TheNewsGuru

Tag: Success

  • Obi Cubana reveals secret of his success

    Obi Cubana reveals secret of his success

    Popular businessman and Chairman of Cubana Group, Chief (Dr.) Obinna Iyiegbu, popularly known as Obi Cubana, has disclosed the secret of his success.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Obi Cubana made the disclosure in the commencement speech at the 50th convocation ceremony of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) on Friday.

    Speaking, Obi Cubana, an alumnus of UNN, said he was happy to be invited to inspire and motivate graduates and undergraduates of his alma mater which made him what he is now.

    “Today, I have come back to this convocation hall as homecoming, to share my story, so that, you can learn some lessons from my experience, and hopefully, get inspired and motivated to confront the future with greater confidence. The secret of my success is focus, integrity, hard work and the special grace of God,” Iyiegbu said.

    TNG reports Obi Cubana instituted some prizes like N1m Cubana prize for the best graduating student in every convocation of the University. He also name a N1m Cubana prize for the best graduating student of the Department of Political Science, “the department that produced me”.

    Earlier, Prof Charles Igwe, the Vice-Chancellor of UNN had said the University decided to bring Obi Cubana, who graduated from the institution in 1998, to inspire and motivate graduates and undergraduates of the university.

    Prof Igwe said 246 graduates bagged first-class degrees in the University’s 50th convocation ceremony.

    In his remark during UNN’s 50th convocation ceremony for the 2019/2020 session to confer bachelor’s degrees on 14,308 graduates, Igwe urged all the graduates to live up to expectations in all they do as the country was in dire need of truly educated men and women.

    “In this UNN 50th convocation, a total of 14,308 will receive bachelors degrees of the university.

    “246 bagged first class, 5,092 made second class upper, 7,865 made second class lower, 2,088 made third class while 17 went home with pass.

    “As an alumnus of this university, I urge you to live up to expectations by being good ambassador of the UNN and good citizen of the country,” he said.

    The VC said all the graduating students were unique and special because they were the golden graduates of the university’s 50th Convocation.

    Igwe urged the graduands not to allow the prevailing socio-economic conditions in the country, especially unemployment, to diminish the value of their graduation.

    “As you leave the university to face the real world, do not allow the prevailing socio-economic conditions in the country to diminish the value of your graduation.

    “With focus, integrity, hardwok and absolute trust in God, you will rule the world with the knowledge you have acquired as lions and lionesses,” he said.

  • Peace Anyiam-Osigwe: The true measure of success – By Dakuku Peterside

    Peace Anyiam-Osigwe: The true measure of success – By Dakuku Peterside

    How does one measure success in life, career, business, or politics? There are different yardsticks for different folks. Some measure success based on the material quantity one accumulates, while others measure it based on the quality of life one gets. Some assume it is both and, to a considerable degree, a high level of qualitative and quantitative life experiences linked with material, physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being. Many, however, are indifferent to the rigour of defining success criteria, especially in a society that has deified materialism and worshipped hedonism.

    Therefore, success means many things to so many people. Clayton Christensen, a serial author, and teacher, gave a straightforward yet profound advice on success. He said, “Success is measured by the lives you touch and impact.”

    Here, the extrinsic value of success is the externality of its impact on other people’s lives rather than the person whose success is measured. Considering Christensen’s definition, success transcends the myopic encumbrances of the self and moves into the realm of the selfless. It is no secret that this was the guiding philosophy of a quintessential Nigerian lady who was intentional in lifting many young people out of poverty using their God-endowed raw talents, lifted an entire industry – Nollywood, from grass to international acclaim, and became a beacon of hope for the hopeless, and voice for the voiceless. My Friend, Peace Anyiam Osigwe was an amazon, a rare iroko tree that proved  warmth, love, and kindness to everyone who crossed her path. This fantastic woman, whether in the entertainment industry or her personal life, was conscious of  touching lives and making an impact.

    We lost a true hero, a woman of big dreams  and  a bank of ideas  to the cold hands of death on that cold January 7th. All those who loved her had a rude awakening on getting the news of her demise, and if you are like me, you will never forget where you wereor what you were doing when the shocking news hit you. We never expected it. We know everyone will one day pass on to glory, but Peace Anyiam Osigwe was one person you would assume would live on if there was justice and fairness in this world. She was a good woman and a kind soul who  could not stand someone in pain or suffering. I have often wondered why good people die young and bad people live longer. If death is a punishment for our evil deeds, Peace  would have still been here with us.

    Last Saturday, I was at the night of tributes ceremony in honour of this great daughter of Africa, and the intensity of emotions in the atmosphere touched me. A ceremony graced by the captains of the entertainment industry from across Africa , A-list actors and celebrities, and her family members turned out to be a celebration of her life as one celebrity after another made emotional renditions of how she touched their lives at difficult times, how she inspired them to be the best they can be, and how she shaped their career and industry in ways no one has done. Celebrities talked of how she took over 200 of them before they became famous to the United States and “disvirgined our passport” and covered all the expenses for the trip. Family members talked about how she was the glue that bonded the big Anyiam Osigwe family. The voices of the ten poor women from a village in Enugu she sponsored to South Africa reached a crescendo in their wailing for their departed benefactor. In the audience, I had an epiphany. It suddenly dawned on me that my friend lived the best life ever – a life of giving joy to people. In the words of Eleanor Roosevelt, “When you give joy to other people, you get more joy in return. You should give a good thought to happiness that you can give out.”

    Peace Anyiam Osigwe was an accomplished literary artist who published a collection of poems. She was a known word artist, psalmist, and renowned filmmaker. But most of all, she was an extraordinary leader. She developed a vision of an entire African film industry and set out to put Africa at the centre of world cinematography recognition. She thought local and acted global. A true African that set out to change the narrative of African films globally. She was among the first known artists to take African Movies to film festivals worldwide, and in doing this, she challenged African moviemakers to raise their standards to global acclaim.

    In 2005, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe founded the Africa Film Academy, now known as the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA). AMAA is a continental film/movie platform created to reward excellence and professionalism in the film industry across Africa and create opportunities through capacity building and idea exchange across Africa. The award ceremony is one of the most recognized awards for Africans in filmmaking. Films that have won awards at AMAA or even been nominated have gone ahead to do well at international film festivals like Cannes, TIFF, Berlinale, and others.

    To demonstrate her selfless intentions, at the 10th edition in 2015, she stepped down as the Chief Executive Officer of the AMAA. Besides recognizing and celebrating filmmakers, AMAA invested in capacity building, helping over 12,000 budding artists build skills and understand the intricacies of the sector. Peace made it a duty to bring the finest talents worldwide to coach our young artists. She mentored many and offered her network to help them advance in the industry. In the same year, she began the AfricaOne initiative to commemorate Africans in the entertainment industry.

    Another impactful initiative was her television programme, “Piece off my mind “, which focused on people’s reactions to societal issues not regularly seen in the mainstream media. This fulfilled her passion for always putting out the other side of the story.

    Throughout her eventful life, she engaged and committed to the cause of the less privileged in society using whatever platform God gave her.

    Beyond her creative entrepreneurship, philanthropy was her second nature. She helped countless people and championed numerous causes selflessly and without any noise. Her philanthropy was the actual sermonic act of giving where her ‘left-hand does not know what her right hand was doing’. She was not noisy about her kindness, and that’s a mark of true success. Mister Rogers opines, “There are three ways to ultimate success: The first is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.” Peace embodied this ultimate success.

    Peace Anyiam Osigwe’s success was seen in her equanimity and Peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing she tried to become the best of which she was capable. Nigerian political and business leaders have a lot to learn from her, especially during this election period and the transition from one government to another. One essential lesson for all is that leadership is about the impact on the lives of others. A good leader loves his people and community  and will be ready to sacrifice himself for the good of the people and the community . Leadership success is only measured in serving the people and the impact that serving has on the people. Just like Peace dared to dream and work for a better entertainment industry for Nigeria first and Africa and the rest of the world later, our politicians must dare to dream and work for a better Nigeria and Africa. Peace has shown that our actions as leaders’ matter. And the intentionality to make a difference in people’s lives is the best approach to successful leadership.

    Peace’s leadership was more remarkable as a woman. Nothing stood in her way of success when a woman decided to lead and make an impact. We need more women leaders in the ilk of Peace Anyiam Osigwe. Sheryl Sandberg posits, “We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women’s voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored.” We heard Peace’s voice! She created the platforms that gave voice to lots of women in Africa. She began a narrative change in conversations about the film in Africa, but mostly about women occupying executive roles in the film industry dominated by men. She was a titan that other women must emulate.

    George Meredith rightly says, “A witty woman is a treasure; a witty beauty is a power.” Peace was a treasure, a beauty, and a powerful woman. Her demise shook the entertainment industry to the core. Her end took a fashionista from us. Her passing away took a mighty African amazon from us. Her death has left a gaping hole in our hearts. As we pay our last respects to this Amazon of Peace named Peace, a woman who gave limitless opportunities to and impacted a generation of young people, it is essential to remind ourselves that leadership is not about a title or political office. Nor is quality living about the material acquisition. Success is about the impact and doing the greatest good to the most significant number of people.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Are you undermining your own success?

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Are you undermining your own success?

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Numbers 13:1-33

    Meditation verse:

    “There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and  we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight”. (Numbers 13:33).

    Did you know that you can undermine your chances for success? It is often said  that if you want to see the person holding you back, look at the mirror. Your biggest limitations are the ones within you: fear, anxiety, self-doubt or limiting  beliefs, all of which have their roots in your mind. 

    Your mind is powerful. It is the seat of your thoughts, beliefs, emotions, dreams, and perceptions. If the mind is skewed or unhealthy, you have a big problem at  hand. “Your thoughts influence your emotions, your emotions influence your  beliefs, your beliefs influence your decisions, your decisions influence your  actions. Your actions influence your outcomes in life and your outcomes again  influence your thoughts”. It’s a vicious circle. 

    When asked to spy the land which God was giving them, the children of Israel  saw themselves as grasshoppers. Their thoughts had a huge influence on their  beliefs which evoked fear in them, leading them to say: “we are not able to go  up against the people, for they are stronger than we” (Numbers 13:31). Only  Joshua and Caleb believed differently. They ended up being the only ones  amongst the spying lot to enter the promised land.  

    Be careful how you think because your life is shaped by your thoughts. “As a  man thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). Your internal beliefs about  yourself have a huge influence on your external success. Your thoughts  determine your behaviour or reaction to circumstances. How you behave will  eventually become your habits and your habits will eventually determine the  course of your life. Your mind can be your greatest tool for success or your  biggest destiny derailer. So, get rid of that grasshopper mentality today. The  greatest disability of a man is in the mind and not the body.

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

    For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

    or call +2348155525555

    For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.

  • Why rich men can’t go to heaven – By Femi Aribisala

    Why rich men can’t go to heaven – By Femi Aribisala

    “Jesus says worldly riches are deceitful”.

    Jesus says: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:24).

    This means it is impossible for a rich man to go to heaven by the same token that it is impossible for a camel to enter the eye of a needle.

    Christians, who are lovers of money, ignore this statement at their peril. They fool themselves by saying what is impossible with man is possible with God. But God will never contradict Himself. He will never make it possible for a rich man to enter heaven.

    Despising the rich

    God did not send Jesus to the rich. He sent Him to the poor. When He inaugurated His ministry, Jesus read from Isaiah, saying: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.” (Luke 4:18).

    This is without ambiguity. The gospel of the kingdom of God is specifically for the poor and not for the rich.

    James leaves no one in doubt about this. He says: “Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?” (James 2:5).

    It is the poor that God has chosen and not the rich. Accordingly, Mary says: “(God) has put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty.” (Luke 1:52-53).

    Jesus addresses this dichotomy between the poor and the rich in the kingdom of God. He says: “Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.” (Luke 6:20-21).

    “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full, for you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.” (Luke 6:24-25).

    James even presents a lamentation for the rich because God has rejected them:

    “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter.” (James 5:1-5).

    Amos echoes this: “Woe to you who are at ease in Zion. (Amos 6:1).

    Ignoring Jesus

    The problem with the Christian church today is that Jesus’ words are often ignored. Jesus warns: “Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:38).

    Jesus tells the story of poor Lazarus and the rich man. When Lazarus, the beggar, dies, he is received by angels and carried aloft to Abraham’s bosom. But when the rich man dies, he goes to Hades, a place of torment.

    In agony, the rich man pleads with Abraham to send Lazarus with just a drop of water to cool his tongue. But Abraham replies: “Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and you are tormented.” (Luke 16:25).

    This shows that heaven is redemptive. Those who have on earth will be destitute in heaven. Those who are destitute on earth will be rich in heaven. But the modern church insists on consolation here and now, thereby making many unfit for the kingdom of God.

    Jesus puts this graphically: “Many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Matthew 19:30).

    The first in the world can never be first in the kingdom of God. For the first to be heirs of God, they have to become last here before they can be first in heaven.

    Listen to Jesus: “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35).

    Therefore, Jesus tells the rich young ruler who asks what he must do to inherit eternal life: “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” (Matthew 19:21).

    He warns the heirs of salvation: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21).

    Divine prescriptions

    Contrary to the heresy of the prosperity gospel currently prevalent in the churches today, it is foolish to aspire to be rich:

    “Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6:9-10).

    Therefore, be poor in spirit and the kingdom of heaven will be yours. (Matthew 5:3). “Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” (James 4:9-10).

    “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” (1 Timothy 6:17-19).

    Bad success

    Prosperity in this world is illusory: “Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.” (Psalm 73:12).

    Jesus says worldly riches are deceitful. (Matthew 13:22). Ditto for success in the world. “What is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke 16:15).

    God redefines success. He implies there is good success, and bad success. The success cherished and obtained in the world is bad.

    He says to Joshua: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8).

  • Money changers and launderers – By Femi Aribisala

    Money changers and launderers – By Femi Aribisala

    “Where two or three are gathered, an offering must be collected”.

    To be a successful pastor, you have to learn the tricks of the trade. This has nothing to do with preaching insightful and inspiring messages. Neither does it have to do with ministering to the spiritual needs of the members of the church.

    The pastor succeeds or fails according to his ability to pull a crowd and extort as much money as possible from his congregation. If he fails in these vital areas, he is not likely to survive for long as a pastor.

    The technique is simple. You tell your congregants to give and give to the church until it hurts. Even those in debt are encouraged to get out of debt by giving out of their indebtedness.

    These are the voices of strangers who make merchandise of men by peddling the word of God. Peter says: “These teachers in their greed will tell you anything to get hold of your money.” (2 Peter 2:3).

    Money activator

    Some pastors tell Christians that money operates like a “gel activator.” The promises of God proclaimed in their messages are sealed until a “seed offering” is given to activate it.

    Therefore, you are likely to see different members of their congregation suddenly get up in the middle of their sermons to throw money at their feet. One pastor puts this succinctly, saying: “Anointing without money is equal to annoyance.”

    The offering time has become the focal point of church services. Several offerings are collected under different guises. Sometimes, one is collected for “the Father;” another for “the Son;” and yet another for “the Holy Spirit.”

    Shaming the poor

    Even though Jesus says when we give, our right hand should not know what our left hand is doing (Matthew 6:3); some insist offerings must be held up for all to see, in an attempt to embarrass those not inclined to give, or those inclined to offer notes in the smaller currency denominations.

    One convention requires everybody to march forward and drop their offerings on a tray placed strategically in front of the pastor so he can observe exactly how much they are giving and intimidate them into giving more than they would like to. It also serves to embarrass those who cannot give and stay behind.

    At other times, pastors constrain their members to make public vows and pledges. One of my former pastors used to say: “Pledge more than you have; stretch your faith.” When the time comes to redeem the pledge, they will hit you with Ecclesiastes 5:4-6 which says if you make a vow and do not redeem it God will destroy the work of your hands.

    Blessing time

    One technique is to take the offering early to ensure people do not leave before the money can be taken from them. But sometimes this strategy backfires. In one of the services I attended, the pastor noticed that some of the wealthier church members came in after the offering had been collected. So, he insisted it should be collected again.

    The reason he gave was a classic. He said: “I do not want anybody here to be denied the blessings of the day.” Of course, God only blesses during offering times.

    Yetunde Olanrewaju came up with what I presume is a parable. She said one day, a swarm of bees descended on a church while a service was in session. The people panicked and started running out of the building. But the pastor was up in arms. “Wait, wait, please wait,” he pleaded to no avail. “We haven’t yet collected the offering.”

    God forbid that where two or three are gathered in the name of Jesus, an offering should not be collected.

    Money-launderers

    When a villain has ill-gotten gains, he sometimes needs to have the money “laundered.” This is the process whereby stolen money is made respectable by moving it through many legal channels designed to camouflage its original illicit source.

    Sometimes, the stolen money is smuggled out of the country and then brought back in through regular channels, to make it seem like it originated from foreign shores whose records are inaccessible domestically.

    Another version of this money-laundering process is duplicated in the churches with pastors as the lynchpin. You steal the money; you kill for the money; it makes no difference. Just bring the money; pastors will receive it gladly from you with no questions asked. When you bring the money, they will bless you and pray for you. They will also pray that the source from which you got it will not run dry, so you can go and bring some more.

    This goes a long way to assuage the conscience of the wicked. They are encouraged that as long as they give a significant fraction of their stolen money to the church, the theft is sanctified. In effect, the offering is used by the pastor to make atonement for the sin of theft, thereby releasing the crooked donor from guilt. So, pastors receive and launder stolen money on God’s behalf.

    Jesus shows nothing but contempt for this kind of thinking. He said to the Pharisees: “Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?” (Matthew 23:19).

    Thieves and robbers are Satan’s gifts to the churches. Visit the mega-churches in Nigeria and you will discover the people seating in the front row are the big-time thieves who have robbed the country blind. Everybody knows they are crooks; nevertheless, they have pride of place in the churches. Their seats are reserved. The messages preached are carefully crafted so they are not offended and remain comfortable in their thievery.

    Mega-pastors would hardly operate in the tradition of John the Baptist, calling the Herod’s of the country to repentance. On the contrary, when Herod comes to church, they lavish encomiums on him. They give him the microphone to address the congregation.

    Robbers’ revolt

    I was given a fascinating report about a well-known Lagos prosperity pastor. He suddenly saw the light one Sunday and decided to preach the true gospel for a change. He warned his parishioners that: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34). He told them if they did not repent, they would miss the kingdom of God.

    No sooner had he finished his message than uproar arose. The major financiers of the church were livid, and they asked for an emergency meeting with him. They did not mince words. They told him in no uncertain terms that that kind of message was unacceptable.

    It was very easy for him as a pastor to grandstand with lofty religious sentiments, while living on the money he collects from them. But how did he think they were getting the money they gave him? Let him leave the pulpit and come into the real world so he can see whether it is possible to become a “slum-dog billionaire” through the righteousness that exalts a nation.

    The pastor’s ears were opened. He quickly went back to his old time-worn prosperity and motivational messages, and everyone was happy again. “Preach it, pastor; preach it,” they cheer him on, while an attendant dutifully comes forward to wipe his face with a towel.

  • Soun of Ogbomoso improved on his success till he breathed his last— Oyo APC

    Soun of Ogbomoso improved on his success till he breathed his last— Oyo APC

    Chief Akin Oke, the outgoing Caretaker Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State, has described the death of Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi, as a great loss to Oyo State and the nation in general.

    TheNewsGuru recalls that the 95-year-old monarch, who is the 20th Soun of Ogbomoso died on Sunday.

    Oke said “In him was every good thing a reasonable town man could wish to have in a traditional ruler, leader and father. An average Yoruba son and daughter is proud of the late Soun who was in spite of being born a prince, strived to rise to stardom.

    “He was able to improve upon every of his success until he breathed his last. He was a focused, courageous and disciplined person who would never compromise his integrity and nobility,” he said.

    He noted that the late Oba Oyewunmi’s 48 years on the throne was eventful, fruitful and successful, adding Ogbomosoland witnessed a lot of renewal and transformation.

    According to him, the late monarch was not only an accomplished businessman but also a champion of education, who prioritised the education of his children and subjects.

    “Today, Ogbomoso people can boast of being among the best educated in Africa and we appreciate the role played by Oba Oyewumi in achieving this great feat. I will personally feel the demise of Kabiyesi in view of my closeness to him and what he was able to do for me as his beloved son.”

    Oke also recalled how his path crossed with the late traditional ruler when he contested the Councillorship election in his Ogbomoso Ward in 1976.

    He said that the late Oba Oyewunmi was able to manage the crisis generated by the controversial poll.

    “Since then, he drew me close and never abandoned me for once not even since I became the chairman of APC in the state, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

    “My message of condolences goes to all members of the royal family as well as eminent sons and daughters of Ogbomosoland,” he said.

     

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Kingdom principles from business success

    Oke Chinye

    Read: PSALM 127:1-5
    Meditation verse:

    “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain” (Psalm 127:1).
    Make it a habit of spending time in God’s presence each morning and let the Holy Spirit show you how to handle the business of the day. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit is the greatest teacher; He can show you what business decisions to take and which to avoid. He can put in your heart plans that will expand your business and individuals to reach out to. He can lead you to people who will open doors of opportunity for you. But you need to be still to hear Him.

    Consistently update your skills. “If the ax is dull, and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength; but wisdom (to sharpen the axe) helps him succeed (with less effort)” (Ecclesiastes 10:10, amp). The world of business is not static. You need to keep unlearning and relearning business skills, practices, and knowledge.
    Create a reputation of excellence and consistently deliver value. “Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men. (Proverbs 22:29)

    Delay gratification and reward until the business grows. Keep plowing back the profits, no matter how little. Proverbs 24:27 says “Prepare your work outside and get it ready for yourself in the field; afterwards build your house and establish a home” (Amp). Allow your business to grow before dipping your hands into its coffers for frivolous spending.

    Lastly, let God be the foundation of your business. Make business decisions, plans and choices based on His word. Avoid distasteful and worldly practices. Psalm 127:1 says, unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build. Do not make the mistake of leaving God out of your business.

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns Oke Chinye, Founder, Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM)
    For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com
    or call +2348155525555
    For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org

  • NBS presents Q221 set-back as success – Dele Sobowale

    NBS presents Q221 set-back as success – Dele Sobowale

    “GDP rises 5% YoY; declines 0.80% QoQ” News Report

    “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics.”

    Mark Twain, 1835-1910, VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, VBQ p 130.

    On Thursday, August 26, 2021, the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, served Fellow Nigerians, their own brand of statistics. It was the truth deliberately wrapped in deception. An actual economic set-back for the nation was cast as a positive result. That tells us volumes about the integrity of the managers of our economy. They now cannot tell the plain truth anymore.

    Two of our readers early that evening had sent me text messages asking: “Have you heard the Breaking News? NBS reports the GDP grew by 5% in Q221.” That was the message from the first one. The second accused me of being a prophet of doom. “Shame on you Dele Sobowale, the NBS has just reported that the GDP growth for Q221. They said it grew at 5%. Didn’t you say the economy cannot grow by up to 3% under Buhari?” 

    My reply was the same. “I have not seen the report. But, I am certain the Nigerian economy did not grow by 5% in the second quarter of this year.”

    On Friday, all the leading newspapers allowed themselves to be duped into carrying the story as summarised by the example above. What our Editors failed to realise is the fact that most Nigerians are easily misled. Most readers don’t read beyond the headlines; and most don’t know the meaning of YoY or QoQ. Indeed, many people went away with the impression that a dramatic change for the better had occurred. The truth was the opposite. Another disaster has befallen us; as will be disclosed shortly.

    But, before proceeding, it is pertinent to express concern about the attitude of Nigerian officials serving governments performing badly. Almost without exception, they prefer to deceive Nigerians on matters that have long term implications; from which they and their families will also suffer in the future. This report is another example of that attitude.

    O What a tangle web we weave/ when first we practice to deceive.

    Sir Walter Scott, 1771-1832, VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, p. 35.

    What really happened in Quarter 2, 2021 in plain words? The straight and honest answer was no provided until about the eight paragraph of the NBS report. The answer: the economy suffered another negative growth of -0.78 per cent – almost -0.8 per cent from the first quarter. So, if the readers who sent me messages want to know the truth, there it is. There was no 5% growth in Q2’21 compared to Q1’21. There are a few more facts which can be derived from the truth – which the NBS failed to disclose. They don’t make Buhari’s government look good. In actual fact, they should alarm all of us – NBS officials included.

    FIRST FOOT IN DOOR TO ANOTHER RECESSION

    Nigerians need to be reminded that the GDP growth for Q4’20 was 0.1 per cent; and 0.5 per cent declared for Q1’21. So, the result for Q2’21 represents a 1.3 per cent drop from Q1 this year. By comparing Q2’21 with Q2’20, the NBS had chosen the worst quarter in our nation’s history for comparison – when the nation, like others globally was in lockdown. But, we were not in lockdown in Q2’21; and the economy still recorded negative growth. Two consecutive quarterly negative growths means the economy is in recession. We are half-way into another one now. That is the second truth they are hiding from the people.

    Q2’21 WIPES OUT GAINS OF Q4’20 AND Q1’21

    One does not need a doctorate in Economics to figure out the next inference from the figures available to us. With Q4’20 being 0.1 per cent, Q1’21 being 0.5 per cent, and Q2’21 approximately -0.8 per cent, simple JSS 1 algebra should tell the reader that this setback has taken our economy back to Q3’20. That is not all. Unless the economy actually grows at 5 per cent for the second half, total year growth forecast cannot exceed 2 per cent.

    That also has other implications. First, it will mean that in seven years, the Buhari administration, which has borrowed more than all its predecessors put together, would have managed to grow the economy by more than 2 per cent only once. There were two years of negative growth and three years of under-2 per cent. With the population still growing at around 3 per cent, Buhari’s promise to lift ten million Nigerians out of poverty in ten years is obviously self-delusive. Only his officials can actually believe that story now. Nigerians living in extreme poverty will increase by about five million when 2021 ends.

    FORECASTS FOR THE REST OF 2021.

    “Bandits Invade Zamfara Governor’s Hometown, Abduct Over 100 Students”

    Three variables will define the third and fourth quarters of this year – insecurity, agriculture and education. They are closely-linked and none of them is positive. Insecurity is the determining factor. Now, even Northern and All Progressives Congress, APC, Governors, as well the usually supportive Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, have lost faith in Buhari.APC Governors, including, the Governor of Katsina State, are now leading the call to Nigerians to defend themselves against bandits. Insecurity is a universal and age-long enemy of economic progress; because what people take years to build is often destroyed in one day of mayhem. “Defend yourself” is an understandable but desperate invitation to mindless destruction of lives and properties.

    In our rural areas, where agriculture is the main source of employment and productivity, able-bodied men, previously engaged in growing and harvesting food, will now be forced to take up arms in defence of their communities. Again, it requires no training in economics to know what the impact will be on food production going forward. Nobody can do two vital things at the same time.

    Education in the North has received a mortal blow – setting it back more than ten years. The new school year will soon start. Schools are closed in many Northern states; and there is every reason to believe they will remain locked up for months to come. Even when they re-open, millions of kids are not returning and new enrolments will decline. For the first time in Nigerian history, our young ones and their parentsare being asked to choose between school and life. The choice has already been made by the vast majority of them. They will rather stay alive; and some of the parents who sold properties to rescue their children from kidnappers are not prepared to take the risk again. At any rate, some have sold virtually all they could to pay ransom. 

    Consequently, the Education Sector of the economy which generates about 75 per cent of its revenue in August/October every year can expect a drastic decline this year. That is a considerable variable; and nothing can prevent the collapse. 

    Finally, the floods are here again ravaging vast areas of our country. Like everywhere else worldwide, our annual floods are getting more devastating and covering wider areas than ever before. Meanwhile, the Federal and States’ Ministries of Agriculture have not woken up to their collective responsibilities. They cannot understand that it is a waste of everybody’s time and effort for farmers to plant crops only for floods to wash them away. Nobody is asking: how do we reduce the losses caused by floods?

     

  • Stop looking at other people’s success to measure your own- Toyin Abraham

    Stop looking at other people’s success to measure your own- Toyin Abraham

    Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Toyin Abraham has urged her fans to stop using other people’s success to measure their level of achievements in life.

    The movie star made this known via her Instagram page on Tuesday. April 6, 2021.

    “Listen my darling, a lot of people are better than you and me, and you and I are also better than some other people. So, stop looking at other people’s success to measure your own,” she wrote.

    “If your today is better than your yesterday, you’re on the right path and even if it feels like your yesterday is better than today, don’t give up! restrategize if necessary, work hard, work smart, do more and keep praying. A lot of progress is lost in comparison. So, don’t stop pushing. You’re absolutely doing well.”

    TheNewsGuru recalls that Abraham earlier in the year said women in Nollywood make money legitimately.

    In her words: “I saw the social media post made by respected rapper, Ruggedman about women making more money and doing well, better than men. I read between the lines and saw what Ruggedman implied. It is a little bit sad that many people on social media leeched on it with many derogatory comments about women especially those of us in Nollywood. It is important that I put this out there that many women make money and make good money legitimately. I know actresses who charge two million, three million and five million in this Nollywood.”

  • Late Justice Karibi-Whyte contributed immensely to my success as Rivers Governor – Amaechi

    Late Justice Karibi-Whyte contributed immensely to my success as Rivers Governor – Amaechi

    Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has expressed profound sadness and pain over the demise of retired Supreme Court jurist, Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte.

    Amaechi, who refers to the deceased as a father and great advisor, had during his time as governor of Rivers State appointed Karibi-Whyte Pro Chancellor of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) to strengthen the institution’s education and values.

    The minister in a special tribute to the departed jurist on his twitter handle @ChibuikeAmaechi said:, “Justice Karibi-Whyte for me was a father figure. He was an exemplary personality, a great advisor and I have the utmost respect for him.

    “During his tenure as Pro Chancellor of RSUST where he brought his astute disposition and intellect to bear, there was a remarkable turnaround in the quality of education and handling of affairs in the institution.

    “He was also a key member of the State’s Economic Advisory Council when I was governor and my administration and Rivers State benefited richly from his wealth of experience and expertise.

    “As a Justice of the supreme court, he was very upright, fearless and upheld the rule of law. He was a colossus and great teacher. I will miss him deeply. Rivers State and Nigeria just lost a good man, a great man.”

    Amaechi prayed for the repose of the soul of the departed Justice Karibi-Whyte and comfort for his wife and entire family.