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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HIJACKED POWER vs RELINQUISHED POWER

E kaaro o,

That simply means “Good morning” in Yoruba language. I am sure to get chastised by the 1st speakers of the language because I do not have the tonal marks that give the same word different meanings.

Today, I will be looking at power from a deadly angle and the other perspective. For every man (including woman), there is a time when one has the ability to pursue dreams with vigour during the vibrant stage of life. The person would attain power and position, however for every man, life can either demand for the power in different ways while one has a choice to relinquish power like the erstwhile President of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

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EMERGENCY MEASURES vs LONG TERM MEASURES

Wapendwa Marafiki,

Despite all the xenophobic attacks in recent times, I travelled to South Africa to bring you greetings, saying, “Hello Friends.” It is a great week around me with loads of commitments and challenges that would make me better. Hope we are all on the learning curve? Life is all about learning.

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SOLIDLY BUILT vs SHODDILY BUILT

E ku ati!

As a Yoruba boy, I appreciate greeting in the language that appeals so much to my instinct. I said "It's been a while!" in my dialect. I have been held down by circumstances beyond my control.

Today's discussion is about two buildings. These buildings are located in the same part of the town. They were built on the same soil type and they needed the same materials to erect them. However, one of the buildings was done by a contractor who cut corners. We all know the result of such tasks.

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP vs INTRAPRENEURSHIP

Idun nyin,

Welcome to another week. I hope you had a nice weekend? Hope it was splendid. I was at a wedding ceremony as the compere. May I tell you that I enjoy doing it when the programme is orderly. Well, I greeted you in Ibibio language of Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria.

The late Revd Goke Adeleke, chaplain of the Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria. Once described at a wedding ceremony, how people are now being responsible more to career than the family. He believed it is a ploy to separate man from marriage. If a man has actually left his parents and cannot cleave to his wife because of career; there is a need to tread cautiously because it might be the beginning of other relationships. You know what I mean, infidelity creeps in. This is an aside; we are considering Entrepreneurship versus Intrapeneurship.

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ACTUAL TIME vs INJURY TIME

Okpam,

The year is on a fast lane. A new month is already here. Hope you had a grand Worker’s Day holiday or outing and also a good weekend? The holiday was good for me because of the nostalgic memory that it brought; I had sufficient time to listen to music. I greeted you in Idoma language of Benue State, saying “My friend”.

Our tent is pitched with football today; there are different ways of referring to time on the pitch. The actual game would last for 90 minutes while few minutes are added as injury time based on the assessment of the referee of the summed up time when the game paused. However, there might be Extra time during games that a qualifying team needs to emerge. I am discussing this in relation to other areas of our lives hoping that football would teach us something helpful for our daily lives.

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