Saturday, 29 October 2016
Tuesday, 11 October 2016
Friday, 9 September 2016
The Right Time to start is Now!
I have had scenerioes where I wanted to do somethings, take a step, say a word, take an action but ended up procrastinating and the reward of procrastination as you know is never funny. Then I discovered that I was not the only one practicing this mischievous act. I even discovered that some people kept practicing this destiny killer down to their diying bed. I am only happy that I have learnt to let go of this mischief hence the reason for this essay.
Most people ended up as failures not because there had no destiny or a mapped out strategy to that destiny but that they kept on waiting for an illusionary time where all things will be very favourable and conducive to start. Of cause the place of waiting can never be downsided but that's not a license for anyone not to fulfil their God given destiny. I have discovered that most people who claim to be waiting are only delaying just because of the fear of failure. Some modify that fear by saying they are yet to get the resources they need to start that business,vision,relationship and what have you. Its funny that some men will never get married because they are waiting for that time when their bank account is as fat as an elephant to settle down. I am not in any way saying that you should run into marriage without some sought of income outlets but its very crucial to decide never to let money be a hinderance to your fulfilling purpose.
Why do people fail to start?
Some valid reasons responsible for the delays in destiny fulfilment includes:
1. The unwillingness to start small. Every body wants to be recognized for mega exploits, record breaking activities amongst so many other intriguing ventures hence are never humble enough to remember that Rome was not built in one day. Look even Jesus said that you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem first then Judea, then Samaria and to the ends of the world. Life is in stages thus must be handled per stage. Since you are so desperate to start from the top please tell me where will you end? Please know that every dream and vision has a foundation so locate your foundation and start from there.
2. Unwillingness to take calculated risk. Most failures in life are risk averters. They are so careful with every thing that carefully become a hindrance to their destiny. You can't fulfil destiny if you are not a risk taker. Someone once said life itself is a risk. All you need do is to just be careful enough to take calculated risk but even at that be able to make what you believe come to pass. Risk averters are in the same school of thought with people who lack faith.
3. Fear of failure. This is the most prominent of them all. The fear of being ridiculed by friends and family in events of probably a fall has being one of the greatest reason behind some peoples failure to fulfil destiny. A fall as a wise man will say is never considered as failure until you fail to rise or find someone to blame for your fall. Learning to maximize your fear for failure by converting it into a hate for failure will inspire you into working very hard to keep it far from you. But should it occur, your hatred for it (not fear) will spour you to locate good and sound ways out of the failure faster.
4.wrong association. The factor called wrong association is one of the greatest reasons why people fail to start. Destruction is an inevitable event for a man whose association is with the class of relationship categorised as the fools (Proverb 13:20). The influence exerted by association greatly affects your starting or never starting. Man is a product of association hence must be diligent enough to ensure that each relationship initiated is for the good of the parties involved and not just a single individual.
5.Lack of knowledge. Ignorance in this context is your inability to perceive,understand or discern what to do with and in a situation at a particular time. Most people have not started a business, a relationship, a family, a job or what have you because they feel they don't know how or actually don't know how. The cure to this is studying which seems to have become an heculian task to so many people today. Paul speaking Timothy says, "study to show thyself approved a workman that needed not to be ashamed but rightly dividing the word of truth." Ignorance will keep you stagnated forever until you have decided to learn. Wake up!
6. Distance from God. "Its foolishness not to follow the man who knows the way to where you want to go but know not the way." He regulates time hence knows not just the time for what but also knows the "how". Still speaking as Jesus, he says I am the way the truth and the life. How will you ever start when you have chosen to be far from the grand author. He is the only one who can teach you the way to go and engrace you to go. Its more than just a statement but to start, succeed and end well, you need Jesus.
The reasons outlined above are some of the key reasons responsible for self inflicted delays in fulfilling destiny. Which are you exhibiting, get it done with now cause time isn't waiting for you. To do that you must;
1. Be willing to start
2. Give your life to Christ genuinely and permit him to lead you through his spirit.
3. Deal with your fears
4. Take caculative steps
5. Be willing to try again and again. Its better you try and fall than never to try at all. That's not to say you should fail learn to learn from your mistakes. God bless you.
Written by:
Akubo O. Julius
+2348069230929
Pauljulius90@gmail.com
Thursday, 8 September 2016
Wednesday, 7 September 2016
Thursday, 31 March 2016
HEI ITS REALLY EXPENSIVE TO DO DRUGS
Almost if not everybody desires to be rich,successful and happy so to be candid, I wonder why people do drugs like cocain, marijuana, heroin and the likes knowing quite well that drugs can't offer any of these three. Research shows that over 23 million Americans are addicts and the 2015 World Drug Report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimated that a total of 246 million people -slightly over 5 per cent of those aged 15 to 64 years worldwide used illicit drugs. The statistic is really alarming and calls for an urgent attention. Probably this people had no knolwdege of the negative effects of drug abuse or they choose not to considered the effects. I shall be outlining seven reasons why you shouldn't do drugs perhaps they could be of help to you or someone you know.
1. It rather multiplies instead of Solving Problems. Most times people venture into drug abuse with the mindset that it helps them solve or forget their problems and issues like stress from work, family or marital issues, confidence issues just to mention a few. But as time goes on it becomes glaring that they are "not eating their cake and they are not having it". The problems seat they waiting for them to be restored to their normal state.unfortunately at this stage they have the problem to face probably bigger than it was, and they have the drug abuse issues to battle with. You can't be high on drugs 24.7 so they will always be a time for you to suffer the emotional and physical trauma you were trying to avoid wrongly. Stop being a coward and face your problems squarely instead of trying to stick to what will only mask them for a while.
2.It Kills "You" and all you stand for. Probably you should be familiar with this statement that "the best person you can ever be is you"? Drugs deceives you into behaving and acting like the person you are not. It gives you a false identity of yourself and makes your real identity look bad unfit whereas we said the best person you can be is you. Drugs blocks your reasoning capacity and just like cataracts it impares you mental vision. So in simple words drugs kills the real you and offers a temporary lie as a life.
3 Drugs weakens you economically. We could say that whatever expenditure that does not add to your finance is probably kiliing your economic life. Drugs doesn't probably, it actually weakens and kills your economic growth. Most of the drugs taken by addicts are alarmingly expensive yet they are not careful enough to observe the continuous holes made by the the purchase of drugs on their savings and income. Why not save your money for better investments, drugs are not going to help you economically.
4 It kills your relationships. Most drug addicts find it difficult to associate and relate well with people. This is because they either feel unfit or the people around them are too scared to relate with them. So in other words it makes people unwittingly reserved. Life is really boring without friends and families to associate with and that's what drugs achieve (relationship killer).You need people so stop sending them away.
5.It attacks your Health. This is one of the most painful part of doing drugs. After a long time of taking drugs, your immune system becomes weaker thus making you more susceptible to frequent illness. Health is wealth don't risk it on drugs.
6.Its a crime that often leads to other crimes. The fact is that, aside from few places like Washington amongst others its illegal to be in possession of drugs. This illegality is why people are arrested when found to be having drugs in their possession. Aside from that drug addicts are prone to committing other crimes like rape,rubbery, and thuggery. This they do most times as a result of the influence of drugs.
7. Its a sin . The Bible stated clearly that he who knows what to do(good) but refuses to do it, to such a person its a sin. Having read all the other reasons stated earlier you need not be told that drug abuse and addiction is not good. Itd time you quit doing drugs cause its so not good for you
Written by
Julius Ojonugwa Akubo
Pauljulius90@gmail.com
+2348069230929
Wednesday, 16 March 2016
TRIBUTE TO LATE HONOURABLE JAMES ENEJO OCHOLI BY JULIUS O. AKUBO
Indeed the space between birth and death is time but the significance of the time is in its pragmatic usage. Late Hon James Ocholi was born on the 26th of November 1960 to Mr and Mrs James Momoh Odoh of Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi state, He graduated from ochaja secondary school where he gave his life to Christ (Bornagain). Born to an extended family and having lost his father at the age of eighteen, He obtained his LLB from the University of Jos via a scholarship from the then Benue State Government. He graduated in 1985 and was called to bar in 1986. After years of productive practice he became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in December 2007 and as at of the time of his death (2016) he was the Nigeria's minister of labour and Employment. He was happily married to Mrs Blessing Fatima Ocholi who died in the same accident that claimed the life of the legal luminary alongside their son . He was blessed with five children;Ojone Peace, Aaron Enojo jr, Joshua Eb‘ojo, Uyo Blessing jr and Ele Excellent.
He was the pioneer president of the Full Gospel Business men's Fellowship International Ankpa branch. He also once served as the National Secretary of The Full Gospel Business men’s Fellowship International in Nigeria. Late Ocholi was a Notary Public of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Pro-chancellor and chairman of Council of the Salem University, Lokoja amongst others
Many have lamented,many have being wailing but are they Christians who will like Barr Ocholi choose to be outstanding for Christ in their area of jurisdictions till death. We may not be able to rank his performance but to some extent he was outstanding. His death is not only a loss to the igala people, to kogi state, to Nigeria and to the world but also a loss to the Christiandom. Its our prayers that men and women will rise to the call of standing for God like Hon. James Ocholi and even better than he did in politics. Barrister James Ocholi was indeed an icon and a Christian. Really hoping to see him at the masters feet some day. Adieu legend.
Thursday, 25 February 2016
What's your Temperament by Akubo Ojonugwu Julius, +2348069230929, pauljulius90@gmail.com
Probably you have met some people whose behaviours got you wondering why on earth a person could behave the way they did right? Yet you have also met some people who you wish to see again and again why?
So many reasons may be responsible, but a set out of the so many reasons attached to these complexities in personality are either your temperamental type issues or the second party's temperamental type's issue. Cumulatively we will say the set its actually a singular reason; temperament. Therefore your ability to recognise your temperament will help you understand the peculiarities attached to your personality.
What is Temperament?
The free dictionary defines temperament in a very conscised way, "The manner of thinking, behaving, or reacting characteristic of a specific person". These characteristics differs with different individuals but generally they are collectively divided into two broad groups (Extroverts and Introverts) which is further divided into four groups or types.
Types of Temperaments
As stated earlier they are two broad categories of temperaments which is divided into four basic types:
Extroverts
They are the easy going types and are energized by being around other people. Thus they can easily get bored when alone its believed that in this group we have:
1.The Sanguines.The basic distinguishing feature of this type of temperament is that they are optimistic and social.Sanguines are receptive and open to others and build relationships quickly. They smile and talk easily with less stress.Sanguine are so people-oriented thus never lack friends. Their attention span is based on whether or not they are interested in the person or event. They can easily switch their focus or interest in an instant. Rather negatively the Sanguines are competitive and tend to be disorganized. They usually have difficulty controlling their emotions. They like sports of any kind because of the activity and involvement with other people. The Sanguines fears rejection and also fear others viewing them as unsuccessful.
2.The Choleric. The choleric group are naturally short-tempered or easily irritable. They are self-confident, self-sufficient and very independent minded.They are decisive and opinionated thus find it very easy to make decisions for themselves as well as others. Cholerics hardly negotiates. They are visionaries thus seem to posses endless reservoir of ideas, plans and goals. Cholerics require very little sleep when compared with other temperaments thus can be regarded as workaholics. They are generally slow at building relationship with people because of their self-sufficient nature.
Introverts
The people here are the practical opposites of the extroverts, they are better or energized by being alone. The introverts are very careful with speaking hence they think before they speak.They include:
3.The Melancholic. The people with this type of temperament are quiet and very analytical lets-do-it-right persons. They are reserved and suspicious until sure of your intentions. They often believe that there is a hidden meaning behind the words you speak to them.They are timid and may appear unsure and have a serious expression. They are self-sacrificing and sensitive to what others think about their work.Melancholics needs reassurance, feedback and reasons why they should do something. They often need information, time to think and a plan before taking any action. The Melancholics are often risk avoiders because of their fear of making a wrong
decision and being viewed as incompetent. They are resistant to new things until they have had time to think it over.They are very organized, creative and capable people but are also skeptical sets of persons. Melancholics tend to get bored with something once they get it figured out.
4.The Phlegmatic. This type of temperament is Synonymous with a relaxed and peaceful personality. They are unemotional, easygoing, and never-get-upset, persons. They are often slow and indirect when responding to people. They live a quiet, routine life, free of the normal anxieties and stresses of the other temperaments. The Phlegmatic prefers to avoid getting too involved with people and life in general. They rarely try to go out of the status quo to achieve anything, they just let it happen. They'd rather have just a few close friends that they will be very loyal to through thick and thin than to have lots of friends. The Phlegmatics are quite resistant to change of any kind without reason.Phlegmatics show little emotion and as much as possible avoid conflict and making decisions of any kind. They are practical thinkers with hidden feelings. Phlegmatics are persistent and
consistent at whatever they undertake.They are by far the easiest persons to get along with.
Having known this classification its important to figure out your particular temperament or "temperament conbinations". This will enable you to best maximise or manage your temperament(s) in practical issues like your career and relationships.
For instance its not always easy for two extroverts to blend together perfectly because they will be having a situation of "everyone talking with nobody to listening". Also two introverts especially melancholics in a relationship may in no short time get tired of their relationship as a result of boredom. This instances are not binding as people could grow to surpress their particular temperaments. Nevertheless it does not entail that they loose that particular temperaments as its part of their compositions as a human being.
In the case of work and occupation its observed that introverts do better in jobs that has less to do with associating with people like research while the extroverts are directly opposite. But just as it is with relationships its possible to have an introvert doing so well in comedy and an extrovert doing well in research its just an issue of determination, discipline and more especially the help of God.
So what's your TEMPERAMENT?
Sunday, 14 February 2016
FROM A LOVERS VIEW! By Deborah Haruna
What is love?
Before I got a bit of an understanding about love, I just thought love was only a boy girl thing. I thought it only existed between a husband and his wife. Sometimes when my siblings annoyed me at home, I would get so angry and would think that I hated them most in the world. Other times when they would act so nice to me, I felt as though they were the only persons I loved on earth.
When u examine this scenario you would just understand that this kind of love i thought I had was conditional as it was built on some conditions. Something for something kind of of love. I wasn't really being different from a normal human being. You know its normal for humans to only profess love to someone they know they can benefit from either materially or otherwise.
As I kept growing I got to discover an unconditional love from a guy, ok no no no , a man cause he is an uncommon man. I have enjoyed his love and I am still enjoying it.Just listen to our love story.
This man had been disturbing me for a very long time, I mean like forever. I knew him while growing up as someone my parents and siblings adored. I just felt they talked about him a lot and it even annoyed me sometimes. Funny enough, this guy followed me everywhere, I mean it became very irritating.
Growing up as younger girl devoid of any consequences for my actions, I went about many exploits. This boy would warn me of soo many bad decision, but I felt I needed to experience things on my own( you know I needed some space to breath). Sometimes I listened to his advice, others I ignored and faced the consequences.
This boy grew into a man and started asking me out. He said he loved me and he would do anything for me if only I gave my heart to him. Believe me, I tried warding him off both with my words and actions. But he never left me. He even told me that my body soul and spirit belonged to him. He felt bad most of the time when I defiled this body cause he was always monitoring me, it was that serious. He never stopped disturbing me even for a day. He was like a thorn in my flesh. I really tried ignoring him but he is always in my face, in my head and in my heart. I later discovered that they was no escape from him.
Finally i discovered that I was also in love with him, yeaa. I felt it everywhere I went, in my body my heart and soul. I knew I had fallen hard
Our relationship has been wonderful ever since I finally gave him a yes. I had told him I would give him my all, but I didn't do that. I was selfish, unfaithful, I couldn't just let it all go to one person. I knew he loved me more than I did him. Maybe that's why I take advantage of that love most of the time. We fight most of the time because of my selfish attitude, I have really tried to change, but its so hard. Anyway the good news is that he has promised to help me love him, although he keeps saying that I would have to love him deliberately and that I should put deliberate effort to show my love for him. I am at peace with myself because I know he will forever Love me. To tell you the truth falling in love with him has thought me that love isn't just in words but in actions of sacrifice built on a deliberate desire to care ,bear and tend. Hope you are loving for the right reasons.
I think is time I introduce him to you.... His name is JESUS.. HE ALONE IS MY ONE TRUE LOVE .
So, if you ask me what love is, I would say love is God who came in the person of Jesus Christ. Guess what? he loves you too.Happy valentines day.
Monday, 8 February 2016
The Aftermath of Public Borrowing
Most underdeveloped and developing countries of the world depend on external sources like loans from the IMF, world bank and other financial institutions for the efficient financing of their budgets. This dependence accumulate to become what is known as debt. Debt is that part of a nations finance that was acquired from external sources based on stated agreements. The degree of dependency on foreign support however differs if it were to be measured across the various developing countries. That is to say some countries are more dependent on foreign support than others. This support comes in form of either grants or loans for running their domestic expenses such as infrastructural development, job creations and even for the payment of salaries amongst other reasons. Of cause the fact that so many countries for genuine reasons may need to rely on foreign support is not the quagmire in this work. The problem is rather a question as to what eventually becomes the effect of the debt on the entire economy.
Billions of Naira have being borrowed by Nigeria for instance between the period of 1958 till date in terms of either grants or loans by either the foreign administrators or the indigenous administrators that later emerged. The debt incurred over the years though possesses a lot of advantages also have some negative aftermath. For every country that borrows , there is bound to be an increase in their foreign debt stock which without doubt may tend to reduce the credibility of such a nation for subsequent borrowing.This because of the perception that the borrowing nation may not be able to repay due to already existing debts.
The debt servicing burden is also an issue that could end up frustrating the essense for which debt was originally incured by a nation. The fact that the resources that is spent on servicing debt would have being used to finance some other important Projects in the country makes the debt servicing burden an unpleasant aftermath.
Another issue that may arise from public debt or borrowing is the fact that it may lead to surplus money in the economy thereby leading to capital flight which may discourage domestic private investment. The surplus funds in the economy encourages people to engage in more of importation than exportation.
Recommendations
I hereby wish to recommend that other methods of raising finances like effective taxation policy be adapted by the government as against the venture of borrowing.
Secondly if borrowing must be undertaken by any government, it should be based on the fact that there is obviously no other feasible alternative.
And finally if borrowing must be taken, effective measures (disciplined administration) must be ensured to manage and reduce the negative aftermaths of borrowing.
Written by
Julius Ojonugwa Akubo
Pauljulius90@gmail.com
+2348069230929
Monday, 1 February 2016
Exchange Rates by Akubo Ojonugwa Julius. Pauljulius90@gmail.com
Geographically people are located at different locations of the world hence the existence of various distinguishing mediums such as currencies, dressings, cultures and even business activities. Over the years the increasing insatiable human needs accompanied by geographical limitations has brought about the need for some form of 'inter-trade"amongst this various geographic locations. For effective trade to exist therefore, there was need for an exchange rate to ensure equality in the transactions.
What is Exchange rate?
' Exchange Rate ' is the price of a nation's currency in terms of another currency. It is the equivalence or worth of a nations currency when compared to another country's currency. This means that exchange rate has two components, the domestic currency and a foreign currency. It can be quoted either directly or indirectly.
Devaluation and Depreciation of Exchange rate
A devaluation is when a country deliberately decides to lower its exchange rate in a fixed or semi fixed exchange rate based on a particular policy while depreciation is said to occur when there is a fall in the value of a currency in a floating exchange rate.It is purely a function of supply and demand side factors and not a government oriented decision aside from if the government chose to sell plenty of their currency.
Its pertinent to note that devaluation of currency could overtime result in the depreciation of such a currency. Nigeria for example devalued her currency and has adversely resulted in the depreciation of the Naira.
Implications of Exchange rate
The existence of an exchange rate could be an advantage or a disadvantage to a country depending on the economic activities and policies existing in such a country. Its necessary to know that the exchange rate of a particular currency could either fall or appreciate depending on the demand for that particular currency. Back to the implications; Owing to the fact that most economies are opened economy that involves importation and exportation of goods and services either as raw materials or finished products, a fall (devaluation or depreciation) in a local currency should originally boost exports as well as the National income. This is because exports becomes relatively cheaper when compared to imports as such foreigners are motivated to purchase the goods from the exporting country.
Also a rise (appreciation) in the value of a local currency discourages exports and promotes imports. The reason behind this is not far fetched as the foreign goods becomes cheaper compared to local goods and services.
This same principle applies to investments in securities in either a case of depreciation or appreciation of currency.
WHAT TO NOTE: Devaluation and deprecation only becomes benefiting to a nation if such a nation engages in gross production and exporting activities. It then means that for a nation that does not engage in production activities and apparently exportation activities, a case of devaluation and depreciation becomes very detremental.
Conclusively,exchange rate exists between countries. And it appreciate and depreciate depending on the demand for currency.
Wednesday, 27 January 2016
The weakness of Agriculture in resolving Economic problems of Nigeria. by Akubo Ojonugwa Julius. Pauljulius90@gmail.com
Agriculture before the discovery of crude oil in the late 1950s was the main stay of the Nigerian economy. It was not just a source of revenue to the country, it was infact a source of employment to many Nigerians who specialized in crop farming, fisheries, animal rearing but to mention a few. It was then that we developed the groundnut pyramids, rubber plantations, coco plantations and the big cotton fields that are gradually becoming histories today. With the discovery of the crude oil in 1956 and the startment of full exploration in 1958 agriculture became of less importance to the government. As at of 1960 the contribution of agriculture to Nigeria's GDP was 60% but the reduction of this value became consistent with the increase in oil exploration. This was because crude oil sales became a faster way of earning more money by the Nigerian government. Little did the government notice the negative impact associated with crude oil especially with respect to agriculture. This continued until 1980s when the price of oil dropped in the international market leading to a drop in the contribution of crude oil to the Nigerian GDP.
Seeing the effect of the over dependence on crude oil the economy drove the subsequent leaders of Nigeria that came after General Gowon into initiating so many agricultural boosting policies. But a question that still remains unanswered is why are we still crying out "agriculture is the way out in the year 2016" ( over 50 years since the recognition of the relevance of agriculture) when a lot of funds have being invested in agriculture continually since the regime of General Yakubu Gowon?
General murtala Muhammed didn't present any particular policy for agriculture but Gen Olusegun Obasanjo came up with "Operation Feed the Nation", Shehu Shagari with the "Green Revolution" program, General IBB with "DIFRI (Directorate for Food Road and Infrastructure)". Gen Sani Abacha and Abdulsalami Abubakar didn't also present a clear policy but after them series of other policies have being instituted in the subsequent civilian governments costing huge sums of money yet we are unable to unequivocally say we are back to our original state of strength in agriculture. Agriculture was well recognized in (NEEDS II 2008-2011), the “7-point Agenda in of Yaradua, vision 2020 and a lot of other policies that have being instituted over the years.
This brings me to a clear conviction that going back to agriculture alone will not be able to solve the current Nigerian economic problem. There is need to compliment our desire for improved and efficient agriculture with a spontaneous technological development at all levels. Nobody is doubting the fact that agricultural advocates have overtime emphasized the need for mechanisationt. Also to some subtancial extent the government has being working towards that but how mechanised are we when compared to the other countries of the world that are topping the agricultural success stories. Most efforts geared towards mechanisation in this country have simply being revolving round a few fraction of the nigerian population. crude tools are still used for agricultural activities at the grassroot which constitute the majority of farmers yet we expect to produce enough to meet the global demand of the 20th century.
My point is obvious, not until we are able to develope our technology in such a away that it can permeate the nooks and crannies of the country's population as crude tools permeated the population before the discovery of crude oil we may never be able to get our desired results from agriculture. This without doubts is simply because the output that will keep resulting from our crude and few mechanised agricultural activities will not be able to meet our local demands not to even talk of external exportation.
Considering all these information there is need for a massive technological development and advancement if Nigeria must ever meet up with world standard agricultural relevance.
