Work- A Blessing!

Ecclesiastes 2:24 - New International Version (NIV)

24 A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God,

If we look at work as a means of gaining wealth or making a name for ourselves, we will eventually agree with the writer of Ecclesiastes that all labour is “vanity and grasping for the wind” (2:17). But if we see it as a part of God’s plan for a purposeful life, it will build strong character and a better world in which to live.

The 19th-century British author Charles Kingsley wrote, “Thank God every morning when you get up that you have something to do that day which must be done whether you like it or not. Being required to work, and doing so to the best of your ability, will breed in you self control, diligence, contentment, and a hundred other virtues which the idle never know”.

Consider what these three people gave to the world by working with diligence: Noah Webster labored 36 years and crossed the ocean twice to produce his dictionary; John Milton rose at 4 O’clock every morning to compose and re-write his poetry; Edward Gibbon spent 26 years writing his famous history, The Decline and Fall of The roman Empire.

What we do may seem insignificant by comparison, but if we work “heartily as to the Lord” (Colossians 3: 23), He will use our labour to provide for our needs and the needs of others. Any kind of wholesome work can be a blessing.

Let’s Get Growing

2 Peter 3:18- New International Version (NIV)

18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
Several years ago, my interest in flowers had our home resembling a nursery. There’s something about the presence of growing plants that I find very enjoyable. As I daily inspected their progress, I gained from my little green friends a new appreciation of the joy and necessity of the wonderful process of growth. (James 1:22)

Several years ago, my interest in flowers had our home resembling a nursery. There's something about the presence of growing plants that I find very enjoyable. As I daily inspected their progress, I gained from my little friends a new appreciation of the joy and necessity of the wonderful process of growth. (James 1:22).

As Christians, we too are like plants. We should put down our roots, break up through the earth, spread out our branches, and burst into blossom. Such a thriving condition, however, isn’t always evident in our lives. It’s so easy to become bored and listless in the bland routine of our daily lives. Often we just hang on and merely exist without moving steadily toward maturity and fruitfulness. (1 Peter 2:2)

At such times, we are at a spiritual standstill and must allow Jesus the “Sun of Righteousness (Malachi 4:2) to warm our hearts anew with His love. We must send our roots deep into the word of God by meditating on it day and night (Psalm 1:2). Then we will be like a fruitful tree planted by rivers of living water, and our branches will extend outward I an ever-increasing influence and witness. They will be filled with blossoms that reflect the beauty of righteous living. (Hebrew 10:25)

If we’ve become dormant, let’s get growing! (1 Thessalonians 5:17, 1 Corinthians 15:33-34).

If God can make a tiny seed into a flower so fair, what can He make, O soul, of thee through study, faith, and prayer? (1 Corinthians 11:28). When growth stops, decay begins. (Psalm 1, Psalm 37:7)

SMILE!

Colossians 3:12-17 - New International Version (NIV)

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

I read about a man who had become so despondent that he was going to take his life by jumping off a bridge. As he was walking toward the bridge, he decided that if he met just one person who smiled and appeared to be friendly, he won’t jump. Strangely, the story ends without telling what happened, but the writer asked some penetrating questions: suppose that man had passed you or me on that dark day, would he have changed his direction? Would he have chosen life over death? Or would he have carried out his desperate plan?

The chance of encountering an individual in that state of mind is small. Yet everyday, we come in contact with many people who are carrying heavy burdens, facing trying situations, or worrying about the future. They long for a kind word, a sympathetic ear, and a warm smile that reflects a caring heart.

I know a young man who is always ready with a big smile that radiates the love of Christ. I believe he is the kind of person who would have caused that desperate man heading for the bridge to stop and turn around.

Today, for Jesus’ sake and with Christ- like love, may we encourage people who are hurting by giving them a kind word and a friendly smile!
It was only a sunny smile, and little it cost in the giving, but it scattered the night like morning light, and made the day worth living.

If you see someone without a smile today, give them one of yours.

LEAVING FOOTPRINTS IN THE SANDS OF TIME

Taking a slow walk on the cool sandy beach after a day’s hard work or after a week of a seemingly never-ending list of activities, one cannot help noticing repeated impressions made on the white wet sandy surface of the beach which immediately remind you of nothing but the human feet. Yes indeed, I mean the human feet which slide in and fit well in our shoes. These impressions are known as footprints and they commonly inform us that some one took the same walk on that same sandy surface some days, hours, minutes or seconds ago. But irrespective of how beautiful, large or positioned these impressions (footprints)are made, they are eventually covered by the same sand that supported their molded figure with the aid of in-coming water waves or wind, leaving the surface as smooth and plain as it was before the impressions (footprints) were made, indirectly giving room for another cast.

Life is a beautiful thing. To the new born babe, it is the sweet milk that is waiting to be sucked from the breasts of a joyful mother; to the toddler, it is all about discovering fundamental characteristics of being human in a brand new world; to the growing kid, it is all about fun and learning in an attempt to lay the basic foundation of a promising future; to the teenager, it involves a high dissipation of energy in an attempt to be in line with the ethics of a dynamic world; to the young adult, it’s all about having dreams and hopes of a near-perfect and glorious future; to the mid-aged-adult, it is an actual transformation from a dreamer to a partaker of the realities of the uneasy life; to the elderly and the old, it is a time to recap beautiful moments of the years gone by in preparation for a glorious exit to high heavens. To the farmer, life is beautiful and abundant harvest of fresh crops after a long planting season; to the lecturer and the teacher, it is the end of another tutorial episode; to the student, it is the joy, gladness, and satisfaction of acing all courses; to the banker, it is the wonderful feeling of having soon many depositors; to the entrepreneur, it is a well and just concluded business deal; and to the sailor, it is a cool sail across the oceans without or after a heavy ocean storm. No matter how and what we define life as, we are the architects, the builders and the roofers.

We live in a dynamic world with a high degree of civilization which makes us unique as a plant. From cradle to grave, we, the major inhabitants of our world, engage in daily energy-driven activities in order to justify our existence. By being major players of life’s activities, we struggle to the best in order to see who is better. We devise ways of doing things and even go as far as employing some kind of technology to boost our speed and accuracy. The end product is usually success or sometimes, failure.

Everyone in the human race wants to be associated with success in as much as it is not easy to come by. Of surprise note is the fact that not many are ready to scale the high hurdles which litter the path of success. These hurdles are scaled with PURPOSE, PREPARATION, HARDWORK, and DETERMINATION by the belief, inspiration and guidance of a supreme being in this case, GOD. They are footprints which are left/ made in the pathway of success (the sandy beach). They are inspirations to the next generation, they propulsion forces to our final destination and serve as justifications for our existence as the years come and go. PURPOSE defines the reason for our stay here on earth. It puts in us a vision and a mission. PREPARATION involves planning (effective planning). DETERMINATION is a dogged attitude which is geared towards achieving the set goal or objective while HARDWORK is the dedication towards achieving the set goal.

Great makers of the earth’s brief history are remembered for the impacts they made on the existence of mankind. These great men, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, Benjamin Franklin, John F. Kennedy, etc., all left footprints for us to follow.

I so much admire their plan of action, hardwork and endless determination they put in towards the good of mankind. However, it is important to note that these men had good moral standards which helped in deforming their purpose.

One of the beauties of life is seeing a new generation who have learnt from the older ones, positive lifestyles. It will someday fit into the shoes of a weak elder, whose energy is depleting. Just like little ducklings which follow a mother duck, the next generation looks up to us for guidance. They await an exemplary life style which they can follow. Therefore, a great importance is attached to a positive lifestyle characterized by truth, decency, love, respect, hardwork, determination, peaceful co-existence, planning, a high degree of morality and loyalty to the almighty. They are footprints which the next generation should and must see on the sandy beaches of life.

My Leadership Philosophy

Character- The Jewel of Human Existence: A leader lives by the golden precept that a good name is worth more than wealth or possessions. We need to coalesce around a vision of the future that redefines our character which is a basement to national character based on universal standards of right and wrong. I’m always inspired by this quote from one of the “Irons that sharpens me”- Mahatma Gandhi. He said: “The end of all knowledge must be building up of character.”

I believe these words by Mahatma Gandhi that the things that will destroy us are politics without principle; pleasure without conscience; wealth without work; knowledge without character; business without morality; science without humanity; and worship without sacrifice.

We need hundreds of leaders who are not afraid to rise up not for their own personal gain, but to address the problems of common people. It will bring fame and money. It adds responsibility.

“Today’s world needs people who express goodness in their words and deeds. If such noble role models set the example for their fellow beings, the darkness prevailing in today’s society will be dispelled, and the light of peace and non-violence will once again illuminate this earth. Let us work together towards this goal”- these words are not mine but from Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, a world renowned saint whose extraordinary acts of love and self sacrifice have given rise to a vast network of spiritual and charitable activities.

History will judge societies and governments — and their institutions — not by how big they are or how well they serve the rich and the powerful, but by how effectively they respond to the needs of the poor and the helpless. However important the struggle is and however much misery and poverty and degradation exist, we know that it cannot be more important than one human life.

I am a Collaborative Leader. To truly engage a large group in community decision-making requires me to practice what is probably an unfamiliar form of leadership called collaborative leadership. A successful collaborative leader has the ability to share power, is flexible, can see the big picture, is trustworthy, and has patience, abundant energy and hope.

Being a collaborative leader requires a range of skills from me:

• Be inclusive, promote diversity
• Practice shared decision making
• Resolve conflicts constructively
• Communicate clearly, openly, and honestly
• Facilitate group interaction
• Nurture leadership in others and encourage top-level commitment

I have a dream! That one day, we (NIGERIA) shall rise and shine as the star for the world to see and be led to changes. Weary hands that hang down shall be lifted up and feeble knees that stoop to fall shall be raised. Freedom will reign amongst men. What about the nations all over the world?

I believe in Next level leadership. This is more about a certain level of predictability about a person’s consistent ingenuity and innovativeness in matters arising both in the present and in the future. It is characterized by factors which include:

• Vision- the picture of the future one wants to create. This certifies that every leadership must be guided by a vision. Vision keeps one focused even if distracted; it fosters accountability to oneself and followers.
• Scenario planning- the process by which certain trends and events of the present are carefully studied and reviewed. This creates a workplan which is the engine or force of a vision.
• Communication- the sharing of a vision statement and the workplan with the people concerned.

My Vision: A community of thoughtful and mindful people built and deeply concerned with development emanating from harmony and a strong feeling of deep affection and great happiness for each other.

My Mission: To use creative and innovative processes to empower and meaningfully engage people with beneficial knowledge towards creating a positive change in their communities.

I am convinced that the truest act of courage, the strongest act of manliness, is to sacrifice ourselves for others in a totally nonviolent struggle for justice. To be a man is to suffer for others. God help us to be men!

Inspiration is the heart of true leadership and the breath of God is the source of inspiration. “A lamp that does not glow itself cannot light another lamp”- Rabindranath Tagore

My End Note: Ella Wheeler Wilcox tells me that there is no fate, no circumstance, and no destiny that can circumvent, turn or reverse the firm resolve of a determined soul and I strongly believe her.

God bless us all!

Samuel Uchenna Okwara
{SUO}

Troubled People- Who Can Hear my Call?

The cry of a man who struggles to live;
The cry of a woman who lives to grieve;
Each day they wake up from sleep;
They wish to be happy and free.

The child who never had a home;
The girl who walks the street alone;
The roses when the bombs begin to fall;
Who can help them all?

The agony of a man that crawls,
‘Cos he was kicked by a lord;
The dream of a boy that yawns,
He’s stressed out and wishing to be strong.

The black man who struggles everyday;
The white man who turns his back away;
The pains of one who wants to stand;
The gains of one who sends the gang;

The boy who won’t reach twenty-one;
The man who gave that boy a gun;
The people with their backs against the wall;
Who can save them all?

Now I spend this priceless time under a willow;
I think of the tear of eye that wets your pillow.
When the mighty hates the small,
Who can hear my call?

Yours,
SUO

Passion for Love.

Dear reader, the following words are not mine, but i'm moved by the message it spreads. Life has given us the opportunity to live and love. Love completes us. We feel we have someone in our corner who supports us even with our flaws. Someone who knows us inside and out and accepts us as we are in life. We know that person will be there when we are down just as we will be there when they’re down. We want someone to share the obstacles of life with and know that together we can survive anything together. We need someone to love to share the happiness in life that comes our way. We need someone to share the pain when our loved ones, our parents, pass away who also feel that our loved ones have become their loves also. We need someone to sleep with at night, no matter whether they snore or not. We can always give them a nudge if necessary but it’s nice to know they are there. We need someone to love so that we can give love to our children together. To let all of them know that they have two people who will always love them more than anything in the world. We need someone to grow old with so we can complain to each other about our aches and pains along the way as we slow down. We need them in order to make the moments that we will later look back at as the most beautiful memories of our lives.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Perhaps it’s time to look again at the ways and power of love. For many, just the thought that love is a real possibility gives hope to what could otherwise be an empty life. What harm can come from mutual respect, gentleness, goodness, trust and peaceful coexistence? Think about it. Only love has the power to unite without taking away another’s dignity, another’s self. Only love holds no jealous possession over people and nations. Only love is capable of putting humanity before ideology or race. Only love can supply the endless energies required to overcome hunger and despair. “Love one another”. These words were spoken more than two thousand years ago. Powerful though this command is, many of us have succeeded in ignoring it for these many years. We all give lip service to it but few of us expect anyone to really practice it. We leave that to madmen and saints. In fact, we have become suspicious of lovers and either dismiss them as naive and irrelevant, or we see them as phonies. We are certain that no one could really care about anyone else without having some ulterior motive. The qualities of love such as tenderness, commitment, concern, generosity, and trust are relegated to the realm of platitudes and are ignored. Today the phrase “lone one another” takes on a more urgent tone. It seems to me that we must love one another or die. Modern society shrugs off still another plea for love. It is amused by the suggestion that the world could be cemented together, not by the threat of holocaust or an arm race, but through a deep respect for life. No one will deny that we have reached a critical point in our history. In fact, there are growing numbers of fatalists who believe we have reached a point of no return.

One thing is painfully obvious. Conventional methods to bring peace and understanding to our world have failed. The more we look about us, the more we find hate, violence, prejudice and disregard for human life, more than one hundred million people were killed just alone in the 20th century alone, this doesn’t include the people who died in natural disasters. We listen to newscasters and read columnists who deal out statistics about war dead, starvation, children being abused and sacrificed, disregard for human dignity and human rights. And all with about as much feeling as report of the day’s football scores. We have become conditioned to a whole spectrum of wasted human potential. still, we continue to ignore love as possible alternative. A friend of mine was telling me a story that happened during one of his trip to the old Soviet Union, he met a man in Moscow that said to him,”Why do you want to kill us?” he tried to make him understand that he wanted to kill no one, that he celebrated life, not death. Somewhere buried in our respective ideologies were two people trying to relate their very real and very human concerns-not only for the world, but for each other as individuals. Through the magic of caring communication, they accomplished a victory of sorts- they both forgot about all the things that separated them and were soon lost in one another. At that instant all contradictions and symbols were refuted. They both choose life. I am sure that many would respond to this as naive and unrealistic; that love is barely strong enough to maintain most close family relationships and beyond that, the heart is strained to its limits. So it is ridiculous for anyone to count on the power of love for a solution to international problems. I’ve often been told that in my zeal to love everyone I risk ending up loving no one. Nothing can be farther from the truth. Universal love is not only possible, it is the most complete love of which we are capable as human beings. But love can only work when we give up the antiquated mindsets which continue to paralyze us. We need to challenge the sophisticates who view it as romantic nonsense, idealistic bosh, unscientific and anti-intellectual. We need to accept love in our live as the most universal force for unification and good, accessible to all who really want it. Only then we will discover that love, fully realized, has the power to lay aside the petty things which separate us and reveal the fact that our enemy has a face and a heart. It is at this point that all things again become possible.

Make love a part of you!

???????? WONDERS OF GOD????????

1 x 8 + 1 = 9
12 x 8 + 2 = 98
123 x 8 + 3 = 987
1234 x 8 + 4 = 9876
12345 x 8 + 5 = 98765
123456 x 8 + 6 = 987654
1234567 x 8 + 7 = 9876543
12345678 x 8 + 8 = 98765432
123456789 x 8 + 9 = 987654321

1 x 9 + 2 = 11
12 x 9 + 3 = 111
123 x 9 + 4 = 1111
1234 x 9 + 5 = 11111
12345 x 9 + 6 = 111111
123456 x 9 + 7 = 1111111
1234567 x 9 + 8 = 11111111
12345678 x 9 + 9 = 111111111
123456789 x 9 +10 = 1111111111

9 x 9 + 7 = 88
98 x 9 + 6 = 888
987 x 9 + 5 = 8888
9876 x 9 + 4 = 88888
98765 x 9 + 3 = 888888
987654 x 9 + 2 = 8888888
9876543 x 9 + 1 = 88888888
98765432 x 9 + 0 = 888888888

Brilliant, isn't it?

And look at this symmetry:

1 x 1 = 1
11 x 11 = 121
111 x 111 = 12321
1111 x 1111 = 1234321
11111 x 11111 = 123454321
111111 x 111111 = 12345654321
1111111 x 1111111 = 1234567654321
11111111 x 11111111 = 123456787654321
111111111 x 111111111 = 12345678987654321

Now, take a look at this...

If:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
(Is represented as...)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

If:
H-A-R-D-W-O- R- K
8+1+18+4+23+ 15+18+11 = 98%

And:
K-N-O-W-L-E- D-G-E
11+14+15+23+ 12+5+4+7+ 5 = 96%

But:
A-T-T-I-T-U- D-E
1+20+20+9+20+ 21+4+5 = 100%

Then:
L-O-V-E-O-F-G-O-D
12+15+22+5+15+ 6+7+15+4 = 101%

Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that:
While Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will
get you there, It's the Love of God that will put you over the top!
It's up to you if you share this with your friends & loved ones just
the way I did..

????????Stay Blessed !!!~ ????????

WORDS OF KINDNESS

Where do we go when we go to a place that simply is no place at all?
When we step out of time to become nothing more a memory few can recall.
How can we be when we longer are?
Or earlier, not yet have been a bit of eternity sits in our souls.
Though we live in the house of the wind, conscipousness comes like a stranger to call, both us and something quite more.
Where it may come from and where it may go is a wonder behind a locked door.
Faith finds within her heart a windy sea.
A restless place of homeless, hopeless peace in which there’s neither passion nor release.
The changeless void whose changes never cease. Having wrought this unwilled will to be.
Keep on going and the chances are you will stumble on something.
Perhaps when you are least expecting it. I have never heard of anyone stumbling on something sitting down.
Lead the life that will make you kindly and friendly to everyone about you, and you will be surprised what a happy life you will lead.

SUO’s QUOTES

• I am ashamed to die until I have won some victory for humanity.
• This is my will power, if I can believe what I conceive; then I can achieve it; for none can stop me except me.
• My feat for the last 10 years has been to develop 500 leaders like me.
• In all I carry out, I put my best; that on my day of rest, I shall but hear only two words; “well done”.
• Try to make it better than it was when you got it, this is the expected standard of a competent manager.
• The way to success is full of suffering. Successful people are those who have chosen to suffer. A man who fears suffering is already suffering from what he fears.
• When you don’t know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else.

Thank You – Y’ello Shining Nigerians

You are the light that guides me
You’re the star that shines through me
You never faded from my heart
As the sun shines so bright
I could shine everyday and night
Just because you took my hand
And I’ve found myself in places I thought I’d never go
I’m so glad to be with you – everywhere you go

And I thank you for the joy you bring
You’ve been there for me through everything
With you many lives have been reached
Saying thank you from my heart
You and I have come a long way – right
Since those early days of our tie
In bridging the gap – we’ve made the best connections
O can’t you see the joy you bring to my world

Y’ello shining everywhere you go
You gave the reason to shine more
Y’ello shining everywhere you go
Thank you Nigerians!

Angels with Filthy Souls.

(This poem is dedicated to those who have gotten into wrong relationships that tore their hearts apart. Initially, it was as if you’ve met the angel of your life but you never knew you were in the wrong hands. They come to reap from your beauty and blessings but they are not interested in the joy and peace you strongly need…………. – they are wolves in sheep clothing)

The beauty they portray is only for a terrible vice;
The smiles they bring is for a little while;
From their mouths flow sweet melodies,
While in their hearts grows several maladies;
Their happiness is only a disguise to please you;
They are not willing to wear the halo and fly through the sky for you;
They don’t even care if you fly;
Of course, they are only willing to make you cry;
They don’t care about the halo – for their hair, it will mess up;
They reap the rewards from the garden of love,
Made for only a sweet and virtuous soul;
Then they turn the whole heart to coal,
And eyes vomiting warm springs of sad tears;
In a harsh reality, your heart is left black and cold;
In reality, you become the sun that will never show;
Pretending to help you, they leave you off the right path;
They stare at your gasping and can’t hold your hand;
Neither can they hear the mournful voice of your tears.
As you are left in a world dead and black,
You look at the darkened sky to hear the thunder’s crack;
You’re filled with fears, yet they don’t hear the song you mournfully sing.
With flattery – like a vice, they clamp you like an object
They laugh, they smile, and they tell you they’re in love
Instead of being gracious, they violate to conciliate
They can make you miss the one you loved before
Their scheme – distraction;
Their contrivance – deception;
Their consummate – defilement;
Their destination – disgrace;
Your state aftermath – distress, destruction and death.
And when you lay broken on the ground,
They don’t even notice if you’re around.
If only you knew your angel is nothing but a fake;
If only they knew you needed to be safe;
If only they knew love is only what you craved;
If only you could understand they were not angels at all.

True love - O how rich and pure;
How strong and measureless;
It can for longtime endure.
‘Tis possessed and lavished in splendour;
From the unpolluted and perpetual heart to secure;
And emblazon the heart that needs peace and gleefulness.
But yet, there’s a light in the valley of death now for you;
A light that shines to make you a new;
Shining from the heart of an angel made for you;
And ready to give you a life that’s so true.
Look out and reach to that one wit a virtuous soul,
And let go from the angel with a filthy soul.

Find A Guy.

Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot, who calls you back when you hang up on him, whenever your phone rings/ beeps, you know it's him, who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat, or will stay awake just to watch you sleep, who'll hold you in cold and stormy times and tell that there's no need to fear... wait for the boy who kisses your forehead to say "honey you're the best", who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats cos he's proud of you, who holds your hand in front of his friends and wished you'd always stay safe, who thinks you're just as pretty without makeup on. Get a guy who is always patient and understanding with you, no matter the condition - he can also show much tolerance....meet a guy who'll always respect you as a lady and can listen to you.......One who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky and pleased he is to have you,.... The one who turns to his friends and says, 'that's her.'

Letter to my Unseen Wife

Hello!
As I write these words, I ponder on the period at which loneliness has struck me with in-balance and in-completeness. With my glass half - empty, I could only wish to see and stay with you, my fair friend.

In my choice and your worth, I find true friendship, someone to love, someone I'll understand - of course, you're full of tenderness. I know I've come into your life when you need my support, my consolation, arms and snuggle - so you can feel loved, my words of encouragement to keep you ahead and full of hopes, wonderful things to experience, them together, you and I.

It's a delight to learn a lot about you, your dedication, your courage, your tenderness, your zest for life, and this wonderful gift of motherhood. It's wonderful to live with you and share those joys, problems and disappointments, knowing that next to you will always need me - you're a woman very valuable.
You're more lovely and more temperate, you advise justly, assist readily, adventure boldly, take all patiently, defend courageously and continue a friend unchangeable. You're the last of life for which the first was made.

I write these lines because I have the need to do so, as I have the gift to write what I feel. I love you for who you are and what you have brought into my life that I admire and respect - from the first day I met you. I love you to the length , depth and height my soul can reach. I love you to the level of every day's most quiet need. I love you with the breath, smiles, tears of all my life. And If God choose, I shall but love you better forever even after death.

So blessed and favored, my life, my love, my all - I lavish everything for you.
Sent from heaven; get along with me cos I need you like air.

Ever joyful and peaceful - these I know; If I get scared, you'd hold me tight; If I make a mistake, you'd make it right; if I build a fire, you'd water over it; and if I say I miss you, you'd feel the same too..........love you eternally.

SUO

NIGERIA as A Leading Nation In Eco- Agriculture By 2020 And Beyond

The agricultural history of Nigeria is intertwined with its political history. This is discussed broadly in the context of the varying constitutional frame works, viz: colonial, the internal self government and the post- 1960 periods, according to sectors. The period of the colonial administration in Nigeria, 1861- 1960, was punctuated by rather adhoc attention to agricultural development. During the era, considerable emphasis was placed on research extension services. The first notable activity of the era was the establishment of a botanical research station in Lagos by sir Claude Mcdonald in 1893. This was followed by the acquisition of 10.4 kilometers of land in 1899 by the British Cotton Growing Association (BCGA) for experimental work on cotton.

In 1912, a department of agriculture was established in each of the then southern and northern Nigeria, but was suspended between 1913 and 1921 as a result of the First World War and its aftermath. From the early 1920s to the mid 1930s, there was a resurgence of activities and this period has been called the ‘Faulkner Strip layout’ era in honour of the Director of Agriculture, Mr. O. T. Faulkner, who devised a statistical design for experimental trials in green manuring, fertilizer projects, rotational cropping systems and livestock feeding. From the late 1930s to the mid 1940s, there were significant intensification and expansion of research activities, and extension and training programmes of the agricultural departments. The intensification of hostilities during the Second World War led to the slowing down of activities and the call to Departments of Agriculture to play increasing roles in the production of food for the army and civilians in the country and the empire. Production of export crops like palm products and rubber which could not be obtained from Malaysia as a result of Japanese war activities in south- east Asia, and such food items as sugar, wheat, milk, eggs, vegetables, Irish potatoes, and rice whose importation was prevented by naval blockade of the high seas increased.

In terms of employment, agriculture is by far the most important sector of Nigeria’s economy, engaging about seventy percent (70%) of the labour force. About 30.7 million hectares (76 million acres) or 33 percent of Nigeria’s land area are under cultivation. Niger’s diverse climate, from the tropical areas of the coast to the arid zone of the north, makes it possible to produce virtually all agricultural products that can be grown in the tropical and semi tropical areas of the world.

Nigeria, blessed with both human and natural resources has never at any given time lacked the desired soil or favorable weather conditions needed for successful agricultural production. Presently, virtually all food items imported to the country have their traditional aboard in the states across Nigeria. Livestock production is also very successful in both northern and southern states.

Before Nigeria’s emergence as a leading nation in 2020, attention must be paid on the following:

1. The economic meltdown, where the government needs to have a sound fiscal policy that is effective.
2. Energy crisis in Nigeria, where there is need for total overhauling of the energy sector and curbing of the infrastructure decay in our system.
3. The Nigerian tax laws, where there is need to update some of our tax laws to meet up with the present day reality. Also to increase effort in curbing sharp practices and eliminate quackery in the tax system.

With respect to Nigeria’s target of becoming one of the twenty leading economies in the world by the year 2020, I believe that, it can greatly be achieved, especially if we can go back to agriculture.

However, for Nigeria to make agriculture a truly business enterprise, the three ingredients for success must be considered, viz: Mission, Vision and the critically important Disciplined Human Capital that must make the mission and vision work. Agriculture was Nigeria’s economic mainstay until we missed the point. Finding the road now is getting a committed, disciplined human capital. It is available, it can be done. We need the political will. We need the funding and we need the implementation. We must make sure that somebody who can do it is in charge and we must measure what we are doing within a time frame. If we put a 50 percent focus, imagination, speed, we get 50 percent result. If we put 100 percent, in five years time, Nigeria will jump into high speed, high discipline; wake up by six in the morning, go home by six in the evening, 12 hours, good work, in five years time, Nigeria will jump. The people who do the work should be incentivised, let the people who work hard get rich. They will do it and they will get rich. Nigeria is rich with a good number of agro- scientists who can energize the farmers with modern techniques of how to store their products, knowing exactly what pesticide to use. The farmers and the agro- scientists in all areas and those who do agricultural inputs for livestock, snail, fish and poultry farming are all part of the value chain and they all must be incentivised.

Significantly, the key targets flowing from these new policy footing are food security transformation of Nigeria into a net exporter of food; the encouragement of modern and efficient agricultural techniques and methods, and preservation of the environment through the adoption of efficient land and water management practices. Thus, commercializing agriculture in Nigeria and turning the country into an agro-power house that can feed itself and meet the food needs of the world.

Nigeria can become the leading nation in agriculture by 2020 and beyond, if we can take the following steps:

1. Formulate plans of action for sustainable development of agriculture: this serves as an important basis for the federal and state governments to prepare, examine and verify programmes and policies concerning agricultural and rural developments as well as guide for agricultural development in the immediate future and for a long period.
2. Protect basic farmland: the government should revise relevant laws and regulations on land management, promulgate the basic farmland protection regulations and establish basic farmland protection regions and the compensation system for occupied farmland.
3. Develop eco-agriculture: in light of laws of ecology and eco- economics, projects should be implemented for eco-environment restoration, resources conservation and introduction of environmental friendly technologies through restructuring of agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and fisheries.
4. Develop dry land water- saving farming and protect agricultural eco- environment with agronomic and biological measures.
5. Develop renewable energy in rural areas: this can be achieved through the introduction of fuel wood- saving stoves, biogas and solar energy. Biogas should be developed through making use of animal and poultry wastes, straws and stalks. In addition, efforts should be made to introduce solar- energy stoves and make use of renewable energy like wind and geothermal energy. All these can contribute to alleviating energy shortage in rural areas and bring deforestation under control to a certain degree, and to effectively protect the eco-environment.
6. Reinforce establishment and protection of grassland: the government should carry out projects for recovering and establishing natural vegetation of grassland, enclosed pastures, seed production bases of pasture plants, returning pasture to grassland and protect grassland eco-environments to control sand storm sources. These will enable improvement in the nation wide total acreage under cultivated pasture, improved pasture and enclosed pasture, the grassland vegetation will return to normal and the eco-environment will take a turn for the better.
7. Enhance management of fishery resources: through issuing water surface use certificates for aquaculture and fishing licenses to fishing vessels for controlling the intensity of inshore fishing, international cooperation in this field will be strengthened. A fee- collection system and releasing fish fries should be introduced to increase fishery resources; the system of fishing sanatorium period and non-fishing areas instituted to enhance protection of fish resources, and efforts made to preserve wild rare aquatic animals and plants. Thus, fishery law should be enforced.

In all, if the necessary attention is paid to agriculture, the needed investment made to develop the sector, and its potentials fully harnessed, it will provide employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths currently loitering main streets of various cities. It will equally guarantee amongst other things: alternative source of foreign exchange; poverty alleviation; food security; rural empowerment; eradication of youth restiveness and militancy; and place the economy on the part of development.

The Reflection of Chidinma

The force that drove the flower
The celestial bodies decide
The coming of an angel at noon
The glorious cry of the mother
As the wind soughs around the border,
And the trees rejoice as it moves
Bringing the gift of happiness
Heralded as on e of the earth’s finest
Giving joy as shadows disappear
Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!
Like a jewel in a Genevan’s ear
She is more lovely and temperate as a wife
Rain falls to clean the stained surface of life
Softly it falls like an April rain
Showers as she surely reign
O, I will live to remember
From January to December;
That you brought joy in place of sorrow.
Your path I will also follow
In your dynasty, there is no war
And it’s your kind that I’m longing for
A damsel of so shining loveliness
That blooms with so much tenderness
She carries the torch of her beauty
Erect into any place she goes
She is the fatal gift of beauty
Like a bright light she glows
Aye, she also teaches the torch to burn bright
She walks in beauty like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that’s best of dark and bright,
Meet in her aspect and her eyes.
The innocent, the beautiful and the kind
Indeed have no enemy but time
But only God, my dear sister,
Could bless you forever.

The Voices That Speak In The Dark

Late stories move as stream
Into the souls of mere mortals
Invoking the feeling of anger
Same old voice that beeps,
Reveals the faith of power
In tradition and religion
Replacing the light that shines
In the minds of pure mortals
With darkness from generation to generation.

Oh the last word of command
That influenced the soul’s demand
Tears running through the cheek
Dropping on the dead bodies of innocent beings
Mother’s cry for the blood of her child
Each day announces it to the night
Swords drawn and guns move from the holster
Anger, sorrow and hatred take off the love
From the youths to destroy one another

As the sounds of the treated metals meet
Rebelliously, the power of the swords strike
To defend souls as their hearts cry
Alas, there stands the symbol of peace
How clearly the sky reveals God’s glory
No speech or words are used
No violent sound is heard
Yet their message goes out to all
The nation across the world
Reverence for peace is good
The laws of love is true
No fiends, now friends

Ethnicity and tribalism we dishonor
All before self we honor
The voice of the great we trust
Memory brings their good works alive
In fellowship with like minds they fought
And striving for peace they won
They became immortals living as mere mortals
We again feel their thrusts
Their voices speak even in the dark.

My Passage

As I pass from this state of illusion
What affects my mood I conquer.
As I look around for solution
I tread upon lightening and thunder
Assisting value, I pass through sorrow
To bring peace, I pass through hollows
Tears drop down like rain
As I reveal my anger in pain
I am what I am – a great vision
To reach the mark, I’m in a mission
I am a mark of reason
I do not exist in season

I am the ant in act of creation.
Life is my passage and volition.
Man calls me different names
As I reveal the action in my game.
My previous identity before renewal
Was the end of man in the time of Noah.
The crying voice of the new generation;
The silent screams of the congregation,
Yell and call me tsunami.
It’s time to visit Miami!
To love one another, I encourage;
To win, life is my passage.

REACHING FOR HAPPINESS, WOULD YOU HEAR ME?

Hear my voice; it may sound like gong;
How often you sit weeping;
Listen, you may call it a song.
Are you satisfied with the life you're living?
Open your eyes and look within.
Has not the hour arrived for turning back?
You wonder as if in search of something missing;
So hurt and your days have become so dark.

You lie in cold obstruction and left to rot;
In loneliness, frustration, and oppressive guilt - you bathe in fiery floods.
You’re imprisoned in the viewless winds;
And blown with restless violence round about.
You live with intoxicants as tending to cloud the mind-
Will you be made a man out of your vice?
Threatened by anonymous forces difficult to comprehend or restrict,
You see your life being set in concrete.

Perhaps pain has become your portion;
Physic has become your food;
Groans have become your devotion;
Drugs will do you no good.
Living in distress, you die in pain;
Looking for anything to complete the good of mind and body;
Slogging in endless misery, yet little or no gain,
Enmeshed in indignity, feeling so sorry.

Trail of tears force down your cheek
As you brood over goals you did not achieve.
The sudden metamorphosis of your livelihood
Leaves you in immeasurable grief – you’re in all likelihood,
Molested and worn-out in turmoil of mind,
You have encountered darkness as a bride.
Engrossed in inebriation, you dare.
All in the quest to be free from pain and fear.

Hear my voice that I may reach you;
The shortest way is commonly the foulest.
Take my words that they may heal you;
The way to happiness is certainly cloudless.
The satisfaction I would require is likewise your own benefit;
The path I do crave for will fetch you a lot of credit.
Nature has placed under your governance – to censure and treasure
Life’s two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure.

With these words I recommend you thus;
In reaching for happiness as your primary goal in life,
You must be on the polite and amiable side.
For politeness and amiability will breed you wealth.
In the quest for success, forbid those things you do by stealth;
Where through virtue it can be attainable.
Hold to the things which are reliable
I throw it down for your freedom

The brain is the seat of all joys and happiness,
And the receptacle for the development of pain and sadness;
The habit of acting according to wisdom is the advantage
As therein are seated wisdom, understanding, and the knowledge
Of the difference between good and evil
‘Tis the core of regulations, where in the storm of darkness - a light to kindle,
The core of organizations – there is the truth about one’s underlying character
All the desires - Anger nurtures and water them when they ought to wither

Therefore, look to simplicity; embrace purity;
Lessen the self; diminish entreaty.
Refrain from voluptuous misconduct
Do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
And if you hold this firm you shall have begun.
If you enlarge it, you can become great;
But if you regard it lightly, you shall wither.
The potentiality of its flourishing rests with you and no other.

Simplicity for Serenity

It seems that everybody has a plan,
A goal to which they give their heart and soul;
They plot a course, do everything they can...
And suddenly the keyword is control.
I see how everybody hits a wall,
From time to time it’s just what comes to be;
No matter how they pine, they seem to fall...
Despite their passion and intensity.
I think that I would rather play it cool,
And let the future look out for its own;
The humble one will never look the fool...
Like those who go on blindly and alone.
In realizing I am not that tough...
I’m satisfied, and mine is just enough.