Two different tools

Just looking at these two pictures will just mean one thing to you. Two different tools. But let me ask, if your life challenges depend on this tools, which would you like to have? The first time I saw the top one was in Dubai... Amin, is a wild Royal. He owns Camels, Argentine Horses, Harley Davidson bikes, Yatch, Jet skis, a helicopter and countless SUVS. This multipurpose knife is in all his vehicles. He never goes driving or riding without one. He said he always likes to have a solution nearby. But this is not about him. This is about the Nigerian creative sector. We have gone to sleep for too long. I agree the government had not created the enabling environment. But ask yourself, was it the government that created the boost that heralded #BehindTheCloud#Checkmate #SurpleBlues#NewMasquerade #TalesByMoonlight#MorningRide? And many others? No. It took a creative mind to bring the idea to life. Every time I see @channelstelevision, a NEWS based station, winning television station of the year, it further tells me the kind of slumber our manager programs and creative minds are in. It's almost a coma. This is not to take away from the achievement of Channels. They deserve to win again and again. They worked hard for it. How is it that some who does one thing is beating you, that does everything, including what Channels does and even has a wider reach, can't beat them hands down? At best, with all creative abilities in your possession, activated, what Channels should win should be News Station of the year. But no. You have missed the memo. Content is king. That was till Channels came out. Now News content is king. John MOMOH and his team deserve all the credits they get. Because there is no excuse.

The Super Falcons

When a delegation of the National Assembly go represent us outside Nigeria, did they get their estacodes? What about the OPEC meetings? Do ministers who go on foreign trips to shore up our international relevance and bring FDI... ask that funds be released to them?

Tame your dragons

Like in Game of Thrones... tame your dragons now. When they grow and become uncontrollable you will regret it. When the herdsmen started their pillaging of communities... we let them get away with murder.

Other people's reaction

In life, some people will come at you for no reason but just because that is the only way they know how to relate. Very often, they have been raised that way, or they were conditioned that way, or they have gotten away with it so many times, or they think that it's the only approach to things.

National Budget

This is exactly what was happening to our National budget... and the people who had been chopping all these while... after filling their stomachs, always let a little trickle down to the masses. That little that trickles down, is what is not coming any more.

Generousity

I must have addressed this before... but I guess, it needs re-addressing. Generosity is not a must. It's advised. But it's not a must. That said, when you have worked hard to achieve some comfort for yourself, it's expected for you, to spread the love.

All hands on deck

All hands on deck... let me take a little time to explain the meaning of this common phrase. Long before engine powered sea going vessels came into being, sails held sway, and it is believed that when at sea and you were faced with hostile waves and tempests, it wasn't a time to be cook, doctor, Carpenter, tailor, engineer... every hand was needed on deck to control the sails... that's why you are a sailor.

Padding

Padding is when you add something to an original object to enhance and make it look better. It is usually with an intent to make unsuspecting persons believe it's more than it actually is.

Return on Investment

Some peipleblike to be spoon fed. So here we go...If you already think that this RETURN ON INVESTMENT MEANS financial benefits, you need to stop right there and grow up first.

Don't stay down

The worst thing you can do to yourself is to stay down. No matter how many times you get knocked down, you can only succeed if you get up and move on. Picking yourself up is a factor of how much you want to succeed.

Expectations

Most times in life, the expected may not be what you get. All watermelons are supposed to be red and juicy inside. Every human being has a heart. The composition of that heart is what you can never tell. You may see a guy, 6 foot plus, has cash, loads of it, great dress sense, articulate and seasoned with a been-to accent, awesome dental arrangements,...

Once in a lifetime...

And when that happens don't do things that will make them change from being that change agent that turned things around. Because by the time you realise their value, you would have lost them. Most times, you unknowingly change them from being the person of value to you. You may think you are showing love by being jealous, looking for trouble just so the person continues to justify that they want to be in your life. Don't forget that every body's patience has its limits. Once they get there and decide it's over, what it will cost you to get them back would be way more tasking than I'd you just appreciated the value they added to your life. Some people are rare to find and when you find them, the efforts you make to keep them shows how well you appreciate their presence in your life. Be guided

Understanding Poverty

The understanding of poverty is a very essential key in unlocking the core questions that have thrown people into states of confusion, misunderstanding and war. Why would people push back into the waters a whale that is washed ashore in one part of the world while the whale gets butchered in other climes? Why would any refuse to embezzle the money meant for constructing a community health center that will provide essential health services to a people while another will even build more from his personal affluence? What perpetuates poverty?... it's a study like none has done before. I thank the team at Harvard.

Upgrading...

Most times in life, if not every time, when you are going through upgrading that is not the best time to rate anyone. When iron is in the fire, it takes all the beating till it's shaped onto the tool it is designed to be.

Perception!!!

Many people see things in different ways. The Bible says to each according to his ability. Even David would leave a flock to rescue one sheep. We react diffently to situations in life. Road rage is one of such example.

The Business of Media

Many media outfits in Nigeria have continuously failed to see their platforms as a way of activating the huge potentials in the entertainment sector. They think of making money first before thinking of creating content.

Before you make a commitment

Many people have been led astray by this kind of thinking. Not because they deliberately went astray. But because they allowed themselves to be convinced that once a promise is extracted, the person who gave the promise is BOUND TO FULFILL THAT PROMISE.

Don't Lose a good man...

First off, pardon the vulgar word. The exegesis of the message will allow me overlook that. The importance of important thing in a relationship can not be overemphasised. That said, I will like to put it out there, right now, that importance of anything in a relationship may differ from one person to the other.

NJC and the Judges...

I had the last laugh! We are a bunch of people who are easily swayed by sentiments. That is one of the reasons that we are where we are in a society where the courts have failed us. How can you have people who are bigger than the law?

The place of Prayers

You don't need to pray over an empty fuel tank. Drive into a fuel station and get some. If you have a flat tyre, get a vulcanizer. If you have not had a bath, get up get some water and go have a bath.

English Language

When I hear people say English Language is not our mother tongue, I always wonder at what kind of thought process they went through to arrive at that conclusion. The question paper that the primary 6 pupil in Damaturu, that can not spell C-A-N, will get, is the same question paper, a pupil in Lagos, that can spell S-Y-M-E-T-E-R-Y, will get.

Think Twice

This story I am about to share, you would have heard, told several times, in different ways. But mine is not a story. A friend of ours, a lawyer, in Abuja, was at a 5 day retreat and decided to dash back home to get something that couldn't wait.

Emotional Blackmail

AVOID PEOPLE WHO ARE EMOTIONALLY IMMATURE. You will be suffering from their immaturity and not know it. Sometime ago, a guy sent me a message, "Ali you have forgotten your friends. No calls. Na only television I dey see you. God dey sha".

They may be keeping you alive.

My friend made me understand this on a different level. She was in need of a driver, and she met a guy who complained that his driver was always coming late to work and that he had to let him go. The driver had to resume in Lekki every morning.

Children Education

Let me Show you how failure to give our kids the basic education can better be understood. So 4 kids are let into a classic living room. There is a grand piano, almost in the middle of the room.

The Mandela Statue

Every time I see this picture, it amazes me how we have robbed ourselves of the mileage art pieces that should help define us have been kept away from us by default. Do you know how many people look forward to going to take pictures with this towering statue? Millions. It has become one tourist attraction.

ALAGA!!!

I don't know if you have been engaged as an MC to carry on the Reception of a wedding that had to be preceded by a traditional marriage. Those alagas... they can come and be eating 2 hours into your time. And they will now make it look like you are trying to deny the families of a good time. When all they do is obtaining!!! This picture here, where I was just watching, was that moment when I just gba-ed for God. And let him take control. How can you have from 10am till 12noon, and you now overrun by 2 hours? And we will still be telling someone to "Nisuruuuuuuu, Ali!!! Kiloun rush was fun?" Oti. Moni rush yin. Shebi lama wa kusi?

Men are 2faced

The first day I saw the first installment of this movies, I told my wife, that is how Everyman is. All men. We have a #2face life. The strength of the man can be judged by how well he can maintain the good side, without letting the tiger in him kick in.

Sell the Problem you solve.

Most advertising try to sell you the solution... not the product. A drink quenches thirst. Some items make you belong, if to belong is your problem. Others will tell you the kind of peace you will enjoy when you buy their insurance.

Message

Remember when I wrote that "Even Jesus can not save us as things are" and religious bigots and over born again people went Gaga on me? So at the weekend, I ran into one of such oversabi at a party and she proceeded to give me a piece of her tongue.

Aisha Buhari

Aisha's Buhari... does not belong to the kitchen. Like every other successful career woman in Nigeria, she belongs to the areas where she and her likes can help to build a great nation.

Justice for Shakara

The committee is sitting now at the National Assembly in the case of Shakara, an Mc and comedian who, was assaulted, beaten and arrested from his house in Warri in the presence of his wife, his co tenants, his father and his friends, for an alleged crime, and brought all the way to Lagos by Road like a common thief, in his boxers.

Rape...

Rape cases are becoming rampant. Our daughters are being taken advantage of. That said, some innocent Men have paid prices they never bargained for. Not every lady that says she was raped was raped...