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Food for Living: Stand Out
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
It’s a fact of life that everyone desires to be the best in whatever they do. Nobody wants to take the second position. Also, everyone loves the best person in any field whether it relates to health, law, artisanship, or pastoral calling. Let’s take for example; if you are sick, won’t you go to the best doctor that has the capacity to cure you? Will you say because he’s black, white, has an accent, or doesn’t look like you, for that reason, he/she won’t treat you? I guess your answer is as good as mine if you truly want to live. The reason you will require the best doctor is that you know he/she has been pronounced the best in that field. What does that tell you? It simply means he or she is unique. If you’ll agree with me, the beauty of life is originality. Or if you have a legal case that can land you in prison, won’t you go for the best lawyer if you can afford him/her? The same principle is applicable if you are interested in a skilled worker, you will go for the best without sentiment.
If you truly want to make an impact in life, you must stand out from the crowd. Standing out from the crowd is not easy, especially when you have many people struggling for your attention. But the truth is that, if you truly want to see your dreams come true, you must dare to succeed by thinking like a rational entrepreneur. According to Oscar Wilde, “Be yourself everyone is taken”.
When you decide to stand out, you’ll have many voices telling you no, hold on, you can’t make it, what are you thinking, etc. But if you really know yourself, you wouldn’t care much about what other people say because their voices and opinion don’t define you. Yes, you will hear them, but at the end of the day, you’ll be rational in making the final decision when you compare their advice and you know and feel inside of you. Trust me, if the whole world is telling you, you can something, and you know you can’t do it, you’ll fail, but if the whole world is telling you, you can’t do it and you know you can do it, you’ll succeed because he that is in you is greater than he that is in the world.
The blessings of standing out are priceless. What most people don’t know is that you can stand out without making noise, and you can command respect as opposed to seeking attention when you create a niche for yourself. When you decide to stand out, you’ll make news, not noise; you’ll attract respect as opposed to attention; you’ll appreciate love as opposed to romance; you’ll be strategic as opposed to being erratic; you’ll persuade people to believe in your ideology as opposed to arguing with them; you’ll not dominate people, rather you’ll empower them with self-confidence; you won’t follow the bandwagon because they may not be right, and most especially, you’ll seek loyalty, not royalty.
In order to stand out, you must be courageous because people may not believe you, they might even call you names or laugh at you, that’s okay. Just know that according to Mokokoma Mokhonoana, “plants are more courageous than almost all human being, an orange tree would rather die than produce lemons, whereas instead of dying the average person would rather be someone they are not.” Most people are lazy to fight for the cause they believe in.
Global achievers who have distinguished themselves stood out for what they believe. They were once victims of greater circumstances, but they never gave up. They stood their ground for their convictions. A typical example of such a great leader is the former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela fought against the apartheid laws in South Africa and he was even imprisoned for twenty-seven years. One major reason why he won the election was that the electorates believed in the cause he was fighting for.
Standing out makes your life easier, it helps original people to identify with you, but when you try to fake your personality, your true helpers will have a hard time locating you. When you stand out, your true color shines. According to Israelmore Ayivor, “If you want to miss your crown, follow the crowd. If you want to wear the crown, go alone and be yourself.”
It should be noted if you don’t stand for something, you will die for nothing. Can you imagine, if you are to leave the world today, what will you be remembered for? In this contemporary age of technology, it is very easy to decipher what a person stands for by just using a simple google search. You can also use social media to find out someone’s interest.
When you stand out, you’ll be regarded as a specialist in your field. When you stand out, you’ll endeavor to be consistent in your thoughts, words, actions. But you when you decide to play to the gallery, it won’t take time for your true colour to manifest when the vicissitudes of life hit you.
If you are passionate about a cause, you can use social media to build a platform, you can have a website, you will find it easy to collaborate and build a partnership with like minds, you’ll be authentic in your message and what you represent. This is because no one thinks exactly like you. Do you know if you decide to dance on social media, teach, entertain people, or even preach on social media, you’ll attract the right audience provided you are international and deliberate? This is one reason some people attract attention on social media; they are living their best authentic lives.
Today, I ask you, what are you willing to stand out for?
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
Remo Secondary School (RSS) has made history with the graduation of its 2026 class in what is being described as a groundbreaking academic ceremony, as the prestigious public secondary school celebrated its graduating students in a university-themed graduation style.
The historic valedictory service, which brought together students, parents, teachers, school administrators, old students and distinguished guests, was marked by pomp, pageantry and an atmosphere of academic excellence, as graduating students appeared in full academic graduation gowns, caps and other traditional graduation regalia.
In a striking departure from conventional valedictory ceremonies typically held in public secondary schools, the school’s principals and teachers, as well as the National Executives of the Remo Secondary School Old Students’ Association (RSSOSA), also donned academic gowns, creating the atmosphere and grandeur of a university convocation.
The remarkable initiative transformed the valedictory service into a memorable graduation experience for the students and marked a significant milestone in the history of Remo Secondary School, Ogun State, and potentially, the Nigerian public school system.
The ceremony was not only a celebration of the completion of secondary education, but also a deliberate effort to instil in the graduating students a sense of pride, achievement and responsibility as they prepare to transition into higher education and the next phase of their lives.
Another major highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of awards to deserving students in recognition of outstanding morals, good character and exemplary conduct. The awards, which cut across various categories, celebrated students who distinguished themselves not only through academic pursuits, but also through positive character traits, discipline, responsibility and good morals.
In a further demonstration of its commitment to the future of the graduating students and the advancement of education, Hope Bridge Social Impact Foundation awarded full higher education scholarships to about 25 deserving students. The scholarship awards will support the beneficiaries in pursuing their tertiary education, providing them with an opportunity to further their academic aspirations and achieve their full potential.
Speaking at the ceremony, the President of the Remo Secondary School Old Students’ Association (RSSOSA), Sir Aare Adetola Emmanuelking KOF, congratulated the graduating class and commended the school management, teachers and parents for their roles in nurturing and guiding the students throughout their academic journey.
He further expressed appreciation to the Ogun State Government, ably led by the Executive Governor, His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, MFR, CON, for his administration’s commitment to transforming the education sector in the state.
He specifically acknowledged the Governor’s Yellow Revolution initiative, describing it as one of the notable interventions that has positively impacted the education sector and contributed to creating a more conducive environment for learning across public schools in Ogun State.
According to him, the Governor’s keen attention to education and the deliberate interventions of his administration have had a positive ripple effect that has extended to institutions such as Remo Secondary School, contributing to the school’s continued growth and development and helping to position it as a great institution.
Aare Adetola Emmanuelking also extended his appreciation to the Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, for his leadership and evident contributions to the advancement of education in the state.
The event further highlighted the strong bond between the school and its old students, with the presence and participation of the old students, demonstrating the association’s continued commitment to the development and advancement of the institution.
The innovative university-style graduation ceremony is expected to remain one of the most memorable moments in the history of the school, and could set a new standard for how graduating students are celebrated in public secondary schools across Ogun State and beyond.
For the graduating class of 2026, the occasion was a day of pride, gratitude and celebration, a day when they were not only bid farewell from secondary school, but were honoured and celebrated as graduates stepping confidently into the future.
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
The sayings that success is a result of every little thing we do every day and that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a little step are no jokes. They are facts because the journey of greatness begins with one good step in the right direction.
In the journey of life, one must be intentional in how they live their lives. Attention must be paid to what they eat, what they say, how they dress and communicate among others. In doing this they have to pay close attention to every single step or action they take because in the grand scheme of things, they’ll ultimately play a role in the big picture.
The principle of every drop matter is powerful. This principle is applicable to family, academic, sports and entertainment, spiritual, financial, health and even personal lives especially as it relates to personal development.
Anybody that wants to succeed in life must be intentional in applying the principle of every drop. Let’s explain how this principle works in our daily and professional lives.
Family
Family is the most important element in any society. To have a beautiful family, parents must be intentional in how they live their lives and how they train their children. Little acts like showing random and intentional love which entails sacrifice, kindness, empathy, tolerance, patience, forgiveness and understanding are critical. It’s important to state that when children learn love in the family, they tend to show love in society, but when they learn about hatred in the family, they tend to exhibit chaos in society.
So, every single action of parents speaks volumes. Children learn faster from actions than words. Isn’t it true that action speaks louder than voice? So, if a man or woman wants to imbibe a particular training, culture, or lifestyle to the kids, it’s imperative they must be intentional about their life and what information and exposure they bring to their children.
Academy
The principle of every drop also plays a crucial factor in the life of a progressive student who’s interested in succeeding in school. This principle of every drop works for students who are intentional in reading every day, attending classes, doing assignments, networking with the right people and organizations. All these will play a huge role in making the student succeed academically because they are gradually laying the stones of success.
Sports and entertainment
There’s no successful athlete or entertainer that didn’t take time to build his craft. These sets of people spend time training themselves every day. According to Usain Bolt, “I train for four years to run 9 seconds”. Let’s take a minute to digest that statement. Work is indeed behind the scenes. Most people don’t see the work that is done every day, all they see is the result. The joggings, exercise, food, doctors’ appointments, etc., just to mention a little, are some of the things behind the scenes they engage in to be successful. That’s the principle of every drop. The same principle is applicable to entertainers. They make mistakes, they invest their time and resources in learning the craft. A great man once stated that someone needs to practice a skill for 10,000 hours to become an expert in it. This statement is so profound that I concur because as a successful writer and author of three trailblazers’ books, I have developed some level of mastery in writing while still leaving room for improvement.
Spiritual
The spiritual life of anyone is the most important part of any living creature. This is simply because the spiritual controls the physical. Any Christian who is intentional in living a life that’s pleasing to God must practice the principle of little drops, and that entails, avoiding ungodly acts like engaging in sexual immorality with the opposite or same sex, stealing, going to clubs, drinking to stupor, killing, stealing, etc., and replacing them love, kindness, charity, forgiveness, patience, empathy, etc. All these are acts of little drops to live upright.
Financial
To be successful in life, one needs to save no matter how small, and this saving entails discipline. Financial advisors have advised progressive minds to save at least 1/10th of their income. By the time one saves, one will understand the meaning of saving money and money will save you.
Health
Apart from one’s spiritual life, our health is the most important part of our life. It’s instructive to note that if you lose your money, you can get it back, if you lose your time, you can even buy it back all things all things being equal especially if you have money, if you lose your friends, you can get them back, but if you lose your health, it might take divine intervention to get them back. To have good health, it’s imperative for one to drink at least two little of water every day, exercise, sleep at least 8 hours and eat healthy amongst taking other hygienic measures like eating fruit and visiting your doctor.
Personal Development
This is another important aspect of a progressive mind. The hallmark of this principle can be seen in personal development because it shows how intentional one is elevating one’s life. As a small business owner, author, creative writer and human capacity development expert, I can’t emphasize the importance of personal development. My ability to publish three trailblazers’ books, publish creative articles consistently for the last eight years was not because I was smart or intelligent, no, it was simply because I was determined to do it. That’s personal development.
It’s one thing for people to inspire you from outside, but it’s another thing for the inspiration to come from inside. As a matter of fact, internal inspiration is the highest form of inspiration because if the whole is telling you can do something and you know you can’t do it, you’ll fail if you attempt to do it, but if the whole is telling you cannot do it, and you know you can do it, you’ll succeed because the Book of life states in 1 John 4:4 states, he that is in you is greater and stronger than he that is in the world.
Question: Do you want to succeed in life? If yes, pay attention to the principle of little things.
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, Unleash Your Destiny and The Six Pillars of Succes . He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has dismissed claims that a reported letter from United States President Donald Trump amounts to an endorsement of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, describing it as a routine diplomatic correspondence acknowledging security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Frank challenged the Presidency to publish the purported letter, insisting that any authentic communication from the American President should bear the official White House seal and President Trump’s signature.
“The letter is not from the White House. If it doesn’t have the White House seal and the signature of the President of the United States, it appears dubious at best,” Frank said, questioning the authenticity of the document being celebrated by the Federal Government.
He maintained that, even if such a letter exists, it should not be interpreted as political support for Tinubu or his administration.
Frank, who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, alleged that the publicity surrounding the reported correspondence was intended to divert public attention from ongoing discussions about the release and circulation of court documents relating to President Tinubu’s alleged past drug-related matters.
He noted that the letter was reportedly dated July 6 but only surfaced publicly weeks later. According to him, if it truly represented a significant political endorsement by President Trump, it would have been made public immediately rather than emerging much later.
According to him, the Federal Government’s celebration of the reported letter suggests it is seeking international legitimacy and credibility rather than highlighting any extraordinary diplomatic achievement.
“By celebrating this ‘letter’, the government is showing that it is looking for legitimacy and credibility before the international community. If it had confidence in its credibility, it would not make so much of an ordinary diplomatic letter,” he stated.
Frank recalled that former President Muhammadu Buhari was invited to the White House during President Trump’s first term, arguing that such direct engagement carried greater diplomatic significance than a reported letter.
“President Trump invited Buhari when he was President. They stood together and addressed the world. If Tinubu believes President Trump is impressed with his administration, then he should visit Trump and stand side by side with him so the world can hear directly what he has achieved,” he said.
The former APC spokesman also questioned reports that the Federal Government had spent millions of dollars on lobbyists in the United States to improve its international image, arguing that a government with genuine international credibility would have little need for expensive reputation management abroad.
He further maintained that the United States has consistently projected itself as a defender of democracy, the rule of law, electoral integrity and the protection of human rights.
“The United States will never support a government that is corrupt, cannot protect the lives of its citizens or is tyrannical. America will always stand for democracy, election integrity and the protection of lives. Nigerians should not be deceived by the celebration of this ‘letter’.
“The United States remains committed to supporting efforts to address insecurity, protect election integrity and promote democratic values in Nigeria. That should not be mistaken for an endorsement of the Tinubu administration,” he said.
