What a day!

My thoughts. What happens when I read books?  I hardly think about this but this question came to my mind as I decided to write this. Kiitan has always wanted me to bring out the relevant lessons from the numerous books I read. I just love the reading. That is all. But she is right. There should be take-away lessons. For me, the books I read form thoughts in my head. For example, I launched out for NairaBooks out of a love for books and having read the One-click by Richard L Brandt. A book that talked about the life of Jeff Bezos and the Amazon company. Let me go on to the 4 books. I didn’t plan to read them this year. I just stumbled on them. You can call it what Samuel L. Jackson said to Ryan Reynolds in the film The hitman’s bodyguard (2017). I can imagine that I have not read the books I planned to.  The first. Alexis Ohanian’s Without Their Permission . credits: www.amazon.com I stumbled on it when I heard he was involved with Serena Williams ...

Not because I treasure the society. I haven’t been given a reason to.  I wanted to register as a professional engineer in 2016. But I kept postponing this. I took the plunge in 2017 at Akure. I visited the website (www.coren.gov.ng) when and found out that I needed to a professional society number. The Nigerian Society of Engineers for my category. I visited the NSE website (www.nse.org.ng) and found out that they accepted people twice a year. February and July. I took the plunge. I had a sail through with the online registration. My category (B1) – having a bachelor’s degree with a minimum four years’ experience would pay 20,000 Naira for the application. I did with my Gtbank debit card. I filled an online form and uploaded the required documents except for two documents. The documents were to be signed by a branch Chairman (the state where I was located) and a Division chairman (the type of engineering) Then the drama began.  The branch Chairman s...

It ends in two months. The bond I mean. Oh! you didn't know I signed a bond three years ago?....... I did! The real truth to me is that it was sort of a mental bond. But if I put it the way John said it, BEDC was bonded to me.  The deal I signed expires on September 30. By then, I become a free agent.   I have contemplated what decision to take as I do not want to do what I have been doing for the past three years. Not even an offer of a higher role is that juicy for me. The business reminds me of what my Control Systems Lecturer, Professor Katende used to say. 'NIH' he called it. an acronym for 'No Invention Here'. There just isn't any sweetness in the power distribution business. it has become boring for me.  Not the field work which is termed hard nor the office work which is simple but filled with analysis that you would get tired of. The field might be better but I wouldn't like to work the way the people in the 70s/80s and 90s worked. ...

Omoruyi and Mirabel He was a best man November 26, 2016,  but the Groom July 8, 2017. That's Omoruyi, my friend. I call a few people friends. This gentleman falls in that group. He is both a spiritual and an Intellectual. He loves to defy odds sometimes. He could be stubborn when that is the game. I sort of Introduced him to his wife. At Ile-Ife. We were all on our master's degree programme at Obafemi Awolowo University by the time. I remember we were going for a Sunday service at Winners Chapel, Lagere, Ile-Ife, when we met Mirabel. 'This girl went to Covenant'. I said to Omoruyi as we approached the Church gate. We walked towards her and their history began.

This happened Some minutes after we passed. The day was 16th June, 2017. I had gone to Ikeja with Kiitan and my mom. On our way back to the house, the road was clear. This would not have occurred to me. On reaching the house, Kiitan had to go to Bukky's place. They had planned to attend the JUST US GIRLS program holding at 6.30pm at the Davids Christian Centre, Lekki. She delayed a little to carry garri/nuts (I have a craving for garri/Gnut/sugar regularly and don't forget to add chilled water - going without it in a week is ...let's not say). She got to the gate and was told two poles fell. where? On the same road, I just passed? Hmm, God is awesome. No one was hurt save for a bus that entered a gutter. I figure the driver was trying to escape.   

Raising Entrepreneurs in Africa. I recently got in touch with an Entrepreneur via his Facebook page. He posts articles weekly. Someone referred me about 2 months ago and since then, I have been hooked. Here is the link to his page.  https://web.facebook.com/strivemasiyiwa/?_rdc=1&_rdr .  The Entrepreneur is Strive Masiyiwa. He owns the Econet brand. when I hear the word 'Econet', I think of a GSM brand that ran away from Nigeria but there is more to that Story. The brand was forced out as a result of some corrupt practices by some government officials. James Onanefe Ibori comes to mind when I talk of this.  Strive recently started the Kwese TV platform. Something like the DSTV where you have a decoder and a dish that receives signals. The company also has an app. If you search for Kwese TV on Google Playstore, you are sure to find it.  Here is the reason for this. There is a channel on the Kwese TV called Kwese Inc. It is all ...

We've been having Think - Tank Sessions. Ideas rule the world. So intangible at first but very powerful. Powerful enough to disrupt anything that stands on its way. Embrace it or you get out of its way. Kodak executives can tell you a good story about ideas.  So Kiitan brought up the idea of thinking through things together. We should not restrict ourselves to any particular industry, She said. We were to bring up solutions in the different fields we were connected to but starting with our own field.  Aside from the think-tank, we would be working on a couple of things on our own. I would have to improve on my AutoCAD software skills and the Electrical design skills for buildings while she worked on her Software design skills. She is presently working on Java.  So why Ideas? We want to be better. We want to improve on our present selves.  

Exodus 41: 17 - 19 I will open rivers on the bare heights And springs in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water And the dry land fountains of water.  "I will put the cedar in the wilderness, The acacia and the myrtle and the olive tree; I will place the juniper in the desert Together with the box tree and the cypress, That they may see and recognize, And consider and gain insight as well, That the hand of the LORD has done this, And the Holy One of Israel has created it. The pastor spoke about this verses of the Bible in church yesterday and I couldn't contain it. I suddenly felt like It had been long that I read the word of God.  Have I ever read this? I asked myself.    Let's fast forward to this day. Friday 9th June. Kiitan and I were reading the RCCG Open Heavens Devotional for the day. We read of the wonder-full God. My mind went back to the Box tree. Who would hear that and not wonder what kind of tree that...

You can also say BEDC. When you consider certain things well, you find out things you never saw or thought of initially. I did some thinking after I responded to a question in a manner that had to do with Numbers, percentages and the like. I realised having to work with BEDC made me this way. That is what happens when the financial experts take over over power sector. J.P. Morgan did it to Edison and Tesla anyway. And the story still continues. Working with F.O and in a closer way with K.L which is as good as working with F.O, you improve that way. So what have I learned? 1. Numbers, in presenting information. 2. Data is important. Actually, I mean the right data. 3. Processes. You can solve so many problems once this is understood. 4. Office hours does not dictate the time for work. 5. Presentations. Quality Presentations & Speaking. 6. Making decisions. There are more. 

One shall chase a thousand. Two, ten thousand. Those were words spoken to me by Mrs. Stephens of Foursquare Gospel Church, Lagos Island on a particular day. I remember the Sunday Service when she pulled me aside and began to talk. Of all she said, these are the words that do not leave me. They are from the Bible. She was referring to marriage and why the devil is after it. The numerical progression is amazing. I had a lot of counselors before marriage. They are still there to be reached if I need to. Rev. Omowo, Mr. Stephens, Dr. Eziyi, Pastor Richman, Mr. Okiokio, the Oyedepos, the Hagees, the Lamidis and so many others I would keep for another day. The words above stands out today as I look at Kiitan and myself praying. We decided to take time out to pray for souls. Not just those that are yet to receive the salvation of their souls but those in the kingdom also. Prayer is one thing I did for a short time on my own. I wasn't the one to spend 30 minutes praying even ...

So I do not Forget. It's funny how I cannot remember where I saw that phrase...So We do not Forget....maybe a movie, a book or an article. I definitely know it did not come from me.  So what don't I want to forget?   I wrote about me being broke and all. I had no kobo on me to go to the office. Kiitan suggested we use the car. The fuel gauge was on reserve. I didn't mind using it on Sunday to church when the gauge was almost on E, at least I could see it wasn't at the empty bar. But this time, I didn't want to consider it.  She even went further with 'let's take the gas along' (we went out of cooking gas the night before) and then, the typical me was like No..o. But then again, I considered. Considering my stance, she decided against it even after telling me to have faith. I had thought of taking the container we use for petrol for the generator just in case the car stopped on the way and I had to source for fuel on borrowed money. I decid...

It was about building memories. I wonder at my actions sometimes. I could really be lazy. Waiting until the last minute to do things. Talk about birthdays, anniversaries, dinners and all the like. I have been so bad at making them happen. I would wait until the day to do something.  Hmm..that has got to change I keep saying. What about assignments at work....you could guess that. Recently I wrote a job test, I stalled on the practice tests doing 1 per 4 days until the day before the last when I realised I could do 4 different tests in about 3 hours. In my   mind, I know I am brilliant. But do I ever express this as I ought to? hmmm.... Today, Kiitan was on Instagram and told me how we were not having social events or going places together. Hmm, we don't? we go to church, I said (that was meant to be a joke). She didn't take it easy. We always took pictures with her HTC Desire phone whenever we went out till someone picked it from her bag at church while praye...

I had not imagined going a week with a lean purse, having to ransack this pocket and that account for some mere change. I do not like to borrow, except it is necessary. I was coming to this point. I was a bit touchy yesterday. Kiity wouldn't have noticed it. I had to say something about it today. I didn't like the fact that I was thinking of money. I had laughed during the week when I realised my job could not keep me up. I had known for some months now that I was just on the edge. I had reduced the travels and others. I don't feel I have to live this way. I'm also tired of the job. Not because of the money but the work itself. I had complained some 6 months back and here I am again. Complaining. The change of role helped a little bit but I do not feel fulfilled in it. I get to see the company from a different perspective as I work with the No. 2 as my colleagues will call her in the Company. Do not get me wrong, She is an amazing woman and a hard worker. I like he...

Ekiti pronounced 'Eh-key-tea' is tagged the Fountain of Knowledge in Nigeria. One reason for this is that the people are known for being knowledgeable. You could count the highest number of professors in the country there at a time in the past. I can't say if that is still true. It was popularly believed that they loved education. I visited Ado Ekiti on the 19th of May. I have always passed through the outskirts of Ekiti before this day and Ekiti borders my hometown in Kogi State. The town you would get to before my hometown is Omuo-Oke. Elders from my hometown say the people are sort of stubborn. I don't know how true this is. It happened the governor, Ayo Fayose had told the petroleum marketers to remove their structures if they were in areas where people lived and thus, they reacted by not selling fuel. The assignment at Ekiti was to see someone special and give about 50 litres worth of fuel to him. The hidden assignment was that I was to introduce myself. I d...

With Kiity at the BEDC Ondo-Ekiti State Office Its 31. Whew! I realised yesterday that a calendar will not show my age again after this year. I started the day with a walk with Kiity. We took a walk down to the NIMC Office on the SIB/Igbatoro road where we turned back and continued our walk. We talked about how I felt about the new year and then She gave a long talk about my view on a particular issue. It was about the way I considered utilising the internet/IT wave we have been experiencing in our part of the world. I had plugged in with NairaBooks and unplugged out some years ago. I have been considering a replug for a while. I haven't made a move on this. I was to make a move on a work with a farm two months ago but I didn't follow through. She advised on something related to what the Book The Third Wave by Steve Case. You can call him one of the AOL guys. He said the new wave will be from Industry based fellows, people with a background or would I say ins...

Whew! and it felt good. I drove to Akure for the first time on Sunday, 14th May 2017. It was a long drive from Lagos. I and Kiity had planned to leave after the service at Foursquare Gospel Church, VGC. This trip was my third inter-State trip (given that trips taken to Covenant University are still called Lagos-to-Lagos). The first was to Ijebu-ode. I drove in DLG's Toyota 4Runner. Driving with a V8 engine has always been great. I always have to remind myself to take it easy. The Second was to Sapele. I drove in Chibuzor's Honda Accord. It was on the 3rd of January 2016, I remember. I was low on cash and I was still wondering how I would get money for travel and other stuff I wanted to do when my phone rang and I was asked if I could drive down to Ughelli, some kilometres after Sapele. The trip was amazing. The distance was longer than I had ever done. Driving to Akure in the Rio was hmmm..smooth only that the state of the road from a point after Itele to Ore would gi...

Kiitan and I at Tunji & Sero's Wedding on November 2016 Its been a little over 3 months since we got married. Life has been ..... I still don't know I'm married. And that it comes with some changes. I had to fill a form two days ago, there was a section that referred to status. I almost ticked 'single'. And then I said 'oh, I'm Married'. Maybe its because it's still new. It's always going to be new anyway. Our Father makes it new everyday. At Lekki Conservation Centre on July 2013 I recall our first outing sort of. it was to Lekki Conservation Centre. Not that I planned that. I wasn't supposed to be there. She was to go with her cousins but I happened to be around. The Unplanned Outing to Freedom park on November 2013  We have visited Freedom Park, Lagos about three times now. The first was not meant to be. I wanted to spend some time with Kiitan but then she didn't know my plan as I had not told her about it. Sh...

It depends on the way you see it. I passed. I didn't succeed. It sort of seems alright to say this. never mind, I know the truth.  I didn't get through at the Mckinsey test again. The second time I wrote it. I felt I was more prepared this time. But it still wasn't good enough. I will not be applying for the next 5 years. That I know. No plans around that. At least not without a Ph.D.   It is a time for a new beginning. I have to create this. I've got the hope within me that it is not yet over. My time with BEDC is still good. The challenges are different now. Getting to deal with data as a technical assistant is a job on its own. I seem not to have time for any other thing. It zaps the energy within. But then it's the job for now. The dream still lives.   The dream is beyond this. It is way beyond this.  

The truth Sometimes inconvenient But always better It puts you at ease come what may You might be in a boiling water Boiling hotter than a 100 But that's it, nothing more Grace could speak for you and grace might not But at that point, It could only get better, not worse. Its a bitter pill when we have done bad and have to confess Its a bumpy road our conscience ticks on Its a path we have to take over and over when we do not say it The truth, nothing but the truth opens a new door A door of calm, and of peace.