Metro
A Little Sleep, a Little Slumber: Much Sleep Equals Death
By Tolulope A. Adegoke
“Time sees everyone, yet concentrates on nobody…It is too busy for that! It is a trend that is always willing to give its best to those (who) are ready and willing to sacrifice their best for its proper investment.”
Time is the most and indispensable currency for exploits if invested wisely!
Time is cheap, yet expensive! Time is light, yet heavy and loaded with events (Naturally-Spiritual and Artificial-Physical).
Time can be spent or invested! Time can be handled, managed by effective planning, programming and wise steps/actions for undeniable and reliable results.
Time is no respecter of persons; it does not stop a while for any reason or person(s), it is not controlled by man but by God Almighty, Creator of the Creator of all things!
Time does not cheat! It works its way through from its beginning to that which is called its end (REVELATION).
Time sees everyone, yet concentrates on nobody…It is too busy for that! It is a trend that is always willing to give its best to those ready and willing to sacrifice their best for its proper investment.
Time expires…It evolves into phases!
Time is beyond the physical senses of MAN; it is beyond the tools (seconds, minutes and hours) that make up the clock to reading its trends and moves! It is life…It goes on and on… It cannot be measured but can only be maximized by investing in steady meditation in serenity for its revelations and illuminations of ideas and creativities at the speed of shock!
Time shocks man, but not God! Time if ‘fact’ and blunt! It works without patience…It is steady and consistent; the sluggard and the ignorant never likes it!
The enemy of time is PLEASURE which generates into PROCRASTINATION! Pleasure abuses its (time) schedules and duties in the creations and manifestations of purpose from IDEALISM into REALISM.
Time flies! It never gives up! It has wings! Time is never tired! It does not wait to be motivated!
Time, if acknowledged and referenced with God Almighty heals! Only God Almighty can recover time; for time cannot recover itself.
Time has no friend or foe, it only relates and works for those that takes/makes out time to seclude themselves in SERENITY to ponder on facts and meditate for reasons so as to become the REASON in the SEASON (Time).
“Time and chance happens to them all (Ecclesiastes 9:11).” Time is for everyone and with no person!
Time speaks and its voices echoes! Its impacts are daily! Time trend always in all medium of communication; Time cannot be caged; it cannot be saved but maximized with Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding and their applicability.
It is true there is “time” for everything, but it (Time) is always ready and available for everything right! Everything right must be done, adopted, implemented and executed and actualized per time.
Time is ever positive…Only the deed of men corrupts/pollutes it! Time is light, it illuminates, it reveals and exposes the deeds of men.
Light is life eternal; everyman is like a candlestick. Your impact lights each candlestick that represent each life.
Time is deeper and sharper than sword! Every word spoken by time is WORK (i.e. IMPACT!)
Time motions…It does not sleep, it does not wait, so why wait till tomorrow before you do that which is right? Why wait till tomorrow before you light up another candlestick around you to lighten up/ illuminate the world? Why wait till tomorrow before you love, before you invest?
You do not know true investment, until you learn time investment. Time is always NOW! It is always TODAY, it is clockwise and always today for the right CAUSE…But only the deed of men pollutes it!
Make today right, make it count and worthwhile for a better tomorrow! Time is ever productive! Always available for everyman’s efforts!
Time is ever prepared today to give you a better tomorrow! Time is invaluable…It is one of the greatest asset given to mankind.
Time has respect for ideas in thoughts and reasoning and mostly for its full actualizations.
Time worked and produced YESTERDAY! Time works TODAY to produce a grand and brand new day called TOMORROW!
Time is official and must be guarded and maximized with care and responsiveness and respect! “Make hay while the sun shines!” Indolence is foolishness! No food for a lazy man.
“Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which having no captain or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer.
And gathers her food in the harvest; How long will you slumber, oh sluggard?”
“A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to sleep,
So shall your poverty come as one that travelleth;
And your want as an armed man.” (Proverbs 24:33)
It takes the value of wisdom to enjoy the trends of TIME. Time is the principal raw material needed in the factory of ideas. Ideas answer only to those who have “time” for it.
Without setting “time” apart to reason (think), your rising is not in view! Time is where it all begins! Time is therefore of utmost essence in the school of ideas!
Act Now! Every move you make moves you! For every action, there is a REACTION! Time will tell of every of your efforts and rewards.
Time has targets…Its target is always TODAY for a TOMORROW (the future). The certainty of a better tomorrow is determined by well-planned and structured today!
“Time is therefore an asset of universal equality.” Most importantly, time is equal! It all depends on how much you invest it or spend it.
Time is always available for everyman’s efforts but only God rewards all accordingly (Paul plants, Apollo waters but only God doeth the blessings) with blessings of man’s deeds! Time records the deeds of men; be it good or evil… God rewards all accordingly!
Time is specific on goals and facts! Time is ever deliberate; depending on how smart you play your cards (work) and how prayerful you are.
The more time you have for reasoning, the more insight you gain and the greater result you command. The mobile phones you carry about for example most time are working against you. When an idea is coming, it rings and by the time you finish answering the call, the idea has flown away.
Time is an invaluable asset. Unfortunately, most people are abusers of time. We therefore must redeem our time from pollutions (cultural bastardization, tradition and unrelated issues) scrambling for out “time” during business/thinking hours.
Every ‘time’ INVESTORS invariably ends up an INVENTOR.
Life is all about timing! Time is life…Life goes on and on; only the life of man is short! Time is infinite, but its moment expires and evolves into phases and realms in the reality cycle of life. Therefore, maximize your time judiciously!
Metro
Ubuntu As Africa’s Moral Compass: Healing Xenophobia, Restoring Dignity and Rebuilding Continental Unity
By Tolulope A. Adegoke
The recent surge in xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa has once again exposed painful fractures in the ideal of African brotherhood. These incidents — marked by violence, looting, destruction of businesses, and loss of innocent lives — represent not only a humanitarian crisis but a profound moral failure that contradicts the very essence of what it means to be African. In the face of such division, the ancient African philosophy of Ubuntu offers a powerful, practical, and deeply human framework for healing, reconciliation, and sustainable unity.
Ubuntu, often translated as “I am because we are,” is more than a cultural expression. It is a complete worldview that affirms the interconnectedness of all people. It teaches that a person’s humanity is realised through their relationships with others, and that harming another ultimately diminishes oneself. In the context of xenophobia targeting Nigerians and other Africans, Ubuntu directly challenges the “us versus them” mentality and calls for a return to shared identity, dignity, and mutual responsibility.
Core Principles of Ubuntu in Relation to Xenophobia
- Interconnectedness: No African exists in isolation. The suffering of Nigerians in South Africa affects the dignity of all Africans. Ubuntu reminds us that an attack on one community is an attack on the collective African family.
- Human Dignity: Every individual, regardless of nationality, deserves respect and protection. Xenophobia violates this fundamental principle by dehumanising fellow Africans.
- Communal Responsibility: Success and security are collective. South Africans and other African nationals share common struggles — unemployment, inequality, and poverty. Ubuntu urges joint solutions rather than scapegoating.
- Reconciliation and Restoration: Harm must be acknowledged, justice served, and relationships restored. Healing requires both accountability for perpetrators and systemic reforms that address root causes.
- Harmony and Shared Destiny: True progress emerges when communities live in balance, recognising that Africa’s strength lies in unity, not fragmentation.
How ECOWAS, AU, SADC and Other Bodies Can Intervene
Regional and continental institutions have a critical role to play in providing structured, legitimate, and sustainable responses to xenophobia.
ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) As the primary regional body for West Africa, ECOWAS should:
- Establish a standing Joint Task Force on Migration and Social Cohesion with South Africa to facilitate dialogue and monitor tensions.
- Develop and enforce a Regional Migration Management Protocol that protects the rights of legal migrants while addressing irregular migration.
- Support skills-transfer and joint investment projects between member states and South Africa to reduce “push” factors of migration and demonstrate mutual economic benefit.
African Union (AU) The AU should elevate xenophobia as a continental concern by:
- Convening emergency sessions of the Peace and Security Council to treat xenophobia as a threat to African unity.
- Developing an African Citizenship and Mobility Charter that promotes legal, rights-based migration and integration.
- Strengthening the Continental Early Warning System to detect rising xenophobic sentiments and enable timely diplomatic intervention.
- Facilitating high-level mediation missions and reparative dialogue between affected countries.
SADC (Southern African Development Community) As the immediate regional bloc:
- Lead internal dialogue and mediation within Southern Africa to address cross-border tensions.
- Promote harmonised border management and labour mobility policies.
- Invest in joint infrastructure and human development projects that visibly demonstrate the benefits of regional solidarity.
Other Relevant Bodies
- The United Nations (through UNHCR and IOM) can provide technical support for humane migration management and protection of victims.
- The African Development Bank can fund large-scale regional projects that create shared prosperity and reduce migration pressure.
- Civil society, faith-based organisations, and the African diaspora should lead grassroots reconciliation and awareness campaigns.
Practical Solutions Aligned with Ubuntu
To transform Ubuntu from philosophy into action, the following multi-sectoral solutions are recommended:
Education Sector
- Integrate Pan-African history, shared heritage, and migration studies into school curricula across South Africa and the continent.
- Establish joint South African–Nigerian cultural and academic exchange programmes to build personal connections from a young age.
Economic Sector
- Develop joint business cooperatives and value-chain projects in agriculture, trade, and small enterprises involving both South Africans and migrants.
- Create government-backed township entrepreneurship funds that prioritise inclusive models benefiting legal foreign nationals and locals alike.
Governance and Leadership
- Publicly and consistently condemn xenophobia while addressing legitimate local grievances through transparent dialogue.
- Create national integration councils with representatives from South African communities and African diaspora groups.
Media and Public Communication
- Highlight positive stories of African cooperation, migrant contributions, and shared success.
- Partner with civil society for Ubuntu-inspired awareness campaigns promoting “One Africa, One Destiny.”
Youth and Community Engagement
- Organise cross-border youth leadership and entrepreneurship summits.
- Support community sports, arts, and cultural festivals that bring South Africans and other Africans together in celebration.
Global Relevance and International Standards
The fight against xenophobia in South Africa aligns with international human rights standards, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (particularly Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities and Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Solutions must therefore meet global benchmarks of human rights protection, rule of law, and inclusive development while remaining rooted in African agency and ownership.
A Balanced Conclusion: Ubuntu as Africa’s Moral Compass
Xenophobia is a betrayal of African humanity. It weakens the continent’s global standing and delays the realisation of a united, prosperous Africa. However, through the deliberate and consistent application of Ubuntu — in education, economy, governance, media, and community life — South Africa and the broader continent can heal these wounds and build something stronger.
Ubuntu does not deny legitimate grievances. It simply insists that solutions must honour the dignity of every African. When leaders model it, institutions embed it, and citizens live it, xenophobia will lose its appeal. Africa’s greatest contribution to the world may not be its resources, but this timeless philosophy that reminds us: our humanity is bound together.
The path to lasting peace does not require perfection — it requires commitment. With courage, honesty, and collective will, South Africa and Africa can move beyond xenophobia toward genuine solidarity. The world is watching, and history is waiting. The time to choose Ubuntu is now.
Dr. Tolulope A. Adegoke, AMBP-UN is a globally recognized scholar-practitioner and thought leader at the nexus of security, governance, and strategic leadership. His mission is dedicated to advancing ethical governance, strategic human capital development, resilient nation building, and global peace. He can be reached via: tolulopeadegoke01@gmail.com, globalstageimpacts@gmail.com
The Academic Board of Kogi State Polytechnic has approved the first semester results for the 2025/2026 academic session and withdrawn 229 students over poor academic performance.
The decision was taken at the Board’s meeting held on May 12, 2026, in Lokoja and chaired by the Rector, Professor Salihu Sanusi Avidime, according to a statement issued on Thursday by the acting Coordinator of Public Relations and Protocols, John Amos Onimisi.
The meeting had in attendance principal officers, deans, heads of departments and other members of the Academic Board, who deliberated on key academic issues affecting the institution.
Onimisi said the results were approved following a rigorous verification exercise conducted by the Academic Board Central Results Verification Committee.
He explained that the committee thoroughly reviewed and authenticated submissions from various departments to ensure accuracy, fairness and compliance with the polytechnic’s academic regulations.
“The committee’s report subsequently served as a critical guide in the Academic Board’s deliberations and final decisions on the results,” he stated.
The Rector was said to have commended members of the committee for their diligence, professionalism and commitment to maintaining academic standards in the institution.
The Board said the withdrawal of the 229 students is aimed at upholding academic excellence and preserving the integrity of certificates issued by the polytechnic.
It added that the decision is in line with existing academic regulations, and intended to promote discipline and encourage better academic performance among students.
Comedian and actor, Ayo Makun aka AY, has recounted the final moments of actor Alex Ekubo before his death on May 11, 2026.
Ekubo reportedly died from complications following liver failure, having been diagnosed with stage four liver cancer in 2024.
AY, who was reportedly present at the hospital, said Ekubo was smiling at the time of his death.
He described the loss as difficult to accept and reflected on their shared experiences in the film industry over the years.
The comedian stated that he witnessed the grief of family and friends at the hospital, expressing shock at the actor’s passing.
AY added that Ekubo would be remembered for his contributions beyond film and public recognition.
“Some losses do not feel real no matter how many times you try to process them. Still struggling with the reality that you are gone, Alex.
“From the laughter to the conversations, the random moments, the brotherhood, and all the memories we shared in this industry. This one hurts deeply.
“I was there. I saw you still smiling even in death. I saw the tears from friends and family. And honestly, a part of me is still in shock. Rest well my brother. You will be remembered beyond the lights, the cameras, and the fame,” AY wrote.
