MUHAMMADU BUHARI WINS NIGERIA'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has today emerged the winner of the 2015 Nigerian Presidential Elections, defeating incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan. This is the first time in the history of Nigeria that an incumbent President was defeated in a general election by the leader of the opposition.

INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega, announced that Buhari of the APC won with 15.4 million votes to defeat all other candidates, with Jonathan of the ruling PDP polling a total of 12,853,162 votes to come second.

This is Muhammadu Buhari’s fourth attempt at contesting for the number one position in Nigeria having failed in 2003, 2007 and 2011. He was Head of State of Nigeria from 31 December 1983 to 27 August 1985, after taking power in a military coup d'état.

He hails from Daura in Katsina State. He was born on 17 December 1942, in to Adamu and Zulaihat Buhari. He is the twenty-third child of his father, who died when he was about four years old. Buhari attended primary school in Daura and Mai'adua before proceeding to Katsina Model School in 1953, and Katsina Provincial Secondary School (now Government College Katsina) from 1956 to 1961. He then joined the Nigerian Military Training School in Kaduna, where his military career began.

His party the All Progressives Congress has promised Nigerians change and on Buhari's shoulder is the herculean task of fulfilling that promise. We wish him all the best.
 

HOW THE GIRL IN MINISKIRT SAVED MY LIFE

‎Growing up with my brothers was such an amazing experience I cant forget. We were involved in various escapades like most children in our days. Some of them we got away with but we were not so lucky all the time. Luck in this context would imply my parents having little or no knowledge of what were up to while they were gone. 

We had to contend with our house helps who held sway while my parents were gone. I remember a particular incident when myself and my immediate younger brother had to tie up one the house helps while she slept, so that we could go out and play. That was the beginning of our partnership in many crimes. And needless to say my parents dealt with us that fateful day. 

THE POWER OF COMPASSION

It’s amazing how some of the things that we often pay very little attention to or even neglect, so often times hold the most significant values in our lives. I used to have a certain female acquaintance who often told me of how the little things I did for her were the ones she treasured the most. She made me realize that what matters most to her is not the enormity of my action but the sincerity and genuineness behind it.

Every day we are presented with an opportunity to touch the lives of people by paying attention to their pressing needs. That lone act of compassion that can transform their lives without necessarily costing us anything. You could deny yourself of that bowl of ice-cream and pizza just to put food on someone’s table or to pay for another’s hospital bill.

ABU STUDENTS CREATE ECO-FRIENDLY CARS

Students from the Mechanical Engineering Department of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria have manufactured two eco-friendly cars that were specially constructed for this year’s ‘Shell Eco Marathon Competition’. The locally-made cars named ABUCAR 1 and ABUCAR 2 were displayed on the university’s campus.

According to the Head of Mechanical Engineering Department, Dr. Mohammed Dauda, they started to manufacture the cars as Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited invited the ABU to participate in what they call ‘Shell Eco Marathon Competition’.

“The car should be one that consumes little fuel but goes long distances. This competition is held in America, Europe and Asia and we are participating in the European one in Netherlands in May this year. All materials used for this car were sourced locally,” Dr. Dauda said.

Dr. Dauda, who doubles as the Dean, Faculty of Engineering, also said that, though, there are things that they did not fabricate themselves, everybody would be surprised that some of the components like the electrical, they just looked at an old computer system and then adopted some of the components that were useful.“So, this is one example of what we did, which is recycling, otherwise, I will say 100 per cent of the things we used were produced here in Zaria,” he added.

NIGERIAN GIRL NAMED AMONG THE 50 SMARTEST TEENAGERS IN THE WORLD

A 19 year old Nigerian student Saheela Ibraheem was listed among the 50 smartest teenagers in the world in a recent ranking by the TheBestSchools.org, a website that identifies smart and intelligent teenagers from around the world. She was ranked 21st.

Saheela was recently invited by the US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle to the Green Room of the White House for the Black History month event. Acknowledging her exceptional nature, Obama said "We are so proud of your accomplishments and all that lies ahead of you, and you reflect our history. Young people like you inspire our future" the President added.  

In 2011, she had a SAT score of 2,340 and was accepted into Harvard University's Department of Neurobiology one of thirteen (MIT, Stanford, Cornell, Princeton, Columbia) of the 14 schools she applied for. She intends to become a research scientist, who studies the brain.

Her parents totally support her and sometimes teach her subjects the school didn't offer. She believes the key to success is knowing what you love to learn as early as possible. A knowledge she says she came about at the early age of 5. As for her intelligence she claims she is nothing special. "I try my best in everything I do. Anyone who's motivated can work wonders.

Saheela combines her academics with other extra-curricular activities like softball, soccer and trombone. She also sings in the school's choir and serves as the President of the school's Investment Club. She is fluent in four languages including Latin and Yoruba.

GREAT QUOTES THAT WILL INSPIRE YOU TO EMBRACE CHANGE

1. Change to the fearful is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make them stronger.

2. When people tell you that you have changed, it means that you have stopped living life their way.

3. Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become.

4. People don’t change their priorities do. So don’t bother to change someone, but you can be the reason for the person to change.

5. Change the changeable, accept the unchangeable and change the unacceptable

6. The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old but building the new.

7. Isn’t it funny how day by day we think nothing changes but when we look back, everything is different.

8. If you do not like your position in life, change it. After all, you are not a tree.

9. People change for two reasons, either they have learnt a lot or they have been hurt too much.

10. Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.

11. Do not be afraid of change, you might lose something good but you will get something better. Change always leads you to a new beginning.

12. A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions. Change your thoughts and you change your world.

13. To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating yourself endlessly.

14. Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them that only create sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.

15. Change is never easy, you fight to hold on and you fight to let go.

16. Nothing happens until the pain of remaining the same outweighs the pain of change

17. Change does not change tradition, it strengthens it. Change is a challenge and an opportunity not a threat.

18. Focus on becoming a better person. Don’t let the world’s negativity change you.

19. If you don’t like something, change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it.

20. Sometimes, it is the smallest decision you make that changes your life forever.

21. Change is sometimes needed to better yourself, love yourself and truly be happy. All you change is yourself but sometimes that changes everything.

22. You will never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of success is found in your daily routine.

23. To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change constantly.

24. Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over instead of craving control over what you don’t.

25. It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.

26. When you're finished changing, you are completely finished. Each of us has the opportunity to change and grow until our very last breath. 

27. All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another.

28. Without accepting the fact that everything changes, we cannot find perfect composure. But unfortunately, although it is true, it is difficult for us to accept it because we cannot accept the truth.

29. Unless you are prepared to give up something valuable you will never be able to truly change at all, because you'll be forever in the control of things you can't give up.

30. Change is hard because people overestimate the value of what they have - and underestimate the value of what they may gain by giving that up.


#HappiestManInTheWorld

OVERCOMING SELF CONDEMNATION

Self condemnation can be likened to a negative commentary of your value, personality, actions and feelings. It can sometimes be mistaken as the voice of conscience or as a form of self-punishment for shortcomings. We condemn ourselves when there is this overwhelming sense of helplessness, hopelessness and uncontrollable guilt.

It is very simple for us to condemn ourselves or develop a low sense of worth. We may have gone through a failed relationship, financial difficulty, or other unfortunate incidents in life. Other things from our obsession to perfection, our competitive society, to our background, can be responsible for us condemning ourselves. Then if we aren’t careful, we start to identify with the failure and subsequently fall victim to self dislike or guilt.

In most cases, self-condemnation is brought about by unresolved sexual guilt. We find ourselves in a society where children are raised to believe that the most evil action a person can be involved in is sexual activity. As a result, victims of sexual abuse carry the weight of guilt on their shoulders for the rest of their lives.

Many young women grow up condemning themselves for the abuse meted on them by sometimes close friends or family members. They constantly blame themselves for the unfortunate episode and it sometimes denies them of a happy future.

How To Overcome Self Condemnation

First we have to identify the source of the condemnation. Once we discover it, we can then choose to readdress our line of thoughts. We are each responding to various currents of thought, and in responding, we can choose to stop responding to the offensive influences. These influences of thought keep us trapped until we refuse to accept them.

Always find something good about your life to be grateful for, even if it is just the fact that you are still breathing.

Self-forgiveness is the best way to handle self-condemnation. We can do this recognizing the fact that we are humans who are subject to mistakes, and to accept God’s forgiveness. When we do accept our good through forgiveness, then we are open to the possibility for new opportunities.

Only when we are willing to let go of our past, and release ourselves from self captivity, can we truly be transformed.

Sometimes a person is set free from self-condemnation steadily over time and sometimes it happens instantly. However, overcoming self condemnation demands constant love and deep commitment to oneself. And when we open ourselves up to this love, it transforms our lives and reaches us even when we have done something we regret.


#HappiestManInTheWorld

TEN YEAR OLD NIGERIAN GIRL ACCEPTED TO STUDY AT OPEN UNIVERSITY

Esther Okade, a ten year old British-Nigerian has been accepted to study for a maths degree at the UK’s Open University.

At age six, she gained a C grade in her maths GCSE at Ounsdale High School in Wombourne, Wolverhampton. She applied to the Open University in August 2014 – and after a phone interview, an essay and an exam, she was told in December that she had been accepted to study Maths at the institution.

Esther and her younger brother Isiah, who is already studying for his A-levels, are both home-schooled by their mother Omonefe Okade. Omonefe a mathematician herself converted the living room of their semi-detached, three-bedroom house into a makeshift classroom.

She enrolled three weeks ago and is already top of the class, scoring 100 per cent on a recent test.

In addition to math, Okade also loves Frozen and playing with doll. She has dreams of obtaining a PhD, running her own bank, and becoming a millionaire.

IF I BECOME PRESIDENT IN 2015

Despite all the challenges that this country is currently faced with, I believe that things can change for the better if the right people are given the opportunity. The problem with politicians is that no one is willing to deal with the problem squarely because they do not have the overall interest of the country at heart. So I have decided to run for the office of the President in the forth coming elections.

I will like to start by appealing to the relevant authorities to ensure that there is a level playing ground for those aspiring for this office. Its critical nature demands that there is little or no distraction from political godfathers or juggernauts.

If elected by the good people of this country, my first objective will be to secure the country’s borders and wipe out all the elements threatening our territorial integrity as a nation. I will re-position the military, the Police Force, the Secret Security Service and relevant security agencies by providing them with adequate training, competent personnel and modern weaponry to protect the nation from internal and external threats.

I will prosecute all past political office holders that have enriched themselves at the expense of the masses. They will be sent to Corruption Rehabilitation Centres before they can be welcomed back into the society.

There shall be a ban on lobbying for political appointments. Appointments will not be limited to political party, religion, social status or ethnicity. Anyone who is qualified to serve will be given an opportunity but they must have performed excellently in their communities. My government will also stop the overdue influence of foreign corporations in our polity. These companies only help in furthering their interest and not our national interest.

The office of The First Lady will be scrapped with immediate effect. Funds that were previously allocated to the office will be used to empower rural women to set up their own businesses. Our women and youths will be given 50% allocation in the various government positions.

The Civil Service will totally be overhauled. Adequate training will be provided for civil servants and their salaries will be increased by 100%. However, lateness, absenteeism and lack of productivity will attract a cut in salary for that month. Redundant workers will be laid off periodically.

There will be a reduction in the pay of all government representatives. They must undergo compulsory psychiatric and physical examination, to curb the frequent acts of aggression and sloppiness. They would be made to submit a report on the impact they have made before they are paid.

I will send a bill to the National Assembly for every child born to have free education, health care and social welfare. Funds to cater for this will be generated from various avenues that my government will put in place.

The Government under me will commence taxation of every organization that generates revenue including Churches, Mosques, Spiritual Centres and even Shrines.

It will become mandatory for Institutions of higher learning to pay larger attention to molding characters rather than just flooding the labour market with certificate wielding liabilities. Before the completion of any programme, government will set up structures that will help identify graduates who will become entrepreneurs and those who will be employees. This will create the needed balance and further reduce the rate of unemployment.

We will stop the over reliance on petroleum and pay greater attention to sectors like agriculture and the Small and Medium Enterprises.

Indiscipline will be greatly frowned at by my government. CCTV cameras will be installed at public places and anybody caught violating the law will be made to face its wrought. Street touts and urchins will be detained by a task force and sent to work in government owned farms and factories.

My government will offer Common Sense courses for all its citizens because knowledge is power. It will also help to bridge the literacy gap in the populace.

We will take the issue of Rape, armed robbery and financial crimes, very seriously. Anyone convicted of the above mentioned crimes will be drafted into a special police force that will be responsible for combating terrorism and insurgency in the country.

The importation of foreign goods will be reduced to its barest minimum. Citizens will be put under strict compliance to have at least 75% locally made merchandise in their possession. Anybody found flouting this directive will be severely sanctioned. My government will also pay enormous attention to exportation of our local resources. Only countries who buy from us will be allowed to sell to us.

I am not promising that it’s going to be an easy thing to accomplish but you may never know until you vote for me as your President.

SO YOU THINK YOU ARE IN LOVE?

I always thought I had fallen in love at one point or the other in my life. First time would be as early as 12 years old. Yes! I had those butterflies running in my small stomach and used to see that first girl in my dreams. And that process has come and gone a few times down the years with of course new co-stars.

It is very easy for us to put ourselves in ‘love mode’ and go on and on about love like we have a clue. I actually did think I knew something about love (I have been reading relationship books since I had my first crush). But early this week, I had this life changing encounter.