A Night Stand On the Ninth Planet written by Lanre Olagunju.

My invitation as a guest speaker at the 5th annual national undergraduate summit in Abuja took away sleep and tranquility away from me for days like it would to any speaker. In time past, my interest and social comments on issues like etiquette, morality, politics, economics and nation building has always been the basis for my speaking invitations and engagements. At a time like this, I’ve got no idea, or where on earth my host got the slightest hint that I could handle topics on sex and relationship. But since I know deeply that practice, practice and more practice is the bed rock for great speeches I dashed into my study with my creative hat on in tedious preparation to do perfect justice to the great task ahead.

With experience and flexibility, alongside my personal experience and research, I was able to deliver my speech with so much ease and expertise such that stimulated my audience to think that I must be a major or a sort of super male lead on issues such as sex, relationship and dating. Though, heaven knows that am yet to graduate from the school of hard knocks, which in my opinion is the best school to learn, especially where there is no teacher.

My experience with Omolara was quite unusual. And till date, I dreadfully prize what fuels her nerve to drop her telephone number in my breast pocket in such a harmless manner after leaving the lectern. Initially, I felt it was a burning question she wanted me to do private justice to, since we couldn’t take all questions during the sessions “but when did telephone numbers become question”?, I asked.

Mere looking at this good looking undergrad with such an innocent and graceful charisma, you don’t want to liken her to a Jezebel, even a vicar doesn’t want to think twice at the sight of her gorgeous, sweet and ravishing looks especially when considering the goodness of her hips and the grandeur of her brown eyes. In fact, the devil himself can’t but be tempted.

After the heat and fever of the event, I failed repeatedly at each attempt to cool from the euphoria and ecstasy that comes with achieving a task that has been responsible for sleep and appetite loss. I completely forgot about Omolara and her brave and smart advances as I relax in my hotel room to catch my undiluted rest. But to my utmost surprise my executive toy jingled. You want to hazard a guess? It was Omolara’s call. It’s nothing but crying over spilled milk if I respond to the nudge to ask where on earth she got my number from.

Despite being tired like a recently knocked out Samuel peters I got her message clearly despite that her moaning and rhythmic voice was a major distraction during our phonversation which revealed that she’s a student of business administration in one of the cracked up Nigerian institution of learning, whose name was rechristened years back to sound like one of the very ancient schools in south west Nigeria, with adequately proud students, despite that the citadel of learning is neither premier nor among the first, Great, top 6000 universities in the world.

Being in her penultimate year, and the sight of her structural endowment that I saw in the conference room, you can’t but agree with me that the issue of being unripe or under-age is out of it. So I wasn’t in the dark, not even in a world like ours where we suffer from grand morality melt down considering the fact that even sex has lost its virginity.

The only door with which I should flee from this unannounced invitation produced a sound as a result of Omolara’s knock. I was all alone in my hotel room and my body gave all the seemingly valid reasons why I should grab this once in a life time opportunity with both hands and feet as if I will be castrated thereafter. As the silent but well understood knock continued repeatedly, I could hear myself reproaching some folks during my undergraduate days in such a priest like manner saying to some during periods of sound, heart to heart intellectual recharge. “How did you fall for such, why did you yield to that…”? All because I have managed to maintain a less busy sexual log-book compared to folks who are great, retired generals already at 19. I doubt if I can ever catch up with the mind-blowing records of some. Over and over again, I dear not trust some folks with my toothless grand ma who says church as “shush” let alone my untutored maid who can’t even successfully count her fingers without foreign aid. And here am I battling with a mere invitation to dine from the forbidden cake.

All of a sudden, I became lost in thoughts, and my flesh wasn’t just willing it was ready. I didn’t just sense that I was as weak as a worn out “apere ajase”(a hand woven basket), I could practically feel me coming out of me. “Am in trouble”- so I murmured as I put myself together a little so I could dash for the door.

Her response was “larigold, permit me to reveal how much am obsessed by your articulate prowess and charming personality” in such a voice that even my ears couldn’t take note. I have followed some of your writings on the net and others on some national dallies and have always longed for the singular opportunity to be with you so I can intimate you about myself. The excellence of your address during the sessions made me desire you the more than I desire the air that powers my heart. All I wish is nothing but your warm masculine hug; beyond that honey, I want you as a package”.

At this point, all the scriptures in my big head were experiencing a traffic jam like the constant one you can’t but experience on Lagos roads-anyway that’s what makes Lagos. All of the Sunday school drugs, words of pastor wale and all the character series I heard recurrently from pastor Sam which on every occasion I hold in high esteem didn’t mean much to me anymore. I was congest with shock to realize that even the word of honor I took on the 15th of September under the teaching of Fela Durotoye in the rocky but dirty brown roofed city of Abeokuta couldn’t call me to order like it has always done. I just wanted to spit out my white seeds and I wanted to do it right away. It was as if my whole life was dependent on it.

I wasn’t thinking with my brain anymore, I was thinking with the stretch of my genitals.

And the best my church mind could do was to bring this very old but absolutely inappropriate song to my memory. Believe me, this is a song I haven’t placed my mind on in 7 years, but on a day like this it became my watch word “move on, move on, don’t be tired the savior understands… all shall be well” goes the old song. Some modern psychedelic Christians might not know such a song, so trying to remember it could just be as difficult as searching for a dinosaur in the newly equipped University of Ibadan’s zoo or wanting to study banking and finance in my Alma-Mata.

At the sight of ‘Lara’s super transparent gown which shelled her absolute nakedness I became fearfully contented. I was consumed by the cuteness of her chest organ as an identical whole. Through her hips I could intelligently and logically explain the unknown mystery of how water got into the coconut. I was practically on a planet science is yet to discover. She stylishly loosen the only piece of clothing on her, and that single handedly made the independent brain in my length subdue my ever intelligent mind. At this point we were both looking beautifully dressed in our birthday suits with my stretch searching northward as if something was out rightly missing. Now that Omolara’s eyes were closed from their sockets I stretched into her being in charge of the event. We went into each other in such a rush that made it look as if we were timed. Any way, It happened. And to worsen the case, we were in each other without any Elegance for her, or the Ethiopian coffee scent latex for me. I mean how can two educated adult do such without a Durian latex or even the cheap Gold circle? Well, what on earth will a certified monk be doing with a contraceptive in the first place? That I wasn’t protected didn’t matter to me, neither did the methodically placed incisions on her chest nor the ones round her waste scare me to sanity. My whole world has been simplified and all I could clearly think of is to fill up her vacuum to overflowing. After a hot non-romantic session of intense encounter, I was looking like an over detained bottle of coca- cola in the freezer.

We both lost our animalistic instinct in ten minutes, after an encounter that was hard, subtle and warlike all at the same time. But besides loosing the animalistic instinct I know so well that had lost the respect and gracefulness of a brilliant mentor, so called moralist who also doubles as a youth advocate.

All of a sudden, the fear that this young chap is suppose to be a mentee and that I’m to practice all that I preach and say fell on me like fire fell on the Pentecost Christian. I wasn’t the same guy who thought morality like say “I holy pass” anymore, neither was I the eloquent public speaker who flows like the pen of the ready writer. I was just lying on my bed like a helpless casualty who needs urgent attention.

I couldn’t’ but keep slapping myself repeatedly as if that was the medication to my self-cause distress

As I hit my body over and over again, I suddenly slapped myself back to life.

OMG! It’s all a dream and a wet one for that matter!!!

[ Read More ]

The best of the world’s treasure remains the human mind written by Lanre Olagunju

Great treasures of the earth look unappealing, ugly and insignificant in their novel state. Besides that, they require so much strength, time, purification and refining before they look any useful or beautiful to behold. In fact they lodge in places where you least expect. Or how do you explain that petrol that fuels our cars resides thousands of feet beneath the earth surface as crude oil, same as gold and other ornamental stones. Think of it, even the chips of the computer you are currently starring at came from sand particles.

The best of the world’s treasure remains the human mind. As teeth in the gum of a baby, and words in the ink of a writer, so are treasures in the depth of obscurity and shapelessness. But like other ornamental treasures, they will remain as worthless as used toilet pad, until well refined and polished. The best way to take full advantage of the mind is to stretch it with dreams that are under every circumstance bigger than the mind itself. The realities of today were the dreams of yesterday. That our leaders never dreamt of a better Nigeria is the reason why we can’t but keep wallowing in the anguish of poverty.

Many world achievers, who have succeeded in one area or the other, only do, at the extensive use of their imaginative minds to see things before they literally happen. That you believe or not doesn’t change the fact that so much wealth and abundance dwells on your inside, neither does all the unpleasant occurrences that beclouds you like rain change the reality that you were born with great treasures.

It matters less if you have been nicked named “good for nothing” or referred to as a child born out of the sexual recklessness of two adolescents. “You are as useless as the left hand” might be the words that flow into your ear repeatedly like heavy current of water. Never allow these words get deep rotted into either your conscious or sub-consciousness. Little do they know that without the seemingly useless left hand, stability of the body can’t be attained.

No matter who said it or regardless the number of times the false message has been said, the truth is that such people are liars and they stand a chance of winning a Nobel Prize for lying. But if you proof them right by giving audience to those empty words, it’s your fault and your fault alone. No one can comprehend the worth of greatness that others carry; after all, they weren’t involved in the creation process that brought about either your existence or theirs.

People who make you feel unimportant should be avoided like a plague. When you uncontrollably find yourself amidst such people, you are saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that such words don’t filter into your mind, as no one can ever slap you with your own hand without your approval.

Little children are consumed with the dream of a bright future; it shows when they stage the mum and dad play, when they drive in imaginary choice cars using the mouth to make sounds from the engine. The usual saying of a kid that includes ‘when I grow up I will do this, when I will grow up I will become that is evident of the assurance of a bright future. But as adult, we get drowned with the challenges of the present, that we dream no more.

It’s worth noting, that every word we ever spoke got into our mind through our ears so do the things we gravely crave for gets into our life through our minds. Everything might be expensive but dreaming is cheap, affordable and in fact its priceless. When pictures of the future are altered imagination and possibility becomes eroded. No one can use your imagination against you, except you permit, principally because things are created twice first in our imagination, and then in reality.

Imagination is everything. Albert Einstein calls it is a preview of life’s attraction. Abundance is a mindset, likewise lack and abject poverty. The ability to write ones success story before it arrives is the real work of life and not the hustling we engage in only to discover that we’ve been chasing nothing but the air. No day last forever. So in times of obscurity and hopelessness say to yourself “this too shall pass”.

Success comes before work in no other place but the dictionary. All dreams and no work will definitely make jack a frustrated dreamer, how enjoyable would it be if day dreaming alone will bring all our desires into fruition? But like the old adage says, “If wishes were horses, even beggars will ride. A lazy hand makes a man poor but diligence brings abundance of wealth. The idea that one day soon, the long awaited money bag will drop on our roofs like raindrop is gradually killing our ability to stretch ourselves to work diligently.

[ Read More ]

Flash Light Phones: Bait for Sudden Death. By Lanre Olagunju

What else can be more axiomatic than to say that death is inevitable? One of the surest things is that whatsoever has a beginning must surely have an end. Living in a country that has succeeded in fulfilling all of the indices of a failed state like ours, a nation with an unending intercourse with abject poverty, despite that she has no business been broke let alone been poor. You realize that people die for all the wrong reasons in the world you don't want to think of. How can a whole family sleep their last as a result of inhaling the fumes from their own power generating set? Don't be too quick in bellicosity by saying ignorance was at play. What would you need a generator for; if you never knew what it means that light should blink? International bodies keep coming to our aid like a mother has got no choice but to continuously breast feed her crying and helpless baby. Little wonder why our debt keeps skyrocketing, as if someone promised a medal for the country with highest debt…it's pretty shameful.

A wise brand like Nokia is so mindful of our malady. They aren't in the dark to see that our power sector is in a shadow of nothing, let alone say shadow of itself. After all, we never had it rosy. Lately, I was choked with an avalanche of shock when I heard a track by the Fuji legend, Ayinde Barrister ,(don't bug yourself if you don't know him ask Encarta and sure, you will get help) the track revealed that far back as 1986, power supply has been a major prayer point – “so no bi today”…

Since Nokia and other mobile phone manufacturers aren't cripple like our leaders are in the mind, they ensured that special phones were designed for Nigerians. At lease to ease us the excruciating pain and torture that comes with darkness- I beg your pardon perpetual darkness.

Considering how merciful God is, I have a strong feeling that soon babies vacating the heavens for Nigeria will arrive at their various maternity wards with flash lights permanently glued on their foreheads. So when the breaking news comes on air, please be quick to say to someone that ‘larigold’ once prophesied it.

Exactly two nights ago, mum was close to tears as she shared a somewhat pathetic story that might be of good interest to you and without any exaggeration, to anyone you don't wish dead. ‘A cousin lost a neighbor, she narrated. NEPA or PHCN or whatever they rechristened themselves to “happened” as usual and this young promising guy rushed to the power generating set, navigating through the nooks and crannies of the living room with the flash light from his phone....Just as he used the light from his mobile phone in fueling the generator, something tragic happened. And before he could decipher if he was featuring in a movie, all he discovered was an unannounced explosion from the power generating set. He wasn't even receiving a call neither was the phone ringing in the first place. As if been clothed with fire wasn't enough a tragedy, his misfortune doubled as he was electrocuted to the teeth, at his unsuccessful attempt to escape out of the gate that houses the generator.

Cutting the long story short, this young man was disrobed of his life. He died.

He actually didn't lose his life due to complications from burns or excess loss of blood due to acute electrocution, like the doctors would say; he died as a result of ignorance, yes, sheer ignorance.

I was so bellicose to say to mum that OK I agree that when switched on phones come near petrol pumps and flammable solvents, chemicals or gases, they release enough energy to ignite a spark, but what about the shock? I asked. I disregarded the story and almost concluded that it must have been an attack from the deepest part of hell, just like you are about to.

But while digesting Saturday punch as it is my ritual. Buki Olabiran’s column of 20th November 2010 titled “Obeying vital instruction” on social etiquette, gave credence to mum's story. Buki's visit to the hospital revealed the cases of two patients who suffered severe burns as a result of using the flash light from the phone while fueling the generator. One of the patient explained that all he knew was that his phone rang, then he realized a ghastly explosion. The other, narrated amidst so much pain and agony that the phone was in his pocket while he fueled the gen. In his own case, his mobile phone rang repeatedly but he couldn't honour the call since his hands were busy. After the phone rang repeatedly, he also experienced an explosion.

Some are of the habit of checking the fuel level of the generator while the machine is on or even refueling the gen while it's on or while still red hot. It's suicidal. In fact, it's like pulling the trigger of a pistol placed on your head all by yourself.

I'm yet to recover from the shock that I should have lost my face or complete skin to such a hellhole. Men! I should have been dead, buried and long forgotten. I practically use my phone's flash light at each attempt to on the gen at night. My guardian angel must have done a lot to ensure that my kids don't have a secondary albino for a father. God Am grateful.

Hello folks, lets learn from the experience of others and preserve our skin, the money we don't have and most importantly our lives, because it's pretty cheaper to learn from the experience of others. Don't tempt the thief like my friend will always say. At this point in time, I say don't tempt the devil, as it is widely believed that he is the author of all mishaps, even when it's crystal clear that we are manifesting in our own pool of ignorance. Don't tempt science either, please don't.

Tell other friends or better still feel free to copy this article on your wall and tag as many friends you love. Remember, your happiness is incomplete when your loved ones aren't happy!

May I not lose you or your face to fire.

[ Read More ]

It Pays to Treat People Right by Lanre Olagunju.

Undoubtedly, human beings are the most treasured creature on planet earth; unfortunately, men don’t treat men as such. No society can succeed beyond the premium it places on people, after all government is all about people and people alone.

The parallel reason for the irreconcilable differences between the western world and the poor third world countries like ours is the premium placed on human. Developed countries dwell on the understanding that human capital is the richest and most crucial recipe for economic development. To that effect, they value education, provision of food and water, fine art of hospitality and good health that her citizens may function optimally.

In fact, we think otherwise and it shows. Here people die for very wrong reasons, or how else do you explain that young and old alike die of treatable and curable diseases like malaria and absence of drugs in our hospitals. Asking for electricity is like asking for too much but humans aren’t meant to live without basic survival needs like food and water. Today, bad roads claims lives each day as if granite and coal tar have all relocated into extinction. Little wonder why we as a people despite our dreams to prosper will still wallow in the anguish of poverty.

Young people aren’t the leaders of tomorrow anymore, but leaders of today- so we claim. Although our actions can’t be more contradicting. In fact it’s like we’ve taken an unconscious oat to replicate the wrong deeds of the older generation and we can’t be any better for it. It shows when we scam foreigners on the web and also when we celebrate our scammer friends and relations. Lately, there is this advancement, witchcraft has been successfully rebranded into a money making machine.

“Service to humanity is the best work of life”-so says a creed, and the only way to be impactful and fulfilled is to serve humanity by the giving away of oneself. The shocking irony is that only those who give themselves to others make a meaning out of life. After all, the worth of our days will be measured by what we gave and not what we earned. There is an urgent need to ensure that greed and self centeredness die a natural death by birthing the zeal to help, serve, encourage and inspire others.

The scarcity oriented society we live has succeeded in making us aware of one thing and that’ self and ourselves alone. It is understandable that one’s environment has a whole lot of influence on the mind. Therefore the default in a country like ours is to be greedy, self centered, embezzle and be awfully stingy. Any act short of this can be possibly tagged non -Nigerian.

Let the truth be told, even your future helpers might desperately need your help now. It should be noted that every broken relationship is a broken bridge. Relationship is everything, and only those who have mastered the act of treating others right can love genuinely. When we treat others right, the success we pursue endlessly will be replaced with abundance of wealth, joy and most importantly fulfillment. If all of our net labor is to make ourselves just a little comfortable, then we are by all standards the most miserable creature.

Learn to look out for the genuine interest of others especially those who are despised. Help someone solve a problem, encourage your neighbor, buy someone a gift, call that old friend you haven’t seen in a long time, keep loving that irritable and cocky roommate, go visit that friend who is lying lifeless on the hospital bed.

Great men like Nelson Mandela, Bill Gates and Henry Ford just wanted to solve a problem, and in return life has furnished them with all the wealth and fame they couldn’t imagine, reason that God can’t but reward those who nurture that which he created in the fullness of his power.

[ Read More ]

MY FRIEND by TOSIN BUCKNOR

I once had a friend who was quit ill. The least of what he had was a cold. But he also had malaria, and doctors suspected he was anemic as he was severely jaundiced.

My friend was a lovely boy to look at. Well, in parts for some reasons he was developing skin allergies from things that were destroying him internally and so he had some patches' here and there. But he was also vibrant in certain areas and you could see and feel that in him.

He had this wide grin that drew you in, and even though there were a few teeth missing and one or two of the teeth seems to be decaying, you always smile back.

He had a firm handshake and you might have resisted at first, but once you held out your hand to him and he shoot his, you felt a warmth radiate.

My friend was basically of an easy going nature. He liked parties and football. But every once in a while, he would lose temper and then you would be so afraid.

These outburst were temporary but the doctors feared that without some forms of psychological help, he would become permanently angry and at war with himself. These could be true since his outbursts have started increasing and these days last for longer.

My friend refuses to wear glasses although it was obvious he needed them. You can tell by the way he stumbles sometimes and always pulls the paper close to read.

But I think he thinks wearing glasses will be uncool. Well falling down and breaking your hip is also uncool but hey! Who listen to me anyway?

And speaking of listening... that is something my friend is not good at. Listening.

I think he pretends to listen. He keeps quiet and nod a lot when people talk and then turn right to the opposite! It annoys me sometimes because really, some things that are said are for his own good and I will tell you of some things we said.

YOU see, my friend is going to turn fifty I know! I know!

Ideally, one should block the road and bring down heaven and earth. I know people who clear their account just so they can celebrate their fiftieth. People buy new clothes, may be even make new friends. It is not easy to be fifty and as they say, 'then go take'

So, it is only natural that my friend wants to celebrate his birthday right? But you see, my friend is ill, he has a cold, and malaria and he is severely jaundiced.

I think the money he withdraws should not be on the biggest cake he can find, a website in his honor, parties in different states and so on.

I think the money he has should be spent on getting himself treated and better!

I think my friends needs to heal his body, his heart, his memories, his mind.

And this is what we have all told him.

But my friend does not listen and he never seems to learn from his past mistakes.
Like that time my friend celebrated his independent from his parent?

He was so excited! but he had no plans of how he would keep himself on his feet for years, what is children will eat from, and what people will think of him, and how to relate to others.

No, Airegin does not listen to anyone and so come October first, he will celebrate.

Possibly, in darkness, with water drawn from a well that is drying up.

And on the second, he will start all over again.

[ Read More ]

Tunde Olabenjo is young, he is relevant, and he is a role model... By: Lanre Olagunju

He is the CEO of EdgeWalk Solutions, the proud trendsetter and creator of the biggest and fastest growing mobile social networking site in Nigeria. You want to hazard a guess? 9jawap.net. This young chap bags numerous awards which include; first in a Software Exhibition held by National Association Of Computer Science Students NACOSS UNAAB in 2007, first in a Programming Competition held by National Association Of Computer Science Students NACOSS UNAAB in 2008, first in a Software Exhibition held by Nigerian Computer Society (Ogun State chapter); one of three participant representing UNAAB in 2009. He was also nominated for Top ICT Young Innovator in Africa organized by ForgeAhead in South Africa www.forgeahead.co.za in 2008.

One of his numerous technological brain seed includes the “mobile time table” a java application he created for students to store their school timetable on their mobile phones, while he was in school. Tunde is also blessed with several IT certifications and the list continues to grow. His double position as the first child and the first son out of four has no doubt furnished him with some fundamental leadership skills.



He is a visionary leader whose eye sees far beyond the present He is ever willing to achieve set goals and always on the watch for new ones once the previous ones are expelled. He is so much engrossed with his passion for information technology that he talks about them in wholesales.

Tunde Olabenjo is one among the few with sound intellect who have mastered the art of transmuting their passion into a means of solving global problems, thereby, becoming a money magnet too. I believe that everyone is a genius at one thing. God hasn’t given everything to one but he has indeed given one thing to all. Oh my good friend is a genius when it comes to computer analysis, usage and programming. If he’s not, it simply means that the word genius doesn’t exist. Indisputably, life has it different phases which open’s us to diverse seasons which include the good and the bad, but our determination and doggedness to triumph is what makes us thick.

As an introvert I realized that it could be overwhelming at times to be a worrier because you can seldom stay focused and optimistic, just at the birth of an idea you already can envisage a million and one reason why such idea won’t germinate. I was astonished the day I discovered from the number one brand consultant as far as am concerned, Mr. Leke Alder that a good sense of humor is a chief recipe for success. An outstanding sense of humor has always been an ingredient in attracting people, little wonder why tbenjis (like Tunde is fondly called) cant but keep having friends all around him like flies chasing after dead carcass. Moreover, that is one of the things that got me attracted to him and even glued too. His out of this world sense of humor is expressed in his natural ability to make others happy either by making a fool of himself or his prevailing appalling circumstances or by out rightly making a fool out of others.

In striving to achieve success and significance so much untold and nonnegotiable tragedies would crop up but one must be able to laugh in the midst of such circumstances. Yes! I said laugh. Laugh at yourself and laugh at your circumstances. The ability to laugh during an unfavorable occurrence is not a symptom of mental infection, rather strength from within would be awaken with so much strength and vitality that making accurate and precise decisions becomes inevitable.

Olabenjo is an enthusiastic narrator with a knack for drama, umpteen mistaken for a theatre art student but all of this is just to exorcize the bottled up energy that dwells abundantly in his inside. There can’t be a dull moment with tbenjis, I repeat no dull moment. Most of his friends can only wish and pray that his unborn kids would have a good concession of his humorous energy. Am always excited and challenged by folks who are living a purpose driven life, nothing else in the globe challenges me to do my best, than to see my peers striving to showcase their saltiness to the world by being dynamic problem solvers. particularly in a society where young people solace in mental laziness, all in the name of social networking and a fender to bumper affiliation with the media.

Permit me to quickly add that Tunde Olabenjo is a fervent giver and I can always say with all sincerity and confidence that if he was predestined to fail, the reason that he is a cheerful giver would be the only “why” God would be forced to make him succeed. Don’t take him for a “maggar” I tell you he is not. His spiritual alertness and awareness is a bit above the regular. Since Tunde’s faith is as big as the mustard seed I say “no shaking” after all, the same equivalent of faith is all that is needed to move a mountain.

Earnestly, Tunde is a fine boy. At anytime of the day, in any part of this planet or even outside planet earth, he would always be referred to as an handsome dude, regardless his height. He could be mistaken for an “oshomo” (player) due to his good looks and swagger. Since he lacks the acumen of both facial and body expression most times he is erroneously seen as a hard guy by female admirers. His expressive nature certifies him for a gregarious, with a highly sociable personality. He is quite assertive and always ready to express himself regardless of whose ox is goad.

“larigold” cherishes this young Nigerian who despite all odds has established a positive niche for himself even in times of global moral meltdown. In this new decade Tunde Olabenjo is one brilliant chap that should be watched out for in the IT world.

In as much as I don’t want to remind anyone of the ugly wahala (tragedy) Farouk Abdulmutallab has brought to this nation. We should remember that if we wouldn’t live right for ourselves, we should live right for the sake of others. No doubt Tunde is a proof to the world at large that there exist a quantity of Nigerian youths who are relevant in making positive global impact rather than the terrorist image imposed on us.

[ Read More ]

Are You Growing Up or Just Growing Old?... By Lanre Olagunju

The reality that life is short should always be paramount in our minds. The shortness of our numbered days becomes more perceptible when we view life as a countdown which indeed is. As each day passes we increase without even knowing it because at the tick of each second, we automatically grow older in age.

Everyone was born little and with virtually nothing apart from the beautiful birthday suit we came in, but, while some grow up into maturity by taking charge of life and its endless adventures and prospects, others just grow old acquiring so much numbers like the calendar.

It was said that “the error of the age, is to believe that experience is a substitute for intelligence. While the error of the youth is to believe that intelligence is a substitute for experience, but the truth is that old or young we must never stop growing”

When we stop growing we can’t but stink like the most rotten of eggs. As young people of this great nation, who were been recently referred to as untapped resources by the Managing Director of the World Bank, Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala. If we must become relevant in restoring our country’s lost glory, and become a source of joy to our generation, we mustn’t only grow old just like every other creature or thing, we must grow up and be resourceful.

Signs of maturity include, the ability to ask thoughtful and mind blowing questions. The mind that asks is a growing mind. Though there isn’t any crime in not knowing, but what’s the beauty and pride in not wanting to know? If Isaac Newton had simply picked up the apple and chewed it up, rather than questioning why it fell, he probably wouldn’t have discovered the law of gravity.

The ability to see beyond “now” as always been a trait of maturity and this has nothing to do with age. As we grow, our ability to picture a desirable future and work painstakingly to ensure that the future materializes is a brilliant quality of development.

A child would always demand for momentary and transient things, developed minds are more concerned with delaying gratification and solving problems be it minor or major. So many others, whose lives are dependent on theirs will be at ease. “When I was a child, I spoke as a child; I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” Were the words of Saint Paul.

A child is always self centered and has no reason to think otherwise, a child will cry and complain when demands are not accurately met, if you must grow and become relevant, you should complain less and be more grateful and thankful even for little things. Rather than been self centered, take off the concentration off yourself and care for people genuinely, be more concerned with solving national and global problems rather than been a burden. Achieving this would require that you read wide, think wide, surround yourself with intelligent people, think critically and at the same time by purposing to be a happy person who can smile even at the face of seemingly hopeless situation.

[ Read More ]

IS WRITING NOW IRRELEVANT? By Lanre Olagunju

In time past, things have gone into extinction, certainly, in a short time many of the things present today will be regarded as history, in facts, like the case of the dinosaurs’ only pictures and books will be the evidence that such ever existed. But in this world and most likely in the one to come if there is any, writing will ever be relevant. This world I only know little of, and you may want to quickly query how I ever got the hint that there would be another? Books told me. Yes they did.

Reflexively I have made mention of the word “books” twice. Simply because of their eternal value to man’s intellectual well being.

The two common forms of communication remains the oral and written form. The oral form provides the opportunity of listening to the speaker; in which the speaker has the privilege of harnessing the use of both verbal and non verbal communication which includes gesticulation and facial expression.

We have heard and read of great speeches made by remarkable leaders. Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg address and the immortal words of Martin Luther king jnr. are great examples. Even these great orators write and rewrite their address. In fact, the reason that Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg address was written on the back of a used envelop is why we in the present age have the ample opportunity to a document that has become an American myth.

I can only come to the affirmation that written thought don’t die, and that alone self explain the relevance of writing now and even in future. In recent times, we have seen the importance of writing as a tool for socio- economic growth and an ever powerful apparatus for making yesterday look as real as today.

Though our reading habit may dwindle as each day passes, writing will ever remain a relevant source of preserving information and historic event.

[ Read More ]

They Are Still Our Slaves

“We can continue to reap benefits from the black without the effort of physical slavery. Look at the current method of containment that they use on themselves IGNORANCE, GREED, and SELFISHNESS”.

“Their IGNORANCE is the primary weapon of containment. A great man once said, the best way to hide something from Black people is to put it in a book.”

We now live in the information Age. They have gained the opportunity to read any book on any subject through the efforts of their flight for freedom, yet they refuse to read. There are numerous books readily available at boarders, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.com not to mention their own black bookstores that provide solid blueprint to reach economic equality (which should have been their fight all along), but few read consistently, if at all”

“GREED is another powerful weapon of containment. Blacks, since the abolition of slavery, have had large amounts of money at their disposal. Last year they spent 10 billion dollars during Christmas, out of their 450billion in total yearly income (2.22%).”

“Any of us can use them as our target market, for any business venture we care to dream up, no matter how outlandish, they will buy into it. Being primarily a consumer people they function totally by greed they continually want more with little thought for saving or investing”

They would rather buy some new sneaker than invest in starting a business. Some even neglect their children to have the latest Tommy or FUBU, and they still think that having a Mercedes, and a big house gives them “status” or that they have achieved their Dream”.

“They are fools! The vast majority of their people are still in poverty because their greed holds them back from collectively making better communities”
“With the help of BET, and the rest of their black media that often broadcasts destructive images into their own homes, we will continue to see huge profits like those of Tommy and Nike. (Tommy Hilfiger has been jeered them, saying he doesn’t want their money, and look at how the fools spend more with him than ever before!). They will continue to show off to each other while we build solid communities with the profits from our businesses that we market to them”

“SELFISHNESS, ingrained in their minds through slavery, is one of the major ways we can continue to contain them. One of their own, Dubious said that there was an innate division in their culture. A ‘Talented Tenth’ he called it. He was correct in his deduction that there are segments of their culture that has achieved some ‘form’ of success’’.

However, that segment missed the fullness of his work. They didn’t read that the ‘Talented Tenth’ was then responsible to aid The Non-Talented Ninety percent in achieving a better life. Instead that segment has created another class, a Buppie class that looks down on their people or aids them in a condescending manner. Their selfishness does not allow them to be able to work together on any project or endeavor of substance. When they do get together, their selfishness lets their egos get in the way of their goal. Their so called help organization seem to only want to promote their name without making any real change in their community”

“They are consent to sit in conferences and convention in our hotels, and talk about what they will do, while they award plaques to the best speaker, but not the best doers. Is there no end to their selfishness? They steadfastly refuse to see to see that Together Each Achieve More (TEAM)”

“They do not understand that they are no better than each other because of what they own, as a matter of fact, most of those buppies are but one or two pay checks away from poverty. All of which is under the control of our pens in our offices and our rooms”

“yes, we will continue to contain them as long as they refuse to read, continue to buy anything they want, and keep thinking they are ‘helping’ their communities by paying dues to organizations which do little other than hold lavish conventions in our hotels. By the way, don’t worry about any of them reading this letter; remember “THEY DON’T READ!!!

P.S: This are the words of Dee Lee.
"larigold" agrees to all of this truthful insult.

[ Read More ]

The Essence of Love by lanre Olagunju

There is time for everything under the sun, and presently we are in the season of love but considering the importance and significance of love in the family, the nation, and the world at large, one can’t but keep wondering if love really should be seasonal. Love, due to its complexity, has a whole lot of different meaning to different people but this four letter word hasn’t been impressively understood by all.

During the 17th century, Emperor Fredrick wanted to bring to assertiveness one of his mind bugging observations on the significance of love. So he carried out an experiment that was later discovered to be an expensive one. He gave an order to nurses and baby sitters that they shouldn’t express any form of love or affection to some selected infant, they were permeated to feed them, change their diapers and do all other necessary things apart from expressing love in any form of touch,cuddling, warmth, care and communication.

To the utmost surprise of the monarch and the midwives, all the babies died.

This makes it clear that love is the foundation on which our world operates; with the outcome of this experiment, it becomes obvious that love is vital for existence and survival. Love is one of those indefinable reasons why we stay alive. Love is such an overwhelming affection that can’t really be expressed in words alone. Or how do we explain the death of those infant whose death wasn’t as a result of starvation or chronic disease? but due to the absence of expressive affection in form of touch, cuddling and care.

It has always been difficult to present what one doesn’t possess. Our outward expression is always dominated by the abundance that exists inside. The major reason why we find it difficult most times to love the way we should is probably because we weren’t shown adequate love and affection while growing up. Lets imagine that one of those babies used for the experiment survived, such can’t give what he never had.

For instance, it has been psychologically proven that the reason while a lot of female recognize touch has a love language is mostly because a female ward receives more touches, cuddling, hugs and warm embrace while growing compared to the male. The male in contrast will rather be given a pat at the back, a hand shake, knuckle jamb, a show of the thumb or at times a slight blow to express excitement.

If you weren’t shown enough acceptance and love, you may not have control over that but you are saddled with the responsibility of nurturing yourself, because Until we genuinely love and appreciate our being and individuality, appreciating others would only remain an excruciating task. When you don’t see anything good about yourself how would you see positivity in others? When you don’t say positive things to yourself how would you ever encourage others? After all the love rule is to “love your neighbor the same measure you love yourself”.

It’s absolutely erroneous to think that absence of facial beauty or any kind of deformity would affect others perception towards us, rather it’s our inner beauty and sincerity towards others that showcase who we really are. Most times we think that when we look better, we would be more accepted; hence we begin to major in the minor and minor in the major which is the inner beauty and self acceptance. It doesn’t really work like that, the truth is that you look and become more beautiful when you genuinely accept yourself then love and care for others.

To love at times makes us look vulnerable and stupid because to love is to give and to forgive, to appreciate others, love is bearing others unlikeable behaviour with patience and to keep hope alive.

One could give with ulterior motives without any iota of love, but it is practically impossible to love without giving. The every man for himself god for us all mentality should be buried if we must succeed collectively as a nation. It is a pity that selfishness and greed has become a national culture in our own country which shouldn’t be. When we begin to love genuinely the need to be apprehensive of the future wouldn’t arise since positive investment has been made in others. Most times the things we lack are the things we never gave. After all, we only reap that which we sow

The creator of the cosmos has given us many things for our satisfaction, we don’t pay for the air we breathe neither does He levy us for our ability to think and become creative which distinguishes us from other animals.

If you are still wondering what love really is?

Love is always willing to wait instead of demanding

Love keeps on being friendly to those who aren’t friendly back

Love doesn’t boast about your good grades and qualification

Love admits when he is wrong and shut up when he is right

Love doesn’t think you are better than others because your clothes or phone is more expensive

Love lets others have their own turn talking; it never puts others down by acting as If they don’t count

Love doesn’t lose its temper when a brother or sister finishes the meal or spend too much time in the bathroom

Love never feels doing wrong is cool

Love looks out for the genuine interest of others

Love keeps hoping when the right choices you made don’t turn out the way you wanted.

you will succeed!

[ Read More ]