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Food for Living: Knowledge is the New Gold
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
In contemporary times, the world has come to the realization of a new type of education that is different from the formal knowledge we are exposed to. Ordinarily, there are two types of education: formal education and informal information. Formal education is the education we receive in the classroom which is well-structured while informal education is the education we receive from our parents, friends, peers, community, etc. This kind of knowledge is not structured.
But amidst this form of knowledge, there’s a new form of knowledge called personal development, which I call the new gold. To me, this is the highest form of knowledge. You may be wondering why I said, so. With other forms of knowledge, it’s either taught or acquired, and earned with conscious and deliberate effort. But with the personal development knowledge, you are not only intentional in acquiring it, you are also deliberate in acquiring the knowledge. This is because nobody is teaching you, neither are you learning indirectly from your parents or environment, but rather you have made a decision not to remain where you are. You decided it’s high time, you took your destiny into your hands.
With personal development knowledge, you go all out. You don’t wait for the information or knowledge to come to your doorstep, rather you step out of your comfort zone because you have the passion and interest in the industry. With this form of education, you’re able to create opportunities where there is none.
There are many examples of great people who have experienced this form of knowledge. For example, Abraham Lincoln, a lawyer, and former U.S. president who finished one year of formal schooling, self-taught himself trigonometry, and read on his own to become a lawyer; Andrew Carnegie, an industrialist and philanthropist, and one of the first mega-billionaires in the US, who was an elementary school dropout; Andrew Jackson, former U.S. president, general, attorney, judge, congressman, who was home-schooled and became a practicing attorney by the age of 35; Justin Moskovitz, multi-millionaire co-founder of Facebook, who was a Harvard dropout. Mark Zuckerberg, also a co-founder of Facebook, dropped out of Harvard University.
Henry Ford, the billionaire founder of Ford Motor Company, did not attend college. Francois Pinault, the third-richest man in France quit high school in 1947 to work at his father’s lumber mill. One reason he quit school was because his classmates made fun of his poor background. Billy Joel once said, “If I’m not going to Columbia University, I’m going to Columbia Records and you don’t need a high school diploma over there.” He said this after learning he had fallen one credit short of his high school graduation requirement in 1967. The six-time Grammy Award winner has sold more than 150 million records worldwide.
Jay-Z (Shawn Carter) may have “99 problems,” but not having a high school diploma isn’t one. The American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur is one of the most financially successful hip-hop artists in America. In May 2016, Forbes estimated Jay Z’s net worth at $610 million. He is one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time, having sold more than 100 million records while receiving 21 Grammy Awards for his musical works, as well as numerous additional nominations.
Carter grew up in one of Brooklyn’s roughest housing projects, dealing drugs before turning to hip hop. In 1995, Carter took his first single to Def Jam Records, the company he ended up running from 2004 until 2007. In 2008, he signed a 10-year, $150 million deal with Live Nation that gave him control over his records, tours, and endorsement deals with companies like Dell and Budweiser.
Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Atlantic Airline is the son of a barrister and a flight attendant. He dropped out of Stowe School at age 16 to start an arts and culture magazine called Student. In 1970, at age 20, he founded a mail-order record retailer called Virgin. He later opened a record shop and recording studio, which became a retail chain, Virgin Records, and record company, Virgin Music. His Virgin Group empire now includes 200 companies in 30 countries, spanning airlines, music festivals, mobile companies, and other businesses. Today Branson owns two private Caribbean islands, Necker and Mosquito, and has an estimated net worth of $5.8 billion as of 2021, according to Forbes.
Do you notice anything about these successful people, they were all self-taught, they didn’t wait for anyone to give them an opportunity, rather they did what they have to do in order to acquire the kind of knowledge, wealth, or position they were aiming for. But the most interesting part of them is that they acquired knowledge which made a difference for them. That’s why I call personal development knowledge the new gold.
The truth is that knowledge is priceless. In philosophy, we are taught there are five types of knowledge; Revealed knowledge, which is the type of knowledge that was revealed to those who wrote the Bible; Empirical knowledge, which is knowledge based on investigation, observation, experimentation or experience, as opposed to Theoretical knowledge, which is based on logical or mathematical assumptions; Rational knowledge, which is the kind of knowledge that is normally used in solving rational problems like logical reasoning; Authoritative knowledge, which is the knowledge one is normally exposed to due to the expertise a person has attained in a particular field of life, and Intuitive knowledge, which is the knowledge one gets from his innate nature which is devoid of reason or logic. It springs up spontaneously when you are faced with an unexpected situation like an accident or a crisis that needs a quick response.
Why am I saying these? When you spend your time acquiring knowledge, you are opening up yourself for new opportunities. The more you know, the more you earn, and the more you earn, the more you are respected. Do you see why knowledge is the new gold?
Acquiring this form of knowledge is not really hard, all that is necessary is for you to decide and then take action. With the advent of technology, knowledge is literally at our disposal. We can learn anything on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, google plus, Pinterest, Udemy Skillshare Coursera EdX Udacity Pluralsight, etc. Despite the availability of these learning platforms, it’s quite unfortunate to see that many people have failed to take advantage of this learning opportunity to change their lives.
According to Anne Scavotto, Knowledge is power. Without a goal, it is only an idea. Without a plan, it is only information. Without implementation, it is only a resource for the future! We have a choice: to be complacent with our present situation or to be temporarily uncomfortable with the unknown and institute change in our lives! “
Even when we agree that knowledge is power, knowledge is information in the real sense, it is the application of this knowledge that gives you the power. If you know something, but don’t make conscious effort to apply it, there will be no change.
In conclusion, I charge you today, to be intentional and deliberate in making a conscious effort to acquire knowledge, and information that will add value to your life. This type of knowledge must be the one that appeals to you. In order to acquire this knowledge, you can get mentors, coaches, or even peers who can play resourceful roles in this area because at the end of the day, knowledge is the new gold.
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 Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, has ordered the removal of speed bumps on the country’s highways to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion on major roads.
Umahi gave the directive during a two-day Retreat for Federal Ministry of Works Highway Engineers and Managerial Staff on Friday in Abuja.
The retreat with the theme “Ensuring Delivery of Mr President‘s Agenda on Road Infrastructural Development,” was organised by the ministry.
The minister said the order to dismantle the speed bumps was necessary because some were haphazardly done causing accidents and elongating travel time.
“I came through one of the federal routes and for a journey that is supposed to last like one hour within that stretch, it lasted like three hours because every 20 metres you will see a bump.
“Although there is nothing wrong with speed bumps in certain designated locations. But there is an approved technical design for bumps.
“There are also allowable locations for bumps and that is what we want to do. So the National Assembly has directed that these speed bumps should be dismantled.”
Umahi said the ministry had noticed some speed bumps were a menace and causing multiple accidents and deaths.
“Some speed bumps are high, touching the bottom plates of vehicles; that is not desirable. It defeats the aim.
“So, this is what we are saying; and that is what the National Assembly is saying; the ministry as well as motorists want them to dismantle it.”
Umahi said subsequently for any speed bump to be constructed, applications would be made to controllers for the locations through the Permanent Secretary and to the minister for approval after meeting technical compliance.
He added that there must also be a safe side distance of not less than 100 metres and warning for motorists to beware.
Speaking on infrastructure development, Umahi said President Bola Tinubu’s massive infrastructure development is aimed at providing the much needed impetus to stimulate the economy and improve the lives of the citizenry.
He therefore, said the retreat is aimed at educating participants to properly understand the president’s renewed hope agenda with specific reference to road infrastructure development among others.
The Minister of State for Works, Mr Bello Goronyo, commended the president’s infrastructure development agenda, saying that it was putting smiles on the faces of Nigerians.
“Let me urge you to use the knowledge that you will acquire today in ensuring that you come up to speed with the modern technologies and innovation so that our country will be better in terms of roads, infrastructure.
“Without the road infrastructure, there cannot be economic growth, and there cannot be prosperity,” he said.
The permanent secretary in the ministry, Olufunso Adebiyi, said the Federal Road Safety Corps’ record revealed that accidents were traceable to reckless driving, drunk driving, disregard for road instructions and unauthorised crossing of the road among others.
“It may surprise you that the percentage of accidents caused by bad roads were less than 10 per cent.
“The bad roads are traceable to inefficiency on the part of the engineers, poor supervision of our road works among others.”
Adebiyi urged the engineers to step up and curb some of the irregularities, noting that the ministry was committed to building their capacity to deliver on the administration’s agenda.
The Chairmen, Senate and House Committees on Works reiterated their commitment to supporting the ministry to deliver on its mandate.
By Henry Ukazu
Greetings Destiny Friends,
We are all familiar with the Law of karma, which implies that every action has consequences, or that whatever a person does comes back to them. It’s also known as the law of cause and effect, which means for any action, there’s usually a corresponding consequence.
This has a close resemblance to a foremost scientist, Isaac Newton’s theory, the Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation, which states that “whatever goes up must come down”.
The principle and ideology behind these laws and principles are centered on the principle of life that stays, the way you lay your bed that’s the way you will lay on it. The question we need to ask ourselves is what seeds are we sowing? It’s instructive to note that nobody plants an orange seed and reaps a mango fruit, nor can a watermelon seed produce a pineapple fruit.
The principle of sowing and reaping is sacrosanct. It is whatever one sows that they will reap. This principle is universal. When you sow a seed, you might not get the result immediately, but you will get it in due time by and by.
As a man, when you treat your spouse with love and affection, you will surely get a reciprocal from her, and as a woman there’s the tendency to reciprocate a support from a partner, especially when he is down. These are laws that work with conscience and heart of gratitude of the recipient. No doubt, common sense entails one does the needful.
As a business owner, when you invest in your company and staff, you are bound to reap the fruits in due time. As a parent, when you invest in your children’s good home training and quality education, you’ll be glad for the foundation you laid at your old age.
As a progressive mind, when you invest in reading books, building sustainable relationships, networking, learning skills and adding value to your life, updating and upgrading your life via personal development, you are bound to reap the fruits of your labour.
The challenge most people have is that they haven’t taken time to learn, nor have they taken time to sow the seeds that will create opportunity for them. Some people are just comfortable with begging or looking for parasitic opportunities where they haven’t invested time and resources. Some people are even entitled to someone’s work just because they are friends, family or have a form of relationship. This shouldn’t be the case. As human beings, it’s important for one to be intentional and strategic. Nobody likes to be “used”, rather people like to give value to their time and money.
It is important to note that any seed one sows today, will produce the fruit they will either eat or need tomorrow. In my personal development journey, I was a little bit confused on how I wanted to execute my vision. Because I lacked the right mentors to strategically guide and inspire me, I began to live my life based on experience with no set plan.
In some cases I failed, and in some cases I was able to make an impact. However, one thing is certain, I was moving in the direction I needed by being at the right events and meeting the right people. In the course of time, I began to see myself gaining clarity about my interest. Overtime, I had mentors who were instrumental in guiding and strategically positioning me in the right direction.
When I look back in retrospect, I can only give God the glory because the little works and skills I invested in my life have gradually begun to pay back. The moral here is that I sowed the seeds I am reaping today. It took a while, but it finally came through. This experience has shown me one can get to any height in life, in addition to getting recognition when one is consistent, intentional and passionate about a cause.
Whether you are a boxer, teacher, singer, athlete, journalist, lawyer, coach, writer or minister of the gospel, please do it diligently, and if what you are doing is your purpose in life, the universe has a way of conspiring with you to get to the top.
When people say someone is lucky, blessed, privileged, smart, highly connected to a mentor, or resource person, they are just crafting words of art to describe or qualify their point just to convey a message. This is because though all these words might play a role, if one has not taken a time to do the work, the required opportunity will not pop out and even if they pop out, and one is not destined for the opportunity, the corresponding blessings will not come.
The question we need to ask ourselves is what are we doing with our lives? What seeds are we sowing for the blessings and opportunities we are hoping to get. In my native belief in law, there’s a latin maxim that says “Nemo dat quod non habet” which translates to ‘you can’t give what you don’t have’. This is the reality of many people. They want money, but don’t want to work. They want opportunities but don’t want to intern or serve in probono capacity. They want favours just because they are related or have a kind of relationship with someone, and therefore, automatically believe it will rub off on them without them giving substantiated reasons why they need support. These sets of people believe wealth is sexually transmitted.
I can go on and on, but as a sage will say, a word is enough for the wise.
In conclusion, as you journey through life, always remember that whatever you sow has a way of coming back to you, if not today, in your old age, or transmuted to your children. Just like when you assist your boss in saving money, tomorrow when you have a company, your employees will pay you back without you knowing it’s the deed you invested many years ago. As a single man or lady, when you derive joy in sleeping with married women or men, just know that you will get a corresponding visit in due time.
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 Your and Unleash Your Destiny . He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
A Lagos State High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square on the Island has acquitted and discharged the “Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate” in the State, Frederick Nwajagu on allegations of terrorism.
Justice Yetunde Adesanya held that the prosecution, the Lagos State Government could not prove the offence of terrorism against him beyond any reasonable doubt.
The court, however, found him guilty of parading himself as a titled chief in Lagos, contrary to the Oba and Chiefs Law of Lagos State, an offence for which he was consequently sentenced to one year imprisonment, without an option of fine.
But Justice Adesanya held that since Nwajagu has been in the Correctional Centre for over two years for the alleged offence while the trial lasted, he would be allowed to go home, as he has already served more than the jail term stipulated for the offence.
Eze Fredrick Nwajagu, aged 67, was arrested on April 1, 2023, following a viral video in which he allegedly threatened to invite members of the Indigenous People Of Biafra to Lagos to secure properties of Igbo people living in the state.
In the 49-second viral video, Nwajago was heard saying, “IPOB, we will invite them. They have no job. All of the IPOB will protect all of our shops. And we have to pay them. We have to mobilise for that. We have to do that. We must have our security so that they will stop attacking us at midnight, in the morning, and in the afternoon.”
On April 5, Nwajagu was docked before the Magistrate court by the police on a two-count charge of conspiracy and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.
The police prosecutor, SP Thomas Nurudeen, told the court that the Eze Ndigbo and some others at large committed the offences on March 26 at No. 2, Akeem Shitu St., Ajao Estate, Lagos State.
He alleged that Nwajagu put fear in Lagos residents when he threatened to bring IPOB to the State. Nwajagu was also said to have publicly stated that IPOB would shut Lagos State for one month.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
On May 6, Chief Magistrate Peter Nwaka, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1million with 4 sureties, all of whom must be resident in Lagos.
The court also ordered that one of the sureties must own a property in Lagos which must be registered with the land bureau and which documents must be deposited with the court.
But he was unable to meet the bail conditions and remained in custody.
On May 9, 2023, Nwajagu was arraigned by the Lagos State Government on a nine-count charge bordering on attempts to commit Acts of Terrorism under Section 403(2) of the Criminal law of Lagos State, 2015; Participation in Terrorism Meeting to Support a Proscribed Entity, Attempt to finance an Act of Terrorism, Preparation to Comit an Act of Terrorism under Sections 12(c), 18, 21, 29 & 12(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022, amongst others.
The Defendant pleaded not guilty to all the nine counts and trial was adjourned to July 4, 2024.
During trial, one of the prosecution’s witnesses, Raulat Ibrahim told the court that Eze-Ndigbo was not a recognised Chieftaincy title in Lagos State.
The witness who is a civil servant at the Ministry of Local Governments, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Developments, narrated to the court the processes involved in confirming a chieftaincy title in Lagos State.
The witness said that the procedure was governed by the Obas and Chiefs Law of Lagos State, 2015.
She noted that there was no Oba or any recognised chief in Ajao Estate.
The witness explained that for the Obas, the local government will forward the requirement letter to the ministry and then they will send it to Ministry of Justice, where it will be forward to the Lagos state standing tribunal enquiry for chieftaincy matters.
She stated that the standing tribunal publishes the name in the national newspaper, and interested parties will join the tribunal.
“After it has been resolved, the file will be sent back to our ministry for further processing. Then we start all over again to the ministry of justice to the governor’s office etc. Then the ministry will now issue a letter of approval. On the installation day, a certificate of issue will be sent by the Governor for approval, then the ministry will install the Oba.
“The letter of approval will be signed by the permanent secretary of the ministry. There is no installation for Chief. It’s the letter that shows his recognition as a chief in Lagos State,” Ibrahim said.
Ibrahim also told the court that the defendant did not parade himself as Elegushi of Ikate, Baale of Addo nor any of the recognised chiefs.
