LETTER TO MY DAD

                Flat 3, Corpers lodge,

                Ozuitem Secondary School,

                Ozuitem, Bende Local Government Area,

                Abia State.

                3:25am

My Daddy,

                It hurts so much that I will not see you again. I know you are in a better place now. You fought so hard to stay alive all through these years.  I remember learning letter writing from king’s crown. I wrote to you every day and dropped it on the piano. When I woke up the next day, the letter would not be there anymore.

You taught us to pray in Yoruba and by the time it got to my turn, I would have slept off being the last. You chastised us for not saying amen aloud. Now I know better. You taught me not to be greedy or selfish. Your motto was “Live within what you have”. You taught me to manage what I had and share it no matter how small it is.

I remember when we used to join the bus to church for 7am communion. Your cherished car was not available then. We had to leave home on time so that we don’t get there late. Your legs were always faster than mine and so I had to run up.

You loved and served God with all you had; your money, time and children. My best years were in the choir. The Adefeso’s were a complete quartet. I sang treble, brother Tosin in the alto line, brother Anu sang tenor while you were in the base line. I cherished those moments we sang tunes like “contemplation” together. My sister Ope sang soprano with me.

You got respect from all the priests that served at All Saints and in the old diocese of Lagos. Even the bishops knew you were exceptional. You served in the Altar servers Guild dutifully. You made a lot of friends across the province of Nigeria. You loved All Saints so much that you could not look away if something went wrong. You were always there to set the records straight. The parishioners knew “omolomo” to be upright in his service to God.

The popular saying in Nigeria that “when you get to power, you’ll be corrupt.”  This saying has been defeated by you. You served at Lagos State Development and Property Corporation without enriching your pocket. You rose to become the Secretary –General of the Association of Housing Corporations of Nigeria. You had every chance to enrich yourself but you chose not to. I had my internship in the same corporation a few years back and they said wonderful things about “chief of staff”.

You were a simple and loving man. You showed love to all around you even to the people far below your class. They loved you because you didn’t look down on them neither did you disrespect them. You made 1^st Corinthians 13 & John 3 vs. 16 meaningful to me. You loved mum so much.

You loved listening to hymns either on radio or your cassette player. I guess I took that from you. I am going to miss listening to hymns of praise with you every Sunday night before going to bed.

You taught us to be independent, work hard and entrust our tomorrow into God’s hand. In case we are coming back to earth, I’d love to be on your team. Thanks for allowing me cruise your Benz.

It’s so dramatic you decided to leave me this world cup year. I remember watching my ever first nation’s cup & world cup in 1994 with you. You will put on your old school radio for commentaries during the matches. I miss you greatly, dad.

Your Son,

Oluwarotimi.

How To Get Into a Romantic Relationship (3)

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Have you sworn off men or women? Hope you are not changing your sexual orientation because you think heartbreak is associated with gender sha. How many times has your heart been broken? Or are you like me forming badt guy .My heart can never be broken. You want to find out why or how? See

NIGERIA'S SHOCK THERAPY - #BringBackOurGirls

In the wake of the gory pictures; of the school hostels attacked by night, burned, some girls killed in the fire, others injured, some girls abducted and the #BornoMassacre hashtag on twitter over two months ago, I cried. I was sick to my stomach tired of hearing these sickening news from as far back

HOW TO GET INTO A ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP (2)

Mehn! I have to get into a romantic relationship, not friend zone how do I catch this fish? 

In the quest of finding love in companionship and satisfying the need for affiliation by first going out, stop being a hermit and being friendly, what happens in the process? I’d give you a scenario.

Source

...IN THE MAKING (4)

She had advised him to keep the baseball cap on if he did not want to feel the pressure of being a celebrity. About two hours had passed after the game they enjoyed at the viewing centre, but he was not done enjoying the company of this mysterious chic he just met today. He suggested they go to a

...IN THE MAKING (3)

He still had the face cap on, she had advised him to put it on if he really wanted to enjoy watching football on the street.  The match was over and even the analysis, he signalled that they should leave; she took a cue and stood from her seat. Walking towards the car with John Smith behind her, she felt a bit awkward. He didn’t get her door, so she settled in the passenger’s side as fast as she could immediately he got the doors unlocked like it was going to ease her somehow.

“So…” He broke the silence “I guess you…where are you headed now?”

Her brows furrowed. I don’t know, I came out here because of you

How To Get In A Relationship (1)

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With the rise in the number of my contemporaries getting married and having families. Everyone is beginning to pressure knowingly and unknowingly about romantic relationship or getting married. Are you kidding me?!  Have I gotten the Phd? Abeg! Anyways, this isn’t about me. Some friend

...IN THE MAKING (2)

Most times she would act indifferent anytime she sighted celebrities in public places, but not today and not with him. He was one of the stars that tickled her fancy lately, he was gradually becoming the hot cake of the evolving movie industry and the few firms that want to be recognised as standard Nigerian movie production companies, she hated the name Nollywood though. TDH, sturdy, and with a face and

Making A Difference About Teenage Pregnancy

Making a difference Network started in September 2013 with a career guidance and pre tertiary education training, during which the thought to take a next step in Teenage pregnancy prevention conceived 9 years ago was conceived also. So Adeyinka Adefemi (Please don’t call me founder) set out to find a way to push teenage pregnancy prevention. After series of planning meetings with a rugged team of Adekitan Oladipo, Noel Abiodun, Jare Fola Bolumole, and Olusegun Ayoade an advocacy workshop for the prevention of Teenage pregnancy named Making A Difference About Teenage pregnancy (MAD About TP) was decided to host three schools in Ibadan North East Local Government namely IMG High School, United Secondary School, Renascent High School, and to take place at the School Hall at Renascent High School Agugu on the 3^rd of April 2014 themed ‘Breaking The Silence’ with the aim of initiating open conversations on the incidences, causes of teenage pregnancy, and to empower the students with the knowledge to help them make sound decisions. MAD Network was able to network other positive impact driven individuals like Mr Folorunsho Moshood of Educare Trust, Dr Tomisin Olakanmi, Oluwasijibomi Soares, Oluwatosin Koya, Adebayo Adegbite, Edem Andah, Damilola Ayorinde, and Desola as volunteer educators for the advocacy workshop.

On Thursday the 3^rd of April 2014, MAD Network arrived Renascent High School Agugu for MAD about TP. Two schools showed up with their participants being Renascent High School Agugu (The host school) and IMG High School Agugu with twenty students, while United Secondary School was absent. After registrations and getting the participants informally introduced to each other, the program

...IN THE MAKING (1)

She turned the page of the magazine grinning from ear to ear obviously amused by her exploration exercise. She loved knowing more about people, especially celebrities in the entertainment industry. That was the aim of the interviews by the media anyway. She stood up from her bed and headed for the bathroom, time for laying around was over. It was Saturday morning and she was not sure of what to do for the day but it was sure not being silly, the best way to avoid that was to prepare for something to happen.

Sometimes she really enjoyed her solitary moments; she smiled to herself again as she fantasized about meeting, becoming good friends with, achieving dreams, and may be getting married to a celebrity. She chuckled at that particular thought as water drizzled from the shower rose down her lathered back.

She heard her phone ring in the room, mopping water off her body and wrapping the towel round her

STORY STORY STOORRRYYY!

source

Now I have a plan. Saturdays would be for story time. I am trying to hone my writing skills especially

I NEED A BAD BOY THAT LOVES THE LORD

"He may look like a player, may even be a player... but he loves the Lord naw."

Have you ever read any column for ‘searching singles’ anywhere where they put their details and a description of prospective partner? Here’s an imaginary one.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Once I wrote a post on an encounter I had with a pregnant teenager, how I got curios about the issue and if it was seen as a problem in our society. But I realised a society that doesn’t see how potentials of its future can be truncated by circumstantial happenings that it deems trivial and would just divert those potentials to a quarter of non-actualisation is playing with a dwarf. That society probably needs individuals tall enough to see beyond their noses to tell and lead the society to the place of better everydays at least.

We really don’t care if you don’t see teenage pregnancy as a problem plaguing your society but it is a problem with 10,000 girls getting pregnant every term in school or 50,000 girls dying as a result of how they handled or got handled in their teenage pregnancy, this is a reality we better face now!

MAD Network, ever heard of them? Well, you just did. Making A Difference Network, a network of positive change agents for the future of our community, society, and country is taking on teenagers, empowering them to make a difference. MAD Network is embarking on Making A Difference About Teenage Pregnancy with an Advocacy Workshop in Secondary Schools starting with Four in the Ibadan North East Local Government Area of Oyo State Nigeria. MAD Network has themed this MAD About TP advocacy workshop “Breaking the Silence” because she seeks to initiate open conversations about teenage pregnancy, its causes and how those that are susceptible to teenage pregnancy can learn to make decisions right for them on the 3^rd April 2014 at Renascent High School, Agugu, Ibadan.

MAD Network needs volunteers for this event and you can tweet @dMadNetwork , post on the facebook page www.facebook.com/MADNetwork , or mail madnetwork4change@gmail.com to notify them of your interest to volunteer as an educator or make any useful contribution to its success.

We can all TAKE A STAND AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE for a better future can’t we?

Live. Learn. Love

THIS VAL: SUNDAY EVENING BREAK UP (SHORT STORY)

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They answered my questions in turn and out of turn as I held out the worn out cane in my hand indicating my seriousness in writhing the truth out of the both of them. They confessed, their eyes wide with so much fright I just couldn’t pity them at this point, this was no time for motherly compassion, and the only compassion I had this time was for knowing how far these kids had gone physically.

“So when was the first time?! Tell me” I couldn’t help my voice being raised.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!!! LOVE FEVER

I observed the viewership for my post power of relationships last year increased in the last week, hehehe! people must really be seeking for love o LOL! Tell me, was the post what you expected?

Anyways, I'm kind of in the mood to write stories. As you may have noticed I have started and your comments on how I'm doing with this writing ish should have started rolling in by now. Please read them and let me know what you think. Most of the stories would be centered on love, ugly truths and some other realities as the inspirations and itches
come. Expect more and a lot of improvement, remember this can only be objectively measured by your comments. Thanks Luv.

Just said to say hi
Live, Learn, Love
Mjady

THIS VAL: SUNDAY EVENING CONFESSION (SHORT STORY)

Still William had not come up with an answer, so I had to call on courage and speak up.
"We did not kiss!"
"You did not kiss" She said as if she meant to say 'Really?' and searching William's eyes, he affirmed my statement. But she continued
"But what about yesterday afternoon, why did you kiss her yesterday afternoon?"
William shuddered
Oh my God! How on earth did she find out?
                   

THIS VAL: SUNDAY AFTERNOON LOVE (SHORT STORY)

Sunday afternoon as usual, it's time to play at William's. The last I heard were the tires of his mother's car crush the gravel in our block's drive way and the door to their apartment slam shut. So, they must be well settled now, must have had lunch after that long service at church. Mum, Henry and I have not been going to church lately, for whatever reasons I have not bothered to ask.

"Mummy I want to go and play at William's house!" I distracted her from her trying to change Henry's diaper. Purposely. I repeat myself this time with a demanding tone.

"Laide! Don't disturb me, go if you want to." She said interrupting me

REALITY CHECK #40 - A LIFE OF PURPOSE By Rick Warren

Do you think the sameness of everyday is all that is to your life? I thought I should end the REALTY CHECK SERIES on this note. Thank you for being there. Watch this video, share your thoughts.

REALITY CHECK #39 - 7 TIPS 6 AREAS ON GOAL SETTING

At the retreat I attended some days to the end of the year, a very effective retreat that I was in dire need of, I made a few notes from the notes made on goal setting.

We can’t say we want to reach our targets without having a plan WRITTEN down. That doesn’t work. So you need to write down your goals, this can’t be overemphasized.

TIPS TO SETTING GOALS

ü  They must be achievable, realistic goals

ü  They must be believable by most especially you

ü  They must be definite that is specific; nothing becomes dynamic until it becomes specific.

ü  Decide on a deadline, timelines are guidelines

ü  Write them down. Again, it cannot be overemphasized

ü  Develop a plan to achieve your goal

ü  Determine what you would give in exchange, like some reward system.

AREAS YOU MIGHT WANT TO SET GOALS

ü  Career or mental goals, having to do with skill most especially

ü  Health goals

ü  Spiritual life goals

ü  Financial goals

ü  Family / Social goals

ü  Behavioural goals

This is just to mention a few…you aren’t clear on exactly how you can do this or go about implementing, you can ask questions in the comment box.

Happy 2014!

Live, Learn, Love.

REALITY CHECK #38 - M.A.D IN YOUR COMMUNITY

RICHARD TURERE a Kenyan teenager who made a difference in his community being a solution to a big problem. Little things or big things that make a difference, start when we take a stand.

REALITY CHECK #37 - WHO'S IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT?

What would happen if you let God take the driver's seat?

REALITY CHECK #36 - WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT MARRIAGE

This video is a must watch, funny and thought provoking. Please have fun and live, learn, love.

REALITY CHECK #35 - SECRETS OF SUCCESS IN 8 WORDS

Short, straight to the point, funny and simple. If you don't agree with all then you can screen what you would adopt. Enjoy

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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HURRAY! Welcome to 2014! I know this year is going to be great for me on an unprecedented level and I pray the same for you in Jesus Name. REALITY CHECK SERIES, Hmmn! I don't want to give excuses but I'd upload the episodes that I haven't and they are videos, please forgive me for the lapses, watch them, share your thoughts, live, learn, love. ;)