OFFICER vs OFFICE

Hi,

It has been a while that I came this way. Thank God for keeping us till day. I hope you had a wonderful Easter celebration- the holiday afforded me the opportunity to visit different families I have not seen in recent times.  It was a fulfilling experience.

As norm, I will want to start with a little story about a retired man. The man rose to become a C-Suite Executive in his hale days. He flew first class but since he retired, he became a staunch flyer of the economy class whenever he travelled. Let's discuss Officer vs Office.

An officer is someone paid to occupy an office because of his expertise and value addition to an organization. Many times, he is also enhanced through the office. He has opportunities to travel at the company's expense and attend training in ivy - league institutions. An officer could win awards and gain recognition from different quarters. There are a lot of peeks associated with being a resourceful officer.

The office is the position available to any qualified person for a certain time. Time in this context could a fixed duration for those elected and till retirement for career officer. In colloquial terms in Nigeria, "soldier go, soldier come; barracks remain". 

The use of an office could either make or mar the occupant years after. In fact, his children might partake of the good legacies, or otherwise, of their parents while in office. It is wise to make judicious use of one's office to benefit humanity in general.

What will be said about you and I when we have relinquish our various offices. The ball is in our court, let's play it right.

Have a blessed week.

Cheers!

Olutayo

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JUDGING vs CORRECTING

Hi,

It has been a while that I dropped by with some words on this platform.  It is always a privilege that I do not take for granted sharing some insights with you from time to time. Hope all is well with you and your loved ones? The second month of the year will soon wind up, are we on the right desired path for this year? 

In my generation today, I have discovered that there are many ways of avoiding correction and an apt phrase drawn from the scripture is always used.  Exodus  2:14a "And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us?". Let's brood on the topic- Judging vs Correcting 

Judging someone is by administering a verdict. From a practical standpoint, a judge comes up with his own binding view after listening to all the parties involved. Many times, a judgement can only be appealed at a higher court. However, nowadays it is a rebuttal of an advisory process. 

Correcting someone is a way of advising the person to see issues from another viewpoint from where he is standing. In the process of correcting, the person with a superior stance needs a lifestyle that justifies the correction, the person that is being corrected has the opportunity to weigh the advise and come up with a healthy and balanced opinion.

Those who come up with that phrase, "Who made you a judge over me" technically shut others up in order to keep indulging in the wrong lifestyle while those who are willing to take corrections will view it from a persuasive stance which will redefine his or her attitude to life.

At all times, remember this, "in criticizing to correct someone, you should focus more on killing the issue, rather than discreetly killing the personality." When the personality is killed that's judging when the person when the issue is discussed that's correcting.

Let's not mistake correctional intentions as a judgmental process. 

Have a great week ahead.

Cheers!

Olutayo 

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YOUR TERRITORY vs OTHERS TERRITORIES

E ku ayo odun o!

I have come to you as a Yorùbá man greeting you with all pleasure now that we are in the New Year. May the year unfold with great goodies for us. Amen.

There are many Nigerians in the gaol in different parts of the world not necessarily because they have committed a heinous crime but for their acts of lawlessness. Today, we would be considering this in a very poignant way: Your territory vs Others Territories.

Your territory is your domain where you have a full understanding of the place. This include the language, the culture, the people and the law enforcement agents. For example, law enforcement agents in Nigeria can easily be bribed while this is not applicable in some other nations. In the same vein, it can be as small as your room.

Others territories can be likened to a strange land. A country that is not of one's birth neither is the person conversant with the way of life in that community. Others territory must be carefully examined before claiming to have a deep understanding of the place.

A Yorùbá saying goes thus "ile ti ookun re o toju eni su, a ki rin oru e" meaning the path were you are not conversant with must not be walked in the dark. 

The crux of today's discussion is that you must be careful to carry the right attitude in and out of your territories. Different things happen in different cities and you do not necessarily have to carry the experience of your home territory into other territories for they might not be governed by different extreme rules. Be observant and act accordingly to the rule in other territories. What is acceptable in your territory might be a crime in others territories.

When you are in Rome, behave like the Romans.

Enjoy 2017

Cheers!

Olutayo

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INTERNALLY DISPLACED vs EXTERNALLY DISPLACED.

Abokina,

In Hausa language, the lingua Franca of Northern Nigeria, it means my friend.  It is already turning white in some parts of the world and it is currently hazy here. I wish you a beautiful Christmas in advance.  

As a country, we have been battling Boko Haram in the last few years and it has led  to the death of many people both civilian and military. Our hearts are with their families and we pray that they will be eternally consoled. Let's dig deep as we discuss internally displaced and externally displaced in various lights. Both displacement can be summed up in a Yorùbá proverb "eniti o so ile nu ti so apo iya ko" meaning he who has lost his identity has keep a bag of torture.

The internally displaced people are those that have been sacked from their homelands and they are refugees in their fatherland. Unfortunately, the reports are more disheartening because they are malnourished and the funds that should be used in catering for them is being embezzled in their country of birth. The government keeps paying lips service to optimally caring for them. 

Another set of internally displaced people are those who are neither accepted in the city they reside and their country home. This is evident in documents such as state of origin, local government identification letter, Federal Character and others in Nigeria. All of these have reduced the opportunities available to people and this has led to brain drain.

The externally displaced people are those have lost their sense of their own identity based on some external influences despite being in close proximity to their culture and language. I strongly believe that regardless of the level of foreign civilisation, if your own culture is not promoted, it will die a natural death. 

Some years ago, we were having Generation X and now, we are having Generation Z. People are getting lost even in their homeland. There are many families resident in the cities who neither know their country home nor are told about the place. The question, "who will build and promote your country home?"

Either you are internally or externally displaced, you can rewrite your history; you can create a new order. If you are internally displaced, brace up to rebuild your home community; if you are internally displaced, work towards improving your language & country home with your expertise if you are externally displaced.

Whatever you do differently will engrave your name on the roll call of honour one day.

Have a nice transition into 2017.

Cheers

Olutayo

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FIRST HUSBAND vs SUBSEQUENT HUSBANDS

E káasan,

That’s the greetings of a Yoruba person which means ‘Good afternoon’. It has been some weeks that I last came this way but it is all for good! The tap is still gushing but the demand of this time makes it seems like it is seizing from my end. I am sure the wind of the yuletide is blowing all around you; either it White Christmas or Hazy Christmas; May we all do it in good health.

There is a Yorùbá proverb, ‘ti obinrin o ba dan ile oko meji wo; ko ni mo eyi to san’ which means, if a woman never attempts two matrimonial homes; she will not know the most pleasant of both homes. We would want to consider this saying in the light of the first husband and subsequent husbands. However, this can be applied to all areas of life including our career.

The first husband is usually the stage of exposition from being naïve. The first husband has a lot of role to play in one’s life as it determines how wild and insatiable one would be in later years. The experience also determines if the person will want to hang on or find an exit route out of the union. For example, if the first company that one works with pays well; gives a lot of allowances and encourages growth; many people would not bother to seek for employment elsewhere until the statutory retirement age.

Subsequent husbands, from the second husband upward, usually, are tasked on many sides especially when there was a very damaging experience from the first union. This could have maligned the ability of the person to trust and stay loyal. As such, the husband strives to convince beyond all reasonable doubt that he can care and sustain the person. Unfortunately, the person coming into the union would be very sceptical and would have developed either a cantankerous, violent or defensive mind-set.

In all, some people will never go beyond the first marriage; some will prefer the second marriage; some will appreciate the first marriage while they are in the second marriage and some will regret both marriages.

I would plead with everyone, wherever you find yourself; please be the best so that we can create valuable experiences for others and not marred experiences. For those who are yet to make a choice, kindly examine your choice, if it will lead you to the Promised Land or an impediment to your progress.

Have a great weekend ahead.

Cheers!

Olutayo

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PATCH PATCH vs FOLLOW COME!

Mwanmin,

There is no ethnic tribe where there is no word "friend" and that's "Mwanmin" in Kulere language of Plateau State, Nigeria. It is always a pleasure to have you as an audience for Versus Series

Today, we have the voice of two people in a dialogue. An Igbo man who sells spare parts who gives the owner of the car the option of either buying a "follow come" part while the vehicle owner for financial reasons insist that he wants him to "patch-patch".

"Patch-patch" is a phenomenon in which a similar part of another manufacturer or model is used on a different vehicle. Those who do patch-patch, usually and unfortunately, are at risk manage times because it could malfunction anywhere. People who commute in commercial buses around Lagos, would have noticed some vehicle part of another vehicle entirely in some buses. Patched parts cannot function optimally like the original part; the destruction could be compounded and it may lead to fatality.

Follow come is the ordinary part made by the manufacturer for a particular model of a car or any other device. The part has less complications if it will be fixed onto another car of the same model. The "follow come" part usually gives the right feel and produces the right result effortlessly. It, equally, does not complicate the issues.

The right result is achievable through the right tools. A disjointed combination cannot produce optimal result.

Have a nice week.

Cheers!

Olutayo

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PARALYSIS VS ELLIPSIS

Kowure,

This is my special morning greetings to you in Kulere language of Bokkos local government area of Plateau State, Nigeria. It is another good time to share with you. Hope you are earnestly looking forward to the end of the year- the most expensive and fun - filled time of the year?

Today, I will tell you the story of my friend who had an entrepreneurial drive; he went to his uncle to discuss his intentions. His uncle, gave him ten reasons why he should hold on to his career as his boss would reward his loyalty down the line. What should he do? However, as a convinced young man, he moved on with faith. Let's think together on Paralysis versus Ellipsis.

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ETHICAL WORDS vs CONTRADICTORY ACTIONS

Nafmin,

I travelled down from Bokkos Local Government area of Plateau State, Nigeria and I just said ‘My people’ in Kulere language. Hope your week has been great thus far?

In this pervasive world where we live. There are many clergymen that had been accused of committing heinous crimes against humanity most especially their congregation. This has caused people of other faiths to speak ill about them, their ministries and their faith. 

In another vein, people who have written against a political administration, they get baited and eventually get entangled in some administrative mess at a later time usually mar their reputation for life. Let’s think together about ethical words and contradictory actions.

Ethical words are sayings that condemns a particular act; educate and encourage people to stick to the right lifestyle or admonish them to desist from doing what is totally wrong. Those who are usually guilty of this are influential people in the society ranging from religious leaders, celebrities, writers and other vocal people.

Contradictory actions are secret deeds that are against the ethical words that have been preached. Interestingly, people hardly forget these ethical words that have been said in the past; as such, one’s words becomes a trap that catches one. 

Contradictory actions have made people to lose their respect and voice because their lives does not match their words. Brands have cancelled brand endorsement of celebrities for such things. Some people have committed suicide in other to cover up the shame of behaving contrary to their saying.

It is honourable to make ‘our yes, yes and our nay, nay’. It is a simple maxim that reflects integrity.

Cheers!

Olutayo

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UNSUNG vs SAMSUNG

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Matan Mwanmin,

How has been the month so far? I have not come to you recently but I am glad to sharing my thoughts with you today. I have come to you saying ‘Hello’ in Kulere language of Bokkos local government of Plateau State, Nigeria.

Many of us have the mind-set of becoming entrepreneurs later in life. However, we are either not prepared for the challenges ahead as such, we chicken out over time seeking solace in paid employment. As such, the age long quote has not lost its relevance, ‘If you don’t build your dream, someone will hire you to build theirs.’ Our dreams would either be unsung or sung.

An unsung business is the business that has a lot of intricacies that is jealously guided by the person who owned or discovered the idea. Such businesses are highly specialised and people are not taught how to do it not to talk of modernising the vision. In another vein, an unsung business is a business where the entrepreneur does not have the tenacity to wait till he break-even or breakthrough.

A sung business is Samsung. This is a business that started in 1938 in South Korea as a Grocery store. By 1940, it switched to the production of noodles, by 1950, it started Sugar Production, and by 1954, the company went into woollen mill cum started selling insurance and security. In 1960, they started producing TV, in 1980, the company went into production of telephone switch board. Samsung died in 1987 and the company broke into four independent businesses- departmental stores, chemicals & logistics, paper & telecoms and electronics. In 1990, it delved into real estate, in 1993, the company was restructured and they went into production of memory chips. In 1995, they switched to liquid-crystal displays and they have been the world’s largest manufacturer of flat screen TV. In 2010, Samsung focussed on the production of smartphones. In 2016, they have outsold iPhone. Samsung has undergone many metamorphoses but they retained their brand name.

This is a journey of tenacity. One of the things that we lack around use here is the ability to bequeath your business unto your children who should modernise it with their level of exposure and education. I am not saying that children should be forced into a particular line of career but parents should know how to make children- buy into, invest in and develop their businesses.

Before you become sung, you would have sworn to maintain your dream and vision. There would be time for modification of your idea, restructuring of the dream and many more. 

Keep building your dreams regardless of the hurdles. 

Have a great weekend.

Cheers!

Olutayo

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JUNGLE JUSTICE vs ANALYTICAL JUDGMENT

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Muli Bwanji,

It’s been wet in the city of Lagos in the last few hours, those on my social media would have seen the video on flash flood around Idi-Iroko; Ikorodu road.  I have come to greet you in Bemba language of Zambia which means ‘Hello’.

As human, we have disagreement with our friends and families from time to time. Some people would want to mediate but they do not take time to listen to both parties before arriving at conclusions. Yoruba sages in their wisdom described this in a proverb that says, ‘agbo eje apa kan da agba osika ni’ transliterated as a judge who hears from a party and gives a verdict has committed a dastard act.

Jungle Justice is a situation in which a person is judged with a bias and also taking laws into their hands. The person narrating and the person judging are the perpetrators of jungle justice. People who grew up in Nigeria can remember the days when petty thieves are caught in the neighbourhood and people take laws into their hands by burning them with tyres. Jungle justice leads to name calling amongst others. The deadliest forms of jungle justice is gossip; the extent the words would travel cannot be determined.

Analytical Judgment is when people are objective in their conclusion. They take time to ask questions; invite the two parties for reconciliations; they allot blames, correct both parties and resolve the entire crisis. This set of people are honourable and forthright. People with such mind-set are usually incorruptible. 

People that carry out analytical judgement can be attacked for being confrontation but they would surely be vindicated for being upright. Those who are known for carrying out jungle justice are put to shame when they are apprehended.

Analytical Judges are needed at all spheres of life, would you join the train?

Enjoy the rest of the week.

Cheers!

Olu

For more articles on Versus Series, kindly visit www.versusseries.blogspot.com; call 07062021341 or send an email to peodavies@gmail.com

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ILÉSANMÍ vs JOYÈ

E ku ayo odun o!

As a Yorùbá man, we are renowned for having greetings for all occasions and situations.  Well, our Muslim friends are in the mood of celebration and we wish them the best of the season.

Today, I would be discussing a very simplex (simple but complex) issue here. There are certain people who are given a position or a title and others keep asking, "does he merit the position?" We would analyse this from a cultural standpoint today using the proverb, "Ilésanmí dùnjoyè lo" meaning being a homely person is better than being a titled person.

Ilésanmí is a state of being without a title but playing a background role to the accomplish the organizational goal, it could also mean that the person is under tutelage. Also Ilésanmí can be the state of being willing to be the kingmaker. Lastly, the person might have previously occupied a position and have got fagged and is willing to relinquish the office.

Joyè is the time of being crowned, installed into a particular office, or taking a particular leadership position. There is a saying in Yorùbá, ewo ni ka fi'yan joye awodi, koma  le gbe adie meaning the person endowned with the title of a hawk must be able to pick a cock. This signifies that there are responsibilities attached to every office.

However, life must be delicately balanced. There is nobody that does not come into places of responsibility. Some graduates into leadership roles, others inherit it, some are naturally attain it while some earn it. At some point, one would be either the Baálé (head of a family); Baálè (head of a community) or Òtùnba (a titled chief) and many more.

The implication is that we should all know that at some point in life, we would change roles and we must stand out in all these capacities.

Have a great week ahead.

Cheers!

Olu

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FOREWARNING vs RESCUING

Muli Shani,

It is such a great opportunity coming your way again this week. Hope you have been making the best of this month? It's way more than half, what have we achieved so far? I am saying "hi" in Bemba language of Zambia.

I will be starting this edition with the post proverbial of a saying in Yorùbá language. *A forewarned crippled man does not die in the war; howbeit, the wise one.  Let's go on with the topic of today, Forewarning vs Rescuing.

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BLOATED EGO vs MASSAGED EGO

Makadini,

Last week was defined by a friend as a ‘mid-term’ for workers, it was at the beginning of the second half of the year so the holiday felt so good, so short and I felt like it should continue. However, the economy suffered largely for it. I just greeted you in Shona language of Zimbabwe saying ‘Hello’.

There is a story of a fairly old female trader who buys her goods from people who are as young as her children. As an African, this act was extraordinaire as many elderly people cheat younger ones. They feel very important when she addresses them with respect and this made it easy for her to get whatever she wants from them. She mentioned one day, ‘I do not feel foolish by respecting them because it deducts nothing from me. They have even respected me more because of my lifestyle. Being respectful is beneficial to the humble at every point in life.’ Let us think together as we consider Bloated Ego versus Massaged Ego.

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MANAGER vs FOUNDER

Photo credit: www.redeye.firstround.com

Otume,

I am back from the Igede clan in Benue State and I am now with my friends from Degema, Rivers State, saying "hello" to everyone. May we always encounter favour as we anticipate a new month.

There is a certain man who was hired as a manager; he had great ideas and was willing to share it with the founder of his company. The founder does whatever he wants at every point in time. Out of frustration, the young man started executing his ideas without permission and this got him into trouble with the founder who felt slighted by the actions of the man. Let's think together as we discussed, Manager vs Founder.

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GENERALIZATION vs INDIVIDUALITY

Anginyi Nyiam,

My affiliation with the people of Igede in Benue State continues today. I have come to ‘My People’ just like they call it. This week is bombarded with many activities and I am hopeful that it will all end in praise.

Have you ever heard older people talk about certain tribes that they have some traits as such; they will make an inference advising their children and relatives to desist from associating them. Also, some communities are renowned for the production of academic doctors and professors. Interestingly, some people pride themselves with these traits.

Generalization is a situation when people of certain clans have been stigmatized. This happens intra-tribal and inter-tribal. I know that the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria have different banter on one another. This generalization has been negatively affected a lot of loving relationships and how people are treated in the case of any eventuality.

Individuality is about a person- the lifestyle, the attitude, the character. A contact with a person from a certain community might be the beginning and the conclusion of the traits from a community. The trait found in these people is not as a result of their ethnicity but based on their personality.

What is the crux of today’s discussion? Do not make people stigmatize others from the same ethnicity with you because of your behaviour. Also, you can stand out as a different person regardless of the ‘negative’ attributes associated with your tribe across generations.

Take time to rewrite history and not continue with negative attribute from your homeland.

Cheers!

Olutayo

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BUS DRIVER vs CAR DRIVER

Mutane,

‘People’ that is my greetings today in Hausa language. Hope it has been a great day thus far? Most especially at this time, for those in Nigeria, when there is fuel scarcity! It has been a great challenge commuting from one place to another. Imagine, Third Mainland Bridge has been free lately because many people have stopped driving. Hopefully, traffic will return next week when the scarcity is over.

Have you ever noticed the difference in the driving of a bus driver and a car driver in Lagos? You will be amazed at the roughness and the carefulness of both drivers. Let’s think together as we draw some inferences on both driving styles.

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EXTERNAL ADVISORY vs IN-HOUSE ADVISORY

Iniekiowei,

If I were to be a singer, I would have been able to prove my dexterity with all the languages that I have used in greeting you; today I am fraternizing with my Ijaw friends from the Niger-Delta region

by calling you, ‘my friend’.

There is a certain organization that discovered huge revenue leakages and all the loopholes needed to be blocked immediately. The organization ‘ran’ to a renowned consultancy firm to request for their professional services. When the consultancy firm wanted to start working; they requested for all the documents from staff within the organization and at the end of the agreed timeframe, they submitted a report. There are professionals within this organization that can provide the same result but it was not entrusted to them. This correlates with the scriptures, ‘a prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.’

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INDEPENDENT ADOLESCENCE vs PARENTAL GUIDANCE

Tubara,

As a true Nigerian, I have coming in the similitude of an Ijaw man, I just said ‘hello’. Hope it has been a great weekend? Hope the zeal to make great success is still burning in you for 2016? Let’s not get tired from the first quarter of the year. Arise... for the journey is too great. We would make good success if only we do not desist from pursuing our dreams and visions. I appreciate everyone who has supported us thus far, this is the 101^st edition of Versus Series.

Gone are the days when satellite television was exclusive to the elite; everyone has a form of digital television now. When movies are to be showed; the rating of the movie is shown; some reads ‘viewers’ discretion is advised’. As a little digression, people in Lagos, especially, have little or no time (an assertion subscribed to by many); the endless chase for money makes children gain ‘independence’ early. To further compound, the issue, parents take these positions at different times in life’ these are the child is young and naive. Also, the child is now old enough to use his or her discretion. This independence now determines if the race would race according to ‘juvenile delinquency’ or parental or elderly guidance.

Adolescence is the scariest phase of life. It is time when the blank ‘slate’ on the heart of children finally gets engaged through ‘positive writing or negative writing.’ This writing is dependent on the types of association they keep; the type of independence they are given and the type of parents they have. There are many children who took up ‘terrible’ habits while in secondary school while those who could not muster the courage get to tertiary institution to show their stunts. Adolescents do not need total independence.

Parental guidance is the delicate work of parents and guidance to nurture their children. Unfortunately, most parents are experts in correcting other people’s children while they leave their children to ‘rot’.  Parental guidance becomes effective when these children have imbibed the teachings of their parents; know the stand of their parents and can determine the response of their parents to whatever they do. There is a mode of reasoning by many people of my generation, ‘What Would Mummy Say?’ Not basically because they have made us fearful but because we see ourselves as worthy ambassadors.

There is a saying; it is better to train boys than to mend men! I remember greatly disciplined parents who would stand their feet and tell their children to the face, ‘If I still pay your bills or if you still stay in my house; then you cannot do that’. This is the turning point for many children. Parents should keep their stamp of authority till the child is finally independent and the good guidance which is equally good training is instilled into that child.

Make a choice either you want to battle with delinquent children later in life or you want to be parents of well trained children.

Enjoy your week!

Cheers!

Olu

Note: To know more about the film rating in Nigeria, read more on this Click here

You can share this article on various social media platform. However, the credit and copyright remains that of Olutayo IRANTIOLA

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STOOGE vs STAND OUT!

Morning,

It is a great day and welcome to a new week. The year is just starting and I am sure we are all preparing as much as possible to attain God-ordained heights for us this year.

There are many stories that we have heard about people who cannot exercise their rights in an office because they take instructions from a mentor, godfather, benefactor etc and this becomes obvious to their followers. The Yoruba have a saying, ‘ewo ni ka j’oye awodi; ka ma le gbe adiye’ meaning why would you be a hawk that can’t hunt for chick. Let’s think together about a stooge or someone who stands out!

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FINISHING CARELESSLY vs FINISHING STRONG

Complements,

Complements of the season! Hope you had a fun filled Christmas with your loved ones! We thank God for keeping us till this time of the year; regardless of how things are, we are assured of a blessed hope for a shining future ahead of us. All you need will soon come in full measure, be prayerful and be expectant!

After Christmas, we look forward to the end of the year but do you agree with me that some people would still be kicked out of their job before the end of the year, why? That is the 1 million naira question before me. The simple answer is they finished the year carelessly rather than finishing strong.

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