"I thank my God every time I remember you." Philippians 1:3 (NIV)
"Paul chose not to remember the painful; instead, he focused on the things he could be grateful for. "
What do you remember about people? The good experiences or the bad experiences? Paul said, "I like to remember the good things about people, focus on the good times we've had, remember the positive experiences."
When Paul said this he had not had an easy time in Philippi. Acts 16 tells us that when he went to Philippi he was illegally arrested, whipped, humiliated, and thrown into prison -- before finally being asked to leave town. Yet he says, "I thank God every time I remember you."
Paul could have dwelt on the negative. He could have remembered the painful memories. He chose not to remember the painful; instead, he focused on the things he could be grateful for.
Maybe you have been hurt in the past by a parent or a partner and you're still holding on to that hurt. As a result you can't enjoy being around them today. You're still focusing on the bad and the negative. Be grateful for the good in people. Pleasant memories are a choice. I can choose what I'm going to remember about the past.
I'm not saying that you deny the hurts you've had or that you excuse the weaknesses in other people. That is psychologically unhealthy. But focus on the good and choose to emphasize the strengths.
I hear wives say, "He's a good man, but ... ." Anytime you hear "but" it means the emphasis is on the negative not the positive. Be grateful for what you've got! Mr. Perfect does not exist! I've heard the same thing from husbands, but Mrs. Perfect does not exist!
If you want to enjoy others, you've got to focus on their strengths and not their weaknesses. With some people it takes a lot of creativity. But you can find something good in everybody.
Source: http://purposedriven.com
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
How to Say No
We’ve become a culture of “yes people:” “Yes, I can stay late to help with your project.” “Yes, you can have that expensive themed birthday party with the live ponies.” “Yes, let’s go out for drinks on Friday.” “Yes, I’m available to help you move tomorrow.”
Why is it so difficult to turn down a commitment these days? I have a theory - I think it’s because technology makes it almost impossible for us to hide! Back in the old days, you could become unavailable for a little while if you needed a mental vacation. But now, it seems like wherever you go, someone’s showing up with an invite or a request - texting you, emailing you, leaving you voicemails, messaging you on Facebook or wherever else, ready to hold you accountable. And worse… while you’re juggling all those priorities, even more obligations and temptations keep popping up.
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: we can’t be everything to everyone, and we can’t do it all. If we try to, we soon discover how it feels to be that proverbial chicken without a head. And with all this running from here to there, feeling the pressure mount to be the perfect mom or dad, friend, employee, coworker, coach, Christian, golf buddy, vacation planner, party person, and so forth… pretty soon we really DO start to feel like our heads have become detached from our bodies as we mentally unravel!
I know it’s hard to say no when someone needs your help or requests your presence. But try to view your life in a pie graph format, with slices taken out for various commitments that you must attend to. The smaller the “sliver” of pie that you devote to one activity, the less attention, concentration, and appreciation you’re able to give it. And then you’re no longer enjoying yourself and being present in the moment. That’s what they call being “stretched too thin” and I think we all know when it’s happening to us. And our family, friends and colleagues notice, too.
So let me offer a few tips on how to say “No” without offending or disappointing people.
1. Say “no” to this, but “yes” to that.
Don’t you usually find that your commitments to certain people are cumulative? You’re helping a friend work on his truck this week, and then next week he’s calling to see if you can come over and look at the brakes on his wife’s car. If it’s not a good time, then say so. “Listen Bill, I really wish I could help you, but I’m swamped with work this weekend and the kids have Scout Camp.” And while you’re letting your friend down easy, casually bring up another event or task that you two will be teaming up on. “So let me know how it goes, and I’ll see you on the fifth for our camping trip!” It’s always best to end the conversation on a high note, especially if you’re delivering disappointing news.
2. Put out the silent “no” - don’t make yourself so easily accessible.
A great way to get yourself labeled as a “yes” person is to be everywhere all the time. Your phone is on, you’re logged into your favorite social networking site, you’re fielding emails, you’re Skyping. This sends a message to people which says, “I’ve got nothing happening, so give me something to do!” Know what’s the best way to tell people you’re busy? Disappear! Even if you’ve just lowered yourself into a hot bubble bath, nobody except your immediate family has to know. To the outside world, you’re out of sight and that means you’re probably embroiled in some other project for somebody else. It works at the office, too. When people ask you where you’ve been or what you’ve been up to, just explain that you’re “super busy” or “crazy busy”! Trust me, there’s no better way to get the needy masses off your back.
3. Take a deep breath before you say “no.”
Being assertive has to do with making your own needs known but doing it in a calm, confident way. If you’re starting to get all stressed out about overbooking yourself, then it’s going to show in the pitch of your voice, the pace of your steps, the tightness of your muscles and the way you express yourself to others. If you feel overwhelmed, take a time out for yourself. Go for a walk, breathe a few deep, cleansing breaths, get into a few Yoga positions or do whatever you do to calm down. When you’re feeling human again, prepare your polite “no, thank you” and then ease into your regretful response.
4. Be apologetic about your no’s, and enthusiastic about your yeses.
Sometimes people get offended simply because of the manner of our delivery. One of my friends has this talent for making people feel unimportant when she’s turning down their invites. Something about her flippant, “Oh, no, we won’t be able to make it - we’re going tubing that weekend!” makes you feel a little bit unspecial. Other people just give off that snappish “I’m so overwhelmed” vibe when you approach them - and while they really may be overwhelmed, this can be unfriendly and off-putting. Knowing this, it’s worth practicing saying your “no thank you”s and “sorry, I can’t make it”s a bit more gracefully and gratefully. “That was so nice of you to think of us,” “Okay, I can’t wait to see you on Sunday instead!” and “Oh, I really wish I could come” go a long way in conveying a warm, friendly and positive attitude toward the people who count.
5. Say no with a polite explanation.
Open, honest communication is always the answer, and it’s no different when juggling your priorities and obligations to people. If you were invited to a co-ed baby shower but you already scheduled a golf outing for that day, then sure, you may feel like that’s a flimsy excuse best kept to yourself. But, a stiff “Sorry, can’t make it, CLICK” can be a tad insensitive, especially if this shower is for someone you actually do care about. So, at the very least, leave a genuinely apologetic, “Sorry, I already have plans for that day - but let’s get together soon so I can bring you your shower gift in person!”
==
David Boyl (slowdownfast.com)
Why is it so difficult to turn down a commitment these days? I have a theory - I think it’s because technology makes it almost impossible for us to hide! Back in the old days, you could become unavailable for a little while if you needed a mental vacation. But now, it seems like wherever you go, someone’s showing up with an invite or a request - texting you, emailing you, leaving you voicemails, messaging you on Facebook or wherever else, ready to hold you accountable. And worse… while you’re juggling all those priorities, even more obligations and temptations keep popping up.
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: we can’t be everything to everyone, and we can’t do it all. If we try to, we soon discover how it feels to be that proverbial chicken without a head. And with all this running from here to there, feeling the pressure mount to be the perfect mom or dad, friend, employee, coworker, coach, Christian, golf buddy, vacation planner, party person, and so forth… pretty soon we really DO start to feel like our heads have become detached from our bodies as we mentally unravel!
I know it’s hard to say no when someone needs your help or requests your presence. But try to view your life in a pie graph format, with slices taken out for various commitments that you must attend to. The smaller the “sliver” of pie that you devote to one activity, the less attention, concentration, and appreciation you’re able to give it. And then you’re no longer enjoying yourself and being present in the moment. That’s what they call being “stretched too thin” and I think we all know when it’s happening to us. And our family, friends and colleagues notice, too.
So let me offer a few tips on how to say “No” without offending or disappointing people.
1. Say “no” to this, but “yes” to that.
Don’t you usually find that your commitments to certain people are cumulative? You’re helping a friend work on his truck this week, and then next week he’s calling to see if you can come over and look at the brakes on his wife’s car. If it’s not a good time, then say so. “Listen Bill, I really wish I could help you, but I’m swamped with work this weekend and the kids have Scout Camp.” And while you’re letting your friend down easy, casually bring up another event or task that you two will be teaming up on. “So let me know how it goes, and I’ll see you on the fifth for our camping trip!” It’s always best to end the conversation on a high note, especially if you’re delivering disappointing news.
2. Put out the silent “no” - don’t make yourself so easily accessible.
A great way to get yourself labeled as a “yes” person is to be everywhere all the time. Your phone is on, you’re logged into your favorite social networking site, you’re fielding emails, you’re Skyping. This sends a message to people which says, “I’ve got nothing happening, so give me something to do!” Know what’s the best way to tell people you’re busy? Disappear! Even if you’ve just lowered yourself into a hot bubble bath, nobody except your immediate family has to know. To the outside world, you’re out of sight and that means you’re probably embroiled in some other project for somebody else. It works at the office, too. When people ask you where you’ve been or what you’ve been up to, just explain that you’re “super busy” or “crazy busy”! Trust me, there’s no better way to get the needy masses off your back.
3. Take a deep breath before you say “no.”
Being assertive has to do with making your own needs known but doing it in a calm, confident way. If you’re starting to get all stressed out about overbooking yourself, then it’s going to show in the pitch of your voice, the pace of your steps, the tightness of your muscles and the way you express yourself to others. If you feel overwhelmed, take a time out for yourself. Go for a walk, breathe a few deep, cleansing breaths, get into a few Yoga positions or do whatever you do to calm down. When you’re feeling human again, prepare your polite “no, thank you” and then ease into your regretful response.
4. Be apologetic about your no’s, and enthusiastic about your yeses.
Sometimes people get offended simply because of the manner of our delivery. One of my friends has this talent for making people feel unimportant when she’s turning down their invites. Something about her flippant, “Oh, no, we won’t be able to make it - we’re going tubing that weekend!” makes you feel a little bit unspecial. Other people just give off that snappish “I’m so overwhelmed” vibe when you approach them - and while they really may be overwhelmed, this can be unfriendly and off-putting. Knowing this, it’s worth practicing saying your “no thank you”s and “sorry, I can’t make it”s a bit more gracefully and gratefully. “That was so nice of you to think of us,” “Okay, I can’t wait to see you on Sunday instead!” and “Oh, I really wish I could come” go a long way in conveying a warm, friendly and positive attitude toward the people who count.
5. Say no with a polite explanation.
Open, honest communication is always the answer, and it’s no different when juggling your priorities and obligations to people. If you were invited to a co-ed baby shower but you already scheduled a golf outing for that day, then sure, you may feel like that’s a flimsy excuse best kept to yourself. But, a stiff “Sorry, can’t make it, CLICK” can be a tad insensitive, especially if this shower is for someone you actually do care about. So, at the very least, leave a genuinely apologetic, “Sorry, I already have plans for that day - but let’s get together soon so I can bring you your shower gift in person!”
==
David Boyl (slowdownfast.com)
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Obama Month!
Just before November slips away,it is nice to report that this month worldwide has been celebrated as Obama's month.
On November 4,the world stood still as history unfolds in the United States of America; Barack Obama was elected her 44th President.
We congratulate this first black American President and challenged him to bring a lasting change to america nay the world.
Obama will be sworn in January 20,2009.
We also wish Victor Attah a happy 70th birthday(Nov.20).Attah is a former Nigerian state governor and a professional architect!
--
IP
On November 4,the world stood still as history unfolds in the United States of America; Barack Obama was elected her 44th President.
We congratulate this first black American President and challenged him to bring a lasting change to america nay the world.
Obama will be sworn in January 20,2009.
We also wish Victor Attah a happy 70th birthday(Nov.20).Attah is a former Nigerian state governor and a professional architect!
--
IP
Friday, October 3, 2008
How to Get the Attention of People Whom You Want to Emulate
Maybe it’s a famous wedding planner, talk show host, or a local business man or woman. Whoever it is you admire, and want to be like, has qualities that you want to possess. You may already have these qualities but just haven’t freed them from within yourself yet. Selecting someone who you look up to, who can serve as a mentor or even just a connection who might be able to open doors of opportunity for you, is something worth investigating.
Now comes the question: how do you get Extremely Successful and Busy People to notice you?
Get over the fear.
Before you do anything: let go of the fear. Humans have a habit of putting other humans upon a pedestal, perhaps falsely perceiving that they are somehow unworthy of said successful person’s attention?
So what if they’re famous? They’re still human like you. Whoever they may be “to the public,” they’ve still got a mother and a father, a family to care for, bills to pay and a little child inside of their own head who pipes up every now and again wanting attention and recognition in the most basic of ways.
Once you get over the intimidation, approach this person just like you would anyone else on the face of the Earth. And if for some reason they are rude, dismissive, or condescending to you? Then they likely aren’t worth bothering with, anyway. Know, though, that many Highly Successful people are also happier and more spiritually evolved than most. It’s due to their life experiences and the adversity that shaped who they are today. To your surprise, they might just be kind to you — and they might just have something important to teach you. Remember this before you approach - they’re human and fallible, just like you. And just like you - they want to be appreciated, and they want to be understood.
Ask an intriguing question.
If you’re truly a fan of said person, then dig up some information that validates this fact. Know their history, know their company, know their political position and their philosophies. This should go without saying, but believe it or not, lots of people are “blind followers,” chasing after famous celebrities and high profile individuals simply because they’ve seen their photo on the internet or heard their clip on Fox News. Remember, you’re not a groupie or a stalker - you’re a real person with real ideals, and you want to select role models who reflect your inner values. Look deeply and closely at the person you admire, and be prepared to challenge who they are on the inside.
Once you’re sure that this person would be on your wavelength if you knew each other, you need to take steps so that you eventually WILL know each other. So prepare questions. These should be REAL questions that you actually have - about their industry, their profession, what they think about current issues of the day, how they got themselves into (or out of) situation X, Y, or Z, and so forth. If you dare, probe deeply! Go out on a limb and ask something controversial that will get them thinking and talking. That’s really the first way to capture attention - to ask an intriguing question. Go on, be bold and push the envelope!
Tune up your elevator speech.
An elevator speech is essentially your “personal sales pitch.” It could be about your business, but it could also be about your Personal Mission or the goals you’ve set for yourself professionally. They call it an elevator pitch because you should be able to deliver the meat of the message in the time it takes to ride up an elevator.
Keep in mind that said Successful and Sought-after Person could get off the elevator at any second or minute. You’ll have to work fast, but you also need to be smooth with your segue into the conversation. If you’re looking to get a foot in the door, whether at their company, on their radio program, or what-have-you, you should be ready to whip out that personal pitch and ensure a smooth delivery. DO try, though, to NOT sound like a walking infocommercial. There is nothing less interesting than someone who is trolling around in robot-like fashion, spouting off canned self-promotion. We are all tired of these types of people, so don’t be one.
Network in their general direction.
One of the keys to approaching people who you admire and want to emulate is through networking. Again, this may be a face-to-face connection or it may be social networking through sites like LinkedIn or Facebook. Either way, you have to be prepared and know how to work the room and the individual. Of course, I can’t say enough about NOT coming across as stalkerish or desperate. But DO practice being memorable (think about those Questions we talk about earlier) — and if you’re not sure how to do that, let’s schedule a coaching session to work on your people skills.
After you have your elevator speech prepared, practice it over and over again until you can say it without even thinking about it. Be sure you sound natural - not phony or Crazy-Eddie like. Pick your networking targets and make it a point to meet them and talk to them while you are at the event.
If you know you’ll be someplace where your favorite money expert, Suze Ormond, is speaking, then make her your target. You may or may not get the opportunity to speak to Suze, so have some backup candidates on your list as well. This helps you to organize your networking efforts, and with your prepared speech, you’ll be ready to get the attention of those you admire most.
Networking is also a way to get someone you meet or know to introduce you to someone they know that you want to meet. That may sound confusing, but it goes back to the six degrees of separation theory. This theory is the basis for websites like Linkedin and Facebook. You add friends and colleagues that you know to your network, and through the people that you know, you can “get introduced” to people that they know. And they’ll tell a friend, and they’ll tell a friend… and so on… and so on… (remember that old commercial from the 1980s? Oops - dating myself here!)
Establish a mentor/mentee relationship:
If you’re still shaky about getting out there and connecting with people who you want to be like, then get yourself some crash coaching in this area. A personal coach can work with you on honing your skills, zoning in on your greatest assets, and getting you up to speed with networking savvy that you MUST possess if you want to persevere in this competitive world we live in!
Just think - connecting with that famous wedding planner (legal expert, green business developer, etc.) might mean that one day you can know the feeling of being the next greatest wedding planner (legal expert, green business developer, etc.). And that’s definitely something worth looking into.
So are you ready to let go of the fear that stops you from “socializing up” - surrounding yourself with people who you want to be like?
Great. Whatever you do, be prepared and be persistent. With concerted time and effort, and a bit of personal ingenuity, you WILL attract the attention you desire and achieve your goal!
by:
David Bohl, Lifestyle Redesign Expert
www.slowdownfast.com
Now comes the question: how do you get Extremely Successful and Busy People to notice you?
Get over the fear.
Before you do anything: let go of the fear. Humans have a habit of putting other humans upon a pedestal, perhaps falsely perceiving that they are somehow unworthy of said successful person’s attention?
So what if they’re famous? They’re still human like you. Whoever they may be “to the public,” they’ve still got a mother and a father, a family to care for, bills to pay and a little child inside of their own head who pipes up every now and again wanting attention and recognition in the most basic of ways.
Once you get over the intimidation, approach this person just like you would anyone else on the face of the Earth. And if for some reason they are rude, dismissive, or condescending to you? Then they likely aren’t worth bothering with, anyway. Know, though, that many Highly Successful people are also happier and more spiritually evolved than most. It’s due to their life experiences and the adversity that shaped who they are today. To your surprise, they might just be kind to you — and they might just have something important to teach you. Remember this before you approach - they’re human and fallible, just like you. And just like you - they want to be appreciated, and they want to be understood.
Ask an intriguing question.
If you’re truly a fan of said person, then dig up some information that validates this fact. Know their history, know their company, know their political position and their philosophies. This should go without saying, but believe it or not, lots of people are “blind followers,” chasing after famous celebrities and high profile individuals simply because they’ve seen their photo on the internet or heard their clip on Fox News. Remember, you’re not a groupie or a stalker - you’re a real person with real ideals, and you want to select role models who reflect your inner values. Look deeply and closely at the person you admire, and be prepared to challenge who they are on the inside.
Once you’re sure that this person would be on your wavelength if you knew each other, you need to take steps so that you eventually WILL know each other. So prepare questions. These should be REAL questions that you actually have - about their industry, their profession, what they think about current issues of the day, how they got themselves into (or out of) situation X, Y, or Z, and so forth. If you dare, probe deeply! Go out on a limb and ask something controversial that will get them thinking and talking. That’s really the first way to capture attention - to ask an intriguing question. Go on, be bold and push the envelope!
Tune up your elevator speech.
An elevator speech is essentially your “personal sales pitch.” It could be about your business, but it could also be about your Personal Mission or the goals you’ve set for yourself professionally. They call it an elevator pitch because you should be able to deliver the meat of the message in the time it takes to ride up an elevator.
Keep in mind that said Successful and Sought-after Person could get off the elevator at any second or minute. You’ll have to work fast, but you also need to be smooth with your segue into the conversation. If you’re looking to get a foot in the door, whether at their company, on their radio program, or what-have-you, you should be ready to whip out that personal pitch and ensure a smooth delivery. DO try, though, to NOT sound like a walking infocommercial. There is nothing less interesting than someone who is trolling around in robot-like fashion, spouting off canned self-promotion. We are all tired of these types of people, so don’t be one.
Network in their general direction.
One of the keys to approaching people who you admire and want to emulate is through networking. Again, this may be a face-to-face connection or it may be social networking through sites like LinkedIn or Facebook. Either way, you have to be prepared and know how to work the room and the individual. Of course, I can’t say enough about NOT coming across as stalkerish or desperate. But DO practice being memorable (think about those Questions we talk about earlier) — and if you’re not sure how to do that, let’s schedule a coaching session to work on your people skills.
After you have your elevator speech prepared, practice it over and over again until you can say it without even thinking about it. Be sure you sound natural - not phony or Crazy-Eddie like. Pick your networking targets and make it a point to meet them and talk to them while you are at the event.
If you know you’ll be someplace where your favorite money expert, Suze Ormond, is speaking, then make her your target. You may or may not get the opportunity to speak to Suze, so have some backup candidates on your list as well. This helps you to organize your networking efforts, and with your prepared speech, you’ll be ready to get the attention of those you admire most.
Networking is also a way to get someone you meet or know to introduce you to someone they know that you want to meet. That may sound confusing, but it goes back to the six degrees of separation theory. This theory is the basis for websites like Linkedin and Facebook. You add friends and colleagues that you know to your network, and through the people that you know, you can “get introduced” to people that they know. And they’ll tell a friend, and they’ll tell a friend… and so on… and so on… (remember that old commercial from the 1980s? Oops - dating myself here!)
Establish a mentor/mentee relationship:
If you’re still shaky about getting out there and connecting with people who you want to be like, then get yourself some crash coaching in this area. A personal coach can work with you on honing your skills, zoning in on your greatest assets, and getting you up to speed with networking savvy that you MUST possess if you want to persevere in this competitive world we live in!
Just think - connecting with that famous wedding planner (legal expert, green business developer, etc.) might mean that one day you can know the feeling of being the next greatest wedding planner (legal expert, green business developer, etc.). And that’s definitely something worth looking into.
So are you ready to let go of the fear that stops you from “socializing up” - surrounding yourself with people who you want to be like?
Great. Whatever you do, be prepared and be persistent. With concerted time and effort, and a bit of personal ingenuity, you WILL attract the attention you desire and achieve your goal!
by:
David Bohl, Lifestyle Redesign Expert
www.slowdownfast.com
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Niger Delta: We must listen to Attah
At long last, Obong Victor Attah, a distinguished elder statesman and erstwhile Governor of Akwa Ibom State, has broken his silence and spoken directly on the Niger Delta question twice in one month since he left office as Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
Based on his reputation as a pacifist and advocate of the Niger Delta cause and the statesmanlike manner he had handled the resource control debate, I had expected nothing less from him. In view of the controversy that has trailed the proposed summit on the Delta problem, Attah’s contribution came on the nick of time and, as to be expected, it came, loaded, with a novelty whose profundity cannot but be appreciated.
Today, do we still need any “summit” on the Niger Delta? This was the question Attah set forth to answer in his first contribution and emerged saying “yes” for a “summit” of summits, which should come in three stages so that nothing, again, is left to chance. Paraphrased, stage One of the “Summit” will involve distillation and collation of all the divergent views contained in those series of reports on the Delta question which should be reinforced with current, additional memoranda from the various interests and ethnic groups in the region.
SUMMIT Stage Two: This, according to him, should be an exclusive gathering of leaders of the Delta region as representatives of all the stakeholders. It should be the task of this forum to come out with a harmonized view on how to finally effectively tackle the Niger Delta problem, based on the product of a Steering Committee of experts.
SUMMIT Stage Three: Finally, this should include participants other than those from the Delta “since we are part of a larger country and cannot pretend that whatever we want is what we will get.” From this stage of the summit, which should also include representatives of the international community, ought to emerge “a program of action and implementation to change for good and ensure the well-being of the goose that is laying the golden egg for this country.”
In his second contribution published in a number of newspapers on Sunday, August 3, 2008, Attah, an architect and renowned town planner, accurately traced the origins of the militancy in the Niger Delta to the Abacha era when youths from the creeks who attended Daniel Kanu’s two-million man march in Abuja saw how oil money had been used to transform overnight a virgin forest into a modern city and became infuriated that the goose that lays the golden egg had been cheated. Ever since, the Niger Delta has not been the same again. So, what is the way out?
Attah must have reasoned alongside Aristotle who said in his Metaphysics: Cessante Causa, Cessat effectus. Meaning: when the cause ceases to be, the effect disappears. Syllogistically, that is to say that the Niger Delta, youths were infuriated that their oil wealth was used to develop a new town like Abuja to the exclusion of towns in the oil bearing area. Therefore, if something like Abuja is replicated in the Niger Delta the youths will be placated.
Thus, citing Britain as an example of countries that have consistently ensured sustainable development via the development of new towns as a matter of state policy, Attah deftly reduced the solution to the Niger Delta problem to three things: “Massive infrastructure and human development; Employment creation and Restoration of human dignity.”
A close look at the three things, he said, would show that, “the second derives from the first and they both will give birth to the third.” Pointing out that new towns would not only come with “certain euphoria”, but essentially also provide employment during and after construction, he stressed that he was not talking about new towns for the Delta people alone, but new towns for - every and any Nigerian that may wish to live there.
He therefore proposed four new towns for the region - Towns which, could be designated as “company towns” i.e. towns with economic base that would automatically “provide employment for all employable Nigerians.” Such towns should be located thus: One in Ijawland - Bayelsa State; One in Ogoniland, for River State; One in Akwa Ibom (a sea port for Ibaka town), and One in Delta State, preferably in Warri town which should be modernized. These new towns, Attah argued, would come naturally with “the desired elements: roads, power, water, good communications, schools, hospitals, housing, recreational and other amenities and in particular security.”
I cannot agree more. Attah knows where the shoe pinches his people and by extension, the Nigerian economy. He spoke the minds of most Nigerians. The Niger Delta issue must be resolved objectively and systematically. And one sure way is the three-stage approach because, a high hill, as Isaac Pitman said, grows lesser as we take each step. Moreover, there is no way we can do real justice to the whole matter today without refreshing our memories of all those past recommendations and reports. If Attah’s first dossier is a novelty par excellence, his second is even more so given its comprehensive nature. It is perhaps scary to talk of “comprehensive development” of the Niger Delta, but Attah’s new town approach offers an effective if less cumbersome solution to the problem, because of the domino effect inherent in a new town: new roads, housing, new utilities, new jobs arising from new factories, schools, colleges, hospitals, sea or river ports, construction sites etc.
Funding the development of a new town should not be a burden for the Federal Government alone to shoulder, if the right and proper fiscal federalism is allowed to thrive here. Today, the Federal Government finds it almost impossible to discharge its duties to the people merely because the center has bitten more than it can chew. As they say, to whom much is given, from him much is expected. Like Attah suggested, it is improper for the FG to retain 60% equity in every major oil company.
By reducing its holding to 30% and redistributing the remainder to a resource bearing state (20%) and the immediate community (10%), the development of a new town can easily be funded through equitable contributions by the three tiers. In fact, when the state takes 20% revenue and the community takes 10%, it can be rightly argued that a derivation principle of 30% as opposed to the existing 13% is in effect and, therefore, to raise say N250billion to develop a new town, say, at Ibaka in Akwa Ibom State, the community could conveniently contribute 10%; the state government 20%; the Federal Government 30% making up a pool of 60% which would possibly be augmented by the private sector, oil companies and the international community and a seaport town would shine at Ibaka to the benefit of not only the immediate state, but also all Nigerians.
For the right fiscal Federalism we may yet revisit the Igbeti Marble formula so that when we begin to give agriculture the focus it deserves, the affected communities and states in the North would be adequately compensated. Therefore, in order to reduce the envy that frustrates the idea of payment of adequate royalty to the oil bearing area, let us develop our agriculture and also begin to exploit the huge mineral wealth trapped under the Northern soil, so that the derivation money can go round because it is only when the two sides of the chin take turns in chewing your food that you can swallow with confidence. By shifting to other minerals like tar sands found in Ondo state, and the mineral deposit in the North, we could diversify the economy. Total and indefinite dependence on oil - a depleting resource, cannot but spell doom for the economy. The issue of reviewing the Mineral Oil Act; Land Use Decree; Petroleum Tax Law raised by Attah is a whole topic on its own and therefore deserves a separate and exhaustive treatment next time.
Meanwhile, let us ignore Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s bravura and the French’s braggadocio. Let us invite the British Town Planning Association to help carry out Attah’s statesmanlike recommendations on new towns. My fear about the violence in the Delta region is that it may force America to intervene under the guise of the Monroe and Roosevelt Doctrines. Especially if, one way or the other, one day, an American vessel comes fatally under the Delta crossfire. Remember Panama (1903); remember Cuba (1889); Pearl Habour and the Second World War?
---
Godwin Nzeakah
www.sunnewsonline.com(Tuesday,August 12,2008)
Based on his reputation as a pacifist and advocate of the Niger Delta cause and the statesmanlike manner he had handled the resource control debate, I had expected nothing less from him. In view of the controversy that has trailed the proposed summit on the Delta problem, Attah’s contribution came on the nick of time and, as to be expected, it came, loaded, with a novelty whose profundity cannot but be appreciated.
Today, do we still need any “summit” on the Niger Delta? This was the question Attah set forth to answer in his first contribution and emerged saying “yes” for a “summit” of summits, which should come in three stages so that nothing, again, is left to chance. Paraphrased, stage One of the “Summit” will involve distillation and collation of all the divergent views contained in those series of reports on the Delta question which should be reinforced with current, additional memoranda from the various interests and ethnic groups in the region.
SUMMIT Stage Two: This, according to him, should be an exclusive gathering of leaders of the Delta region as representatives of all the stakeholders. It should be the task of this forum to come out with a harmonized view on how to finally effectively tackle the Niger Delta problem, based on the product of a Steering Committee of experts.
SUMMIT Stage Three: Finally, this should include participants other than those from the Delta “since we are part of a larger country and cannot pretend that whatever we want is what we will get.” From this stage of the summit, which should also include representatives of the international community, ought to emerge “a program of action and implementation to change for good and ensure the well-being of the goose that is laying the golden egg for this country.”
In his second contribution published in a number of newspapers on Sunday, August 3, 2008, Attah, an architect and renowned town planner, accurately traced the origins of the militancy in the Niger Delta to the Abacha era when youths from the creeks who attended Daniel Kanu’s two-million man march in Abuja saw how oil money had been used to transform overnight a virgin forest into a modern city and became infuriated that the goose that lays the golden egg had been cheated. Ever since, the Niger Delta has not been the same again. So, what is the way out?
Attah must have reasoned alongside Aristotle who said in his Metaphysics: Cessante Causa, Cessat effectus. Meaning: when the cause ceases to be, the effect disappears. Syllogistically, that is to say that the Niger Delta, youths were infuriated that their oil wealth was used to develop a new town like Abuja to the exclusion of towns in the oil bearing area. Therefore, if something like Abuja is replicated in the Niger Delta the youths will be placated.
Thus, citing Britain as an example of countries that have consistently ensured sustainable development via the development of new towns as a matter of state policy, Attah deftly reduced the solution to the Niger Delta problem to three things: “Massive infrastructure and human development; Employment creation and Restoration of human dignity.”
A close look at the three things, he said, would show that, “the second derives from the first and they both will give birth to the third.” Pointing out that new towns would not only come with “certain euphoria”, but essentially also provide employment during and after construction, he stressed that he was not talking about new towns for the Delta people alone, but new towns for - every and any Nigerian that may wish to live there.
He therefore proposed four new towns for the region - Towns which, could be designated as “company towns” i.e. towns with economic base that would automatically “provide employment for all employable Nigerians.” Such towns should be located thus: One in Ijawland - Bayelsa State; One in Ogoniland, for River State; One in Akwa Ibom (a sea port for Ibaka town), and One in Delta State, preferably in Warri town which should be modernized. These new towns, Attah argued, would come naturally with “the desired elements: roads, power, water, good communications, schools, hospitals, housing, recreational and other amenities and in particular security.”
I cannot agree more. Attah knows where the shoe pinches his people and by extension, the Nigerian economy. He spoke the minds of most Nigerians. The Niger Delta issue must be resolved objectively and systematically. And one sure way is the three-stage approach because, a high hill, as Isaac Pitman said, grows lesser as we take each step. Moreover, there is no way we can do real justice to the whole matter today without refreshing our memories of all those past recommendations and reports. If Attah’s first dossier is a novelty par excellence, his second is even more so given its comprehensive nature. It is perhaps scary to talk of “comprehensive development” of the Niger Delta, but Attah’s new town approach offers an effective if less cumbersome solution to the problem, because of the domino effect inherent in a new town: new roads, housing, new utilities, new jobs arising from new factories, schools, colleges, hospitals, sea or river ports, construction sites etc.
Funding the development of a new town should not be a burden for the Federal Government alone to shoulder, if the right and proper fiscal federalism is allowed to thrive here. Today, the Federal Government finds it almost impossible to discharge its duties to the people merely because the center has bitten more than it can chew. As they say, to whom much is given, from him much is expected. Like Attah suggested, it is improper for the FG to retain 60% equity in every major oil company.
By reducing its holding to 30% and redistributing the remainder to a resource bearing state (20%) and the immediate community (10%), the development of a new town can easily be funded through equitable contributions by the three tiers. In fact, when the state takes 20% revenue and the community takes 10%, it can be rightly argued that a derivation principle of 30% as opposed to the existing 13% is in effect and, therefore, to raise say N250billion to develop a new town, say, at Ibaka in Akwa Ibom State, the community could conveniently contribute 10%; the state government 20%; the Federal Government 30% making up a pool of 60% which would possibly be augmented by the private sector, oil companies and the international community and a seaport town would shine at Ibaka to the benefit of not only the immediate state, but also all Nigerians.
For the right fiscal Federalism we may yet revisit the Igbeti Marble formula so that when we begin to give agriculture the focus it deserves, the affected communities and states in the North would be adequately compensated. Therefore, in order to reduce the envy that frustrates the idea of payment of adequate royalty to the oil bearing area, let us develop our agriculture and also begin to exploit the huge mineral wealth trapped under the Northern soil, so that the derivation money can go round because it is only when the two sides of the chin take turns in chewing your food that you can swallow with confidence. By shifting to other minerals like tar sands found in Ondo state, and the mineral deposit in the North, we could diversify the economy. Total and indefinite dependence on oil - a depleting resource, cannot but spell doom for the economy. The issue of reviewing the Mineral Oil Act; Land Use Decree; Petroleum Tax Law raised by Attah is a whole topic on its own and therefore deserves a separate and exhaustive treatment next time.
Meanwhile, let us ignore Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s bravura and the French’s braggadocio. Let us invite the British Town Planning Association to help carry out Attah’s statesmanlike recommendations on new towns. My fear about the violence in the Delta region is that it may force America to intervene under the guise of the Monroe and Roosevelt Doctrines. Especially if, one way or the other, one day, an American vessel comes fatally under the Delta crossfire. Remember Panama (1903); remember Cuba (1889); Pearl Habour and the Second World War?
---
Godwin Nzeakah
www.sunnewsonline.com(Tuesday,August 12,2008)
Friday, August 8, 2008
You Hold the Keys to Happiness in Your Hands
We all have the ability to have as much happiness as we want, as much happiness as we can stand! But if we don't, whose fault is it? We'd like to blame the economy, our spouse, our work, or our bodies. But in truth, we are the only ones who can put any limits on our happiness. We are all put here with the same capacity for happiness, pleasure, and success. If you learn how to choose happiness by focusing on it as your goal and learning what it takes to create a happy life, then you hold the keys to happiness in your hands.
First, you need to define what being happy means to you, since it might not mean the same thing to everyone. Next, you have to commit to pursuing happiness as a goal and doing whatever it takes to achieve it. You may find some of these ideas helpful to create all the happiness you could ever want.
1. Dream. Don't give up on your dreams just because they haven't come to you yet. They keep us excited and motivated. Look at your beliefs and see if they're getting in the way of achieving your dreams, and if so work with a coach to shift your beliefs. Spend time feeling how you would feel and visualizing what it would be like if your dream came to pass. When you get into this state, you will not only be happier, but your joy will create the energy to draw your dream to you. Get clear about what you want and be sure you really still want it. Maybe your dreams have changed over the years and you never took the time to re-evaluate. Sit down and write out what your dreams and goals are in as much detail as possible and set dates by when you'd like to achieve them.
2. Accept. Where you are now is fine. Look for what you can enjoy in your life now while you pursue your dreams. Maybe you just haven't known what to do yet, but you are open to learning. Maybe it just hasn't been the right time for you to achieve your dreams. If you're not getting the results you want today, change what you're doing for better results tomorrow. But always come from the place of being happy in the present so that you are more open to happiness in the future. Remember that you are the only one affecting your happiness, so don't play victim, make excuses, or blame others if you're not as happy as you'd like to be. Don't expect anyone to rescue you. What can you do to turn your life around? How can you take responsibility for your happiness? Knowing that you alone affect how you feel at any time, gives you great power. Now use it wisely.
3. Shine. Do what you love. What are your unique skills and talents? What do you do that you would do every day even if you weren't getting paid? Aren't you happiest when you're doing what you're good at, what you love, and what you are confident at? If you're not even sure what you love because it's been so long since you did it, take an assessment test and start moving in the direction of your passions.
4. Grow. Life is a classroom and you can either learn and grow or stay the same. Learning new subjects or mastering your present skills brings great joy. Weren't you excited the first time you could speak a whole sentence in a foreign language? Wasn't it a thrill when you could actually send an attached file in an e-mail? Continued growth adds to your happiness.
5. Love. Do everything you do with love and you'll always experience happiness. Even when you find yourself doing some activity in pursuit of your dreams that isn't your most beloved activity, see what you CAN enjoy about it. Say you're making cold calls for a new business venture you want to get off the ground. Make it fun by being as personable as possible with people you speak to, and treat each stranger as a friend you just haven't met yet. Imagine what you can love about this person, even if they don't seem lovable. They are someone's child, so someone loves them. And for every NO you get, consider that it means NEXT ONE. That very next one could be your big opportunity. If you learn to love everything you do, you'll never have unpleasant chores and you'll find happiness in every moment.
---
source:
www.slowdownfast.com
----------------------------------------------
***Olympics in Beijing,China commences today***
----------------------------------------------
First, you need to define what being happy means to you, since it might not mean the same thing to everyone. Next, you have to commit to pursuing happiness as a goal and doing whatever it takes to achieve it. You may find some of these ideas helpful to create all the happiness you could ever want.
1. Dream. Don't give up on your dreams just because they haven't come to you yet. They keep us excited and motivated. Look at your beliefs and see if they're getting in the way of achieving your dreams, and if so work with a coach to shift your beliefs. Spend time feeling how you would feel and visualizing what it would be like if your dream came to pass. When you get into this state, you will not only be happier, but your joy will create the energy to draw your dream to you. Get clear about what you want and be sure you really still want it. Maybe your dreams have changed over the years and you never took the time to re-evaluate. Sit down and write out what your dreams and goals are in as much detail as possible and set dates by when you'd like to achieve them.
2. Accept. Where you are now is fine. Look for what you can enjoy in your life now while you pursue your dreams. Maybe you just haven't known what to do yet, but you are open to learning. Maybe it just hasn't been the right time for you to achieve your dreams. If you're not getting the results you want today, change what you're doing for better results tomorrow. But always come from the place of being happy in the present so that you are more open to happiness in the future. Remember that you are the only one affecting your happiness, so don't play victim, make excuses, or blame others if you're not as happy as you'd like to be. Don't expect anyone to rescue you. What can you do to turn your life around? How can you take responsibility for your happiness? Knowing that you alone affect how you feel at any time, gives you great power. Now use it wisely.
3. Shine. Do what you love. What are your unique skills and talents? What do you do that you would do every day even if you weren't getting paid? Aren't you happiest when you're doing what you're good at, what you love, and what you are confident at? If you're not even sure what you love because it's been so long since you did it, take an assessment test and start moving in the direction of your passions.
4. Grow. Life is a classroom and you can either learn and grow or stay the same. Learning new subjects or mastering your present skills brings great joy. Weren't you excited the first time you could speak a whole sentence in a foreign language? Wasn't it a thrill when you could actually send an attached file in an e-mail? Continued growth adds to your happiness.
5. Love. Do everything you do with love and you'll always experience happiness. Even when you find yourself doing some activity in pursuit of your dreams that isn't your most beloved activity, see what you CAN enjoy about it. Say you're making cold calls for a new business venture you want to get off the ground. Make it fun by being as personable as possible with people you speak to, and treat each stranger as a friend you just haven't met yet. Imagine what you can love about this person, even if they don't seem lovable. They are someone's child, so someone loves them. And for every NO you get, consider that it means NEXT ONE. That very next one could be your big opportunity. If you learn to love everything you do, you'll never have unpleasant chores and you'll find happiness in every moment.
---
source:
www.slowdownfast.com
----------------------------------------------
***Olympics in Beijing,China commences today***
----------------------------------------------
Friday, July 11, 2008
DON'T GIVE UP
Don't give up..... One day I decided
to quit... I quit my job, my relationship, my
spirituality... I wanted to quit my life. I went to the
woods to have one last talk with God. 'God,' I asked, 'Can you give me one
good
reason not to quit?' His answer surprised
me... 'Look around,' He said. 'Do you
see the fern and the bamboo?' 'Yes,' I replied. 'When I planted the
fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of
them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the
earth. Its
brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing
came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the
bamboo. In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant
and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo
seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. He said. 'In year three there was
still nothing from
the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In
year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo
seed. I would not quit.' He said.
'Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from
the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small
and insignificant...But just 6 months later the bamboo
rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five
years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave
it what it needed to> survive. I would not give
any of my creations a challenge it could not
handle.' He asked me. 'Did you know, my child,
that all this time you have been struggling, you have
actually been growing roots'. 'I would
not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you.'
'Don't compare yourself to others.'
He said. 'The bamboo had a different Purpose
than the fern. Yet they both make the forest
beautiful.' 'Your time will come,'
God said to me. 'You will rise high' 'How high should I rise?' I asked.
'How high
will the bamboo rise?' He asked in return. 'As
high as it can?' I questioned. 'Yes.' He said, 'Give me glory by rising as
high as you can.' I left the forest and
brought back this story. I hope these words can help
you see that God will never give up on you. Never,
Never, Never Give up. For the Christian Prayer is not an option but an
opportunity. Don't tell the Lord how big the
problem is, tell the problem how Great the Lord is!
Heavens door open this morning, God
asked me... 'My CHILD, what can I do for
you?' And I said, 'Daddy, please protect
and bless the one reading this message.' God smiled
and answered, 'Request granted.'
---author unknown---
to quit... I quit my job, my relationship, my
spirituality... I wanted to quit my life. I went to the
woods to have one last talk with God. 'God,' I asked, 'Can you give me one
good
reason not to quit?' His answer surprised
me... 'Look around,' He said. 'Do you
see the fern and the bamboo?' 'Yes,' I replied. 'When I planted the
fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of
them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the
earth. Its
brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing
came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the
bamboo. In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant
and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo
seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. He said. 'In year three there was
still nothing from
the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In
year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo
seed. I would not quit.' He said.
'Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from
the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small
and insignificant...But just 6 months later the bamboo
rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five
years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave
it what it needed to> survive. I would not give
any of my creations a challenge it could not
handle.' He asked me. 'Did you know, my child,
that all this time you have been struggling, you have
actually been growing roots'. 'I would
not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you.'
'Don't compare yourself to others.'
He said. 'The bamboo had a different Purpose
than the fern. Yet they both make the forest
beautiful.' 'Your time will come,'
God said to me. 'You will rise high' 'How high should I rise?' I asked.
'How high
will the bamboo rise?' He asked in return. 'As
high as it can?' I questioned. 'Yes.' He said, 'Give me glory by rising as
high as you can.' I left the forest and
brought back this story. I hope these words can help
you see that God will never give up on you. Never,
Never, Never Give up. For the Christian Prayer is not an option but an
opportunity. Don't tell the Lord how big the
problem is, tell the problem how Great the Lord is!
Heavens door open this morning, God
asked me... 'My CHILD, what can I do for
you?' And I said, 'Daddy, please protect
and bless the one reading this message.' God smiled
and answered, 'Request granted.'
---author unknown---
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Archbishop Benson Idahosa :10 Years ...
Archbishop Benson Idahosa was living proof that God can do anything with anyone who is willing to serve Him. Before he died on March 12, 1998, this native of Benin City, Nigeria, had become one of the most beloved leaders in the Pentecostal Charismatic world. Placed on a garbage heap just after his birth, Idahosa nevertheless overcame that rejection to become the pastor of one of the world's largest churches, Faith Arena, and the founder of thousands of other churches with millions of members.
At the time of his death,several people had this to say about him:
Chancellor Oral Robert: "I never met a man who so completely saw himself as God did: a man. It says in the book of Genesis, 'And God made him man.' Not something else, not a Jew, not a gentile, not white, not black, not this or that--but man. I am honored to have personally known and closely worked with a man who stood so high with God and mankind in life, and who doubtless will stand higher after his death."
International Evangelist T.L.Osborn: "Many who follow Idahosa's teaching have been saved from poverty and have learned to plant out of their desperate need and to look to God as their divine source thereby becoming prosperous Christians in their own land. Idahosa rose from the rank of an ordinary man to world leadership as a pastor, builder, counsellor, prophet, teacher, apostle, evangelist,--a man of godly wisdom and of Christ-like compassion, whose ministry has blessed millions the world over. Idahosa was the greatest African ambassador of the apostolic Christian faith to the world."
Dr.Freda Gordon Lindsay: "I know of no young black in all of Africa who is reaching millions as Benson is,--in crusades with hundreds of thousands in attendance, in his weekly nationwide telecast, in his Bible School, training eager students from several nations. He also conducts campaigns in Sweden, Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, Australia and the United States, where he often appeared on national religious telecasts. His burden for souls, his ministry of healing and miracles, even to the raising of several dead, demonstrates he is especially called of the Lord in these end times."
Dr.John Bienose(Dir.Of Admin Church of God Mission): "Idahosa is a living legend, an amiable visionary leader, a trailblazer and an institution of legacy."
@www.cogm-usa.org and other media sources
Integrity Projects celebrate this man,who made impact in his world.
At the time of his death,several people had this to say about him:
Chancellor Oral Robert: "I never met a man who so completely saw himself as God did: a man. It says in the book of Genesis, 'And God made him man.' Not something else, not a Jew, not a gentile, not white, not black, not this or that--but man. I am honored to have personally known and closely worked with a man who stood so high with God and mankind in life, and who doubtless will stand higher after his death."
International Evangelist T.L.Osborn: "Many who follow Idahosa's teaching have been saved from poverty and have learned to plant out of their desperate need and to look to God as their divine source thereby becoming prosperous Christians in their own land. Idahosa rose from the rank of an ordinary man to world leadership as a pastor, builder, counsellor, prophet, teacher, apostle, evangelist,--a man of godly wisdom and of Christ-like compassion, whose ministry has blessed millions the world over. Idahosa was the greatest African ambassador of the apostolic Christian faith to the world."
Dr.Freda Gordon Lindsay: "I know of no young black in all of Africa who is reaching millions as Benson is,--in crusades with hundreds of thousands in attendance, in his weekly nationwide telecast, in his Bible School, training eager students from several nations. He also conducts campaigns in Sweden, Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, Australia and the United States, where he often appeared on national religious telecasts. His burden for souls, his ministry of healing and miracles, even to the raising of several dead, demonstrates he is especially called of the Lord in these end times."
Dr.John Bienose(Dir.Of Admin Church of God Mission): "Idahosa is a living legend, an amiable visionary leader, a trailblazer and an institution of legacy."
@www.cogm-usa.org and other media sources
Integrity Projects celebrate this man,who made impact in his world.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
BISHOP IDAHOSA -- ANOTHER MILESTONE
Congrats to Bishop Margaret Benson Idahosa,chancellor Benson Idahosa University-Nigeria on her conferment with Nigeria's national award ;Officer of the Order of the Niger OON.
The award will be confer on her and others by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Umaru YarAdua in January 2008.
Congrats Mama and many more successes ahead!
Monday, December 24, 2007
Message
Merry Christmas to all.
Jesus Christ(The reason for the season) indeed came for us all.
Let's show love to one another.
Happy celebrations!
Jesus Christ(The reason for the season) indeed came for us all.
Let's show love to one another.
Happy celebrations!
Thursday, November 22, 2007
The Truth About Lies
Most of us feel the same way. We like to think that in formation given to us whether by word of mouth or in written form is truthful.
In survey carried out in Germany , the vast majority of respondents felt that lying on minor issues in order to protect one self or person other from harm is permissible.
When you think about it, a surprising number of our social interactions involve trying to deceive each other.
Now you may ask, what is the difference between truths and lies?
According to Encarta 2006, truth is a concept in philosophy that treats both meaning of the word truth and the criteria by which we get the truth or falsehood in spoken and written statement.
What is a lie? Every lie is an untruth but not every untruth is a lie. A dictionary defines a lie as "an assertion of something known or believed by the speaker to be untrue with intent to deceive someone. Hence to speak an untruth unwittingly – such as giving someone incorrect facts or figures by mistake-is not the same as to tell lie."
Research has shown that it is not only human beings that liars, but because of our unique intelligence and language abilities, we are the only one who have made it such a fine art, may be in the process of trying to gain wealth or status for wealth, power or position to which we are not entitled.
Paul Ekman, a psychologist at the University of California, San Francisco, who has studied the subject "lie" for some forty years, discovered that "when lie is planned, deceivers start their answer more quickly than truth tellers. If taken by surprise, however, the liar takes longer to start answering question and they talk less".
Liars tend to withhold information, either to avoid guilt or to make it easier to get their stories straight. Liar’s sound more discrepant and ambivalent; the structure of their stories is less logical.
Deception extends beyond appearance and tends to be rife in nature. For instance, some animals use deceptive behavior such as keeping one step ahead of others, hiding food, sneaky mating and using manipulation. Such duplicity takes brain as grammatologists Andrew Byrne and Nadia corp. in their studies have shown. Their study reveals that the size of the cortex, that is, the outermost layer of the brain, which is responsible for advance cognitive function, is a good predictor of the degree to be found in a primate species.
Although most of the animals lack the "theory mind," the ability to understand that another animal may hold different perspective on things. They deceive only by learning that certain tactics work in a particular situation – an ability that has surprisingly ancient origins, which according to researcher implies that, learning to deceive is at least 50 million years old.
Still talking about the devices that are used to detect lies. The polygraph is also a device that is designed and used to register a person’s body responses when being questioned. But law enforcers say they no longer rely on the polygraph lie-detector, despite the fact that the polygraph results are used in conjunction with other evidences, observation and information. This means that our normal reliance on verbal, non-verbal machines and other cues may not be the formal evidences in sporting lies.
At this juncture, one may ask: why these tendencies to lie? Greed and selfish ambitions are very much the motives that impel many people to lie; greed in business, corrupt polities and false religions are rife with deception, falsehood, manipulation and fraud. This is because people are often motivated by greed and ambition to move ahead, to reach out for wealth, power and positions to which they are not entitled.
Another factor behind lying is the fear of the consequences of what others may think if the truth is told. Though it is natural that people wish to be liked or accepted by others. This desire, however moves them to distort the truth in order to cover up shortcoming or to leave a good impression.
Truthful speech is marked by durability and permanence, and that relationships are more stable and satisfying when people are committed to speaking the truth and acting in harmony.
Truthfulness brings immediate rewards, which include clean conscience, a good reputation and strong relationships in marriage, in the family, among friends, in polities and even in business.
Lies on the other hand can not stand the taste of time. Knowing that tongues that utter falsehood may deceive for a while, but untruth does not prevail in the long term. Liars should also know that lies anywhere is the art to peace and justice every where.
Courtesy: Victoria Johnson
Department of Mass Communication,
University of Maiduguri. Nigeria.
E-mail vicmady@yahoo.com
In survey carried out in Germany , the vast majority of respondents felt that lying on minor issues in order to protect one self or person other from harm is permissible.
When you think about it, a surprising number of our social interactions involve trying to deceive each other.
Now you may ask, what is the difference between truths and lies?
According to Encarta 2006, truth is a concept in philosophy that treats both meaning of the word truth and the criteria by which we get the truth or falsehood in spoken and written statement.
What is a lie? Every lie is an untruth but not every untruth is a lie. A dictionary defines a lie as "an assertion of something known or believed by the speaker to be untrue with intent to deceive someone. Hence to speak an untruth unwittingly – such as giving someone incorrect facts or figures by mistake-is not the same as to tell lie."
Research has shown that it is not only human beings that liars, but because of our unique intelligence and language abilities, we are the only one who have made it such a fine art, may be in the process of trying to gain wealth or status for wealth, power or position to which we are not entitled.
Paul Ekman, a psychologist at the University of California, San Francisco, who has studied the subject "lie" for some forty years, discovered that "when lie is planned, deceivers start their answer more quickly than truth tellers. If taken by surprise, however, the liar takes longer to start answering question and they talk less".
Liars tend to withhold information, either to avoid guilt or to make it easier to get their stories straight. Liar’s sound more discrepant and ambivalent; the structure of their stories is less logical.
Deception extends beyond appearance and tends to be rife in nature. For instance, some animals use deceptive behavior such as keeping one step ahead of others, hiding food, sneaky mating and using manipulation. Such duplicity takes brain as grammatologists Andrew Byrne and Nadia corp. in their studies have shown. Their study reveals that the size of the cortex, that is, the outermost layer of the brain, which is responsible for advance cognitive function, is a good predictor of the degree to be found in a primate species.
Although most of the animals lack the "theory mind," the ability to understand that another animal may hold different perspective on things. They deceive only by learning that certain tactics work in a particular situation – an ability that has surprisingly ancient origins, which according to researcher implies that, learning to deceive is at least 50 million years old.
Still talking about the devices that are used to detect lies. The polygraph is also a device that is designed and used to register a person’s body responses when being questioned. But law enforcers say they no longer rely on the polygraph lie-detector, despite the fact that the polygraph results are used in conjunction with other evidences, observation and information. This means that our normal reliance on verbal, non-verbal machines and other cues may not be the formal evidences in sporting lies.
At this juncture, one may ask: why these tendencies to lie? Greed and selfish ambitions are very much the motives that impel many people to lie; greed in business, corrupt polities and false religions are rife with deception, falsehood, manipulation and fraud. This is because people are often motivated by greed and ambition to move ahead, to reach out for wealth, power and positions to which they are not entitled.
Another factor behind lying is the fear of the consequences of what others may think if the truth is told. Though it is natural that people wish to be liked or accepted by others. This desire, however moves them to distort the truth in order to cover up shortcoming or to leave a good impression.
Truthful speech is marked by durability and permanence, and that relationships are more stable and satisfying when people are committed to speaking the truth and acting in harmony.
Truthfulness brings immediate rewards, which include clean conscience, a good reputation and strong relationships in marriage, in the family, among friends, in polities and even in business.
Lies on the other hand can not stand the taste of time. Knowing that tongues that utter falsehood may deceive for a while, but untruth does not prevail in the long term. Liars should also know that lies anywhere is the art to peace and justice every where.
Courtesy: Victoria Johnson
Department of Mass Communication,
University of Maiduguri. Nigeria.
E-mail vicmady@yahoo.com
Friday, October 19, 2007
Special Tribute: Lucky Dube
So sad...the world's greatest reggae icon,Lucky Dube has been shot dead in his city in South Africa.
More updates available at:
http://tinyurl.com/23aptc
May his soul rest in peace!
Monday, October 1, 2007
Celebrating Nigeria @ 47
Nigeria,world's most populous black nation celebrate her 47th birthday October 1.
The country is marching forward and Integrity Projects wishes our president and the entire citizens a joyous celebration.
Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Nelson Mandela Launches 'Global Elders'
Greeted by a 30-strong choir and hailed by a line-up of fellow elder statesmen eager to embrace him, Nelson Mandela celebrated his 89th birthday Wednesday with a new initiative demonstrating the moral authority he still carries deep into his retirement.
The former South African president will be the leading figure in the "Global Elders", a group of "12 wise men and women" who will address global problems by offering expertise and guidance.
A frail yet still magnetic figure, Mr Mandela was greeted in Johannesburg at South Africa's Constitutional Court - where he was once held prisoner - by a choir that sang his praises before he outlined the Elders' objectives.
"The Elders can become a fiercely independent and robust force for good, tackling conflicts and intractable issues, especially those that are not popular," said Mr Mandela.
The group will "speak freely and boldly, working both publicly and behind the scenes, working wherever our help is needed".
He added: "This group derives its strength not from military, political or economic power, but from the independence and integrity of those who are here."
The club's members will comprise former presidents, elder statesmen, leaders and activists and probably five Nobel laureates.
There will eventually be 12 Global Elders - but the exact make-up of the group was in flux right up until yesterday's announcement.
As well as Mr Mandela and his wife, Graca Machel, the group comprises Desmond Tutu, the Anglican Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town; Jimmy Carter, the former American president; Mary Robinson, the former Irish president; Kofi Annan, the former secretary general of the United Nations; and Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel laureate economist and founder of the Green Bank in Bangladesh, where he is known as "banker to the poor". All were at the launch in Johannesburg yesterday.
Li Zhaoxing, until two months ago the foreign minister of China, has also been invited to join, along with Ela Bhatt, the Indian activist and founder of a women's association. Gro Harlen Bruntland, formerly prime minister of Norway and director of the World Health Organisation, may also become a member.
An empty chair was set on stage yesterday and will be reserved at all Elders meetings for the Burmese opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who is now the prisoner of the military junta despite her victory in a democratic election in 1990.
The initiative was the brainchild of Sir Richard Branson and the musician Peter Gabriel. As long ago as 2001, they approached Mr Mandela to ask if he and his wife would lead the project.
Sir Richard, Gabriel, the United Nations Foundation and a number of private benefactors are funding the initiative. The Elders should meet twice a year and maintain regular contact via video conferencing.
Archbishop Tutu emphasised that much of their work is likely to take place behind closed doors. "There may be things we can accomplish because people have been able to use their persuasive abilities in confidence. One of the ways to be effective is that no one gets to know precisely what we have done," he said.
But if their work is in private, it will be hard to gauge the Elders' success or failure.
Sceptics ask whether a group of 12 ageing and largely retired figures can possibly exert real influence over the world's most intractable conflicts. Mr Mandela himself rarely leaves Johannesburg and has ceased giving regular speeches.
Instead, much will rest on his moral authority, as well as his ability to generate enthusiasm for tackling injustice and hardship.
"Together we will work to support courage where there is fear, foster agreement where there is conflict and inspire hope where there is despair," he said.
Mr Mandela also emphasised that he is now "trying to take my retirement seriously", and his role is likely to be symbolic and inspirational rather than practical.
Certainly there was little doubt yesterday just how inspiring a figure he remains. His colleagues among the Global Elders paid a series of warm, if sentimental, tributes to him.
Muhammad Yunus spoke of how being on the same platform as Mr Mandela was "the proudest day of my life", while Li Zhaoxing demonstrated a surprisingly poetic sensibility by turning to Mr Mandela and reciting the first verse of Shakespeare's 18th sonnet: "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day..."
But the last word went to Archbishop Tutu who, visibly moved as the frail figure of Mr Mandela was helped offstage, murmured rapturously into the microphone: "Isn't goodness beautiful?"
Archbishop Desmond Tutu is to chair the council.
Integrity Projects is happy to associate with this Elders Council.
Congratulations to Dr.Nelson Mandela.
---courtesy: http://lifeslessons.blog.co.uk------
Friday, September 7, 2007
London statue honours Madiba- A Living Legend
A lifelike statue of Mr Nelson Mandela, his arms outstretched, was unveiled recently in Parliament Square in central London, to stand as testimony of the triumph of freedom and humanity over oppression.
Mr Mandela and his wife, Mrs Graça Machel, witnessed the unveiling of the bronze statue, which is slightly larger than life size, and was sculpted by the late Ian Walters.
The unveiling concluded a seven-year campaign led by the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, Wendy Woods – widow of anti-apartheid campaigner, Donald Woods – and film director, Lord Richard Attenborough.
“This statue will remind the world of the human qualities that Mr Mandela has,” said Woods at the unveiling. “These are qualities which have helped South Africa put paid to its past and helped us on our first step towards a future where all people can flourish and lead happier lives.”
Mr Livingstone declared: “Mr Mandela, there can be no more fitting place than this square, which you will share with the American president who freed the slaves, Abraham Lincoln, and the British prime minister, Winston Churchill, who led a nation standing alone against the greatest evil of the 20th Century,” said Livingstone.
“Long after we are forgotten, you will be remembered for having taught the world one amazing truth, that you can achieve justice without vengeance,” he continued. “I honour you and London honours you.”
Before he unveiled the statue, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: “From this day forward, this statue will stand here in sight of this ancient forum of democracy to commemorate and celebrate the greatest triumph in the greatest of causes.”
Speaking after the unveiling, Mr Mandela said, “Though this statue is of one man, it should in actual fact symbolise all those who have resisted oppression, especially in my country. The history of struggle in South Africa is rich with the stories of heroes and heroines, some of them leaders, some of them followers. All of them deserve to be remembered.”
He also thanked everyone who made it possible for the statue to be erected in London. He said, “We are humbled by your choosing to honour us in this way. From the moment Donald Woods initiated the project to when Ian Walters came to my home in Qunu to begin the statue, we never dreamed we would all be here today.
“It remains for me to acknowledge my gratitude to all who have made this day possible. We trust that the statue will be a reminder of heroes and heroines past, as well as an inspiration for continuing struggles against injustice,” Mr Mandela added.
Dr.Mandela is a former president of South Africa.
culled from:Nelson Mandela Foundation(nelsonmandela.org)
Monday, July 2, 2007
The Leadership Solution
When a nation is in trouble,God looks for a leader. Biblical records show that this is God's mode of operation.We must realize that when leaders disqualify themselves from their positions,God has already been searching for someone else.
The answer to struggle and chaos, whether national or personal, is God-ordained leadership.
Courtesy:
Dr.Myles Munroe
the bahamas
The answer to struggle and chaos, whether national or personal, is God-ordained leadership.
Courtesy:
Dr.Myles Munroe
the bahamas
Thursday, June 21, 2007
FIFA U20 WORLD CUP TOURNAMENT: Canada 2007
Great world soccer competition on the way in Canada!
Integrity Projects wishes all a tremendous success,most especially the black giants: Nigeria's Flying Eagles.
For more on fixtures visit:
U20 World Soccer2007
Monday, June 18, 2007
Chinua Achebe: Honours Without End
Once again, Nigeria’s ace novelist, and one of Africa’s finest writers, Professor Chinua Achebe, will be walking the hallways in dignity to receive an international award he richly deserves. He was on Wednesday (June 13,2007) named winner of the 2007 Man Booker International Prize, after beating contenders including Britain’s Doris Lessing, Ian McEwan, and Salman Rushdie, Ireland’s John Banville, two Americans, Philip Roth and Don DeLillo, three Canadians, Margaret Atwood, Alice Munro, and Michael Ondaatje, and the dissident Israeli, Amos Oz.
The prize, which was first awarded to the Albanian writer, Ismail Kadar, in 2005, is given every two years to a living author that has significantly contributed to world literature. It also aims to recognise a writer’s enduring creativity and progress on the world scale.
Achebe, 76, will receive the cash prize and trophy at the award ceremony on June 28 in Oxford, England.
"It was 50 years ago this year that I began writing my first novel, Things Fall Apart. It is wonderful to hear that my peers have looked at the body of work I have put together in the last 50 years and judged it deserving of this important award. I am grateful," Achebe is quoted as saying.
His fellow Nigerians are also grateful, as they took in every piece of the precious news with pride.
"He deserves it more than anybody at this time," former president of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Odia Ofeimun, says of the award won by Achebe. "There is a distinctive quality to his literary performance which makes him stand out. You don’t need to be a Nigerian to appreciate it," he says.
Professor Achebe is the author of the great book:THINGS FALL APART.
Integrity Projects is happy to associate with this gigantic success.Many happy wishes to Chinua Achebe.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Billy Graham Library
The world's most widely heard living preacher recently dedicated his Library Complex at Charlotte,N.C.
Present at the ceremony were the former US Presidents Jimmy Carter, G.H.W.Bush and Bill Clinton among others.
The Rev.Billy Graham is reputed as being the spiritual adviser to most of the American Presidents.
Billy Graham 88 is a gospel preacher as well as International Evangelist.
For more visit:
https://www.billygraham.org/BGLibrary_Index.asp
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Influence & Leadership
Experts have concluded that the number one need of the 21st century is the need for quality,competent,spirit-filled leadership.Therefore,the question is, if leadership is the number one need of the world,what is leadership?.
Leadership is the capacity to influence others to pursue their personal leadership potential through inspiring them by your own passion to pursue your own vision and purpose.In order words, leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality and in the process influence people to do the same for their own lives.
Your leadership is defined by the ability to influence other people through your own fulfillment of your own purpose.True leadership, therefore, is not a matter of leading people but leading yourself by following the purpose and desires God has put in your heart.
He designed you to lead over a specific assignment.True leaders do not seek power over people, but are driven by a passion to achieve a noble cause.
Courtesy:
Dr Myles Munroe
Bahamas
Leadership is the capacity to influence others to pursue their personal leadership potential through inspiring them by your own passion to pursue your own vision and purpose.In order words, leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality and in the process influence people to do the same for their own lives.
Your leadership is defined by the ability to influence other people through your own fulfillment of your own purpose.True leadership, therefore, is not a matter of leading people but leading yourself by following the purpose and desires God has put in your heart.
He designed you to lead over a specific assignment.True leaders do not seek power over people, but are driven by a passion to achieve a noble cause.
Courtesy:
Dr Myles Munroe
Bahamas
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Publication
We welcome your write-ups on Issues of Life and any related topic.
Send across via email and we shall publish such accordingly.
Have fun reading through!
====
IP Team
Send across via email and we shall publish such accordingly.
Have fun reading through!
====
IP Team
Friday, May 11, 2007
Becoming a Leader
It is a tragedy for you to go to the grave, and you never showed up on earth. This tragedy is possible because most of us are mere products of our environment, lacking the will to change, develop, and maximize our own potential and become who we really are. We die mere products of our environment.
However, we must aim to become who God designed us to be. He designed us to be leaders. How do you become the leader you are born to be? How do you know when you have become that leader?
All of us are born originals even though most of us die as copies. God created in you the capacity to lead. You were born to lead, but you have to become a leader. Capacity is not always equal to reality. God demands that you do not die the way you were born. It would be unfair to my grandchildren for me to leave this world the way that I met it. When I leave, my existence on this planet should have affected this earth to such a degree that it is different when my grandchild arrives. That is the mark of a leader. If the world or your neighborhood is the same way you met it or worse when you die, you have to ask yourself if you wasted your time here on planet earth.
Leadership is becoming what you were born to be by becoming something that your generation demands now. God knew what your generation needed so He gave your conception at the appropriate time. True leaders are not made by election or appointment. They are not made by men. Simply holding a position of importance does not makes someone a leader nor does taking courses in leadership. Resolving to become a leader does not make you a leader. Only discovering God’s purpose and being inflated by that purpose can make you a leader. You have to get in touch with why you were born. When you get in touch with that, God does something.
There has to come a point in your life when God inspires you. He breathes into you all of the things necessary to accomplish your goals because you have discovered His purpose for your life. If this never happens, you die without ever having truly lived. When you connect with why you were born, you become a dangerous person. You become dangerous because from the moment you discover your purpose for living, you declare independence from everybody’s opinions. No difficulty will deter you. No disappointment will alter your vision for your life. Why? It is too late. You have already seen something that is greater than the disappointment and any other obstacles that may come along. The world needs individuals who are real leaders and not just peoples with titles.
Courtesy:
Dr. Myles Munroe
Bahamas.
However, we must aim to become who God designed us to be. He designed us to be leaders. How do you become the leader you are born to be? How do you know when you have become that leader?
All of us are born originals even though most of us die as copies. God created in you the capacity to lead. You were born to lead, but you have to become a leader. Capacity is not always equal to reality. God demands that you do not die the way you were born. It would be unfair to my grandchildren for me to leave this world the way that I met it. When I leave, my existence on this planet should have affected this earth to such a degree that it is different when my grandchild arrives. That is the mark of a leader. If the world or your neighborhood is the same way you met it or worse when you die, you have to ask yourself if you wasted your time here on planet earth.
Leadership is becoming what you were born to be by becoming something that your generation demands now. God knew what your generation needed so He gave your conception at the appropriate time. True leaders are not made by election or appointment. They are not made by men. Simply holding a position of importance does not makes someone a leader nor does taking courses in leadership. Resolving to become a leader does not make you a leader. Only discovering God’s purpose and being inflated by that purpose can make you a leader. You have to get in touch with why you were born. When you get in touch with that, God does something.
There has to come a point in your life when God inspires you. He breathes into you all of the things necessary to accomplish your goals because you have discovered His purpose for your life. If this never happens, you die without ever having truly lived. When you connect with why you were born, you become a dangerous person. You become dangerous because from the moment you discover your purpose for living, you declare independence from everybody’s opinions. No difficulty will deter you. No disappointment will alter your vision for your life. Why? It is too late. You have already seen something that is greater than the disappointment and any other obstacles that may come along. The world needs individuals who are real leaders and not just peoples with titles.
Courtesy:
Dr. Myles Munroe
Bahamas.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Leadership Keys
Leadership is first being then doing.It is something you become,and then you do what you are. Leadership is the ability to inspire others to become and fulfill themselves by you doing the same.The definition of leadership is very simple and yet very complex.For many years,studies have been done to determine what leadership is and what makes one a leader.The results are varied.There are many theories involved.Moreover,there is also a difference between leadership and the leader.
The leader is the designated position and the individual assuming that position.Leadership is the function of the designated position.It is not a title.A title or position does not guarantee performance or productivity.Therefore,it is essential that we understand the difference between the position,the function,and the person.
Leadership is often viewed as a product of natural endowment,trait or personality,or intellectual capacity. I would not deny that talent or scholastic attainment enhance leadership.It is important to have these things,but they do not make a leader.The real qualities are found in those who are willing to suffer for the sake of objectives that are great enough to demand their wholehearted obedience.
Leadership is said not to be a function of titles but a function of relationships.
I believe leadership is the capacity to influence,inspire,rally,direct,encourage,motivate,induce,move,mobilise,and activate others to pursue a common goal or purpose while maintaining commitment,momentum,confidence and courage.
Leadership within its very nature incorporates a clear purpose and vision,which provides the fuel for inspiration.It has to have a passionate purpose that inspires others to go for it.
Courtesy:
Dr Myles Munroe,
Bahamas
The leader is the designated position and the individual assuming that position.Leadership is the function of the designated position.It is not a title.A title or position does not guarantee performance or productivity.Therefore,it is essential that we understand the difference between the position,the function,and the person.
Leadership is often viewed as a product of natural endowment,trait or personality,or intellectual capacity. I would not deny that talent or scholastic attainment enhance leadership.It is important to have these things,but they do not make a leader.The real qualities are found in those who are willing to suffer for the sake of objectives that are great enough to demand their wholehearted obedience.
Leadership is said not to be a function of titles but a function of relationships.
I believe leadership is the capacity to influence,inspire,rally,direct,encourage,motivate,induce,move,mobilise,and activate others to pursue a common goal or purpose while maintaining commitment,momentum,confidence and courage.
Leadership within its very nature incorporates a clear purpose and vision,which provides the fuel for inspiration.It has to have a passionate purpose that inspires others to go for it.
Courtesy:
Dr Myles Munroe,
Bahamas
Monday, April 16, 2007
Journey to Statesmanship:
"A statesman is a politician who places himself at the service of his nation. A politician is a statesman who places the nation at his service." Georges Pompidou (1911-1974)
With the above words, we shall bring to you a package on a worthy statesman in the making.
Stay alert!
With the above words, we shall bring to you a package on a worthy statesman in the making.
Stay alert!
Friday, April 13, 2007
Milestones
The Canadian Center for International Justice (CCIJ),a non-governmental organisation with headquaters in Ottawa,Canada will soon be digitalised.
The group,which has so far championed human rights freedom across the globe will have their website launched soon.
More details next week!
Congratulations from IP Inc.
The group,which has so far championed human rights freedom across the globe will have their website launched soon.
More details next week!
Congratulations from IP Inc.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
EASTER!
HAPPY EASTER CELEBRATIONS.
WE SALUTE THE REASON FOR THE SEASON:JESUS THE CHRIST.
Have a fun filled time!
integrity projects team
WE SALUTE THE REASON FOR THE SEASON:JESUS THE CHRIST.
Have a fun filled time!
integrity projects team
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Tinapa: Africa's Premier Business Resort, Commissioned
Tinapa project,a business resort center was recently commissioned for use.The ceremony was performed by the Nigerian President,Olusegun Obasanjo.
The resort center is situated in Calabar,south-south of Nigeria.
According to the project initiator,Gov.Donald Duke of Cross-River State, the resort is aimed to compete favourably with the likes of Dubai in UAE in terms of business flow.
Donald Duke,the amiable governor has been on the saddle for the past eight years,and hope to relinquish the seat by May 29,2007.He is a lawyer by training as well as a former commissioner in the state.
Integrity Projects is happy to identify with this landmark achievements.
For more on Tinapa,visits:
www.tinapa.com
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Le Meridien Ibom Hotel & Golf Resort
Finally,a world class tourism centre,IBOM GOLF RESORT is about to be rolled out.The ceremony scheduled on March 29 in Nwaniba,Uyo,Akwa Ibom is billed to be attended by world tourism experts which will also have in attendance the Nigerian President-Olusegun Obasanjo.The coming of South African golfer, Retief Goosen, presently one of the top 10 golfers in the world, Colin Montgomerie, a.k.a Monty, two time US Masters champion, Ryder Cup champion and retiree, Nancy Lopez, who dominated female golf before the advent of Annika Sorenstan and Michelle Wie, has introduced an interesting dimension to the event.
Nigerian star musical artistes and comedian that will perform during the two-day fiesta include Lagbaja, Tu-Face, D’Banj, Mr Xto, KC Presh, Gbenga Adeyinka the first, MC Basket Mouth, Omo-Baba, among others.
The project visioner,HE Architect Victor Attah,the sitting governor of Akwa Ibom State in the south-south of Nigeria shall lead other well-meaning akwa ibom indigenes to the occasion.
About the Resort Centre:
According to Ethelbert Okere:
''Built to meet international Five Star standards, the hotel consists of 14-point facilities but perhaps the most remarkable is the 18-hole standard Golf Course with practice pitch and the marine beach water front resort with tourist boat relaxation and leisure facilities. ''
The Resort Center is being managed by Le Meridien,now called Starwood Inc- an international reputed tourism giants.
Major highlight during the event,will be the International Golf competition which will be viewed by the CNN according to the organizers.
About the Visioner:
HE Arc.Victor Attah ,the outgoing governor of one of Nigeria's richest oil-state is the brain behind the project.Victor Attah is an american/british trained architect.
Attah 68,is a fellow Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) and a past national president of the body.He is also the first Nigerian to practise architecture in the USA.
He has been on the state saddle since May 29,1999 and will be kissing her goodbye on May 29,2007. On completion of tenure,HE Victor Attah has indicated his intention of being a development consultant to the state.
Integrity Projects (IP) is happy to be associated with this great attainments while wishing the good governor a sounding and rewarding life after May 2007.
Bravo Akwa Ibom!
For more on the projects,please visit;
http://allafrica.com/stories/200703231088.html
http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/opinion/2007/mar/23/opinion-23-03-2007-001.htm
www.akwaibomstategov.com
http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/sports/march07/24032007/sp624032007.html
Thursday, March 22, 2007
PHDs
Pull-Him-Down syndrome (PHDs) is fast digging deep into the system.
Let's do away with this powerful,negative and destructive device.
A word 'i think' is enough!
-the preacher-
Let's do away with this powerful,negative and destructive device.
A word 'i think' is enough!
-the preacher-
Sunday, March 18, 2007
The Chemistry of Life
Life is meant to be lived and live aright.
Though it comes with ups and downs,yet these elements makes it beautiful and eventful.
Live and let's live should be our watchword!
This indeed is the chemistry of life!
Be guarded!
Though it comes with ups and downs,yet these elements makes it beautiful and eventful.
Live and let's live should be our watchword!
This indeed is the chemistry of life!
Be guarded!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)