Sometimes people refuse to associate with the church because Christians may seem to be less than perfect. A frequent excuse among men for not seeking salvation through Jesus Christ is, they say, "the church is full of hypocrites." Sadly, this charge is partly true.

This is an apology, a personal confession, and a statement of fact; after all, Christians are still only people, and people often fail to be at their best. The answer is, "yes, there are hypocrites in the church." But l' don't feel it necessary to say that the church is "filled" with hypocrites. We should give Christians some benefit of the doubt and assume that, although they are human, they are earnestly trying to live in accord with their convictions. We must- recognize the vast difference between those who are trying to live as Christians but who make mistakes and those who say they are Christians but do not try to live better.

The church is not the only place where we find hypocrites, however. They exist on the golf course, the highways, and in business. They are everywhere. Although you may not attend church because of them, have you given up golf, or driving your car, or working for a living because of them? Of course not, it wouldn't be practical. We overlook the hypocrisy of our golf companion when he cheats on his score, we do not cease to drive our car because the man in the next lane speeds, and we do not refuse our paycheck even though a fellow worker steals and does not give a day's work for a day's pay.

Why, only when the church is involved, do we feel hypocrisy seriously enough to withdraw from that association? If we quit church because of a hypocritical Christian, why don't we quit work because of a hypocritical fellow worker? It would be just as logical, yet I have never heard this excuse used for quitting work, have you? It has been said (but not by the Bible) that the church is a hospital for sinners. Jesus said nearly the same thing in Matthew 9:12, "They that be need not a physician, but they that are sick".

More exactly, the church is where God places those who come to him through Christ, See Acts 2:47. However, it is clear that, of those who come, many do not remain faithful to the teachings of Christ. Jesus spoke of this situation in Matthew 13:24-30 when told the parable of the wheat the tares. Tares are a useless weed which were, in the parable, sown in a field by an enemy of the farmer. Rather than pull out the sprouting tares, thereby destroying much of the wheat, the farmer decided to let the wheat and the tares grow together and then to separate them at harvest. Jesus explained His parable in Matthew 13:37-43 saying,

He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; the field is the would; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of the world.

The Son of man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity: and shall cast them into a furnace of fire where there shall be wailing, and gnashing of teeth. Admittedly, there are non-Christians who are better than some who claim to be Christians. There may also be non-Christians who are morally stronger than some who are, indeed, Christians. If you are one of these and you are a very good person, does that eliminate Your need for a saviour? The apostle, Paul, said (in Romans 3:23), "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Thus, all men need the saviour

Jesus Christ, and there are none who can come to God without the saviour; Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me." Thus, if even a good man is to be saved, it must be through the way of Jesus Christ. Church membership is unavoidable when one obeys the will of Christ; this obedience results in a reaction by God of adding the obedient believer to the church. It is God who places the believer in the church, the believer has no choice in this matter. For further study examine the message - "Is church membership essential to salvation?" and also the message "You can be a Christian without joining any denomination".

Salvation and eternal life are obtained only through Christ. Christians, themselves, must live in the church with hypocrites who claim to be Christians and whose lives are an embarrassment for them and for Christ. However, those who seek salvation must not let the Hypocrites deter them, for disobedience to the will of Christ will result in condemnation; the existence of hypocrites in the church will not be a valid excuse on judgement day.

Check on the video Post by LaTanya Martin.

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RealTalk Undressed is a responsive, contemporary student-styled and oriented talk show program that focuses on contemporary issues in a modern world. This is new. This is different. This is fun. This is educative. Everyone is a participant.

Our Street Interview segment gets down to the common man and woman on the street to get their perspectives on related issues.

Click to watch video EPISODE 14 | PART 1 'below:

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND EVERYONE! MERRY CHRISTMAS AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR! AND PLEASE HAVE SAFE FUN!.

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FROM THE CREW OF SCANTY GELA BLOG: Wishing you and family and loved ones all the jingly, jolly joys of Christmas.

You are special, you are unique; may your Christmas be also as special and unique as you are! Merry Christmas to you and yours. Your smile is contagious, pass it on to everyone around. Make everyone happy all along! Merry Christmas.

May God bless you with all the happiness and success you deserve!

Merry Christmas.

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I met Theresa Lola when she performed at the African Literary Evening. She got a standing ovation for her poem ‘Bring Back Our Girls’. She has a mesmerizing power, and you will agree with me that she is incredibly talented. She spoke to Tundun Adeyemo from www.blackandoutspoken.com over the weekend.

Why poetry? How did you get into poetry?

I developed an interest in writing while in primary school after entering a story writing competition set up by the school. In my teenage years, as I began experiencing more things in life, I began to focus on poetry as I felt it was a more intimate and powerful way to express myself.

What is the most that has generated most acclaim for you?

The ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ poem has so far generated for me the most acclaim. It’s a poem written for the girls kidnapped by Boko Haram in April 2014. Apart from me, there are a lot of people doing all they can to keep the ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ campaign alive so people really connected with the emotions in the poem when they heard it.

Who is your favourite poet?

I have a few who I admire for different reasons. Three of my favourites are Warsan Shire, Aja Monet and Zora Howard. 

What books are you reading now?

"Imagine This" by Sade Adeniran, "Americanah" by Chimamanda Adichie,  " She Sweats" by Aja Monet

Are there enough female African poets or spoken word artistes?

A lot of poets are ‘underground’ writers and sometimes unless involved in the stage or other forms of promotion it is hard to tell just how many female African poets there are in the UK. There could be more; however, the few that are in the UK are doing great things with their work and are setting a path and standard for those coming into the spoken word scene. 

Who is the most famous artiste you have worked with?

As of now, most of my collaborations have been with either filmmakers or producers. I frequently work a music producer from London known as ‘Kente Kwame’ who has produced music for the likes of Fifi Rong, Elijah Benoit and The Wordstress. In the future, I would love to collaborate with other poets.

Where are you going with your poetry? Is this what you wanted to be when you were younger?

I  have always wanted to be a writer. I would love to release  a book and someday and hopefully perform full time.  Being successful in the world of both spoken word, and written poetry is also my main dream. 

What inspires you?

Everything my eyes have seen or my ears have heard, or my hands have touched. Past experiences, along with my childhood and my perspective on life are huge inspirations. My poems are also a reflection of social and political issues in the world today. The desire to be an added voice to these issues inspires me to write about them

Tell us something about you that you haven't told anybody before ?

Hmm hahaha, I once took karate classes when I was 12, but after noticing the tall people in the karate class and seeing my own small skinny body, I decided to quit.

Are you looking forward to Christmas?

I am very excited.  Christmas, it’s such a joyful time of the year. It’s a family tradition every year for us  to come together as a family to play games, cook, open presents and just have fun. 

Is there a link between poetry and fashion? I see you like fashion as well.

I love fashion; both are ways in which I express myself. Finding my own style and finding my own voice in poetry as I got out of my shy shell were similar journeys growing up. Both have blossomed at the same time which is why there are interchangeable tools for me. Fashion is just as powerful, a symbol of an expression. A colour can tell you different emotions based on how a person is wearing it, the same way two poets can write about the same thing, but from different angles.

Any message for those who want to be like you?

Write as much as you can to get your mind into the habit of opening up. Be persistent, network and prioritize. 

Everybody has enjoyed the poem about the Chibok girls you wrote why did you write it? 

I was first approached by the media platform called ‘Word On The Curb’ to write about a current issue. Upon finding out the youngest girl kidnapped was about 9, I felt an even stronger urge to write a poem ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ on the Chibok Girls. I felt different emotions, sadness, anger and remorse not just for the girls but for their families.

You are working on your book, when should we expect that?

The book should be released before summer of 2015. It’s something I want to take my time with and give it my all.

Where can we find out more about you?

My Twitter handle is @theresa_lola.  I have a poetry and fashion blog which is creativeshot.tumblr.com 

Thank you so much.

Originally published on www.blackandoutspoken.com

Tundun from Sahara Reporters contributed.

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British actress Emma Watson made an impassioned plea to women around the world: "Don't let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do, or cannot achieve.

"Just don't allow it. It's wrong. It's so wrong. Be what you want to be -- and prove them wrong."

The emotional Harry Potter star took to the stage at Facebook's headquarters in London on Sunday, March 8, to talk about gender equality as part of International Women's Day celebrations.

Of the dozens gathered at the event, the majority were bespectacled young men -- not so unlike Harry Potter himself.

Describing the "surreal" moment she gave a speech at U.N. headquarters, later watched by 17 million, Watson said: "Gender equality historically has been a woman's movement.

"And how it's affecting men hasn't been addressed," she told moderator Greg James.

During the hour-long conversation, Watson gave the audience a rare glimpse into her private life -- and the difference between chivalry and sexism.

"I love having the door opened for me, isn't that just polite?" she said. "But I think the key is, would you then mind me opening the door for you?"

"Chivalry should be consensual."

And it's not just women affected by gender inequality -- men suffer too, she added.

"I get disturbed by this idea that men can't cry," she continued.

"They can't express themselves and I think that's the saddest thing in the world. Being able to express yourself is what makes you human -- it's not what makes you a girl."

When internet trolls threatened to release naked photos of the actress, following her UN speech, she said it only made her more determined in her campaign.

"If they were trying to put me off -- they did the opposite," she added.

Almost 230,000 men and boys across the world have since joined the HeForShe campaign, including U.S. President Barack Obama, and actors Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Matt Damon.

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#genderinequality #HeForShe @EmWatson "it's not about men saving women...it's an equality club for both genders." pic.twitter.com/mCuarChLyg
— Juan David (@JuanDavid1891) March 8, 2015

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"I read a letter of support from a 13-year-old boy that was equally as passionate as a CEO," said Watson, adding that she often read their stories before going to bed at night.

"I asked my younger sister: 'What would be the one thing you'd want from boys in your life?' She said: 'I just want them to play with us.' And I think that really translates at every level. We just want to be included."

Watson also talked about the inspiring influence of her mother, Jacqueline, who was a "single working mother and type one diabetic."

"She wanted me to be my own person and said a bit of rebellion was good," said Watson, adding: "She was actually thrilled when I got my first detention... I think I failed a Latin exam."

Answering questions submitted via Facebook, Watson said the recent lack of female representation at the Academy Awards showed that the fight for gender equality was far from over.

"Why are women not directing their own stories?" she said.

"The human race is a bird -- and it needs both its wings to fly. And at the moment one of its wings is clipped," said Watson, paraphrasing famous American feminist, Gloria Steinem.

When asked what things we can all do to affect change, the actress said it wasn't necessarily about grand actions -- but small ones.

"It's everyday, it's individual, it's on a case by case basis," she said.

"Whether it's speaking up or trying to change the way someone else thinks about an issue."

In the audience, a man wearing a Hogwarts jumper asked Watson whether women should be paid the same as men, when they are more likely to take maternity leave.

She answered: "I don't think in the grand scheme of things [maternity leave] is going to hinder a woman being incredibly effective in her field.

"I think men should be equal partners in raising children."

You can watch the full video of the conversations on Watson's Facebook page.

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Onlookers at a train station in northern India watched in awe as a monkey came to the rescue of an injured friend - resuscitating another monkey that had been electrocuted and knocked unconscious.

The injured monkey had fallen between the tracks, apparently after touching high-tension wires at the train station in the north Indian city of Kanpur.

His companion came to the rescue and was captured on camera lifting the friend's motionless body, shaking it, dipping it into a mud puddle and biting its head and skin - working until the hurt monkey regained consciousness.

The first monkey, completely covered in mud, opened its eyes and began moving again.

Crowds of travelers watched the Sunday scene in amazement, filming and snapping pictures.

Watch video below:

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Credit: The Guardian

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After collapsing near the finish line of the Austin Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday, 29-year-old Hyvon Ngetich of Kenya was offered a wheelchair and assistance, both of which she refused.

Determined, Ngetich then crawled the remaining 50-meters to the to end of the race while the crowd cheered her on, finishing third in the elite women's division in 3 hours and 4 minutes. According to Keye-TV, Ngetich led the elite women to the 23 mile mark, before she was overtaken.

The race director, John Conley, was so impressed with Ngetich's determination that he doubled her prize from $250 to the second-place prize of $500.

“You ran the bravest race and crawled the bravest crawl I have ever seen in my life," Conley told Ngetich. "You have earned much honor, and I am going to adjust your prize money, so you get the same prize money you would have gotten if you were second.”

Watch video below:

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It's Sunday and a beautiful day. Here's a video of  Hay Why De Rapper going in on a rap holy rampage to give God several meanings.

Watch Video below:

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Bonus video below:

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“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” - Neale Donald Walsch

Beyond your comfort zone lies what you really want: to grow, change, and live your life with passion. The problem? Getting there requires you to break out of your comfort zone, and going outside your comfort zone is intimidating. As scary as it is, however, pushing through your fear and getting out of your comfort zone is essential for growth.

“Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.” – Brian Tracy

The below guide is a one-week action plan that you can use to break out of your comfort zone. Starting with these small steps will give you the confidence booster you need to eventually take bigger steps out of your comfort zone.

By experiencing success with these small action steps, you will rapidly develop the momentum needed to make a breakthrough.

Follow this action plan for the next 7 days and you will be excited to continue stepping out of your comfort zone!

1. Do a random act of kindness
Is there a better way to start your week by pushing out of your comfort zone to do something kind for a stranger? I think not! Random acts of kindness are awesome. They make another person’s day start off great (and honestly, who doesn’t need a mood booster on Monday morning?). There’s also a benefit to your life. By doing kind hearted things for others and expecting nothing in return (no thanks, no praise, just you quietly doing amazing stuff), you feel great. It’s Monday, grab your caffeine and get out of your bubble… it’s time to break out of your comfort zone and do something thoughtful for a stranger.

Monday’s Breakthrough Tip: Pay for a coffee for the person behind or beside you in line at the Cafe.

2. Startle your taste buds
Coming out of your comfort zone can start in your very own kitchen! You can begin by experimenting with a new spice. Gradually you can progress to trying entirely new foods and perhaps some totally exotic foods. Some you might love, and others not so much, and that’s okay. How will you ever know if you don’t try them? The key is to start playing with different flavors and expand your palate. Instead of mindlessly creating the same boring meals from recipes you’ve used repetitively for years, start experimenting. Try another veggie instead of spinach in your salad or African soup, mix a new refreshing drink or smoothie, or buy some cheese you’ve never heard of (black bomber, anyone?) haha.

Tuesday’s Breakthrough Tip: Use a new spice while cooking dinner.

3. Strike up a conversation
Strike up a conversation with someone you never talk to – either a stranger or an acquaintance. As always, be safe (avoid late-night conversations with strangers in dark alleys). Feeling awkward and not sure what to talk about? Pay them a compliment. Better yet, tell them they are beautiful and you just wanted to say that...AND mean it. Everyone likes that. You never know who you’ll meet; there are likely a lot of amazing people around you every day. Who knows, maybe the person who sits next to you in lecture halls every day will become your new friend.

Wednesday’s Breakthrough Tip: Compliment a stranger.

4. Say I love you
How often do we tell our friends and family members how much we love and appreciate them? I’ll give you the answer – not enough. Life is short, and too often it ends abruptly. Even if your family isn’t overly emotional and doesn’t talk about feelings, get out of your comfort zone and tell your loved ones how much you care about them. It doesn’t matter if your words are written in a letter, sent via Facebook message, Skype, Whatsapp, Snapchat, Or spoken over the phone, or shared in person. Just get your thoughts out of your head and share them with those who are dearest to you.Tell them how their influence in your life has made you who you are today.

Thursday’s Breakthrough Tip: Send a card to a relative stating why you’re thankful for them.

5. Take one baby step
According to author Joseph Epstein, “81 percent of Human beings feel that they have a book in them.” There are hundreds of millions of people who apparently aspire to write. If you’re one of them, start today by setting tiny goals. If you dream to write a book, write 2 sentences today. If you have different aspirations, take a baby step in a different direction. If you want to go back to school, sign up for one class this semester. If you want to eventually run a marathon, set an initial goal of walking 5 minutes. You just need to start putting one foot in front of the other. Looking ahead at your overall big dream may be overwhelming and far out of your comfort zone; breaking it down into small chunks will significantly decrease the intimidation factor.

Friday’s Breakthrough Tip: Consider a big dream you have that is out of your comfort zone. Break it down. Set a tiny starting goal you know you can accomplish and do it today. Repeat this daily.

6. Look for Events
Look through the newspaper and your local community education flyer or scan facebook events. Are there any upcoming events or classes that piqued your interest? Taking a class, even if it’s just a couple hours, can be out of your comfort zone if it’s something completely new to you. By learning a new skill, you just might stumble upon your passion. A friend of mine stepped out of her comfort zone and signed up for a random music class a couple years ago, thinking it would be a fun way to kill a few hours. She absolutely loved it. So much, in fact, that she’s considering decreasing her hours in the healthcare field (she has a masters degree and an excellent career) to spend more time fine tuning her recently discovered musical skills. She started by returning to the studio to take more classes, then began uploading songs she created to family and friends, and now her music is being sold in iTunes.

Saturday’s Breakthrough Tip: Sign up for a school club to learn something new.

7. Unplug
In today’s always “on” society, where we have instant access to all kinds of information, and we’re constantly connected to social media, it can be uncomfortable to turn it off. Yet disconnecting from your phone and internet can spark true connection with others, and give you time to reflect. Many people have a continual “fear of missing out,” and are attached nonstop to electronic devices…but does it really matter if you turn off your social media for a day? Is it seriously important for you to know what your friend from 20 years ago had for breakfast? No, it’s not, but nevertheless, unplugging in today’s world can feel uncomfortable and out of your comfort zone. Developing a habit of unplugging one day per week, as difficult as it can be, can promote mindfulness and true connection with the people who matter most in your life – those that you actually spend time with in real life, not just online.

Sunday’s Breakthrough Tip: Place your phone in a basket on the kitchen counter, where it will stay all day, turned off. Then go out and spend the day doing something fun for a change. Actually talk to someone you haven't talked to in long while. Visit friends physically not through social media, and spend time having fun for the sake of having fun. Don’t take pictures with the intent of posting them on social media. Just be.

Congratulations!

You’ve done it! You’ve officially survived a full week of spending time out of your comfort zone every day. Way to go!

You will do great things if you continue to have the courage to take bigger and bigger steps out of your comfort zone!

*Written by K.U.S.H | c/o Life Hackers
 [Member, SGB Writers Club]

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Cyprus-based Zimbabwean designer Pambayi Kapenzi continues to scale to greater heights since the launch of his label in August 2015. The brand, called “Legacy” and now internationally recognised, has a collection from haute-couture to ready-to-wear.

The label is seen on hoodies, T-shirts and bottoms and is causing a stir in countries like Canada, Malaysia, Australia, South Africa, the United Kingdom and Cyprus among others and is based on African print.

In an online interview recently, affectionately known as K-Pay, said he chose the name “Legacy” because of an identification crisis.

“My plan is to make ‘Legacy’ the biggest African label in the world. "I came up with the name ‘Legacy’ because I wanted to create something that will last forever and this can be achieved by making clothes of a high quality and which are different. I have always been fascinated with the thought of designing my own clothes. I was sick and tired of going into shops and looking for things to match my style so I decided to design my own,” he said.

K-Pay, a third year student at Cyprus International University studying advertising and public relations, said so far the challenges he faces is demand due Zimbabwean celebrities abroad.

“I am happy that the label is growing by the day. Demand is high for a clothing label coming up so it really strains. I am working on opening a shop back home this year 2016. So far people can only buy online. ‘Legacy’ has been featured in numerous blogs by bloggers in Tanzania, Cyprus, South Africa, Canada and Australia,” he said.

Asked who his role model was he said he was inspired by societal settings. “My role model is my mother although sometimes I am inspired by societal settings to come up with a design. She is my pillar of strength. I have learnt not to give up from her. I also like Kanye West because he is daring, loves to be different and does not stick to one lane,” he said.

“I started ‘Legacy’ clothing in August 2015, designing my own clothes. My friends later asked me who I was wearing and this gave me the desire to venture into the business. I started making T-shirts and soon the demand got too high that I moved on to making a winter collection which has been highly successful in different parts of the globe,” he said.

He said the main reason he was making it big was the uniqueness of his style. “Fashion is an in-born thing and to me it is just like drinking water. My sense of style has made me go so far. I am happy that the designing industry is growing but most designers lack depth. They should do research on styles and be creative so that they don’t imitate others. Looking closely, clothes are the same but they need that unique touch to create a brand,” he said.

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A Nigerian student achieved the highest grades at a university in Japan for 50 years and solved a maths equation in his first semester at his university that was unsolvable 30 years ago.

Ufot Ekong, who studied at Tokai University in Tokyo, achieved a first class degree in Electrical Engineering and scored the best marks at the university since 1965, the Flotilla Magazine reported.

He began his success early at the university, solving a 30-year-old maths equation in his first semester.

Throughout his university career Mr Ekong won six awards for academic excellence.

The mathematician worked two jobs alongside his studies to pay his way as a student.

Mr Ekong also speaks English, French, Japanese and Yoruba and won a Japanese language award for foreigners. He is currently working for Nissan and already has two patents for electronic car design to his name.

Tokai University is a prestigious private university based in the Japanese capital, which was founded in 1924. It is focused on the sciences and technology and roughly 60 per cent of all students are enrolled in these schools.

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“My name is Debbie. I am a female, 16 years and just left the territory of my ‘disciplinarian and strict’ parent to be an undergraduate outside my country.

While under my parents’ supervision, I was not allowed to have any male friends, even my female friends were not comfortable being with me when my parents’ terrorizing eyes are judgmental. I am not allowed to be free, mingle with my friends, and wear clothes in vogue. A lot was not going down well with me while I was with my parents, now I have the freedom I have always dreamed of.

My decision while leaving the shores of my country is to maximize my freedom to the fullest! I will go clubbing, have as many friends as possible, wear skimpy clothes, attend lectures if it does not clash with my agenda to mention a few”.

In most cases, this is usually the decision of every teenager leaving his or her parents which is always because of their experiences and level of discipline imposed by their parents. This is however a wrong mindset or decision to take. Most times, we fail to understand that everything our parents do or say is for us to become better persons in life. Many a times, we see and appreciate their efforts as we get older.

Even though you are currently in a department that is not of your choice; either because your parents decided for you or you are placed there by the school, you should strive to be the best. Our parents as investors, expects returns on every investment especially a long term investment like us, so we owe it to them to give our best to all we do in school. I will like to state few ways in which we can achieve academic excellence and also having a balanced like. Here are the few:

Let God be your guide: the first thing we need to do it to have God as our pathfinder. Trust him to always guide you in your daily affairs, in the friends you choose, etc. this can never be over emphasized.

Your resolution: Make a strong resolve to be the best in your class or department by
Stop procrastinating. Get your work done on time and before deadlines. You’ll probably find you eliminate quite a bit of stress in your life!

Give it 110%. You may already be submitting excellent coursework and studying hard for each of your classes.  Try putting just a little extra effort towards one class or project.

Don’t do it all. It’s better to concentrate on a few things and excel in them than if you join every committee, activity and club that you can cram into your schedule.

Banish the self-doubt. Doubting your own abilities only holds you back from achieving what you want to achieve. Just say no to negative thoughts!

Adopt a positive mantra. Repeat after me: I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.  You’ll be amazed what you can accomplish just by telling yourself that it is possible!

Reach out to others. Look to others in your classes for help when you need it.  If you didn’t understand a lecture, perhaps your classmate can explain it in a different way that makes sense to you.  And in turn, you may be able to help other students down the road.  Together Everyone Achieves M

Social Life: All work and no play is just no fun at all. Even if you just assign one or two nights a week to “Play time,” do it. You can go to a movie, buy tickets to a show, attend a party, go for a hike or visit your parents. The key is to do something just for the fun of it. It’s necessary to release some of the stress of the week by finding something enjoyable to do to blow off some steam. You may be pleasantly surprised at how refreshed you feel after some innocent shenanigans with an old buddy or a nice belly laugh at a comedy club.

Take some “Me Time.” You are likely working, studying, and trying to be a good friend or family member all at the same time.  That’s hard work!  Carve out a little time each month to do something positive for yourself.  You are working hard, reward yourself for a job well done.

I hope putting in place these few things will help you achieve your academic goal and live a balance life which will bring satisfaction to you and joy to your parents.

*Originally published on TAIWOELUWOLE BLOG Learn more »

Righting old wrongs - Sometimes, people choose mates who resemble their parents not because of fond memories, but to make amends for an unhappy childhood. Psychotherapist Elayne Savage says familiarity is a big reason people may choose someone like Mom or Dad as a partner.

"This is most common if you felt rejected or abandoned by a parent and still haven't worked through it," says Stephen Treat, director of the Council for Relationships, a Philadelphia nonprofit. "Your psyche wants to go back to the scene of the crime, so to speak, and resolve that parental relationship in a marriage."

Women who felt abandoned by their fathers are likely to choose emotionally unavailable men, for example, and men raised by hypercritical moms will be drawn to wives who pick on them, he says.

It's not a good idea. "You think you'll be able to heal this way, but you're probably no more equipped to deal with the situation than you were as a child, and the parental dynamic gets repeated in your marriage, usually with bad consequences," he says.

Comfort in familiarity

Psychotherapist Elayne Savage says familiarity is a big reason people may choose someone like Mom or Dad as a partner.

"When you grow up familiar with a certain type of person, you're attracted to that same type of person because it feels comfortable, whether you like it or not," says Savage, author of "Breathing Room: Creating Space to Be a Couple." "That's what people mean when they meet a potential partner and say, 'It 'feels like I've known him my whole life.'"

Anecdotal evidence also suggests that a parent's physical or intellectual traits may have some influence. A Hungarian researcher studied the facial features of 52 families and found a significant correlation between the appearance of men and their fathers-in-law and those of women and their mothers-in-law.

And in a survey of approximately 2,700 "high-achieving" men -- those in the top 10 percent of their age income bracket and/or with an advanced degree -- a University of Iowa researcher found they are likely to marry women with education levels and careers that mirror those of their moms.

Miami resident Aaron Gordon, 27, wouldn't argue. Gordon's wife, Rebecca, 27, has the same career as his mom -- teaching gifted elementary-schoolers -- and the women share a love of cooking and talking on the phone.

"When I met Rebecca, she was pursuing a career in advertising, and it wasn't until well after we started dating that she decided she didn't like advertising and opted instead to get her master's in education," says Aaron. "Although I definitely wanted to marry an educated woman, I wouldn't say that it was critical that she match my mom's level of schooling -- though in the end, they both earned master's degrees."

Rebecca says Aaron is just like her dad. "The longer I'm with Aaron, the more I notice idiosyncratic things, like the fact that they both love politics, and are both bad drivers, and both love going to supermarket for like two hours and buying too much stuff," she laughs.

Reclaiming personal history

Does that mean it's a mistake to marry somebody like Mom or Dad?

Casey Clark Ney, 30, hopes not. She and her dad, who is now deceased, lived in different states after her parents divorced when she was a child. Although they had a warm phone relationship, Casey only saw him once or twice a year, and he wasn't very physically affectionate.

Her husband, James, 31, resembles her dad and has a similar "hard-working, calm, kind" quality. But James, too, isn't very affectionate.

"He grew up in a family who didn't do a lot of hugs and kisses and 'I love you's, and that does bother me," says Ney, a freelance journalist in Boise, Idaho. "I think there could be some truth in the idea that I'm working through my history in my marriage."

Breaking the chain

Despite evidence that suggests some of us are attracted to mates who resemble our parents, it's not a foregone conclusion, says therapist Barbara Swenson, director of the Couple Center in Sherman Oaks, California.

"If you want very badly to have a different and better relationship than the ones you grew up with, you can accomplish that if you go about it very consciously."

Swenson offers these pointers:

• Don't jump in. "Ideally you should date for a couple of years before engagement -- and not just long distance," she says. "You need to be together on those days when your car won't start ... to see how you and your partner support each other."

• Don't be afraid to disagree. "Assert yourself and see what your partner does with that," she says. "Can they put their needs aside and follow your lead once in a while? Make sure your relationship has room for give and take."

• Talk about life issues. Some questions to discuss sooner rather than later: If we have kids, will one of us stay home? Who will manage our money? "Premarital counseling can get these questions out on the table in a civilized way, and prevent problems down the road," says Swenson.

Credit: BBC Magazine

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I come to a point in my life when I start to doubt formal education. These few days I had some experiences that got me thinking about the point of learning things, that we know we don't like, we're not familiar, and/or we'll never use e.g. GE courses.

According to University of Illinois: "In order to be a well-educated, successful, and valuable participant in our rapidly changing global community, students need more than a professional or vocational training. When they graduate, they will enter a world in which they can expect to hold different jobs, and indeed even work in a succession of careers over the course of their lives. In order to prepare for this exciting, challenging future, they need during their college years not only to specialize in a major and train for a career, but to become more broadly educated, conversant with at least some of the many rapidly changing disciplines. They need to gain a sense of our past achievements, present developments, and future possibilities."

The thing is, if we never use/re-cite/talk about things that we learn, we'll eventually forget about it. I know that because I just had an experience with it. I feel that I've wasted my time and money in learning something that I won't use. 

I know that some of that stuff might come up someday, somehow, when talking to someone, but....if I can't recall what it is, it won't make me look or sound smarter. 

Example conversation:

Buddy: "We need to save paper more dude. If we keep on wasting paper, the trees that help sucking carbon dioxide from atmosphere will be depleting. You know, global warming will get worse."

Me: "Since when trees can suck carbon dioxide?"

Buddy: "Photosynthesis dude. Remember? From biology? Trees breathe carbon dioxide and produce oxygen during photosynthesis."

Me: "I guess I've heard something about photosynthesis from somewhere..."

Buddy: "..."

At another time, sometime after conversation with Buddy. In a group meeting to discuss ideas to reduce global warming. 

Me (enthusiastic with his "brilliant" idea): "You know, I think we should build an Air Conditioner-type of machine that can convert carbon dioxide into oxygen. So, we reduce carbon dioxide and produce oxygen at the same time!"

Group member: "Dude... it's impossible, the energy required to convert carbon dioxide to oxygen is huge. And to produce that energy, we'll burn more fuel and produce more carbon dioxide than we can convert."

Me (thinking): "Was it taught in biology class too?"

These conversation are just made up, and honestly I don't really know if it's actually true or not. It's just a sample conversation I made up, so don't sue me. 

Back to my point, I see the point of having to learning something that you don't know you'll use. I know my Flash class makes my Resume looks great, but if I'm offered a job in Flash, I'm sure I'll be fired on the next day. 

I have talked to several people about this, and they say that knowing more make them feel better about themselves. I can understand that, and sometimes I feel excited in learning something new too. But for me the "feel good" is only temporary. And eventually, the knowledge will be rotten somewhere in a corner of my brain. 

So to sum up, I'll put a quote by Don Akchin: "The more you learn, the more you forget. The more you forget, the less you know. So why study?"

Credit: Peter's Blog

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From child soldier and refugee to defence lawyer, Deng Thiak Adut’s story is truly inspiring and a classic case of rising up against all odds.

Born in Sudan, Adut was taken away from his mother at six, marched for 33 days and forced to fight with rebels in Ethiopia. At 12 years-old, Adut was shot in the back. He spent years fighting but eventually managed to escape to Kenya. With the help of the UN he was smuggled out of Sudan together with his brother and in 1998 arrived in Australia as an illiterate 15-year-old refugee.

Adut taught himself to read and in 2005 he enrolled for a Bachelors of Law at the Western Sydney University and graduated with a law degree. Adut now works as a lawyer in Sydney, determined to help other refugees with legal advice and support.

In a world inundated with negative stories about refugees and immigrants, Adut’s story is indeed extraordinary and a video on Adut’s journey by Western Sydney University highlights this remarkable story.

The video has been well received on social media for its portrayal of Adut’s story and its timely message about refugees and immigrants.

Watch the video below:

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After decades of studying and working with tens of thousands of patients, researchers at the Mayo Clinic say they’ve cracked the code to being happy.

The Mayo Clinic is one of the most prestigious health organizations in the world with as many as 8,000 ongoing studies exploring every imaginable condition — including unhappiness.

Lionel Ketchian is approaching a major milestone. He will soon celebrate the 25th anniversary of a very important date — Dec. 24, 1990, at around 5 p.m.

It’s not his birthday — or his wedding anniversary. It’s the exact moment Ketchian said he realized he was happy.

“I found it. I felt it. didn’t want to let go of it,” Ketchian said.

Who doesn’t want to get — and stay happy?

Psychiatrist John Tamerin says for many people the root of everything we’re chasing, a better job, more money or true love, is happiness.

But this endless pursuit often backfires.

“If you lead your life always waiting for a great thing to happen, you probably will be unhappy,” Tamerin said.

Now, after decades of research and a dozen clinical trials, researchers at the world-renowned Mayo Clinic, say they’ve actually cracked the code to being happy, and published it in a handbook.

Dr. Amit Sood led the research and says the first and foremost way to be happy is to focus our attention.

“You can choose to live focusing on what is not right in your life,” Dr. Sood said.

Experts say the human mind is instinctively restless, wandering from good thoughts to sad thoughts, scary thoughts and everything in between.

But if we learn to command our thoughts, shifting perspective away from the negative, and embrace the positive, we will be happier, experts say.

“Resiliency has everything to do with happiness,” Dr. Sood said.

The Mayo Clinic’s research also shows the degree of happiness people enjoy has to do with how resilient they are to life’s many curve balls. Happy people are very good at compartmentalizing and creating boundaries.

“So for example, if you’ve had a difficult day, when you get back home, for the first three minutes, forget about it, park it, and meet your family as if they’re long lost friends,” Dr. Sood added.

And perhaps one of the biggest hindrances to being happy is too much thinking about one’s self, research shows.

“Complainers are never going to be happy,” Ketchian said. “Happiness is a decision.”

So why did the Mayo Clinic decide to study happiness? Studies show happier people are healthier people.

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Even Before Christ, Hippocrates saw exercise as an elixir of life. So why has inactivity become so appealing, and at what point did we forget that exercise makes us feel good?

Two thousand years ago, Hippocrates, the Father of Modern Medicine hit the nail on the head. He said, that if we all had “the right amount of nourishment and exercise, not too little and not too much, we would have found the safest way to health”. Bingo.

Obviously then, being a species of great intellect, over the next two millennia we took on his sensible advice, integrating exercise into our daily life and cashing in on the rewards for our bodies and minds. Hmm, maybe we didn’t quite all get that memo. Instead something else happened and physical inactivity grew into the fourth largest global killer in the world (according to the World Health Organisation), with some claiming it takes more lives than smoking, diabetes and obesity combined.

Yes, physical inactivity has its price tags. It is linked to the development of chronic health problems like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, depression, dementia and cancer. It can make us feel bad about ourselves, guilty and frustrated, appeased only with the ever alluring reward of inactivity – comfort, rest and stress-free. 

The third price tag, and possibly most in need of an active not passive reaction, is the generational one. There is growing over the degree of inactivity in children with precipitants embedded within our shift to a more sedentary lifestyle, fear and risk associated with outdoor play, and the advent of more advanced and ‘real-life replacement’ for one in four children who see online social networking and gaming as their activity. 

Even more sobering is the evidence that suggests many children still have a negative approach to physical activity in schools, with teachers believing that nearly half of primary school pupils leaving school without “basic movement skills”, and that more than one in three children dislike exercise by the time they leave primary school. These barriers can potentially frame their adult sedentary life. A high price tag indeed.

Make no mistake, these are massive, insidious, chronic alarm bells. So it’s no surprise that in an effort to stem the physical inactivity shock-wave, there is an increasingly louder call from healthcare, academic and government sectors to seed physical activity firmly at the heart of our healthcare system.

You need a plan. Now I like simple, so my plan has only two steps; Step 1 – write down your motivation, asking yourself the following about your goals: what is it, why do you want it, when do you want to achieve it, what can help it and what may hinder it. Always remember to do this in the realistic context of your own busy life and please, never be hard on yourself - you are taking action! Step 2 is to apply your goals to the “F.I.T.T principle”, a way to plan your exercise. I’ve summarised this below:

Dr Nick Knight is a junior doctor based in London with a PhD background in human performance www.drnickknight.com

@Dr_NickKnight

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On the evening of September 16 as I was leaving Best Buy, I noticed this man [pictured] going through the garbage can outside of the store. As I walked to my car I watched him as he reached in the garbage can and pulled out fast food trash bags and inspected all that was in the thrown away bags. He did this for several minutes. He would find a few fries in one bag and a bite or two of a hamburger in another bag. You can see the hamburger wrapper by his knee where he was placing the food items he'd found.

He never bothered anyone or tried to stop and beg for money as people entered and left the store. After he went through the entire trash can he neatly cleaned up the area and wrapped up the food he found in the dirty hamburger wrapper. My heart literally hurt for him. I am not someone who just hands out money or even helps homeless people because so many are not truly homeless. I don't guess I've ever seen someone actually go through a garbage can to try to find food to eat.

I knew I had to help him. I got out of my car and asked him if I could buy him something to eat. He told me he would appreciate anything I could get him. He was on a bike and I told him if he'd follow me I'd buy him a meal at the fast food place around the block. He followed me and I bought him the biggest meal they had on the menu. The only request he gave me for his order was if I could get him a big glass of sweet tea to go with his meal!
When I brought him his food, he was so thankful. He told me his name was Steve and he'd been homeless ever since his sister died last September. He was trying to get off the streets, but it was so hard. I told him God loved him and I would pray for him. He told me again how much he appreciated the meal.

When I got back in my car, I drove off with such a heaviness in my heart for this man. I drove down the road and felt compelled to go back to help this man. When I came back he had finished his meal and was riding away. I pulled up beside him and asked him if there was any way I could help him. He told me not really. He never asked me for money. I asked him if I could buy him a few meals and put it on a gift card for him. He told me that would be so kind. I drove to McDonalds and bought him some meals and gave him a gift card.

He broke down crying. He told me that he prayed for me today! I wasn't sure what he meant (I was assuming he was praying for me for what I did for him) so I thanked him. He said, "No, you don't understand. I prayed that God would send someone to buy me a hot meal today...and he sent you!" I didn't know what to say...I was speechless! Praying for a hot meal wasn't a prayer I had prayed today! Come to think of it, that's not a prayer I've ever prayed! I always pray over my food, but I've never prayed for a meal...its expected! I've never doubted that I wouldn't be able to eat...Tears began to fill my eyes! Oh my...how blessed am I... Maybe God used me to answer this man's prayer...to let him know that He cares for Him and knows what goes going through! But, maybe God used this man to show me just how blessed I am and what I take for granted...

He said, "You see, I have cancer!" He pulled up his shirt and pointed to a huge mass that was poking out from his stomach. He said said he knew it wouldn't be much longer. I asked him if knew Jesus. He told me that he did. I asked if I could pray for him and he said that I could. We prayed right there on the sidewalk of McDonalds. Tears just poured from his eyes. He told me he knew that he was going to die and that he was ready to die. He was tired of being in pain and he would be better off dead because this was no life - living this way. I stayed and encouraged him for a few minutes trying to fight back my tears. My prayer is that I showed him the love of Jesus today...that something I said gave him a hope.

You see, everybody has a story! I know Steve's story now...all because I felt compelled to help him...he ended up touching me today!

When I left him, I knew I had done what God wanted me to do! God put him in my path today...I know he did! I've never felt such a feeling to help someone as I did today. I was reminded again of how blessed I am! I have a vehicle that gets me from place to place, I have a roof over my head, clean clothes, money to buy a hot meal, running water, electricity, my health, a job, family, and friends! Sometimes God sends situations our way to remind us of how blessed we are! If you've read this far, please remember Steve in your prayers!

Yes, I have been blessed, God's so good to me! Precious are His thoughts of you and me! There's no way I could count them, there's not enough time, so I'll just thank Him for being so kind. God has been good, so good! I have been blessed!

Credit: John Brantley via Facebook Learn more »

This was filmed over the course of 7 days at El Teide, Spain’s highest mountain. It’s renowned as one of the best places in the world to photograph stars.

Make sure your sound is on, and activate full-screen HD for the full experience.

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• Liga Briva · Follow
  

  So beautiful. I wish people would spend more time on enjoying every single moment that they have on Earth rather than running like rats everyday in modern slavery.Not paying attention around of where we live and how miraculousness the world is.

  Reply · Like · 2 · Follow Post · January 11 at 11:06pm
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  Mia Efrem ·  Top Commenter
  

  What a beautiful world we live on, Mother Earth is amazing,
  if only we'd stop warring and enjoy our short time here, seeing, loving and being in peace.
  Thank you for sharing.♡

  Reply · Like · Follow Post · January 20 at 2:21am

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Paul Orajiaka, a 37 year-old Nigerian entrepreneur, is the founder of Auldon Limited, a manufacturer of African-themed toys. Auldon manufactures dolls and other toys which depict, promote and teach Africa’s cultural heritage to children. Orajiaka founded the company 17 years ago with less than $100; it now has annual revenues of more than $10 million.

Apart from Nigeria, Auldon’s toys are now sought after in countries like South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, and some parts of Europe. Last year, Auldon launched the Unity Girl Dolls, a set of multi-cultural dolls clad in the traditional attires of Nigeria’s major ethnic groups. It has been a runaway success and a tremendous hit among Nigerian parents and their daughters.

Orajiaka is currently studying for a Doctorate in Business Administration [DBA] at Henley Business School of the University of Readin, majoring in Entrepreneurship. The interviewer recently had a chat with him where he recounted his journey and spoke about his future plans.  

Why did you decide to venture into manufacturing African-themed toys?

I grew up in Warri in Southern Nigeria, and I did my secondary school education in Benin state. I recall that immediately after my secondary school education at Igbinedion Secondary School, Benin City, my sole ambition was to travel to the United States to seek the proverbial greener pastures. I never exactly planned to venture into the toy business. I was 18 at the time and determined to leave Nigerian at all costs. So, along with my friends, I made countless unfruitful trips to the American embassy in pursuit of an American visa. Eventually, all my friends were given visas, except me.

Naturally, I became dejected and ashamed. I had no clue as to what my next line of action was going to be. So I decided to stay back in Lagos and not return to my hometown where I would be mocked by my friends. You see, a lot of shame was attached to my disappointment at that time, being the only one out of all my friends who was denied an opportunity to go the U.S. So I decided that the only way out for me was to stay back in Lagos and work with my in-law in Idumota market and that is how that reluctant step taken out of frustration ended up becoming my glorious journey to success and fulfillment.

Idumota is a very saturated business hub and it’s not exactly the classiest place. Very few young men I know would like to start out in a place like that? How demanding was it building a business from Idumota?

I look back now and smile because it was indeed a difficult decision to make at that time. Idumota is largely congested and is a hustle-driven environment. It wasn’t fun at all. I felt like a fish thrown into a sea, filled with sharks and there I was trying hard not to be eaten up. All these factors emboldened me to strive in making a mark.  With this in mind, I had no choice but to get used to it.

Not long after settling in, the lid on my eyes were taken off after I came across young men who were doing extremely well in their different spheres of business.

Just before, I got too carried away I realized it was equally imperative, that I go back to school and get educated. So while I was working for my in-law, I enrolled as an accounting student at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), after which I proceeded to getting a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Lagos Business School, Pan-African University (PAN). Expectedly, after graduating from school, I became better equipped for the journey ahead, which saw me take the management and administration of my business to a greater scale.

Today, I can confidently beat my chest and say, a humble beginning which started about 17 years ago as a small venture, is now a leading company, importing and supplying top quality range of educational toys to wholesalers and retailers in Nigeria.  Going back, 1997, when we started, our capital base was just $30, but as at 2014, the company’s turnover has surged to over a $7 million. We have also metamorphosed into a Limited Liability company, status, which we attained in 2002 employing well over 400 people, inclusive of direct and indirect.

Nigeria is not known to be a conducive environment that enables small businesses to thrive. What gave you the drive to forge on amid challenges you must have encountered, especially funding?

You are not far from the truth; I almost gave up because initially, it was an uphill task building this business from scratch, especially without funding from banks. It was near impossible to continue, but my frustration and anger at the banking system coupled with lack of support, only made me further persevere, be more passionate and determined to ensure that the business grew. I tell you, it would be unfair to blame or criticize some Nigerian entrepreneurs who fail to surmount the numerous challenges which stifle their growth. That said, I have come to realize- despite the myriad of challenges bedeviling them, which range from power, lack of funds, wickedly high bank interest, lack of infrastructure e.t.c. An entrepreneur can still attain success, if he/she can recapture the passion and emotions of its beginning likewise inculcate same in its staff.

What led to the Unity Doll Project?

Over the years, my attention got drawn to the painful fact that our cultural values is fast eroding,  because most parents this days, shy away from teaching their children about their culture but instead allow them imbibe foreign cultures which robs them off their identity and very existence as   Nigerians.

I was saddened to see that most toys in Nigeria have no social and cultural relevance to children.

For me that was a vacuum, I needed to feel urgently, so I swung into action in order to make that important change, and that change gave birth to the Unity Girl Doll Project, a collection of 14-inch child developmental dolls that represent Nigeria’s three major tribes – Hausa, Ibo and Yoruba – delivering a social message to infants across the country and by extension the world at large, enlightening them about the Nigerian culture, allowing them have a sense of ownership early in life which puts them in good stead to making a positive impact when they are grown.

For me my passion is educating them before time with positive Nigerian values and that’s why all the dolls have contents which teach them all the positive stories and values they need to inculcate as they grow.

With all the challenges threatening to tear us apart coupled with the tribal sentiments causing division among us, we have asked ourselves what will unify us as a country. Although we have diverse cultures, our strength comes from our diversity that is why we did our research and decided to inculcate in our infants the need to embrace their indigenous culture and that of others early on. By so doing, it becomes easy to love others, because the message that we are one is passed to them from the beginning, also we are mindful of the fact that the girl child is a future mother, and would be home a keeper someday that would keep the home and by extension the nation together. So you would agree with me that it is only wise to give them the needed positive start that would make them great mothers, with their very first doll.

We have created a doll that is bound to inculcate in them the following, moral values, social values, social relevance and natural uniqueness which distinguishes us from foreign cultures alien from ours.

The dolls come in 14-inch sizes and are dressed in local attires likewise posses the following characters; Amaka (Ibo), Ronke (Yoruba) and Aisha (Hausa). The three dolls contain booklets that tell you about the rich culture, robust background, language and all other important detail of the three main tribe; Hausa, Ibo and Yoruba. One other thing worthy of mentioning is to present the Nigerian girl in looks peculiar to her, not the kind of looks that do not really represent Africa. What we have done is to create dolls that have relevance to us, look like us and portray our image in the right manner.

As it concerns the age bracket, we try to create a doll that a child as young as one year can use. The dolls have other features that older kids can use also. The Unity Doll also possesses beads, which children can customise and wear on the dolls, or on themselves.  We tried to make the dolls fit for any young girl to use so that at every stage of her life, she finds something relevant to her age in the dolls. But our target, are children between the ages of 1- 10 years.

How well have Nigerians taken to the Unity Doll and how strong are your distribution channels?

I am very pleased at the level of acceptance of these dolls and our other toys all over the country which has been massive and this are connected to the following reasons, namely; affordability, premium quality, availability, uniqueness and most importantly the educative value the dolls offer. So it is safe to say we are a market leader with strong prospect for increased growth. Currently, we distribute to all leading retail outlets and supermarkets across the country, namely Game, Shoprite, Spar, Next, Park n Shop Emab, and so on, the list goes on. Our visibility level is very high and that’s because there is a growing level of attachment between the dolls and our target market which are the girl child ranging from age1 – 10 and their parents. Unity Dolls has also started a fan club for the girl child where they can be groomed with positive key values needed to grow, and it is open to all children who fall within the stipulated age, 1-10. All they need do is register or have their parents register for them to become members on Unitygirlfanclub.com website. We also hope to increase distribution and presence over a period.

Teachers also appreciate it, for obvious reasons the educational value it gives and the fact that children learn faster when they are taught with fun things that easily captures their attention. That is why, If you observe these days, most things in nature are replicated in toys.

For instance, when teaching a child about fruits say an Apple, you show him a replica of that fruit, so he/ she can grasp easily, same goes for animals, e.g.  Zebra, you must show the child a zebra toy because children no longer go to Zoos to see animals.  In the same vein, you find children learning how to become engineers by dismantling and assembling toys.

That’s why I always appeal that parents buy educative toys that possess good quality for their children. You need to be sure of the quality. Toys should be safe   for children to play with. We want to be sure that children play with toys that have social relevance and not ones that teach violence. That is why if you go around our shops, you will never find a gun toy in whatever form. We do not even sell toys that have violent features. We ensure that our toys are 90 per cent educative.  We deal more in educational toys because we believe that aside being in business, we want to impact positive values on our children.

Any plans for the future?

At the moment we are working very hard on a number of ideas targeted at ensuring that Unity Dolls are present in every home in the country two years from now; also Auldon is hoping to strategically set up offices and retail outlets in the 36 states of the country most importantly satisfying our ever increasing demand for the dolls. New educative features that would engage and thrill children are also been conceptualized by our research team.

Also in the next five years we are planning to replicate a family fun resort, in the mould of Disney, after which our eyes are set on expanding to other frontiers, both Europe and Africa. Already there has been significant level of demand for Unity dolls, in Europe and Africa, Particularly Africa. What we hope to do in those places is to first of all gain significant presence in select countries in both climes, particularly Africa, especially where demand is highest after which we would then start customizing/ adapting the Unity Dolls into their own culture. We would love to one day be like ToysRus, the world’s leading kids store for all kind of toys.

Another thing; Auldon is considering assembling toys in the country so that it can create more jobs for people. Nigeria does not have the expertise to manufacture world-class toys, so what we plan on doing is get Completely Knocked Down Toys (CKG’S) that will be assembled here in the country. To this effect we have set the ball in motion to partner Lagos State Technical and Vocation Education board, where we can teach the students the process of assembling CKG’s after which they are employed after graduation.

Are there CSR initiatives you intend to embark on?

Yes, Auldon is very passionate about CSR, there is quite a lot we have done and especially in the area of education. No good man forgets where he is coming from. As part of our policy, my company ensures that part of the proceeds from the sale of our toys is donated to some reputable non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for the promotion of the girl-child education. There is also a percentage   that has been set aside for   the promotion of the girl -child   education from each doll sold. If you look at UNICEF statistics concerning the girl child, you will find out that the Nigerian girl-child is one of the most disadvantaged   in the world. Statistics has shown that the girl-child, especially from the Northern part of Nigeria, suffers from neglect in all ramifications. We are aware that little contributions like this, as well as working with reputable girl-child foundations, would make a great difference.

Also, Auldon has just concluded the renovation of some schools in dire need of refurbishing. A school in Ikorodu which was in a sorry site has just been completed and would soon be commissioned by the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola. I also take it upon myself to lecture students, in all Technical colleges across Lagos State, business skills that would see them become independent after graduation.

Follow the writer on twitter @MfonobongNsehe

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