News
Food for Living: How to Be a Champion
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
Champions are made from something they have deep inside them-a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.” (Muhammad Ali)
Everyone wants to be a champion, no doubt about that. Who doesn’t want to become a champion? Champions are always celebrated like celebrities; their fame and personality are always endearing. But who really is a champion? A true champion can be defined as someone who can transform their fear, stress, and daily challenges of business and life in order to keep things in perspective, and produce extraordinary results.
The first step to being a champion is to train your mind and body. This helps to build your self-confidence, self-esteem, and your thought process. Champions not only feel and see the big picture, they also imagine the hurdles, challenges and uncertainty they may arise in the process of actualizing their desires.
Before you can become a champion, you must have a purpose or be working on a purpose. That purpose might be an unpopular one. In working on a purpose, you must close your ears to the negative forces whispering doubts in your ear. You must arm yourself with your passion and positive mentality. This is because you cannot be a champion without knowing your passion. Once you know your passion, the onus is on you to develop it and always be positive towards the idea regardless of the adjustment you have to undergo in your journey.
In order to be a champion, you must have a strong personality, and be flexible. Even if you have experienced set back in your marriage, business, academic, or even professional life, you can still bounce back to the center stage and take the lead. As a matter of fact, it is the stories from your experiences that will make people believe you, and see if you learnt any lesson from the setback/challenges. Moral: Champions don’t emerge, they go through a process.
Some examples of the celebrated great men who became champions are: President Nelson Mandela of South Africa who fought against apartheid policy in South Africa. He was imprisoned for 27 years. He was later released, and contested to be South African President. He won. Abraham Lincoln failed several times in life, business, marriage and politics, but he never gave up. He later because the US President at age 51. Henry Ukazu, the founder and President of Global Empowerment and Mentoring Initiative was mocked, humiliated in a sarcastic manner by his supposed mentors due to his horrible writing skills, but today, he’s a prolific writer, public speaker and the author of a trailblazer book – Design Your Destiny- Actualizing Your Birthright to Success.
In order to be a champion, you must only aim high, you must have a deliberate and intentional plan because you can’t build something on nothing. You should have a clear plan on how to achieve your goal. What kind of skills and knowledge do you need? When and how do you want to acquire them?
Most people recognize a champion only when he steps up the podium, but they don’t realize he has become a champion before the announcement. In fact, he has become a champion years before that glorious moment. People don’t see the pains, mistakes, failures, sweats, sleepless nights and timeless investment in oneself and professional development. Champions develop themselves. They train themselves to produce the results they have. Champions have emerged from basketball, soccer, tennis, swimming, golf, track and field events, and others. We have seen champions like Lebron James, Mohammed Ali, Abedi Pele, Michel Jackson, Tiger Woods, Rafael Nadal, Usain Bolt, Roger Federer amongst others.
In the journey towards becoming a champion, you must find something to inspire you. It could be poverty, a sarcastic name tag that was associated with you, or a desire to bring a change if you are tired of the status quo.
Note that A Champion’s intent on self-improvement creates inner pressure to achieve the desired result.
The ability to seek improvement is reserved for only the most elite performers. Most people are not born with that desire for self-improvement. It is either instilled through relationships or circumstances. It is imperatively important you proactively improve yourself. Question: Are you constantly investing in self-improvement? If yes, what books are you reading? Are you working with a coach, or attending seminars?
Champions don’t announce themselves, rather their works announce them. Champions celebrate every achievement, whether big or small. Therefore, take the time to celebrate your victories.
Champions practice alignment. They always want to align themselves with fellow champions. They don’t waste your time hanging out with people who aren’t willing to put in the effort and the investment into their own success.
The number one most effective tool that we have in our box to become a champion is to follow the path of personal growth within all of our lives. Within our health, we must become the strongest version of ourselves. Within our finances, we must become the strongest version of ourselves. Within our relationships, we must become the strongest version of ourselves. Within our work, we must become the strongest version of ourselves.
Champions focus on the process, they are always present on their project. They continuously practice their habits like a ritual. They endeavor to be consistent, they persist, and most importantly, they show up regardless of the storm.
In conclusion, a champion is not born, he or she is created and cultivated. It is simply a skill that anybody can develop if they really want to live life on another level. Today, I charge you to be a champion in any field you are passionate about.
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He’s a mindset coach and public speaker. 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 and President of gloemi.com. He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
A federal judge in the United States, on Thursday, put a temporary block on President Donald Trump’s attempt to restrict birthright citizenship.
The ruling imposes a 14-day halt on the enforcement of one of the most controversial executive orders Trump signed hours after being sworn into office for a second term.
It comes after lawsuits were filed by a total of 22 states, two cities and numerous civil rights groups.
“This is a blatantly unconstitutional order,” senior US District Judge John Coughenour was reported as saying during the hearing in Washington State.
“I’ve been on the bench for over four decades, I can’t remember another case where the question presented is as clear as this one is,” said Coughenour, who was appointed to the bench by a Republican president, Ronald Reagan.
Birthright citizenship is fundamental to America’s national identity, with the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution decreeing that anyone born on US soil is a citizen.
It says, in part: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”
Trump’s order was premised on the idea that anyone in the US illegally, or on a visa, was not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the country, and therefore excluded from this category.
AFP
The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, Ondo State capital has upheld the death sentence of Ramon Adedoyin, a prominent businessman and hotelier, for his involvement in the murder of one Timothy Adegoke, a former postgraduate student of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Delivering the judgment on Thursday, the court affirmed the earlier verdict of the Osun State High Court, which had sentenced Adedoyin to death.
“The judgment of the High Court of Osun State stands. Adedoyin’s appeal is dismissed in part,” the court declared in part.
The Court of Appeal, however, set aside some aspects of the lower court’s orders, including the forfeiture of the Hilton Hotel and the order for Adedoyin to pay for the education of Adegoke’s children.
Furthermore, the court ruled that it had no jurisdiction to impose penalties outside the statutory provisions
Adegoke’s death was reported in November 2021 after his corpse was found at the Hilton Honours Hotel in Ile-Ife, Osun State, where he had lodged.
The hotelier had travelled from Abuja for an examination at a distance learning centre in Moro, Osun State on November 5 of that year.
He had checked into the hotel but was reported missing after two days. However, Adegoke’s body was found days later, leading to a probe that linked his death to Adedoyin and others.
In May 2023, Adedoyin and others were sentenced to death after they were found guilty of murder and conspiracy to murder.
But dissatisfied with the judgement, Adedoyin approached the Appeal court to dismiss the sentence and conviction.
The court of appeal, on Thursday, however, upheld the conviction and death sentence of the hotelier.
The Nigeria Police have announced that their operatives have rescued Mrs Folasade Odumosu, the wife of a former Assistant Inspector General, Hakeem Odumosu, who was last Thursday, kidnapped at the entrance of her home in Arepo, Ogun State.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, noting that two of the kidnappers were killed while four others escaped without their weapons.
Adejobi said with the support of the Force Headquarters technical intelligence platforms, the Ogun State police operatives engaged Odumosu’s abductors in a gun duel and neutralized the criminals in the swampy area of Ikorodu on Wednesday.
The police spokesman added that Mrs Odumosu is currently undergoing a medical evaluation and has since been reunited with her family.
The statement read, “In a commendable display of teamwork and swift action, police operatives attached to the Ogun State Command have successfully neutralized the kidnappers of Mrs. Odumosu, wife of Retired Assistant-Inspector General, AIG Hakeem Odumosu, and rescued her unharmed.
“On January 16, 2025, at approximately 9:45 PM, four masked gunmen forcibly abducted Mrs. Odumosu from her Lexus Jeep outside her residence in Arepo, Ogun State. The abduction sparked an immediate response from the anti-kidnapping unit of the Ogun State Police Command, who commenced a thorough investigation and targeted pursuit of the kidnappers.
“With the support of the Force Headquarters technical intelligence platforms, the Ogun State police operatives engaged in extensive surveillance of the creeks surrounding Arepo, gathering crucial information to track down the assailants. Their efforts culminated in a raid on January 23, 2025, at around 06:45 AM. The intelligence-led operation took the police to a creek in the swampy area of Ikorodu, where the kidnappers were reportedly planning their next attack.
“Upon arrival, the operatives encountered the kidnappers, who opened fire. In the ensuing confrontation, two of the gunmen were neutralized, while four others fled the scene, abandoning their operational weapons.”
Adejobi said the police operatives recovered N10m initially paid to the kidnappers, four Ak-47 rifles, three locally made single barrel rifles, and ammunition of various calibres.
He added, “The victim, Mrs Odumosu was rescued within the swampy creeks during the operation, unharmed. She is currently undergoing medical evaluation as a precautionary measure and has since been reunited with her family. The police also recovered 4 Ak-47 rifles, 3 locally made single barrel rifles, ammunition of various calibres, and the sum of N10,000,000 ransom previously demanded by the kidnappers, further ensuring that justice is served.”
Adejobi said the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, commended the police operatives and the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, for the rescue operation.
He asserted that the Police Force is committed to safeguarding the citizens and combat kidnapping and other violent crimes.
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM., has commended the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, and his operatives for their displayed gallantry in this successful operation.
“This operation exemplifies the dedication and resilience of our Police officers. The Nigeria Police Force remains steadfast in its mission to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes, providing safety and security to all citizens,” he added.
