MY NEW YEAR RESOLUTION

MY NEW YEAR RESOLUTION

Well well well, no matter what could have happened, whether you admit it or not, the year 2015 has been good and you and I have been beneficiaries. However, as good as it is, the 365-days year is coming to an end today and in just a matter of hours, we will be welcoming a new year, which we hope to be a better year.
One thing common to people in many parts of the world is making a 'New Year Resolution' especially on the first day of the year and I am sure many are already preparing themselves for their new year resolution as the year 2016 is fast approaching. What then is  a NEW YEAR RESOLUTION? A new year resolution is a pre-determined decision made to guide one's lifestyle or behavioural acts for a calendar year but the fact remains that many of these resolutions made by many in time past have only lasted for days while few last for a few month and and very few are able to abide by their resolutions till the year end. This I think is caused by lack of commitment to one's decision as commitment involves constant evaluation to analyse progression and/or regression.
As you prepare to march into the new year with a new year resolution, focus your mind on having a commitment order plan to help you maintain a faithful new year resolution. A man of God once said, 'No man is error-proof, that is why there is the need for check and balancing'. However, your new year will be incomplete if you have not considered Solomon's words in Pro. 3:5-7.
Thanks you for your time always; 2016 will be a better year for us.
SHALOM!

WHY IS CHANGE NEEDED?

The Story of an EAGLE:

The Eagle has the longest life-span of its species. It can live up to 70 years. But to reach this age, the eagle must make a very difficult decision!

In its 40th year, the eagle's long and flexible Talons can no longer grab a prey which serves as food. Its long and sharp beak becomes bent.

Its old-aged and heavy wings, due to their thick feathers, stick to its chest and make it difficult to fly. Then, the eagle is left with only two options: DIE or go through a painful process of CHANGE!

This process lasts for 150 days (5 months)

The process requires the eagle to fly to a mountain top and sit on its nest. There the eagle knocks its beak against a rock until it plucks it out.

Then the eagle will wait for the new beak to grow back after which it will pluck out its talons. When its talons grow back, the eagle starts plucking its old aged feathers.

And after this the eagle takes its famous flight of rebirth and LIVES for 30 more years!!

Why is Change needed???

In order to survive and live. We too have to start the change process. We sometimes need to get rid of the unpleasant old memories, negative habits and our fixed mind set. Only Freed from the past burdens can we take advantage of the present.

If an eagle can make a life saving and life changing decision at the age of 40....why can't we? In order to take on a New Journey ahead, let go of your negative old limiting beliefs.

Open up your mind and let yourself fly high like an eagle!

When it rains, all birds occupy shelter. But the EAGLE avoids the rain by flying above the clouds....The problem is common to all but the attitude to solve it makes the difference!

Don't be afraid of change...accept it gracefully..!!!

My questions to you is this! Do you want to fly with the eagles or scratch with the turkeys!! Over to you!...(copied)

SHOULD WOMEN REALLY PREACH IN THE CHURCH?

This might be as one of the controversial issues in Christendom today, but I'll like you to try read my story.

It was a bright and cold morning as people were resuming work for the day, I got caught in a serious discussion . Standing attentively to listen and observe the focus of the discussion, I found out the subject matter of the discussion is the question: 'SHOULD WOMEN REALLY PREACH IN CHURCH?' and the core scripture being 1Cor 14:34-35, where Apostle Paul quoted, "Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission as the Law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church."

Many of those involved in the discussion spported the claim that women should be restricted to speak in churches. As I ruminate on this, I needed answers to questions like, 'what about women who married an unbeliever?' 'Are women not allowed to lead praises, dramas, teachings and other ministrations in the churches they attend' Yet, Paul said, '...they are not allowed to speak' and we believe all scripture is given by the inspiration of God. So then, you may ask, was Paul not right on that? Definitely NO! Paul spoke through inspiration at that time but needful to know that revelations are in phases; thus, his message then was limited to the revelation he had at the time. Also from careful study, I discover Paul was only talking about orderliness in the church in that chapter. Little a wonder he ended the chapter with the statement, 'However, be sure that everything is done properly in a good and orderly way'.

Looking carefully through the first book of Paul to the Corinthians, I concluded that Paul spoke in two forms; based on his personal convictions and secondly based on God's strict command and he tried clarifying the two in his statements and in this case, I discovered he spoke based on his own personal conviction. Same Apostle Paul spoke out of revelation to the Galatians after leaving Corinth, "we are no longer Jews or Greeks, or slaves or free men or even merely men or women, but we are all the same-- we are Christians; we are one in Christ Jesus." (Gal. 3:28-29) This same message he went on to preach at other churches including the Ephesians and Colossians unlike the message to the Corinthians which was not repeated afterwards.  What more can I , just my opinion?

I can only pray give us all revelation and understanding of His words. Do good to share your opinions, SHOULD WOMEN REALLY PREACH IN THE CHURCH?

THE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING

Industrial Training in Nigeria is almost in two phases; the first phase which can be termed Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) and the other being Students Internship Program. The first being for undergraduates and the latter being for graduates, though both are sometimes mixed up and misinterpreted by many today.

However, today, the focus is on the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme, a program which has now become mandatory for all undergraduates in acquiring a degree in any Nigerian tertiary institution, that is, universities, polytechnics, and monotechnics or colleges of education.

The SIWES is established by the Industrial Training Fund in 1973 with the aim of solving the problem of lack of adequate practical skills preparatory for employment in industries by Nigerian graduates of tertiary institutions. It is an effort to bridge the gap existing between theory and practice of engineering and technology, science, management, medical, agriculture and other professional educational programmes in the Nigerian tertiary institutions.

Main Objectives of SIWES

Here are some of the basic objectives  of SIWES outlined below:

1. To prepare the students for the work situation they are likely to encounter after graduation, thereby providing them the avenue to acquire industrial skills and experience in their different course of study.

2. It helps to enlist and also strengthen employers' involvement in the entire educational process of preparing graduates for employment at different levels in their different fuel of study.

3. It bridges the gap between university theories and Industrial practices through exposition to real work methods and techniques in equipment handling and machineries operation.

This write-up will not be complete if  the challenges experienced before and during SIWES are not mentioned. From my little experience with people, I have discovered that in many public institutions especially, only less than 30% of any institution gets to complete scheduled I.T. Take for instance, a university, only less than 30% of the students scheduled to go for I.T gets to have a complete 6-months I.T program while the over 70% wander around for weeks and months before getting a placement for their programme. 

This could be largely due to many reasons such as students' lack of early search for placement, ignorance, companies selection based on grades, course of study not a major need in the employment world, students too money-focused, companies unwillingness and many more. 

This is a growing concern which needs to be corrected in our time. I have seen people who had just a month of Industrial Training, I have seen some who couldn't get a placement till their resumption back to school and I have as well seen those who had a complete year I.T (polytechnics) and a complete 6-months I.T (universities); like the Bible said, time and chance happen to them all. At least, I couldn't get a complete I.T experience myself and I can say it well that I started out my I.T at a firm that has no relation to my field, engineering and I still had to spend at least #500.00 daily without any salary or bonus paid in return. I was only determined to start working somewhere without waiting for the right placement and after a while, about a month, I got a placement in my field of study.

Good to also note that we all cannot get our place of comfort in our search for placement, some get their on a platter of gold while some others on a platter of silver and bronze and even some on a platter of wood, the most important thong is to ensure you are focused wherever you find yourself. However, it is no one's fault but your if you couldn't get a placement for your I.T, there are placements everywhere, you are just being selective.

In conclusion, every students anticipating to go for I.T must be ready to subject himself under the authorities he/she finds himself or herself and ready to comply with the rules of the organisation, no matter how big or small the enterprise may be. Also a note to some industrial authorities, to please treat all trainees well with good integrity and fear of God and not as slaves or servants. It is a truth they have come to learn bit they have not come to serve us. Let us accord unto the students respect and honor accorded unto other staffs in organisation. 

May God help our education system, God help the Labour Market and God help Nigeria.

"EVEN IF YOU MUST BECOME A THIEF, STUDY"

EDUCATION IS INDEED POWER

Taking a look at the environment around, I discover in my area especially, many youths want to become footballers, many youths want to become rich like Mikel Obi, many young people want to grow to live like the business Magnate of Nigeria, Aliko Dangote. As a matter of fact, many gatherings are always lauding the achievements of the so called celebrities in the music and film industries like Wizkid, Tuface, Omosexy, Mahjid etc, but the bitter truth is that many are not ready to get educated in becoming who they ought and wish to be, even like their so called role models and mentors.

Taking a look at the life of two great personalities of the scripture, Apostle Peter and Apostle Paul, I discovered that Peter, upon whom the church was built was not as eminent in the scriptures and in the present day as the latter who was once a number one antagonist of the church. WHY? Talking about zeal, they were both zealous; talking about availability, they were both available for God; talking about boldness, they both possessed it; talking about any virtue or characteristics Paul possessed, Peter had it also and was even older in age, hence makes him more experienced than Paul. What then is the missing link if not even experience? Education is the missing link. 

What made Paul more effective, more vibrant and more eminent than Peter can be most linked to his high level of education. He was a graduate of the best school of law of his time and not just a drop out nor just a secondary school graduate like we have in the society today, yet have big ambitions. Paul having written about half of the New Testament Bible can be accorded to his level of literacy, and Peter, writing only two books, less than ten percent of the New Testament can be accorded to his level of illiteracy, yet he was a very good follower of Christ.

How many things are affected in our society through lack of education? The Church is greatly affected as well we see many illiterate taking over the church today. We need more Paul today, it is the need of the church, the need of the society. I want to conclude by quoting a friend who would as well quote his grandfather by saying, "even if you must become a thief, study!"

Education is indeed Power, when it is applied. PREACH IT ON

7th World's Most Powerful Person clocks 60 today

WHO IS THIS MAN?

He clocks 60 years today (born Oct. 28, 1955) and married to his wife, Melinda in 1994, who bore him 3 children. According to Forbes, he is the world’s richest man with a net worth of $79.3 billion, though swiftly overtaken for some hours on Friday, Oct. 23 by 79 year old fashion mogul, Amancio Ortega, but that only lasted for some hours as the American billionaire retained back his No. 1 spot later that day, after a 10% surge in Microsoft. He is also rated according to the American business magazine as the #7 most powerful person on earth, a rating categorized by the level of influence to the world at large. His full name is, William Henry Bill Gates III.

You might have known this man today for his wealth and for the company he co-founded 40 years ago, MICROSOFT which today is the world’s largest PC software company but, here are some uncommon facts about the American billionaire business magnate.

1.       As child, he was a voracious reader, spending hours over reference books such as Encyclopedia and also relished in playing board games (Risk was his favorite) & excelled at Monopoly and has grown to become a book writer, having written quite a number of books.

2.       In the family where he grew, competition is encouraged; though it doesn’t matter the type of competition it is, there was always a reward for wining and a penalty for losing.

3.       He began to show interest in computer programming at the age of 13 at the Lakeside school and went into business at age 15 with his pal, Paul Allen, developing a computer program that netted them $20,000.

4.       He graduated from Lakeside school, a private preparatory school at age 18 as a National Merit Scholar, scoring 1590 out of 1600 on the highly prestigious SAT, showing his intelligence as a young student.

5.       He got the vision of Microsoft at age 18 while he was at Harvard University, with his friend and senior at school, Paul Allen and the vision then was "getting a computer in every person’s desk". Though, the vision seemed audacious then but now, it is a proven fact that 84% of U.S households own a computer.

6.       He launched Microsoft at age 19 while at Harvard, with his friend, Paul Allen and just like his friend, Paul, he also dropped out of school that same year in 1974, even with the support of his parents who had once stopped him from establishing the company while he was 15 years old, cos they wanted him to finish school and go to college, hoping he would become a lawyer.

7.       They got the name MICROSOFT as a portmanteau of the words “micro” computer and “soft” ware.

8.       He held the position of Chairman, CEO & Chief Software architect of the company in the past before finally stepping down as chairman of Microsoft last year and now focused on philanthropy through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Truly, hard work pays but only to a visionary. He who has no vision can have no account of success in history. However, with all of Bill Gates success and achievements in the public society, the truth is that even with his generous philanthropy and contributions to human and societal development, without an encounter with the Lord and savior JESUS CHRIST in his life, he would only burn in hell. JESUS IS THE “ONLY” WAY TO HEAVEN!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HIM

 

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YOU MUST GO FOR SERVICE!

IS NYSC A MUST?

Many have been asking me questions such as, when are you going for service? Where are you posted? Are you not going for service?  Why are you not going for service? And now, I’m tempted to ask the question, IS THE NYSC A MUST FOR ALL GRADUATES?

It is the mentality of the average Nigerian that after a student graduates from a higher institution; university or polytechnic; he/she is to go for service. However, the question many are yet to ask and
some, find answers to, yet remains; IS THE PROGRAM A MUST FOR ALL GRADUATES? In answering this question, one needs to know why the program was instituted and the benefits it's to serve. By this, many wouldn't just 'follow the queue' as it is today but would rather go when it is truly needed.
WHAT ABOUT THE NYSC?The National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) was established by the Nigerian government by Decree No. 24 of May 22, 1973 (later replaced with Decree 51 of June 16, 1993) to reconstruct, reconcile and rebuild the country after the civil war, thereby involving the country's graduates in the development of the country. It's primary purpose is to inculcate in Nigerian youths, the spirit of selfless service to the
community, and emphasize oneness and brotherhood of all Nigerians, irrespective of cultural or social background.
Without much ado, below are the two different types of people who should and shouldn't partake in the one year programme:
Any graduate who must work with/for the government and its agencies, whether as a civil servant or in politics must possess the certificate, or must have its equal; Exemption Certificate or Letter
of Exclusion, as the case may be.
Anyone who has no vision or plan of working with/for the government and its agencies, need not bother partaking in the one year programme. Examples of such people is someone who plans to leave the country to work and settle in another country; someone who already has the mind to settle in a certain kind of business before/after graduating; someone who has a vision of entrepreneurship after graduation without seeking for some job placement and other related examples.
Needful to say that there are some organizations that now require the NYSC certificate in giving appointments, though shouldn't be a pre-requisite to securing job appointments at any level. Hence, whoever must choose not to go for the one year programme, must have been sure of his/her destination before making the decision, just as Mark Zuckerberg was sure he need not continue at Harvard to make his Facebook vision a reality. It is a good thing to do good but is more better, to know why you are doing good. Don't just do things because others are doing it, but because you are convinced you should do it.

Now ask me, ”ARE YOU NOT GOING TO SERVE YOUR FATHER LAND?” My answer will be, “WHOSE FATHERLAND HAVE I BEEN SERVING?”