Metro
Food for Living: Journey to Greatness
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
Action is the foundational key to all success – Pablo Picasso
Every one of us wants to be great, but the question many of us haven’t answered is, are you ready to pay the price for success?
Success on its own comes with a price tag depending on what you are willing to do, and the price you are willing to pay. Your journey might be a little bit different and relative.
The challenge most people have in life is that they are not willing to go through the organic process of gaining credibility which entails having theoretical and practical knowledge of the subject matter in addition to leaving their comfort zone.
According to a great philosopher, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a step in the right direction. When you miss the foundation, you might be a victim of defective success. It should be noted that success means different things to different people. To some people, success means having a home, earning degrees (Bachelors, Masters, Ph.D etc); while to others, it might be getting married, having good children, being rich/wealthy, becoming a governor, president or attaining the highest level of their professional experience. However, the highest and best form of success is personal success.
The question we need to ask ourselves is, how do we attain success? Alternatively, we can say, what’s required to be successful? I think the first question we need to ask is, what do I want? When you answer that question, the next stage will be preparation. This is where the bulk of the work comes in.
It is sad to note that many people just want to be popular without minding if the route is good or bad. In the same way, many people are just concerned about succeeding in their craft without minding what is takes provided they get what they want. They are not concerned about the ingredients of success. What they fail to understand is that genuine success is organic.
In the journey of life, we all have dreams, passions, visions, and goals we would like to achieve, but sometimes we don’t have the right structure or platform to navigate through the process. When you have these right dreams and vision, but lack the right direction, you might hit the rock.
According to Mary kay Ash, “Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember, you can achieve
The journey of success is a long way to freedom. It entails networking with the right people, having the right mentors, mentees, associates experiencing failures and gaining theoretical and practical knowledge of the relevant information involved in addition to leaving your comfort zones amongst other variable factors. As you journey through this process, some people may laugh at you, and trust me this is normal especially when they don’t know what you are working on.
It’s sad to see many people who want to succeed in life, but they are scared of taking the bull by the horn by taking reasonable and strategic risks as well as investing in their future. But the interesting thing is that great minds are willing to do what shallow minds are not willing to do. These great minds do not wish for an easy life because they know they can’t attain true success on a platter of fold. They must earn it and work for it. These successful people are concerned about action, they continue to move despite mistakes, challenges, disappointments, and any setbacks they may have.
Those who have truly embarked on this success journey know fully well that their success is not measured by what they were able to accomplish but by the opposition they were able to overcome due to their courage. For you to truly succeed, you must love what you are doing for true success to locate you. You can make money without loving what you do, but you can’t truly succeed without loving what you do.
It’s sad to note that most people are scared of making a move. Let me tell you, every day is an opportunity for you to make an impact. God out and relate with people, ask questions, the worst you will get is a no. Even if you are rejected, you’ll know you have tried. Even the book of life said, ask you shall receive, seek and you will find and knock, and the door shall be opened.
Be informed, no great thing ever happened without imagination. Elon Musk, Bill Gates, President Barack Obama, Mark Zukerberg, Michael Adenuga, Tony Elumelu and Henry Ukazu all dreamt of doing things. They didn’t just wish; they activated their interest.
Dear friend, you are carrying a big billion-dollar vision in your mind, don’t allow it die with you, the world is cheering for you. If you are determined to embark on your journey, you must be bold and dare to go the uncommon and less traveled path. You might be ignored, laughed at, and humiliated; that’s part of the price you have to pay for what you desire. When you get the inspiration in your spirit, write it down and spur it into action. Every one of us has a mission on earth. We all had a purpose which will be fulfilled on earth.
In conclusion, decide today what you’ll want the world to remember you for and dare to embark on the journey. Be advised, the process and journey might not be easy, but with your mentors and determination, you’ll succeed. I look forward to seeing you at the top.
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He’s a Transformative Human Capacity and Mindset coach. He is also a public speaker, youth advocate and creative writer Design Your Destiny and Unleash Your Destiny. He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
The Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Bayo Ojulari, has acknowledged growing complexities in the effort to revamp Nigeria’s state-owned refineries.
Although the Port Harcourt refinery began processing crude oil again on November 26, it was later shut down in May for maintenance.
Meanwhile, rehabilitation work is still ongoing at the Warri and Kaduna refineries.
Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg on the sidelines of the 9th OPEC International Seminar in Vienna, Austria, Ojulari said NNPC is in the process of reassessing its refinery strategies, with plans to conclude the review by the end of the year.
“So refineries, we made quite a lot of investment over the last several years and brought in a lot of technologies. We’ve been challenged,” he said.
“Some of those technologies have not worked as we expected so far. But also, as you know, when you’re refining a very old refinery that has been abandoned for some time, what we’re finding is that it’s becoming a little bit more complicated.
“So we’re reviewing all our refinery strategies now. We hope before the end of the year, we’ll be able to conclude that review. That review may lead to us doing things slightly differently.”
When asked whether the review could result in selling the refineries, Ojulari said a sale remains a possibility.
“But what we’re saying is that sale is not out of the question. All the options are on the table, to be frank, but that decision will be based on the outcome of the reviews we’re doing now,” he said.
Ojulari also addressed the cost of oil production in Nigeria, stating that operating expenses range between $20 and $30 per barrel.
“For the cost of crude production, there’s a capital cost and there are the operating costs,” he said.
“The operating cost right now in Nigeria is hovering over $20 per barrel, which is quite high.
“Part of that is because of the investment we’ve had to make in terms of security of our pipelines, which as you know, today we have 100 percent availability of our pipelines. That came out of significant investment.
“So we believe with time, with stability, that cost will start going down, but for now it’s somewhere between $25 and $30 a barrel.”
Looking ahead, Ojulari said NNPC aims to increase Nigeria’s oil output to 1.9 million barrels per day (bpd) by the end of the year.
By Eric Elezuo
A group, Centre for Justice Mercy and Reconciliation (CJMR), has called on the governor of Ekiti State, Abiodun Oyebanji, and other well meaning Nigerians, to come to the aid of a female inmate at the Ibara Custodial Centre, Rashidat Abdul, who is reported to be in critical health condition, and needs urgent medical attention.
The deteriorating health of the said inmate, was reported by officers at the Custodial Centre to the Centre for Justice Mercy and Reconciliation (CJMR), a grassroots organization focusing on human rights and access to justice for those deprived of their rights on death row and in detention.
Speaking with The Boss, the Coordinator of the group, Hezekiah Deboboye Olujobi said, “Upon seeing the woman’s health condition during our visit to Ibara, we pleaded that she be transferred to a hospital where she could receive the necessary medical care. Despite concerns about the financial burden, we took this step of faith to save her life. She is now admitted to Ogun State Hospital, Abeokuta.”
Narrating the genesis of the inmate’s ordeal, Olujobi added that “Rashidat Abdul was sentenced to death by the Ado Ekiti State High Court. She appealed the judgment, but her appeal was unsuccessful. The court convicted the entire family based solely on the testimony of one individual relying on third-party information, without the presence of the alleged witness in court. It is also important to note that her son had just sat for his WAEC examination before their arrest.
“We submitted appeals to the Ekiti State Board of Mercy in September last year and again in March 2025, but these pleas have yet to receive the attention of the Ekiti State Governor. We have conducted a thorough review of the court records, including the brief of argument before the Court of Appeal, and we can see the innocence of this woman and her husband. While the appeal is still pending before the Supreme Court, we are appealing to the human and Christian conscience of the Attorney General of Ekiti State, Hon. Dayo Apata, to look into this case. God delights in true justice and mercy; God hates oppression, so must we.
“The critical state of this woman’s health calls for urgent attention from concerned individuals in Nigeria and abroad. The officer in the prison maintains transparency in this matter, and we are committed to doing the same.
“This morning, 9/7/2025, I received a message from the officer informing us that the funds we deposited have been exhausted. There is an urgent need to purchase injections costing ₦10,000 each daily, conduct X-rays and a series of tests from time to time, engage a caregiver and physiotherapist, provide feeding, and buy supplements to aid her recovery. Additionally, payment for the hospital bed space is required, along with a stipend for transportation for the security personnel on guard and other logistics.”
The group therefore, is appealing to the governor of Ekiti State, Oyebanji and other well meaning Nigerians to come to the woman’s aid so as to preserve her life.
“We kindly ask for your support to respond to this urgent call. Although Rashidat is a Muslim, our service to humanity transcends religion.
“We understand that some who have been deceived in the past may find it difficult to trust those genuinely committed to serving others, and those involved in fraudulent activities may be reluctant to support genuine efforts.
“However, this is the very mission our Lord Jesus Christ has called us to fulfill. We earnestly seek your support.
“Thank you for your kindness and generosity,” Olujobi pleaded on behalf of Rashidat and the group.
For donations and more information, please visit the website: [https://www.cjmr.com.ng](https://www.cjmr.com.ng)
Account Details:
Centre for Justice Mercy and Reconciliation
Zenith Bank
Account Number: 1012189729
Phone: 08030488093
During the price hike, marketers stated that the product was sold at N960 and N980 in the far north because of the distance.
However, as crude prices fell below $70 last week, the pump prices of PMS also declined. Crude prices had crashed because Israel and Iran stopped bombing each other, alleviating fears of a supply disruption in the Middle East.
As of Tuesday, many filling stations sold petrol below N900 per litre in Lagos and Ogun States.
PUNCH Online reports that the filling stations sold petrol at rates ranging from N875 to N890 a litre.
A marginal drop is expected in the price of the product at the pumps.
