11, Secretes of Success...be a better you

    How to create an effective action plan

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reating a powerful action plan always begins with having a clear purpose, vision or goal in mind. It is designed to take you from wherever you are right now directly to the accomplishment of your stated goal. With a well-designed plan, you can achieve virtually any goal you set out to accomplish.

1. Keep a record of everything. As you work through your action plan, keep notes of everything. You may find it helpful to have a binder with different tabs in it to section off different aspects of your planning process.

2. Know what you want to do. The less clear you are about what you want to do, the less effective your plan will be. Try to specifically define what you want to achieve as early as possible – preferably before starting your project.

3. Be specific and realistic in your planning.

Having a specific goal is just the beginning: you need to be specific and realistic in every aspect of your project – for example, by stating specific and achievable schedules, milestones, and final outcomes. Being specific and realistic while planning a long project is all about pro-actively reducing stress that can accompany poorly planned projects such as missed deadlines and exhausted long hours.

4.   Set measurable milestones. Milestones mark significant stages along the road to achieving your end goal. Create milestones easily by starting at the end (the accomplishment of the goal) and working your way backwards to your present day and circumstances. Having milestones can help you – and if applicable, your team – stay motivated by breaking the work into smaller chunks and tangible goals so that you don’t need to wait until the project is completely finished to feel as though you’ve accomplished something. Don’t leave too much time or two little time between milestones – spacing them two weeks apart has been found to be effective.

5.    Break large tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks. Some tasks or milestones may seem more daunting to achieve than others. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by a large task, you can help ease your anxiety and make it feel more doable by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable chunks.

6. Make schedule list. Make a list of task that you need to complete in order to hit your milestones. A list on its own will not be effective-you must write this into a timeline associated with specific, realistic actions.

7.  Put timelines on everything. Without specific time frames and deadlines, work will definitely expand to fill the time allotted, and some task may never get completed.                                         

No matter what action items you choose for which phase of your action plan, it is essential that a time frame be attached to absolutely everything.

8. Create a visual representation. Once you’ve listed your action items and set a specific timeline, the next step of visual representation of your plan. You might use a flow chart, a Gantt chart, a spreadsheet, or some other type of business tool to accomplish this. Keep this visual representation in an easy accessible place – even on a wall in your office or study room, if possible.

9.  Mark things off as you go. Marking things off as you go will not only feel satisfying, it will help you keep on track lest you forget what you’ve already done. 

This is particularly important it you’re working with other people, you might consider using a shared online document so that everyone can check in no matter where they are.

10.  Don’t stop until you’ve reached your final goal. Once your plan is established and shared with the team (if applicable), and your milestones are scheduled, the next step is simple: take daily actions to achieve your goal.

11.  Change the date if you must, but never give up on your goal. Occasionally, circumstances or unforeseen events can arise that throw a wrench in your ability to meet deadlines, complete tasks and achieve your goal. If this happens, do not get

discouraged-revise your plan and continue working to meet targets and move forward. 

see you soon.... 

FULANI HERDSMEN ECONOMIC REVOLUTION: BEFORE THEY KILL US ALL....

The advent of democratic rule has brought about different agitations Fulani herdsmen not left out.

Historically, culturally and occupationally, many of these herdsmen are of Fulani stock. They are also not educated in the dominant Western mode that largely determines the growth curve in Nigeria today and as such find it equally difficult to move on to other economic paths. This state of events has equally been exacerbated by the National Question, where disparate communities within the Nigerian federation continue to see themselves as ‘we versus them,’ thus making it difficult to find common ground within which to resolve conflicts as they emerge.

  

Across Nigeria...the story is same or similar year in year out 

Women from four local government areas in Enugu State, appealed  to the state government to save them from Fulani herdsmen who regularly molest, maim, rape and destroy their farmland and livestock. Fulani herdsmen made headlines in the newspapers almost on weekly basis. At Ofagbe community, Isoko North Local Government Area, Delta State, herdsmen reportedly killed a man and wounded another who identified himself as Thompson Ogege.

 In Benue State they lost 82 herdsmen and 6700 cattle,the most recent is Agatu Vs Fulani still ragging on in Plateau State, they lost 43 herdsmen and 4682 cattle; and in Taraba, they lost nine men and 533 cattle. so it is not only Host community that suffers, the herdsmen also lost their lives and stock to the crisis. Another Problem facing the Fulani herdsmen apart from gracing land  is the issues of Cattle Thieves known as Cattle rustlers 

On the Fulani Herdmen recklessness, suspected Fulani attacked Amoji in Delta State and abducted no fewer than four persons according to a community leader, Emmanuel Odili.

On the same day, a gang of youths attacked and razed down Suwa and Burukutu in Lamurde local government area of Adamawa State. The assailants were said to be well-armed Fulani herdsmen.

In November 2015  an armed group alleged to be Fulani herdsmen reportedly attacked nine different communities in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi and killed twenty-two people.

A month before, women from four local government areas in Enugu State, called on the state government to save them from Fulani herdsmen who regularly molest, maim, rape and destroy their farmland and livestock.

The abduction of elder statesman and former Presidential candidate, Chief Olu Falae on his farm at Ilado, Akure Ondo state by Fulani herdsman in September 2015 may have scaled up the national attention to the menace of attack by herdsmen. The herdsmen abducted and released the 77–year old man later after paying an undisclosed amount as ransom.

Many questions have been asked about the Fulani in general and Fulani pastoralists in particular. The media perception of Fulani herdsmen is often one of murderous marauding bandits who kill at will.  Very often, journalists and reporters attribute violent attacks on villages and farming communities in especially (North) Central Nigeria to ‘Fulani herdsmen’. The Fulani story is hardly ever in mainstream Nigerian media. So the opportunity to tell their story is often difficult, as their voices are not heard.

Many observers have called on the Fulani to settle, to have ranches instead of this nomadic way of life...

I refer to the period between 1960 and 1966 as the golden era of Nigeria. That time it was as if our leaders had a vision that we are going to be what we are today, that one day farmers and herdsmen will go for each other’s throats in a very violent manner. That was why the defunct Northern Nigeria Government created 417 grazing areas dotted across the entire 19 states of the then Northern Nigeria. Of recent, Ogun and Oyo have also created grazing areas. Now by the time you furnish these grazing areas with the basic requirements, why will a pastoralist move? Why is he moving? He is moving in search of pasture. He is moving in search of water. He is moving to escape Livestock and Human diseases. He is moving to escape from conflict. By the time you provide an area that is secure and you provide amenities there, why won’t he settle? And these areas are there. One of these model grazing areas is the Kachia grazing area. The Kaduna State government created the Kachia Grazing Area and people have settled there. Apart from that the Kaduna State government created what you call the Farmers-Herdsmen Dispute Resolution Committees and these committees were given powers of magisterial powers. Ordinarily, if they were the Committees were created, empowered and functioning, most of the conflicts that you see would not have occurred. So if the grazing areas are resuscitated given functional facilities and secured facilities, pastoralists will definitely settle. The movements by Pastoralist have their own hazards especially the violent conflicts, Livestock losses, Livestock and Human Diseases

WAY FORWARD................

The state governments under the Nigerian constitution own the land. It is not the federal government that owns land. The Land Use Act vests land in the state governors. And even before the Land Use Act, the lands that were reserved for grazing were there. Why can’t the state governors develop one or two or three of these areas? There are model grazing areas that had worked. If you go to some of these model grazing areas you will find vet clinics, you will find hospitals, you will find schools, you will find normal human life and they are contented. Why can they model it after these areas? We would want to know what is their budget for agriculture and what percentage of it is allocated Livestock and Livestock Producers because we depend on livestock is vital part of our economy. It is not by coming to Abuja to say we are the Chief Security Officers of our states and we want guns. What we are saying is there are development challenges in your states that you can use your resources to address. You cannot transform livestock breeding to importing bulls and heifers from Brazil or Denmark or Netherlands that are not suitable for our environment or that can only be kept very rich or exotic breeders, if properly harnessed our Local breeds can give us all we need in terms of meat and dairy products. 

God bless Nigeria.

Sources: Elnathan's Dark Corner blog, Business Hallmark, The Guardian newspaper,

OONI ORANMIYAN THE FOUNDER OF ILE -IFE THE SOURCE OF BENIN EMPIRE

OONI ORANMIYAN THE FOUNDER OF  ILE -IFE THE SOURCE OF BENIN EMPIRE

Let us start our excursion to history with some indisputable records regarding the supremacy of Yoruba and by extension, Ile-Ife, over Benin Kingdom. I quote thus:

"In 1916, when Aguobasimi was installed as Oba of Benin in place of his father who died in Calabar while on exile, and the royal messengers of the then Ooni of Ife - Oba Ademiluyi(aka Lawarikan), went to him after a series of earnest requests, they delivered Ooni's message thus:

"YOUR FATHER GREETS YOU." (See Nigerian National Archives: Oyo Prof. 1, File 133, 24th May, 1916). And listen to this: "The place called "Orun-Oba-Ado Bini" is the site from where great Oranmiyan set out to found the Yoruba Dynasty in Benin, and it is to here that the heads of the Kings of Benin were brought for burial. The head and nail pairings of King Adolo, the 34th Oba of Benin, who reigned between 1848AD to 1888AD was brought from Benin to Ife in 1888 AD, during the reign of Ooni Derin Ologbenla (1880–1894) - the last occasion on which the tradition was kept." - (See "Ife: The Genesis of Yoruba" p240-1), by Late Dr.(Chief) M. A. Fabunmi." Note: Fabunmi was the Personal Secretary, for over 20 years or there about, to the Late Oba Adesoji Aderemi, the Ooni of Ife, who reigned for 50 years from 1930 - 1980. The late Ooni was born in 1891 and he died in 1980.

And again, in 1982, when the present Oba of Benin paid an official visit to Ile-Ife. A speech of welcome presented by Ooni to the Oba was at that time prepared for the Ooni by Prof. (Sabiru) Biobaku, and I think that the man or people who knew this are still alive. He was a former Vice-Chancellor of University of Lagos and a Professor of History (like Ade-Ajayi). Part of the speech read: “We welcome Your Royal Highness most heartily back to Ile-Ife, the cradle of our common culture, the origin of your dynasty and ours. Today is really a very good day for us in us and its environs because since you left in 891 AD, we have come to know that your dynasty has performed wonderfully well." Biobaku is not just an ordinary historian but one of the best Yoruba and African historians.

Oranmiyan - the famous and an unequaled Yoruba prince and warrior was the only Yoruba royal enigma to have ruled over Benin Kingdom, founded and became the very first Alaafin of Oyo and later came back to become the Ooni of Ife! He, it was who restructured Benin Kingdom, married in Benin, had two sons who later became Oba of Benin monarch. It is on record that Ogiso troubled dynasty was discarded and subsequent kings in Benin became known and addressed as "Oba" till date, based on the order established in Benin Kingdom by Oranmiyan. Even up to 1939, Yoruba language was the official palace language in Benin. No wonder then that many Benin families bear Yoruba names! And what about designs of the Benin palace after the renowned and historical Oduduwa palace in Ile-Ife? It is true then what Simeon Strunsky (1879 - 1949)

wrote in his book entitled: "No Mean City" that: "The years by themselves do not make a place historic. It is men who give the colour of history to a place by their deeds there or by merely having lived there."

And from Wikipedia comes this introduction: "The Ọọ̀ni of Ilé-Ifẹ̀ is the traditional ruler of Ile-Ife, whose dynasty goes back hundreds of years. Ife-Ifè is an ancient Yoruba people city in south-western Nigeria. Ọọ̀ni Lajamisan, who was the 8Th Ọọ̀ni of Ile Ife, was a Son of Ọọ̀ni Oranmiyan, (Ọọ̀ni Oranmiyan was also The first Oba of Benin, First Aláàfin of Oyo and the Father of Oṣile of Oke-Ona Egba). Ọọ̀ni Lajamisan the son of Ọọ̀ni Oranmiyan, was also the Father of Ọọ̀ni Lajodoogun, the 9th Ọọ̀ni of Ile Ife, through whom the genealogy of all succeeding Ọọ̀nis of Ile Ife until the reigning Ọọ̀ni Okunade Adele Sijuwade, Olubuse 11, Arole Oduduwa and the Head of the Yoruba Nation, is traced down to Ọọ̀ni Odùduwà, The Ancestral Father of the Yorubas Globally."

From Oba (Dr) Adedapo Tejuoso’s 212 page book, titled: "Oranmiyan: What’s in a name?" ,

 I quote: "In Yoruba parlance, a name is given to signify situation of birth in a home, posterity, sense of character and projection into the future. Oranmiyan was one of the seven sons of Okanbi, the only child of Oduduwa, and he reigned as the sixth Ooni of Ife. He was famed as a strong enigmatic leader, who led his people into a path of greatness that lasted several centuries, leaving a heritage that last till today. His Cenotaph, popularly known as Opa Oranmiyan, is in Ile Ife, and is a tourist destination. After several wars and conquests, and establishing the Benin and Oyo kingdoms, he was to later become the Ooni of Ife. The throne he held till he joined his ancestors."

It is my salient advice that, we must not allow ourselves to be hypnotized by the hollow rhetoric and any distortions of facts of history. We must not let any overpowering effluvium envelop our sense of history. With your permission, I want to quote Williams Moore , in his book titled: "Warri Kingdom" published in 1936, where he submitted that: "In this so-called civilized age, one is shocked to imagine what atrocities lie buried in the womb of nature and which may again hatch in the unknown future. All the same, the invincible truth is ever intact to conquer error, however formidable this may seem at first sight." Truth and facts stir the conscience, enriches the consciousness of man and ennobles the human soul to free itself from shackles of ignorance and selfishness. And now to ice my historical cake, let's borrow from the writing of Christopher Marlowe(1564 - 1593), who wrote thus: "I'm armed with more than complete steel, ...The justice of my quarrel."

Before I draw curtain on this important historical argument, I want to borrow some facts from the submission of my compatriot - Kunle I Sowunmi, a Yoruba man of Abeokuta origin, who had earlier run wrote from Dallas Texas, in the United States of America, in his writing titled: "Ile Ife - The Final Resting Place of History." And I quote, in extenso, "Ooni who is not a direct son or descendants of Oduduwa may not necessarily be considered viable in this discussion. Alafin of Oyo who is a descendant of the acceptable link between Yoruba and Edo must examine his place in history and that of his senior brother Orangun of Ila the first son who had disappeared into history because he never challenged Oranmiyan. The abdication of the throne is a loss of right for Oranmiyan to his son in Benin but if the son (Eweka) and his descendants according to history continue to respect tradition and be buried at Ife or received blessing before being crowned then we can conclude that Ife is superior to Benin and Edo’s must have in fact originated from Ife?

The question is this: Can a son be greater than his father? No. Or can a river be greater than its source? No. Otherwise it will dry. The source of Yoruba from Benin although appeared to be authentic as presented by Oba Eredua than Saudi Arabia or Lamurudu, which cannot be traced, traced in Saudi Arabian history. But the fact of history of allegiance of Oba of Benin to Ile Ife the cradle of Yoruba race before being crowned and after death is an indication that Ife is the source of both the Yoruba’s and Edo but the Yoruba’s and historians must come up with a very scientific and foolproof history to support this argument. This is an area the Ooni and other Yoruba writers have not defended enough. The argument of Professor Ajayi was not detailed or courageous enough. The professor wrote as if he was afraid to offend both the Yoruba and the Edos as against the fact, which would have helped the issue unless the Professor has no answer to the problem.

Alternatively, can we write off Alafin of Oyo from this discussion because his descendant failed to head the throne at Ile Ife when Oranmiyan was called? No. Some will say since he was buried at Ife to symbolize his rights to the throne or why did all his brothers fail to challenge his right to the Ife throne if he indeed was the last born maybe, that part of history was right that Oranmiyan was the first born not the last as mentioned by Oba of Benin. They’re so many unanswered questions of history. The answer is not if we will offend ourselves or change the place of Edo’s or Yoruba in history but who we are and where we were coming from. It is often said that it is a taboo to bury a king in exile. Ile Ife from all indications and by having the nails and heads of all the late kings of Benin and that of Oranmiyan himself buried at Ile Ife to this writer is the source of Edos and Yoruba and this fact must not be distorted with sentiments."

Finally, I want to advise the historical novices to stop distorting or doctoring history. With due respect for elders and most especially, "the-heads-that-wear-beaded-crowns"( "awon ori dadedade" ), it is not the present person(s) who reign(s) now that will tell us the history that were on the ground before he was born. We know the truth and nobody should come and be playing with our collective psyche by making politically motivated statements. I found very distorting, disgusting and an historical fallacy, when some people say that, "Oduduwa was expelled or ran away from Benin to establish Ile-Ife!" Who told you that? It makes one incensed! What an historical heresy! It's one's native and natural privilege and right to keep records for posterity sake. It is good to call a spade a spade, no matter whose ox is gored. History remains the natural arbiter and God our historical umpire. Now I remember this: to celebrate the centenary of the Guardian newspapers of London and his 50th anniversary as editor, C.P. Scott wrote, 'A Hundred Years' in 1921. The essay's famous sentence: 'Comment is free, but facts are sacred.'

Only time will tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. But we must always establish the basic facts of history without any further distortion...

source: Mike Famiyesin's Blog

SIMPLICITY OF A LEADER : JOE BIDEN

In view of the recent #Dasukigate saga in Nigeria for some time now,Can our Public servant ever be  this corruption free? to the extent of wanting to sell their Houses Just to raise Hospital bill? when our Public servant, elected or appointed,  Civil servant, craft to belong to a billionaire club. this confession / interview granted by America Vice President  Joe Biden really show why America will always be greatest country on earth! do my reader really know what makes a country great? Her people!!!  i do hope that Nigeria Public servant, both elected and appointed will borrow a leave from this. Nigeria  civil servants are not exempted.

AVOID SCANDAL, DETECT HIDDEN CAMERA IN HOTEL ROOM

HOW TO DETECT A HIDDEN CAMERA IN A ROOM

This becomes imperative nowadays, internet is awash with scandal of different magnitude.
some hotelier have turn to porn movies warehouse. Reason given to such installation of security camera is security. But some unscrupulous employee have turn this security camera to spying tools on there unsuspecting customers. How do you explain ways and manners the privacy of  such hotel customers is been invaded daily?

bellow are the simple ways you can carry out a routine checks  

When you stay in a hotel, how do you know there is no room pinhole camera?

When travel or take a business trip, you will stay at a hotel, but you do not know that you could unknowingly be photographed or even filmed

Remember when staying in a hotel, you can use
this method to check your room :

When you have entered into your room, turn off the lights, and close the curtains,open your phone camera, do not turn the flash light on.

Turn around the room with your cell phone,
when a red dot is found, that means that a hidden web camera is installed.
If no red dots, the room is okay.

Avoid scandal, blackmails check before you undress...... 

WIZKID GAVE OUT ONE MILLION NAIRA TO FANS

 last night  Industry Night was amazing as wizkid made good his promise to his teeming fans.


Afrobeat sensation, Wizkid just made some of his fans  happy! during a special edition of ‘Industry Night’ at the prestigious Oriental hotel, Victoria Island, the star boy boss handed out a million naira to 4 of his fans who could sing his songs without missing a line, each person got N250,000 each. i believe there is a reward to whatever a man/ woman beliefs in. who could imagine having an artist tattoo on one's chest could fetch a whooping amount =N=250,000!

the guy above need not to sing! guess what? he had Wizkid face tattoo in his chest..

the dude sang one of Wizkid favorite track without missing a sing line!

At the end of the show two male , two female were rewarded for their love and support for the star boy. what a wonderful way to reward your fan wizy wizy

NIGERIA'S EXTERNAL DEBT BURDEN TO ALL OF US

                               
                                             

                            Nigeria’s External Debt Stood  At $66.2bn

The Debt Management Office (DMO) in Nigeria, says the nation’s external debt profile now stands at $11 billion with the domestic debt hitting 11 Trillion Naira (about $55.2 billion).

If the information released by DMO office is anything to relied on, then economic implication is far reaching...
it means $11bn plus that of domestic debt $55.2bn will give us sum of $66.2b divided by Nigeria Population lets say 180 million People since we do not know our actual figure, this will give us ==> 66.2bn /180m = 367.777777778  then if this amount is multiplied by the prevailing exchange rate at autonomous Market of today 22 December, 2015  inversely that is =N=280 to $1 therefore the answer will be =N=280 X 367.777777778 we would get 102977.77777784  approximately of =N=102,977.78 for every Nigerian alive today.

it means every Nigerian is in debt to the tune  of =N=102,977.78 so, whenever you walk pas anyone man or woman, boy or girl the person in indebted as a result of being a Nigerian.

we all should be accountable and responsible to our leader's action or inaction. whenever the issues of borrowing arises be it locally or externally, we should as a matter of fact be more interested in it. or else the future generation will hold all of us accountable for it.