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Food for Living: Don’t Live a Life of Mediocrity
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By Henry Ukazu
Greetings Destiny Friends,
“A life of mediocrity is a waste of life” -Colleen Hoover
We are not created to live small. We are not created to have small dreams. We are not created to have small beliefs or small ideas; we are created to live big. It’s worthy to note that at creation, we were given all we need to survive on earth. You have hands for artistic duties or handiwork; you have legs to play soccer and you have a brain to process information. According to George S. Patton, “Anyone, in any walk of life who, is content with mediocrity is untrue to himself.
You have eyes to see and vision the unimaginable. Every single part of your body has a unique role. So why play low? Henry Ford was right when he said: “Mediocrity is the worst enemy of prosperity.”
You can’t go through life living small. One of the biggest battles we face is contentment. Sometimes, we are too comfortable in our comfort zones. It is worthy of note that we all have seeds and potentials of greatness waiting to be tapped. Kindly permit me to say that a mediocre is blessed with limited thinking; this limited thinking gives him a myopic vision which limits his ability to succeed. Per Maureen Dowd said “The minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settled for.
It may be normal to experience disappointments, failures, setbacks, etc. However, each time you feel this way, stand up and stir up your faith to unleash your potential, new dreams, opportunities and talents. Don’t settle for less.
In the race of life, don’t settle for less than you deserve. You deserve more. If you accept mediocrity it can be seen as normal. Don’t let mediocrity be the norm. Don’t be limited by your environment or circumstances. If you live by the standard you see around you, you might just be tempted to accept it as normal. Just imagine putting a whale or shark in an aquarium; it won’t reach its potential, because that’s not where they belong.
It is easy to give in to excuses, but remember that’s one characteristic of a mediocre and mediocrity. You can’t live small, believe small, and expect big things to happen in your life. Too often, we allow circumstances and how we are raised to affect our lives. Some people even blame their parents, guardians, spouses, teachers and even friends for their failure. Yes, to some extent, they may have a role to play, but the buck stops with you. It will only have an effect if you give it life. Your parents laid the foundation for you, they expect you to use it as a stepping stone. Even if they are poor, dare to succeed. Don’t stay in your comfort zone. There are more opportunities available to you if only you can take the step of faith. If you can think big, and pragmatically put your thoughts to action, you will definitely live big
You are endowed with all the skills you need to succeed. Don’t give in to the belief that you don’t have anything to offer the world. To show you a practical example of the power of the mind. If you are drug seller, you have to know how to market your products, that’s marketing, if you can get the word out there, that’s advertising, if you can take care of your customers, that’s customers service, if you know when to sell, that’s a management and decision-making skill. The truth is if you can sell drugs, you can sell stocks and bonds. Moral: Use your skills for productive ventures. It’s worthy to note that Joyce Meyers never went to college but today she’s speaking to professors and leaders all over the world.
It’s easy to believe that you can’t do something because nobody has done it in your family or neighborhood. A story was told about Steve Harvey while he was in middle school, his teacher asked the students to write what they want to be in future, innocent Steve Harvey wrote he wanted to be on TV making people laugh, his teacher called him out and told asked him if anyone in his family has been on the television before, he said no. His teacher told him to write about what is feasible. He cried that fateful and narrated the story to his dad when he got home. His dad told him to put the writings on his bed and advised him to read it every day before going to school and before sleeping. Today, the rest is history, Steven Harvey is making people laugh on television. If you are still wondering if dreams come true, please look at Steve Harvey. Moral: You have to learn to encourage your self, even when people don’t believe in you. And have the right people around you.
A prudent reasonable man wants to live a normal life which can be categorized as an above-average lifestyle. No one wants to live a low standard live which can be referred to as below poverty level. We desire to live a comfortable life. However, in order to live a larger life, it is imperative to think beyond your present predicament as opposed to being comfortable. In the journey of life, you cannot solve a problem with the same level of understanding you met it. You have to step up your game. It’s quite unfortunate that complacency has remained the cardinal reason a lot of people fail to get to the peak of their potential. This is because they feel their circumstances, family background or even their mental state won’t allow them do better, thereby making them feel caged.
Living a life of mediocre is one of the worst things that can happen to anyone. You have a lot to offer the world, therefore, you don’t have to limit yourself to what the world offers to you. You have potential in you; you have seeds of greatness waiting to be tapped; you have talents, gifts, skills and ingenious abilities which are lying fallow and begging to utilized.
We can all live a large life and fulfill our desires in life, but before we can do that we have to cast out fear from our minds and give our best by working hard and smart.
Most average people give up as soon as things get tough and then they complain that they never got what they wanted. Of course, things will get hard! You will cry, be frustrated, afraid, angry, and totally beaten to a pulp, but then you have to get up, shake off the dust and move on.
To avoid mediocrity, be bold and be fearful, and confront the risks head-on. You cannot truly get to the peak of your career without taking risk. Risk has a lot of roles to play in shaping the career or success story of anyone. Risk is a necessary part of success. A rule of thumb: Always weigh the risk factor into every decision but be open to taking risks because if you succeed you climb higher and if you fail, you gain experience by learning something new. It’s better to take a risk and fail than not taking the risk and still fail. Nothing pains the heart later in life when risk option was not explored.
Most mediocres are scared to think big and take action towards it. They do what society or their surroundings expect them to and rarely ever pursue things on their own. Question: If you had only six months left to live; would you do what you are doing now?
How You Can Live Above Mediocrity
Do you have a dream?
Dreams help to propel us to live an extraordinary life. Many people have the dream of becoming a pilot, outstanding politician/leader, professor, TV host, soccer player, etc. If you have big dreams, you’ll definitely want to birth the dream. Birthing the dream entails leaving your comfort zone, having sleepless nights, reading extra books, waking up early, sleeping late, networking with the right group/minds and doing what you have to do to succeed. This is simply how great the mind works. A dream simply sets you above average. Not having a dream means going into mediocrity.
If you have found your dream, the next question is whether or not you have the courage to follow it.
Learn more than anyone else.
Mediocres are normal set of people who just like the status quo. They don’t feel like going the extra mile. Extraordinary people do more than going to school, networking, reading wide, etc. They seek ways to improve themselves. You must seek to learn every single day, become knowledgeable more than the average person by going the extra mile. The question now becomes, are you willing to put the effort? “According to Diana Waring, The difference between mediocrity and excellence is often a matter of effort.”
In conclusion, avoiding mediocrity is a goal that everyone in the world should strive for. According to Dr. Steve Maraboli “Stop letting your fear condemn you to mediocrity.”
I am going to leave you with great words from Brian Cranston: “Don’t settle for mediocrity. Take a chance. Take a risk. Find that passion. Rekindle it. Fall in love all over again. It’s really worth it.”
Thank you!
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He’s the author of the acclaimed book Design Your Destiny – Actualizing Your Birthright To Success. He can be reached via henrous@gmail.com
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately remove his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, over allegations linking him to an alleged multi-billion-naira corruption scandal involving a purported non-existent government agency, the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
In a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, the opposition party described the allegations as grave and said Gbajabiamila’s continued stay in office could compromise any credible investigation into the matter.
The NDC’s demand follows allegations made by Prince Mathew Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims to be the Director-General of the PFIPC, an agency the Presidency has publicly denied exists.
According to the party, the allegations raise serious concerns about transparency, accountability and integrity within the Tinubu administration.
The NDC alleged that despite the Presidency’s denial of the agency’s existence, the PFIPC purportedly secured budgetary allocations in the 2026 Appropriation Act and opened a domiciliary account, a Pound Sterling account and a Treasury Single Account (TSA) domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The party questioned how an agency described as non-existent could allegedly establish multiple high-level government financial accounts without official approval or the required documentation.
It also called on the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to explain whether forged documents were used in processing the accounts.
The statement further alleged that the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation approved 314 staff positions for the purported agency, describing the development as another issue requiring urgent explanation.
According to the NDC, the allegations also include claims that Gbajabiamila demanded 48 per cent of the agency’s take-off grant, reportedly valued at N27.39 billion, a request Adeyemi allegedly rejected.
The party also cited Adeyemi’s claim that he secured his appointment through the Chief of Staff after allegedly paying N600 million, of which N400 million was allegedly paid through proxies, while N200 million remained outstanding.
It said the alleged unpaid balance reportedly contributed to the Presidency’s subsequent denial of the agency’s existence.
The NDC further alleged that the claims point to a wider pattern of institutional corruption, including the alleged sale of public appointments.
The party also linked the controversy to the death of Babatunde Tanimola, whom it described as an intermediary between Adeyemi and the Chief of Staff.
According to the statement, Tanimola reportedly died in a fire incident at a hotel in Utako, Abuja, on October 22, 2025, a day after the police reportedly received a petition from the Chief of Staff.
The NDC also referenced Adeyemi’s claims that he survived multiple assassination attempts, including an attack along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway on September 7, 2025, and alleged that certain individuals within government are plotting to eliminate him.
Against the backdrop of the allegations, the party demanded the immediate removal of Gbajabiamila to allow what it described as a full and impartial investigation.
It also called on President Tinubu to establish an independent investigative panel to examine the alleged operations of the PFIPC, including its budgetary allocations, financial transactions, account openings and staff recruitment.
The NDC further urged investigators to probe the circumstances surrounding Tanimola’s death and the alleged assassination attempts on Adeyemi, while recommending that Adeyemi be granted witness protection.
The party also demanded that the Chief of Staff produce all official documents signed since assuming office for forensic examination.
In addition, it called for the questioning of officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation over their alleged roles in the matter.
The opposition party also urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigeria Police Force to commence what it described as a thorough investigation without fear or favour.
“The NDC will not accept the usual tactic of issuing a mere defensive press release from the Presidency as a deflective ploy. Nigerians deserve to know the truth through a transparent process that promotes fairness and justice,” the statement said.
The Presidency has previously maintained that the PFIPC is not a recognised government agency.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Presidency nor Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila had responded to the fresh allegations contained in the NDC statement.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has announced another reduction in the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), marking its fourth price cut within one month, as the company signaled that Nigerians could expect further price moderation in the coming weeks.
The latest reduction of N50 per litre brings the cumulative decrease in the refinery’s ex-depot price of petrol to over N200 per litre since May 30, 2026, lowering the gantry price to N1,075 per litre.
Over the same period, the refinery has also reduced the ex-depot price of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel, by N300 per litre, while Jet A1 aviation fuel has recorded a cumulative reduction of N520 per litre.
In a statement on Thursday, the refinery said the successive price cuts underscore its commitment to ensuring Nigerians benefit from favourable market developments through fair, responsible, and sustainable pricing of petroleum products.
The company noted that while it remains focused on transferring cost efficiencies to consumers, it is equally committed to maintaining the operational and financial sustainability of domestic refining.
Dangote Refinery explained that its pricing model is not tied directly to daily movements in international crude oil prices, stressing that crude oil is procured weeks or, in some cases, months before refining under commercial contracts linked primarily to monthly average pricing mechanisms rather than prevailing spot market prices.
According to the company, the petroleum products currently being supplied were refined from crude inventories acquired when international crude prices were significantly higher than present levels.
It disclosed that the average landed cost of crude processed by the refinery stood at approximately 124.80 US dollars per barrel in May and 95.25 US dollars per barrel in June, compared with the current international Brent benchmark of about 71.01 US dollars per barrel.
The refinery further clarified that its feedstock is not purchased at the headline Brent price widely reported in the media. Instead, crude is acquired on a Dated Brent basis, with additional market premiums, freight and logistics costs, resulting in actual landed costs that differ materially from benchmark quotations.
Despite these elevated feedstock costs, Dangote Refinery said it deliberately absorbed a substantial portion of the increase instead of transferring the full burden to consumers immediately.
It said the decision is aimed at supporting market stability, easing inflationary pressures, and shielding Nigerians from the sharp volatility witnessed in global energy markets.
“For this reason, prices of petroleum products in Nigeria are still lower than prices in neighbouring countries even after adjusting for taxes,” the company stated.
Dangote Refinery noted that Thursday’s N50 reduction in the ex-depot price of PMS represents the fourth downward adjustment within one month, bringing cumulative reductions to more than N200 per litre.
The company said its pricing decisions are anchored on actual production economics and inventory replacement costs rather than short-term fluctuations in the international oil market.
It expressed optimism that fuel prices would continue to moderate as lower-cost crude cargoes progressively replace higher-cost inventories in its production cycle, provided international market conditions remain favourable.
The refinery also highlighted the stabilising role of domestic refining in Nigeria’s energy sector, saying its production capacity is now sufficient to meet national demand, thereby strengthening energy security, reducing dependence on imported petroleum products, conserving foreign exchange, and providing greater price stability for consumers and businesses.
Reaffirming its long-term commitment, Dangote Petroleum Refinery said its objective remains to supply high-quality, internationally compliant petroleum products at competitive prices while strengthening Nigeria’s energy security, supporting economic growth, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of Africa’s largest refinery.
The company expressed appreciation to Nigerians for their continued confidence and support, pledging to remain committed to building a stable, efficient, and globally competitive downstream petroleum industry that serves the interests of consumers, businesses, and the nation as a whole.
The Department of State Services (DSS) at the Federal High Court in Abuja, arraigned five associates of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva.
They are accused of concealing information regarding the whereabouts of their principal, who is alleged to be a financier of an aborted coup attempt against President Bola Tinubu.
Sylva, a former Governor of Bayelsa State, has been declared wanted by the Federal government, and his identified properties have been marked for forfeiture following his indictment as the sponsor and mastermind of the alleged coup plot.
The five associates are Reuben Ayuba, Musa Mohammed, Friday Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha, and Ayebaifife Suobite. They were arraigned on Wednesday before Justice Peter Lifu.
A two-count charge filed against them indicates that the accused became accessories after the fact of felony on April 28, 2026, by concealing the whereabouts of Timipre Sylva, who is classified as a fugitive. The alleged offense is contrary to Section 519 of the Criminal Code Act Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Additionally, the DSS has accused them of conspiracy to commit a felony, specifically for concealing the whereabouts of Timipre Sylva, also a fugitive, in violation of Section 516 of the Criminal Code, LFN 2004.
All the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them.
DSS lawyer, Emmanuel Orubor, requested that the judge schedule a date for the DSS to commence their trial by calling witnesses to testify against the defendants.
In response, Sunusi Musa (SAN), who represented Reuben Ayuba and Paganengigha Anagaha (the 1st and 4th accused persons), filed a bail application for his clients on various grounds.
Similar applications were made by Ibrahim Imadegbelo, representing Musa Mohammed (the 2nd accused), I. G. Kelubia, standing for Friday Paul (the 3rd defendant), and E. C. Sogo, who argued for Ayebaifife Suobite (the 5th accused person).
The lawyers pointed out to Justice Lifu that their clients have been in custody since October 25, 2025, and urged the court to grant them bail on liberal terms.
In a brief ruling, Justice Lifu granted them bail in the sum of N5 million each, along with two sureties for each, in a similar amount. The sureties are required to swear to an affidavit of means, provide evidence of three years of tax payment, demonstrate visible means of livelihood, and submit recent passport photographs.
Justice Lifu ordered that the claims of identities of the sureties must be verified by the Registrar of the Court.
Pending the perfection of the bail conditions, the Judge ordered that the accused persons be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja and fixed July 22 for the commencement of trial.
