MY PEOPLE: LESSONS TO LEARN FROM LATE NELSON MANDELA`S LIFE STYLE.

Late Nelson Mandela

By Prince Kelly Udebhulu.

South Africa's first black president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela has died. Mr Mandela, 95, led South Africa's transition from white-minority rule in the 1990s, after 27 years in prison.

LESSONS TO LEARN:

(1) He gave his life to achieve a simple, yet at the time distant, dream, something that required great and sad sacrifices on the personal front.

(2) Mandela’s job while he was president was to build a nation, unite its people and secure its foundations. In this he was successful.

(3) His legacy is one of the most liberal and well rounded constitutions in the world and a vision of a post-racial society, of forgiveness and solid institutional foundation for the country. His leadership casts a long shadow over his successors.

(4) We will always be inspired by the lessons of selfless service to humanity, communicated primarily through deeds rather than words; his love for humanity and his persistent message of peace, equality, human solidarity and the pursuit of a just and inclusive world.

...to be continued

REST IN PEACE NELSON MANDELA. Leadership Qualities of Nelson Mandela. 1918-2013

Nelson Mandela

 A REVIEW OF "A PRINCE KELLY UDEBHULU CULTURAL HERITAGE POINT"

Martin Luther King, Margaret Thatcher, Gandhi and Mother Theresa are just some of the leaders who have left their mark on the world. From self-improvement books, to seminars and training, people who want to change the world are always looking for leadership advice. Many times, becoming a leader isn’t about memorizing a speech or making a public appearance. Game changers who truly make their mark on the world do so through displaying important qualities in extraordinary ways and leading by example.

Nelson Mandela is one such individual whose life and qualities have changed the hearts of men around the world. Having survived trials in love, politics and civil rights, his choices have paved the way for a new and better world. Below are some of his leadership qualities that leaders would do well to emulate.

Nelson Mandela Leadership Qualities:

Thirst for Knowledge – Anyone who would attempt to downscale the importance of education in a disagreement with Nelson Mandela, would be in for a loss. Mandela attended six higher education institutions including the University of South Africa (1943), Healdtown Comprehensive School, University of Fort Hare, University of the Witwatersrand, University of London International Programmes, and the University of London. Like any other leader in the history books, Mandela’s education was his inspiration and his handbook. Learning how far humanity has come is motivation to push and see how great society could one day be. Education provides a better understanding of ideas and people. In Mandela’s own words “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Resistance to Conformity – Nelson Mandela has made unexpected decisions from the start, in both his personal and political life. Mandela said no to the prospect of a forced arranged marriage and moved to Johannesburg in 1939. Despite living in a highly repressive culture, Mandela opened a legal firm serving black clients in 1952. Of course, he is best known for his Nobel Peace Prize awarded for efforts to end apartheid in South Africa and becoming the first democratically elected president of South Africa. In short, Mandela builds new roads; he doesn’t simply stick to the easy path most would follow.

Embracing Sacrifice – Those who have suffered are often those who truly make an impactful difference in the hearts and minds of men. Nelson Mandela endured danger and time in prison in order to achieve freedom for his country. Beyond that, he has dedicated his life to speaking about the importance of equality. His decisions put him in the public eye. Though many would view fame as a wonderful thing, it comes with lack of privacy and great responsibility, which Mandela was willing to take on. Even to the extent of giving up his role as President, purely so he could speak and fight for people’s rights around the world; Mandela has made many sacrifices.

There is always room for growth and improvement in the world, and daily life. It is the individuals who desire continuous growth, treasure knowledge and refuse to accept injustice that change lives. Be it a co-worker, a family member or an entire company, every person has opportunities to positively influence others in their life. Everyone has the ability to lead, if only they utilize available leadership tools and choose to believe.


...to be continued

Reference:

Farnaz Namin-Hedayati, Ph.D.

Doctor of Corporate Psychology

TIME FOR A CHANGE: WIDOWHOOD UNDER ESAN PEOPLE CULTURE.

weeping widow

By Prince Kelly Udebhulu.

The destruction of a culture is to destroy the root from which human society sprung from. However, retaining a culture that is oppressive is destroying the oppressed. Culture is constantly being modified and it is not expected to change overnight. The change must be in motion and it should be progressive. All efforts must be made to preserve the positive aspects in our culture but at the same time global changes must not be ignored. It is conceded that not all global changes are ideal, however notable changes abound that do not destroy the fabric of the Esan culture, but are for the well-being and development of the general Esan Land/People should be embraced.

Widowhood is a multi-faceted tragedy. It is overwhelmingly a woman’s problem which reveals atrocious social injustice. It joins a woman into the category of the marginalized defenseless and invisible being. Under the culture, widowhood is used as slang for being defenseless and cursed being. There are many widows among the adult female population than in men population today. This problem is compounded by the rampant cases of road accidents, jealousy/envy and competitions at working places, men are more among the casualties and women suffer.

Traditional practices deeply embedded in the customs constitute the greatest threat to the human rights of millions of widows. However, they can be described as cruel and inhuman. Widows are subjected to humiliating and degrading burial rites and mourning practices in the name of custom. It is pathetic to note that the traditional custodian of cultural practices in widowhood is almost exclusively female who rigorously enforce these practices leaving the widow isolated, impoverished and damaged.

Generally, there are some myths associated with widowhood. They are as follows:

i. The widow is the first suspect in the death of her husband. For this reason, she is made to undergo rigorous, unhealthy and demoralizing rites with the belief that she would die if she was a party to the death.

ii. Widowhood is regarded as a taboo which should not be discussed openly for fear of evil happenings on the discussants. This explains the dearth of literature on the issue.

iii. The widow freedom and liberty and subsequent remarry to another man is seen as a direct slap to the deceased husband family pride and values.

 It is the widow who suffers for the death of a spouse. A widower (husband) on the other hand does not suffer the same fate as the widow even though both had lost a partner. At the death of a spouse, a widow is dethroned, defaced and disinherited, is dethroned because she loses the status conferred on her by her husband by being made to sit on the bare earth, straw mat or palm leaves. The “defacement” comes in when the widow is expected to look unattractive, dirty, unkempt with her hair shaved in some instances and denied of washing. The “disinheritance” comes in when the widow is disposed of all the property she had acquired with her husband and the worst scenerio especially when the widow is childless.

The widower (husband) on the other hand at this time is pitied because of loneliness caused by the loss of his partner, pampered as he will be fussed over and pacified usually with different suggestions of taking a new wife. A child who lost his or her father at a tender age carries the trauma all through his or her life especially the EXECUTION OF DIS-INHERITANCE POLICY. A change I Solicit Humbly My People.

 Long Live Esan People.

By..Prince Kelly Udebhulu,
Skype: princekellyudebhulu
Tweet to @princekelly75

FG woos Spanish investors, showcases market potentials.

Bianca, Nigerian Ambassador to Spain

By Prince Kelly.
The Federal Government has appealed to investors in Spain to take advantage of the current political stability in the country and its huge market potentials.

Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain, Mrs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who made this appeal yesterday in her welcome address at the maiden edition of the Nigeria-Spain Business and Investment Forum (NIMAD 2003) holding at Hotel Auditorium, Madrid, said that the country remained the number one investment destination in Africa.

Justifying her call to investors, she said: “The country is politically stable with a population estimated at 170 million, thus making it Africa´s biggest market.

It is estimated that about 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population is within the 16 to 45 age bracket. The country currently has an annual GDP growth rate of seven per cent and accounts for 18 per cent of Africa’s GDP.

“Over the last 10 years, Nigeria has been the largest recipient of FDI on the African continent, with a vibrant labour force”, she said.

The ambassador also told the investors that the Jonathan administration had put in place appropriate enabling environment through his Transformation Agenda to promote foreign investment.

“I am happy to note that these measures are beginning to yield the desired results, especially in such key sectors as energy, agriculture and transformation,” she said.

Mrs Odumegwu-Ojukwu, therefore, said that the theme of the forum: “Translating market opportunities into robust trade”, would be apt if the huge investment opportunities in the country are properly harnessed and translated into robust trade for the benefits of the two countries.

“We have observed that Spain is yet to make significant investment inroads into Nigeria. Our desire through NIMAD 2013, therefore, is to change this situation,” she said.

In his goodwill message at the three-day forum, Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi told the Spanish investors that economic fundamentals in Nigeria have continued to be strong and favourable, particularly as the population of the country continues to grow.

“Nigeria is the largest black population in the world. Evidences abound that the global economy players have begun to position themselves to partake in the growth potential in Nigeria,” the governor said, adding that Foreign Direct Investment into Nigeria shut up in 2012 and 2013.

Earlier, a Spanish investor, Mr Jose Julio of Africa Factor Humano, had pointed out that his colleagues were afraid of Africa and Nigeria because of violence and insecurity. According to him, most reports they get from Nigeria are on the negative side, making their potential investors to be skeptical.

He said that the NIMAD forum should be sustained so as to change the perception of their people about Nigeria.

POLITICS OR GOD`S PLANS FOR THE WIDOW? Oshiomhole Employs Widow, Gives Her N2m.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole (right) and a Benin widow whom he upbraided penultimate week for blocking the road with her goods, Mrs Joy Ifije drink tea during a breakfast meeting today 2nd December 2013. With them is the widow's son, Bright Ifije.

Our God have hidden plans for everybody including you. Never blame God when things negative happen. 

Meanwhile, Oshiomhole employs widow, gives her N2m

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has offered employment to the widow, Mrs Joy Ifije, whom he upbraided, penultimate week, and whose goods were seized by men of the State War Against Indiscipline for obstructing the Mission road in the state capital.

The Governor who announced the job offer to the woman, in addition to a N2 million grant for her to get a shop and trade, said during a breakfast meeting with her at the Government House, today 2nd December 2013, that her job would be to join State’s War Against Indiscipline in the campaign against street trading and to keep the state clean.

The Governor who again apologised to the widow said “when you put your things on the road a vehicle can run into you and they have killed some people like that and that was why I said if you are a widow do you want more people to be widowed? But when I said go and die, that one was said in a fit of anger. And I am really sorry”, he said.

“I want you to join us. We would employ you and pay you salary. You would help us to campaign to other women not to trade on road sides. We should not use poverty as a yardstick. We would also talk to taxi and bus drivers not to block roads when carrying passengers”, Oshiomhole said.

“You will assist me to talk to women and traders not to litter the roads and sidewalks so that people walking and driving can have free road. If they want to park they can park properly so as not to disturb others.”

The Governor said government was trying to change Benin City from its old status adding “as you can see Benin is becoming a modern city. So you join us now and every month you begin to get salary so that you can look after your children”.

“For your child who is preparing to enter into the university, my daughters and myself have agreed to support him. If he does well as we pray he does, he would assist the family. Maybe this is the way God wants it. That is why I asked them to look for you so that I can personally offer my apology, but also to support you, so that God helping you, you can overcome the pain of widowhood”, he said.

“As a single mother I want to see how I can help you to train your children and God can use any of them to become a leader of our country. Please resist the temptation to do anything that would break the law. The law is the law; it is no respecter of persons. If Government does not enforce the law there would be confusion”, he remarked.

The Governor who gave the woman a cash gift of N2 million said “in addition to working with the War Against Indiscipline, I am also giving you the sum of two million naira so that you can hire a shop, trade inside the shop and not roadside and I pray that God will bless your decision on how you utilize the money. This money is not for you to share or distribute but to help you as a working capital”.

Responding, the widow, Mrs Joy Ifijeh thanked the Governor for the gesture and promised that she would be part of the fight to keep the City clean.

She apologized to the Governor for blocking the road with her wares, saying she recognized that what she did was wrong but she did not know that the Governor was on inspection that day.

According to her, she had been a victim of theft by a truck pusher who went away with her goods, a week before her encounter with the Governor, that was why she was on the road with her goods that day as she no longer trusted truck pushers not to do away with her goods.

FUNNY AND DISTURBING: The Hen That Lays The Golden Egg Suffers Great Pain In The Process, But The Consumer Eats The Egg With Pleasure.

project

It takes the cooperation of other family members in Nigeria  to decieve sons and daughters in abroad over projects and other financial matters back home.  Even some parents find it difficult to tell their children the exact situation at home.

"The hen that lays the golden egg suffers great pain in the process, but the consumer eats the egg with pleasure"....Rutherford Chidi.

WHAT YOU MUST DO TO AVOID THIS SITUATION.

1.   Know your family very well. Can you trust them with any project? Analyse them very well. In money matters a lot of honorable people have abandoned their morals for quick financial gain.
2.   Have other information gathering source to monitor your projects
3.    Give the project to a trusted, reliable contractor with a track record of good job.
4.   Leave nothing to chance. Do your best to know the level of work been carried  out on your behalf.
...culled fom Otedo