Metro
Food for Living: Seasons of Blessings
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
There is nothing that brings joy to the heart more than success. Success is the result of smart and hard work. It is the best response you can give your detractors. Everyone of us has experienced a fair share of failures, disappointments, and corresponding success in life’s journey. However, one thing is certain, no good deeds come easy. You must put in the work; mentally, physically, spiritually, financially, and other corresponding ingredients of success necessary to make any endeavour a success.
As a student, your season of blessings will arrive when you have done all that is conditionally expected of you to receive any degree or certificate from any academic institution. As an entrepreneur, you must have put the systems and structures in place in your business in addition to doing the work by being consistent in your craft before you can receive the blessing that comes with hard work. As a married couple, you must have portrayed a lot of patience by being tolerant with your spouse’s excesses in the process of understanding him/her before you can enjoy a decade, silver, or golden jubilee of marriage. The list is literally endless.
As an individual, it is generally expected of one to be sad when you invest your time in your business, academic, marriage, etc., and at the end of the day, you either fail or don’t get the commensurate reward. As a rational progressive being, there are alternatives to thinking through the situation. How about you see them as an experience? When you do so, you will realize that you didn’t lose anything rather you learned patience, a better way of doing things, and more importantly, you can console yourself with the notion that your season of blessings has not arrived.
What most people fail to understand is that everything in life has a season; a time to sow and a time to reap, a time to read and a time to play, a time to mourn, and a time to celebrate. What’s important is that everything in life has a season.
Whenever you do your best and you don’t get the desired result, you don’t have to be hard on yourself, rather appreciate the fact that you have done your best and maybe your best is suitable or good enough for the decision-makers at the time in question. A lot of variable factors may be at stake. It might even be that the people who are supposed to appreciate your work are yet to see your work. It’s just like when a marketer is trying to sell a product to the wrong target audience, no matter how good the product is, the product will not be appreciated. As a matter of fact, the person won’t see the value in your product. But when you market a product for the right person, the product might appear irresistible regardless of the price and when the product is appreciated, your season of blessing will manifest.
It’s quite unfortunate to note that sometimes when our desires or expectations are not met, we tend to attribute it to other factors like negative forces, friends, government, bosses, etc. In as much as there may be other factors which can, or may contribute to the failure of a project, the point of interest here is that when we fail, we always find a way to give an excuse, but if we have succeeded, the excuse won’t rear its ugly head. No wonder it is said that failure is an orphan while success has many friends.
To understand the concept of seasons of blessings, let’s take the case study of an uninformed newly married couple, whose marriage has been experiencing financial challenges, and the crisis is threatening to break the marriage if proper care is not applied. What the couple might not know is that every marriage has its own peculiar challenges and they come in different forms. Some challenges come in their first, five, ten, or even twenty years of marriage, while some blessings come in their first, five, ten, or even twenty years of marriage. So, it’s imperatively important for one to think out of the box when these challenges rear their ugly heads.
The same principle is applicable in business and life generally. Each of us must go through challenges in one way or another, and one way to overcome the challenges is to have faith in the future by being optimistic that your season of blessings is on course. I liken the season of blessing to someone who has done the work but waiting for the product to be harvested.
In conclusion, no matter what you are experiencing in life, be mindful of the fact that everything has its season. Be patient and keep working on your craft. Be advised that whatever has not arrived yet, is not meant to arrive or maybe you haven’t developed the capacity to receive it. Always be grateful for what you didn’t receive yet because what you didn’t receive might have prevented you from danger. To put this illustration in perspective, you may be praying for wealth or opportunity and when you receive the wealth, during the process of enjoying the wealth, it might lead to your demise. For instance, you might decide to travel either by road or flight and an accident or crash might happen, but assuming you were a in commercial vehicle, that ugly situation may not have occurred. Again, you may be praying for an opportunity to serve in government, and when you get the opportunity to serve, you may be a target for evil people who may not like the policies you stand for, and if proper care is not applied you might lose your life or close family member.
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He’s a Human Capacity & mindset coach. He’s also a 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
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Lagos has scheduled February 27 for the arraignment of Gbolahan Obanikoro, the son of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, and four other individuals over alleged conspiracy, obtaining by false pretenses, and involvement in a N1,356,057,330.43 billion fraud.
Others to be arraigned alongside Obanikoro are: Adejare Adegbenro, 51; Balmoral International Limited; M.O.B. Integrated Limited; and DDSS International Company Limited.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa set the date on Friday after the defendants failed to appear for their scheduled arraignment.
The Inspector General of Police, through the Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) in Ikoyi, Lagos, has accused all the defendants of conspiring between May and September 2013 to fraudulently obtain the sum of N1,356,057,330.43 from Access Bank Plc (formerly Diamond Bank). They allegedly misrepresented themselves to the bank’s staff and officers, claiming they were involved in the business of importing cars from Dubai for sale in Nigeria, and that the money was needed to finance the importation of a set of brand-new cars for resale.
The defendants are also accused of converting, transferring, retaining, or taking possession of the funds, knowing or having reason to know that such funds were proceeds of unlawful activity. Additionally, they are alleged to have unlawfully converted the sum of N1 billion belonging to the bank for personal use.
At the hearing on Friday, prosecutor M.Y. Bello informed the court that the matter was scheduled for the arraignment of all defendants. However, he requested a new date to allow all the defendants to appear in court and take their pleas.
Counsel for the defendants, Joshua A., explained that his clients were not in the country. He added that only the companies named in the charge had been served with the charge sheet. He assured the court that all defendants would be present at the next adjourned date to take their pleas.
In light of these submissions, Justice Lewis-Allagoa adjourned the matter to February 27 for the arraignment of all the defendants.
The five-count charge against the defendants reads: “That you, Adejare Adegbenro, Gbolahan Obanikoro, Balmoral International Limited, M.O.B. Integrated Limited, DDSS International Company Ltd, and other directors of the companies (now at large), between May and September 2013 in Lagos, with intent to defraud, conspired to commit felony, specifically obtaining money by false pretenses, and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 8(i)(a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offenses Act, No. 14 of 2006.
“That you, Adejare Adegbenro, Gbolahan Obanikoro, Balmoral International Limited, M.O.B. Integrated Limited, DDSS International Company Ltd, and other directors of the companies (now at large), between May and September 2013 in Lagos, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N1,356,057,330.43 (One Billion, Three Hundred Fifty-Six Million, Fifty-Seven Thousand, Three Hundred Thirty Naira, Forty-Three Kobo) from Diamond Bank (now Access Bank Plc) by falsely representing through its staff and officers that you and your companies were in the business of importing cars from Dubai for sale in Nigeria. Based on this false representation, the bank released the money as a loan, which you then diverted to your personal use. This action is contrary to Section 1(i)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offenses Act, No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
“That you, Adejare Adegbenro, Gbolahan Obanikoro, Balmoral International Limited, M.O.B. Integrated Limited, DDSS International Company Ltd, and other directors of the companies (now at large), between May and September 2013, in Lagos, directly or indirectly converted, transferred, retained, or took possession or control of N1,356,057,330.43 (One Billion, Three Hundred Fifty-Six Million, Fifty-Seven Thousand, Three Hundred Thirty Naira, Forty-Three Kobo) belonging to Diamond Bank (now Access Bank Plc), knowing or having reason to know that such funds were proceeds of an unlawful act. This action is contrary to Section 18(2)(b) and (d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“That you, Adejare Adegbenro, Gbolahan Obanikoro, Balmoral International Limited, M.O.B. Integrated Limited, DDSS International Company Ltd, and other directors of the companies (now at large), sometime in May 2019 in Lagos, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N1,000,000,000.00 (One Billion Naira) from Diamond Bank (now Access Bank Plc) by falsely representing through its staff and officers that you and your company, DDSS International Company, were in the business of importing cars from Dubai for sale in Nigeria. The bank released the money to you as a loan, which you subsequently diverted to the account of another company, Balmoral International Limited, to disguise the true origin of the funds. This action is contrary to Section 1(i)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offenses Act, No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
“That you, Adejare Adegbenro, Gbolahan Obanikoro, Balmoral International Limited, M.O.B. Integrated Limited, DDSS International Company Ltd, and other directors of the companies (now at large), sometime in May 2019, in Lagos, directly or indirectly converted, transferred, retained, or took possession or control of N1,000,000,000.00 (One Billion Naira) belonging to Diamond Bank (now Access Bank Plc), knowing or having reason to know that such funds were proceeds of an unlawful act. This action is contrary to Section 18(2)(b) and (d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Abuja, the nation’s federal capital, came alive with joy and excitement on Wednesday as a new set of winners in the ongoing Globacom Festival of Joy promotion received mouth-watering prizes they won at a special presentation ceremony held at the premises of Globacom at Aminu Kano Crescent.
A glittering brand new Toyota Prado, a brand new Kia Picanto, tricycles (Keke Napep) and scores of other prizes including power generating sets, sewing machines and grinding machines were handed over to joyful winners.
Sarah Ilya Madu was presented the keys to her brand-new Toyota Prado by Senator Simon Lalong, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth Development, supported by a stellar cast of celebrities and influencers.
Sarah, a federal civil servant from Borno State, who emerged winner of the Toyota Prado in the draw of the promotion held in Abuja last Friday, expressed shock when she was called up. She dropped the call from Globacom several times because the news was too good to be believed.
She said, “I was prevailed upon by my colleagues to do a video call with the Glo staff who called me. Even when I saw the office environment, I was still doubtful.” She added that when she eventually agreed to visit the Glo office, she went with a hefty colleague just in case she was being set up.
Ufot Victor, a 43-year-old businessman based in the FCT, was expectant about winning as he had been recharging regularly so as to cross the minimum requirement for a car. Winning a brand new Kia Picanto was a huge reward for his dedication.
Other lucky winners also went home with tricycles (Keke), power generating sets, sewing machines and grinding machines. Ireimiya Mallo, a SIM registration agent and native of Nasarawa State, who won Keke, said, ”I was so joyful on learning I had won a Keke”. He disclosed that he would be deploying it for commercial purpose”, while the winner of a power generating set, Felix Gabriel, thanked Globacom for always remembering Nigerians every year in its annual promos.
The Special Guest, Senator Simon Lalong, praised the Chairman of Globacom for putting the promo in place for Nigerians and also extolled his strong support for sports. He said he would love to be a winner in the Glo promo one day soon. Also Senator Yemi Adaramodu, the spokesman of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth Development, said Globacom has always been a brand after his heart, adding that the network is not just attracting customers but also giving out to show that it means well not only for the customers but also for Nigerians.
In his remarks at the event, Globacom’s Head of Division, North West, Mr. Kazeem Kaka, said that to participate in the Festival of Joy promo, new and existing subscribers should dial *611# so as to opt into the promo and to keep recharging thereafter to meet the threshold for the various prizes. He added that new subscribers can participate immediately by purchasing a new SIM, registering it and dialing *611#.
Guests at the event included representatives of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), Mariam Imam, Assistant Director, Consumer Affairs at the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Moses Iyi; comedians, Tee A, Seyi Law, and Gordons.
Others were Nollywood duo of Ebube Nwagbo and Juliet Ibrahim as well as popular content creator, Kiekie.
U.S immigration and border officials will be able to arrest migrants at so-called “sensitive” locations again, after the Trump administration overturned policies limiting where such arrests could happen.
Officers will now be able to make arrests at designated “sensitive” areas, including houses of worship, schools, and hospitals.
Officials have been prohibited from doing this since 2011.
Later, the Biden administration expanded the regulation, further restricting the authority’s powers.
“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.
“The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense.”
A second directive reinstates the ability for the U.S. to quickly deport any undocumented person arrested who is unable to prove they have been in the country for more than two years.
