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Food for Living: How to Be a Champion
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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
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate for 2027 general elections, Peter Obi, says that Nigerians across all walks of life are suffering under President Bola Tinubu’s administration due to worsening hunger, widespread insecurity, and systemic harassment.
Speaking with journalists at St Fintan’s Catholic Church in Onicha Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, on Friday, Obi urged citizens to stand firm and resist further hardship imposed by the country’s current leadership.
Obi was in Ebonyi State to attend the burial ceremony of Okaji Okorie, father of the NDC senatorial candidate for the Ebonyi South Zone, Linus Okorie. Responding to questions regarding the alleged harassment of NDC supporters by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Obi said that the current hardship transcends political affiliations.
“For me, every Nigerian is already being harassed, not just my supporters,” Obi said. “Hunger is harassing everybody. The worsening economic situation is affecting everyone. Go to any village, and you will see that people are suffering. It is time for Nigerians to tell those governing us that enough is enough.”
Addressing concerns over the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) ability to conduct free and fair elections in 2027, Obi urged citizens to focus on collective action rather than institutional trust.
“It is not really about confidence in INEC; it is about having confidence in the people. The people will determine what INEC does. If Nigerians insist that their votes must count, then their votes will count,” he asserted.
“The people should look at what is happening in Nigeria and ask themselves: What is the future of our children in this enterprise called Nigeria? Are we going to continue in this direction?”
Obi noted that advocating for real change in the current political climate requires tremendous courage.
“Anyone talking about change in Nigeria today is making the ultimate sacrifice because we cannot continue like this. Every single day, poverty is increasing; every single day, hunger is increasing,” he noted.
“The World Bank recently reported that poverty has risen to almost 79 per cent from about 51 per cent when this government came into office. But you do not even need a World Bank report to know what is happening. Go to the villages and see for yourself.”
“Millions more Nigerians are facing hunger. So, what are we going to do about it? Are we going to continue like this? No.”
Turning to his host, Obi described Okorie as a steadfast ally and dependable partner, highlighting their shared political journey across party lines.
“This is not the first time Hon. Linus Okorie and I are working together. We worked together in the Labour Party, and now we are together in the NDC. That underscores the strength of our relationship,” Obi said.
“However, we are here today to pay our last respects to his late father. We pray that God Almighty, who blessed Papa with a long and fruitful life, will grant him eternal rest in His kingdom and give the family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
The beginning of any journey is usually the hardest part. It is usually hard to take the bold step. Whether you are applying for a job, writing a book, starting a new business, getting married or even applying for school, there’s always the tendency to ask yourself mind-boggling questions such as; Will I succeed? Will I be accepted? This is among many others.
When progressive minds encounter this challenge, they are not afraid of taking the first step, they are merely concerned about the big picture, and not what they are currently experiencing. One of the big differences between great people and lesser minds is the ability for great people to take strategic risks, while lesser minds stay in their comfort zone.
On a personal note, I can relate to the journey of greatness when I began writing my first book. In all sincerity, I didn’t know what I was writing. All I knew was that I was putting down whatever comes to my mind provided I found it reasonable and relatable. At the end of the day, I found a proficient and efficient editor who was kind enough to work on the book and it became a trailblazer.
The moral is that I doubted myself many times if I had the capacity to write a book. I was literally afraid of beginning, but immediately I began writing, the universe began to conspire with me to make the work fruitful. Today, when I look back, I’m glad I took the bold step. I say this because just because of one book, I received national and global attention in addition to appearing on television and meeting gatekeepers and resource people.
The same principle is applicable when I began my first business. I didn’t know what to focus on and how to develop bossiness. All I knew was that I’m a motivator and counselor who likes to help youths and career professionals on proactive ways to succeed in their personal and professional lives. After attending a series of training courses, workshops, webinars, and several conferences, I began to have clarity about my business. I remember when I first started, I told the world that I can build a website just because my uncle assisted in using a free tool to build my website.
Why am I sharing this information? The same business I didn’t know how to structure is now registered with the highest certification from the Office of the Governor of New York to do business with any New York City agency. It now has a Chief Operating Officer, Social media manager, IT personnel and an exceptional Director of Partnership who works as a consultant. The company has also partnered with the United Nations Development Programme and has received awards.
All this is because I took the bold step to start a business. Sometimes in life, you don’t know what lies ahead when one takes the bold step.
According to Dr. Yomi Garnet, a proficient Ghost Writer, “If a book is tiled A synopsis of successful living were to be written, it would in all probability contain the following chapters:
1. Identify your talents, (use then to glory God and to benefit of humanity)
2. Have faith in the favor of God,
3. Engage in proper planning
4. 10% belongs to God
5. Give, give and keep in giving
Let’s take a minute to elaborate on this chapter:
1. Identify your talent: Before you begin any project, one must know who they are, what they have and what problems they want to solve. They also must take into consideration whether they have the capacity, competence and capability of doing the business. One thing is certain, they are using their skills, talent, and knowledge to solve a problem
2. Have faith in God:
Taking the first step entails having faith in yourself, in your business and most importantly in God. Without faith in oneself, in the business and in God, it will be difficult for one to succeed. Taking the first set entails believing in the possibility of the future.
3. Engaging in Proper planning:
It’s instructive to note that failing to prepare is preparing to fail. Before anyone begins any task, it’s important for one to sit back and ask oneself if they have all they need to set up the business. This entails setting up a structure for the business, getting the right people, offering services and setting up the mission and vision statement of the company
4. 10% belongs to God
This is Biblical instruction which is part of the spiritual blessings of doing business. No one succeeds on their own. They either have an altar working for them or they have human beings as networks, benefactors, and resource persons recommending them for opportunities. Alternatively, these acts of tithe giving can also refer to Corporate Social Responsibility which is tantamount to giving back to society.
5. Give, give and keep giving.
This is another spiritual blessing. We are quite familiar with the saying, the giver never lacks, however, it’s important to note that when one gives without wisdom and accountability, one might run dry. So, it’s imperatively important for one to give with discretion, otherwise, one will be exhausted. It’s instructive to note that nobody receives with a clenched fist and the giver’s hand is always on top. If you want to receive it, please give. This giving aspect is made possible because someone took the first step to start a business which made it possible for the art of giving to take place.
In conclusion, if you desire to start a business, or have inspiration, just start, the universe has a way of conspiring with the world to support you to birth your passion, idea or vision. I say this because the worst you’ll want to do towards the end of life is to live in regret. So, I say, just begin. Whether you fail, it’s irrelevant because you are gaining and showing perseverance for the cause you believe in. At the end of theer day, we shall all tell our stories.
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He’s the founder of Gloemi. He’s a Transformative Human Capacity and Mindset coach. He is also a public speaker, youth advocate, creative writer and author of Design Your Destiny Design, Unleash Your Destiny and The Six Pillars of Succes . He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
The Supreme Court has prohibited lawyers, court registrars, litigation staff and all legal practitioners dealing with the apex court from using the title “Barrister” as a prefix to their names in official correspondence and court-related engagements.
The directive was conveyed in an internal circular dated July 13, 2026, issued by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Kabir E. Akanbi, on the instruction of the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
The circular, titled “Prohibition of the Use of the Title ‘Barrister’ as a Prefix to Names,” was addressed to legal practitioners, litigation staff, court registrars and other lawyers interacting with the apex court.
According to the memo, the continued use of the title “Barrister” before names is inconsistent with the professional standards expected in official dealings with the Supreme Court.
It stated that the Chief Justice had directed that the practice be discontinued with immediate effect.
Part of the circular reads: “The use of the title ‘Barrister’ as a prefix to names is inappropriate and inconsistent with the standards of professionalism expected within the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”
The court further directed that the title should no longer appear in official correspondence, court processes, legal documents, identity materials or any other official communication with the Supreme Court.
Heads of departments and unit heads were also instructed to ensure strict compliance by officers under their supervision.
However, the directive is limited to official interactions with the Supreme Court and does not prevent legal practitioners from identifying themselves as barristers in academic, professional or other non-court-related settings.
