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Food for Living: Let’s Raise a Glass As GLOEMI Celebrates First Anniversary
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
Today, I crave your indulgence to take you through the journey of one of the best things that have happened to me in the last one year; I mean the conception of Global Empowerment and Mentoring Initiative (GLOEMI) Inc, the Initiative which I founded and presently preside over its affairs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when the whole world was distressed and unsettled, I spent my own lockdown period to invent an idea which every time I think about it or look at how fair we are navigating the path, I am always delighted with the world I am building.
Many people are still counting their losses orchestrated by the lockdowns that accompanied the pandemic. But for me, I am celebrating a global greatness; a conception that becomes the incipience to living a life that will outlive me, extend my own little sense of worth to illuminate hope in the broken youth, and the mature, who need alignment and fulfillment by helping them to fashion their dreams in order to unleash their potentials.
Several times, I have been asked how I was able to create a global brand that communicates hope and simplicity. My response is just that I am a person that dwells too much on my intuitive strength, and I don’t think it has ever failed me. The combinations of colors – White, Black and Green – you will find on GLOEMI’s logo are sometimes misconceived to represent Africa and Nigeria. For the purpose of clarity, the colors represent what GLOEMI stands for – transforming people’s mind – the motives for GLOEMI’s birth – inspiring people to live a worthy and exemplary life – and the values GLOEMI holds – to bring ease to the process of how people discover themselves.
The Green colour on the logo represents progress, life, energy, youth, service, and generosity. The Black colour symbolizes power and hope when the feeling of despair sets in; while the White colour depicts reverence, birth, light, inspiration and hope. Is it not true that no one can match the depth of your mind if you can use the power of your youth to birth wealth and fertility? It is true because, in your own growth process, you always appear renewed and reformed for others to admire.
I started GLOEMI on my own, running it on my own terms, but with the aspirations to meet the terms that have made the young generations hopeless, hapless and helpless. I envisaged how disadvantaged the youth will be left behind after the lockdowns occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. So, in my own humble response, I started my weekly Webinar titled “Design Your Destiny Series.” The Webinar has gone viral because it has captured the problems facing the youth and some other portion of the global population, through topics in various aspects of life, ranging from business, marriage, mindset, spiritual and empowerment with a focus to transform and renew the human mind.
GLOEMI centrals are programmed on Mindset Coaching, Counseling, Motivation and Mentoring, Public Speaking, Corporate Training and Empowerment, to train and equip the youth and adults on identifying their purpose in life. Our programmes have had positive effects on people’s lives in larger measure. With the feedback I have on ground, more than half of the percentage of the audience of the Design Your Destiny Series have attested to the impact the Series has made in transforming their lives.
To be sincere, those positive feedbacks gladdened my heart. But in real terms, as a rational mind, it spurs me to keep raising the bar because I always wondered how I managed to achieve that feat during an unprecedented time. It prompts me to question how far I can go during a normal time. However, I take courage in the words of Paulo Coelho, which affirmed that “God mixes shadow and light to see if the Earth has the courage to go on turning. If the Earth is not frightened by the darkness, night passes – a new sun shines the next day.”
It is the spark to live in the light of the next day, as Paulo Coelho posited, that drives me to always play my roles in my own terms when the time demands, most especially when it has to do with making people discover themselves and give them reasons to live and make a difference with their lives. I took a clue from the abject status of Nigerians, where I originated. And to consider my status as a global leader, I know then and ever that no one deserves to be referred to as a leader if he/she failed to stand out among the dubious leaders. I draw inspiration from Sulaimon Olanrewaju’s words that “…great leaders don’t kick those who are down, they help them back to their feet.”
Lifting people off the ground to rise on their feet and make their own feats in their desired fashion always gives me joy. It has become my reserved inclination to the extent that I find it difficult to turn people down when they directly make a request to me for support or when I am the one that noticed that lending my hands in support of other people’s causes can enhance the manifestation of their desired results. This is a belief drawn from Shakhti Gawain’s submission in her book titled “Living in the Light,” that “The people and things around you will reflect you in increasingly positive ways. The more light you allow within you, the brighter the world you live in will be.”
During this one-year period, GLOEMI has had her own taste of failures, too. I know some people will be glad to hear that. We have tried different approaches that couldn’t work out may be due to inadequate skills or sound knowledge of the processes which has resulted in choosing the right approach for the wrong problems. But all in all, we keep improvising by becoming more strategic and practical in our dealings. We gain more strength from Robert Kiyosaki’s allusion that “…the reason so many people fail to achieve success is because they fail to fail enough times.” We believe that when we have exhausted all failures, we will be shown our own path to monumental excellence.
Without being an ingrate, I must not end this enticing piece without appreciating every individual who has been there for us, both in cash and kinds. Despite their hectic schedules, they are always there to cheer me on my different social media platforms, and they energized GLOEMI on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @globalempowerm6. I will always appreciate you. Your presence and support are what proved to me that the human soul shines brighter when it discovers its essence. Thank you, all.
Even though I started Gloemi, the vision is to make it an institution that will outlive the founder. I will like to specially appreciate our Chief Operating Officer of Gloemi, Mr Sulyman Sodeeq Abdulakeem, who is the author The Path to Greatness. Without him and the other members who have been supporting us, we wouldn’t have attained this feat. But my greatest thanks goes to God because apart from him, we wouldn’t have the strength, wisdom and opportunity to come this far
Before I round up this glittering write-up, I want to advise you that you will encounter challenges in the quest of changing the world you have known to the world you will be renowned. Don’t give up, dare to dream, work on your dream and be the reason other people will want to live the life they have dreamed.
Let me fuel your desire through the words of my Mentor, Dr. Yomi Garnett, “Today, I dare you to dream, and then fly on the wings of your dream. I dare you to ignite that flame of attainment in you that cannot be extinguished by the mocking laughter, or the derisive snickers of even those close to you. It is only that unquenchable fire that will, in turn, ignite your hidden reserves to give you new impetus for learning, living and growing.”
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
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
There’s no doubt that human beings by nature are insatiable. When we get one opportunity, we always look for another. When we attain one height, we always look for another accomplishment. Isn’t it true that the end of one mountain is the beginning of another.
However, I don’t think it’s selfish for anyone to dare to succeed.
Being ambitious doesn’t make one an opportunist or disloyal. It all depends on one’s perception or outlook to life. It’s just natural for one to dream big. It’s only ugly when the process one chooses to achieve his desires becomes dirty and nasty.
According to a former Nigerian presidential candidate and seasoned Economist, Mr. Peter Obi, “if you must be referred to as “Your Excellency”, then the process through which you arrived in office must be excellent”.
If you desire to be reckoned with on the journey of existence, you must be legitimately hungry for success. One’s hunger for success will facilitate the drive to accomplish great tasks despite daunting obstacles posing as challenges.
When one has this mindset, one will not be bothered by the noise which serves as obstacles and challenges along the way. Negative and weak minds are always concerned on why something won’t work. They tend to focus their energy and reasons on the obstacles facing them. But great and productive minds always focus their energy on the reasons why it will work. This is the spirit of an insatiable mind who is a goal- getter.
It’s instructive to note that we can’t please everyone. According to Bill Cosby, a famous actor, “I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everyone.” Isn’t it true that when you talk, people will still talk about you, when you don’t talk, people will talk about you, so whether you talk or not, people will still judge you, so, do what’s best for you. There’s nothing you can do to please human beings. Your best option is to live your best life.
To understand how the insatiable nature of man works, one must be oneself. You don’t have to “please” anyone. Be yourself, and don’t try to be like anyone just to curry favour. It’s important to note that when you are yourself, the people that matter will come through for you, and the people that don’t matter will gradually find the bearing in another space because those that truly care don’t bother and those that bother don’t really matter in the grand scheme of things.
Life has truly taught me to focus on the important things of life as opposed to the mundane things. It’s truly sad to see people spending more time on the little things of life, and spending little time on the important things of life. That’s just a misplaced priority.
When you are yourself, the best people can do is to copy or imitate your style. They can never imitate your creativity nor can take your originality from you.
We live in a world or society where people don’t generally care or show empathy. Most people tend to live around themselves, their family, and close associates. They generally find it hard to lift a finger to assist others for reasons best known to them. Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka once said, “we live in a wicked generation”, re-echoing the voices of a lot of people of the world. Some people in authority just have criminal expertise in amassing wealth of opportunities meant for the citizens without thinking of the citizens they are meant to serve.
It’s worthy of note that not everyone will like you nor support your work, but when you find people who truly care about you; please hold them tight. This is because despite having family members you have shown love and compassion, they might not still appreciate you even if you lay your life for them, they will still find something to say. Again, this is the insatiable nature of man.
It’s okay for everyone not to like you, normalize living your life for God, yourself, family and those that care about you. If everyone likes you, you have a problem.
Did you know that you can get a new family from friends, strangers, and acquaintances? These sets of people might appreciate you more than your own family members. They might not demand or under appreciate you like your family members and close friends or associates. Any little support you give them will be highly appreciated. Their focus is to see you do better.
In conclusion, as you desire to succeed in life, never give in to failure until you have made your last attempt, and never make your last attempt until you succeed. This literally means whatever you desire, dream it, think it, say it, and believe you can achieve it. This principle is generally applicable to relationships, businesses, family, personal and professional development.
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 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.
