The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Hard work

  • My hard work is paying off, says Plateau United’s Danladi

    My hard work is paying off, says Plateau United’s Danladi

    Plateau United’s Isa Danladi has attributed his brilliant performance in the 2016 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) to hard work.

    Many had questioned the move of the ex-Sharks shot-stopper to Jos despite his experience, but it turned to be a good one as he had one of his best seasons since he turned professional.

    “I believe hardwork was one of the the key factors that propelled me in the last top-flight season,” Danladi told Goal.

    “My performance was great. As a team we fought a lot of battles and scaled through the hurdle.

    “There was a lot of determination and willingness to win games and the quality in terms of individual players also helped us get the points that we needed in the last 15 games of the last season.

    “I have settled down very well in Jos. My major objective is to play for Plateau United in the next campaign and see what happens.”

  • Council urges youths on hard work

    Council urges youths on hard work

    The Sole Administrator of Mosan Okunola Local Council Development Area, Lagos State Mr. Rotimi Ogunwuyi has urged youths to shun vices and embrace hard work in order to be useful to themselves and the society.

    He spoke during the distribution of General Certificate Education (GCE) forms to 50 youths of the council.

    Ogunwuyi explained that the country was undergoing a structural change that will turn the country around, adding that the youth must show interest in matters that will enhance their development.

    He further stressed that students should take their studies seriously. This, he said, will ensure their success in any examination, noting that it was time they did away with shortcuts approach to attaining success in their examinations.

    He said: “There is no magic about success. You need to work hard by reading your books always. History has shown that those who apply the principle of hard work excelled in their examinations.

    “It is unfortunate that some youths often resort to unorthodox method by hiring mercenaries and following dubious paths towards attaining success in any examination because they want to pass at all costs. At the end, they pay for such serpentine approach.

    “I therefore urge you in your own interest to work hard. Those who excel will be further assisted in their future careers.”

    Ogunwuyi maintained that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) frowns at special centres where all sorts of abnormalities are perpetuated.

    “You must imbibe the spirit of hard work, diligence and truthfulness in all your dealings. This is the era of change and everything must change positively,” he said.

  • Minister parleys with staff • Preaches love, dedication, hard work

    Minister parleys with staff • Preaches love, dedication, hard work

    The Minister of Youth and Sports,  Solomon Dalong has pledged that the rights and privileges of staff would be protected during his tenure in office, while calling on staff to expunge primitive sentiments by eschewing bitterness, rancour and embrace love, dedication and hard work.

    Addressing the staff of the National Sports Commission (NSC) yesterday at the National Stadium, Abuja, Dalong admonished the workers to key into the role sports play in our national unity.  He said: “We must see ourselves as a people, act as a people and work as a people for the progress of Nigeria”, adding”, “every person should have passion for the nation as there is no other than Nigeria.”

    He urged the top management to understand that the level of success which they have attained could be assessed through the impact they made on the lives of their subordinates.  He urged them to think of the welfare of these subordinates at all times because “the management cannot think well than those taking orders from them.”

    Speaking earlier, the Director General, Alhassan Yakmut assured of staff cooperation and undiluted service.

  • Hard work is secret of success, freshers told

    Hard work is secret of success, freshers told

    The Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State chapter of National Association of Mass Communication Students (NAMACOS) has welcomed freshers to the department.

    The department’s Relaxation Centre was filled to the brim last Wednesday for the orientation. The three-day event was organised to expose and make the freshers adapt to the academic culture of the department.

    Head of Department (HOD), Dr Babatunde Oyinade, led other members of staff to the event, which had ex-CAMPUSLIFE man, Shola Ilesanmi, as guest speaker.

    Ilesanmi, who is now a reporter, shared his experience in campus journalism with the students, telling them how he worked hard and rose to become one of most celebrated journalists in Ondo State.

    He advised the students to pursue their potentials with passion for them to succeed in the profession. He said: “Journalism has changed from the conventional news gathering and writing. The profession now requires interpretative and analytical skills of reporter to inform the people in the best way.”

    He urged the freshers to read extensively and pay attention to details to keep themselves abreast of happenings around them. This, he said, is the secret to become successful journalist.

    Dr Oyinade advised the students to work hard and be committed to their studies, saying the department frowns at laziness.

    NAMACOS president, Idowu Owoseni, urged them to obey the school rules to avoid expulsion. She promised that the association would always attend to issues bordering on their welfare.

    The students were taught how to calculate their Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA).

    On the second day, there was a friendly match between the freshers and their senior colleagues. The match ended in tie, leading to a penalty shootout. On the third day, there was beauty pageant, where Mr and Miss NAMACOS were picked.

    Some of the freshers, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, described the events as memorable. Paul Olatunji said the orientation was an inspiration for him to achieve his dreams. He said:  “From the first day to the last, I found the event as inspiration. I enjoyed the seminar and a session where we were taught how to calculate our CGPA. I have learnt how to be a good student and how to achieve my aims.”

    For Damilare Faseun, the event was spectacular because he learnt life-changing tips on from the guest speaker.

    Another fresher, Oluwadamilola Adeniji, said she was captivated by Ilesanmi’s story. “My takeaway from the event is that, the end of hard work is success. I also want to have a good story to share at the end of my programme,” she said.

     

  • ‘Hard work is key to success’

    Freshers admitted into Ogun State College of Health Technology in Ilese-Ijebu have been urged to work hard to achieve excellence. The Provost, Dr Tunji Dawodu, spoke when the college held its matriculation for the students.

    The ceremony was graced by the families of the matriculating students.

    Dr Dawodu urged them to be of good conduct and face their studies with all seriousness. He said: “It is my advice that you all be of good behaviour and remain focus, so as not to have any conflict with the college’s rules and regulations. Having chosen to take up career in the health sector, a lot of responsibilities are staring you in the face.

    “You must be diligent, smart and hardworking. You should also know that regular attendance in class is compulsory, because it forms part of the evaluation criteria. Continuous assessment should be taken seriously because at the end of the day, it adds up to grade points average. Be respectful to your lecturers and obey all lawful instructions. Be vigilant, be security conscious and be careful of the company that you keep.”

    The Acting Registrar, Mr Toyin Obatosin, advised the students to see their studies as primary objective on the campus, while urging them to be obedient. “You must exhibit best conduct in studies and behaviour in order to excel and successfully pass out of the college,” he said.

    Ayorinde Dipeolu, a fresh student of Health Information Management, said: “I shall exhibit good conduct and respect the regulations of the school as well as engendering robust relationship with the lecturers throughout my stay.”

    The ceremony ended with the traditional handshaking of the freshers with the Provost.

     

  • Echiejile: hard work can propel Monaco to glory

    Echiejile: hard work can propel Monaco to glory

    Injured Super Eagles and Monaco of France defender, Elderson Echiejile has revealed that his side can do well in the Ligue 1 this season as well as in Europe.

    Monaco beat Montpellier 1-0 yesterday evening at La Mosson in a Ligue 1 clash and Echiejile stated that with the amount of talent in the team, all that was left to be done was concentration and hard work.

    “We have great players with great dreams and power,” he said. “We have players with all qualities in every department so I think we just have to work really hard.”

    He added: “If we stick together, what we’ll achieve will really surprise people.”

    Echiejile has featured only once for Monaco this season, disappointingly in a 4-1 mauling by Girondins de Bordeaux earlier in August.

    Monaco have accrued just 10 points this season with the win at La Mosson seeing them climb to the first half of the table.

  • Reward for hard work, loyalty, as traders get car gift

    Those who toil often have cause to smile when they reap the fruits of their labour. Two traders in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, have been given two new cars for their perseverance and loyalty. OSEHEYE OKWUOFU writes.

    Hundreds of traders at Bodija and Gbagi International markets in Ibadan, Oyo State, abandoned their shops just to witness what many had thought was impossible.

    Curious motorists and passersby even pulled aside by the road to have a glimpse of the presentation of the brand new cars to the winners of this year’s customers bonanza organised by Unilever Nigeria PLC.

    They all defied the scorching sun to watch the handing over of the keys to the winners.

    At Bodija Market where the event took place, it was a huge gathering of foodstuff traders and other onlookers, anxiously waiting to see the reality of the event.

    Some had expressed doubt that the ceremony could turn out to be a mere showy display, and cast doubt on the sincerity of the organisers.

    On a wooden platform stood the brand new “tear rubber” metallic green Hyundai car which was the attraction of many eyes .

    Friends, relatives and well wishers of the winners were jubilating, while others were thrilled by the car award to a petty trader.

    The foodstuff section of the Bodija Market was almost empty on the fateful day as only few were left in their shops.

    When it was time for the officials of Unilever Nigeria Plc to formally present the brand new Hyundai cars to each of the two ‘Bestsellers’ in the state that emerged winners, many raised their voices shouting praises to God .

    They described the award as a sign to all that nothing is too great for God to accomplish in the lives of men.

    The lucky winners, Alhaja Oyindamola Salam from Bodija Market and Mrs. Shola Akinyele from Gbagi Market were filled with disbelief as the keys of the cars were handed over to them.

    The two traders who were acclaimed by Unilever as “long-standing reliable customers” could not believe their eyes as they were formally presented the keys of their respective car in the presence of hundreds of other traders who had stormed the presentation ceremony which was jointly coordinated by the company’s Field Sales Manager (Foods), Mr. Taofiq Ositade and the Assistant Customer Marketing Manager (Foods), Mrs. Adeola Bodunrin.

    Alhaja Oyindamola Salam, who has been selling food condiments and provisions for over two decades, expressed gratitude to God for deeming it fit to uplift her and thanked the company for the award.

    When asked what she would do with the car, Alhaja Salam said” ah! I will not think of selling it because there is a purpose why God gave me this car at this point of my life. I will be using this car as a personal ride to my shop and attend occasions.”

    While explaining that the car was her first, the 62 year old trader expressed her commitment to her trade, adding that it pays to be committed to whatever one is doing in life.

    Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ositade disclosed that Unilever presented a total of 13 cars to lucky winners across the country in 2013 adding that loyal customers are similarly being rewarded this year as part of the organisation’s corporate social responsibility.  This he said was with a view to appreciating their contribution to the growth of the Unilever group.

    While congratulating the two winners from Oyo State, he noted with delight that Ibadan has remained a vibrant market for the assorted products from the Unilever group.

    Ositade remarked that Unilever will continue to produce foodstuffs and culinary that would make people feel and enjoy good lives.

    Responding, the beneficiaries commended Unilever for the good gesture promising to continue to be good ambassadors of the company.

  • Untitled post 158901

    Jibril Adewunmi, a 400-Level student of Agricultural Science at the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU) in Lapai, Niger State, is a hip-hop artiste known in the music industry as Africana. He shot into limelight when he featured in one of the tracks by Olamide titled Mawomi. He tells YINKA OLATUNBOSUN (300-Level Chemistry) what keeps him going.

    ou performed alongside Olamide in Mawomi; how was it?
    That was the talk of the town then. I thank God for the gift of life. All things work together for good. I grew up with Olamide, but the story has changed for him now. As you can see, he is now popular and successful. Every youth in Nigeria is his fan today. The truth is I felt very delighted working and featuring with Olamide. It was the biggest thing for me working with him.
    How are you faring in music?
    It is not easy. Piracy is the greatest concern to us. You can imagine somebody investing millions of naira in a project and, at the end, he cannot even get half of his investment. That is the challenge before us. This has made many promoters not to invest in upcoming artistes like me. We are appealing to the government to intensify its efforts to solve this problem.
    Do your parents support your music career?
    You know in everything one does in life, parents have to be in support; otherwise, one may not be successful in it. It is either they curse you or bless you. So, parents are very important in everything a child does in life. My parents have been very supportive of my work. Since they can see the talent in me, they have no excuse other than to support me.

    In fact, they have been wonderful.
    How do you combine music with your academics?
    Music is part of me but I don’t leave my studies when I am not supposed to.
    is the best course because it gives students freedom to be self-reliant. What I mean is that one does not need to start submitting curriculum vitae. But in music, you cannot sit in one place and expect a producer and marketer to come and meet you. It is never done. The successful musicians of today have faced challenges before getting to where they are today. I think we need discipline to balance the two sides.
    In a sentence, who is Africana?
    Africana is someone who believes in hard work
    How do you cope with female students on campus?
    We cannot do without female fans. They are our mothers and we need to take care of them. We just have to be around them so that we will not go astray. One way or the other, we just can’t do without them.
    What is your philosophy about life?
    Be careful and be helpful to people you meet on your way to the top, because you may meet them on your way down.
    Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
    You can’t run faster than your shadow. Everyone expects Africana to be almost in the same level with Olamide, but our destiny can never be the same. Don’t forget God is the master planner, you propose God dispose. I think I will be fine where God wants me to be through hard work and prayer.
    What will Africana never be caught doing?
    I will never be caught on the highway disposing people of their belongings.
    What is your advice to youths?
    I will say that they should always listen to good advice from elderly people. They must also work hard and be prayerful. Prayer answers all things money cannot.

  • ‘Hard work breeds success’

    The Lagos State Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Mrs Oluranti Idiat Adebule, was awarded PhD in Curriculum Education at the Lagos State University’s 18th convocation. she speaks with ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA, on her rough road to success.

    How do you feel that a new feather has been added to your cap?

    As an academic, it is indeed a feeling of fulfilment and satisfaction that I was able to surmount the odd because acquiring PhD is not a cup of tea. It is a very important requirement for any academic to reach the pinnacle of his career because it is the gateway to higher lights and achievements in the tertiary education environment. It is the key that opens all available doors and opportunities in a university environment because there will be no limitations. Therefore, there is no gainsaying that I feel elated to join the academic circle.

    What new challenges has your new status thrown up?

    The new challenges are numerous, but they are not insurmountable once you are prepared to take them on. The foremost is that you become more visible with resultant higher expectations in terms of publications, conferences and seminars, contributions to knowledge and practice and contributions to the university and the society at large. There is the notion that PhD holders know everything and therefore the big challenge is for you to continue to expand your knowledge in order to meet this ever expanding expectation. Indeed, it is a whole lot of challenges to keep with.

    How are you able to combine your duty as SSG while doing your PhD?

    In actual fact, I have almost concluded my PhD work before my appointment as Secretary to the Lagos State Government. Most of the rigorous work of writing, field work to the Southwest states, analysing and interpreting the results had been concluded before my appointment; and this was why I was able to submit my thesis to the department of Language Arts and Social Science Education in September 2011, two months after my appointment as SSG. Although, the final defence at the School of Post-Graduate Studies didn’t take place until June 19, 2012 due to so many months of strike action by LASU staff. Really, I didn’t have to combine my schedules as SSG with the PhD work.

    What are the lessons the rigour of your PhD work taught you?

    I don’t know if there are lessons to be learnt. But if there is any, one of it will be that hard work breeds success. There is no easy way to PhD; it involves a whole lot of hard work, sleepless nights, networking and in my case, travelling to the six Southwest states to get approval to administer research instruments and subsequently going to administer them. It is after this that the work starts, which includes collation, recording, analysing, interpreting, and recommending. In my case, my supervisor modified my topic twice after going far on the previous topics and I had to start all over. But with determination and hard work, I was able to successfully complete the programme.

    After your PhD, what next?

    I always put Almighty Allah first in everything I do and that I will not change Insha Allah. So, the Almighty leads the way and I follow. That is what I have done all my life. Despite this submission, looking forward is natural for me and this implies that I will have to continue to publish in local, national, and international journals because as an academic, you either publish or you perish. The implication is that through hard work and dedication, I hope to reach the pinnacle of my career as an academic, that is, become a professor in the near future no matter in what capacity or level I might have been called to serve my state, country or humanity.