The Qs of Life: I.Q, E.Q, S.Q
*What's your IQ? who cared about EQ or SQ?*
`Q stands for Quotient`
There are many kinds of Qs but I have isolated these three because they top the list. They are; Intelligence Quotient, Emotional Quotient, Spiritual Quotient, Financial Quotient.
****Intelligence Quotient****
The most common of the Qs and the most abused. Many of us grew up with the 'your IQ is low' signposts on our heads but many have ignored all other forms of Qs. Ok since this is my grand entry in this Q, I will try to stay off other Qs but In another paragraph compare them.
`Intelligence quotient is a An intelligence quotient (IQ) is a total score derived from a set of standardized tests or subtests designed to assess human intelligence.`
Basically they say you have a high IQ when you excel well in your books, can think very fast and smart and answer questions well in class! hahaha!
Of course having this Q is nice, everyone are jealous of you because school principals love like these. But can IQ take you far in life? I am not against it but I am like the emphasis on this Q is so much. I have a good IQ and this ain't no form of blasphemy but my friend we need other Qs.
Haven't you heard:::
`Life is about Balance`
You might be very scholarly and a genius but you need other Qs too!
****Emotional Quotient****
This Quotient has been ignored for many years but it happens to be esteemed high by a few percentage of the world, and they are the CEOs, wealthy and owners of huge conglomerates.
Emotional Quotient is a measure of understanding a person has such that he/she can relate with people, influence them towards achieving a desired goal. This is the basic definition of EQ. This is why those who have this Q are majorly leaders because how in the world will you influence people with EQ? you wonna try that with IQ?
You know why many of us do not keep relationships? It is because we underrate this form of intelligence.
**Treating people well** is so underrated. Remember the magic words - Please, Sorry, excuse me, thank you.
(In my country, Nigeria, some people often use three of these at a time hahaha!!! we hear something like "sorry please excuse me,...")
**Making healthy communications** with people and being able to coexist peacefully with them is a branch of this.
Many marriages are broken not because of **IQ issues** but **EQ issues** so let us pay attention to this!
As we teach our kids the read their books, let us also teach them how to make good friends, start conversations, etiquettes and many more!!!
****Spiritual Quotient****
This Quotient is the most ignored of all. This Quotient is willfully ignored by people because even though they have it and it is just low, they tend to be scientific about the approach to life. None of these Quotients stands on their own but each relate with one another and sometimes tend to surpass another.
Spiritual Quotient is a measure of spiritual knowledge, information and principles a person has learnt and able to produce undeniable results in different circumstances.
****Financial Quotient****
Actually many schools, universities and even parents miss it here. They tell us not to **love money** and even in this innocent communication, there lies a devil!
School teaches us nothing or very **odd** things about money and life doe not care, everyone pays for ignorance equally. The FQ is made up of how much genius one has about saving, investing, money, finances etc. This Q when disregarded leads to nothing but poverty!
*Develop each Q* *and do not despise any! IQ is as dependent of EQ which also depends on FQ and then SQ. I place SQ at the top because religious beliefs are the most powerful. - My humble advice!*
Image Credit https://www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-features/features/2018/november/using-your-mind-banks-how-to-create-a-new-world-from-the-one-you-live-in-right-now/
God bless you and thanks for reading!
The Eve of His death
`22|02|2014 I lost my dad... Today marks the eve which leads to the day he died 8years ago`
<<<< rewind <<<< six months behind
So my dad has been seriously ill, having to live his live managing diabetes. As such patient, his meals were prepared separately from the general one as he could not take salt, sugar and many other things as prescribed by doctors. In fact, when I taste his food, I often wondered how he coped with such tasteless and awkward mixture he called **Food**.
One thing which was heartbreaking to watch was how he took drugs. He had like five different nylons holding varying numbers of tablets, capsules and many more. He could keep swallowing for minutes and each time I watched, I wept within.
He was just retrenched from his workplace, then Friesland company which produces peak milk, and was granted pension. He invested this money to get some truck for transportation of goods and the whole stuff went awry. The shit affected him! His health deteriorated and then it led to stroke!
>>> forward >>> one week to death day
After wasting so much on hospital bills and still being referred from one hospital to another, he was finally transferred to a public teaching hospital. My mom moved with him and was there taking care of him.
I was preparing for a promotional examination but then I was not balanced at all. My attention and mind was distracted. Financially we were bankrupt but then God was there seeing us through!
>>> eve of death
I was at home, home sick. The house was deserted, I was scared of the dark. My mom had travelled, elder brother was in the university and two sisters busy in places I can't recollect right now. But my younger brother was with me. The house smelt strange like drugs. The video of what I had seen happening to my dad, like the seizure!!! It was damn difficult to erase from my mind. I sat wrapped in bed sheets. I was cold but hot too, something was happening but I could not tell what it was.
I was scared of loosing my dad, my very good friend and partner! It felt like a void was opening up and I was being exposed to damages. I thought many times why God allowed this to happen but then fell more in depression.
Meanwhile >>> at the teaching hospital.
Late at night. My dad laid on the bed, my mom beside. The woman had lost so much weight, and her eyes swollen. She too was scared to losing her husband, how will she cope? how will we the children survive? My elder brother who schooled not too far from the teaching hospital was present.
My dad could barely move, half of his body from head to toe suffered this. The duo staying beside him were in overflowing tears. "sa-mu" "sam-uel" he struggled to call with the right side of his mouth. My brother moved closer to him. "Youu... are the he-ad" he stammered, he struggled hell to speak but couldn't anymore..
(the rest is history)
Some weeks after his demise, my mother returned looking very lean, pale and sick. "Mum welcome" we all went out to greet and carry her bags. But then where is dad? I kept thinking till I asked. She shoved off the question but the look on her face was suspicious. Till she dropped the bombshell, "Your dad is dead" she said.
It then dawned on me! It kept ringing in my head multiple times - "Your dad is dead". My heart starting racing very fast and I look at my siblings and then swallowed very hard. I sat on the ground in shock 'The worst has happened! The thing I feared the most had happened'.
****
*"We are gonna die someday but then live each day as though it's your last" -* @ThatRealGuy
Make each second, minute, hour, day, week etc. **COUNT**! Create memories, Chase visions!!!
Today is my dad's remembrance day and I am remembering all the memories he created!
IMG SRC::: https://leadership.ng/kano-fire-service-confirms-death-of-girl-16-after-falling-into-well/
This thing called LOVE?
*What is love? does love exist?*
Happy Valentine Guys!!! hope your day is going great! I just wonna talk about something that has been on my mind for quite a while!
Image credit::: unsplash
**LOVE**
In my room one day, we got talking about the subject matter - *Love, and then quietly I sat observing the different contributions from my roommates. Some said "does that thing exist?", "nah that thing is biological", "It does not last long, just some weeks and it's over!" , "It always end in tears or heart breaks"
"Well well well ..." I said joining the conversation, "I don't totally agree with all you have said because while you might be right from your own perspectives, these are not the true definitions of LOVE!".
Experiences shapes our perspectives and definitions about things so I could not blame them totally. These comments I received were from guys and I wonder what ladies would have to say.
Firstly I would say that Love is ***Soulical -*** meaning it is of the soul. The soul of man has it it emotions, intellect and hunger. When we are hungry and desire to eat something, we are not just feeding our bodies but Soul. So to Love is a requirement of the Soul!
Love is of **God**!
Now, since I have justified that love is a function of the soul and all man since we are souls have that desire to Love, then Love must be of God. ***GOD is love -*** remember!
Now if Love is of God, then we know that it is true.
Love is a strong attraction that is more about how much you are willing to sacrifice than receive!
This is the most reasonable definition I have found for it. Why do you think Love is not Logical? It is because it is not based on give or take! If love was logical, then programmers would have done a great job in making robots LOVE!!!
So the strong attraction >>> Soulical cannot be defeated because it is a requirement to Love. When I mean love, it could be romantic or just platonic. But then since today is Val-Day, let's talk about the Val-Love( lover's love) hahaha!
So many people having heart breaks because they thought they were in love or should I use the popular phrase - 'Fell in Love'
The fact is True Love is organic, Love ***grows*** and it is all about how much you are willing to sacrifice! always about this, never forget!
Conclusively, I will love to add that L.O.V.E is a **responsibility**.
How???
I ll use the example of superman do explain this. So remember superman, the powerful guy in his blue and red suit. He has great ability and with that comes great **responsibility**. What r**esponsibility**? to save the world from harm!
Resident in you - your soul, is the ability to Love, but there comes a responsibility, which is **sacrifice** , building-healthy relationships, character formation and many more that hold the pillars of love straight.
Trust me, You gonna find true love someday!
To my Val
Love love love!!!
So I decided that this Valentine I won't be alone! I found someone and I would make that day special for her.
Of course **Valentine** has been misrepresented, people celebrate without knowing it's true Meaning. Reading through the history, **Saint Valentine** was killed because of his unapologetic appraisal and opinion about **Lovers** celebrating themselves. The church picked the day to remember him, and what he stood for *True Love. But many don't even know this.
Look at this:::
**Valentine** beheaded. Valentine, **realizing the injustice of the decree**, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. ... When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. *History* https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.history.com/.amp/this-day-in-history/st-valentine-beheaded
So rather than encouraging immoralities let's celebrate in the confines of its true meaning *celebration and *expression of love.
To my Val::
For years I have been **Valess**,
**Valentine** spent in loneliness,
You came in, then left this singlehood,
In awe since have stood.
Your beauty blooms like a flower,
Fresh as the fishing out from the fountains of many waters!
My love for you has grown,
Like a seed sown,
My soul freely gave,
And made you his recipient.
Oh how remember the day I met you,
The sun,moon and start stood still,
In awe of your aura and beauty,
My heart lept for joy!
I don't know how to say it than this;
That I love You,
Pardon me if it's in excess,
And sometimes reckless,
But more than just romance,
My letter is a true expression of my feelings!
If I had treasures I ll freely give,
The little I have brought I hope you receive,
With your beautiful smile and wink,
I then can sit happy at my achievement,
That I have made someone's day!
Hope y'all enjoyed it !!! Buh it ain't meant for you hahaha!!! It's for my Val, I just wanted to inspired someone who is Valess, has lost love or has been broken hearted, you ll find love someday!!!
I just wonna chip this in:::
If someone breaks up with you , or you have been having series of heart breaks, it doesn't make you the worst person on earth of this doesn't mean you should shot the DOOR to your heart of even accept it as normal, you should look inward and correct whatever made the person leave!
Happy Valentine Eve!
Watch out for my article **tomorrow** Feb14th :::
**This Thing Called LOVE**
Image credit::: wishesquotes https://www.lovewishesquotes.com/valentines-day-messages-for-him
Campus Life: An eXperience of a Lifetime!!!
*Campus life is one I can never forget!!! forever!*
"Free to stab classes or not, to eat or not, to sleep or not, to partying all day and all night, to join bad gangs or have good friends, and many other degree of freedoms!!!" This is what campus life gives you. The liberty to live life how you want it and also bear the consequences!!
Leaving home for campus was one of the most unforgettable experience! my mom(my dad's late) prayed for me and advised me. I packed my bags and left. Hahaha! In my mind I was trying to phantom how campus life was but I couldn't because you cannot feel it if you ain't there!
It's my second year on campus and I have survived! I believe I will finish well too. It has been from one thing to another. Lecturers, friends, course mates, projects and assignments, times of lack ( **Sapa****!!!**), **hostel palava!**(this is the hottest) https://read.cash/@ThatRealGuy/the-day-sapa-paid-me-a-visit-fed4fd40
Lecturers are hard nuts to crack! They differ in size, behavior and degree but studying lecturers and their attitude is a compulsory course we didn't register yet we are offering it. Lack of understanding how they set exam questions, behave in class, grade students and many more could cause one an extra year without apologies!
Friends are those that make campus the most fun. I am the bookie type but I enjoy friends being around. In fact when I leave campus, I miss friends the most because they add the spices that make campus life very fun! From hangouts to quarrels, get-togethers, studying and many more, I have been blessed by meaningful friends.
Course mates make class interesting because some lecturers are very boring, their classes are damn boring and exhausting! These guys add comedy and everything they can to spice up the class. The most noisy place on campus is the general course/department ***Whatsapp** group. It is so funny that you could spend hours watching battles, violence, cruise and many more on the group chat.
Projects and assignments are compulsory stuffs and most lecturers make it mandatory to do them. Well, they help me a lot. I am the DIY(do it yourself) person sand most times they often show up as exam questions or add more marks. The funny thing about assignments is that twenty minutes to submission, some students just got informed about it and begin doing it! It has not happened to me because I am well informed, Information is key on campus!
`Banga means real deal, it is a slang word used in my country`
Hostel **Palava** is the **banga** among all others !!! It also depends on your room mates but mehn! hostel is always hot! I currently stay in the second best and most craziest hostel in my university. Life of campus is hugely affected by the life lived in hostels. For me it has been great! many things happen like discussions, disagreements, agreements, arguments, jokes, gists, cooking, stealing and many more! Guys hostels are more fun than ladies hostels( to an extent!!!) In an my article "**Hostel Life**", I will narrate more experiences about my hostel.
`Sapa is a slang word in my country which means a period of serious lack or poverty`
Time of Lack( aka SAPA): Most times, we start out on campus with huge pockets only to reach the fourth week with very slim ones. Then by the seventh week, Mr Sapa comes visiting!
For more on Sapa >>> https://read.cash/@ThatRealGuy/the-day-sapa-paid-me-a-visit-fed4fd40
All these together has made campus life very interesting! I never regretted living on campus but much more I have come to appreciate the Man that I have become and the better person I am becoming.
Conclusively, I want to butress the fact that many distractions on campus are enough to make go astray from goals and objectives, also joining gangs not not of criminals but those who have no futuristic goals in view is very detrimental! Despite the fact that there's so much fun, In my few years, I have with the help of God made choices which have made me! The best thing campus gives you is **freedom of choice and will**
Let's use this gift wisely because it can either MAKE or MARR us.
(hit the subscribe button pls!)
Photo credit: Shutterstock https://www.shutterstock.com/search/campus+life
What you have that no AI can ever have!
*The tug-of-war question of who wins ,****'Human or AI'*** *,has been answered and the answer is simple >>> we have what robots don't have! Let's find out*
Artificial Intelligence is predicted as the breed of intelligence that replaces many aspects of human relevance because they can carry out those activities excellently without tiredness. The funny thing is that they evolve, this means that when they start out with a **2% degree of accuracy**, they can evolve to a 98% level within few hours.
With my scary introduction, I want you to say this "Robots should remain as tools". I have read books like Life 3.0, superintelligence and other AI vs Human related books and although I respect their philosophies but I know that no matter how a Robot evolves, the robot cannot do two things:
**Love**
**Wisdom**
When robots are being mentioned, many people get scared because the scarce jobs will go into extinction but also, new levels of jobs will be created. These jobs will be tied to human ability to do two things ;Love and Wisdom.
Ask Jack Ma,
***"AI will be very good with data but not wisdom"*** - Jack Ma at Shanghai debate with Elon Musk.
It is undoubtedly true that a robot will be excellent at solving problems that are data intensive, and they will do this accurately but when it comes to something of the heart like Love and Wisdom, they do not have the framing for such issues. Love has not logical explanation and if it does, it isn't love because true love is illogical!
Also you cannot program **wisdom** using zeros and ones because it is a heart thing! it is **Meta.**
If there is a problem that has not existed before and data is not provided, AI can fail woefully! AI will be able to access emotions because when humans are sad, it can gather data from our facial expressions, voice etc. but it cannot express emotions.
**Issues of wisdom** are those of **creativity**. **Creativity** means bringing to existence what have never existed before. Solving problems using *high level of creativity* will be requirements for future jobs.
Now that you know what you have which makes you superlative to AI, have you grown them? **how much have you learnt to love? how creative are you?**
In the coming years, the world will need not just **university graduates** but ****highly creative and emotionally intelligent people**** because they possess what AI cannot have!
Creativity will be the hallmark
:: Image Credit https://towardsdatascience.com/man-vs-machine-understanding-the-perils-of-artificial-intelligence-eb3caf9ce6b0
MetaVerse > MetaOpportunities > MetaProblems
`MetaVerse`
*So You must have heard about the Metaverse before now but think for one sec! the MetaVerse = MetaProblems = MetaOpportunities ! It's all Meta!*
*In the MetaVerse, a Lame man can walk!*
According to Oxford dictionary,
`The MetaVerse is a virtual-reality space in which users can interact with a computer-generated environment and other users.`
Every Giant tech company is running head-over-heels for this tech or extended reality which is the general term for VR, AR, and MR ( virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality respectively). Facebook changed her name to Meta and is making huge strides alongside others like Apple Inc etc.
I am a tech enthusiast and extended reality has been my childhood dream, but I am not here to bore you out with information or how much progress they have achieved instead I just wonna stick to the subject matter >> MetaOpportunities and MetaProblems.
According to Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meta
`Meta means beyond or after`
So imagine that point where the MetaVerse fully exists, everyone has access to it all they need are the hololens and 5G internet connection, there exist boundless opportunities within this *verse. People can make money, have shops( virtual selling spaces), work, gamble, meet friends, game, and many more. Whatever they do in the metaverse can affect them in the real world, like money/ artifacts(NTFs) won in the metaverse would be credited you in the real world.
Beyond the opportunities listed above, the list is endless. The lame can walk in the metaverse. Education will be made easy as students will have direct imagery and contact with objects of study such as rocks, rivers, bones, planets etc. The can virtually learn anything. Also, staffs of companies can be trained with very little costs and less loss. They could be equipped and then given virtually tests such as a pilot flying a plane in the digital verse. These are great opportunities.
The opportunities are META!!! especially when this runs on the blockchain!
`MetaProblems`
But there are also MetaProblems like; how will addictions be controlled? how will families raise kids when everyone is busy in the MetaVerse? how will we differentiate reality from the virtual world?
As shown in ready player one, people could put all their real cash to get Armory for a game because of the million dollar worth of artifacts that could be won, some commit suicide on losing, and many more.
People are so addicted to Facebook, whatsapp, instagram, tiktok and many more and these offer just on-screen experiences, but now the metaverse offer immersive experience! like you are immersed totally in a new world! this is a higher level of addiction, you could spend hours in it without knowing. Think of how our children will cope, how much time we will spend physically with those we love.
I am not a spoiler, I love the idea of the MetaVerse but let us be informed holistically because technology has bad sides and good sides! Let us not just applaud the good side and then leave the bad side to wreck our world!
If you ask me,
*"I am a fan of reality, because nothing is as real as reality!" - James Haliday*
I culled this line from **James Haliday**, the character that created the metaverse in the movie Ready player one. Yes the metaverse would be real but what if it turns out looking like the matrix?? how would you tell the difference?
Image Credit https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/the-metaverse-is-everywhere-heres-what-you-need-to-know/
Who Am I?
*The measure of a person, of a hero…is how well they succeed at* ***being who they are****.”* (Frigga- *Avengers: Endgame*)
The question of identity is the most common and yet very tough question people ask. Kids ask their parents, teens ask their teachers, many ask google but none of these can answer the questions because the answer is hidden in YOU.
Most people ask this when trying to define purpose and give meaning to their existence. So I guess that same question brought you here, and if you have been able to answer this question "great!!!".
Ok a little story before I dive deep into the core of article.
I got into a season of life as a teenager where I was seriously seeking Purpose. Every must pass through this stage, because fulfilment comes in knowing that you are living for a purpose which you are actively fulfilling. I read books, articles and it still did not satisfy my hunger, you know why? because I thought they should tell me but no! Nobody apart from the God you serve and yourself have access to this information. Sorry to burst your bubbles, This article cannot tell you who you are but It is just a pure guide on how to discover YOU!
Who am I? You start by studying yourself. In studying yourself, you will know your temperaments, your strengths and weaknesses, areas of your interests, also areas of your pains.
I am a Christian, so I got very close to the bible. I began studying more and more and more. Using myself as a case study, I am this very emotional person (I can discern energies through people feelings), I really cry on rare occasions, I hated poverty so much because I have had my fare share of it, I hated seeing how ignorant people are to their potent abilities( I was truly interested in Education >> read my article on Schooled not Educated). I was highly interested in education (not school*) and technology.
Before I go deeper, I just want to enlighten you a bit. Your purpose is not an occupation/job but could be expressed through it. Your purpose cannot be "I want to be a banker, or engineer" this is just an occupation. Your purpose gives definition to your life pursuits.
In very simple words, your purpose must be one that adds value to humanity, it must not destroy the social fabric of society. After sometime, I discovered that **my purpose was to enlighten young minds and help them unleash their geniuses in the sphere technology**. I realized I would be more people Inclined than tech inclined and yet I would help people *unleash that hidden gifts in them through whatever technologies I build. This was the core of my discovery.
No matter what I do, where I go to, expressions I use (such as this article) I seek to achieve the above.
I know we often say "***Ideas rule the world***" I respect this but I think "*purpose *vision rules the world. What was Steve Jobs and Wozniak thinking when they founded Apple Inc, or Bill Gates when He founded Microsoft or Mark Zuckerburg or other prominent men and women. They had a purpose, a vision then boom Ideas began branching out!
Discover who you are!!! I call it the **YOU** in you.
The Nigerian Heritage: The Biafran War
[Image credit] https://www.momoafrica.com/the-naked-wire-biafra-the-nigeria-civil-war-aftermath/
While going through @Greatwolfman prompt article tagged "The Nigerian Heritage", I felt inspired because it was a breath-taking entrance. I was caught up between writing about Queen Moremi of Ife and The Biafran war but I ended up picking the latter because This war was against my **tribe**, I have before now heard so many stories even from eye witnesses about it and then my grandfather fought in this war, so I chose it. Enjoy Guys!
**Before Biafra ::: How It all started**
[Image Credit] https://guardian.ng/business-services/why-nigeria-misses-out-of-africas-top-10-profitable-routes/
1914, Lord Luggard amalgamated the Northern and Southern protectorates to form Nigeria, who got her name from Miss Flora Shaw Luggard from the phrase "Niger- Area". The most predominant tribes were Yorubas, Hausas, Igbos. This joining together was for good but some tribes did not go well with it.
`The Northerners were mainly Hausas while the Southerners where mainly Yorubas in the west, and Igbos in the east`
Down the line, as colonial masters exploited the people, hate and griefs against them were rising but they endured the pains. Corruption existed but not in mild forms as only colonial masters partook of it. The people feared them but little did they know that some of them has learnt those corrupt ways alongside civilization.
Series of riots broke out such as **the Aba women riot (1929)** which occured because of the restrictions they had in participating in government, and **Kano riot (1953)** was a clash between the northerners who loved and believed in the colonial masters and the southerners who believed and anticipated the independence.
::: Independence 1960
[Image Source] https://www.africanexponent.com/post/8871-why-1960-is-important-for-african-countries
On October the 1st, 1960, Nigeria gained her freedom. The "Independence at last" feeling swarmed all over as many were filled with joy and gladness as the colonial masters exited their terrains. Names like ; Tafawa Balewa, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Herbert Macauley, Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello among others were prominent contributors who fought sweat and blood to make sure the Independence was not a fool's dream. The persons listed here included all the major tribes ; the Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa. Positions were equally shared without greed for power; Nnamdi Azikiwe (first executive president), Tafawa Balewa (Prime Minister), Ahmadu Bello (First Premier of the North), Obafemi Awolowo ( First Premier of the west).
Jan 15, 1966, Nigerians woke up to the first coup led by Chukwuma Nzeogu Kaduna ushered in J.T.U Aguyi Ironsi as head of state. Aguyi Ironsi was later assassinated by General Yakubu Gowon that same year, from July the 28th to August the 1st. This was a rematch, a reaction to the killing of prominent northern leaders. The first coup was seen as unfair and hence this sparked hate among the tribes.
:::*Formation of Biafra*
[Image credit] https://www.flagsonline.it/biafra
`The Biafra was formed majorly by the easterners, the Igbos.`
From the start, the Igbos were hard to bend. Studying the Igbo Kingdom, they were self existing and reliant people who had very low tendency to submit to external authorities. They were brave, smart, talented but also very rebellious to authorities that were exploiters. This was why the colonial masters never succeeded in the east but had their way easily through the north.
Fast forward to second coup ushering General Gowon in, during that period the Igbo faced serious oppressions as they were massacred across all northern states. Many had to flee to neighboring countries to stay safe. Yakubu Gowon managed to control the situation but by then **the country was sitting on a keg of gunpowder** just waiting for one bullet to touch.
The last straw that broke the camel's back was when Yakubu Gowon in his attempt to resolve the conflict, declared a state of emergency and divided Nigeria four regions into 12 states. Three days later the Eastern region declared itself the **independent state of Biafra**, with **Odumegwu Ojukwu as its leader**, and armed conflict between it and the Nigerian government began in July. Prior to the creation of the states, in 1967 Yakubu and Ojukwu had signed an agreement known as the Aburi Accords which was a collective vow sworn by all parties( 4 regions) not to use force to settle Nigeria crisis. Since this cord was broken, Lieutenant Ojukwu struck like a cobra.
**::: During the Biafra War (**6 July 1967 – 15 January 1970)
[Image Credit] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-51094093
The Federal Government led by General Yakubu Gowon struck hard on the Igbos now called Biafra, but they also struck back. The Biafra were fighting for their own independence since the one of 1960 had ushered them into a standard level of slavery. They were blasted from every corner. I remembered my dad telling me of how they would run and hide underground, sometimes in bushes, trees anywhere just to stay alive. My mother also witnessed it but she was very young. She told me that four of her siblings got separated from her and they most of them died.
According to my dad, his grandfather never made it from the battle field but my mum's father made it(my mom and dad are both Igbos and from the same village). He made it but fell so ill that the illness took him to early grave. This was not the case for many others. Children, mothers, ladies were raped and killed.
Sometimes I ask; "Was it just a show of power by the federal government or the display of folly of the Igbos?"
Both sides had their reasons and casualties but the Biafrans suffered it the most. They suffered lack of supplies and this was the beginning of frustration in the war.
***No magazines no power***! The soldiers were reaching the peak of frustration as all access to their supplies food, guns, magazines and many more coming from across and outside the country had ceased. Seeing what had happened, Yakubu Gowon knew what was upon them, hence he hardened the forces upon them. The soldiers killed many Biafrans. But Ojukwu did not give up, as a learned and crafty man, he began developing native weapons to attack back. He developed his team to weapon manufacturers. Things like Ojukwu buckets, explosives which where made in buckets and hid below the ground. It was once said that there was a time the war was sore upon the Biafrans and Ojukwu's base was attacked and they had only crude weapons which were no match for that of the enemies. When he was pursued, he hid in a toilet where he built a bomb which he used to attack and then fled!!!
::: Lieutenant Ojukwu Himself
[Image Credit] https://www.britannica.com/biography/Odumegwu-Ojukwu
Apart from being killed by guns, machetes and knifes, another very deadly killer was Hunger. Hunger killed lots of children and affected the soldiers too. It got bad to the point that soldiers had to cook their enemies and eat them like cannibals because there were no food supplies.
[Image Credit] https://ezeibekweogechukwu.medium.com/20-pounds-and-a-case-of-starvation-f96e0cbab464
The Hurricane of Hunger had swept over Biafra and then Biafra motto "No-victor, No-vanquished" was dying out very fast. The pain was too much too bear, no magazines to fight back and not a single food supply to at least eat to stay alive.
.On January 11, Nigerian forces captured the provincial capital of Owerri, one of the last Biafran strongholds, and Ojukwu was forced to flee to the Ivory Coast. Four days later, **Biafra** surrendered to **Nigeria**.
Both parties suffered losses, but it was more severe on the Biafran side. More than the war, it was a testament to how brave and outspoken the Igbo tribe is. It took years and many intervention from international bodies to restore and build back what were lost. Thanks be to God neither my mom nor Dad were killed because if otherwise, I would not be here telling **the Story of Biafra**!
Why the Poor begets Poor? Poverty-Education cycle
*Why does the poor begets poor?*
*why do most poor children are more likely to end up in poverty?*
The focus of this article is **The Poverty Education cycle**.
Firstly, I would love you to know that **poverty like a curriculum in the university is learnt!** and some poor parents are very good lecturers. Poverty is studied as a course by the children of the poor.
It is painful to say this but many in my country(Nigeria) have first class grades in this course. **Why does the poor get poorer and the rich richer?**
With reference to a man I love so much, **Robert Kiyosaki**, I have seen how differently the poor and rich think. Our environments are really powerful hence they affect our philosophies. But when children grow with such evil mindsets, it becomes their reality and something very hard for them to break loose from.
Imagine having parents that worked so hard and always came back home at night, and left you alone or with friends or an aunt, who basically cares less about you, the child might grow up thinking that is how things are meant to be.
The **poverty-education cycle** is that one where the poor gives birth to the poor and the poor give birth to more! They keep passing down the mantle of poverty down.
I hate poverty!!!!!!!!
Ok what interests me about this topic is not that people are poor but unconsciously teaching their kids to be.
Poverty has the following descriptions:
The lack of resources to do the needful
The mindset that keeps wasting resources without a replenishment plan
Rather than telling kids 'you can't' tell them 'you can'.
But can I ask this - if some kid was born in a poor home, who is to be blamed?
God? the parents? fate?
I feel skeptical each time I try to place the blame on anybody but I would blame the person if he/she remains and accepts the poverty curriculum.
I always feel very sad seeing poor people because they don't just need resources but the **mind** to **wield** them.
I was born into a family background that was neither rich nor wealthy but I had the poverty mindset. Right now I am free!!!
Bill Gates once said when asked if he could allow his daughter marry a poor man;
*"I think of poverty as a mindset than having resources. There are lots of people out there with money and yet are poor because wealth is a personality"*
I hope you were blessed by this article!!! Don't get lost in this cycle! and if you see someone in it, help him or her out because **Knowledge is light**!
::: Image Source https://thestandard.org.nz/poverty-begets-poverty/
Where is that Black Woman?
*The Black woman is Africa!*
Inspired by my love and patriotism of Nigeria and Africa at large, I wrote this poem commemorating her past achievements but still emphatically stressing the need for future accomplishments.
"The Black woman" is my poetic way of representing Africa, black is beautiful! Black is brave!
Enjoy people!!!
**Where is that Black woman I saw?**
Ages ago when she was young,
Flourishing in the fullness of her youthful beauty,
She hustled and bustled round the clock,
Planting the seeds and tending the flock.
Her beauty was like the dawning of the day,
Hairs like the curtain clouds folding away,
The glorious sun; Like her eyes,
Hot and burning with desire.
**She travelled around the world,**
Sowing seeds of strength,
And attaining many heights and feats,
But all did men forget,
Taking the glories to themselves for their greed.
**Where is the Black woman I knew?**
That harvested her crops in their seasons,
Storing them in barns, silos and fit-structures,
For the rain cometh and the dark night appears,
She that protects her own,
And wraps her smooth soft feathers around her young chicks.
She sold off her substance to strangers,
Merchandised gifts borne of her home to crafty neighbors,
And left **her own home barren**, **empty**,
She left her place **abandoned** for moth to rust.
Her pride diminished as **her color diminished**,
Now age becomes of her,
And so are her accolades.
**Where is My Mother?**
She promised me a **bright future** with happiness surplus, **where is she?**
That Black woman that swore to us;
To make our home like gold which does not corrode?
Like Beautiful Flowers which neither rot nor fade.
Yet she left, quickly, she zoomed off,
Because the pain, she said, was too much.
**You left us, your children,**
While we were weak and yet feeble.
The spider web caught our wings,
**Thorn and thistles** pierced our feet.
The journey of tragedy and sorrow we also began,
But halfway did we sit and remember; we recall !
That together we swore to **this noble cause**,
Tears filled our eyes and voices roared; Duty calls.
**We return, we return,**
From lands where our color was the hunter’s pride,
Behind our backs, the gun triggers' smile.
**Home calls, our pearl, our virgin,**
Which we once left ,and exploiters disvirgined.
We are come back to the waters of our land,
We have understood wisdom; upon our antiquity we stand.
Mother come, Mother come,
Your children are dismothered !!
Sharp daggers have pierced our hearts and souls,
Yet you sit quietly chained in the prison of prisoners.
Thy children call thee; O Black woman of tenacity,
Break loose from thy chains,
Break loose from thy slavery; Rise up!
**The salvation of our wounded and broken home**,
Awaits your arrival, oh sweet Mother.
**Come soon**, very soon o Woman of valor,
Before the last breath in us is gone.
Our gold so pure how long will thou linger?
Break forth! Let us see that audacity again; You – **the Wonder!**
Photo Credit: depositphoto
The Tenets of HODLing
*Hodlers are the real deal!!!*
*They ain't scared at all because they have learnt the art of Hodling!*
`HODL is an acronym for a "hold on for dear life"`
source: www.investopedia.com https://www.investopedia.com/terms/h/hodl.asp
HODLing in cryptocurrency is the action of holding investments despite falls in price. Those who practice the art of hodling are **Hodlers**.
The art of hodling is characterized by three main things:
Research/enlightenment
Believe/Faith
Perseverance
**(1)Research/Enlightenment** is a very important skill required in Hodling (In my article: Who get there first wins , I will talk expansively on this). This involves surfing the internet, talking with friends, joining communities of shared interests and scavenging for projects early. The crypto space is a battle of information! information is pivotal.
You need to understand the language of cryptocurrencies like:
**Blockchain**
`A blockchain is a distributed database that is shared among the nodes of a computer network.`
source: investopedia
**Decentralization**
`Decentralization refers to the transfer of control and decision-making from a centralized entity (individual, organization, or group thereof) to a distributed network.`
source: investopedia
**Token**
`The term crypto token refers to a special virtual currency token or how cryptocurrencies are denominated`
source: investopedia
**Liquidity**
`Liquidity refers to the ability to quickly and cost-effectively convert assets into cash.`
source: investopedia
And many other terms used, these are only few of them. The aim of this is to understand and be able to read through contracts, documents, white papers and many more.
**(2)Believe/Faith:** Once you have gathered enough research, facts and evidences, you have to believe in it. You have to believe that it is worth **your time, money, and sweat.** After research, many scam schemes will be exposed, and so many contracts will look untrustworthy by you, but in all these, there will still be hundreds of coins or tokens, so whatever one you pick must be worth the choice, it must be one you will not regret. It is also advisable not to put all eggs in all baskets still you can't buy all the available ones, you will still have to make a choice. This choice is accompanied by action of buying.
**(3)Perseverance:** This is the the focal point where many people miss it. A huge percentage of us miss it because we lack perseverance. This is the final gem that makes you a true **HODLer!** Ok, so what does this mean? It is true we are humans and are influenced by news around, what friends and family say and what the crowd does in general. The crypto space is one of thorough perseverance! as huge as the profits are, the same are the risks taken. When you decide to Hodl a coin/token, it means you have decided to believe in its future and will hodl till it becomes valuable - very valuable . This is the true anthem of a Hodler. "Very Valuable" is the goal, not just valuable because a token to rise by 1000% today and fall 700% next month and in three months time have a 5000% pump!!! only hodlers enjoy these because the goal is to hodl till it becomes highly valuable. Of course we are humans and are often scared of losing, one advice is that **you don't stake what you cannot loose,** this is one rule of the crypto game!!!
The art of hodling is a must! it is one that must be learnt because the space called crypto is quite stormy only those who have their feet rooted in the rocks of **research** can **believe** and then **persevere** through the storms to enjoy **wealth** atlas!
Photo Credit: Unsplash
Be-You-Tiful/ {Beautiful}
*Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror and felt disappointed? Have you preferred your selfie versions over your real-self? Is it Beautiful or Be-You-tiful?*
I belong to GenZ so I have encountered devices, apps, filters that help to correct our supposed ***imperfections** but is it really worth it? Should we be proud of our selfie-versions and then feel disappointed while comparing that with our real faces?Is it worth it?
How do you know you are beautiful? what makes you feel you are? by what standards is beauty measured? why should the social media and more likes or less likes affect how you feel about your stature ,hair, ear, body shape and others?
I respect definitions given by various dictionaries but I won't go by them because I have come to realize that being beautiful is more about being You!!! Be-You-tiful.
**Why this article? Why Be-You-Tiful?**
There are thousands of teenagers and even adults in depression, coma and different cases because they conformed to the *social media standards for beauty. I believe beauty comes from within. As a guy, sincerely speaking I have seen plenty attractive ladies but they are not *beautiful hahaha! crazy right? You might ask why the hell did you say that? **Beautiful is not just about what people say or see about you, it is about what you see and say about yourself.** So people might find you attractive but what do you think? are you or not? or you use the public definition to answer a personal question?
When I see a beautiful person (for example a beautiful lady) I know because they are original, I mean they are *Real! they are not trying to be a second version of someone else rather, they just wonna be them!!! yeah that's the word - Be-You-Tiful, just Be You!
**Conclusively**, we often say that "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder", this means what you consider as beauty is what you perceive not exactly what is. So as a person, do you wait for others to bring their opinions and then you begin to adjust to them. I am in no way saying corrections should not be adhered to, rather I am suggesting that you be original, work on yourself to be better but not destroy yourself trying to impress people all in the name of *beauty.
Photo credit
Cryptocurrencies: The wealth of the Future
*Have you tried to imagine how wealth in the future will be? how it will be transferred? how banks will operate? Imagine for one minute that you want to give your child or benefactors inheritance and all you give are email addresses and passwords to your e-wallets... such a time is not far from now!!!*
**Cryptocurrencies** as we have seen in recent years have changed how we see wealth and money. Somehow it is closing the margin between the poor and wealthy. From Bitcoin to Ethereum and all other currencies, tokens and blockchains, it is obvious that wealth flows and made many people extremely wealthy. Unlike other investments systems, the cryptocurrency which runs on the blockchain is not a respecter of persons, by persons I mean no age discrimination, sex, religion etc. It is a huge bail out to the poor and an avenue for the rich to make more wealth.
Okay, so why give it such a captivating title? '**The wealth of the future**' It is truly the wealth of the future because from current speculations and many decentralized platforms coming into place, the world is going crypto!!! hahaha bingo! that's the word. Remember there was a time where parents had to buy houses and lands for inheritance to give to their kids, this age is one where parents would buy **cryptos** as investments for their children.
If you are an unbeliever, and by this I mean you find the crypto talks boring or uninteresting, this paragraph is dedicated to you. I know you don't believe in it but people are really talking about it, why? why would you thing cars are going electrical and money would remain the same? why do you think science and tech is advancing and yet we would need to carry bills or go to a bank to withdraw cash? In the nearest future I am quite sure that centralized banks( or anything that refuses to run on the blockchain) will be as obsolete as the Post office because they forgot to harness the opportunities before them.
How will payments be made? how will stuffs be bought in the soon-to-exist metaverse? how will funds be raised? - the answers to these questions are **CRYPTOS**
Huge credits to **Satoshi Nakamoto**, but now you have to grab this opportunity. The fact that the crypto space is booming and there are lots of sweet talks about it does not mean there aren't woes and fraudsters, of course there are! but you need to make researches, understand how it works, read the contracts, know the tokens, agenda( purpose or story behind it), believe in it and persevere.
To make wealth through crypto, you must not make it a main source of income, it could just be a stream but not the main! Also you have to **Believe** and **Persevere,** these two are very important in your crypto journey. When most coins/token started, not everyone believed in it e.g **Bitcoin, Ethereum**. Some believed but never persevered in that at the first boom, they sold off all they had - this is not bad but it leads to regrets. (I will write an article about this called **'The art of HODLing'**)
Don't expect everyone to believe in the token/coin you are buying, **the crowd could be wrong if they are not seeing what you are seeing**.
**The wealth of the Future** is truly cryptos so learn to **HODL** even if you cannot be a trader!!!
Where is the Evil Spirit that steals my money? !!!
*My money finishes quickly what could be the cause? could there be an evil spirit stealing my money? have you not noticed how money flies quickly? how can this spirit be avoided in 2022?*
**Financial intelligence** is termed difficult and most times not taught in schools. and this has plagued so many people. There are so many principles practiced by the wealthy but we think the opposite and **this is why money flies away**. We end up thinking we are cursed or have some **spirits** stealing the money. I say this respecting the fact that there are extreme cases but let us stop pushing the responsibility of a problem to external factors. I have noticed that until we see a need for change in ourselves, we will keep falling in such cycles and some people might conclude that it is their fate not knowing that they are avoiding the reality of the issue which can only be seen **when we fix ourselves as the epicenter or active contributors** to the problem.
The truth is there is actually no external evil spirit but there is one internal !!! hahaha! it is lack of financial education. I will list a few but you can go online to get more.
Money is to saved and invested
Money flows
There is never enough money
In no particular order, I will explain the above. These are well known, I am only re-emphasizing their importance.
**Money must be saved no matter how small!!!** when you start saving, the amount is insignificant but **the saving culture** must be learnt! Then use the saved money to do something which will bring in more money. I remember as a child growing up, I would make a paper wallet and stuff some money in it everyday but at the end of the week or two weeks later, I will take a stroll to the toy or candy shop and finish the money, then I am back to where I started. If what I got would help bring more money or make me very efficient, it would be a bonus but nobody taught me as a child! I had to become a teenager first before understanding this about money. Don't save money and spend it unnecessarily, even you do so ask yourself - **"was it worth it?"**
Secondly, **Money flows!!!** money is like a fluid. If you bought something with money, someone gained it, if you lost money in crypto ,forex etc. someone, some company gained it. It acts like a seesaw! money is more than just papers! It is like a fluid. Money must always flow, hence keeping money in the bank without reason is the worst attitude towards money. The more you leave money in the bank, it looses value except you invest it. If you are saving it to invest that is cool but keeping money idle is eww!
Lastly, there is never ***Enough money**. This means there will always be something to do with money so why are we bothered about saving? even if you spend the one you have, situations will always come up that require money as an answer! I learnt saving by investing money and locking up the returns. It was pretty hard because I was usually faced with an empty account most times but this affected me greatly. It pushed me to start reasoning from scratch as though I never had cash anywhere.
Learn budgeting!!! learn to save!!! learn to spend!
Spend on needs not wants, we cannot eat our cakes and still have them!!!
Photo credit https://clashofclans.fandom.com/wiki/Goblin
The Little lesson I learnt from Captain America!!!
*"Oh I just wonna be like Captain America!!!"*
The movie Captain America to me was more than an action movie but a motivation. I didn't just fall for his six pacs and muscular body but also his bravery!!! I love that shield also!!! mehn it was so cool.
I am a fan of marvel films and I just remembered a little secret I got from the captain himself. But I learnt this from the less muscular captain rogers, the one who was quite short( I am much taller than that version hahaha!) and was disappointed at almost all opportunities.
Before I progress, I will like to debunk the fact that a movie is just a movie. Some people might be thinking 'how the hell does a lesson from captain America help us? ' or 'how applicable are the lessons, it is just a movie nothing more?' Of course it is just a movie but there is always an element of reality(or truth) in them.
Flash back to the point where he joined the army and they were undergoing rigorous trainings. There was this exact one where they jogged with the instructor in front and all of a sudden, he stopped some distance away from a flagpole and made a claim that no soldier had been able to remove the flag from the pole. It was a pretty high one. He then ordered them to compete and bring the flag.
Immediately, some trainees began climbing the single pole, some where dragging them down to climb up and in turn were dragged down so at the end of the tussle, nobody got it. The man shook his head in disappointment. Suddenly, Captain Rogers moved to the flagpole, dismantled it from the base and removed the flag. It was a shock to the instructor and all his co-trainees that he solved the problem using ***wisdom** not ***strength**.
That moment in the movie was an awe-inspiring one for me. I had to watch it again and again to understand it.
Firstly, why did the other soldiers not think about doing what he did? I guess it was a general thing called **the bandwagon effect.** In simple words, if everyone are doing it them it is the correct way, if any other way exists then it is subject to correction. Since the other soldiers saw some trying to climb up, they believed the way was up, while Captain Rogers was looking at the bottom of the flagpole. Have you been attacking problems the same way people have been and they are not solving the problems? rather they keep hurting people and other immense consequences backfires.
Secondly, why did the soldiers have to drag themselves ? they probably thought the way up was dragging pulling someone down so they could rise. This is an animalistic instinct which works on **the succession by annihilation thinking**. Just imagine if together they formed a circle round the pole, and allowed the the next soldiers to climb and collectively get the flag and make history together!!! (even though they could not think outside the box, they could still win together). But you might say "man this is a competition not a brotherhood!" hahaha true but does this not explain why the world is this way? why many are competing and dragging others down! why businesses and competitors are rivals and democratic parties parallel lines. If the goal is the same(the flag) why not *complement, this does not mean you do the same thing but creating a common ground for both parties to survive.
**The bandwagon effect and succession by annihilation** are your two new enemies because if captain America never overcame them he wouldn't have been the captain figure you (and I ) love so much. You don't always have to follow the crowd and you don't have to destroy others or tear them down before you reign!!!
PICTURE CREDIT: aisec.com
The Day SAPA paid me a Visit
*Have you ever been broke before? Have you been at that point where you hungered but all you could do was stare at chicken through a glass because you never had the means to get it? If so, you can relate!!! Happy reads guys!!!*
`Sapa is a slang word in my country which in English means an extreme state of poverty.`
As students in high school, we start out the first week with full cheeks and smiling faces. We progress in this mood till the fourth week and then everything gets tough. Apart from paying departmental fees and other unnecessary dues, the costs of living on campus is enough to make one depressed!!! hahaha! I said so because I have been there before.
**So a week ago my roomie hired me to repair his mobile phone**, it had screen issues because it fell from the second floor of our hostel. He paid me and off I went to the accessory store to buy what I needed. I fixed it and made some little gains but unknown to me, the Impact which the phone made with the ground made the case curve inwards. Happily, I reached the hostel and gave it to him.
**He looked at it and was happy too but at night he came complaining about how the screen I fixed did not rest was on the phone**. I realized the curve and warned him about the costs but he gave me a go ahead. With joy, I opened the phone and added some glue to make it stick and then the unimaginable happened!!! the screen got spoilt. I was speechless! In fact I felt dumb for the first time in 2022. I broke the news to him and sadness filled the air. Why were we sad? hahaha! because the remaining amounts in our bank accounts will be used now... how do we feed? how about transportation? this was how Sapa began its journey.
**Okay so I kept asking myself** "was it my fault or my roomies? or we both contributed?" Yes I guess the third was right because we contributed the money together. I had to make a few calls to raise some money and I had them in my account. The D-day came for me to go again to the accessory store and we were both happy because we have raised the money. I sat in class receiving lecturers from a comedic lecturer and was having the a good time when I checked my G-mail messages and saw a *debit alert. 'Oh my goodness!' I exclaimed in my mind, my account was just wiped empty by someone from some God-knows-where place. Suddenly a flashback of what happened some months ago streamed in. I was robbed then and in the process lost my debit card(which is used to withdraw cash from the ATM). My mood wet sour and I could not participate in the class again. My roomie who was also in the class( because we belonged to the same department ) noticed my mood and began asking questions. I broke the news and two of us went down again in depression. We were really in deep trouble.
**The following week**, we somehow managed to raise the money and repaired the phone. But at this point we had nothing... literally nothing! It sounds funny but as students the implications were adverse. Sapa was not just at the door anymore it had entered already!
**I actually gave this article the title** "***The pains of a broke man***" but I changed it to a more fun title. It was really hard coping at such conditions. We stay in a room with different kinds of people, food, drinks and yet I drank pure water( water sold in sachets in my country) because I had nothing to eat.
God was merciful to me because some friends later came around and helped me rise up because Sapa swept me up my feet ! I also had some petty referral jobs that paid me commissions! whoa!! Sapa goodbye for good!
This is really funny but my main point is no matter what state of bankruptcy you are, never give up! never think of suicide and if you think about it, don't do it because you lost !!! Each day you wake up, there are a plethora of opportunities waiting for you to harness and exit that state.
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@ThatRealGuy
