I’m so happy. I’m so grateful to God! Today, I officially passed out of the NYSC Scheme! I really thank God for seeing me through from moving back home to registering for NYSC to starting the program. I use this moment to remember those who fell on the journey from bomb blasts to election brouhaha to personal issues. I pray God will comfort their families.
I thank God for my friends, my colleagues and every Batch A 2011 corps member. I don’t know about y’all but it wasn’t an easy journey. From the drama in Abuja during registration, to the never ending queues on camp, to CD day sun bathing to Final Clearance ordeal, hmm, it was indeed service to my nation. But through it all, I have had a Father, the King of kings, Ancient of Days, Almighty I Am that I Am who has stood by me. I worship Him indeed.
Thanks to all my amazing friends and colleagues who made working so much fun. Thanks to my bosses who built me up in more ways than I can mention. Thanks to my parents who have been my rock through it all. Thanks to my brothers who never turned their backs on me. Thanks to my dearest friend who helped me in too many ways for me to describe on here. Thanks to my guardians who have shown me what love means. Thanks to MCLA readers: you mean so much to me. Thanks to everyone! I really am overwhelmed right now as I type so I’ll just stop it.
Remember the post where I told you guys my brother was annoyingly asking me what next? Well, in a way, he gave me the necessary push I needed. Lemme offer a bit of background: You see, when I was moving back to Nigeria, I was thinking that employers will literally be lining up at Murtala waiting for me and fighting over me once I landed, lol. I thought getting a great job would be a breeze. So when during NYSC, after so many applications, I wasn’t getting the kind of responses I wanted, I was shocked. I mean, I had the qualifications so I had no idea why I was finding it tough to secure employment. I didn’t want to wait a day after NYSC to get a job so it really was getting to me as NYSC drew closer to an end. This is what inspired this post http://temiville.wordpress.com/2012/01/19/are-you-sure-youre-applying-hard-enough/
Anyways, after writing that post, I took some time to ask God what EXACTLY He had in mind for me and there and then, I got my answer: LAW. So I wrote a strong cover letter, reviewed my CV and googled ’5 best law firms in Nigeria’. I got my top five and sent an email to all of them. To the glory of God, I got responses from all. I narrowed my choices to the best two and was able to secure a pre-Law School appointment with them both and I have started already. God great God!
One lesson is this: when you are walking according to God’s plans, a certain ease is attached thereto. He knows how to sort everything out. It got to a point where I would not just apply online but drive round and physically hand out my CVs to companies. But when God showed up or rather, when I discovered His will, doors opened of their own accord. So thank God for me. I actually had to take the day off to go for Passing Out Parade today. Thank You Lord.
I pray for everyone who passed out today that God will sort us all out by His grace! He will give you all reasons to testify! Amen.
Here is a picture of my and my certificate. My hair is a right mess so I had to blur it a bit sowwy:
How are you all doing? This muser has experienced something overwhelming in the last few weeks. The last blog post generated so many views and comments and has even inspired a few rejoinders on Blogsville. Thank guys!!! I read some really interesting comments such as:
Think:
Personally, I think we ladies miss the point. Just as Folu here has totally MISSED the point. Why does it have to be one or the other? Ehn tell me. Why does it have to be either he is ugly, short and rich or he is fine, tall and poor? Why does it have to be unattractive, boring and godly or hot, fun to be with and cheating? Some people, my dear Folu, have it all. Well, maybe not all but all the basic things they need which hun, include that mushiness, heart skipping beats and everyother thing you like about Tayo.
Babes, you ‘ve set your wedding date but I strongly urge you to postpone it. If not, I’m not cursing you oh, but you will end up CHEATING ON TAYO and running off to be with either Bode himself or his kind whenever the boredom and lack of excitement is getting to you.
A FUN DUDE…who’s pissed off:OMG!!! What the “latte” is this? She picked a boring dude? because the FUN dude wouldn’t return her calls? Maybe she’s ugly and scarred; maybe she’s BORING herself; maybe she FAT; maybe her thinking rivals a child with down’s syndrome…
Moby Sugar says: This one get as e be oh! I understand wanting a man after God, peace of mind and the rest. But what happens to compatibility, friendship, excitement and all that?
Bee A disagrees and says, ‘I actually don’t think she settled. I think she got the better deal…..he doesn’t have to make her heart skip a beat for him to be the one…the more you interact, the more the attraction will grow I think’. It is a very complex situation to be in. But what ‘uncomplicates’ matters is that sense of assurance that you heard God right.
The debate still goes on and the comments keep coming. Please drop a line on your thoughts if you haven’t done so already.
***
Personally, I need to feel LOVE. Like smack/bang/ in your face/goose bumps when you approach me kinda lovey dovey feeling. It just needs to be there but it is not the major consideration. Anything other than that, I will feel like I have settled and I don’t think God wants us to be settling in life. But I guess Folu understands her own priorities so I can’t over-establish my opinion here. One thing is for sure, pity will wear off eventually and irritation will set in so never base a lifelong decision on pity. I have more to say on the issue and will do so shortly.
Yesterday was a very interesting day for me! This corper finally has no need to go to Eti Osa 1 again!!! Woohoo!!! It was Day 2 in my Final Clearance ordeal which started on Tuesday. I have stopped working at my POP and had to rush there from where I am now to pick up my final discharge letter. I got the letter and glanced through hurriedly. They said nice things about me, thankfully.
The queues at Eti Osa 1 LG were an absolute nightmare. There were three queues: one for Aunty R to clear your CD card, another for Mrs. A to arrange your file and staple stuff together and then the last for the ZI to clear you properly.
The Aunty R queue went so peacefully. I paid up my gbese of N1800.00 and then went to join the Mrs A queue. As I walked there, I was like ‘wow, this is amazing!, no queue?’ It was then I was promptly cautioned that we put our names on a list, get a number and then you get called. Shoot! I was Number 194 or so and they were still on Number 90. So I went to the photocopying place opposite the LG to make copies of my now cleared CD card.
As I was about to get my document copied, a corper came and started begging that I should allow him make his copies first. I said ‘why?’. He said because he still had to go to Mrs A. I’m like dude we all have to go to Mrs A. Anyway, I gave him my spot and forgot all about it then proceeded to wait my turn in the Mrs A queue under the hot sun. By this time, they were on Number 101. Out of the blue, about 20 minutes after, the guy who took my photocopying slot told me to take his place in the queue and guess what? He was Number 113. I was elated! I said to him ‘are you sure?’ but I don’t think I waited for his response. Lol! I rushed there before he changed his mind. I then glanced around and couldn’t find him anymore. I think he had to rush off somewhere…
Moral of my tale: Give and it will come back to you. Be nice and people will be nice to you. Be generous and you will know no lack. Sometimes things happen for a reason. The speed with which I cleared was alarming to all around me. I left many people I met there behind. The guy I thought was depriving of 2 minutes ended up giving me 2 hours’ worth of time!
On another note, I have decided to focus on Law. I prayed about everything and decided to nurture the passion I have for the discipline. Thank God for direction. Doors have begun to open to me since I made this decision and I am so sure I’m operating in His will and His grace will see me through.
My lovely semi-touch screen/semi key pad BB got stolen over the weekend and that felt absolutely terrible! I am still hurting from the experience, lol. Life without BBM/ instant twitter/push email is lonely. Only very few people have noticed and asked after me by calling. Most people just don’t notice. I guess my regular updates and picture changes used to get me the messages I got. Anyway it’s all good. I’m so tempted not to replace my BB by my birthday just to see whether people will bother calling, hehehe.
You are officially invited to the launch of Rubies N Emerald Concepts n Events Management. I am so excited about this event for so many reasons. The CEO is a dear friend and sister and if there’s something I know she can do seamlessly, it is to organise events. Therefore it brings me particular great joy to see her dreams come to a reality in starting this business. She is someone I can 100% trust to organise my wedding (no jokes!).
The launch takes place on Sunday and yes, I shall be there looking all cute
Here are the details:
Date: Sunday 11th of December
Place: SS lounge 7, Sapara William Close, off Idowu Martins Street
Time: 1pm -6pm (no African time)
Loads of performances, fashion show, gifts to be won, food, drinks etc!
Please RSVP by text to 08136884717 or 08183460066 or email rubiesnemerald@gmail.com to confirm attendance and receive official invite.
Looking forward to seeing some MCLA readers there!
Talent without discipline is useless, and knowledge without character is perilous…
Amberton University
I wanna get this book
So I have been thinking for a while now…is talent all we need? I didn’t have to look very far to find my answer: NO. There’s much more to success and greatness than what gifts and abilities you have. I have seen very gifted people who are ‘just there’ at work. They are not low staff, neither are they at the top of their league (where really their talents should have elevated them to). Conversely, I have seen some ’3 class’ holders who are the top of their fields, doing big things for their companies and getting promoted ever so often. So what exactly is up here? What does the 1st class holder lack that his 3 class counterpart knows?
Never rely on the first class you have from that Ivy League or Red brick institution. Never rely on that Level 2 CFA you hold. Without doubt, these things open doors and get you to great places but they, of themselves, will not keep you there or lift you high whilst there. I’ll mention a few things I have learned that if combined with 10% of talent (or even less) will get you to that height you seek.
Are you friendly at work or you rush off to your desk and do your work efficiently without understanding the importance of relationship-building? How patient are you? How teachable are you? How willing are you to get you hands dirty? Are you the type of intern who would never help carry chairs for example? Do you mix well and treat the domestics with respect or do you not even notice they exist? Do you keep your ears to the ground and find out the latest stuff happening at work or do you believe-if it’s mine, it will come to me as a result of my hardwork? Do you mix with colleagues outside work or have they never seen you in jeans and tee-shirt? Are you helpful with tasks? Are you pro-active or always believe in minding your business? Do you respect hierarchy? Do you learn from how the bosses do stuff? Is it simply about getting to work at 7:15am and leaving at 8pm for you? Trust me, I know of some who get there at 9 and leave at the dot of 5 yet are excelling greatly and are doing their jobs well and are still getting recognised and promoted. So what exactly is the deal?
It is important to have a good character.
So many times, I’ve heard people speak and I can see that they have this feeling of entitlement. ‘I deserve to work here because of my degree’, ‘I should get a promotion because I work so hard’. Let me be honest, I used to be like that a year ago. I’d say, ‘as soon as I get to Naij, in fact from the airport, employers will be fighting for me’ lol. No I didn’t go that far. But on the real though, I felt it was all about doing well and gbam! that will be all. No siree, that is NOT all. There’s so much more because do you want me to roll out the number of amazing Nigerian graduates around? As they say, ‘you go fear’. From Unilag 1st class degree holders in Law (that’s a huge deal) to Ife to UNN to schools abroad to OSU to Babcock to Covenant… I could go on and on.
There are so many well deserving graduates out there so please, don’t be feeling special. If you think you went to almighty Sheffield, then I’ll show you 10 people from Imperial, Cambridge, Duke, Yale etc. If you think you went to Imperial, then I’ll show you others who not only went to Imperial but came out in the top 5% of their class and are currently in Princeton on a full scholarship. The point is this: no matter the height you think you have attained, there are people higher. So humility is key. Especially in a country like Naij were brains are everywhere, your laurels mean a lot but don’t rest on them.
We need to steer clear of the feeling that it is our birthright to have that job. Everything should be thought of as a gift. Even if you feel you deserve it, keep this feeling to yourself. No one else needs to be schooled on how hard you work and how the next guy who got the job did not shine as bright as you did at the group exercise. Character is key.
Even aside of the career aspect, you will find that no matter how handsome or beautiful a person is, if they have a bad attitude, they will repel you-eventually. There has to be much more to you that the things you had no say in getting/acquiring such as beauty, brains, wealth. You need to put in the work and add to these things like humility, approachability, integrity, honesty, drive etc.
I have noticed that employers can smell this feeling of entitlement from a mile away and except you are so darn great and you have some capabilities that no one else has, they’d rather not employ you if only to ‘show’ you. This does not mean you should dismiss and not celebrate your worth, but you gotta do it with wisdom, tact. Don’t ever aim to intimidate.
What character also does is to protect your talent. It is impossible to ascend higher than the limitations of your character. So many times, we don’t get to where we want because without being well equipped for that place, it will destroy us.
I am on a character-building assignment. It’s not easy to build up an excellent character but at the end of the day, it is well worth it. Here are some things I have learned:
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9
That pretty much, is the sum total. When we dwell on good stuff, good stuff come out of us.
Like we have learned over and over again, there is nowhere else to learn that from the Word of God.
And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. Acts 20:32.
I think when we mix the gift God has given us with the no-how found in His Word, we become unstoppable!
Now, on a different note, I’ve been nursing some horrible cramps from 3 am this morning! God is my Healer. I am at work (it’s all good).
Quick Update on my Weight loss Progress:
I have managed to steer clear of fizzy drinks for a week now. I’m very proud of myself. I have actually improved-not only have I reduced my portions, I have totally changed the kind of stuff on my plate. If you ever catch me eating rice, you can practically count the grains. Now it’s about the proteins, vegetables and chicken (I love the skin though it is actually terribly fattening). I drink loads of water now and I have ONE cup of either tea or coffee daily. I’m gradually beginning to skip breakfast. Not out of choice but because the kind of food they bring for breakfast are every dieter’s worst nightmare-bread, meat pies, sausage rolls, cakes, etc. So I have loads of fruits instead. I also read weight loss success stories online and they encourage me.
As for the actual result, hmm. The results are supposed to be the koko right.?Well, they are not exactly glaring yet. The changes are things I feel or even things that I alone know such as more frequent and much easier bowel movement (from 2-3ce a week on a good week to 2ce a day-everyday). I feel lighter too. My clothes however still feel the same. There’s another small change though: before no matter how much I tuck in my tummy, there’s still this light bulge. Now I can squeeze it in and it is concave although once I release, it’s back to normal.
One thing is true: I am no more trying to lose weight fast. I am now making a lifestyle change. The weight might not fall off as quickly as I would have hoped but I trust that with the little changes I am making, the effect will be sustainable and lasting.
I had a cupcake on Sunday though-I got it as a newcomer gift at House on the Rock and it was yummy and very sugary lol. Well, I guess a small cupcake won’t entirely ruin my efforts. I’ll be publishing a post about my experience at HOTR soon. It was quite an experience. Me and my friends absolutely loved it. Very enlightening.
They are having another combined service on Sunday at the Eko Hotel from 8 am so be there.
I have to go now but before I do, I leave you with this hoping it leaves you as speechless as it did me.
Found some interesting news of a 15 year old Nigerian girl who begins her
University education at Harvard this Fall and thought to share with you all.
Read and be inspired.
Many parents dream of their children going to Harvard one day. But one Nigerian girl has actualized the goal of getting into the prestigious university — at 15 years old!
Saheela Ibraheem, of Edison, was also accepted to MIT and 13 other schools, including Princeton and Columbia before settling on Harvard after falling in love with the campus.
Ibraheem skipped two grades and said the key to success is figuring out what you love to learn as early as possible — something she did at age 5.
“If you are passionate about what you do, and I am passionate about most of these things, especially with math and science, it will work out well,” Ibraheem told CBS 2′s Cindy Hsu.
Her mother, Shakirat Ibraheem, said Saheela has been way ahead of the academic game since kindergarten — never cutting corners and trying to do everything on her own.
“She’s like always independent,” the teen’s mother said. “I never get to help with her homework because she’d say ‘it’s my work mommy, not yours.’”
The Harvard-bound teen speaks Arabic, Spanish and Latin. She said she hopes to become a research scientist and study the brain.
Ibraheem’s teachers at The Wardlaw-Hartridge School said their student was an old soul.
“I believe that she’s 15 years old, because I’m told that. But other than that I have a hard time,” Jim O’Halloran said.
In addition to academics, Ibraheem plays the trombone, softball and soccer. Despite her activities, Ibraheem said her number one priority was her family. Her 7-year-old brother Saleem was her biggest cheerleader when it came to picking a college.
“I was really psyched because she got into a great school and I wanted to go to Harvard, too,” her brother said.
As far as Ibraheem’s advice for her fellow aspiring students?
“Kids should try to listen to their parents most of the time. They know what they’re doing,” she said.
Culled from CBS
I think this is absolutely fantastic news. Well impressive. All the best to her!
Now, who remembers that song by Funmi Adams? Well, I do. It has been almost 5 years since I left that country and the time is drawing nigh to make a return back to my beloved country after completing my mission here in the UK. But why do I have this nagging fear/discomfort/anxiety?
When I think I have made up my mind to go back home, all I need to hear of is another kidnapping, no electricity, bad transport system, bad roads and so on and immediately, my resolve weakens. What scares me the most is clicking on a link online and having to wait for the system to load up, having to iron clothes in advance because you’re not certain there will be ‘light’ when you need the clothes and there might not be diesel in the generator. The thought of a decent pair of shoes costing N20 000 is rather scary too. I see the way people dress to cinemas in Nigeria and I just long for the simplicity of slipping into skinny jeans, a simple top from H and M, flat shoes, throwing on my good ol’ ever faithful jacket and voila, myself and 4 other similarly dressed friends are good to go!
In Nigeria, everyone seems out to impress and prove to you that they have more than you. UK is a leveller (to an extent). We all get on the bus. We all use the trains. We all go to Primark (even if some claim it’s only to buy socks). However, in Nigeria, the dividing lines are all too clear. There are simply no middle grounds. You step into a room and instantly, you are assessed and the result of that assessment determines the manner of treatment you will receive: whether to be treated like a leper or like a king. And how exactly is this assessment made? First, your shoes are weighed on a scale. If they are pointing to the sky from being well-worn, then you are tilting towards the leper category. Next, your clothes are examined. The more designer-ish they seem, the better for you. If you are a lady, there are two things that willl compete for third place: your bag or your hair. Nowadays, I hear that your decent black bag from River Island just won’t cut it. The league of the kings start with at least a DKNY. Then to the hair, woe betide you if you have on Amigos or Darling Yaki. Your place is the leper category is firmly confirmed. Your hair has to have come from a human being’s head be they from Brazil, India although Peru will be preferable.
All these have made me sceptical about going back home. Why can I not be judged solely on my capabilities? Why should having a father in high places mean the other girl gets a job I am more suited to and qualified for? Why can’t I seat at home to watch a movie without the fear that ‘NEPA can take light’ any moment?
The truth is this: I could go on and on moaning and complaining but until I arise and at least attempt to make a change, I have absolutely NO RIGHT to complain. It is time for young Nigerians abroad to start seriously considering taking that bold step towards Murtala Mohammed International Airport. UK did not get this good from all its citizens running off to ‘greener pastures’. There are many more opportunities home than away…at least long lasting ones. There are jobs which promise you growth, opportunities for self-employment, you have the chance to live around people who care, the weather is not harsh, people don’t give you fake, one-second smiles, kids don’t get rude randomly to their parents and smoke in the streets, you don’t have to worry about work permit etc.
You could complain about security but really, where in the world is absolutely safe? We don’t hear of teenage killings in Nigeria as we do here. Moreover, crimes take place everywhere. I think it is high time we woke up and made a change as the youth of Nigeria. Let’s water our land for due time, we will reap the rewards…
Here is a brief slideshow of what I miss and I’m looking forward to seeing again in Nigeria…
There’s nothing as good as knowing how to use your hands to do amazing things. I’ve always admired those that are gifted with their hands, be it to draw, paint, sew, make hair or even do the sign language. Our featured entrepreneur today is one of such. She uses her hands to make others look beautiful. She is both a make up artist and a gele doer/tier/fixer (I’m lost) well, head gear tier.
She has used her talent to make so many brides look resplendent on their special and we got the chance to ask her a few questions about her art and her business. She is is Nene Achumba! Enjoy!
The gorgeous Nene
Tell us about yourself, Nene
I am a graduate of Philosophy from University of Lagos. I work with STB McCann which is an Advertising Company in Lagos and I am the last kid of 5.
Please tell us a bit about your gele/make up business
I started my makeover business from home at 16 just after high school. Then, I only knew how to shapen brows and do basic everyday makeup. I later diversified into bridal hair, lash fixing and gele tying when I started receiving requests for the whole package. It was a hobby that eventually turned into business. Most of my clients are prospective brides. I do this mostly on the weekends because of the nature of my job. Presently, I have two people training with me and who want to work with me.
Wow, Nene that is amazing! But what inspired you to go into it?
My love for colours made me go into make up. I have had no formal training on it but it just comes naturally to me. If I must confess, the only training I received was through Fine Art classes in Secondary School. I could spend the whole day in the studio where I learnt to use my brushes and draw fine lines. Now, the same obtains with make up where I use the face as my canvas to express my love for art , the different hues and how they blend. It’s a beautiful feeling!
It was never about making money because I did it for free initially because I just enjoyed it. Back in school, while walking to or back from class, I would get loads of girls stopping me to ask where I got my eyebrows done. Whenever I told them I did it myself, they would have this shocked look then eventually collect my number and ask to get theirs done too. Sometimes, I just did it at no charge.
What were your parents’/family’s reactions?
My mum did not have a problem with it. She only did when I spent too long in front of the mirror. My dad used to be so furious seeing me with makeup he felt I was wasting my time and his money. (lol) At some point when he used to see loads of ladies trooping into the house just to get their brows done or for wedding consultations, he had a re-think about it. To the extent that whenever he went on trips, he would ask me for my list and the stores to go to so he could help me buy my make up supplies. He practically invested in it. My sister would call me “Picassa” making fun of me whenever I spent so long in front of the mirror.
Nene
How did you handle discouragement?
I only felt discouraged at a point when I got robbed and my kit was stolen from me twice. I felt it was a sign to forget about it because everything was gone.
Who inspires you?
I would rather be asked what inspires me. It would be the expressions on my clients’ faces that inspire me. It is that look of joy, appreciation and a warm hug that inspires me.
Have you any advice to budding entrepreneurs?
It’s never too late to start. When you eventually do, you have to put in your all because no one would help you succeed as much you would.
How do people contact you?
Majority of my clients are based on referrals. They get my contact from people I have worked for.
Thanks babe for this.
You’re welcome love.
Here are a few of the pictures of her work…
a-beautiful-bride-gele-and-make-up-by-nene
Nene at work
another lovely bride
Like the theme of this week has been, be encouraged to discover your passion, work on it and see how it will in turn work for you.
Like I promised you guys, MCLA will be celebrating our young talents this week. These are those who have carved a niche for themselves with their art and are excelling at it greatly.
Today, it is all about Mohammed Abbagana known to most people as MJA, The Black Rembrandt. This young man has blown many away with his drawings. They are absolutely breathtaking. MCLA had the opportunity to grab him for a chat and this is what he had to say. Enjoy!
A young Mohammed
Hi Mohammed, tell us a bit about yourself
My name is Mohammed Abbagana, a 25 years old Nigerian. I am a Sagittarius. I am Muslim and I have been living in England for 14 years. I attended different schools in different parts of England. I have a degree in Visual Communication from the American Intercontinental University, London. I like music especially hip hop and R ‘n’ B.
I like UFC and absolutely love watching movies. I like to laugh, hang with friends though I do not have much time on my hands these days because of my art. I’m particular about detail. The only art I am into is Realism. I want to do what I think people would like to look at but also what I love. My favourite artist is Rembrandt.
When did you realise you had this talent and how did you hone it?
I started drawing at the age of 7 because of a manga called Dragon Ball z, lol. I have been drawing ever since. However, I started taking my art seriously just last year. I am not as good as I would like to be. To hone my skills, I just keep drawing and naturally, I improve with practice.
I want to reach a level of understanding that you get with every piece you do, so you draw a certain way, to the image you see, because you understand it more, like a language. I have realised that the more you try to understand your work, the more you see life differently and from a different angles too.
What/where did you study and did your parents fear for you when you decided that you wanted to do your own thing?
I went to Central Saint Martins and I did not like it so I went to the London College of Communication for my foundation. My dad did not feel it was a career to pursue but my mum supported me. I was initially going to study Architecture but because I hate Math, I didn’t.
When/how did you decide that you were going into it seriously?
Last year. I want to see how far I could take it. It can be so difficult to discover what you want to do in life and that thing being something that you actually like and enjoy doing. I consider myself very blessed to have found my passion and calling.
How did you handle the discouragements?
I didn’t have to. I had my mother’s full support as well as those of my brother and 2 sisters. I kept seeking for improvement in my work and that kept me going.
How challenging has it been compared to the idea of being employed by a top company in Nigeria/UK which you could easily get?
Well, I am not a 9 to 5 kind of person and I don’t have to pay tax when I sell my art so it sounded good. The thought that I didn’t have to give my ideas or put all my effort into someone else’s income was also very appealing. The only thing I was worried about was if people back home (Nigeria) would accept my style but we will see how that goes.
Of all your projects, which have you absolutely loved the most and why?
It is the one I am doing for my exhibition in London called Claustaphobia because it’s fun, I like the idea behind it and it brings out strong images which a lot of people can relate to.
What are your present projects?
Claustaphobia and one I am working on for Nigeria. It does not have a name yet but it is 10 pieces on canvas.
Any regrets?
Well, I’m not happy that I did not enter into competitions earlier and that I’m only just taking my art seriously. But it is never too late to start so that thought encourages me.
Any advice to budding entrepreneurs?
Follow your dreams no matter how difficult it maybe and no matter the obstacles you may encounter in life. You have to work 4 times as hard because you’re mostly on your own. Prove people wrong. In this world, there too many copy cats. We live in a huge world so stand out, be remembered through time after your time has ended.
Here are some of his drawings…
A beautiful woman, pencil drawing
Michael and Bob Marley
pencil and charcoal
For more of his amazing work and details on how to own one of his pieces,contact him through:
In the hands of the youth lies power. You decide what kind of power you want to wield. Power to build? Power to destroy? Power to effect needed change? A look at the protests against proposed raised school fees by university students in the UK in recent weeks is enough to drive home this point. As a young person, what are your plans for a greater tomorrow (that’s actually the name of a school in Benin, lol). On a more serious note, I think it is important that we all seize the moment and make as huge an impact as we can in our communities.
When I read about young people that are doing well or even older people that have a history of having started making a huge impact from a tender age, it just motivates me. This is what MCLA aims to do this week, to motivate people, to make them realise that change is just a mindset away and that you too can become a household name.
In my last post, I discussed the importance of knowing your calling and going for it like your destiny depends on it. It is not as difficult as most people make it seem. It starts with discovering that one thing at which you are good and then practising till you are one of, if not the outright best at it.
This week has been dedicated to the young talents/gifts and basically entrepreneurs who discovered that innate passion and refused to let go even after the discouragements they faced. Their stories are such an inspiration and we cannot but tell the world of their great achievements.
Today, we feature a young lady, a very young lady who has taken huge leaps in New Media. She saw the opportunities that exist on the world wide web and decided to jump into the sea of it all and today, she is swimming quite nicely. She is Olubunmi Aduke Adeyinka and she makes GidiNoize!!!
Boss Lady!
Here is a 19 year old girl who is doing big things. She is the brain behind GidiNoize, a website that is growing and fast too. In fact, GidiNoize has its own Apple iPhone Application!!! Now that is huge.
MCLA grabbed the opportunity to have a brief chat with her and here is what we gathered from this enterprising lady which so much business acumen and good heart too that is eager to help others around her grow. Enjoy!
Tell us a bit about yourself
I am Olubunmi Aduke Adeyinka. I am 19 years old and currently a Civil Engineering student at Loughborough University.
At the age of 17, I started a site called GidiNoize.
How did it all begin?
GidiNoize actually started off as a wordpress blog (http://www.gidinoize.wordpress.com/) on the 19th of September, 2009 . It was all borne out of a desire to own something and be an Entrepreneur. It attracted over 100,000 readers from all over the world. The wordpess blog was actually not my first blog. I am not even certain which number it falls on. This simply goes to prove that persistence pays off… a lot.
Having a bit of fun!
I launched the official website (http://www.gidinoize.com/) on the 1st of July 2010 and the number of readers is absolutely encouraging. In the first two months of its inception, we had over 50000 views.
What exactly is your inspiration behind the website?
My aim is to encourage and provide a platform for upcoming Entrepreneurs, Artistes, Actresses etc. I want to inspire other young people who think to themselves, if Bunmi can do it, so can I!
Bunmi is an inspiration to many and we hope her story has inspired someone and encouraged another. Persistence does pay off. Even if it that project, business idea etc does not work the first time or even second and third, don’t give up, keep at it. You will make it.
I get so excited by news of young ladies and guys doing big things in their fields. This week is about that. Musings of a Caramel Latte Addict (MCLA) will be discussing certain young people who have shone in their art. They have excelled in their individual fields and we cannot but celebrate them. How did the thought of this pop into my head?
I have recently been drawn by The Apprentice on BBC (please what is Stuart still doing there?) and also the recently published Nigerian Future Awards nominees’ list. One thing that is common to most of these people is that they are doing what they absolutely LOVE! It gives me great joy when I see young people between the age of 16 and 35 going into what they love and doing well at it too.
You only need to see the way the young people on The Apprentice, for instance, go about business negotiations, pitching, sales, marketing to be absolutely challenged by it all. What is more challenging is when you see ages such as 21, 24 and 27! Let’s talk very briefly about two of them: Joanna and Stuart.
Joanna Riley is 25 and has her own cleaning company which she started at just 22! In The Apprentice, she has been doing so well and with her shrewd business sense, she has led her team to many wins.
Stuart Baggs, 21 is the loud mouth of the show and is The Apprentice’s youngest ever candidate (which he never fails to remind us every single episode, lol). His first venture into business took place in his own school playground when he started selling yo-yos to fellow pupils. He later went on to launch his own telecommunications company at the age of 19. Even though people (including myself) wonder what he is still doing there, he has been a worthwhile candidate.
Proverbs 18: 16 says that a man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men. This means that whatever talent you have will open up doors to you and bring you to places you have never dreamt of being able to get to. What do you love to do? Writing? Talking? Sewing? Designing? Painting? Decorating? What? Hone your skills and become good at your stuff and see how far you will go.
Please don’t go getting me wrong. It is okay to aspire to be a partner in Aluko and Oyebode or even to become a big girl in JPMorgan Chase or Chevron. However, there is a league of extraordinary youth that I admire so much: those who know that the way forward in life is working for no one but yourself. So this week, MCLA will be honouring ladies and gentlemen that have taken this big step including those who are just simply plain hot at what they do. There is such an exciting line up of young people and I’m sure you will be inspired by their stories and learn a lot from them. We will have them discussing the dangers of throwing away the secured paycheck at the end of the month to being your own boss and also the joys of being self-employed.
What exactly does going into your business involve? It is important to come up with a vision or a business idea. Without a vision, any business will fall face flat. You should be able to see and envision where you want your business to be. I once attended a conference where the speaker said it is not absolutely crucial to be able to see this picture CLEARLY. A picture, however vague is a good starting point. With time, it begins to take shape.
“If you want to be rich, you need to develop your vision. You must be standing on the edge of time gazing into the future.” – Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Kiyosaki and Lechter, 2001.
The next is the capital raising bit, attracting your customers, retaining them. Whilst this is not the most professional bit of advice, it does give a rough idea of what doing your own thing entails. The people that will be featured this week on MCLA will shed more light on this process giving us their personal experiences thereby showing different sides to the whole business processes.
Today, however, MCLA discusses Makinde Adeagbo, a nominee for the Future Awards 2011, Young Person of the Year. I must be honest, when I saw the list, I was like, ‘who is this person?’ I had previously heard nothing about him and the little information given about him on The Future Nigeria website got me researching almost immediately. I was intrigued. How could such a young man have achieved so much!
Here is what was said of him:
Makinde Adeagbo, 25 – Innovator
Facebook has changed the world, and 25 year old Adeagbo is one of its frontrunners. A Software Enginner with the company for four years, amongst other things the whiz-kid is famous for being part of a 2-man team responsible for reducing over 1 MB of Javascript to 2 KB, making the site load twice as fast worldwide.
Now, that is something. So who exactly is he?
Born on the 1st of September, 1985 as Olumakinde Adegboyega Adeagbo in Ibadan, the largest city in Nigeria in 1985, his family moved around when he was a child but finally settled in Louisville, KY in the United States. He has a computer science degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is one of the top software engineers at Facebook in Palo Alto, California. He had previously worked for Microsoft and Apple and is now with Facebook where is doing big techie things which I may never understand. I wonder if he is one of the people behind the new Facebook look, lol.
Here is an interview conducted with himself and Tom Occhino, the other part of the innovating duo.
He was featured on the Facebook homepage at some point.
We are very proud of you Makinde and we wish you the very best in all you do.
It is interesting to see young people doing so well for themselves and I hope you are encouraged to find an area you love, study well and become the best in your field. Whatever your hand findeth to do, do it well.
Watch out for this week’s posts on some young people who are in self employment and are thriving.
Have a great week ahead.
On a random note, Matt Cardle, 27 won the X Factor 2010 and I am so happy about that!!!
This has taught me one crucial lesson. Success has many relatives but failure is an orphan…and an only child too. See the way those contestants jumped on him including those who openly rooted for others.
Even a friend of mine who was clearly a Rebecca Ferguson fan changed his BB Display Picture to Matt after he was announced the winner. This just makes me want to succeed in life so much. Nobody was to identify with Number 2 mehn, loool. Anyways, all the best to them all. I loved Rebecca too, such a classy lady.
NB: Please vote for your Young Person of the Year 2011. I have and I voted for Uche Eze of Bella Naija
