PRODUCTS vs CAVEATS

Morning,

It is another opportunity to see today! I hope you are ready to make the best out of today? Well, let’s do a little self-appraisal, what has been your performance thus far since the beginning of the year? The year is gradually coming to an end; how would you appraise yourself before someone else appraises you?

Some years ago when cigarettes was still been advertised on Nigerian Television stations; they would show you all the glamour exhibited by smokers but shortly before ending the clip, a deep baritone voice will come up to announce, ‘smokers are liable to die young’. There are certain caveats that are associated with certain products; let’s ruminate over it.

Products are the result of research, pleasure and self-gratification made for people to use as substitute for natural remedies. There are also medical products that have caveats, for example, all baby formulae have caveats about breastfeeding as still the best form of feeding for infants. There are certain products that are harmful while some are beneficial; some are used to show social status while some are used for the sake of consumption.

Caveats are the warnings made available to people who choose to use certain products. In a layman’s term, it can be said to, “I have shown unto you, Oh! Consumer what is good and acceptable; you have a choice to use or not to use”. Caveats are very simple ways of exonerating the production company from all that happens subsequently after you have decided to use the product.

There are some basic facts that can be drawn from today’s discussion. One, remember to read the prescription note on products that you want to consume. Two, do not live carelessly without knowing the side-effect of what you consume. Three, if possible, do not live an addictive life. Four, live a healthy life.

Companies would make huge profits while your consumption of their products would cause grievous bodily damages.

Have a healthy week.

Best wishes,

Olutayo

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OFFICIAL PERK vs PERSONAL POSSESSION

Bon jour,

Today’s opening greeting takes me down memory lane when I was a student of French in the secondary school and also during a basic certificate course in the University of Ibadan some few years ago. Bon jour means ‘Good morning’. Kindly allow me to say this; October 29, 2010 was the launch of the biography of my maternal granddad that I authored. It’s a project that I am extremely proud of; I am grateful to those who made the day a success and equally, all those who have read the book.

Back to business, top executives have a lot of benefits attached to their offices; these include cars (SUVs), apartment, subscription to world-class magazines, business class air travel, hotel accommodation, medical insurance, membership of influential clubs and a lot more. However, some of them come to nothing immediately they leave the office because they are unable to meet up to the financial obligation of such lifestyle they were introduced to while working. Today, we would be looking at official perk versus personal possession.

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EMPLOYEES FAVOUR VS EMPLOYERS FAVOUR

Iba o,

That is a way of paying homage and obeisance to Elderly people Yorùbá land.  Hope you are enjoying the challenges encountered daily? This would make us stronger, no doubt, because this is the reflector of the expertise that we have gained.

Today, I will be looking at something quite important and salient to our lives. There is a story of a particular man who was once working with a government agency; he went on assignment to a private company regularly. Along the line, they saw him playing a prominent role in their organization and he was poached. As of now, he has risen to the top echelon in the organization now. Who is favouring who?

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PREPARATION FOR MATURITY vs PRACTICAL MATURITY

Ikot Nyin,

This means “My People’’ in Efik language of Cross River State, Nigeria. Hope you had a great weekend? I deliberately rested during this last weekend so that I would be refreshed for a new week. Just an appeal, I know that this age is fast moving but regardless of that; we need to take a step at a time, so that we do not end our life abruptly.

Many a times, when a son is being driven to a distant farm by his father; he would usually complain and would be comparing himself to his friend that farms nearby the community. He would not appreciate the ‘hard’ training for maturity. The same also goes for a girl who resides with her elder sister, she would learn how to nurture a child from birth; she would not appreciate the training until she starts to give birth and she finds the process smooth. That is life for us!

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PLAYING ROLES vs REAL ROLES

Ndawatun,

This is a popular greeting amongst the Kanuris’ of Borno State, North-East, Nigeria; however I do not know the meaning but the response is ‘Kelewa sele’ if you meet a black man with tribal marks that runs from the forehead to the nose and also another long one on the cheeks; you may try this greetings. That would make you appreciate the diversity of Nigeria.

Let’s proceed into today’s discussion; playing roles versus real roles. At a point in time, we have had the opportunity of watching a movie. We would definitely have known that the play series of roles in different movies with different story-lines but this does not mean that they act out these roles in real life.

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EXTERNAL PERCEPTION vs INSIDER’S REALITY

Aba die,

That is ‘Hello’ in Ibibio language of the Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria. Hope you had a nice weekend? Mine was hectic but fun because I was engaged in activities that I enjoy. I pray that we would have a great week ahead.

Have you even seen companies that look really great in terms of branding, advertising, public relations and the carriage of the management staff but when you strike a conversation with a low-cadre staff; you will be blow off but the inability of the company to live up to external expectation.

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SHARP PRACTICES vs SHARP MINDS

Umu nnem,

I am coming to you as an Igbo man today. I am saying, My People! I hope you are doing great? I had a fascinating weekend; I met new people as I hosted a Yorùbá event tagged “Yorùbá LákỌ̀tun”. There was poetry and an interview session with Ọmọ-Ọba Olúṣẹ̀san Ajewọlé, the author of many Yorùbá and English literatures. I believe, it is time for cultural renaissance, if our language and culture will not go into extinction.

Back to the subject of discourse today, we all know that there are some children that we meet on the streets everyday who have developed a very crafty personality. These are children that you hardly would want to come your way. They have learnt sharp practices as against developing sharp minds.

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SCHOOL HOLIDAY VS PARENTAL LEAVE

Ina kuana, Antashe lafia ko?

These are expressions in Hausa language, Northern Nigeria, meaning, ‘Good morning, hope you had a nice night?’ I am delighted to have picked some words during my mandatory National Youth Service Corps some years ago. Well, that’s another story for another day.

It is the holiday season for pupils and students. Some of us who had the opportunity of going for holidays with our grandparents now appreciate those visits. We have come to an age when children are permanently left at the mercies of their teachers. From normal academic session to summer classes and to another academic year; let’s think together on school holiday versus parental leave.

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AISLE vs WINDOW

Dear Friends,

Welcome to a new week. Hope you had a great weekend? I am delighted to be here again. Yoruba and Owambe* things can hardly be separated. There are times when there are more than one event during the weekend and what determines the choice of attendance is based on the affinity of the celebrant or those involved. On a lighter note, so may I ask how many parties were you a part of this last weekend?

Have you ever been seated by the aisle in a luxurious bus? Then, there are people who could not afford to pay the same fare with you on board and they stand on the aisle throughout the journey from one region to another. There are times, when they would fall over you. Our discussion today is on Aisle vs Window.

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CONFLICT OF INTEREST vs MULTIPLE STREAM OF INCOME

Good morning,

Thank you for taking time to read my writings from time to time. I appreciate those who read it and I know that I would be tempted one day to write some specific names. Don’t worry; I will make it look like a genealogy!

I once had an experience wherein employees were all sent a document on the conflict of interest policy of the organization because it was noticed that many of the management staff now have company that are contractors to the organization. The organization got information about some people and they were shown the way out. However, the economic realities of our days need multiple streams of income. This is not an exhaustive HR note but it will be helpful for us all.

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MINE vs OURS II

Elders of our time,

I am starting today’s article acknowledging the Elders; this usually done in cultural settings when you are showing respect to traditional chiefs etc, but may I quickly add, by the virtue of official and ecclesiastical positions, many young people have become elders.

Every parent wants the best for his offspring; this is usually seen from the quality of education, feeding and the opportunities created for them; whereas such parents in a competitive bid do not do the same to relations, acquaintances et al. The handling of it is quite personalized at the expense of others. However, some children of the academia and clergy are on the flip side of the coin; their parents stake their neck for others while they want outstanding children who get it all based on merit. It is still the same world of Mine vs Ours!

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MINE vs OURS I

Dear friends,

It is a pleasure coming your way again this week. Hope you had a nice weekend? I enjoy doing what I do as I have seen my creative self delving into many times at the same time and I am seeing results. I will also want to appreciate those who have been reading this weekly series; you are the source of my encouragement up to the 81^st article in the series.

This is the first part of this topic and it will continue from another angle next week. I have 2 friends; who started out in a small office and they had to agree to rent an apartment together. One paid for the apartment while the other bought furniture of the same amount. At a certain time, one of them wanted to get married and the other had to excuse the couple. The one who excused the other went with all his furniture and the apartment was empty again to some extent and unfortunately, he lost some items to his friend. It is a world of mine and ours!

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IMMEDIATE BENEFIT vs ACCUMULATED BENEFIT

ụtụtụ ọma,

That is “Good Morning” in Igbo language South-Southern part of Nigeria. I hope you enjoyed the long weekend? It was more chores for me and I enjoyed it. It is back to business as norm and I am finding that engaging as well. The first challenge for today, do not stop creation because you are created to create what the next generation needs.

As an employee, there are many ways of being compensated for your service to a particular company. It could be in form of benefits, long service award and so on. These rewards are not for people who work for few years and move on to other companies. What is the difference between immediate benefit and accumulated benefit? Let’s proceed.

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CONTRACT STAFF vs PERMANENT STAFF

Siku Njema,

That is Good day in Swahili language, South Africa. Hope you had a great week? I feel so blessed every July because I have landmark accomplishments that last a lifetime, to be precise, I got a job in July; got married and many more. I appreciate God for all my testimonies.

My experience with the job I got some “Julys” ago; made me come up with today’s discussion; Contract staff versus Permanent staff. Many young people abhor this term but it is a reality that we have to live with presently as capitalist wishes. Let me paint a scenario, a group of staff in a company put themselves together to vent their anger about their condition of service but when the companies spokesperson would address the press; the company expressed their displeasure about the conduct of these disgruntled people who were unfortunately staff of a service provider; that is all! This now reminds me of someone’s saying, “it is easier for someone to come from another company and be recruited as a permanent staff than for a contract staff to cross the hurdle”.

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CAPTIVITY vs LIBERTY

Dear Friends,

How has been the 2^nd half of the year? I have been on a roller coaster experience and I am finding the challenge worthwhile. Also, I have been seeing great testimonies this year and I know I would share my good news with you soon.

I was on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi some days ago and I saw some prisoners in Black Maria heading to the law court for different verdicts respectively. I saw them trying to peep through the vent to catch a glimpse of what was happening on the street. Still in the same vehicle, I was hearing one of them praying while other responded, “Amen!”

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