The Nation Newspaper

Category: Life – The Midweek Magazine

  • We need clear road map on gender equality, says Obaseki

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has identified violence against women, domestic abuse, rape and commercial sexual exploitation as part of systemic barriers to women’s economic, political and social equality. He said in these troubled times, when the world becomes more unpredictable and chaotic, the rights of women and girls are being severely eroded.

    Governor Obaseki, who spoke at a four-day international gender conference organised by the Centre for  Gender  Studies, Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State, with the theme: Implementing and sustaining gender mainstreaming in a globalized world, assured that empowering women and girls is the only way to protect their rights and make sure they can realise their full potentials. “That is why we should all be committed to increasing women’s participation in all facets of our social and economic existence. We need a clear road map, backed by distinct benchmarks, to achieve gender parity across systems. We must move from ambition to action,” he said. The Governor was represented by his Special Adviser on Gender Issues Mrs Efosa Uyigue.

    He observed that the conference came at a significant phase of the nation’s democratic experience during which “our institutions are not only being tested, but also in which our collective resolve to provide greater latitude for relevant gender inclusion and participation is under scrutiny.” He noted that while strong advocacy has ensured that women are part of, or benefit from governance, education policies, community empowerment, budgetary processes, civil rights and overall development, the cold reception encountered by the gender and equal opportunities bill at the National Assembly is sufficient indication of the significant barriers still on the path to gender equality in Nigeria.

    The Governor recalled that it was in response to this that his administration made inclusion of women in government, policy making and legislation a matter of singular and committed focus.

    Rector, Auchi Polytechnic, Dr. M. S Jimah, who was represented by Deputy Rector (Administration) Engineer Zubair, said cultural obstacles that impeded the advancement of women are now increasingly being dismantled in Nigeria, adding that the  girl child now has a near equal access to education as the male child.

    He added that women are now found in board rooms of corporate organisations, in virtually all professions holding forth. “In politics, the women are coming. More than ever before, women are commissioners, ministers, legislators and are taking shots at the presidency of the country. In Africa, Ellen Sirleaf of Liberia is on record as the first female president of an African country. In the early 20th Century and up until the later part of it, these attainments by women were unthinkable,” he said.

    According to him, this goes to show that advocacy for opportunities for women and placing them in mainstream of national and international events is working and effective.

    Director, Centre for Gender Studies, Auchi Polytechnic, Dr. Helen Uhuanmwagho, said the centre is open to collaborate with relevant agencies in carrying out its activities. She stressed that in order to be better positioned to carry out its activities the centre welcomes individuals, groups, and organisations that will furnish it with a library, counselling room, consultancy room, tools for advocacy, among others.

    The keynote speaker, Dr. S. Eshiotse, replaced Kwame Nyamekye, a lawyer, who was initially scheduled, while Prof Agatha Eguavoen presented the lead paper.

    In a communiqué at the close of the four-day gathering, its organisers resolved that as a matter of urgency, gender issues should be addressed through appropriate legislations while conscious efforts must be made in bringing up children to reflect gender equality within the premise of fairness that eliminates segregation and superiority among sexes. It also recommended that women should be involved in mainstreaming and all areas of policy formulation.

    The communiqué also stated that ‘there should be collaborative effort  between government and non-governmental agencies in formulating and sustaining gender mainstreaming in a globalised world;

    • Cultural impediments militating against gender should be removed with a view to building a culture of tolerance;
    • The imbalance and gap created as it relates to gender issues should be bridged through policies and legislation;
    • There should be a fair and level playing ground for both male and female folks to grow without creating cultural superiority that gives undue advantage to either of the sexes.
    • There should be continuous programmes that will aid the promotion of gender issues by stakeholders in all walks of life.
    • Acts of gender discrimination should be identified and appropriately sanctioned. Some thought provoking papers were presented by scholars from within Nigeria and the Diaspora. They included What Men can do, Women can do better: A Review of Art works of Selected Female Artists, Effective Empowerment of Women for Political Participation, Strategies for achieving Gender equality on career choice and Manpower Development in Nigeria, Gender Inequality and Women participation in Nigeria: Edo State in focus, Strategies for effective Empowerment of Women for Political Participation and Psychological Considerations in gender involvement in the use of ICT: The Nigeria Perspective.

    The conference, which honoured three distinguished Nigerians; Senator Francis Alimikhena (for human capital development), Justice Constance Momoh and Mrs. Aisha Yesufu for their selfless services to humanity, was attended by Dr. Stephen  Aigbepue, Dr. Lucky Ojo, Mrs Blessing Ojo, Dr. Bamidele Agbadua, Dr. Josephine Akhigbe, Mr. Omoregie Kester, Dr. Dan Osariyekemwen and Engineer Edith Oyati. Others were representatives of the military, police, traditional rulers, religious organisations and civil society groups.

     

  • British celebrity lights up group’s fifth anniversary

    The Lagos-based non-profit Centre for Children’s Health Education, Orientation and Protection (CEE-HOPE) is five. Its fifth anniversary featured the hosting of British celebrity Chris Packham, EVELYN OSAGIE writes.

    There was singing. There was dancing. There was also the presence of British celebrity, Chris Packham. It was at the fifth anniversary of Centre for Children’s Health Education, Orientation and Protection (CEE-HOPE), a non-profit organisation. Packham’s presence was to  spice the anniversary, which  held in Makoko, a Lagos down town.

    Established in 2013 by Betty Abah, a journalist, author and activist, CEE-HOPE is a  child’s right and development non-profit organisation based in Lagos, which  also gets involved in campaigning against forced eviction from houses in the city of Lagos. Evictions, have been noted as responsible for uprooting and destabilising children and others in the slums such as Makoko, in addition to the violence people evicted always witness.

    As part of its child’s right advocacy, CEE-HOPE has also been involved in several children’s rights campaigns, especially child sexual abuse, including the #JusticeForOchanya, EseEruru, #BringBackOurGirls campaigns, among others.

    The  anniversary drew about 300 school children from around Makoko, reputed to be West Africa’s largest slum. It is also  the largest site for CEE-HOPE’s work, which included children from Makoko Dream School, Diaspora Nursery and Primary School.

    The celebration featured traditional Egun and Ilaje songs and dances displayed by the energetic  charity’s girl empowerment club, and the Girls-Go-for-Greatness (Triple G), who stole the show and drew applause from onlookers.

     

    Packham visits

     

    Apparently, the NGO’s efforts in fighting for the rights and welfare of vulnerable children and young people in impoverished communities across Nigeria caught the eyes of the celebrated presenter on  BBC’s nature series, Spring Watch, Winter Watch, and Autumn Watch, who was in the fishing community to shoot a documentary that will feature the NGO.

    He sat and laughed with the children as they entertained with songs and dances, watched and listened as he visited schools in the community.

    Packham, 58, an author, a vegetarian and wild life expert, whose shows have won local and international awards, expressed excitement as he addressed the enthusiastic children. He encouraged them to remain focused and pursue their dreams with the mind of becoming great in life.

    During the celebration, Packham and his team visited CEE-HOPE’s two after-school educational centres located in Ori-Oke community at the entrance of Makoko and Ago-Egun community. The crew, with their Nigerian guide, the CEE-HOPE team, volunteers and some of the children, especially girls, rode in several boats on the water amidst a dancing carnival of the ‘Triple G’ children, and beneficiaries of CEE-HOPE’s several interventions in the last five years.

     

    On the journey

     

    With a mind of fighting for the rights and welfare of vulnerable children and organising empowerment activities in urban slums and remote areas of Nigeria, CEE-HOPE founder and Executive Director, Betty Abah, said the foundation was proud to have the British celebrity grace its anniversary. The visit, she said, added excitement not just to the event, but to the children, especially the beneficiaries.

    CEE-HOPE’s major area of operation is in Makoko, West Africa’s largest slum settlement. It has beneficiaries across Ogun, Benue, Plateau and other states and has been involved extensively in relief response and rehabilitating Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), especially children affected by the Boko Haram and herdsmen killings across the northern states.

    While stating that it has been an exciting journey in the last five years, she expressed gratitude to supporters, who have aided the foundation’s vision of engaging with and being a voice for some of Nigeria’s most at-risk children and young people, especially girls.

    She said: “The journey, so far, has been both exciting and challenging. Without the support of God-sent individuals and a few originations, we won’t be here. We hope to be here for the next 100 years and more and we will continue counting on your support.”

    The community comments

     

    Some members of the community and beneficiaries were full of praises for the organisation’s efforts. They expressed gratitude over the foundation’s efforts in raising awareness on education, especially towards educating the girl.

    For Chief Claudius Adewale Akintimehin, a local chief, the foundation’s educational impacts would forever be remembered. “Since CEE-HOPE came to our community, there have been a lot of positive changes and the children are very happy. If we can’t give back anything, our prayers alone will make CEE-HOPE and Mummy Betty keep going places. We pray that God send CEE-HOPE more help, and as they keep giving to our children, they will continue growing. I want CEE-HOPE to continue with that generous spirit and God will continue to be with them,” he said.

    TitilopeAjimuda, 19, a student of the Ondo  State University, and a beneficiary of  CEE-HOPE since age 15, said the NGO has had tremendous impacts on her, especially educationally.

    She said: “CEE-HOPE has affected my life in many ways, in encouraging me to go to school, and also in terms of mentorship and skills empowerment. That has made me to be self-dependent and not depend on men to survive. Also, we were taught how to avoid rape, how to be confident and to believe in ourselves.”

    CEE-HOPE started in 2013 by Abah, a journalist, author and activist, and its major area of operation is Makoko, West Africa’s largest slum settlement. It also has beneficiaries across Ogun, Benue, Plateau and other states and has been involved extensively in relief response and rehabilitating for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), especially children affected by the Boko Haram and herdsmen killings across several states.

    As part of its child’s right advocacy, CEE-HOPE has also been involved in several children’s rights campaigns especially child sexual abuse including the #JusticeForOchanya, EseEruru, #BringBackOurGirls among several others. It has also been involved in campaigning against re-current forced eviction exercises in Lagos, which typically uproots and destabilises children and others in the slum communities such as Makoko in addition to the accompanying violence that is usually witnessed.

  • Old boys to hold anniversary

    As a way of giving back to its Alma mater, Stanza 789 of St Charles Grammar School, Osogbo, is seeking the support of fellow old boys across the country and in the Diaspora to execute a N15m project in the school. The project is meant to be part of the celebration of 40th anniversary of the set, which will hold its first reunion from May 10 to 12.

    Charleans 789, as they are fondly called, will rehabilitate the school’s main building, which include the dilapidated roofing sheets; replacement of the louvers windows with steel ones, carryout necessary masonry works and repaint both interior and exterior walls. The school, which was originally a Catholic school is now government-owned.

    Briefing newsmen at the Da Riggs Place, Ikeja, the Chairman of the set, Olaseinde Olusola, said: “We have been to the school to inspect their needs. We want to raise money to restore the school to its glorious old days. There are a lot of things we enjoyed which are no longer in place. So, we are using this medium to reach out to our fellow Charleans 789 Stanza to support this noble cause.”

    The set will also present awards to all living, aged and current teachers; award scholarship to deserving indigent students and payment of WAEC fees to 50 final year students.The students would be selected based on their performances in the mock examination that would be conducted in the school.

    The Co-Chairman of the 40th anniversary committee, Sina Morenigbade said the school is in a bad state with  bad roads. He said the school, which was boys only, is now co-educational and  has been divided into three  different schools since the state government took charge of the school.

    He explained that the old boys association will also invest in building students’ capacity by introducing literary debates, science club and other mentorship programmes, which the school lacks. He added that the reunion will also serve as a platform to reach out and support themselves.

  • Gender parity, migration dominate Night of Ideas 

    Institut Francais, Nigeria and Alliance Francaise, Lagos held the first edition of a conversational event Night of Ideas to discuss women’s right and migratory issues.It is a global initiative from the French Institute, Paris staged simultaneously in cities of the world, Chinyere Elizabeth Okoroafor reports.

    It was a vibrant night as personnel of foreign cultural institutes in Nigeria, writers, scholars, art promoters and journalists converged on Ikoyi to share ideas with two panelists Mr. Tancrede Voituriez and Ugoma Adegoke on women’s right and migratory issues.

    The event, which held at Mike Adenuga Center, was first launched in 2016 by French government in Paris to celebrate stream of ideas between countries, cultures and generations. Each year, all over the world, people hold discussions  on the latest discoveries and issues facing the world and how they affect the country in particular.

    This year’s theme: Facing Our Time explored global challenges through the lenses of women’s rights, the way forward and the economic impact of migration.

    Ambassador of France in Nigeria, Mr Jerome Pasquier said Nigerian people have ideas and that Night of Ideas is a great platform for them to share them.

    “There are ideas in Nigeria, whether you write or paint. Night of Ideas started in Paris a year ago and this is the first edition in Nigeria,” he said.

    Speaking on Inclusive seat at the table: Womanness, Creative Entrepreneur and Cultural Curator, Ugoma Adegoke recalled that time was when men told women to shut up because their voices were not to be heard in public, a widely practiced misogyny. She wondered ‘how quiet can we make this woman?’adding that it is for the woman to choose to keep quiet or not.

    Adegoke believed that it is a matter of necessity that women should attain competence in their work of life, add value and be gracious.

    She recalled that as a girl growing up in a family of five girls and a boy, her father never made her feel that there wasn’t anything she couldn’t do as a girl child. He even taught her how to shoot a play gun,      “I was raised by a feminist father who never discriminated against gender lines. He allowed me to be myself,” she said.

    Adegoke observed that the language being used to describe the sound of women’s speech such as “whinge” and “whine” removes the authority and seriousness from what women have to say.

    “As I said old habits can die, while new conventions are formed as new languages and attitudes. That is what I really want to focus on new ideas of this ‘womanness’, rethinking our now and defining our own way forward,” she said.

    Adegoke pointed that the focus must shift swiftly away from gender to ability, excellence and competence. “It is important we think of ourselves as human first. Irrespective of gender, we are all half woman and half man. However, women should have an education, make their own money and let their competence lead the way for them and open doors,” she added.

    Adegoke stressed that  change and evolution for women is possible as it has happened and is happening. “It also heralds the era of audacious possibilities – possibilities with no limits; possibilities enabled because of grit, hard work, hope and intentionality; possibilities of daughters that were not possible for their mothers and in the same vein, for sons that were not possible for their fathers,” she said.

    Voituriez, who spoke on migration, said there is a misunderstanding between migration and development.  “What is assumed is that when a poor country becomes less and less poor, it is assumed that there will be less migration from that country to richer country. But, what we observed is exactly the opposite, which is disturbing. What we observed is that when poor country becomes less poor, migration rises and until the country reaches a level of 6000 dollar per capital income a year, which is very high, it then means that development and migration do not conflict one another,” he said.He said that development and migration strengthen one another.  and when there is more development there is more migration.

    Voituriez who is a researcher for French Institut suggested that migration should not be prevented, but that illegal and irregular migration should be prevented while legal migration and voluntarily migration should be supported.

    He stated that what is fascinating about migration issues is that African Union is really at the forefront of free movement of persons. “The Union is really leading the game in this area. They are more progressive and protecting the rights of migrants. The European Union is a bit more focused on short time management of migrant while Africa Union is on long term free movement of people. For Europe, it is more protection and management of the boarder to prevent migration from Africa,” he said. Voituriez observed that migration challenges are here to stay and so are the opportunities for development.

    Pasquier described the night as a great exchange of ideas, adding that ‘we have to go further if we want to explain migration and see how to regulate migration to have positive migration and not negative migration.’

    On women’s right, he said that it is important is to treat everyone with respect and create same opportunities for male and female. “I think education plays a very big role. With education for boys and girls we can explain the need to have more equality between genders, but it will be a long fight,” he added.

     

     

     

     

  • How well do you know yourself?

    Jane has always known herself to be a talker, from a young age everyone around her mentioned it to her, and of course, she got teased a lot by people calling her ‘lawyer’.

    In secondary school, Jane was an active member of the debate and literary club. She enjoyed telling stories and speaking up for people. As the time came for her to go to the university, everyone around her advised her to study Law solely because Jane knew how to talk. ‘Jane you better become a lawyer o, so that you wouldn’t waste all this your talking’ her literature teacher advised her.

    Jane yielded to advice and got admission to study law in one of Nigeria’s best universities, in her second year Jane realized that her passion for speaking, wasn’t necessarily suited for the courtroom. She learnt with time that it takes more than the ability to talk to become a good lawyer.

    Jane being a brilliant student, did all she could to graduate with good grades and got called to the Nigerianbar. Despite being a lawyer, Jane now works with one of Nigeria’s foremost telecommunication company as a brand communications analyst. She found that her passion for talking and story-telling was more needed in the world of branding than the court rooms, and she couldn’t be more fulfilled.

    What changed the game for Jane? She choose to get to know herself, she developed a relationship with herself and was more conscious of herself, her thought process, emotions and how it affects her relation with others. Jane choose self-awareness.

    Self-awareness is simply having a clear perception of your personality, including strengths, weaknesses, thoughts, beliefs, motivation, and emotions.

    Self-awareness allows you to understand other people, how they perceive you, your attitude and your responses to them in the moment.

    It helps you pinpoint what your passions and emotions are, and how your personality can help you in life. It’s unfortunate that the issue of self-awareness is overlooked in this part of the world.

    Self awareness for children

    Introducing self-awareness early for children plays a large role in education because it helps students become focused on what they need to learn. The ability of students to think about their needs and how they learn increases with age.  In the nearest future, machines will be doing most of the available jobs in today’s world. When teachers work with students to teach them to reflect, monitor, and evaluate themselves, students are able to become more self-reliant, productive, and flexible, we create children who can think outside the box and who would not rely on the system to create jobs and opportunities for them. Parents and care-givers are encouraged to pay attention to the natural gifting and inclinations of wards in their care.

    Self awareness in the workplace

    Research has shown that the world’s greatest industry leaders have achieved great success because they are self- aware. When you are self-aware, you know your strengths and weaknesses and how to manage them in the workplace. You are able to manage your emotions, and the more you pay attention to your emotions and how you perform your work, the better you understand why you do the things the way you do

    Self -awareness in the workplace helps human resource managers recruit the perfect fit for roles and to create a more harmonious work environment. It helps colleagues relate better with each other, and breeds less conflict between superiors and subordinates. Self- awareness helps you look at issues more objectively and the role you play in creating said issues

    Self awareness in relationships and marriage

    Self-awareness is one of the best gifts one partner can give to the other.  In marriages self -awareness helps us understand the identity, character, desires, needs and beliefs of our spouses. It is important to note that these issues are the underlying reason why many marriages hit the rocks today. Self-awareness in marriage takes a lot of courage from both parties, it requires the willingness to be able to see and accept the negative and positive traits in yourself and your partner. It could also require asking deep questions that may reveal past hurt, failures and insecurities. There is a certain humility that comes with self -awareness because the imperfect nature of humanity is on full display whenever you look inward.

    Tips to becoming self-aware

    –            Keep a daily journal to help track your thoughts, emotions and reactions

    –            Take personality and psychometric tests

    –            Book a session with an experienced coach

    –            Always ask for feedback from those around you

    –            Practice being present, try to listen more and internalize information before speaking or reacting

    –            Create time to meditate

    Award winning actress Issa Rae said ‘my life changed when I focused on who I am and what makes me stand out’ For more details on how to help yourself or organization begin their journey to self-awareness follow me on Instagram on @coachgbemz or e-mail me at gbemieobadan@gmail.com

    Self-awareness is a journey, it could take days, months, years but it’s a journey we must all embark upon, as a society we must begin to embrace the idea of  individuals becoming the very best they have been created to be. Self- awareness is not a journey to perfection but a journey of consistency. It leads us to constantly look inwards so we can learn to live better, more fulfilling lives on the outside.

     

  • What to do with your goals

    Setting goals is noble, but it is hardly the entire picture. Great goals that are skilfully crafted can lay covered in your notebook. They will just be a testament of your good intentions, smart thinking but also of your poor execution and indiscipline. In the last couple of weeks, we have attempted to understand the general idea of goalsetting. First, we considered reasons some people would rather not set goals, which included the perception that goals raise hope that some people may end up not achieving; people tend to be depressed when they do not achieve their goals; goals impose responsibility on people which they are not ready for; and, some believe that since goals are premeditated, they stifle creativity. All these misconceptions were discussed and corrected.

    Again, we examined the nature of goals by attempting to describe what a goal is. We described a goal as a measurement for success, a determinant of motivation, a measurement of efforts, a determinant of focus, and a measurement of movement. Today, we move to the next big question, “what do you do with your goals?” A goal not pursued is a goal not achieved, and a goal not achieved is a reminder of a lost opportunity. To avoid missing great opportunities this year, here are a few things you can do with your goals:

    • Believe them: If you set goals you don’t believe in, you have already eliminated any possibility of success. You don’t have to set goals that are too big to achieve. Remember, goals help you to move from where you are to where you want to be. If you don’t believe in the destination, don’t embark on the journey.
    • Watch them: Keep your eyes on your goals. You will forget your goals as soon as you lose sight of them. You have to be mindful of them every day, every week and every month. What you watch, you mind.
    • Recall them: If you find it difficult to remember your goals, you will find it difficult to achieve them. Forgetting your goals means they are not in your consciousness; whereas, it takes conscious effort to achieve goals.
    • Touch them: Everyday, make sure you are in touch with the goals. Ensure that you are getting something done towards achieving them. Goals are not fulfilled overnight but through little efforts and little steps. Simply achieve your plan for today and you would have moved a day closer to achieving your goals.
    • Check them: Every time you achieve something, check it on your list. It gives you a sense of fulfilment and movement. Very soon, you will begin to look forward to checking your list everyday and this will become a motivation to do more.
    • Review them: From time to time, review your goals because you may need to adjust them. Not because you are lazy but because you want to achieve a better result. If you are fortunate to be ahead in the achievement of your goals, don’t relax but double your efforts. It is an indication that you have capacity for more.
    • Celebrate them: Make a big deal out of achieving your goals. Reward yourself and you will be motivated to jump into the next challenge.

    Thanks for reading my article today. I would really love to hear from you. So, do share your views with me by sending SMS to 07034737394, visiting www.olanreamodu.com and following me on twitter @lanreamodu. Remember, you are currently nothing compared to what you can become. This will be your year, if you want it to be!

  • Environmentalists call for promotion of eco-religious tourism

    The preservation and survival of UNESCO Heritage site, Osun Osogbo grove in Osun State has been linked to its age-long perception and belief as sacred for centuries.

    The grove, which was listed by UNESCO in 2005 as a world heritage site, is the last of such sacred forest traditionally associated with the Yoruba. This was part of positions by leading environmentalists and conservationists at the recent 17th Chief S. L. Edu Memorial Lecture on the theme: A Quiet revolution – Faith and the environments held in Lagos.

    The lecture is a policy advocacy tool being used by Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) to drive awareness on salient environment issues affecting Nigeria and Nigerians. The lecture not only identifies the problems, but also seeks to proffer solutions to these problems for policy makers to consider.

    Guest speaker at the lecture, Secretary-General Alliance of Religion and Conservation, United Kingdom Mr. Martin Palmer described Osun grove as the last sacred forest traditionally associated with the Yoruba, noting that the survival of the sacred forest is in part due to it been seen as sacred for centuries.

    Palmer also linked its survival to concerted actionsof conservationists, building upon the heritage of the sacred in spite of the dramatic changes and development in Nigerian society over sixty or seventy years. “The forest is still there due to this fusion of the sacred and consecration,” he added.

    He stated that in 2017, Methodist Church in Kenya disclosed that its huge parcel of land on the Mombasa coast would support a new eco-hotel and retreat centre as a model for responsible tourism.

    President, Board of Trustees of the foundation, Mr.Izoma Philip Asiodu said the foundation has set out to champion the cause of nature conservation and bio-diversity in Nigeria for about four decades now, adding that its operations have been eventful through all these years due to the cooperation of local and international partners and sponsors, the Federal and States’ Ministries of Environment among others.”We have thus far recorded major landmark in the initiation and promotion of nature conservation nationwide,” he noted.

    Chairman Board of Trustees, NCF, Desmond Majekodunmi raised the alarm that there is possibility of Lagos and other Nigerian coastal states going under water. Majekodunmi however, expressed the hope that it was possible to put it in check, if certain proactive actions are taking, saying ‘we are dumping 110 million of man-made tons of global warming pollution.’

     

     

     

  • Are you a dreamer or a doer?

    Tayo a 35-year old civil engineer based in Lagos has worked for OAB, a leading construction service firm since his days as a Nigerian Youth Corp member.  When he initially got the job, Tayo drew out a 7-year progress and exit plan for himself, his plan was to spend seven years at OAB. As a young undergraduate he had dreams to revolutionalise the industry, he had taken interest in software programming and his plan was to merge his knowledge of programming with his knowledge in civil engineering to show the world a better and sustainable way to practice civil engineering.

    His tenure at OAB Construction was basically to help him gain hands on civil engineering experience and ofcourse to understand the internal working of an organization. Ten years down the line,Tayo has spent every year at work telling everyone how he plans to change the civil engineering, and everyone who has heard about his plans have told him how great they are. People only have one question to Tayo, when are you going to start?

    Tayo has not been able to even follow through with his progress and exit plan. The company of his dreams was supposed to have kicked off three years ago but there are no tangible plans on ground either for him to leave his current job or to start his company as what many people today call a side-hustle. Tayo feels stuck.

    The truth about a lot of us is we are dreamers, ‘I have an idea’ is one of our most used phrases, we romanticize the idea being great, doing great things and changing the world, but these ideas stay in our head and make up our dreams at night, but do not feature in our realities when we wake up. Most of us are dreamers and not doers.

    The dreamer is smart, open minded and creative. He has the ability to proffer solutions to problems (in his mind) and can often think outside the box. He prefers to stay in dreamland because he lacks the guts and courage to be a doer. He would come up with seemingly legitimate reasons (I call them excuses) on why his plans have not been put to action yet. The doer on the other hand has all the attributes of the dreamer, but as quick as he is to thinking so is he to action. He spends more time in reality than he does in his head. The famous Business man and Philanthropist once said W. Clement stone once said Thinking will not overcome fear, but action will.

    A thinker embraces fear, he over-analyses situations till he successfully convinces himself that he is bound to fail. He is afraid of what people may say and what people may think and how people may receive or reject his idea. He highly craves the acceptance of others and without their acceptance would never move forward. A doer on the other hand understands that an idea is not to be shared with every tom, dick and harry, so he shares his ideas with forward thinking people alone, he understands the need for encouragement, so seeks for encouragements only from fellow doers who have done greater things. To say that the doer is not afraid is to lie, the doer has fears, but is ready to do It even while afraid. He understands that courage isn’t the absence of fear but it is the ability to press on even in the face of fear. As far as failure in concerned, the doer has mastered his fear of failure and accepts that failure is the rawest and most authentic form of feedback he can get.

    Doers focus on execution, execution is consistent, regular and steady progress every day, execution for the doer means breaking down big tasks into smaller tasks and ensuring the smaller tasks get done so the bigger tasks become a reality. Execution means having a to-do list and a ‘got-done’ list to track short term and long term progress daily. Execution means saying no to distractions and focusing energy on the task to be done. The doer eats, breathes and lives execution.

    For the dreamer you have to realise that if you don’t act nothing will change. Examine your reality, do you like your current situation? Will your life be better or worse if in the next five years you are stuck in your current situation?  Be as brutally honest with yourself as you can be. The world does not reward you for your dreams, you only get rewarded for your actions. For more information on how to move from a dreamer to a doer you can send me an e-mail at gbemieobadan@gmail.com or follow me on Instagram @coachgbemz

    Remember the universe makes way and supports he who knows where he is going and takes action in that direction.

     

     

  • Praise for Dance of Dawn

    JB Burrage, a creative writer at The Mad Writer Project, has praised a new collection of poetry, The Dance of Dawn by Star Okpeh.

    Burrage said the book shows Okpeh as a true story teller.

    He said: “I witnessed this story come into this form. But the motivation started long before I came into it. When I met her and got to know her. This became something that I had to help her tell, and her energy really resonated with me. It opened my eyes.

    ‘’No poem hits me in particular, but it’s not because I thought it was it was bad work. If it was, I wouldn’t be endorsing it; and I wouldn’t be writing this unbiased review. To truly understand the value, you have to read each poem, and look at it from a view that you’ll probably normally wouldn’t see.”

    Burrage commended Star for putting her soul into this collection, noting that “she tells her story in a way that will make you think and feel. She writes a powerful tale of what’s really deep inside of her that reflects what’s really inside of us. It will make you take a glance outside of your own world’’.

    “Star is a ommunicator:atrue storyteller. A new vibe into a world that needs to be shaken and reminded of who we are, she’s the future and the bridge. She truly did something with this collection. Don’t just see it as a collection of poems. It’s a story that will be told over and over. I can’t wait to see what else she can do. Like her name, she’s a star that’s looking to brighten up the world, so it can open its eyes. Her bright light will make you dance,” she said.

  • The price I paid for writing, by Atta

    Celebrated author Sefi Atta is 55. Book lovers and friends gathered at Quintessence Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos, to celebrate her, with reading and chatting. Evelyn Osagie and JANE CHIJIOKE report.

    IT  was a day to remember by friends and well-wishers who gathered at Quintessence  Gallery, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos to rejoice with the prize-winning author and playwright, Mrs Sefi Atta, who turned 55.

    Known for her simplicity, unassuming personality, vigour and bravery in expressing her thoughts, she thrilled guests  her writing.

    Her reminiscences elicited laughter and applauses from the audience.

    Born in January 1964, her creative works, which cut across novels, stage screen and radio plays as well as short stories, have received international recognition. To her, success is freedom she enjoys in expressing herself.

    She has written several novels, short-stories stage/radio/screen plays, such as Everything good will come (Interlink Books, 2005), News from home (Interlink Books, 2010), Swallow(Interlink Books, 2010), Hagel auf Zamfara (Theatre Krefeld, Germany, 2011), A Bit of difference (Interlink Books, 2013), 2013 The wake (Smooth FM, Lagos), and 2014 Last Stand (Terra Kulture, Lagos).

    Her works has earned her diverse awards and recognitions, including 2005 PEN International David TK Wong Prize, (first prize), 2006 Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa, 2006 Caine Prize for African Writing, shortlist and 2009 Noma Award for Publishing in Africa.

     

    The price

     

    Although a successful writer, writing is a demanding aspect of her life that has physically impaired her relationships with the real world.

    “There is something that writing does that scares me. You get to a point where you think differently, talk differently and to get back into the community you have to retrain yourself even to speak normal to people.

    “Writing is hard work. It is like being a PhD student– boring.  For the worst part, I have been emotionally drawn away from people. There are so many relationships I have not kept up with like old girls, cousins for 22 years since I was writing. It is because of how much energy is required”.

    Atta has dedicated over two decades to writing, but does she regret it?  “I would say absolutely not. Then, I was at my most creative time, writing intensely and I needed to do that because I knew when I hit 50, it would be different. I wouldn’t have the kind of energy needed and I am glad about it. I have reached a point in my life that I am tired of this writing thing.  It is okay but it is not worth the relationships that I have lost over the years and I want to have them back again.”

     

    Thoughts on feminism

     

    As a feminist, she said she was weary of any ideology or movement that does not allow for divergent thoughts. Her affinity for the rights and equality of gender is depicted in her books.

    At the celebration, excerpts from some of her books were read. She remarked that her writing style had always been a reflection of her presence in her works and has nothing to do with her childhood experiences.

    Balancing her marriage and works was quite tasking. Though she had a room she dedicated to writing, her daughter’s education took priority in the home. Meanwhile, cleaning the house inspired her while she detested cooking. Her evaluation of how she has kept up with work and marriage has been with guilt as she succinctly puts it:

    “I have been very daring in my duties as a mother, wife, friend and every other relationship I have. We are used to whatever we are doing and how it impacts on our family life.  Guilt is how I manage it. There is no balance at all. At a point, I didn’t cook for two years. I told Gboyega (her husband) that I cannot cook. Cooking depletes my creative energy.  Gboyega cooked. He cooked for two years. I thanked his mother for that. I love cleaning because it goes well with my thinking, but cooking just makes me angry” she said.

     

    Thoughts on criticism

     

    Reading reviews would be one aspect that many authors would always do but not Atta. She stopped reading reviews on her book with her book, Everything Good Will Come. This was as a result of a review of her book where the reviewer wrongly pronounced the name of her main character. “I take it to heart. I don’t really care for the good ones either,” she said.

    She explained that she had received lots of negative reactions in  her writing, but she did not consider social expectations. Nonetheless, she was conscious of the beliefs, and value system that existed.

    Observing that reviews are not something writers should care too much about, she stated that they are marketing tools for public relations. She is of the opinion that a good writer should have mastery of the standards, know what the crashes are and be focused on getting better, which has been her guiding principles.

    Giving her thoughts on why many writers are better successful overseas than in Nigeria and what it holds for young aspiring writers, she attributed the tendency to the failure of government to provide basic needs, especially quality education. This, she noted has been a fundamental need for many writers.

    “It has a lot to do with our education system. This country has failed most of us and our children. There was a time in Nigeria that you do not have to be wealthy to have a decent and quality education and most of our politicians  went through that process. I just wonder why it is different now. This goes to even tertiary education level where we now have private universities”.

     

    Thoughts on marriage

     

    Asked if there was anything she would have changed in any of her books, she said: ‘’Everything Good Will Come – there is something that women go through in their 30s when they become a part of the married community that I am not experiencing now that I am in my 50s. Like I don’t have to bother about having children; don’t have to be aware that there is some form of gender inequality in marriage in Nigeria.

    “In my 30s, I took it very personal and I was angry about it. I was argumentative. I argued with my husband all the time.”

    She is married to Gboyega Ransom-Kuti.

    She continued: ‘’I gave my opinions and didn’t really care if people liked them or not, but it was not enough to keep quiet. So, I felt judged by that community and that is where the book came from.When it was published, the same people who looked at me with judgmental eyes congratulated me on it.

    “As you grow older, you really do not care about things that worried you in your 30s. That is why I would have loved to have a more promising approach towards the ending in my writing. But at the same time, it had its place. I remembered it and I know how I felt.”

     

    Overseas advantage

     

    She submitted that going abroad presents more advantages in terms of publicity, commercial success and other good benefits, adding that the best form of success is the freedom of expression without compromising artistic integrity to get ahead. Despite challenges here in Nigeria, she said there were still certain freedoms writers enjoy here than abroad.

    On a lighter note, she painted an allegory on the deceit and falsehood of successive governments, who seek favour from the electorate with promising manifestoes, but end up dashing their hopes. This, she related to her encounter with three different people whose services she employed to renovate her doors. Each of them claimed expertise on the job but ended up messing up the door.

    An actress and producer, Omoye Uzamere, described Atta as a woman who upholds the truth in her writing irrespective of how it is perceived, which served as a source of empowerment and bravery, mostly for young writers. She also commended her for contributing greatly in the Nigerian literature.

    Also, the African Magic Viewers’ Choice Award (AMVCA)- winning actress, Bikiya Graham Douglas, commended Mrs Atta for being an inspiration to her.