.

The event holds on Saturday, June 12, 2010 at 10am (Green Carpet reception at 9am) at the Main Auditorium, University of Lagos. Featuring Cobhams Asuquo (producer, ‘Maga No Need Pay’), MI, Rooftop MCs, Modele, Bez, Wordsmith, Kemi Adetiba (director, ‘Maga No Need Pay’ video), Deolu Akinyemi (discussing Alternatives to Cybercrime) and Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani (award-winning author, I Do Not Come To You By Chance)!

We will provide updates on MISSPIN activities to date, announce new activities and thank the outgoing MISSPIN Ambassadors, the new Call for MISSPIN Ambassadors will be announced at the event. For more information, see flyers and watch out for the radio and TV adverts or visit www.pinigeria.org.

Date: Saturday, June 12, 2010
Time: 9:00am – 1:00pm
Location: Main Auditorium, University of Lagos

If you think my post is going to focus on President Yar’adua’s death, then no thanks.
I feel for President Yar’adua as a person. We all know he was a pawn in the big power chess board of the destroyers of our great nation. A man who wanted nothing more than to retire back to Katsina and enjoy his family. But the cabal had other needs for him and we all know where the story ended.

Most Africans have not mastered the art of leadership and OBJ as he is called is one of the worst case studies ever to emerge on this planet. He no doubt has a big personality with a huge presence but that has never been an only indication of good leadership. Baba Iyabo is a very good example of a China in a bull shop, a level 4 leader who never attained the height of a level 5. He was never meant to become great!

Rarely can a man have so much opportunity to become a legend and a true elder than Baba Iyabo. But he chose to destroy the goodwill he started to build when he made some nice strides in developing certain sectors of the Nigerian state. First he decided to change the norm, attempting to award himself a controversial 3rd term but huge oppositions won the fight.

Good leaders take their succession plans very seriously. They believe that the strength of their successor is an indication of their own success as a leader. They are never threatened by the possibility of their successor to be more popular or better than them. The continuous greatness of the organization led by them is more important to them than phony records of being the best ever. Obasanjo was never like that.

And then selfishness kicked in and he punished Nigeria and Nigerians; a way of proving to us that we could never have survived without him. The trait carried by leaders of corporations who had the potential to become great but crashed. The kind of leaders depicted by Jim Collins in his book – Good to Great. Obasanjo is a 100% match of the bad leaders Jim Collins painted to us.

Our punishment was Yar’adua. A man who was sick during his campaign. A man with the humorous phone call on his sick bed when OBJ asked him the famous question – Umoru, are you dead? That was on a campaign for Yar’adua done by OBJ. I bet the man didn’t even have any plans for us and the popular 7 point agenda was an afterthought. The last 3 years have been very bad for Nigeria. We practically retrogressed primarily because of a vacuum in leadership.

Obasanjo should be very ashamed of himself at this moment. He should cover his face for giving Nigeria a weak successor, maybe both in health and character. For killing the younger brother of his loyal friend – General Musa Yar’adua. For dragging Nigeria back several years. Posterity will judge him and he should expect some of his punishments right from here on earth.

As Goodluck lives up to his name, I can only hope that he will be a true leader and put Nigeria first in his heart before his personal gains and ambitions. Only when our leaders realize that Nigeria is bigger than their selfish agenda; only then would we be on the road to greatness.

By Prof. Jane Plant, PhD, CBE¡ – Why I believe that giving up milk is the key to beating breast cancer…”

I had no alternative but to die or to try to find a cure for myself. I am a scientist – surely there was a rational explanation for this cruel illness that affects one in 12 women in the UK ? I had suffered the loss of one breast, and undergone radiotherapy. I was now receiving painful chemotherapy, and had been seen by some of the country’s most
eminent specialists. But, deep down, I felt certain I was facing death.

I had a loving husband, a beautiful home and two young children to care for. I desperately wanted to live. Fortunately, this desire drove me to unearth the facts, some of which were known only to a handful of scientists at the time. Anyone
who has come into contact with breast cancer will know that certain risk factors – such as increasing age, early onset of womanhood, late onset of menopause and a family history of breast cancer – are completely out of our control. But there are many risk factors, which we can control easily. These “controllable” risk factors readily translate into simple changes that we can all make in our day-to-day lives to help prevent or treat breast cancer. My message is that even
advanced breast cancer can be overcome because I have done it.

The first clue to understanding what was promoting my breast cancer came when my husband Peter, who was also a scientist, arrived back from working in China while I was being plugged in for a chemotherapy session. He had brought with him cards and letters, as well as some amazing herbal suppositories, sent by my friends and science colleagues in China . The suppositories were sent to me as a cure for breast cancer. Despite the awfulness of the situation, we both had a good
belly laugh, and I remember saying that if this was the treatment for breast cancer in China , then it was little wonder that Chinese women avoided getting the disease.Those words echoed in my mind. Why didn’t Chinese women in China get breast cancer? I had collaborated once with Chinese colleagues on a study of links between soil chemistry and disease, and I remembered some of the statistics.

The disease was virtually non-existent throughout the whole country. Only one in 10,000 women in China will die from it, compared to that terrible figure of one in 12 in Britain and the even grimmer average of one in 10 across most Western countries. It is not just a matter of China being a more rural country, with less urban pollution. In highly urbanized Hong Kong ,the rate rises to 3 4 women in every 10,000 but still puts the West to shame. The Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have similar rates.. And remember, both cities were attacked with nuclear weapons, so in addition to the usual pollution-related cancers, one would also expect to find some radiation-related cases, too. The conclusion we can
draw from these statistics strikes you with some force. If a Western woman were to move to industrialized, irradiated Hiroshima , she would slash her risk of contracting breast cancer by half. Obviously this is absurd. It seemed obvious to me that some lifestyle factor not related to pollution, urbanization or the environment is seriously increasing the Western woman’s chance of contracting breast cancer. I then discovered that whatever causes the huge differences in breast cancer rates between oriental and Western countries, it isn’t genetic.

Scientific research showed that when Chinese or Japanese people move to the West, within one or two generations their rates of breast cancer approach those of their host community. The same thing happens when oriental people adopt a completely Western lifestyle in Hong Kong . In fact, the slang name for breast cancer in China translates as ‘Rich Woman’s Disease’. This is because, in China , only the better off can afford to eat what is termed ‘ Hong Kong food’. The Chinese describe all Western food, including everything from ice cream and chocolate bars to spaghetti and feta cheese, as ” Hong Kong food”, because of its availability in the former British colony and its scarcity, in the past, in mainland China.

So it made perfect sense to me that whatever was causing my breast cancer and the shockingly high incidence in this country generally, it was almost certainly something to do with our better-off, middle-class, Western lifestyle. There is an important point for men here, too. I have observed in my research that much of the data about prostate cancer leads to similar conclusions. According to figures from the World Health Organization, the number of men contracting prostate cancer in rural China is negligible, only 0.5 men in every 100,000. In England , Scotland and Wales , however, this figure is 70 times higher. Like breast cancer, it is a middle-class disease that primarily attacks the wealthier and higher socio-economic groups ¨C those that can afford to eat rich foods. I remember saying to my husband, “Come on Peter, you have just come back from China . What is it about the Chinese way of life that is so different? “Why don’t they get breast cancer?’

We decided to utilize our joint scientific backgrounds and approach it logically. We examined scientific data that pointed us in the general direction of fats in diets. Researchers had discovered in the 1980s that only l4% of calories in the average Chinese diet were from fat, compared to almost 3 6% in the West.But the diet I had been living on for years before I contracted breast cancer was very low in fat and high in fibre. Besides, I knew as a scientist that fat intake in adults has not been shown to increase risk for breast cancer in most investigations that have followed large groups of women for up to a dozen years. Then one day something rather special happened. Peter and I have worked together so closely over the years that I am not sure which one of us first said: “The Chinese don’t eat dairy produce!” It is hard to explain to a
non-scientist the sudden mental and emotional ‘buzz’ you get when you know you have had an important insight. It’s as if you have had a lot of pieces of a jigsaw in your mind, and suddenly, in a few seconds, they all fall into place and the whole picture is clear.

Suddenly I recalled how many Chinese people were physically unable to tolerate milk, how the Chinese people I had worked with had always said that milk was only for babies, and how one of my close friends, who is of Chinese origin, always politely turned down the cheese course at dinner parties. I knew of no Chinese people who lived a traditional Chinese
life who ever used cow or other dairy food to feed their babies. The tradition was to use a wet nurse but never, ever, dairy products. Culturally, the Chinese find our Western preoccupation with milk and milk products very strange. I remember entertaining a large delegation of Chinese scientists shortly after the ending of the Cultural Revolution in the 1980s. On advice from the Foreign Office, we had asked the caterer to provide a pudding that contained a lot of ice
cream. After inquiring what the pudding consisted of, all of the Chinese, including their interpreter, politely but firmly refused to eat it, and they could not be persuaded to change their minds. At the time we were all delighted and ate extra portions! Milk, I discovered, is one of the most common causes of food allergies .

Over 70% of the world’s population are unable to digest the milk sugar, lactose, which has led nutritionists to believe that this is the normal condition for adults, not some sort of deficiency. Perhaps nature is trying to tell us that we are eating the wrong food. Before I had breast cancer for the first time, I had eaten a lot of dairy produce, such as skimmed milk, low-fat cheese and yoghurt. I had used it as my main source of protein. I also ate cheap but lean minced beef, which I now realized was probably often ground-up dairy cow. In order to cope with the chemotherapy I received for my fifth case of cancer, I had been eating organic yoghurts as a way of helping my digestive tract to recover and repopulate my gut with ‘good’ bacteria. Recently, I discovered that way back in 1989 yoghurt had been implicated in ovarian cancer. Dr Daniel
Cramer of Harvard University studied hundreds of women with ovarian cancer, and had them record in detail what they normally ate. Wish I’d been made aware of his findings when he hadfirst discovered them.

Following Peter’s and my insight into the Chinese diet, I decided to give up not just yoghurt but all dairy produce immediately. Cheese, butter, milk and yoghurt and anything else that contained dairy produce – it went down the sink or in the rubbish. It is surprising how many products, including commercial soups, biscuits and cakes, contain some form of dairy produce. Even many proprietary brands of margarine marketed as soya, sunflower or olive oil spreads can contain dairy
produce .I therefore became an avid reader of the small print on food labels. Up to this point, I had been steadfastly measuring the progress of my fifth cancerous lump with callipers and plotting the results.

Despite all the encouraging comments and positive feedback from my doctors and nurses, my own precise observations told me the bitter truth. My first chemotherapy sessions had produced no effect – the lump was still the same size. Then I eliminated dairy products. Within days, the lump started to shrink About two weeks after my second chemotherapy
session and one week after giving up dairy produce, the lump in my neck started to itch. Then it began to soften and to reduce in size. The line on the graph, which had shown no change, was now pointing downwards as the tumour got smaller and smaller. And, very significantly, I noted that instead of declining exponentially (a graceful curve) as cancer is meant to do, the tumour’s decrease in size was plotted on a straight line heading off the bottom of the graph, indicating a cure, not suppression (or remission) of the tumour. One Saturday afternoon after about six weeks of excluding all dairy produce
from my diet, I practised an hour of meditation then felt for what was left of the lump. I couldn’t find it. Yet I was very experienced at detecting cancerous lumps – I had discovered all five cancers on my own. I went downstairs and asked my husband to feel my neck. He could not find any trace of the lump either. On the following Thursday I was due to be seen by my cancer specialist a Charing Cross Hospital in London. He examined me thoroughly, especially my neck where the tumour had been.

He was initially bemused and then delighted as he said, “I cannot find it.” None of my doctors, it appeared, had expected someone with my type and stage of cancer (which had clearly spread to the lymph system) to survive, let alone be so hale and hearty. My specialist was as overjoyed as I was. When I first discussed my ideas with him he was understandably skeptical. But I understand that he now uses maps showing cancer portality in China in his lectures, and recommends a
non-dairy diet to his cancer patients. I now believe that the link between dairy produce and breast cancer is similar to the link between smoking and lung cancer. I believe that identifying the link between breast cancer and dairy produce, and then developing a diet specifically targeted at maintaining the health of my breast and hormone system, cured me. It was difficult for me, as it may be for you, to accept that a substance as ‘natural’ as milk might have such ominous health implications. But I am a living proof that it works and, starting from tomorrow, I shall reveal the secrets of my revolutionary
action plan.

Extracted from Your Life in Your Hands, by Professor Jane Plant

Youths of Nigeria, Citizens of Naija,
Inhabiter of a land so blessed but looks cursed,
Hearken to my joyful tidings
Of the Golden future time.

Soon or late the day is coming,
Tyrant rulers shall be o’er thrown,
And the fruitful fields of Nigeria
Shall be a blessing to us all.

Corruption shall vanish from our land,
Infant mortality shall be a thing of the past,
Democracy shall be a thing of beauty,
Our pride as a nation shall be restored.

Riches more than mind can picture,
Prosperity, good health, good infrastructure,
constant electricity, quality education,
Shall be ours upon that day.

Bright will shine the fields of Naija,
Purer shall its waters be,
Sweeter yet shall blow its breezes
On the day that sets us free.

For that day we all must labour,
Though we die before it break;
Men and women, young and old,
All must toil for freedom’s sake.

Our kids will forget what Up NEPA means,
Water shall flow when taps are opened,
We will have leaders, who truly lead,
In that time that comes so soon.

Youths of Nigeria, Citizens of Naija,
Inhabiter of a land so blessed,
Hearken to my joyful tidings
Of the Golden future time.

(Adapted from George Orwell’s Animal Farm – the anthem titled Beasts of England)

I was in JSS1 in 1991 when I first read the great book Animal Farm. I love the book so much that I have read it a lot of times. It is the story of a revolution. A simple illustration of how a subdued people can team up to achieve emancipation. It is a satire using animals to depict what actually happened in a real country.

This might be our last chance to defeat the cabal that has held us to ransom for a long time. People are angry but we must turn our anger to a positive force that would destroy evil and install good in our land. Enough is truly enough. All aspects of our nationhood is now a mockery and hope is fast fading.

But the question remains: Are we ready to do the rightful? Are we ready to chase out the idiots who have murdered a lot of our own. I speak for those who have died as a result of senseless road accidents caused by potholes? I speak for the mother who died at childbirth because our hospitals are moving mortuaries? I speak for the many that have died in the many barbaric ethnic and religious crises in our nation. I speak for the Nigerian child and youth whose futures are daily mortgaged in the favour of the foreign bank accounts of our moronic politicians.

Even if you are my relative and you have held a political post and as a result destroyed lives; I hereby disown you. Would every sensible Nigerian disown these idiots? Can’t you see they don’t care about us? If my dad and mom as much as vote for any of these idiots in the next general elections regardless of the fact that they are acquaintances in my LGA and State; I promise to go to the extreme and cut ties. Yes it has come to that, many of our parents are guilty of this wrong and they then wonder why many of their children don’t have jobs and are wasting away. They wonder why only 1.8% passed the last NECO examination. They should stop wondering and wake up to reality because they are part of the problem.

Same goes to every young person who will allow intimidation. The young person who won’t register for the Elections. The cowards who are going to sit at home on Election Day. The compromiser who will hurriedly leave the polling center even when he senses the ballot is going to be compromised. Never has there been a time when we can be so angry and justified than now. This might be our last chance to shut out the few who are destroying the rest of us.

It is just months to the elections but there are many things we can do. A few young people have shown example by marching to the National Assembly. The movement must continue and supported and it must not grow cold. We all have a duty to reach out to our communities and let them understand the need for freedom. It is possible! The 500 Naira used by the politrickcians can be rubbished when they are faced with the weight of the consequences of the stupid money.

Now back to the Animal Farm. The war was won by the animals. Farmer Jones and his staff were chased off Manor Farm. But the same comrade Napoleon who was part of the change became a tyrant himself. We know there are many with great resemblance to Napoleon but note that the time is up. There will be a spiritual dimension this time around. Be warned and go and watch Agogo Eewo by Tunde Kelani and you will understand. The bells of the gods will sound and the crooks will fall down and die. Nigeria, here comes your emancipation!

“It is very obvious now that if the skills you use at work are not such that in case of retrenchments, you are laid off and can transfer same to a private enterprise started with minimal investments; then you are on a perilous path and you need to wake up and acquire some more skills” – Ayo Oladejo

The New Year is just a few days away and the most important thing to do right now is to sincerely review the outgoing year in a bid to see where and how we can make the new one a better year. My last post talked about the alarming trend of retrenchments going on in the country. For some, it is almost the end of the world but I know that is not right. It is just a rude awakening for us all to note that employers are in the business of making profits and when they sense any threat to that, their survival instincts take over while the emotional one goes to the background. I am going to be sharing tips on how to position ourselves for the next year to reduce heartbreaks and dare employers.

1. No Man Is Indispensable
It is very common for us as men to think that our organizations cannot survive without us. That is a lie from the pit of hell and a way of giving us false hopes and assurances. The worst that will happen is that the company will suffer for a few weeks/months and move on. The first step to real freedom in the corporate world is in knowing that you are not an exclusive club of skills or knowledge. This realization will help us all in giving our best at what we do while also developing ourselves for more exploits.

2. You Are Keeping Your Job Because You Are Still Relevant
Yeah hear. If you have been led to think that your employers love you and that is why you are on the payroll- you need to examine yourself deep down and wake up from the slumber. If they can get a younger man to replace you with more agility and less salary, then you are gone. The era of job security is gone forever unless you are in the civil service and even then you must note it won’t be long before computers replace most of the redundant staff in those establishments. It is important to ask yourself each year how relevant you are to your organization and how you can be more useful for the next year.

3. Review Your Job
I have seen all sorts of resumes in my life and the first thing that strikes me is that after 6 years of working, some people still go about with CVs fit only for a fresh graduate. This can either show poor CV writing skills or to call a spade a spade; a waste of years for the fellow. If your job is so monotonous and unskilled to the level that a sharp secondary school leaver could be trained to take over from you in a few months, then be very afraid. Imagine a job that only requires you to wake up in the morning, not have to think too much, get to work, and close without much tasks to the brain; you have to be very afraid because most likely your organisation would soon decide to employ OND or SSCE holders. We have started seeing this in many organizations especially the banking sector. So if you are stuck in those kind of jobs, start buying good books, read them a lot, determine what career move you want and find a way to get there.

4. Acquire More Skills
I remember my very good friend who was working in a company he did not like. His salary was nothing to write home about but he was determined to further his career. He started saving money to write a very tough IT certification and gain more experience as a Java programmer. He eventually saved enough money from a salary of 22 thousand naira per month and wrote the examination. In a period of 4 months, he got 2 jobs and the last one paid him about 200 thousand naira per month starting salary in 2004. It is a true life story. There are some of his colleagues who didn’t think it urgent to develop themselves and are still stuck in the rat race. You must sit down today and ask yourself a simple question – AM I SKILLFUL? Even if you are, you will be driven to acquire more knowledge and skills. It is the only way to stay competitive and edge out others in the New Year.

5. Stop Complaining and Do Something Useful
I hate sitting down with pessimistic people who are not ready to move on with their lives. They are all around us spreading their woes but unwilling to make the next move. We are not ready to hear those stories next year. Even in the desert lies opportunities but only the willing mind can see them. This is a season to have a positive mentality and move on to do exploit. The secret to getting the best out of our world is to think positively and picture how our lives should be, and then we can do it in the physical. If you already defeated yourself spiritually, expect no victory.

6. Start Thinking Entrepreneurship
Those who hate to be confined to monthly salaries are actually those that organizations spend a lot of money to lure into staying more with them. Let me break this down. Those who are confident enough that they can stand on their own will most likely be high performers in their current jobs. The more they have that mentality, the more they shine and the more they get better offers to keep working for organisations. They are known as intra-preneurs as they keep going the extra miles working as if they own the business they are employed in. These are guys who at a point are offered shares in companies just to tie them down. The other side of the fence is pathetic. They are the ones who are never thinking of starting their own businesses. They want to die in paid employment but they are found out easily and are bundled out early. It is actually scriptural: He who holds on to his life will lose it. He who holds on to paid employment will eventually lose it.

7. Start a Business While Still In Paid Employment
Not all businesses will require your 24-7 attention at the beginning. There are some you can start doing even from now. Identify a need you can fill and get on with it NOW. You must decide in 2010 to write that business plan, talk to potential partners and ensure you don’t fall into the trap of forgetting your goals. Nigeria is a developing country and there are still loads of services enjoyed in developed countries that are still not available in Nigeria. It is time to start looking at such and fill a gap. And yes, it is important to start small before you can attract investors later.

8. It Might Sound Silly, But Please Learn A Vocation
Interior Decoration, Cake Baking and Designing, Photography, etc are vocations that can make you Millions. Some are too myopic to think they are for people with little education but please a lot of very educated tush people are making waves now. There is enough room for more. Aren’t you going to be pleased to have a mechanic garage where the owners are graduates and truly understand cars unlike Wasiu the Mechanic who almost totally destroyed my car? These are subtle opportunities that are being taken for granted by us all. If you must know, I have a professional DSLR camera and would soon go for a course in professional photography. Very soon, I should be making some money from you LOL.

9. Do a Certification or a Higher Degree in 2010
It costs money to make money and that is the simple truth. Careful planning of expenditures in the New Year will ensure you can save money to do an examination, go for training or even a post-graduate degree. The returns always justify the investments at the end of the day. So before you decide on changing your car, buying more electronics that would soon be old model in a few months; please think of setting money aside for personal development in 2010. You will be glad you did.

10. No Better Time to Love God
A conscious decision to stay away from sin and love God in 2010 will result in a lot of favour coming your way. Sometimes we see some people with things falling on the good side for them always and we wonder why. The God factor is very important and even when all is in place, that extra touch from God makes everything simpler. As we go into 2010, let us put our plans into his hands and it will be well with us all. So I am using this opportunity to wish you a Merry Xmas and a very fulfilling and prosperous New Year 2010. Success will come our way in good measure. Amen.

Before I wish you a merry Xmas as is customary at this time of the year; I am asking myself if there is much to be merry about and yes there is. We have to thank God for the gift of life, living and good health. Even if the events of the past few months are not too good to be happy about, we have hope that we will still eat of the good fruit of the land. It is not time to despair or be pulled down, NO it is time to look forward and think ahead.

One of the things that will stand us apart for glory next year is the ability to plan forward. To think of the future in a proactive way; ensuring that our usual fire brigade approaches are not employed for the year 2010. As you might have noticed; pundits have already told us not to expect any miracle in 2010, some have even predicted a harder one than 2009. I pray and hope they are not right as I don’t think our dear country needs such times again.

2009 has broken all the records. Just last week, a record 5000 bank workers lost their jobs. What is distressing is that this huge number is shared only amongst 3 banks, a source of worry since there is a possibility that some other banks would join in this exercise. The banking sector established itself as the top recruiter of new graduates and many can testify that this industry ensured a steady source of employment to the lucky ones. If the same industry is now purging itself of workers and fails to inject new ones; the outlook is very bad.

The man at the helm of affairs at the CBN, Sanusi Lamido has been accused of being behind all things gone wrong in the banking sector including the sack of employees. There have been a lot of speculations and rumours about this being an ethnic war. But the questions remains if the banks were truly in trouble or not or how can a bank that declared Billions of Naira in profit last year suddenly declare a loss this year. This shows the rot has been eating deep and it only took one man to expose all the nonsense going on unabated in our financial institutions. You might ask why he should stir the hornet’s nest, but my friend that is what we really need.

What I don’t like about all these are that only one sector of the economy is being cleaned. That is a wrong way to fix Nigeria. The rot is in every sector of our dear nation. From education, infrastructures, health, sports to others. We have failed in all things and so it is unfair that an industry is taking all the hit. We need a leader who will clean all places; we don’t need just one sub-leader to clean his own side. That is the problem we are facing now. What is going to happen is very obvious. Jobs have been lost, share prices are rock bottom, and the economy is still comatose. We will have more people thinking of other ways to make money to continue their opulence lifestyle. Some will get it clean and some will resort to clandestine ways. The impact of job losses is very big because for every employed soul in Nigeria, there are about 20 dependants or more. So, when a man losses his job, it is not only him that takes the hit but many others around him.

My point is simple; it is unfair to precipitate change in one industry leading to a big Tsunami when a lot of things are still wrong with our polity. Imagine a country where there is no social security, where quality health care is almost non-existent. When major job cuts happen in serious countries; the governments have a way of cushioning the effects to help her citizens adjust to it. There are no such measures in Nigeria. Also, our labour laws are moribund and non-effective. It would be hard for companies to carry out mass sacking like these if we have good labour laws. But well, anything can happen in Nigeria and they get away with it. I wonder what Sanusi’s bosses think of all these now but the main boss is sick and can’t even care about the plight of ordinary Nigerians. If there are more Sanusis, with a bigger Sanusi on top of our affairs as President; I can positively tell you that we won’t be facing such major problems in our country at the moment.

It is worthy of note that job cuts were not the exclusive prerogative of the banking sector in 2009. Other industries had their major share of the pie. An obvious one was in the Telecommunication sector where a particular operator sacked about 600 and outsourced another 700. The smaller industries who act as allies providing services to the banking, Telecoms and Oil sectors have been hit too because everyone is cutting costs. So, in conclusion, it has not been a very rosy year for the employee.

But wait, in the midst of all these some people got promoted, got new jobs and some were sent abroad for lucrative assignments and trainings. That is the irony of life and you wonder why someone is crying and the neighbour is rejoicing at the same time. A lot of people have benefited from the meltdown in one way or the other. Entrepreneurial abilities of otherwise laid back persons have been woken up just because reality is now facing everyone. My next post; which will be up in a few hours will talk of ways to be a part of those who will laugh in 2010. I believe the word of God which says that when others are cast down, we will be lifted up. So, when we talk of outlooks and all that, we must talk about ways of beating the forecasts. Watch Out!

Going from the title of this post; I am sure you would think it is another bashing for Big Brother and other reality TV shows. But I am about to shock you because contrary to what you might think; there is really a good lesson that Africa can learn from these shows if we are ready to look inwards.
When I was growing up in Ibadan, there were various game shows on the first Television station in Africa- NTA Ibadan. The most popular of them was anchored by Yemi Ogunyemi, a very nice show called Embalaya (Eni ba laya) which literarily means Who Has The Guts? People came from far and wide to participate in this game show and won various gifts. What made the show stand out were the ingenuity and the wit of the presenter who also sometimes acted in various plays including the masterpiece from NTA Ibadan that made network service – KOKO CLOSE.
The kiddies were not left out of game shows even back then. I have forgotten the name of one presented by Toyin Adegbola (now known as ashewo to re Mecca). It was showing on BCOS Ibadan and I remember she was still married to the late sports presenter also with BCOS – Tony Adegbola. Other shows evolved later including one for the inner-city Ibadan people (Some call them razz, I don’t) called O’n rosy ni galaxy. Gboyega Lawal still presents this show on Galaxy TV in Ibadan (Touted as the first private TV in Nigeria). Yemi Ogunyemi went on to anchor Royco Ladun many years after Embalaya was rested.

Recently, the popular game shows in Nigeria are mostly those imported from other climes but that does not take the fun away from them. Today is not a bash on the dearth of local content even though I am tempted to go that route but that will be the theme for another day. Hence we have shows like Who Wants To Be a Millionaire, Don’t forget the lyrics, etc. The success of these games shows and the rise of the telecommunication industry in Africa prompted the owners of the brands of reality TV shows and some shrewd business people to focus on Africa. And thus, the Big Brother phenomenon, Idols, Dancing with the Stars, etc were all brought to Africa thanks mostly to MNET Africa.

You still don’t know where I am headed with this, but please relax and enjoy the ride. We all know that we are not a very inspired continent with the ways our political and economic climate remains far from being perfect. Reality TV shows have helped to douse tensions. One finishes and another starts. We are even clamouring for Season 2 of West African Idols. Many of us watch American Idols, South African and all other Idols from all over the world. Now I am about to get to the point.

The organisers of the shows make money from various means including adverts, endorsements and SMS revenues. I am interested in the last part and the reason for this post. Take Big Brother as a good example. The housemates nominate their fellow mates for eviction every week. The nominees are then left in the hands of the voting public to determine if they get evicted or remain in the house. I have been in the Telecoms industry for some time and it is mind boggling the amount of votes weekly from these shows. That is in one network alone meaning that the cumulative votes cast weekly in Nigeria only is massive. We are talking about several Millions of votes. Someone in just one network in Nigeria just reported making 20 Million dollars (not naira) in just 100 days from these premium SMS.

The revenue generated is not my main reason for this post but the massive amounts of votes cast. I am wondering if no one has linked this to our election system in Nigeria and other African countries. How would you feel if I tell you that more votes are cast weekly for big brother housemates in Nigeria than for our national elections? That is the bitter truth and the reality on ground. People find it easier to pick their phones and burn between 50-75 naira several times to save their favourite housemates. In fact, MNET was so pleased with the level of participation from Nigeria that it gave 3 slots to Nigeria for the current season. And it is a fact that the three of them are still in the house while other countries with 2 housemates have lost one or both housemates. Shows we are really keen on saving our compatriots, hmmmm. And we also even save people from other countries when our people are not up for eviction.

Two questions arise here. Is it that Nigerians think it is better to save our Big Brother housemates than in saving Nigeria? Or is this an indication that our electoral system has to wake up and embrace technology in voting? I guess it is for all of us to ponder and think about it. We can no longer sit down and think a miracle can save us. It is time to think and move forward by answering those two questions. The right to vote and be voted for are a fundamental right of human beings. Many died for that right in America and today, a black man is on top of the affairs in the White House. We have that right in Nigeria already but we don’t use it citing violence during elections, rigging etc as our excuses. But we all know that even when we don’t go out to vote, the nonentities are elected, they loot our treasuries and indirectly murder us via our bad roads, health facilities etc.
Out technology elite must also collaborate with the political minded ones to bring innovation to the voting process and push for legislations backing such. But meanwhile, the voters registration would soon commence and I hope you will not be found wanting.
God bless Nigeria, God bless Africa.

The past few weeks were filled with some passionate writings on Nigeria. I guess that is a topic I can never run from as I am a Nigerian – a total one. Today, I am not writing about politics, governance or leadership but about a topic so important that if we trace the root of most societal problems; it comes first. The disintegration of family life is a major cause of a dysfunctional society and a big culprit is infidelity.

A few days ago, I had a very deep conversation with a good friend about marriage and the Nigerian society. It was a revealing one as he confirmed my own fears about the eroding sanctity of the marriage institution. We both concluded that most people get married nowadays more as an obligation than not. It is also very obvious that the rate of infidelity is at its highest now and mostly carried out with impunity. The saddest part is that most marriages are now failing right from the beginning and many are already strangers living in the same house before one year.

My mind wonders to the vows I made on my wedding day. The heavy pronouncements I declared before God and man and I ask myself if we all made that vow. But alas, yes we all did even if you married in the registry. I guess that is why it is hard to do business with most people nowadays even after signing legal documents. If a man can renege on his promises to keep his marriage bed sanctified even when he knows the attendant consequences; then such a man cannot be trusted with great things.

I am not going to be riding a high horse and say that I am immune from temptations, but I have promised God, myself, wife, family and friends to be a good role model. Temptations will surely come, but I am also aware that it takes a willing mind to participate. What I am very unhappy about is that most people nowadays think a man can never do without a fling here and there. That is the most blatant lie from the pit of hell but the reality is dawning on us now from all sides. It is also no more news that even women that used to be the victims are now cheating with great gusto, sometimes dwarfing the achievements of their male counterparts.

Today, I am not going to talk about women. I am going to concentrate my energy on the men who started this trade. This series will not end today, so I have enough space to share my thoughts. One of the hottest topics in magazines is “Why Men Cheat”. Today, I want to come from a fresh angle and talk about – “Why Men Must Not Cheat”.

1. What is Responsibility and Leadership: A lot of times, I have been forced to tell people why I don’t drink. I said forced because I don’t like explaining some deep things with just anybody. I choose my audience very well but I guess that is not good enough and everyone should know. I don’t drink because I see myself as a KING, a leader. The bible made it clear in Proverbs 31:
4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

7Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

So, while I won’t condemn those who love to drink, I don’t have to join them because anyone who has to make important decisions in their daily life ought not to drink. But even when they wake up from their drunken state, the misery continues. Before you think I am digressing, let me link this together. If someone asks me today why I won’t cheat on my wife – my answer is simple – I am a KING. Proverbs 31 also nails it:

3Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

How many young men have been destroyed because of their lust? How many of our fathers never reached their potentials because of extra marital affairs? I guess we know many big examples. Even many rich men reduced their credibility just because of their lifestyle. Remember the very rich man whose family was thrown into deep problems after his death. The examples abound for many to see but it seems we are just not ready to learn. So, I say today – if you want to be a truly responsible man, who will be influential for life, you cannot afford to cheat. Ask Clinton and you will know the truth.

2. It Destroys Your Home: Well, that is a no brainier. The beginning of every broken marriage is cheating. Women are more liberated nowadays and most won’t tolerate a cheating husband again. There is a strong link between wife bashers and cheaters. Most men who don’t cheat really do not have reasons to beat their wives. Isn’t it easy to see that the reason you beat your wife is because you are irritated with her after coming from the sexy mistress’ abode? Any man who is serious about a New Nigeria would not cheat on his wife because doing it will add to the number of potential dysfunctional children who mostly come from such unions.

3. Your Kids Might Hate You: Children mostly have a big compassion for their mum when they realize that their dad is cheating. They tend to see you as the enemy at a point even if you spoil them with money and other goodies. Wake up man; this is the 21st century where a man’s prowess is not measured by the number of women he can capture. Gone are the days when you can easily do this and get away with it. If you don’t want to be estranged from your kids; please think about it before you start flirting with other women.

4. Your Finances Suffer For it: Interestingly we are in tough times. So if you have excess money, it is wise to keep or invest it for tomorrow. I usually marvel at men who keep two women. Making a woman to be happy involves a lot, so it beats me when someone decides to use his hard earned cash on other babes. For the newly married doing this, remember kids would soon come and more money is needed. For those with kids, isn’t it obvious that you could have spent more on your family than you are already doing. Think about it.

5. Your Achievements Might Be Slowed Down: Whenever I get home each day back from work. I still have to play with my wife and daughter – then decide on which book to read that night to move my career forward. 24 hours then is almost not enough in a day again for all my activities and business. Which gets me thinking of how I would even find time for another woman. And if I find the time as people do; it is very clear some things will be affected.

6. Purpose: Have you even thought of why you are here in this world? Most people don’t and that explains most of our actions. I will pass through this world once and I wish to be remembered for good things. A lot of people will be wounded along the way. Your wife, kids and even the ladies you cheat with. When a man finds his purpose in this world, his perspectives must surely change.

7. Lie Begets Lie: Lies are like a vicious cycle. They never end. You need to propagate new lies everyday to cover your tracks. But one day, it will surely backfire and you are found out. Imagine this – you lied to your wife about staying late at work, yet you are in a hotel in another suburb. If you run into any trouble, then you have got a lot of explanations to make. When you lie today, you will have to lie tomorrow to cover yesterday’s lie. Why would you want to use your precious brain in such a manner? Think about it.

8. You Will Become an Assassin: Maybe this should have been number two. I presently live in a country where the HIV prevalence is MAD. One out of four people you meet is HIV positive. The statistics in Nigeria might not be too far from this but we don’t know as our record system is almost non-existent. Once you cheat on your wife, you have become a potential murderer and your wife should flee from you. I have heard stories of men who infected their wives and are using retroviral drugs without letting them know. If you have not cheated before, this is your chance to avoid this label. If you already did, it is not too late to turn back before you kill.

9. The Most Important Relationship Is Shattered: God actually likened his relationship with us to the relationship between a man and his wife. WOW. That is how sacred the marriage institution is to God. Once a man messes this up, he has cut himself from God. So for those who already enjoy a relationship with God, this is a reminder of the fact you know that you must not even allow yourself to be led astray. If you still don’t know about God, well, I guess the points above are more general and should help you in making the best choice.

I am going to stop here today. Next time, I am going to be writing on practical ways men can overcome the temptations. I welcome suggestions because Iron Sharpeneth Iron. We all have a lot to learn from each other. This might also lead to the formation of group for men who are committed to being faithful to their God and woman. We can be each other’s keepers. The women can also take a cue from here. We will get there. Amen.