The Story of Mr. Akin - Patience; Faith in Action

Be ever ready to strike like a player who is about to play a penalty kick.

On Sunday the 12th of August  this year, I was at an event which came up to herald the arrival of a new football season. The event was so glamorous one which turned out great and interesting but one thing amazed me about the photographer invited  by the organiser of the event in which his actions provoked a great lesson to me which I seek to share to all and sundry.

My nephew as of the time of the event was just about 3 months old and you all will agree with me that it's such a mountainous task getting a momentary pictures of babies due to their hyperactivity. On this said day, the photographer needed a perfect picture of him but our efforts to make him(the baby boy) the object of focus from the camera turned futile. Then we photo man asked us all to quit trying, this left us astonished as it made us wonder how he would then get a desirable pose of him in a picture if we quit trying?

We all stopped, then at a spontaneous moment, he then positioned his camera ready to strike the capture button like a football striker ready to take a spot kick.
He kept his focus and attention on the baby boy till the he turned to a desirable position suitable for taking an amazing shot of the him which brought smiles to the faces of already frustrated loved ones there.

When you meet with my little nephew you will agree with me that he's good looking 😉Well back to the gist. Like the photographer most of us have  various things we are chasing from this hyperactive life and unimpressive enough instead of negotiating our business with life, we are most times busy trying to bring some others into our market square so they could help us in decision making.

That's not a way to live life, Firstly, like I always say you need mentorship, someone that guides you on decision making but and not someone that would make the decisions for us  but you don't give up your responsibilities in the quest for that. Earlier in this narration you may have realised that the photographer didn't get a good shot till he took charge of the situation.
The creator has made you to be in charge of your life and till you are in charge like the photographer you won't make great success.
Another thing we should be conscious of here is the power of focus, it's so unfortunate that we all live our lives looking towards the so called big things neglecting the small details. A beautiful picture portrait as such this wouldn't have been gotten if had chosen to be like us all, Yes!  we were trying to make the baby give a cool pose in front of the camera. But for his age, we would never achieve that if one person didn't take charge of the situation. The details in life are all important but there the need to take note of those supposed small things as their importance can not be over emphasised as they matter on the big stage.

The photographer was a determined one who found success using the boy as a muse and he was successful not only because he was determined but also because he set his focus right and negotiated rightly with his thoughts and actions not to be clouded by other opinions. Learn to be like him...

1 Bus 5 Years; 6 Life Lessons You Must Have Learned in a University Bus

1 bus 5 years ; 6 life lessons you must have learned in a university bus

Sometimes in September of 2013, I embarked on a journey to write an entrance exam to the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. One thing caught my fancy during that trip and I looked forward to it when I gained admission, it was the carriage buses (called BRT Bus in Lagos) used in conveying us from the gate into the school for the exams.

Upon my entrance into the school I discovered that they were called MANCOT buses or MANCOTs as the case may be. One thing I've found out is that you're not a thorough student of the school if you don't have an experience in this bus.
The lessons learnt from this bus just occurred to me during a discuss I had with my good friend @the_smk. Here they come:

1. The Process of Boarding The Bus
According to the rules, you must be on a queue to obtain the tickets that teaches me that there's process to everything, when you try to short circuit you discover the consequences are severe just like it is, there are punishments for those who try to jump the queue.

2. The Fare
MANCOT is the cheapest I have ever seen. In my days a ride cost #10. The value gotten was same for someone who gets a drop to take through same distance. Value here is the fact that you'd get is getting to your destination. So, in the real sense value is not when you spend the highest but when you get the best for less.

3. Sitting and Standing
Just like we have it in carriage buses, it's either you sit or you stand but this is not a product of anything you can control but let's say luck. So even when you've done all things right, forget not the fact that God is a huge factor in all that you do. So pls for the best, let God lead you.

4. Having a Front Seat
Having said that sitting or standing in a MANCOT is by luck. Well there's sth to learn from staying in different positions. Well, getting to sit at the front is a privilege, the people who get it, use it and are happy because that's the most comfortable you can get on the MANCOT bus. So here's the drill, you have a privilege, don't just let it lie fallow, use it, let it produce for you. Don't be apologetic about it, work that privilege for your own good and comfortability.

5. Sitting at the Back
You need strength and character to have these seats on this bus. The road leading to the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta is laced with speed bumps and over time the road got bad hence potholes too. So, upon entering a pothole or trying to meander a pothole while those at the front enjoy the process those at the back pays the price. And as it is, sometimes you'd sit there since nothing is guaranteed. So it is in life, there would be good times and their would be bad time but just a MANCOT user thinks that the destination is getting closer, so you should. The brightness would come and all would shine again.

6. Standing
These people stand through the journey and although it might not be comfortable, and they are seeing others enjoying seats, they have this in mind. First, the destination is close and on the next trip their lot could be better. You know in life, all of us can't be in the same shoe at once, some would have it white while others grey but one thing you must cling onto is hope!!! Enjoy your situation and work towards making it better.

Vital lessons have been shared, make sure you apply them and get better at living life.

Prophecies From a Nigerian Sailor: Echoes of The Hard Times

PROPHECIES FROM A NIGERIAN SAILOR: Echoes of The Hard times.

My nation NIGERIA is 59 years today as an independent entity, that should be well great news right? It should and sure it is but as adage says, once the monkey is reminded of his scar, his happiness dampens and more like a cold water has been thrown at his strength.

Relatively, you will agree with me that the joy of this celebration is plagued with diverse abnormalities and inadequacies. A land once flowing with milk and honey in ages past is now impoverished surprisingly below the poverty threshold. A land known for peace and tranquillity with no insignificant records of civil disturbance is now known for all shades of perpetual violence; ranging from terrorism, to kidnapping for ritual or for ransom purpose, banditry to just mention a few.

To say that no sector of the Nation's governance is working is also stale news and a repeat of already known fact, then I'm drawn to wonder where we got it all wrong as a Nation.
A mentor once told me, let's not think that the problem is in the land, No, the land is fertile enough for fruiting. If then that's the case, we have gotten it all wrong by planting the wrong seeds. The country is so as it is today because we have been gifted and as well appointed ourselves  some bad leaders in the past and present who have made things so hard for us by enriching their pockets end engaging themselves in various corrupt practises, and in the stead of rooting them out of the system, we have and continuously continually give them the power to keep planting the wrong seeds into our soil (the system) and now the tree is bringing up bad fruits that we all are sorely enjoying. An adage says, whatever you sow shall you reap.

If only my people that are called by the Name Nigerians the stand up and uproot the growing tree, but No, they would rather  remove the fruit from the tree hoping that a, good fruit will spring up from the bad tree some day, if we were on this hope I can say we would keep waiting till forever.
The future we all seek after is right before us but how do we want it to be is right behind us, do we wish to continue in this cycle (if you want to continue, as for me, I'm tired and I'll be the change), if you're like me, what we need to do is that we must first remove the 'E no concern me, if e go spoil make e spoil' attitude we all wear and then let's consciously  decide and engage ourselves to purge this system so we can cultivate good seeds and then bring alive the Nigeria we all dream of, the exact Nigeria that's the giant of Africa. Only then would the generations coming behind us find us faithful and worthy being ahead.
Selah...