The Nation Newspaper

Tag: excuse

  • What’s Your Excuse?

    What’s Your Excuse?

    when Borislav and DusankaVujicic were told they would have a baby, they could hardly contain their joy. It was ‘a dream come true’. The pregnancy period was full of joyful anticipation. When the delivery day finally arrived, on December 4, 1982, Dusanka delivered her delightful baby, or so she thought until she asked the nurses about the health of her son and they couldn’t respond. When she directed the same question to the doctor, he revealed that the baby had a Phocomelia syndrome. She had worked as a midwife, so she knew what the term meant. The baby had a rare disorder resulting in the absence of arms or legs! Shocked, she refused to see the baby or hold him when the nurse held him out to her. She couldn’t understand how three sonograms did not reveal any complication. Eventually, Borislav and Dusanka accepted their son’s condition and raised the child as a dedicated Christian.

    However, this article is not about Borislav and Dusanka; it is about Nicholas James “Nick” Vujicic, the limbless child. The parents might have overcome their shock and accepted Nick but he had his entire life ahead of him. As a child, Nick struggled mentally, emotionally and physically. He battled with loneliness, depressionand bullying.

    He consistently wondered why he was different from other children. Finally, he came to terms with his condition and found his strength in God. He had to learn to stand up by pushing against the wall with his head and slowly standing upright. Gradually, he converted his obvious limitations to his greatest asset. He found his purpose in giving hope to the hopeless.

    Stop to think for a moment. You have hands and feet you are practically taking for granted. You stand and walk without even thinking. You eat with ease. You comb your hair. You type on your computer. You use your phones. Imagine for a while the limitations you would encounter without your hands and feet. Someone else would rather die than live like that, but not Nick.

    Without hands and feet, Nick Vujicic graduated from Griffith University at age 21 with a Bachelor of Commerce. He had his first speaking engagement at age 19 and has since spoken more than 3, 000 times. Nick has spoken in more than 57 countries on five continents and has met with several government officials and presidents.

    He founded a motivational speaking company, Attitude is Altitude. He is also a Christian evangelist. Nick also starred in a short film that won an award at a film festival. He has appeared on several TV shows and has authored several books. More importantly, he is happily married with two children.

    Out of curiosity, I watched some of Nick Vujicic’s videos on YouTube and could not believe my eyes when I saw him swimming, playing gulf, typing, surfing and skydiving. I couldn’t help but wonder what else Nick would have done if he had hands and feet! Obviously, he is not allowing anything to limit him. On the other hand,most of us are busy looking for reasons why we can’t achieve our goals. Here are a few lessons I got from Nick:

    • Life may not be fair but it is waiting for your response. It is not what life offers that matters but what you do with it.
    • Never live a life that is dependent on people. Stand on your feet and take responsibility for your life. You are not a liability but an asset.
    • Never settle for an average life when you can be the best. If Nick merely survived, we would have commended him for perseverance. However, he went far beyond that; be became a reason for others to hope.
    • Life and circumstances only suggest limitations to you; you are the one who imposes the limitations on yourself.
    • You can find your purpose in your situation, no matter how tough.
    • You may be rejected by many but you are someone’s masterpiece.
    • Succeeding in spite of your challenges makes you an inspiration; giving up robs you of yourhonoured place in history.
    • People who are ‘less fortunate’ are making the most of life; if you don’t, you don’t deserve your good fortune.

    You will surprise yourself if you make the most of what you already have.

    Please share your comments with me by visiting www.olanreamodu.com and following me on twitter @lanreamodu.

  • What’s your excuse?

    When Borislav and Dusanka Vujicic were told they would have a baby, they could hardly contain their joy. It was a dream come true. The pregnancy period was full of joyful anticipation. When it was finally time, on December 4, 1982, Dusanka delivered her wonderful baby, or so she thought until she asked the nurses about the health of her son and they couldn’t respond. When she directed the same question to the doctor, he revealed that the baby had a Phocomelia syndrome. She had worked as a midwife, so she knew what the term meant. The baby had a rare disorder resulting in the absence of arms or legs! Shocked, she refused to see the baby or hold him when the nurse held him out to her. She couldn’t understand how three sonograms did not reveal any complication. Eventually, Borislav and Dusanka accepted their son’s condition and raised the child as a dedicated Christian.

    However, this article is not about Borislav and Dusanka; it is about Nicholas James “Nick” Vujicic, the limbless child. The parents might have overcome their initial shock and accepted Nick but he had his entire life ahead of him. As a child, Nick struggled mentally, emotionally and physically. He battled with loneliness, depression and bullying. He consistently wondered why he was different from other children. Finally, he came to terms with his condition and found his strength in God. Gradually, he converted his obvious limitations to his greatest asset. He found his purpose in giving hope to the hopeless.

    Stop to think for a moment. You have hands and feet you are practically taking for granted. You stand and walk without even thinking. You eat with ease. You comb your hair. You type on your computer. You use your phones. Imagine for a while the limitations you would encounter without your hands and feet. Someone else would rather be dead than live like that but not Nick.

    Without hands and feet, Nick Vujicic graduated from Griffith University at age 21 with a Bachelor of Commerce. He had his first speaking engagement at age 19 and has since spoken more than 3, 000 times. Nick has spoken in more than 57 countries on five continents and has met with several government officials and presidents. He founded a motivational speaking company, Attitude is Altitude. He is also a Christian evangelist. Nick also starred in a short film that won an award at a film festival. He has appeared on several TV shows and has authored several books. More importantly, he is happily married with two children.

    Out of curiosity, I watched some of Nick Vujicic’s videos on YouTube and could not believe my eyes when I saw him swimming, playing gulf, typing, surfing and skydiving. I couldn’t help but wonder what else Nick would have done if he had hands and feet! Obviously, he is not allowing anything to limit him while we are busy looking for reasons why we can’t achieve our goals. Here are a few lessons I learnt from Nick:

    • Life may not be fair but it is waiting for our response. It is not what life is that matters but how we react to it.
    • Never live a life that is dependent on people. Stand on your feet and take responsibility for your life. You are not a liability but an asset.
    • Never settle for an average life when you can be the best. If Nick merely survived, we would have commended him for perseverance. However, he went far beyond that; be became a reason for others to hope.
    • Life and circumstances only suggest limitations to you; you are the one that imposes the limitations on yourself.
    • You can find your purpose in your situation, no matter how tough.
    • You may be rejected by many but you are someone’s masterpiece.

    I believe there are several people out there who have beat the odds to achieve the impossible. It may be as simple as passing an examination people said was impossible to pass or as complex as surviving a terminal medical condition. This article is dedicated to you. Please comment below or send me a message and I will share your story on this page. Other people need to know that IT IS POSSIBLE!

  • What’s your excuse?

    When Borislav and Dusanka Vujicic were told they would have a baby, they could hardly contain their joy. It was a dream come true. The pregnancy period was full of joyful anticipation. When it was finally time, on December 4, 1982, Dusanka delivered her wonderful baby, or so she thought until she asked the nurses about the health of her son and they couldn’t respond. When she directed the same question to the doctor, he revealed that the baby had a Phocomelia syndrome. She had worked as a midwife, so she knew what the term meant. The baby had a rare disorder resulting in the absence of arms or legs. Shocked, she refused to see the baby or hold him when the nurse held him out to her. She couldn’t understand how three sonograms did not reveal any complication. Eventually, Borislav and Dusanka accepted their son’s condition and raised the child as a dedicated Christian.

    However, this article is not about Borislav and Dusanka; it is about Nicholas James “Nick” Vujicic, the limbless child. The parents might have overcome their shock and accepted Nick but he had his entire life ahead of him. As a child, Nick struggled mentally, emotionally and physically. He battled with loneliness, depression and bullying. He consistently wondered why he was different from other children. Finally, he came to terms with his condition and found his strength in God. He had to learn to stand up by pushing against the wall with his head and slowing standing upright. Gradually, he converted his obvious limitations to his greatest asset. He found his purpose in giving hope to the hopeless.

    Stop to think for a moment. You have hands and feet you are practically taking for granted. You stand and walk without even thinking. You eat with ease. You comb your hair. You type on your computer. You use your phones. Imagine for a while the limitations you would encounter without your hands and feet. Someone else would rather be dead than live like that but not Nick.

    Without hands and feet, Nick Vujicic graduated from Griffith University at age 21 with a Bachelor of Commerce. He had his first speaking engagement at age 19 and has since spoken more than 3, 000 times. Nick has spoken in more than 57 countries on five continents and has met with several government officials and presidents. He founded a motivational speaking company, Attitude is Altitude. He is also a Christian evangelist. Nick also starred in a short film that won an award at a film festival. He has appeared on several TV shows and has authored several books. More importantly, he is happily married with two children.

    Out of curiosity, I watched some of Nick Vujicic’s videos on YouTube and could not believe my eyes when I saw him swimming, playing gulf, typing, surfing and skydiving. I couldn’t help but wonder what else Nick would have done if he had hands and feet! Obviously, he is not allowing anything to limit him while we are busy looking for reasons why we can’t achieve our goals. Here are a few lessons I got from Nick:

    • Life may not be fair but it is waiting for our response. It is not what life is that matters but what we do with it.
    • Never live a life that is dependent on people. Stand on your feet and take responsibility for your life. You are not a liability but an asset.
    • Never settle for an average life when you can be the best. If Nick merely survived, we would have commended him for perseverance. However, he went far beyond that; be became a reason for others to hope.
    • Life and circumstances only suggest limitations to you; you are the one that imposes the limitations on yourself.
    • You can find your purpose in your situation, no matter how tough.
    • You may be rejected by many but you are someone’s masterpiece.

    I believe there are several people out there who have beaten the odds to achieve the impossible. I appreciate those who have sent me their comments already. This article is dedicated to you. Please send me more messages and I will share your story on this page. Have a blessed weekend.

  • Poverty no excuse, pupils told

    Poverty no excuse, pupils told

    Poor learning environment, socio-economic background, among others, have been dismissed by some experts as factors inhibiting success in life.

    They spoke at the Beyond the School, an initiative of Nigerian Breweries Plc, which held at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    About 250 pupils drawn from five public schools in Lagos, namely: Oregun Senior Secondary School, Oregun; Vetland Senior Secondary School, Agege; Government Senior Secondary School, Ikoyi; Baptist Senior High School, Obanikoro and Eric Moore Senior High School, Surulere attended the career counselling event.

    They were told that their successes in life depended on the choices they make.

    The Coordinator of the programme, Mrs Clementine Vervelde, said: “Poverty is no excuse. Being African is an advantage, not a disadvantage. Respect who you are.”

    Rather than focus on their unfortunate situation, she counselled the pupils to cultivate the habit of reading wide, discover their abilities, talents and be ready for career opportunities when they come.

    Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Thistle Praxis, Mrs Ini Onuk, said she was the daughter of a roadside watch repairer and attended a public school with five siblings. But because she was brilliant and focused, she excelled.

    “It is not about your background; it is about you.  It is about what you want to be.  You can be anything you want to be if only you just focus. I attended Badagry Grammar School.  I was Senior Prefect (Girl) from SS1-SS3.  It was not because there were no SS3 students, but I was hot.  Never allow anything to be a limitation.  One of the rules of my life is that nothing is impossible,” she said.

    Regional Programme Coordinator of Junior Achievement Nigeria, Mr Abiodun Adegbola, who addressed the pupils on “Growing your money”, said poverty should not push anyone to crime.

    Adegbola, who said he lost his father early and had to sponsor himself through the university, said: “Because your parents are not well to do does that mean you should become a nuisance tomorrow? No!”

    He also gave tips on financial discipline, advising the pupils to cultivate a savings and investment habit early in life.

    The Corporate Affairs Adviser, NB, Mr. Kufre Ekanem, noted that it was the first time more than one school was brought to the event.

    He explained that a financial segment and competition were added to the programme to prepare the pupils to manage their careers successfully.

    “Some of you may end up running your own business enterprises at the end of your academic pursuit.  You should, therefore, not neglect any new information that you gather at an event like this,” he said.

    In the Monopoly competition segment, Alabi Samod of Government Senior Secondary School, Ikoyi,Lagos won the first prize and went home with N500, 000 and a cash prize of N100, 000. Emmanuel Peter of Oregun Senior Secondary School, Oregun came second and got an educational fund of N250, 000 and N50, 000 cash prize.

    The five winners in the third, fourth and fifth positions got N60,000, N50,000, and N20,000.

    All the pupils also got take-home packs of Monopoly game.

  • No excuse against Sudan — Oboabona

    No excuse against Sudan — Oboabona

    Super Eagles defender, Godfrey Oboabona has thrown to the dustbin the excuse of weather and altitude as impediment to Nigeria beating Sudan today in 2015 Africa Nations Cup qualifier.

    “There is no hiding place for us now because anything beside a total victory and winning the three points at stake won’t do us any good. So the issue of weather or altitude is out of the question this time.

    “We need to beat Sudan in Khartoum or wherever the match will be played. I can assure all Eagles’ fans that we will win the match and come Back home to finish the job in the return leg so that we can bounce back in our quest to win the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations’ ticket”, Oboabona assured.

    The Çaykur Rizespor of Turkey defender also reflected the mood in camp for today’s match. “Everybody in camp is singing beat Sudan at all cost. So there is no excuse for failure and by the special grace of God we will deliver”, he prayed.

  • ‘No excuses Keshi, just get the team to play’

    ‘No excuses Keshi, just get the team to play’

    Stephen Keshi’s claim he has a team of inexperienced players who are not exposed is a mere excuse when what is expected of him is to get them to improve by the next game.

    On Saturday, Mali for the first time at full international level beat Nigeria 2-1 in an opening Group A CHAN match because the Super Eagles were pathetic on the night.

    Keshi’s team in South Africa do not lack experience or exposure and a quick review will prove this –

    Chigozie Agbim – He played in Sudan many years ago and has been the country’s third choice goalkeeper for several years now.

    Azubuike Egwuekwe – He is another full international and but for illness would have featured at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. He also featured at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and has represented Warri Wolves internationally.

    Solomon Kwambe, Benjamin Francis – Both fullbacks have been very much part of the full international squad and featured against Italy in November among several other A internationals they have played.

    Ejike Uzoenyi – He is another full international, who has even posted a short stint in the French Ligue 1.

    Rabiu Ali – One of the most experienced players in the Nigerian league, who has featured for Kano Pillars in three CAF Champions League campaigns.

    Ifeanyi Ede – He has featured for Enugu Rangers and now with Enyimba, where he has played in the CAF Champions League.

    Gbolahan Salami – The Shooting Stars forward has played for Nigeria ‘B’ team since 2009 and has represented the country at U-20 and Olympic team levels.

    Ugonna Uzochukwu – He is skipper of one of the country’s top clubs, Enugu Rangers and captained them at last year’s ill-fated CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup campaigns. It is therefore clear to see that Keshi is not short of experienced players at CHAN.

    As for exposure, the team have most recently had the benefit of two international friendlies in Jordan and against Ethiopia in Abuja. It is a build-up that most of the other teams at this tournament did not enjoy.

    Against Mali on Saturday, the Eagles defence was in shambles, the midfield did not come to the party and so the team created very few chances as against what the more tactically aware Mali produced.

    It is rather baffling that the defence, which ought to be the team’s strongest suit at the CHAN going by the wealth of experience there, was the team’s biggest undoing.

    On Wednesday, Nigeria must beat a decent Mozambique side to revive their hopes in this tournament, which is no longer a jamboree as it has been graded by FIFA as a full international competition.

    It will most certainly not be an easy task particularly as public confidence in the team has taken a big body blow after Saturday’s disgrace.

    But it is now up to the players to stand up and be counted so that the country could get behind them again and not see them as a distraction and a waste of time before the World Cup in June.

  • Okupe’s excuse for presidential lethargy

    Okupe’s excuse for presidential lethargy

    The Senior Special Adviser to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, is giftedly verbose, among other lofty talents he exhibits, sometimes to our surprise, and at other times to our dismay. This column once said this special spokesman, whom some media outfits lavishly described as President Goodluck Jonathan’s attack dog, was capable of defending two contrasting positions with equal plausibility, or attacking them with equal venom. We obviously underrate him. He is in fact capable of so much more. In attacking the nine governors of the proposed All Progressives Congress (APC) who visited Borno State last week, Okupe showed his other talent for arguing without logic and saying nothing in a grand manner. Hear him: “The APC Governors’ visit was hurriedly packaged to preempt the visit of Mr. President, which had been planned and scheduled several weeks ago. This is surely an act of crass opportunism and political desperation on the part of these governors and the party they represent. We regard that visit as a media circus, stunt and photo-ops by these governors who were apparently in Maiduguri to feather their political nests.”

    Try as hard as you can, you are never going to find rhyme or reason in Mr Okupe’s statements. Assuming the president planned his visit earlier than the governors, and he needed all of the more than 21 months he has been in office to get round to it, why blame the enterprising opposition for seizing the moment? In any case, the president’s security agents knew the opposition planned to visit Maiduguri; why didn’t the president’s advisers coax his immobile majesty into bringing his own plans forward? The essence of opposition politics is to always take advantage of the ruling party’s or president’s lethargy by stealing, subverting or adapting their plans. It is a sensible and perfectly legitimate enterprise.

    But Okupe does not normally stop at bad; he must proceed to worse as unalterably as he sleeps at night. Hear him again: “If I may ask, where were these governors in the last 18 months that they had been in office? It is obvious that it is part of their mobilisation drive that took them to Borno State rather than any patriotic call to duty. These are desperate power mongers who flock together in spite of their obvious conflicting political philosophies and inordinate ambitions.” Only Okupe is capable of drawing a line in Maiduguri between mobilisation and patriotism. No one else can; not even Pythagoras.

    Yet, as everyone knows of politics, mobilisation is an integral part of winning elections. And as if justifying the pejorative label the media gave him, the presidential spokesman then abusively described the APC governors as desperate power mongers. In addition, he gleefully announced that the governors, whom he called opportunists, could not agree on a unifying philosophy nor moderate their ambitions. He gives the impression the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has agreed on a philosophy and does not suffer from inordinate ambition. Apart from not having an explanation for the president’s delay in visiting Borno State, and rather than conceding they’ve been trumped, Okupe instead added the incredible fatuousness that whenever elected officials worked, they did us a favour. Well, let Okupe continue to put his nose to the propaganda grindstone; for as his service under Chief Olusegun Obasanjo showed, he is unlikely to ever rise beyond the level of the intolerably mundane anyway.