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Tag: Moses Emorinken

HEARTS…a story of love, heartbreak and life [PART TWO]

In pretence, he would gloat with his shoulders raised high in the presence of his goons. However, deep within him was the ensnared little man in manacles and chains of addictions; crying for help. The heaps of adulations from his friends were millstones and burdens weighing heavy on his soul. He felt lost, empty, finished and dry.

Fast forward into the seminar hall where she is conveniently seated with other participants and of course, the charmer – “Mr Femi”.

Femi, on the other hand just could not help himself because the innocent-looking, gregarious, and adorable Amarachi had caught his fancy. His mind was so busy with thoughts and plots to win her heart that he unconsciously voiced the words – “I must get her!”. The person seated next to him quickly turned to Femi’s direction and shook is head…he must have muttered – “i am so sorry for you”. Femi quickly comported himself and at least pretended to be listening to the facilitator.

Read also: HEARTS…a story of love, heartbreak and life [PART ONE]

Now Femi hasn’t always been a serial womaniser, in fact, he was a well brought up and cultured young man from a well-to-do family. He was an only son amongst three female siblings who were always in the boarding school. His early childhood was not so different from an average child that lives in Lagos. He played on the streets under the sun and in the rain, enjoyed comic books and videos games, displayed some caricature Jackie Chan moves after watching one of the classic movies, and hated to have his bath twice daily; he did what boys his age would normally do.

However, his days of innocence were coming to an end rather too early at the age of 11 when his entrepreneur dad and banker mom decided to employ Edidiong as a house help. As part of her chores, she was responsible for tending to Femi – from feeding, bathing, down to bringing him from school daily. Femi hardly saw his parents even on weekends. They are usually out of the house before he’s astir in the morning and arrived very late at night when he’s already asleep. He’s always in the company and tutelage of the housemaid who cared less about him, save for her monthly emolument.

One very unfortunate day, the unexpected happened to Femi. “Femi come here”, Edidiong said with her airy-low voice. She took him to her room, turned the key twice in a clockwise direction to lock the door, and closed the window blinds.

Read also: HEARTS…a story of love, heartbreak and life [CONCLUDING PART]

Femi stood transfixed in the centre of the room not having the slightest idea or premonition of what was about to go down. Aunty Edidiong, he said. What are you doing? Why are you locking the door and windows? She walked slowly towards him, drew him close to herself and said “let me show you something!” That was the beginning of the end of the affable and morally cultured Femi. She abused him sexually and threatened to take his life should he report the incident to anyone, especially his parents.

Edidiong stayed with his family as their housemaid for another seven years. These years were a gestation period into sexual addiction and inordinate foray for Femi. His mind and body had been re-engineered, reconditioned and tampered with by the housemaid so much so that his profligacy and womanising tendencies had reached astronomical proportions before he was 18 years old.

Now Femi is 29, every night he reminisces about his life – the scores of relationships he had been in, the hearts he had broken and other “touching” stories better left untold. He sheds tears sometimes because he knows that he could be a better man and live a better life instead of the bestial adventure that reeks from his being.

Femi is the happening guy, the man of the moment, the ladies man, the “oshomo one” of Nigeria etc. These are some of the alias and praise names his friends would usually heap upon him. In pretence, he would gloat with his shoulders raised high in the presence of his cohorts. However, deep within him was the ensnared little man in manacles and chains of addictions; crying for help. The heaps of adulations from his friends were literally millstones and burdens weighing heavy on his soul. He felt lost, empty, finished, and dry.

Now the program was over and Amarachi had packed her seminar materials and was heading for the bus stop when Femi quickly drove his Mercedes-Benz C-Class beside her, wind down his side window and offered to give her a lift. Please milady, can i give you a ride?

Watch out for the concluding part…

By Moses Emorinken

Email: brandphase@yahoo.com

Twitter: @memorinken

Instagram: @memorinken

October 24, 2017
What REALLY does Happy Weekend Sir mean?

Quite frankly, what really is the meaning of HAPPY WEEKEND Sir or Ma in Nigeria?

I’m sure some of us enjoyed our weekend with families and friends; we most likely would have met a person or two wishing us a happy weekend.

Does it mean different things to different people, from different places, in different professions or for different reasons?

Does this popular phrase which heralds the beginning of the weekend have hidden and coded connotations behind it?

It became more popular when Show Dem Camp ( SDC ) released the song – “Happy Weekend” in 2014.

When your Pastor or Imam tells you…HAPPY WEEKEND SIR, it most likely means God bless you and your family…enjoy your weekend!

However, if a policeman, a security man, a secretary or Personal Assistant to the Director you are seeking a contract from or some other persons and personalities tell you – HAPPY WEEKEND Sir, does it really mean something else?

So we ask the question: WHAT IS THE MEANING OF HAPPY WEEKEND Sir or Ma?

Feel free to give us your opinion.

Happy weekdays to you all!

October 23, 2017
HEARTS…a story of love, heartbreak and life [PART ONE]

With her head pressed tightly against her pillow, shedding warm tears that literally deluged her pillow, she cried all night, engaged in a pity party; asking God why her parents would call it quits – a once blissful marriage. She now feels a void, one that needs to be filled urgently before she loses her mind; she feels empty, finished and dry.

First, it was an introduction; a seemingly harmless remark of “how are you?…my name is Femi!”. In response, she gives a restrained and innocuous smile out of courtesy, and tries to add the formal appellation of “Mr…” before returning the pleasantry. But quickly, like a predator that stealthily and hastily latches onto its unsuspecting prey, he interrupts and says – “please simply call me Femi.” She holds back her smile again and said…“ok then, Femi…it’s nice meeting you!”

The breakout session was over, and everyone was required to congregate back as an audience and maintain their sitting arrangement. She politely excused herself and went to have a seat. From the corner of her eye she could see Femi…sorry, Mr Femi, staring at her; his head tilted almost permanently towards her direction.

Read also: HEARTS…a story of love, heartbreak and life [PART TWO]

Femi was seated four seats before her (on the same row). She could hardly concentrate on the topic being discussed by the facilitator; all she could think about was how brazenly smart and articulate he was during her first encounter with him. Femi is the quintessential ladies’ dream-guy; he had the built (tall and sturdy) that most ladies delight in, skin tone that resonates between fair and chocolate, a baritone voice that literally reverberates and echoes in the receptacles your subconscious minutes after he has spoken, a clean low-cut with a well-trimmed goatee.

Taking a cursory dive into a “not too distant past” of Amarachi (yes, that’s her name), say a year ago, you would see her pressing her head tightly against her pillow, shedding warm tears that literally deluged her pillow. She cried all night, and engaged in a pity party; asking God why her parents would call it quits – a once blissful marriage.

Read also: HEARTS…a story of love, heartbreak and life [CONCLUDING PART]

She just turned twenty one, and was returning home after the completion of her one-year compulsory National Youth Service Corps (N.Y.S.C) program to her fatherland. Her steps were literally prancing, springing and pouncing as she drew close to her family house; in fact, she was barely six feet away from the gate when she raced into the house hoping to receive an overwhelming shower of love and warm embrace from her dad and mom; she is an only child.

Her infantile excitement quickly turned sour and sore as she beheld an abusive scene of her father bludgeoning and pummeling down on her mom; his big fist tightly clenched and dashing out unrestrained blows on her. She quickly rushed to separate the duo before her father gives a KO (Knockout).

He had a brutal and bestial deportment and demeanour; a side of him she had never seen before. Her mother laid on the tiled floor drenched in tears, sweat, and something that looked like blood…Oh no…it was her blood. The situation was critical, but thanks to the swift response from the state ambulance service unit, her mom was rushed to the hospital and was operated on quickly. After two weeks she was out of the hospital.

Ever since that unfortunate incident, her once congenial and loving family had morphed into a house of commotion…heck!, a house of conundrum and confusion. Every day in the house was like a typical sad and depressing scenery from a classic tragedy movie…an unending saga of bitter and tempestuous relationship between her parents.

The last straw that broke the camel’s back was when her mother filed for a divorce, and her dad in his usual egoistic machismo bragged about his foray into adultery and how he regrets ever laying eyes on his wife.

Now they are divorced. Amarachi shuttles incommodiously between her mother’s newly rented apartment and her father’s house. She lays flat on the bed, her eyes looking up at the ceiling; her thoughts receding to the good times they once had as a family; like a transient smoke that quickly disappears into thin air, those times have become nothing more than empty memories…forever buried in the annals of history…her history!

With her head pressing tightly against her pillow, shedding warm tears that literally deluged her pillow, she cried all night, and engaged in a pity party; asking God why her parents would call it quits – a once blissful marriage. She now feels a void, one that needs to be filled urgently before she loses her mind; she feels empty, finished, and dry.

Fast forward into the seminar hall where she is conveniently seated with other participants, and of course, the charmer – “Mr Femi”.

To be continued!

By Moses Emorinken

Email: brandphase@yahoo.com

Twitter: @memorinken

Instagram: @memorinken

October 21, 2017
Group urge youths and teens to stand out

A non-governmental organisation, The Sought out Generation Foundation has challenged youths and teens to stand out.

The foundation’s empowerment seminar last Saturday at the Lespoir School, Ojokoro, Lagos, focused on the theme: “How to use your career to influence your generation”.

Its founder, Miss Afolabi Boboye, said its mission was to educate teenagers and youths about things they were unaware of.

“If you look around you successful people have stories to tell,” said Miss Boboye.

The guest speakers shared their live experiences to motivate the participants not to give up on life.

One of them, Dr Martins Adeyemi, who holds a PhD in Mathematics and Statistics, urged the young ones to draw closer to God.

“In order to use your career to influence your generation, you must improve your relationship with God”, he said, adding that their future would be determined by what they do now.

He also made reference to exploration and experience.

Mr Kayode Alao, Actor and movie producer, Kingdom Vision Media Network, in his speech spoke about being organised.

“If what you do is something you cannot put organisation in then you cannot impact in your society. What you do must be legitimate. And also you must develop a mindset of helping others”.

The youths and teens were told not to underrate themselves and be determined never to give up.

Mrs Funmilola Adegboye, Career Guardiance Counselor, also advised them to identity their professionalism in order to make impact with what they do.

The empowerment seminar ended with Mr Moses Emorinken ( a motivational speaker and entrepreneur) giving his powerful speech that literally set everyone on the journey to taking massive action. The journalist counseled the youths to know their value in life.

October 5, 2017
United Nation International Day of Charity

By Moses Emorinken

…what do you see?

When you fix your gaze upon the indigents and less privileged, what do you see? Do you see a people requiring your pity or you see the fierce urgency for you to grow (financially, materially and otherwise) in order to be the change you want to see in the world?

Prima facie, you might think all they require is your unrestrained show of sympathy and the giving of alms and hand-outs. Yes they do require these things and more, however, that is not all you can do. They do not perpetually require your pity or periodic pittance, but that you grow, evolve and manifest into the full stature of your potential and latent possibilities. By doing so, you will not only have and possess enough to make substantial contributions to assuage their plight but your story and presence will automatically give them the opportunity and permission to do the same.

Also Read: UN seeks more investment in women, peace in Nigeria

As we mark the United Nations’ ( UN ) International Day of Charity whose prime focus is to raise awareness and provide a common platform for charity related activities all over the world for individuals, charitable, philanthropic and volunteer organizations for their own purposes on the local, national, regional and international level, it is also imperative that we realise that charity is the rent we pay for our stay on this terraqueous globe we call earth. The moment we cease to pay our rent (charity), we lost our essence, our usefulness – our raison d’être; the landlord (God, Creator, Nature etc.) will kick us out with or without quit notice.

Every year, charities all over the world help to save and improve people’s lives, fighting disease, protecting children, and giving hope to thousands of people. To honour the significant effort that a good number charities do, in 2012 the United Nations decided to designate the 5th of September, an annual International Day of Charity as an official day of recognition and celebration. The reason the date was chosen is because it is the anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa. It memorializes the assiduous and untiring work that Mother Teresa did by devoting her entire life to charity.

This is not the time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilising drug gradualism; this is the time for us to lift our people from the dark and desolate valleys of poverty to the sunlit path of material prosperity. It would be a fatal blunder for us as a people to overlook the urgency of the moment and to underestimate the extent to which our contributions to humanity can echo through time.

Statistically, the percentage of those living below the poverty line in our dear country averages between (55% – 67%); this is a staggering number. For far too long, a significant portion of Nigerians live on the lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. These statistics gives credence to fact that individuals, private organisations, non-governmental organisations and the government needs to intensify effort and synergise to combat and defeat extreme poverty in the country.

Contemplating how to begin your charity journey? You can start exactly where you are with what you have. As simple as ensuring that one or two pupils from indigent families get notebooks, pens and pencils will go a long way to alleviate their sundry worries even as schools resume.

Also, reaching out to the Internally Displaced People (IDPs), destitute living under the bridges, to the children living in the slum, and those in the remand and orphanage homes etc., will also go a long way. Let us as much as we can reach out to them today regardless of how little we have – even our widow’s might would be appreciated.

If you do your charity to get a social recognition or for political reasons, be rest assured that it would be tantamount to a show and a bauble; a theatrical calisthenics to which posterity will never be impressed by or with.

Reach out and touch a life with all sincerity and altruistic intensions.

Finally, remember that the choices and actions you take today will ripple through time, and has the ability to alter fates and destinies; so much literally rests in our hands.

Contact Moses Emorinken

Twitter: @memorinken

Instagram: @memorinken

Email: brandphase@yahoo.com

September 5, 2017
Life, Marilyn and Megabytes

By Moses Emorinken

Recently, the rate at which I consume data for mobile and laptop have been incredibly alarming. It did not hit me until I remembered some good times I had with my little buddy (of blessed memory) – her name was Marilyn.

Marilyn was six years old. She had a unique way of conceptualising and understanding life around her; she was clearly years ahead of her biological age. Children like herself are often referred to as precocious or child geniuses because of their native understanding of the world around them. Hers was not a cognitive exploit based on mathematics, physics, music etc., her genius was in empathy and communication.

Every time you see her, she would always be in the company of at least one other child and holding an android phone belonging to either her parents or siblings. All she did was download games on the phone. God help you that her ever-itching tiny hands are able to clench and claw on your phone…believe me you would sweat when she is done with your mobile data.

Apart from her understandable penchant for downloading games, she had an amazing way of connecting with people. If you were sad, she always found a way to give you a happy nudge. Her smiles and faith in life and tomorrow was so infectious that both young and old literally look forward to an interaction with her.

This article is not so much about Marilyn, but about the incredibly simple enduring lessons I learnt from a tiny six-year-old girl.

Each time she sees me, the first thing she says is – “Uncle Moses, please give me your phone…I want to play game.” In politely requesting for my phone, she would sheepishly prune and contour her face to be long and sympathetic, her fingers twisted together, and her body swaying from side to side. My reply to her after my first “data running experience” was always the same – “go and get a phone and I will share some data with you to download your game”.

She would hastily dash out and return in seconds with a family member’s phone. Then I would share my data and she downloads her game. After downloading the game, she would still drag me by the hand and ask that I play the game with her, tell her a story, or teach her how to ride a bicycle. She wanted me to play ten-ten, suwe, monopoly, watch cartoons with her and all other fun activities. She practically wanted me to share my time with her, but I was more interested in other things – sport, business and career. I never created time to share of myself with her; all I did was to share my megabytes with her.

Regardless of the number of times I said no to her, she kept coming back and asking for the same things. This she did consistently for months.

One sunny morning my bright atmosphere suddenly turns stale and gloomy as I got a call. The person on the other end of the line was sobbing and talking inaudibly; I struggled to make out what the person was saying. It was Marilyn’s mom. Marilyn had just fainted and was rushed to the hospital. Like some children out there, Marilyn suffered from Sickle Cell Anaemia. It was no fault of hers. Her parents made a grave mistake in their romantic and matrimonial plans; they did not think it necessary to confirm their genotypes to see its compatibility. It was after she was born that her parents found out that they were both AS.

Marilyn lay straight on the hospital bed receiving several injections and transfusions. She was a fighter. After a few days, she started to respond to the treatment and could only utter a few words. This attack seemed like the last straw that broke the camel’s back. Before now, anytime she had similar attack, in a day or two, she would have started to disturb everyone in the hospital that the doctors would literally beg her parents to take her home. Unfortunately, this is her tenth day in the hospital ward, and all she could mumble to me was – Uncle Moses, how are you?

Warm tears dropped uncontrollably from my already bloodshot eyes. As I moved closer to her bed side – my entire being collapsed. I immediately sat on the bare ground beside her bed and slowly stroked her lush hair.

She said to me, please can you share data with me so that I can download games. She couldn’t even lift a plastic spoon as a result of the excruciating pains she felt in her bones, not to talk of a phone. I gave a nod letting her know I obliged her. As I dipped my shaky right hand into my pocket to give her the phone, the doctor on duty walked in with two nurses to carry out their routine checks and treatment; everyone in the room including myself were asked to excuse them. As I stood up to leave she tapped me and said (quite audibly though) “If only you shared part of your life with me like you share your data?”.

Her utterance threw everyone in the room (including the doctor and nurses) into a state of bewilderment. Some of us started shedding tears, while some simply walked out of the room as though they just took the Holy Communion. That was my epiphany into the simplest understanding of how precious life is.

By the evening of that same day, Marilyn was gone. As I walked into the room and saw her lifeless, listless and speechless body covered with cloth, her words rang and still rings in my consciousness “If only you shared part of your life with me like you share your data?”.

A lot of us live our lives like we have a thousand years to breathe. This is not an article based on pessimism or tragedy, but a clarion call to begin to share your life – your greatness, your talents, your gifts, your time, in fact, yourself, with your world.

Too often we don’t realise what we have until it is gone. Too often we wait too late to say I’m sorry, I was wrong. Sometimes it seems we hurt the ones we hold dearest to our hearts and we allow foolish things to tear our lives apart. Please make sure you let people know how much they mean to you. Take that time to say the words before your time is through.

Be sure that you appreciate everything you have, and be thankful for the little things in life that mean a lot.

I once heard the lamentation of a man who said:

“spring time is past, summer is gone, and winter is here. But the song I meant to sing remains unsung; the books i intended to write remain unwritten. For I have spent my best hours stringing and unstringing my instrument; writing, re-writing and cancelling my articles. I was waiting for the right season, just the perfect time…but it never came!”

Start today to pay closer attention to not just your business, career, sport or maybe megabytes like I did, but on the simple and tiny moments (bytes) in your timeline that you have to touch and impart a life. Let it be said of you that you left this tiny, terraqueous globe we call earth better than you met it.

Twitter: @memorinken

Instagram: @memorinken

Email: brandphase@yahoo.com

August 21, 2017
MUST READ: Nine (9) possible signs of lung cancer you should never overlook

We all want to live long enough in sound health (body and mind) to see our dreams come true, and have the agility enough to enjoy it. However, in recent times, there have been significant occurrences and humongous cases of individuals (especially those in their early 30s to late 50s) coming down with the unforgiving disease called cancer – in this case, Lung Cancer.

Many a time, we work our bodies so hard that we pay little or no attention to the slight indicators and signals that it communicates to us on a daily basis. We sometimes dig our graves with our teeth by consuming all-sort of solid (food), liquids (drinks), and gas (smokes) in the name of enjoyment and having too much money.

I do not care how intelligent, talented, or hardworking you are, you definitely need your body to carry “you” into the future you so much dream and work towards.

In setting the tone for this article, the writer bears in mind our sundry cultural beliefs and nuances; most of which are mere conjectures and attempts to mystify what we do not understand. However, I do not intend to underplay “spiritual” causalities of some illnesses: Our major concern is how we can quickly track the early signs of lung cancer and do something about is before it reaches malignant and debilitating stages of biological manifestations.

Lung cancer is a disease which surreptitiously creeps in and kills silently because most of its symptoms are overlooked or misdiagnosed when compared to more common diseases. The truth is that you can get lung cancer even if you don’t smoke (although the possibility of having a lung cancer increases by 70% when you smoke) and it becomes very important for you to be familiar with some possible symptoms of lung cancer.

If the cancer is diagnosed early, treatment can stop it dead in its tracks and give the patient a chance of recovery and also to live a long life.

Honesty plays a key role if you are sincere and serious about your health; you need to be honest with your doctor if you experience any of the nine (9) symptoms itemized below. The first step to winning a war is to be aware that you are in a war. A person who is in a war zone, and is totally oblivious of what is happening will most likely go down quickly and recklessly. Pay close attention to your body, stay observant, and go for a check-up to clear and assuage your doubts.

Bloody Cough:

Coughing up phlegm is a common symptom generally associated with a cold, however, the narrative takes a more malignant pose when you see blood in your phlegm; even if it is in traces or few drops, you should giddy up and immediately dash to see your doctor for a check up. Feigning ignorance or forming James Bond will only compound your story to a classic tragedy.

Worsening Cough:

Are you having bouts and sessions of cough that refuses to go away, then, seeking the help of a medical professional would be a wise and timely decision. Constant coughing for days, weeks, and months is by all means the most indicative sign that an individual is probably going down with lung cancer, although still in its primal stage.

Chest Pain:

Anatomically, the way to a man’s heart (regardless of the typical binary of male or female) is through the chest. Therefore, Guard your chest diligently, for in it is your heart and lungs. If you are experiencing pain in your chest region, it should be a matter of colossal concern. Please try out this very simple exercise, a few deep breaths and if you feel a sharp pinch or needle like sensation, get a checkup done as soon as possible.

This could be because of the cancer in the lungs, which is pressing hard on the chest, hence, causing the pain.

Chronic Respiratory Issues:

Normally if you are suffer from diseases like pneumonia or respiratory infection, it disappears with the use of medication in a matter of weeks and you become like new. However, if it is lung cancer, the respiratory problem tends to linger for a long time and becomes more severe with each passing day. The need to see a doctor cannot be overemphasized.

Unexplained Weight Loss:

It might interest you to know that there have been upward swings in the health consciousness of men and women around the global. Particularly in Nigeria, there is a fierce urgency amongst individuals to watch and control not only what they consume, but also their weight. Therefore losing weight is wonderful; however, unexplained and excessive weight loss without changes in dietary habits or living styles is a cause for alarm. This means that body is unable to properly absorb and use the nutrients from the food you are eating. Hence the body is simply discarding whatever you are eating without taking out nutrients from it and resulting in a drastic weight loss.

Pain in Bones:

Generally, cancers are most times known to spread to the bones. This is because bones are present near every major organ in our body. Particularly, if you experience pain in your hips or back, you should immediately consult a doctor. It might be a sign of arthritis, but there is no harm in getting it checked out.

Wheezing:

Wheezing is mostly associated with lung diseases like Asthma. It occurs when something is hindering the movement of air inside the body. However, just like in cases of Asthma, it is also a common complaint of patients diagnosed with lung cancer. Please consult your doctor to run a check on you.

Constant Fatigue:

Cancer, which is known for its proliferation attacks the healthy cells of the body and perpetually wars against the immune system. As a result of the battle within the body, patients with cancer constantly have the feeling of being fatigued. Their body gets tired from fighting the cancer cells all the times. Hence if you feel constant fatigue, consult a doctor immediately.

Hoarseness and Croakiness:

Healthy lungs let you speak clearly without any hindrance, voice distortion, or encumbrances to vocalization. But lung cancer makes breathing difficult and thus making speaking a herculean and arduous task. If your voice suddenly gets hoarse, and it persists for a long period of time, it is a sign to consult a doctor to get a diagnosis of the ailment.

The above symptoms (though not exhaustive) of lung cancer should make you run with immediate alacrity to see your doctor; an early diagnosis can make you initialize the treatment sooner than later, and give you a better chance to lead a healthy life.

Gone are the days when our people will say “what you don’t know cannot kill you”, we now know better because – “what you don’t know kills you much faster.”

Twitter: @memorinken

Instagram: @memorinken

Email: brandphase@yahoo.com

July 10, 2017
Six practical steps that’ll make you scream – Thank God it’s Monday!
By Moses Emorinken

‘Oh yes! Thank God it’s Monday!’ I’m almost certain that is not the mantra emanating from most people because recent survey reveals that about 87% of people hold jobs that they do not like, and work for companies they care little about.

It is funny, but psychologists and counsellors have found out that Monday is the most important day in the week because it sets the tone (mind-set and concretised plans) for the rest of the week. Chances are that if you started your Monday on a rocky, shaky, and grouchy ground, you will have messed up the possibility for a productive and fulfilling week ahead.

My friend, you see, time is worth more than money – it is actually your life broken down into tiny bits; so, until that dream job comes and you finally work in an organisation that you are overtly enthused about, let’s not become a cry-baby and waste valuable time (life) doing our jobs with sadness, end-to-end naggings, and getting depressed. Come-on, it’s time to get some motivation while we bridge the gap between our dream and our Job – a dream job!

Chances are that if you cultivate the right attitude and frame of mind while working a not-so-exciting job, you will in a short time land that job you have always wanted. If you want your dreams to come through, then you’ve got to wake up!

Here are my top six (6) tips (though not exhaustive) on how to stay motivated throughout the week:
1. Have an Expectation:
Truth be told, you can hardly get something good if you don’t expect it to come. Life is not a lottery; even in a lottery, participants expect to win even by the slightest flicker of luck and maybe serendipity.

Life sometimes have a funny sense of humour: Haven’t you noticed that it is mostly bad things that usually happens when we do not expect it – more or less like weeds grow unexpectedly on a fertile land. However to cultivate good, we need to consciously expect it to happen. As you move out today, create a mental image of good things you expect to happen to you today and for the rest of the week. If possible have a list. The shortest pen is longer than the longest memory.
1. Surround yourself with positive-minded people:
Some people are so negative that if they entered a dark room, they would immediately develop; that is how negative they are. One of the fastest ways to be happy is to surround yourself with happy people. Surround yourself with passionate and enthusiastic people, and you will receive the baptism of passion; surround yourself with high-fliers and achievers, and you will soar higher than you expect. But a company of fools will be destroyed. No matter the amount of success you have achieved, if you constantly surround yourself with four failures (in a manner of speaking though), it is only a matter of time – you will become number five.
1. See the Big Picture:
Often times, it is very easy to get distracted by the ‘busyness’ of life and the loud and random noise in our hustled-environment, that we suffocated the yearnings and voice of our inner man. Regardless of the job you currently have – whether you’re the Managing Director or the doorman, General Manager or the Gate Man, always see the big picture. Keep that dream alive in your mind; never trade it for anything because in due season it will come alive. There’s a saying that ‘whatever you vividly imagine, honestly desire, sincerely believe, and enthusiastically act on must inevitably come to pass’.
1. Have a Plan:
Nature by all standards abhors a vacuum. What that means is simple – the moment you do not consciously create a plan for your life, nature (life) will automatically give you one; most times what it gives is not always pleasant. The best way to predict the future is to create it. However, you cannot predict what you have not planned. There is an unseen power that comes to play when pen meets with paper. Write out your plans and break them down into deliverables (goals).
1. Take Action:
The best way to translate your dreams and aspirations from thin paper to thick action is simply by TAKING ACTION. All men dream but not equally; some dream at night in the dusty recesses of their minds only to find that it was only a dream. But some men dream during the day, these are the dangerous ones; for they dream with their eyes wide-open, and they can make their dreams come through.

I do not care how magnificent and immaculate your plans are, if you do not take steps to walk your talk, then you will become like museum pieces under glass – stale, safe, easy to understand, and predictable. Get out of your comfort zone of plans and talks and begin to walk in the direction of your dreams today because life is not about standing still and becoming safe. Also, a comfort zone is not necessarily a comfortable situation, but an uncomfortable one that we have learnt to adapt to over time. Register for that course today, start the very first page of that book, hit the recording studio today, open an account to start saving for your proposed business, talk, walk, and look smart today.

I once heard the lamentation of a man who said ‘spring time is past, summer is gone, and winter is here; but the song I meant to sing remain unsung; the books I meant to write remain unwritten. For I have spent my best hours stringing and unstringing my instrument; writing, rewriting and cancelling my articles. I was waiting for the right season, just the perfect time – but it never came’.
1. Be Disciplined and Consistent:
Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent alone cannot; the world is full of unsuccessful people with great talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education alone will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Discipline and persistence alone are omnipotent.

Choose today to find an area of interest, and decide to be consistent in its development – whether it is your talent, a project, or a course.

I hope you will find this article useful motivation to tune, retune, and fine-tune your week and place in on a cruise control. Don’t wait until tomorrow…do it now. The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago, the next best time is TODAY. Thank God it’s Monday! Enjoy your week.

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Email: brandphase@yahoo.com
June 19, 2017
Fashion meets insanity: Undergraduates in trouble for wearing revealing clothes for dinner

Looking good is good business! Everyone likes to dress good and be admired by all and sundry, however, when an individual reduces himself or herself to states of bestial expressions all in the name of fashion, then, there is no other name for such acts other than – Madness!

Two final year students of the Makerere University in Uganda have landed in serious trouble after wearing very revealing clothes to a university function which the school authority considered “indecent”.

Their obviously tattered dresses have been making the rounds on social media since the weekend when the students garbed themselves for their Finalist Education Dinner.

The two have been summoned to appear before the disciplinary committee.

In a letter dated Tuesday May 30, 2017, the Makerere University authorities had expressed dismay over the students’ conduct.

The letter, as published by Ugandan Mirror online reads:

“If it is true that that person was you, your action, as a student of this university, would have contravened University Regulation 8 (2)(a) which states that, ‘Every student shall respect him/herself and behave in a manner that will not bring his/her name and that of the university into disrepute;’ and Regulation 8 (2) (d) which states that, ‘Every student shall dress in a neat and decent manner.”

The letter was addressed to one of the students who is said to have appeared in the pictures, Ms Rebecca Naddamba.

According to reports, the students have until Friday, June 2, 2017 to submit their replies to the university.

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Email: brandphase@yahoo.com

June 1, 2017
Health tops US support for Nigeria

Funding of health tops the United States ( US ) support for Nigeria in the grassroots and Non-Governmental Organisations.

The Chief Information Officer of the United States Embassy, Nigeria, Mr. Russel Brooks stated this on Thursday during a courtesy visit to the head office of The Nation Newspaper in Lagos.

According to him, the US spends the great majority of it funds in dealing with health situations such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, malaria; even the current Cerebrospinal Meningitis outbreak in the Northern region of the country.

“We have organizations in Nigeria that are focused on intervening on health situations such as the U.S. Agency for International Development – USAID, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and also the Walter Reed medical centre.

“In fact, the Walter Reed Medical Centre’s office located in Nigeria is currently the only one there is on this continent; this shows the importance that the U.S. places on Nigeria and the particular health problems that is prevalent here. Health is a major issues and it concerns the entire world, not just the United States and Nigeria. For that reason, it is so important to us,” Brooks said.

He added that the US also partners with Nigeria in education where it continues to engage the people, especially those at the grassroots level.

“EducationUSA is a department through which thousands of Nigerians get information about the possibility of studying in the United States – at the undergraduate, graduate level, and even community colleges. By taking advantage of that opportunities, and bringing back skills and information to the country, obviously, we are helping the development and future prosperity of Nigeria.

Concerning Cultural/Academic exchange between the two countries, Mr. Russel spoke on the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), of which the Mandela Washington programme is an offshoot.

“We have the Mandela Washington fellow, the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program, and some others. It is obvious that the US assistance here to Nigeria and its people is broad, varied, and extremely helpful. It contributes to the strong leadership that we have not just on a governmental level, but on a people to people level.

“The Mandela Washington Programme is one that provides an opportunity for fellows from Africa to visit the United States each year and do a variety of things – attend academic institutes, colleges, and university. The Mandela Programme is only one component of YALI.

“There are other programmes related to YALI that take place on this continent. We have some leadership institutes here that help find internships for returning Mandela Washington fellows. We also look for opportunities to engage with corporations in businesses here on the continent.

“Pertaining to the fellowship programmes, it is true that when administration changes, there is a possibility of a change in policy, but at the moment, there has not been a diminishment of our interest or support for the Mandela Programme. Thousands of Africans went for the programme last year, there are thousand going this year, and the largest number of Africans attending the programme comes from Nigeria. Slightly over a hundred Nigerians are going to participate in this programme.

“We believe that it is a wonderful programme, and has paid tremendous dividends for Nigeria. Therefore, there is no reason to stop supporting the programme. The administrative change from Former President Obama to President Trump does not affect the programme.”

Brooks was accompanied by the Deputy Public Affairs Officer of the agency, Mr. Frank Sellin, and Mr. Temitayo Famutimi, Information Specialist to the United States Consulate General, Lagos.

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Email: brandphase@yahoo.com

April 26, 2017