TERM 1 – This Is Just The Beginning….

BEGINNING – Its 3:30pm in Lagos, Nigeria on Friday April 21st, 2017. Pens down and it’s all over. About 102 days of preparation to this very day. Several days mixed heavily with fear, some tears, confusion, uncertainty, late nights, numerous nights spent in the library, juggling different time zones to meet syndicate meetings for group projects, adjusting to school-work-personal-life after obtaining my MSc about 12-years ago, prayers, dreams, aspirations, motivation, struggling to obtain FX from banks to meet tuition payments, etc. Examinations are over. Yes, I made it through the first semester of Financial & Management Accounting and Organizational Behavior. Two courses that I had never taken in my life. It wasn’t easy but through it all my faith strengthened and I was surer than ever that the Global Online MBA program at Imperial College London Business School was the right choice.

IT’S DONE – I was excited that I made it through the first term and my assurance that attending Business School was the right choice! I give God the glory because many times there were those inside voices in my head, mind and heart that created such good reasons why the MBA program was a big mistake. But truth is once you pray about something before you embark on it, there is this way God assures you in the mix of all the confusion and fear that you are indeed making the right decision.

AUTHENTIC – I am as real as you see me. It hasn’t been easy. In fact it has been damn too hard. The non-supportive exchange rate in Nigeria has made sourcing for FOREX very challenging. A majority of my monthly income is ploughed towards tuition payments. Yes you can say that again – It’s not a joke at all!!!…. But I have no regrets. It is a short-term sacrifice that will yield a long-term favorable result. No pain no gain right???? Hmmmm….

LONDON – Such a vibrant city with happy people and great food. It was my first time in more than two decades visiting the city. I arrived January 8th, 2017 to attend the mandatory one week MBA induction program. My arrival date – January 8th, 2017 was my wedding anniversary. On January 9th, 2017 we commenced the induction program – the day my daughter started Reception 2 at her new school. Yes, I missed two important days – my wedding anniversary and my daughter’s first day at her new school. However, I wasn’t sad because I believed the sacrifice I was making in developing myself will reap great rewards. Thankful for superb technology, my ever supportive mother shared pictures and videos of my daughter at her new school on her first day. My presentation on the first day of induction week was connected to my precious daughter. So even if we were far away, with receipt of the pictures and videos I felt so close to her. This is how love really feels…

FAMILY – I have the best family in the whole wide world. They have loved me, preserved and supported me through these past couple of months. They remained my bed-rock. During the many nights I spent in the library preparing for examinations – my fantastic mother (Ann), ever supportive husband (Bayode) and coolest kid sister ever (Omonye) watch my fabulous kids. So my kids didn’t really miss my absence while I was in the library preparing for my examinations.

WAITING – I am excited to see my grades in the next few weeks because it will be a testimony. A testimony I will gladly share with you – yes you reading my blog today!

DREAM – Never ever give up in what you believe. Dreams are free and Dreams become reality with the right formula – faith + hardwork. Miracles happens every day. It is my dream to work for a company that uniquely combines these key areas – fight against reducing poverty, distinct organisation structure and great culture. I will also like to start a Non-Profit Organization. Right now it seems like an enormous road ahead – but with faith and hardwork backed by an MBA degree from Imperial College; I’m pretty sure employers will be delighted to have me as an employee…. Hehehehhehehehe….

One last thing – I am not a writer. Infact I am a more quantitative person but something has moved me to start this blog. And I am happy I did. It’s kinda long overdue!

PRAYER – “The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not Protect you”.

Stay tuned for Term 2. I will be back to share my experience! Thanks for stopping by and feel free to leave a comment……

48 comments for “TERM 1 – This Is Just The Beginning….

  1. Nigerian chief to take action not by means of a army coup.
    He took over energy on seventeenth November 1993 when a Lagos Excessive Courtroom declared
    the Shonekan-led Interim Nationwide Authorities (ING) unlawful.
    There was a energy vacuum and Gen. Abacha was virtually begged to intervene and save
    the scenario and certainly the nation. He served as Head of
    State, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces for 4 years and seven months in one of the eventful period
    within the nation’s historical past.

    Normal Abacha got here to energy properly ready. He was the first Nigerian 4-star Normal who by no means jumped any rank from second lieutenant until he attained the rank of four-star Basic.
    He was additionally the first 4-star Common who by no means promoted himself however was promoted by successive governments until
    he attained that rank. Having served at the very best choice-making stage for nearly a decade earlier than he turned Head of
    State, he was certainly adequately uncovered and sufficiently skilled within the artwork of
    governance.

    He assembled among the best cabinets within the historical past of Nigeria.
    Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Alhaji BamangaTukur, Mallam Adamu Ciroma, Chief Anthony
    Ani, Chief Olu Onagoruwa, Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, Dr Walter Ofonagoro, Comrade Uche Chukwumerije, Ambassador Kingibe, by the way MKO Abiola’s working mate, Dr.Sarki
    Tafida, Chief Tom Ikimi had been a few of his
    ministers. It was solely Normal Gowon’s cabinet
    that might boast of such array of political
    heavyweights. He got here to energy with the total consent of the political class as represented
    by the 2 political events as properly because the navy.
    And it was a bloodless operation, being himself a veteran of coups.

    The first duty of any authorities is the safety of lives and property of its individuals.
    Accordingly, Abacha gave most consideration to safety.
    Mr. Peter Nwaoduah, a radical skilled was Director Normal State Safety Service (SSS) beneath Abacha.
    For the army, Basic Ishaya Bamaiyi was Military Chief; Admiral Mike Akhigbe was Navy Chief; and Air Marshal Nsikak Eduok was Air Power Chief.
    All these had been minorities and Christians, conclusively
    proving that Abacha was by no means a tribal or religious bigot.
    He solely selected the very best based mostly on advantage to serve the nation to the better of their talents.

    After safety, the welfare of residents is the principle precedence of any accountable authorities.

    Accordingly, Abacha gave consideration to the nationwide financial system.
    He assembled a few of the very best financial brains that
    Nigeria had underneath the Nationwide Financial Intelligence Committee chaired by Prof.

    Sam Aluko, after all with Chief Ani as Finance minister. The consequence was there for all to see: with oil worth at lower than $10
    per barrel all through the administration, he was in a position to proceed
    paying the exterior debts and the trade fee was N80 to 1 US Greenback
    for many of his interval in order that manufacturers can plan forward and
    the financial indices have been very predictable.

    He raised the home worth of petrol to N11 per litre and arrange the Petroleum (Particular) Belief Fund (PTF) to make use of a part
    of the proceeds from the value enhance to
    restore vital infrastructure. As Chairman of PTF
    he appointed Normal Muhammadu Buhari. The PTF turned out
    to be a mannequin intervention company which was in a position to restore
    over 12,000 kilometres of roads throughout the nation; provide and restore
    many hospitals, colleges, and different establishments utilizing Nigerian professionals.
    That helped in laying a powerful basis for younger skilled non-public sector operators
    in numerous sectors of the economic system who helped in resuscitating many dilapidated infrastructure.

    For medium to long run nationwide financial planning, he assembled key financial gamers below the Chairmanship of Chief Ernest Shonekan, the pinnacle of the
    ING who was for a very long time within the UAC. They produced Imaginative and prescient
    2010- a house grown blueprint for Nigeria’s financial growth.
    Earlier than its full implementation Gen. Abacha died and
    subsequent administrations jettisoned that fine doc with none prefer it
    once more.

    Abacha dedicated to the re-professionalization of the navy.
    There have been two recognized coup makes an attempt on his
    regime in 1995 and 1997 and on every occasion it was nipped within the dangerous and
    the suspects had been arrested and tried. Normal Bamaiyi wrote in his e-book, Vindication of A Common, “People used the time period ‘phantom coup’ as a result of it was the Abacha interval, and Abacha is the one navy Head of State to spare coup plotters who had been arrested, tried and convicted. If it had occurred throughout the reign of one other army Head of State, nobody would have talked of a ‘phantom coup’”.

    Basic Abacha was not solely decided to make it possible for his was the final army incursion into governance in Nigeria however he
    was dedicated to seeing the identical for the West African sub-area.
    That was why when Main Paul Koroma and his group overthrew the
    federal government of Tejan Kabbah in Sierra Leone, Abacha shortly assembled ECOMOG troopers underneath Nigeria’s Gen. Maxwell Khobe,
    might his soul relaxation in peace, to flush out Koroma
    and reverse the coup. It was the first time a coup was reversed.
    Abacha personally took Kabbah and returned him to energy in Freetown.

    One space that Abacha made Nigeria proud was overseas relations.
    Underneath Abacha, Nigeria was really impartial so far as coverage autonomy was involved.
    He didn’t enable an inch of Nigeria to be ceded to any nation as he granted the disputed Bakassai Peninsula native authorities standing and stationed troops there.
    He stood as much as the strain of the Commonwealth which
    he described as “an affiliation like Boys Scout with no charter or structure meant to therapeutic massage the ego of a former imperial power” and that Nigeria was not able to take any dictation from
    the Commonwealth. All our neighbours revered us. Certainly
    even the worldwide powers feared and had been aware of Nigeria’s energy and influence in Africa and globally.

    In sports activities, Abacha presided over Nigeria’s golden period.
    With Chief Jim Nwobodo as Sport Minister, Nigeria was capable of win the African Cup
    of Nations; attend the World Cup for the first time; and gained for the first time Olympic gold medals within the Atlanta Olympics in USA, particularly the
    gold medal in soccer. Nigeria has by no means had it so good so far as worldwide sports activities
    outing is anxious. All of the sports activities women and men had been motivated by patriotism and
    the pinnacle of State normally personally spoke to them on cellphone to encourage them.

    After his demise, there was a lot propaganda on a so- known as “Abacha loot”.

    In the identical e-book quoted above, Gen. Bamaiyi wrote: “In the sunshine of the more and more battered picture of Nigeria and even references to Nigeria in tutorial circles as a ‘rogue’ state, some choices needed to be taken if Nigeria was to proceed to play its roles as a stabilizer within the West African area, a task very a lot valued by the United Nations. A call was due to this fact reached to maintain cash in some international locations that have been a bit pleasant to Nigeria. This determination was taken at a gathering by which the then Minister of Finance, Chief Anthony Ani, was current. It was agreed that some funds be transferred to some chosen international locations to make sure that authorities was ready to get important imports as and when crucial. That knowledgeable the switch of funds to some countries”.

    The reality shall all the time prevail. Could God grant Abacha everlasting abode
    within the Backyard of Eden, Amen. Historical past is
    on the facet of the oppressed.

  2. Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Friday urged Nigerians to support the sincere efforts of President
    Muhammadu Buhari to develop the country on all fronts, just as he said that no meaningful development
    can take place without unity and cohesion.

    Governor Ambode, who spoke shortly after performing the laying of wreath ceremony as part of activities
    marking the 2016 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration, said it was important for all Nigerians to rededicate their lives in a manner that
    would always promote unity of the country as exemplified by the supreme sacrifices
    paid by the fallen heroes.

    The Governor said without the sacrifices paid by men and officers of the Armed
    Forces, there would not have been a country called
    Nigeria today, and as such it was for the people to always refrain from actions that are inimical to the
    peace, unity and oneness of the nation.

    According to Governor Ambode, the current administration of President Buhari has so far
    displayed his passion for the development of the country, but
    it was important for all to support the President in his quest to massively develop the country.

    Speaking on the significance of the remembrance service,
    Governor Ambode said: “If you look at the history of Nigeria, today we remember our fallen heroes. Without them there will be no Nigeria as we speak and so it is very important that beyond even remembering them, we should also rededicate our lives in a manner that we will always remember that the cohesion of Nigeria is so significant and that it important for all of us to hold Nigeria together and that is really the significance of this event.”

    When asked on pockets of threats to national security in some sections of
    the country, Governor Ambode said: “They are really not threats because they are being fully combated by the Federal Government and as you can see, we are making progress and we are having improvement on security of the country.

    “So, I just want to advise Nigerians that the unity of Nigeria
    is more important than anything you can think
    of. It is only when we are united that we can make progress.
    You know the present administration is so particular about the development of the country.
    Nigeria is bigger than any individual and so we advise all Nigerians to
    know that the cohesion and unity of Nigeria is what is paramount to this government,” the Governor said.

    Also speaking at the event, Oba Akiolu prayed for the families left behind by the fallen heroes, and urged Nigerians to be disciplined and commit to do the will of God.

    He said all that the fallen heroes fought for revolved around having a united, peaceful and disciplined nation.

    Other dignitaries who performed the laying of wreath at the event held at the Remembrance Arcade, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos include the Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade; Commander 9 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Bulama Biu; Commanding Officer, Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft, Apapa, Navy Commodore Abraham Adaji; Commander, 435 Base Service Group, Ikeja, Air Commodore Danladi Santa Bausa; Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni; Oba of Lagos, HRM Rilwan Akiolu, among others.

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