Monday 25 August 2008

MY LIST OF BOOKS. THE TOP 20.

Hi there, I am a voracious reader and reading has always been something I've always engaged in since I was young. I started reading at a very early age. It should be around age 4. I have always read books that were considered above my level. My mum encouraged me in that direction. Okay, let me get to the business of this post. Here are my top 20 books. I hope you'll like my list. I'm influenced to write this piece my the great song of the rapper, NAS- My Book of Rhymes. Check it out on Youtube. Cheers.

1. The Holy Bible Revised Standard Version.
2. The Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.
3. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
4. Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
5. Business At The Speed of Thought by Bill Gates
6. The Road Ahead by Bill Gates
7. The Stillborn by Zaynab Alkali
8. Ibadan by Wole Soyinka
9. The Last of The Mohicans by J Fenimore Cooper.
10. Washington Square by Henry James.
11. Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
12. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
13. The Passport of Mallam Ilia by Cyprian Ekwensi
14. An African Night's Entertainment by Cyprian Ekwensi
15. The Boy Slave by Kola Onadipe
16. The Lonely Londoners by Samuel Selvon
17. Animal Farm by George Orwell
18. Encyclopaedias of all kinds
19. Little Women by Louisa M Alcott
20. The Biography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley.

THE LOST ONES.

I decided to title this particular post- The Lost Ones, after a track in Lauryn Hill's outstanding album, THE MISEDUCATION OF LAURYN HILL. Lauryn Hill is an artiste I really admire. She's good at what she does and she is very frank about her feelings towards different issues. Having lived in England at different periods of my life, I have come across different people and I've walked through lots of Neighbourhoods. I have seen people who I believe have their origins in Nigeria. I call these people the lost ones. I'm not in any way trying to despise them for living in the western world where they are sometimes not appreciated. I am also not trying to say they don'y know what they are doing or have become stranded in Europe, America or Canada. I am seeing them as the precious human resources that Nigeria has lost due to bad and visionless leadership.

When will the lost ones return home? Can they ever return home? Can they ever forgive the Nigerian Government for sending their parents into the Western world as refugees, or for letting them leave to seek greener pastures outside Nigeria? When I come across black or multi- racial kids in Britain, who bear Nigerian names like Dayo, Funsho, Jide, Ikenna, Chukwudi, Musa, Fatima, Jumoke etc etc, I become sad and angry with those that put them in the situation that they are. This is because even though they were born in a developed society like Britain, they have to struggle to gain recognition which is easily given to their white, fairheaded and blue eyed counterparts. It seems as if the blackman is destined to fight for everything if he wants to make progress in life. Another painful thing is that they could have contributed to the development of Nigeria if a conducive environment had been provided for them there.

I see the lost ones on the streets of London and Essex daily. I've seen some of them in Bristol, Maidstone, Folkstone and other areas of Kent. Some of them were born in the UK while others were born in Africa. Some of those that were born in Africa have become British citizens through marriage, Ancestry, switching nationality due to their possessing a special talent or ability, or serving in the British Armed Forces. I also want to note that some of ' The Lost Ones ', are what the Government of the western countries term as illegal immigrants. However, this set of people I have mentioned are mostly treated in the same way. They are seen as foreigners who have come to contaminate the pure racial make up of the indigenous white people. It is a veiled kind of racism that blacks face in the Western world.

I often wonder about what the Nigerian and other African Governments are doing to help the lost ones return home. The development of Africa lies in the hands of her children who are outside her shores. What is making it so difficult for Africans in the diaspora to return home? Why do the The Lost Ones prefer living in countries where they are discriminated against and seen as scums, criminals and never do wells? I feel that Africans in the diaspora don't want to return to their continent of origin because of her underdevelopment. African leaders are mostly visionless and very greedy. They are also bad leaders who wont let those that want to change things get into power. There are so many intelligent africans abroad that can give Africa the creative leadership it needs. Africa needs creative leaders that can take the continent to the next level. The shocking truth is that many of the creative leaders we need are in the diaspora. The President we need might just be washing plates in a restaurant in London, or might be driving a Taxi Cab in New York. The Lost Ones need to be brought back home. Africa needs them more than the Western economies. However, the Nigerian Government has to wake up to its responsibility. President Yar'Adua needs to get the ball rolling by tackling the Electricity problem first and other things will follow. We need serious leaders at the moment and I hope our curent leader is serious enough. And how was your day? Cheers.

Tuesday 22 July 2008

I KNOW WHERE I'M GOING.


I know who I am, I know who I'm not. I can never forget where I come from, I know where I am going. To reach for my dreams and conquer the challenges, I will dare to be different, and with proper guidance and direction, nothing is impossible. I am indeed a future leader- A quote for young, black and gifted men.

THE INTERNET: THE NEW CONTINENT.

I grew up being told that there were six continents in the world- Africa [ My continent which I hold dearly to my heart ] , South America, North America, Asia, Oceania and Europe. Today, there are arguments that the continents are more than six. To some Geographers, we have seven continents. The Geographers include Antartica on the list. Some scholars also believe that we have eight continents. In some other countries like the United States [ I call the USA a salad bowl ], High School students are sometimes taught of the existence of Five continents. The two American continents being lumped together as one. In recent years, another continent has been discovered. That continent is not physical like the others discovered before it. While other continents have boundaries and are governed by political organizations, with numerous Nations led by Politicians, this new continent has amazing characteristics.

It is a continent that has no leaders and physical boundaries. This continent has no borders and cannot be measured. This continent exists in an undefined space and it could be ubiquitous. It is a continent that is rich in information, images and width. This continent lies at the mercy of those who travel on it. This continent is full of opportunities for those who can dare to possess and creatively exploit it. This continent I'm talking about is the internet. Have you ever sat down to think about what you can do with this mighty tool at your disposal? Yeah, the internet is at your beck and call. You don't need a visa to travel to this continent. You don't need to think of boarding a flight across the atlantic and the deserts to get to this continent. This continent is just around the corner, at the nearest cybercafe. If you can afford to get connection at home, it is just at your front. The possibilities of the internet are endless. It depends on what you want to do with it.
I am not going to bore you with what human beings have been able to do on the World Wide Web. As you know, the internet has changed the way we live. It has changed the way we relate to one another and it has changed the way we do business. It is clearly up to you to use the internet for either positive or negative things.

We live in the information age where business, according to Bill Gates, is done at the speed of thought. What Gates is saying here is that Business these days is powered by Technology. And the technology that powers Business is the internet and Personal computers. They both work together to make business defy borders and bureaucracy. The internet has fostered a new generation of internet entrepreneurs. Think of Amazon [ The Bookseller ] and Jeff Bezos, Think of Ebay [ The Auctioneers ] and Pierre Omidyar, Think of Microsoft [ The software leviathan ] and Bill Gates and Think of Gumtree, London's spectacular site, which has spread like cancer to other countries. Then think of MySpace, Facebook, Bebo, Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, Aol, etc. I want to ask a question here: What are you doing with this continent that lies in your hands? Do you know that you can power your business with the internet? Do you know that you can change your life with this unique technology? Think about what you can do with the internet. Don't be left behind. As for me, I am an infopreneur and I have gradually started treading on this continent. I am looking at the road ahead with optimism. I can't say this is exactly what lies ahead of me, but I have my creator backing me. God is alive. I place my hope in him. Are you on Facebook yet? I'm not on this popular social networking site for now. Don't laugh at me, please. Anyway,how was your day? Cheers.

Thursday 29 May 2008

DNA: WHAT IT MEANS TO ME.

I know that the acronym DNA is seen as scientific by many people on earth today. The media has popularized the acronym in Movies, newspapers, magazines and music. The term DNA has become a regular word in the spy novels that are being churned out in large numbers today. Talk about James Patterson and his contemporaries. Normally, the term DNA is associated with the human cell system and anatomy. I don't know much about science, and I am open to corrction here. Anyway, Science apart, I don't think conventionally. I think out of the box. So to me, DNA connotes something else.

I believe in natural talent so DNA means DYNAMIC NATURAL ABILITY to me. I came up with this acronym while thinking deeply last year. I always like thinking deeply because I believe the future belongs to individuals who think before making decisions. Do you believe you have a natural ability? Do you know that our natural abilities are dynamic? Have you realized those whose names are worth mentioning in today's world are people who make good use of their natural abilities. There is a reason why God planted unique abilities in us when he breathed us into existence. Scientists have not been able to come up with explanations as to what makes us creative and having the ability to do amazing things. Yeah, they could relate our intelligence to the functioning of the brain, but the question is: What is the force behind the working of the brain?

The force behind the working of the brain is Jehovah God. Anyway, you have a dynamic natural ability that cannot be taken away from you. The natural ability I am talking about is your talent. Have you discovered your talent or talents? Who knows, you might have more than one talent. What is it that you do easily that people compliment you about? What is that creative thing that you enjoy doing? Look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself that you're not worthless. You need to check your DNA and rediscover yourself. It is worth doing if you want to amount to anything in life. When it seems that nobody appreciates your value or your hardwork at your place of work, it is time to check your DNA and take action. Your dynamic natural ability can lift you out of poverty, joblessness, poverty and boredom. Your Dynamic Natural Ability is your passport to success and fulfilment in life. You need some other factors to enhance your DNA. You need prayers, focus, hardwork and networking to guide you on your road to achievement.

Tiger Woods, Bill Gates, Woody Allen, Oprah Winfrey, Rupert Murdoch, Michael Jordan, Wayne Rooney, John Terry, Jay Jay Okocha, Chimamanda Adichie, Dan Brown, Barack Obama etc are men and women who make good use of their Dynamic Natural Abilities [DNA]. We read about them daily but we need to strive to make use of our own abilities. The hours should not pass us by. It is time to take action. When will you be celebrated? Cheers, and how was your day?

Saturday 12 April 2008

HITTING THE BULLSEYE BY 40.

I can't remember the day the day these wild thoughts jumped into my mind. I have always been a deep thinker right from the day I first encountered failure. That was in 1991 when I received my report card in Secondary School. The Secondary School happened to be Ijebu-Ode Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. I was expecting to move on to JSS 3 the next term. What I saw shocked me to my bones. I was told to repeat Form two. Tears welled up in my eyes and I was so down in my feelings, that I had a tough time packing my luggage for the onward journey home. It was the last day of the term and all boarders had to vacate the hostel and head back home for the two months holiday. To make matters worse, one of my classmates blamed me for being unserious with my studies. I can still remember his name. Ayodele Samaiye.

Anyway, due to a twist in my situation when we resumed, I was promoted to Jss 3. I don't know what happened to this date. However, that incident which nearly saw me repeating a class [ something which had never happened to me ] created the desire to succeed in me. I have since come to the understanding that every great man or woman, must receive his or her wake up call at a period in life. I also believe that we don't need to wait till we are 40 years old to start striving to achieve our goals. We can be made before we are 40. It all has to do with how early we start on the journey to success. It also has to do with our focus. Life throws a lot of challenges before us and I also know that plans fail. I'm not trying to paint a picture of life being a bed of roses. The path to success is full of thorns and people staying on the sidelines mocking you. However, you have to keep going on. You need to keep moving. It does not matter if you take two steps a day, just keep on moving. You will get to your destination before you know it.

Whenever I read about people like Bill Gates, Michael Dell, Christiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Brad Pitt, Will Smith, Chimamanda Adichie, Jimoh Ibrahim et al, I often can't help but wonder when they started their journey to success. They were all comfortable and famous before they became 40 years old. Some of them are still far from being 40 years old. It is not good to be struggling to survive when you record two scores. I don't pray for you to be struggling to pay the school fees of your kids at that age. I think a lot about the topic i'm discussing today. It is an issue that makes me sober when it crosses my mind. I have this belief that nobody owes you anything. It is really good for a man to take care of himself and be independent. However, we cannot do without support from others. We all need each other. Which brings me to the scourge of Self Centredness that is threatening to eat up the world today. We might not be able to hit the bullseye by the time we are 40, without help from others. No one that became successful did it all alone. There must have been some assistance along the way, in whatever form it was received.

We need to share our ideas and learn from others. Networking is the key to financial independence and success. Information cannot be gotten in solitude. It can only be received when we are in constant communication with other people of like minds. What are you doing now to ensure you're comfortable by the time you're 40? How much time do you spend thinking and working on your goals? Do you have a goal in life? Have you ever had this feeling that you are born to be a change agent to people you know? Have you also had the feeling that you were created to do something specific? I don't know what calling you have, but I do know that God created us all for different reasons. Hmn, to be made by 40? It is possible. I know I can. I can do it with the help of God. What about you? What do you think? And how was your day, mate?

Monday 24 March 2008

LEE LEE, BY RESONANCE.

This is another video that blows my mind. Africa is rich in everything. Esther's voice and mastery of the guitar is amazing. She sings in Igbo Language, one of Nigeria's three major Languages. Resonance is a group I have come to respect. I love good music, and when I come across beautiful tracks, the creativity in me is stirred up. Though I don't understand what she is saying, I know it is a deep spiritual song. She seems to be singing about her journey to fame through the help of God. The village setting also makes the video unique. Africa is indeed a blessed continent. I just pray that the fortunes of Africa turns around in the next ten years. Meanwhile, enjoy lee lee. And let me know how you feel about the song. And please help spread the word about this blog. Thanks.

Thursday 20 March 2008

TRUE LOVE

Have you ever been in love? I mean, have you been in a relationship with a man or a woman? It should not come as a surprise to you that there are those who have never gone on a date with someone they admire. The world is peopled by different characters who also have different motives. Lets talk about true love today. Does true love exist in the world today? That is a million dollar question that the world has not been able to answer. In this age of fractured marriages, wife battery, divorces and cheating spouses, one might be forced to wonder if true love exists.

I've been told several times by friends and collegues that they don't believe in love. To them , love does not exist. To them , it is something that should be traced to fairyland. However, I know True love exists. I've come across couples that are truly in love, and waoh, I'm impressed. I have come to realize that it is up to us to make the best out of the affairs we have with those we fancy. It is not difficult as it seems to truly love someone. Have you ever wondered why relationships that seem to be so strong at the beginning suddenly go awry? To me, it might be that the two involved in the relationship never really knew what they wanted. In the first instance, were they really in love?

I read on the internet and in the traditional media [ Newspapers and Magazines] of people who are seeking for true love. I often laugh when I read these emotional stories. True love comes from above and cannot be given by man to another human being. It is difficult for someone to truly love if a spiritual presence is not involved. Man is naturally selfish and he is programmed not to consider the needs of others, except he is obliged to help them. That obligation most times is brought about by a divine being. That divine being exudes love himself. And that divine being is God. True love is all about sacrifice. True love is about being there for those you love. True love shares, gives and nourishes the other person involved in the relationship. True love does not seek perfection, but looks out for ways to make the other person attain a level of maturity. For there is no one that is perfect. So much to talk about concerning true love. We all need to to be truly loved by our partners. We just need to grasp this simple truth- True love comes from God. And how was your day?

Tuesday 18 March 2008

DREAMS CAN COME TRUE.

I have always been a dreamer. Right from my primary school days, I have always wanted to see the world. I have always looked forward to the day when I will see other places apart from my home land, Nigeria. Thanks be to God, I have now seen what the outer world looks like. However, in my bid to see that my dreams come true, I have faced obstacles that only the lord helped me surmount. I have seen people sneer at my focus and positive outlook to life. I have heard negative comments being made in my front and behind me. I have been alone most of the time in my current journey to find my destiny. However, I refuse to become what the world wants me to become. I have my life to live.

I have a lot of things I want to achieve before I die. At 30, I can't say I've achieved much. I have made a name for myself when it comes to writing, but it is still on a small scale. I've won awards in school [ back at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria ] and I write for a catholic magazine. Though I'm making progress, I know I have to work harder on the ideas in my head. I believe dreams can come true if we work towards achieving set goals. It is really an unstable world right now, but we have to push on. It is a world that is not balanced and it is a world full of conflict. Right now, there is a conflict raging inside me. I love my country, Nigeria, passionately. However, the country is not providing a conducive environment for creative types like me. I want to stay permanently in the western world, but I know there would be challenges to surmount in the strange places I've been to. It is really a war that is going on inside me. And there is the war going on outside. The racism, terrorist attacks and wickedness that humanity is being subjected to.

Everyday, I wake up to the reality that there are grounds to conquer. I wonder if I am working hard enough to get my goals achieved. I pray hard for the guidance of my creator. I pray hard that good leaders will be installed in Nigeria so that the country can claim its place in the comity of advanced nations. I pray for the iraqi war to come to an end. I pray for people to accept each other for who they are and not what they are. I also pray to God to help me with the resources I need to carry out my vision for children in Africa.Let me know how you feel about this blog. Thank you lord. And how was your day.

Saturday 15 March 2008

Fire On The Mountain - asa (http://houbs007.skyrock.com)

ASA is a prophetess. I love this track and video from her new album. She is really talented and she loves doing what she does. She is currently making waves all over Europe with her unique kind of music. Like I said earlier on, I want things that are inspiring to be on my blog. I want to lift your spirit when you are down. I also want to be with you all the way as you creatively move on to your destiny. At the end of the day, it is what we do with our gifts that matters. Remember the parable of talents in the bible. I also believe the world has to liten to the lyrics of this song. We need to stop hurting others for our own advancement. Cheers All.

LIVING A LIE

I always like being natural when relating with other people. I don't know how to pretend I am someone else other than me. Some of my friends have told me I am still the same boy they met years ago. I have been told that I am too simple and too trusting of others. I have been accused of being too blunt. I have been advised to play along with people in a bid to get what I want from them. I have been told to be diplomatic when dealing with people.I have been constantly warned not to tell my dreams of the future to others. I have been told- '' BEWARE OF DREAM KILLERS!! ''.

However, I have realized that I can't live a lie. I can't change who I am. God has a reason for making the type of person I am. I am not saying I am a saint or angel [ don't forget some angels are on the side of the devil. They are the demons you often hear about ]. The problem people seem to have with me is that I have this confidence in my intellect and my abilities. It is sad that we live in a world that does not encourage people to voice out what and how they feel. I'm not going to start listing examples in this post. It sometimes becomes boring when you do that, you know. So we are often made to keep quiet and endure all kinds of horrible behaviour and comments.

To the dream killers issue. How can a dream come to manifestation if the vision is not shared with people? Many things would have been invented but the potential inventors kept their plans to themselves. Of course, they died with their ideas. Those who would have supported them were not approached for help. Mind you, not everyone out there is a dream killer. There are some people out there, who are prepared to run along with you in actualising your vision. You need to go out and look for them. They won't come to you if you don't go hunting for them. Most times, if you don't present yourself as you are to others, you are taking the risk of living a lie. And there is nothing worse than living a fake life.

You don't have to feel ashamed of who you are. Once you're in tune with God, you can never lose. Your personality traits have nothing to do with what you can become in life. If you possess negative behaviour, you can work on yourself and change those things you don't like about your conduct in public. You can do it with God's help. However, be true to yourself, to God and your loved ones. It pays in the end. Cheers. And how was your day?

SORRY ABOUT THE VACATION.

Hello, I know you might have been wondering what is going on this blog. Blogs are meant to be updated daily, you know. I have been on an unannounced vacation and it is time to get back to work. I am someone that does not like abandoning projects. However, there was a time I tried to update this blog, but couldn't get my mission accomplished. After putting down my thoughts, I clicked on the post button. The article refused to upload. I was stunned. I tried again and again, but I could not post the write up on my blog. I had to give up because it was already getting late. Besides, I was feeling sleepy. I had to go to bed.

So here I am once again. I hope you like this blog. Let me know how you feel about TOLU'S PARADISE. I will keep trying to make the blog more attractive content and graphics wise. Cheers.

Friday 29 February 2008

2Pac - Changes

This is the video of Tupac's thought provoking song, 'CHANGES '.The song aptly describes what I feel about human relations daily. Listen to it and make up your own mind about what the current system of things mean to you. Cheers.

Thursday 28 February 2008

IF I COULD TEACH THE WORLD.

When I wake up every morning these days, I usually wonder where the world is heading to. Apart from the news items that could send you back into your bed, I sometimes think about the events I see happening around me. I see humanity heading towards a destination I do not know about. The milk of human kindness is hard to come by nowadays. Being good is now seen as a weak trait. Being brash, loud and arrogant is celebrated by many citizens of the world nowadays. Sex, which is a gift to humanity by God has been turned into a weapon by human beings. It has been commercialised in a mostly negative manner. I don't want to be a judge on this matter, but I wish I could teach the world.

It is no longer the world I grew up in. I grew up feeling peace in the air. There was this Garden of Eden atmosphere back then that I can't describe now. Maybe it was because I was a kid back then. Maybe I was too young to notice the physical and spiritual wars going on among humanity then. However, I was given a lot of love then. I am talking about the 80's and early 90's, before things went awry. There were relationships then. People fell in love way back without too much material consideration. Nowadays it is all about the Benjamins. Money is mostly considered first before love or attraction. How sad. If only I could teach the world.


Marriages break up easily these days. Terrorism is virtually turning the world into a fortress. There is so much suspicion and Governments spend a lot of money on security. I feel this cash should be spent on the homeless and the poor who don't have food to eat. Man has not been able to understand the reason for various shades of skin color and has been sometimes animalistic when dealing with those who are not looking like him. Knowledge is rampant these days, but there is no kindness to back it up. And knowledge without compassion is like drinking cereal mixed with gravel. I wish I could teach the world.

I wish I could teach the world to change its ways. I wish I had the power to influence people to treat their fellow human beings better. I wish I had the power to bring peace to the world, stop hunger and poverty and make people realize the folly of stacking up money in banks or building external reserves of money when people are suffering. However, I have realized that the power to change the world does not lie with me. It lies with God. He is the only one that can redeem the world. I can only pray to him to touch the hearts of men. He knows where the world is heading to anyway, and it is all for the achievement of his grand purpose for humanity. The world lies in his hands and that is why we have day and night, winter and summer and spring and autumn. I wait in earnest for the new world.

Thursday 21 February 2008

AFRICAN IRISH

I started knowing about Ireland in 2003 when I met a young man known as Vincent Egede. Vincent was my course mate at the University of Ibadan. We were not close during the first year at Uni, but somehow fate [ or is it God? ] brought us together. It happened that after a particular lecture on a rainy afternoon, we both left the Faculty of Arts [ We were both students of History ], and walked to the Sports Centre. It was there that Vincent told me his story. I cannot for the reasons of privacy divulge what Vincent told me that day, but it all boiled down to the fact that he'd left the monastery to help the Irish Missionaries out when it came to Catholic Publications. Vincent introduced me to the work of the St Patrick Fathers. I am still protestant, but I admire the work of the Irish missionaries in Nigeria. They are quietly bringing succour to people in my country.

I started writing for AFRICA, St Patrick's Missions Magazine back in 2004. I have been with the Publication since then. Vincent is the Assistant Editor of the Magazine, with Father Jim Sheering as the Editor. Along with other priests, writers and contributors we successfully publish the West African Edition of the Magazine four times a year. I consider myself an African-Irish. I don't carry an Irish Passport, but I am somehow Irish. The colour of my blog was deliberately chosen to be Green. The colour of St Patrick. I look forward to visiting Ireland one day. I love the liberal Irish way of life and it's beautiful countryside. I guess this years St Patrick's day will be superb. At least I can be Irish on that day. We don't usually have St Patrick's day parades in Africa, but I know the day will be marked somehow at St Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland, Nigeria.

The Irish people and Ireland have come to stay in my heart. Ireland has a great history and I've got friends in Dublin. There is one thing about me. My dreams come true. So I know I will visit Ireland soon. Thanks to Vincent Egede for bringing into the world of the Irish. And how was your day?

Wednesday 20 February 2008

FREEBORN


There is a song that I love playing everyday. The song is titled ''I WISH I KNEW HOW IT WOULD FEEL TO BE FREE''. It was sung by Tunde Baiyewu and Paul Tucker when they were still known as the Lighthouse Family. They have parted ways but their songs continue to touch people all around the World. I have two of their Cd's- WHATEVER GETS YOU THROUGH THE DAY and OCEAN DRIVE. Tunde Baiyewu has such a unique voice and I bet that if he makes heaven, he will be drafted immediately into the choir there. Well, I've not been to heaven before but Tunde's voice is heavenly. He is just outstanding.Here are the lyrics to my popular song. Enjoy.

I wish I knew how it would feel to be free
I wish I can break all the chains holding me
I wish I could say all the things that I should say
Say 'em loud, Say 'em clear
For the whole wide world to hear

I wish I could share
All the love that's in my heart
Remove all the bars that keep us apart
And I wish you could know how it feels to be me
Then You'd see and agree that every man should be free

I wish I could be like a bird in the sky
How sweet it would be if I found I could fly
Well I'd soar to the sun and look down at the sea
And I'd sing 'cos I know how it feels to be free

I wish I knew how it would feel to be free
I wish I could break all the chains holding me
And I wish I could say all the things that I wanna say
Say 'em loud, Say 'em clear
For the whole wide world to hear [3ce]

One love one blood
One life you've got to do what you should
One life with each other
Sisters, brothers

One love but we're not the same
We got to carry each other
Carry each other
One One One One One

I wish I knew how it would feel to be free
I wish I knew how it would feel to be free (END)

Yeah, that it. I love the song. We need to set ourselves free from the hatred and racism that threatens to control the world today. We need to aspire towards certain goals without being limited by the deeds and discouraging words of people. Let us love ourselves genuinely without faking emotions for selfish ends. True love stands the test of time. May the good lord help us succeed in this world. Amen. And how was your day?

Monday 18 February 2008

BOOKS AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT.

I love reading good books. My father encouraged my siblings and I to read voraciously. I remember the day he came back from work with two big cartons of books, comics and Magazines. They'd been given to him by his Lebanese and Syrian friends who had kids studying in the United States. I still remember that one of the kids had his name on some of the books. ''Nabil'' was the name, yeah. My mother was also keen to fire our imagination with books. She introduced me to the FAMOUS FIVE series written by Enid Blyton. I started wondering where London was on the world map, after reading Blyton's books.

Books are very essential when it comes to Personal Development. Books provide us with a lot of information which we can use to transform our lives. We get to know about other races, countries and continents on the pages of books. Personal Development is what adds the extra value to us after we bag certificates from schools. Qualifications alone can not take us to the zenith of our careers. We always need to display enough mental skills that will set us apart. Books provide information that can enhance our qualifications. In short, reading makes a man. One of the reasons why Nigeria is stunted developmentally, can be deduced from the fact that most of our leaders don't read. How many Governors and Ministers in Nigeria have personal libraries? How many commissioners and State officials have read Ben Carson's books? I doubt if they even know who Dr Carson is. It is as bad as that in my country.

Personal Development is something we need to think about daily. Apart from praying to God, Personal Development should be our main focus. When we develop ourselves daily, we'll become indispensable to our enployers, communities and countries. Personal Development is a close relative of Books. Show me a man that reads and I will show you a winner. Reading is not a difficult thing to engage in. Just create time to sit down with a book for at least an hour daily. In no time, you would have finished reading the book. Then you can pick another book and start the process again. God knows how many books you'll be able to read in a year with this technique. And the sweet thing is that all the knowledge you garner from reading voraciously will be useful one day. Happy Reading. You can check www.shelfari.com to sign up as a lover of books. And how was your day?

Friday 15 February 2008

HEEDING THE CALL, THE JOY OF FOLLOWING MY DREAMS.

Guess you read my post about my birthday? I was a year older on the 22nd of January 2008. I am an Aquarian and I 've discovered that most Aquarians are very strong willed and creative. It is not as if I believe in Horoscopes or Spritism. However, I feel there are certain truths about those signs. Back to the topic of my post. I am happy that I discovered my calling early in life. I can still remember those days when I used to write stories and poems on sheets of paper. A great feeling of satisfaction usually descended upon me anytime I wrote in the 8o's and 90's. Sometimes, I wrote things I did not understand myself. I wrote about Cowboys and Indians in the United States. I wrote about Secondary School thugs, Junior students and their adventures. I wrote about people in other lands and their activities. The more books I read, the more my horizon widened.

It was after graduating from Secondary School, that this strange feeling came upon me. It was then I realized that I was born to be a writer. The easiest thing I could do was to write. I discovered that my friends respected me for my writing skills. To most of my High School mates, I was not important except when they needed me to write something for them. I wrote a lot of love letters those days for my mates who wanted to date some girls in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. I remember that one of the girls actually fell for Goke Solaja. Goke was my Junior. He approached me and told me to craft out a letter that would touch the girl. We called the girl 11-11. She read my letter and fell for Sir Solaja. Those were the humble beginnings.

From 1999, I started writing for a living with National Encomium Magazine. Though I was paid peanuts there, I made an impact before I left for more education. Before working for Encomium, I bagged a diploma in Journalism from NIJ. At the University of Ibadan, I joined Zikpress Organization and bagged some awards on Campus. My pen name as a Campus journalist was REDMAN. In 2004, the course of my writing career changed. I was introduced to the St Patrick's Missionary Society. I am happy I followed my dreams.

Thursday 14 February 2008

AT THE CROSSROADS

Have you listened to the American Hip-Hop group called Bone Thugs and Harmony? I started appreciating their unique style of rap, which is a mixture of south-central ebonics and strong rhymes. The four members of the group, Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, Wish Bone, and Bizzy Bone were real tonguetwisters when performing their songs. Though I dont like some of their tracks, I love listening to ''THE CROSSROADS'', their Grammy Award winning song in 1997. The song is about man's existence and what would and could happen to him when he dies. It was a first class Rap performance.

There comes a time in our life when we come to the Crossroads. It is a time when we are faced with making a crucial decision about our future. It is a period of reflection. Deep reflection. It happens that you have two good options, and you don't feel like dropping any of them. However, you know you have to sacrifice one of the options for you to move ahead. Just like Jesus gave his life for humanity on the cross of calvary. He could have bowed down to the Devil and taken the ''Gifts and Prizes'' he was offered , but he chose to redeem mankind. What a sacrifice of love!

We all arrive at the crossroads at a period in our life. And we need to take that crucial decision. Something has to be sacrificed to move forward. However, there is the need for us to put the situation in the hands of God. This is to stop us from making grave mistakes in our race towards destiny.Let us move close to God when we arrive at the crossroads. I hope this piece makes sense to you. I am the crossroads as I write today's post. May the good lord continue to protect us. Amen.

Thursday 7 February 2008

THE COMING VALENTINE'S DAY.

I have tried to figure out what the Valentine's day means to me. I started witnessing people celebrating the event from my secondary school days. I used to notice the prefects and other seniors designing greeting cards that would be given to their Girlfriends on the day. Before you start grinning , I want you to know that my school was a Boys only School. Yeah, we were all boys. We used to be mixed until the 1960's when the ladies were packed [as I was told] into a bus and driven to a new premises that had been built for them. That premises became Anglican Girls Grammar School [AGGS], Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

So the seniors and prefects would sneak out to AGGS and other female secondary Institutions to see their girlfriends. There were always valentine parties held in town. These parties were usually thrown by students whowere not boarders and who came from rich homes. Hmn? I was not born with a silver spoon. I come from a humble background, though my Parents were not poor. I grew up in a middle class home in Ikeja, Lagos State. I have never really celebrated a valentine's day with a lady, you know. Though I have had female friends in the past, I can't remember taking any of them out for Valentine's day. To me Valentine should be a daily thing, not the February 14 frenzy that it is. It is not a day to get drunk, or have wild sex only. I feel it should be a day when lovers will spend quality time together to reassess their relationship. A day of talking about the future of the relationship or marriage. A day to share gifts and a day to thank God for the relationship.

Well, I don't know how my Valantine's day will be, but I would definately be enjoying myself. And don't ask me who it will be with. That's a top secret between me and my creator. Have a wonderful valentine's day in advance.

And how was your day?

Thursday 31 January 2008

THE QUOTES OF LIFE

All your dreams can come true
if you have the courage to pursue them
- Walt Disney [Disney is the creator of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. He grew up living on a farm and studying how Animals behave. This habit became his talisman. One of his legacies is The Disney World in Florida, USA.]

The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.
- Walt Disney

There are plenty of ways to get ahead. The first is so basic I'm almost embarrassed to say it: Spend less than you earn.
- Paul Clitheroe [ May God grant us the ability to spend wisely]

Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Accordingly, a genius is often merely a talented person who has done all of his or her homework.
- Thomas Edison [ Hardwork Matters, Folks ]

Think not of yourself as the architect of your career but as the sculptor.Expect to have to do a lot of hard hammering and chiseling and scraping and polishing.
- Bc Forbes [ Nice quote, but remember that your life does not belong to you. It belongs to God ]

I have no Napoleonic dream. I'm just hardworking and pragmatic.
- Roman Abramovich [ No wonder Chelsea FC is becoming one of the best clubs on earth]

I wish it grew on trees, but it takes hardwork to make money.
- Paul Clitheroe [ True, you know. However, money can't buy you love and happiness]

You have put in many, many, tiny efforts that nobody sees or appreciates before you achieve anything worthwhile.
- Brian Tracy [ Nobody knew Jimoh Ibrahim when he was swotting to earn his Masters degree in the university. I bet they are confounded with his achievements now]

I love quotes a lot. I feel those that produce quotes are very intelligent people who know how to express themselves pointedly. I hope you can pick a thing or two from these quotes. I tagged them '' The Quotes of Life ''

I am a writer- Journalist, folks.

Just trying to remind you again.

And how was your day?


















Wednesday 30 January 2008

CHANGING THE NIGERIAN MENTALITY


I sometimes wonder what would happen to my country, Nigeria, if most of her citizens could think creatively. At the moment, it is only a tiny fraction of the Nigerian population that is thinking differently. There seems to be this general haste to acquire wealth at the expense of the common good. There is this battle to outdo one another when it comes to material possession. Personally, I do not see anything wrong in trying to be successful financially. What I do not subscribe to is when we hurt others due to our failure to see the Big Picture.


As Nigerians, we need to change the current pervasive mentality that acquires the general pot of gold for private ends. I am not talking about corrupt politicians alone. We are all guilty in one way or the other, and we must do something fast to haul Nigeria back to her feet as the Giant of Africa. We sometimes blame the rich in our society for being selfish, but are we prepared to make a difference when we eventually make it? What are we doing at our present level to change our sorroundings? Have we handled our current leadership positions effectively by being creative in our thinking?


Nigerians need to adopt a new mentality in this information age. We need to adopt an attitude that values knowledge. We need to do away with envy that eats deep into our soul. That envy that has denied us many opportunities to put the ideas of our gifted ones into practice. We need to embrace innovation and encourage research. We need to appreciate our geniuses for who and what they are. For a genius that is appreciated can design a product that will lead to the employment of thousands of Nigerians. Nigerians need to realize that stashing up the common wealth for private use, will only prolong the enslavement of the country to the Western powers.


We need to adopt a mentality that sees religion as a tool for development, and not as a device to enrich ouselves. We need to adopt a mentality that treasures books. For in books, we can see how great leaders and businessmen left their footprints in the sands of time. And by reading these books, we can emulate them. We need to adopt a mentality of social welfare. We need to be concerned about how the other person is doing. We need to share in this environment that continues to promote selfishness. We need to honour those that have brought glory to our nation, by taking care of them and ensuring that they live the rest of their lives in prosperity.This is the challenge before us in this new year and I pray the good lord will give us the power to start thinking differently and creatively.Amen.

Sunday 27 January 2008

OBAMA'S AUDACITY OF HOPE.


In July 2004, Barack Obama gave an address that spoke to Americans across the Political spectrum at the National Democratic Convention. The speech was titled '' The Audacity of Hope ''. Obama later released a book of the same title that became the number three bestseller on the New York Times nonfiction list as of October 2006. He is now campaigning to become the President of the United States of America. A black man? , you might say.


I admire Barack Obama for daring to fulfil his vision for his life. He is not sitting down moaning about the obstacles before him. He is striving to achieve his dreams. We need to share Obama's audacity of Hope.


I know I can with God on my side.


And how are you doing?

DEADLINES AND TARGETS.

I have been trying to meet up with my writing schedule in the last three days. As a writer, My life is measured by deadlines and targets. There is always a story to be completed or an article to be written. Sometimes, there comes the occasional phone call or text from my Editor telling me to speed up work on my stories. I know I have to meet the deadlines if I hope to get paid. However, it is a life I enjoy living. I do not have any regrets whatsoever.

I also believe that life should also be lived with deadlines and targets in sight. The Bible says there is a time for everything. We need to give deadlines to some projects that we have embarked on, or we will never complete them. We also need to target the audience or the segment of the society that we want the Project to benefit or reap profit from. We must not just exist, but we must live for something. There should be an idea or purpose we must live for. Deadlines and targets are good for us because they act as guideposts in the rocky path of destiny.

Readers, don't just do things like that. With a wave of the hand. Do things with the end in your sight. Picture where you want to be or what you want to achieve someday. Then work towards it. With God on your side, your dreams will come to pass. Have you set a goal today?

Sitting still and wishing makes no one great,
the good lord sets the fishing-
but you must dig the bait.

And how was your day?

Wednesday 23 January 2008

HOLD ON TO YOUR DREAMS.

I have always been a dreamer. I have been dreaming since I was 6 years old. When I talk about dreams, I am not referring to those supernatural encounters we have when we are asleep. I am talking about the goals and aspirations that we have towards an expected end. I have always dreamed of publishing my own Magazine and writing a bestselling novel. This dream has been my driving force in all that I do. I went to Journalism School to polish up my writing skills [ though I know I'm a natural], and attended the University of Ibadan to study History. I am still on my journey to stardom. I am not going to run ahead of my creator in the bid to make it in life. I've learnt from reading the books of John Maxwell, that success is not a destination but a journey where you learn to impact the world positively.

I've faced a lot of challenges in my journey towards God's expected end. I have faced rejection from people that I tried to sell my ideas to. Since then, I have learnt not to look up to people for appraisals concerning my creativity.This is the cold truth: The world is full of people who don't know what they want exactly from life. Telling your dreams to them is like you're hurting them. So they mostly end up as obstacles to the future you dream of. I am not saying you should be a snob, but you've got to be focused and be able to discern those who try to discourage you.

I don't know about you, but I desire to make an impact in and on my generation. With God, I believe I can go the long haul.I usually ask myself this question. What do you hope to achieve before you're 40? I am also asking you this question at this moment. What are your goals at this moment? What project have you been working on in the last 6 months? What are you striving towards in life? You need to lay your hands on something and get started.Don't be idle or the hours, days, months and years will pass you by. Don't forget to commit your goals and dreams into the hands of God. As I write this piece, I am thinking of my immediate plans and how I am going to accomplish something worthwhile. That is the mentality of a winner.

I celebrated my birthday yesterday and I thanked the lord for sparing my life up to this moment. I was able to see beyond the food and goodies, and I spent the afternoon reflecting. Though the celebrations matter a lot, I've promised to hold on to my dreams.Hold on to your dreams.The problems and circumstances around us cannot be compared with the gifts that lie in us. And how was your day?

Monday 21 January 2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TOLU IHIDERO.


I remember when I clocked 10. I was still in primary school then. I remember that lovely day in 1988. It was a Saturday and my mother [ too bad that she left my Father when I needed her most ] ,took me to a shoe shop somewhere in Ikeja where she bought me a nice pair of shoes. A suit had been sown for me some weeks before in anticipation of my great day. The day went well and I can still remember that someone gave me a birthday present that changed my life.


The birthday present was given to me by Chief Jaja, one of my father's friends, who happened to be the husband of my mother's sister. I believe in giving and that gift remains the best I've ever received. It was a very unique gift and it was three fold. The first part of it was a metal tin of biscuits. The second phase of the gift were two story books which were shipped in from the United States of America. The books were Walt Disney books and I can only imagine how much they will cost today. One of the books was titled ''The Fox and the Hound'', and the other was about some fairies living in a far away land. The third part of the gift inspired the creativity that still lies in me. It was a carefully designed briefcase that had pencils, pens, markers, crayons, and wax of all colours in it. I later found out it was manufactured by Crayola.


The briefcase remained with me for some time before I outgrew it. Lesson learnt? Always deposit goodness in the lives of people you meet. That was what the chief did to me. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Tomorrow, January 22, 2008 is my birthday. It will be a day of deep reflections for me. It will also be a day for me to pray to God for help. I definately need his help to forge through the year. My life is definately in his hands. If you get to read this post, I will appreciate it if you say a prayer for me. Thanks.


If you happen to be an Aquarian just as I am, then I want to wish you Happy Birthday as well. I also pray that someone will deposit a'' box of crayons '' into your life before the year runs out. And how are you doing?

Sunday 20 January 2008

LOVING AND GIVING


Hi There, How was the service today? I could not attend church today because I followed my sister in law to Abbeywood, London, to do some housekeeping for her Mum, who is due to return to the UK from her trip to Nigeria. As we drove back home, guess the song that was played on radio?


Bryan Adams is a star anyday, and his song- '' Everything I do, I do it for you'' was played on one of London's FM Stations. This is a year for us to love and give with the help of Jesus Christ. Bryan Adams said it himself on December 26, 2007.He said: '' Let your Happy New Year depend on what you do for others''. So I will be leaving you with lyrics of his song at this hour. Remember that love is a gift from God, and you are given the ability to love, so as to make the world a better place for us all to live in. You can print or copy out this song for your loved ones. Cheers.


Look into my eyes- you will see

What you mean to me

Search your heart- search your soul

And when you find me there you'll search no more.


Don't tell me it's not worth trying for

You can't tell me its not worth dying for

You know it's true

Everything I do- I do it for you.


Look into your heart- you will find

There's nothing there to hide

Take me as I am- take my life

I would give it all- I would sacrifice


Don't tell me it's not worth fighting for

I can't help it- there's nothing I want more

You know it's true

Everything I do- I do it for you


There's no love- like your love

And no other- could give more love

There's nowhere- unless you're there

All the time- all the way


Oh- you can't tell me it's not worth trying for

I can't help it- there's nothing I want more

I would fight for you, I'd lie for you

Walk the wire for you- yeah I'd die for you.


You know it's true

Everything I do- I do it for you.


So that's the song. Have a great day.

Saturday 19 January 2008

NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS

New year resolutions are decisions we make at the beginning of every year to either quit a bad habit, or get something we've been procrastinating about done. Just like millions of people around the world, I made some New year resolutions on the 1st of January 2008.

I resolved [ you need to be firm this year] to finish writing my debut novel this year. I also resolved to move a notch higher in my academic pursuit.I promised myself, that I would start my Masters Degree this year. I also resolved with the help of God to overcome an habit I don't like. If your mouth is agape that I have an habit I want to overcome, then you'd better brace yourself up for surprises anytime you step into my blog. I am not an hypocrite, Okay?

Anyway, I made another resolution which I want to keep personal. Yeah, I want it to be between me and my God only. However, the resolution has to do with finding my nicked rib. Hope you're feeling me now. Hope you get the drift. So what New year resolutions did you make? Whatever resolutions you've made for 2008, My prayer is that the good lord will help you by being faithful in keeping them.

I want you to know that this blog will keep getting better by the day. The pictures and more colour will be coming soon.Stay with me and you won't be disappointed. And how're you doing?

Friday 18 January 2008

CLOSING THE DAY WITH THE LIGHTHOUSE FAMILY

Hi There, it is really nice talking to you again. You're welcome to my world once more. The week has not been so good to me in the sense that I went through an emotional turmoil. My birthday is coming up on the 22nd of this month, a month that is said to be named after the Roman god, Janus. I am an Aquarian and I share the same date of birth with Hakeem Olajuwon. Olajuwon? The name rings a bell, does'nt it? Olajuwon was a respected basketballer in the NBA until he retired some years ago. He played for the Houston Rockets of Texas , a state in the USA.



Anyway, I brightened up today, and I had a new writing opportunity for which I will paid. One of my colleagues way back in the University, David Brown, has called me up to write for a new Business Magazine he is putting together. I have a deadline to meet and I am really excited about the project. My writing file is getting heavier by the day. Well, I am only paying the price for deciding to make a living with the pen.



I am signing out today with some lyrics from the Lighthouse Family. I loved the group when it was in existence. Tunde Baiyewu is my hero anyday. His voice is out of this world. Baiyewu's singing talent shows that africans are really gifted in the arts. I hope to make my mark in the writing world as he has made a huge impact on the music scene. I love their track '' Happy'' , which is the second song in their last album '' Whatever Gets You Through The Day'' . Here are some lines from the beautiful song:



Hey let's all go out tonight

Why don't you and me go out and have a good time?

Make our life a supernatural high

' Cos we're both leaving all that bad stuff far behind



Who says you can't be happy all the time?

Say what you like but I'm still gonna try

Who says you can't be happy all the time?

I know but I'm still gonna try

( c) Paul Tucker and Tunde Baiyewu.



So Let us try and be happy even when ugly circumstances sorround us. How was your day?

Thursday 17 January 2008

STRANGE MAILS, PROLOGUE

Hi There, I just thought of giving you a peek into the prologue of the novel I am working on. STRANGE MAILS is the tentative title of the book. I hope you'll like it.Perhaps I can generate interest for the book here.Happy reading.

The young man whistled sofly as he waited for his turn to be attended to. His hands deep in the side pockets of his blue jeans, he nodded slowly to the Hip-Hop music that was coming out of a speaker near him. He was clean shaven and had a height that could fetch him a contract with the Chicago Bulls. His face was round and smooth, and he was putting on a big black Tee Shirt which had the letter X inscribed on it. A pair of Reebok trainers covered his feet. He was on a long queue of trendily dressed young men and women who were anxious to purchase their tickets and get on with their lives. One of them hissed loudly and threw up his hands.

'' This place is gradually becoming like the other Cafe's out there.Why are things so slow here?.'' he shouted

His disgust inspired an uproar among the customers on the queue. It took some pleading from one of the boys at the ticket issuing area to calm them down. Suddenly, it was Bayo's turn. He stepped forward and handed a crisp Naira note to the cashier. One of the attendants with an afro hairstyle punched some keys on a laptop which was connected to a printer, and handed him his ticket in seconds.

'' You're welcome.'' the attendant said, exposing his tobacco stained teeth.

Bayo took the pink colored ticket and looked at it. He'd been sold seventy minutes to do whatever he wanted on any of the Cafe's two hundred and fifty computer systems. The ticket was valid for two days and printed on it was a password which read DX34728JCB. Bayo moved away from the queue and started his search for a free system. He walked past several customers who were already neck deep in their browsing. Most of them had earphones on and were largely oblivious of what was going on around them. That was the culture at Joe's Cyber Plaza. Don't lay too much on what the other person is doing. Choose a spot for your own fishing. After failing to get a free system on the Plaza's ground floor, Bayo climbed the staircase to the first floor.

It was the same situation there. Rows and rows of partitioned wooden desks with glass eyed youths staring into the monitors.There was no one loitering around. Engraved on plastic discs which were attached to the walls were the words: one person per system. Bayo Williams knew he had to move to the second floor before the Cafe's security personnel accosted him. He had come across one of them with bulging biceps a minute earlier, and didn't find the guard's glare funny.

So up he went and that was where he got what he wanted. A pretty young girl in braids had just finished her session and obviously did not want any more time.

'' Are you through with the system?.'' Bayo asked, trying to look away from her slightly exposed chest region. He looked again.

'' Yes,'' the girl said, rebuke dancing in her pupils. She picked up her jacket and walked out of the enclosure.

Bayo settled down before the blinking Compaq flat screen and started to type. His mind went back to the girl and her cold look. He smiled and signed on to Yahoo! Messenger. Girls. They were such an unpredictable lot. They were like cars which could develop faults without giving prior notice. His mesenger list had about forty names. He moved the cursor to the top of the list and clicked on the name, Brenda Edwards. This was the girl he wanted to chat with and he hoped she would be online. She was online most times, though. At least the United Kingdom had stable electricity.

Writing is not for the faint hearted, you know. I have been on this book since 2005. Are you surprised? Dan Brown spent about 10 years writing ''The Da Vinci Code'', his bestselling Novel. 60.5 million copies sold and published in 44 languages. I believe in Jesus though. And how are you doing?

WELCOME TO MY WORLD

Hi, welcome to my blog. This is a new beginning for me when it comes to writing online. My name is Tolu Ihidero. I just can't believe I am doing this. Before I go on, I want to let you know when I started writing. I started putting my feelings on paper when I was six years old. I used to write on the inner back of my exercise books in Primary School. I wrote pieces that were more like drama scenes, but my drama pieces were never acted out. I was introvertive then, and I am still very reserved.

I continued writing in High School which happened to be Ijebu-Ode Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria. JOGS as my High School [ High Schools are referred to as Secondary Schools in Nigeria.Dunno about other African Countries] was popularly called helped in developing my writing talent. The School had a very good Library which was stocked with the latest books on the planet. I was told the Library received a yearly grant of 10,000 Naira from the foundation of the late Mobolaji Bank Anthony. Bank Anthony was one of Nigeria's prominent businessmen who by 1966, was either chairman or director of over a dozen Companies. Some of the companies included Mobil Oil Nigeria, Aero Contractors company of Nigeria and the Pressed Metal Works. Sir Mobolaji Bank Anthony was a Philanthropist with a difference and he was the president of The Young Men's Christian Association [ YMCA] in Lagos.

Well, the school library nurtured my appetite for reading, and, boy, I read alot of books there. I will give you the list of books I read later. I wrote my first mini novel at JOGS. The book was titled '' The Great Attempt'', and it was about an armed robbery gang and a Cop that was determined to see them end up in jail. My friends and classmates loved the book and it was passed around until someone decided to keep in an unknown library. The book was not published for the outer world, but I guess it won't make much sense to the average reader today.That was my humble beginning.

After High School, I attended the Nigerian Institute of Journalisn [NIJ] at Ogba, Lagos.The School is close to one of the offices of that Examination body that plays a role in determining if you'll attend a University or Polytechnic in Nigeria.I also attended the University of Ibadan and got a Degree in History from the Premier University. I currently write for AFRICA, St Patrick's Mission's Magazine. I write the Music and Sports pages of the Catholic publication. I've been writing for AFRICA since 2004.

I 've just given you an abrigded version of my journey in the Wilderness of words.How are you doing?