Look at the future from a 7-years old boy's view

NASA has said it would like to send an astronaut to Mars some day soon, and 7-year-old Dexter Walters has volunteered.

In a letter to NASA, the young British boy wrote, "I heard that you are sending two people to Mars and I would like to come, but I'm 7, so I can't," Dexter's letter read. "I would like to come in the future. What do I need to do to become an astronaut?"

Nigeria 1st SocialPreneur reveals secret on ‘Maximizing Social Media to power your brand" by Don Abiodun Odedeyi

 

In the world of strategic positioning, Chitola, Nigeria first Socialprenuer, is not a new name. The young, energetic lady is treading on grounds that no man dare venture, except for some whose heart for risk are huge.

As the driving force behind InFocus PR Nig. Ltd, author of Start Wait Finish, an inspirational read, The Young Nigerian Entrepreneur - a motivational book for young aspiring leaders, publisher of The Governance - a magazine promoting national development, Business consultant to Royal Protocol Services Ghana 2005 - date and a former advisory board member for Sustainability Awards Africa 2012, a project that relied heavily on social media for its success, Chitola's boldness in a sector dominated by men is a success that goes beyond proving a point.

BETWEEN LAW AND SURVIVAL by Don Abiodun Odedeyi

At about 10:50am today (23/4/2013), I was around Adekunle Police station when I saw people gathered around something, my journalistic instinct kicked in and I alighted from the bus conveying me to Makoko. On getting to the scene, I saw a young man not more than 25 years old struggling for breath.

A section of the crowd pointed frantically towards Adekunle Police Station and I was able to see, on time, a three-man gang in mufti pushing a motorcycle across the street into the station

On inquiry, I learnt that Ibrahim (AKA Abule) ran into a team  of the Nigerian Police whose mission was confiscating commercial motorcycles.

When nabbed, Ibrahim did not let go of his motorcycle easily which got him kicked and punched. At one point, Ibrahim’s head was slammed to a nearby culvert, he let go on the motorcycle, stopped struggling and then slumped on the road.

Without a second glance, the three-man gang policemen left Ibrahim to his fate, LIVE or DIE.

Vehicles passing by were forced to change their course on approaching Ibrahim’s body. People gathered but seeing the state in which Ibrahim was, no one could muster the heart to help him.

Makoko Fire: Victims Sent home from school by Don Abiodun Odedeyi

Following the fire disaster that struck Makoko, Lagos on Friday where properties worth millions were lost, another shocker was dealt on affected pupils living in the area when the principal of Herbert Macauley Junior High School send them home because they resumed without uniforms.

Rachael Abe is one of the affected whose spoke with Don Abiodun Odedeyi.

“Our principal said if we cannot come to school with school uniform, we should not show up in school.”

Her mother, one of the affected residents of the area narrated her experience, “Right from the assembly ground, our children were turned back because they showed up at school without uniform… uniform they got burnt during the fire incident.”

Is that so, I asked.

Nigeria VS Kenya ...EPIC battle on twitter by Don Abiodun Odedeyi

 Twitter is currently taking another shape presently as Kenyans are using the short message platform to express their displeasure over their national team shabby treatment in the hands of Nigeria.

Kenya FA complained over what they termed as 'unacceptable' condition the Harambe Stars were forced into ahead of their qualifier against the Super Eagles on Saturday.

Presently, #SomeTellNigerians and #SomeOneTellKenyans are the two harsh-tag used by twitter users from both countries to wage electronic war against each other.

 Here are some of the weirdest of their tweets

Fixing a lid on OgaAtTheTop by Don Abiodun Odedeyi

Much are being said about Channels' television professionalism, protection of their guests and honouring of future invitation by stakeholders and, or, government officials. This is coming on the heel of the continuous trending of Lagos State Commandant of NSCDC's inability to remember his institution web address.

While two sides are now debating the issue furiously, one sighting the commandant's error as a pointer to the shabby state of resources manning most of the state's affairs, the other is of the notion that the joke and, or correction is taking too long as the after effects is beginning to take toll on the man and his family yet none seems to take into cognisance that Channels Television have no hand in the production, distribution of the 40+ seconds video.

As part of it practice, Channels television upload, daily, videos of selected programmes so that their viewers, anywhere they are, can watch them via their web portal.
The NSCDC episode was not the first and will not be the last.

Again, the advent of smart phones and portable electronic gadget, especially those that have video and audio editing facility, make it easy for users of such gadget to edit a whole movie, cut unwanted parts away etc, as such, the hilarious #OgaAtTheTop or #MyOgaAtTheTop is none of Channels' handiwork instead any of their viewers might have detected the error and decided to make a joke of it.
I scanned through www.Channelstv.com for the short version of the interview which went viral and found nothing of such on the television station's portal.

Disaster Manager of NSCDC, Olayode W.A. recently released a Press Statement with the multi-award winning television station receiving serious treat. 

The press statement read:- 
On a very serious note, I didn't see the question as an interview but an attacked exam question that needed an objective answer, even if our Commandant said the semi-right thing, it should be the responsibility of the Channel crew to condone that aspect as part of nobody knows all.
It was as the press were tipped to look down on us. In a civilized countries like US, the questionnaires would have been sent to the interviewee for revision 12 hours prior to the day.
Had it been this was done, My able Commandant would have adjusted on that spot. He has a lot to attend to, I don't see it as a downgrade of our integrity. Hence, the Channel crew should be warned. Not all questions should be answered especially in that type of Private Station, it is not a crime to have the knowledge of all but the idea is needed in order not to leave any stone untouched.
Status quo must remain in our Mandates.

God bless NSCDC the more!
Olayode W.A. Disaster Management Dept., Lagos State Command.


I pondered on what disaster Mr Olayode was trying to manage, I again went through the press statement which revealed, clearly, another loophole in the appointment of officials to sensitive positions. In the case of Mr Disaster Manager, his notion that "questionnaires would have been sent to the interviewee for revision 12 hours prior to the day... in civilised country like US"... is nothing but the biggest blunder that I am, again, yet to recover from.

It becomes a double worry to know that this same executive blunder is coming from the same institution where #OgaAtTheTop comedy spring from.

Again, Olayode also hinted that Channels television should have 'cut off' part(s) where the Lagos State NSCDC Commandant goofed. Using Olayode's own language, "you should have been arrested, if we are serious about transparency in this country, for uttering a statement that amount to prevention of truth!".  

As a journalist, a professional one for that matter, when a guest stammer on a question(s), a professional journalist will go for the killer which is >KEEP THE PRESSURE, if possible, rephrase the question(s), in case my quest did not understand the question.

The whole idea of journalism is to package information, and disseminate same in a manner that all questions that viewers may want to ask, is answered.

When question is asked, if the person is truthful in his/her response, in most cases, the answer will be straight, especially when the person did not expect such question.

But in a case whereby the person struggles to provide answer(s), in most cases, you've caught the person in a tight corner.

In the court of law, the same is the case when counsel pound witness with questions, the aim is of extracting the truth from such witness. In most cases, opposing counsel do try to swing his/her client from the web which mostly are never successful because the presiding judge knows that the truth is close and as such compel the witness to answer the question.

In all, there is nothing unprofessional in what Channels crew did, NOTHING... It is because we give room to #MyOgaAtTheTop too much, that is why we send questions to interviewee, that is why we leave questions that are not answered judiciously.

At Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria School of Journalism, a federal institution, there in no part of their curriculum that support sharing your question(s) with your interviewee... NONE. The biggest 'expo' you can give your guest is a brief on the subject you want todiscuss, Shikenah!

If the interviewer so wish, questions can be forwarded to the guest for familiarity sake BUT we should understand that such interviewer is not bound to follow such questions to the letter. Other interesting topics will show up during the course of the interview which the interviewer's insticnt will push him/her to probe.


Journalism doesn't have a side, no party or ally stays at the middle, if you doubt me, ask #MyOgaAtTheTop #OgaAtTheTop and he will confirm, #AndThatIsIt.

- Don

An evening with Myles Munroe in Lagos by Don Abiodun Odedeyi

Not many knew that Myles Munroe was in Nigeria from February 21 to 23, 2013. From those who got hint of his presence can say why he was in town. 

Friday 22, 2013 was a quick one, within a twinkle of an eye, the day was a wrap. 

The evening was fast wearing out, the fear of Lagos traffic was visible on every face present but none of these deter the acclaimed speaker’s intention to instill leadership qualities into the mammoth crowd of young men and women packed in the 5000 seating capacity Elevation Church auditorium.

In the end, the 2 hours lecture was indeed a time worth spent.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR PERSONAL POTENTIAL

Potential 

Munroe started his lecture with a pep talk on potential. What potential is and what it is not.

• §  Potential is your dormant ability
• §  Potential is your untapped power
• §  Potential is your hidden strengths
• §  Potential is your unreleased talents
• §  Potential is who you are but no one know yet
• §  Potential is the greatness you are yet to attained
• §  Potential is a seed that is awaiting the execution of it host – you.

He spoke about how every human want to be successful. How we dream of success and what we will like to do with our position and power. However, success, in every human is predictable. This he illustrated using the example of a seed.

“A seed, we all know, brings forth tree which in turn bring forth fruits. If you have a seed and you want to plant it with the aim of growing a tree which in turn will yield fruit for you to either eat or sell, how will you plant it?

On a cemented-tiled floor or a fertile soil?

The seed of success is guarded by laws. The same law that said, “If you place the seed on a cemented-tiled floor, it will rot” is the same that said “if you plant it in a fertile soil, it will grow.

“A seed is already a success before it was planted. The potential of a seed is that it will grow and bear fruits, this is CERTAIN. But what happened when the law of planting is not obeyed?

SUCCESS

“For everyone alive, success is attached to them.

This I will explain like this; why will Apple incorporation manufacture Ipod or Ipad and place it logo on it, give you a tiny card that informs you that this gadget you’ve just bought is covered with one year warranty?”

“Why will the same Apple Company warn you not to take the gadget to roadside repairer, promise you a full replacement in the event of damage within the time of the warranty?”

“It is because Apple trust their product, because they value their name and they want you to know that they will do anything for that product to last in your hand, so that when next you want to buy another electronic gadget, you will remain Apple loyalist”

Apple wants their products to succeed, knows they will succeed and that no dirt can smears their name and as such, they dangle offers. Many of which are never redeemed because their products are good.

Before Apple can boast about their product, they must have done what is needed for such product to be something to boast of.

A SEED HAVE IN IT, EVERYTHING TO MAKE IT A FOREST

“God will not send you, His product, into the world if He is not sure that you are complete. Like a seed that have in it everything to make a forest, God installed, in every man and woman, the needed potential to succeed.

“Open the potential in you, like a seed, is all you need. Success is already in you”

He looked into the crowd, our eyes fixated at him. Except for the speaker’s amplified breathing through his lapel microphone, the crowd was still.

“God needs you to succeed for his reputation. And because he valued his name, he created you, a perfect machine succeed”

WHAT YOU ARE BORN TO BECOME IS ALREADY FINISHED

“Like a seed which have, in it, a tree and which will bear fruits that in turn yield more tree and finally, a forest (from a seed), what you need to be successful was manufactured, run and tested. 

“Every process of success in you have been run, tested and found ‘okay’, then the process is compressed, roll and packed in a small seed > You.”

THE SECRET OF SUCCESS IS LAWS

Like a seed planted on a cemented tiled floor which will (surely) rot rather than grow, success is guided by laws which must be observed in other to be successful.

Success respond to faith

Because many fail to respond to taking the step of faith, the graveyard is now the biggest resources location where trillions of trillions of potentials lay buried.

At this time, Myles Munroe opted to entertain questions from the teeming audience who are beginning to shoot their hands in the air.

Questions were written in small piece of papers, collated and sent to him.

The first was from a young man who seem confused about multi-potential, his question was:

Question: “I have talents in many areas and it’s a huge challenge managing everything. Am afraid that soon, all may lie wasted without me being able to harness and make good use of any of them”

Myles Munroe: “Fear is a very good thing especially when it pertains to executing an idea, a project. When God want to surprise you, it is always something bigger than what you’ve achieved and since it’s bigger, you have to be afraid BUT what makes you go even in the face of fear is courage and that should be your motivator.”

“There is hardly anyone who is not multi-talented. I am a motivational speaker, a pastor, investor, a musician, I had degree in music, am an artist, a father, husband, manager, am consulting for companies, leaders, nations and I have parent to look after.

“In this case whereby you have much potential and have been thinking of what to do about them, do this, focus you attention on one potential only.

“In your environment, your area, look for something that makes you angry most, something you see everyday and have this convulsion that you can do it better.

“Focus your attention of that thing; learn what makes it work, how it works and what others have done about it.

“Make yourself an authority on that thing.

“Why will you go to a doctor whenever you are sick? Is it not because he/she spent seven years learning just that thing?

“Why will you go to a lawyer when you have dispute? Is it not because he/she spent six years learning just that single thing?

“Learn, learn, and learn one of your potentials when you are established on that one, it will pave way for other potentials that you have.”

And with these words, Myles left the right side of the stage to a chair set in the middle of the podium; we were there, our eyes still locked-in, expecting more.

“That is it”, he said

I checked my time and I knew that truly, we’ve had enough for that day.

At fifteen minutes to midnight, I opened the door of my house, no light, and with no fuel in my generator, I spread my hands wide, feeling my way in semi-darkness but with a heart filled with light. 

Many thanks to Adedunmade Onibokun @adedunmade (UK), Olusanya Adeniyi @lusaniyi (Nigeria) for their immense support and pressure else this article wont be here.

Don Abiodun Odedeyi

Goldie Laid to Rest (PICTURES)

Goldie Harvey was on Monday  (February 25, 2013) morning laid to rest at the Vaults and Gardens cemetery in Ikoyi.

Hers remains was brought into the premises in a R350 Mercedes Benz by MIC caskets and Rangers followed by her friends including Denrele Edun at 9:30AM

The first and second bible readings were done by the late singer’s siblings.

Kennis Music boss Kenny ‘Keke’ Ogungbe delivered a short specch;

‘Lovely and talented Oluwabimpe Goldie Susan, if I’m to start saying all I can’t finish’, he cries, though it’s painful, so lovely to have left on Valentine’s Day, May almighty God grant your soul eternal rest for ever and ever in Jesus Name Amen.

Derenle Edun also had something emotional to say

‘The Goldie I knew despite the World recognition, I would move mountains, I would break ceilings sell your legacy and you are the best friend I forever had’, I can hear you say to me, do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there, I do not sleep. Do not stand on my grave and cry. I am not there, I did not die.

The officiating pastor gave a sermon on ‘what people will say about you when you leave here on earth’.

Those in attendance at the burial included the late singer’s husband Andrew Leonard Harvey, celebrities like Jaywon, Eedris Abdulkareem, DJ Jimmy JATT, KSB, Essence, Weird MC, ID Ogungbe, Keke Ogungbe, Seun Oloketuyi, Gbenga Adeyinka 1st, Dele Momodu, eLDee the don, Sexy Steel, Freeze, Olisa Adibua, Tiwa Savage and others.

May her soul rest in peace.

Lagos Bomb Blast pictures... (Pls be warned- gory pictures)

A middle aged businessman, Oladele Pius, was this morning killed when a bomb went off under FESTAC/Mile 2 link bridge, Lagos, few metres away from his office.
Witnesses told P.M.NEWS the sand dealer was passing by when the bomb exploded. He died on the spot. But it could not be ascertained whether he was actually the target of those who planted the bomb or not.
At the time of filing this report, the scene of the incident has been cordoned off by armed mobile police officers while the body of the deceased has been deposited at the mortuary.

Goldie snatched her best friend's husband - Source

The last is yet to be heard of the late Goldie who died on February 14, 2013, few hour after returning from the Grammy.

A close source revealed to newsmen today that Goldie's husband was married to a Ifeoma, Goldie's best friend before eloping with Goldie to Nigeria.

"Very soon", the source said,  "you will hear from the woman (Ifeoma) Goldie snatched her husband from.

"Search­ for her on facebook and ask her what transpired between her husband Andrew Harvey and Goldie who used to be Ifeoma's best friend! What goes around comes around... When she eloped to nigeria with her best friend's husband and got married to him secretly,she never knew dat
one day death will come calling... She rendered dat man useless,took all
his money and right now Andrew Harvey is lying in d hospital in Malaysia."

TheS Source also claimed that Goldie went to he went to Malaysia to visit Andrew Harvey before attending the Grammy.

Goldie: How she died – Kenny Ogungbe

CEO of Kennis Music, the label Goldie was signed on, Kenny Ogungbe has issued a statement detailing the final hours of the late singer.

“With a deep sense of loss, we announce the shocking death of our darling music star, Goldie Harvey. Goldie, 31, died on Thursday after she complained of a severe headache shortly after her arrival from the United States where she went to witness the Grammy Award.

She was rushed from her Park View, Ikoyi, Lagos residence to her official hospital, Reddington, Victoria Island, Lagos, where doctors pronounced her dead on arrival at exactly 7:30pm in the evening.We consider this period a gloomy moment for us and the entire Nigerian music industry in view of the circumstance in which she passed away; the abundance of talent she exhibited in her short but eventful music career and the various opportunities her trip to the United States of America would have availed her.

She is survived by her father, step- mother, brothers and sisters. We deeply sympathise with her family and fans all over the world and very grateful to all and sundry, especially, the vibrant Nigerian media for their concern and prompt reportage. We shall keep everybody informed as events unfold as we are devastated by the sudden loss.”

Goldie’s remains have been deposited at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH mortuary.

News:

The hospital where Goldie Harver passed on have disclosed that the cause of her death was pulmonary embolism which is an obstruction of a blood vessel in the lungs usually caused by a blood clot which blocks coronary artery.

Pope Benedict XVI resignation statement in full

Pope Benedict XVI will resign on February 28, 2013, a Vatican statement announced on Monday, the first pontiff to step down in centuries. 

Read the declaration he made at a meeting of cardinals at the Vatican.

Dear Brothers,
I have convoked you to this consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church.

After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering.

However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil the ministry entrusted to me.

For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of bishop of Rome, successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a conclave to elect the new supreme pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.

Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects.

And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of our supreme pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the cardinal fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new supreme pontiff.

With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer.

WHO IS THIS ‘GOVERNMENT’ THAT WILL COME TO OUR AID? By Don Abiodun Odedeyi

Few months ago, there was a revelation on Ajuwon High school where students writing exams were made to sit on tyres, dusty floors. Argument on who is responsible shifted back and forth with chunk of it falling on the state governor, Ibikunle Amosu, for failing in his election promises.

A similar scene greets my visit recently when I made a call to Igbobi Junior High school, Yaba. Unlike the case of Ajuwon high school, something remarkable that each and every one of us can learn from happened.

Igbobi Junior High School, located on the border axis of the old western region of Lagos now falls under Somolu Local Government was established in 1982, during the short-lived second republic under Jakande’s administration as Igbobi Girls High School (an all girls’ school). Until recently when Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration face-lifted the school structure with modern edifice, a poultry-like structure has been the school standard classrooms.

Until few years ago when government placed a moratorium on students providing furniture by themselves, pupils in this school had better days.

New face of Igbobi Junior High School

Another class after six months of furious battle with powers to be

The school comprised of about 2000 students as at November 2012 with total furniture capable of handling less than 10% of these students. 

 From the main road leading to the school, a new three storey building structure covered the landscape. To an unsuspecting visitor, the students are being treated to the best of infrastructures available. With words of mouth, I cannot describe what greeted my eyes when I visited the school. 

 I will never have agreed with anyone saying such a situation is possible in Lagos if I didn’t see it with my own eyes.

During lecture hours, these young boys and girls hang on weak wall, sit on makeshift stools or simply sit on heap of dust they gathered as makeshift seat.

From 8:00am when lecture starts till 2:00pm when the school close shop, these young pupils between the ages of 10-14 years endured unimaginable conditions in the name of learning.

 July 2012, when the matter attained a torrid point, an emergency parent/teacher meeting was called on how to tackle the issue. At the end of a tempered debate, majority of the parents decided to contribute and put the needed furniture in place.

The vice-principal of the school, M.A. Adelugba (Mr.), slim in stature, ripe in age and management experience rejected the resolution.

With a hard time keeping up with the rate at which I rapped my questions, he explained how he began a journey of letters to Special Adviser to Education (MoEdc.), State Universal Education Board (SEPEB), Ministry of Education and other agency in charge of education inn Lagos.

The letter, which was addressed to the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State ministry of Education, Alausa through the Tutor General, Education District II, Maryland (SUPEB), described the decrepitude state of furniture in relation to the students’ population in the school.

 A line in the letter reads:

“The school cannot boast of 180 dual desks and benches. The present situation is a pitiable site (sight) to behold with most of the students population sitting on bare floor in (all) classrooms for lectures, class tests and state unified examinations.”

For Mr. Adelugba, it was a rough, uninspiring journey that took months, his action started a renaissance of what now defines the face of the school furniture. Had it not been for tenacity and experience, this journey might as well end in the same box like the Ajuwon High School story where the final blame went as high as the state governor who resides in Abeokuta.

 The moment we see the government in the 'little' position we occupy, that is the defining moment when we are back on track to a better Nigeria.

 - Don Abiodun Odedeyi