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Food for Living: Money is Priceless But Has Limit
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
Money is a universal language, and highly revered by all. There’s no one on earth, who can claim he doesn’t want money. Some love it. Some adore it while a whole lot of others worship it. Little wonder the Americans place a lot of premium on their dollar. An anonymous person was once quoted as saying that the ‘almighty dollar is the only object of worship’.
A famous American writer, Washington Irving, also noted that “The almighty dollar, that great object of universal devotion”. That is how much money is treasured among men. That is how much most men literally rever money.
My first mentor, who was my father, Chief Lazarus Ukazu, once said that ‘after God, money is the most important element in the world’, and there’s a limit to what people can do on earth without money.
Money operates with principles, which if followed, one will reap the fruit of his labour. Money operates with the principle of sowing and reaping. No matter how pious you are, there’s a limit of goodwill you can attract, especially if you don’t have value that will attract money to you.
The principle of money is universal. If you respect it, it will respect you; if you have value, you will attract it, and if you have good products and services as well as market them well to the right persons, you’ll attract money.
Every human being desires money because it helps to solve numerous problems if not all the problems in the world. Without money, there’s little one can do. Money helps to facilitate a lot of work and process. Without money it will be difficult to do good. Even the good Samaritan in the Bible had to use money to show love. Who knows who knows what would have happened to attacked man if the Samaritan lacked money. In fact, the Bible made it abundantly clear that “money answereth all things”.
Despite the goodness of money however, it can’t solve all of man’s problems. The use of money is limited in some situations. For instance, one might be a billionaire, but has limited authority to influence a policy. Elon Musk is regarded as the richest man on earth with an estimated net worth of $245 billion dollars according to Forbes in 2024. If he decides to run for election as Senator, Governor, or President, do you think he can win? Well, that’s a subjective analysis. The current Mayor of New York, Eric Adams wasn’t as wealthy as some of his contemporaries during the election, but he won the election. That simply explains that money has limits.
According to Dr. Yomi Garnett, an accomplished Ghost Writer, “money will buy a bed, but not sleep. It will buy food but not appetite. It will buy amusement, not happiness. It will buy a house, not a home. Whether you have plenty or a little of money, always remember that it’s only a part of you. While money is representative of God’s abundance and is not evil, one must not be dominated by it. Remember also what Paul said, Godliness with contentment is great gain”.
Did you see that money is indeed limited. There are certain things money can do and cannot do. It’s sad to see uninformed men who think money is indeed everything. Despite the resourcefulness of money, there are certain people money can’t influence. For instance, majority of ladies can be wooed and lured with money, but it’s not all ladies’ money that can attract or buy. Some ladies feel disrespected when you try to lure them with money. Don’t get me wrong; ladies generally love money, but some are not fascinated with money as their love language. Money only makes sense to this set of people if they genuinely like you.
Just like some people’s love language is words affirmation, gift, services, physical touch and time, some people’s love language is money. When they see money, they tend to lose control of their senses. It’s important to state that we are meant to control money and not money controlling us. If money controls you, then you are a slave to money. Money is good no doubt, but it should be used to solve the needs of man.
Even men are not exempted from this philosophy. It’s not all men that money can buy. While some can be bribed cheaply, some can’t be bribed. This set of great minds are governed by integrity.
Furthermore, there are people who no matter how much money you have or how close you are to them, you can’t have them to work for you. Your prayer is for them to agree to work with you. These sets of great minds have developed high capacity, competence and capability, and more importantly, they are controlled by values and principles.
It’s truly sad to see people with the mindset that with money, they can literally have their way. These sets of people truly lack understanding because if they have understanding, they will realize that money is like air or fan. It will rotate to whoever it desires. Just like rain is everywhere, so it’s money everywhere. One just needs to know how to attract it in addition to making it work for you. In the same manner, a fan blows on everybody by rotating. Some, if you have money today, it can leave you and visit another person. So, if you don’t manage it well, it will leave you and visit who will appreciate it.
Money works like respect, if you respect it, it will respect you, if you treat it with disdain, it will respond accordingly.
To understand how the limitation of money works, one must have contentment. It is with contentment one will understand how to humble money. This is because contentment makes a poor man rich, while greed makes a rich man poor. Isn’t it true that one of the secrets of happiness is deriving joy in what you have as opposed to wishing for what you don’t have.
In conclusion, no doubt the importance of money is priceless, however, we must be mindful of the passion, interest and desires we have for money. When we have excess desires, it can lead to overzealousness and when we have it in moderation, we will derive fulfillment and joy.
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
News
‘He Died a Natural Death’ – Katsina Govt Announces Death of Gen Rabe Abubakar in Kidnappers’ Captivity
A Retired Major-General and former Director of Defence Information, Rabe Abubakar, is dead.
According to the Katsina state government, Abubakar died in bandits’ captivity.
The retired major-general and his wife were abducted in May while travelling through Katsina.
On June 6, a video showing Abubakar and his wife appealing to the Katsina government for the release of detained bandits and livestock surfaced online.
A statement on Saturday by Nasiru Mu’azu, commissioner for internal security and home affairs, said Abubakar died from complications of diabetes and hypertension.
“It is with profound sadness that we confirm the General’s death while in bandits’ captivity,” the statement reads.
“Despite the relentless and concerted efforts of the State Government and various Security Agencies to secure his safe release, the situation ended in this tragedy.
“The deceased Retired General died a natural death from complications of diabetes and hypertension.
“His abduction and subsequent death are not only a loss to his family and Katsina State but a monumental loss to the entire country.
“His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Katsina State Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, PhD, CON, extends his deepest condolences to the family of the late General and the country at-large.
“The Governor has described this incident as a “dark moment” and a reminder of the urgent need for a collective and intensified front against the criminal elements threatening the peace of our communities.”
The Katsina government added that it remains committed to working with the federal government and security forces to ensure that those responsible for the heinous act are brought to justice.
“We assure the citizens of Katsina State that our resolve to eliminate banditry and ensure the safety of all residents remains unshaken,” the statement added.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family during this difficult time. May the soul of the departed Retired Major General Rabe Abdulakdir rest in eternal peace.”
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
The power in a name, or inspiration and influence they come with, when properly triggered and applied, cannot be overestimated. Influence and name are powerful, and run pari passu. This is because in the journey of life, there are certain heights one can’t attain even with their resources. And that’s where ‘names’ and influence come in.
One might have all the grades, skills, and knowledge, but getting an opportunity might be difficult. Imagine having a good grade in school, but can’t find a commensurate job. As a matter of fact, someone with less qualification and experience might get the job simply because a man of influence endorsed their candidacy. That’s why the saying; ‘a good name is better than riches’ is tantamount to a man with access to power is more influential than a man with knowledge but no access.
For one to succeed in our contemporary society, they need a helper who could either be a mentor, benefactor, an inspiration, or someone with influence, or all in one. All these refer to one thing – name. Names are powerful and open doors. A name can serve as an inspiration which can open doors of opportunity for anyone. I remember the day one of my mentors said to me that for his name to be on my resumè, I must earn it. That’s how powerful names can be.
To further buttress how powerful a name can be, let’s consider the following – In 2018, as a budding author, I reached out to one of my mentors, Chief Dele Momodu to give me a column to write in his online newspaper which is considered one of the biggest, if not the biggest online newspaper in Nigeria. He graciously agreed, advising me to be consistent.
Guess what, since that date, I haven’t missed a week. One may be wondering how I have been consistent,; well the answer is not far fetched, I couldn’t imagine failing Chief Dele Momodu. I couldn’t imagine producing articles that are below standard. In all sincerity, assuming someone else without a big name gave me the opportunity, maybe, I wouldn’t have taken it very seriously like I did for Chief Dele Momodu. This goes to tell you names are powerful.
Can you imagine working for the President of the United States of America or Elon Musk? One will almost be perfect. The same energy and detailed attention one pays to President Trump or Elon Musk will be different if given an opportunity to work for an elected council man or a businessman. This is because one would not like to risk a lifetime opportunity to serve with a man of influence.
The importance of inspiration in the life of a progressive man cannot be overemphasized. Everyone needs inspiration. Inspiration can come from various angles. It can be from a benefactor, mentor, teacher, parent, friend, a Minister of the gospel, or even one’s child.
Let me share a personal experience I had with another of my mentors – Dr. Joe Abah. In 2025, he organized #fitseptember physical exercise where he advised his followers to do a 30 push for the month of September. Again, in January, he organized #fitjanuary and I actively participated in it, and since then I haven’t missed one single day without exercising for at least ten minutes. Why is this analysis important? The name Dr. Joe Abah is a household name in Nigeria social-political space. Assuming it was a regular person who made the announcement on X, the comment wouldn’t have attracted the kind of attention that made it go viral.
Furthermore, it is worthy of note that there are five kinds of authority when it comes to principle of power in a name. They are; Revealed knowledge, empirical knowledge, rational knowledge, intuitive knowledge and authoritative knowledge. The focus here is on authoritative knowledge.
One may be wondering what authoritative knowledge is. This is a kind of knowledge reserved for those who have expertise on a particular issue or subject matter expert. When such a person speaks, their words are like law.
Let’s talk about men of influence. Men of influence are priceless. According to Apostle Joshua Selman, there are four kinds of destiny helpers: Divine Connectors, Men of Influence, Gifted People, and Burden Bearers. For the sake of this article, I will focus on men of influence. These are gatekeepers, mentors, or established experts with high credibility. Their endorsement or advocacy can override limitations, grant you access to closed doors, and elevate your trajectory.
In summary, honor men, but fear God because men are vessels God uses to bless people and humanity.
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 and Unleash Your Destiny . He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
The Senate, on Thursday, directed the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to intensify efforts to track, identify and arrest bandits and terrorists, who openly flaunt their activities and wealth on social media platforms.
The upper chamber said the growing trend of criminal groups operating openly online and displaying proceeds of crime without fear of arrest poses a serious threat to national security and undermines public confidence in the authority of the State.
The resolution followed a debate on a motion sponsored by Senator Sunday Karimi (Kogi West) on the worsening security situation in Kogi West Senatorial District and other parts of the country.
Contributing to the debate, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) expressed concern over what she described as the increasing boldness of bandits and terrorists, alleging that some criminal groups now use social media platforms to showcase their operations and distribute large sums of money.
According to her, suspected bandits recently conducted a giveaway on TikTok, allegedly distributing more than N100 million within 30 minutes through their social media accounts.
She argued that such activities provide security agencies with sufficient digital footprints and intelligence leads to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.
“Bandits and terrorists who carry out these activities live on their social media handles,” Akpoti-Uduaghan said.
“Two days ago on TikTok, bandits conducted a giveaway, distributing over N100 million within the space of 30 minutes through their social media handles.
“I wonder why the Cybercrime Unit and the Police Force generally cannot track these activities and apprehend them since they are on social media.”
Her proposal that the Nigerian Police Force National Cybercrime Centre and other relevant agencies should intensify surveillance of social media platforms and prosecute criminals who openly advertise their activities online received overwhelming support from lawmakers and was seconded by Senator Osita Ngwu (Enugu West).
Responding, Senate President Godswill Akpabio condemned the public display of criminal exploits and huge sums of money on social media, describing it as a direct challenge to the authority of government and security institutions.
“The DSS should be able to track their movements and arrest them because this is a show of impunity, as if there is no law at all,” Akpabio said.
He noted that the online display of cash and criminal activities was designed to ridicule government efforts and create the impression that security agencies were powerless.
“I do not see why we should not have control over the social media space. That idea of showing themselves, showing the cash collected and displaying it is a way of challenging government,” he added.
Akpabio urged heads of security agencies to treat the issue as a major national security concern and take immediate action against those involved.
He further warned that the Senate would demand explanations from relevant authorities whenever individuals who openly reveal their identities and activities online are not apprehended.
The debate arose from Senator Karimi’s motion drawing attention to the escalating wave of terrorist attacks, kidnappings and killings across communities in Kogi West Senatorial District.
Karimi lamented that armed groups had turned several communities into theatres of violence, forcing residents to flee their homes while disrupting economic, social and educational activities.
He cited the recent attack on Iluke-Bunu in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, where gunmen reportedly invaded a secondary school and attempted to abduct students writing the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination.
According to him, the attack claimed the lives of the school’s vice principal, a teacher and another resident.
The senator also recounted a series of kidnappings and killings across Kabba/Bunu, Ijumu, Yagba West, Lokoja and Kogi local government areas, warning that insecurity in the district was worsening and required urgent intervention.
Following deliberations, the Senate adopted a series of resolutions aimed at tackling the deteriorating security situation across the country.
The lawmakers called on President Bola Tinubu, the Inspector-General of Police and the National Assembly to urgently work towards establishing an appropriate legal framework for the creation of state police.
The Senate also urged the Federal government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to strengthen the implementation of cashless transaction policies as part of efforts to curb ransom payments and other criminal financial activities.
It further called on the Federal Ministry of Interior and the Nigerian Immigration Service to tighten border security and surveillance to stem the influx of arms and the movement of terrorists and other criminal elements into the country.
The upper chamber equally advised State governments against negotiating or entering peace agreements with terrorists and armed bandits, maintaining that such arrangements have often failed to produce lasting solutions and, in some cases, emboldened criminal groups.
