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Food for Living: Strive to Be Unique
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
One of the most interesting things about any entity; animate or inanimate, is their uniqueness. There’s always something unique about everybody. For instance, if the name Elon Musk is mentioned in a conversation, the first thing that cokes to mind is riches and wealth. If the name Barack Obama is mentioned, one’s mind will be catapulted tobthe first Black man to be the President of the United States of America.
In the same vein, if the name, Nelson Mandela, is mentioned, an insightful mind will reminisce his principles and struggles, which led to the end of apartheid and his emergence as the first Black South African President. If Michael Jackson and Beyoncé Giselle Knowles are mentioned, one will generally revere both as great singers and dancers. When the name Henry Ukazu is mentioned, most people will say he’s an author, creative and prolific writer, Life Coach, and youth advocate. The list continues.
And so, I ask; what are you known for? What makes you unique? If your name is searched on Google, what will be the outcome?
When we talk about uniqueness, it transcends the traits of a human being, and accommodates the ideologies, vision, and whatever one represents. For instance, if a name like Martin Luther King is mentioned, what will immediately come to mind is the fact that he is known for leading the American Civil Rights, and his famous “I have a Dream” speech. If Mark Zukerberg’s name is mentioned, it’s only natural for Facebook to come to mind. If Evangelist Ebuka Obi’s name is mentioned, preaching, prophecy and vision will come to mind.
Let’s talk about the greatest country in the world, the United States of America. The country is known for her diverse culture, powerful economy, and significant global influence in areas like entertainment, technology, and military strength. It also has a track record as the country with the greatest number of billionaires in the world.
Every institution is known for something. Every animal is known for something. Every country is known for something and as humans, we ought to be known for something because we can’t just exist without living.
In my first book, Design Your Destiny- Actualizing Your Birthright to Success, I wrote an interesting piece on Understanding Your Uniqueness, where I harped on the importance of working on our talents and gifts, which are what makes us unique as human beings. I have always stressed on the importance of human beings to focus on developing their talents and what they are naturally good at rather than focusing on learning a skill or having a decent academic degree. Though it’s good to acquire a great skill and degree, it’s important to note that one’s talent and gift will attract better and faster opportunities that will put them in the spotlight than when one focuses on their acquired skill and academic degrees.
I say this because everyone loves to meet the best person who is naturally better in a craft than someone who learned it. Everyone would like to work with a creative person endowed with common sense as opposed to someone who though is intelligent, but lacks requisite common sense.
Basic uniqueness stands one out in a crowd. This uniqueness can be determined by how one dresses, writes, speaks, leads, acts, teaches or work. Living in the United States of America has exposed me to many cultures and lifestyles, but one thing stands out; each country in the United States has a peculiar accent, style of dressing and race which makes them think or have a unique perspective of life.
As a professional, if one wants the world to take them seriously, it’s advisable to focus on a particular craft. Let’s take a case study of a medical doctor, who does general practice, the remuneration they will get will be quite different from the remuneration and respect of a surgeon who has a certain level of expertise in a particular field. Let’s also consider a lawyer who does general practice, the remuneration they will have will be quite different from that of an attorney who is specialized in criminal cases. This is because professionals, who have developed expertise in a particular area are valued more unlike one who knows a bit of everything but lacks expertise in a particular area. It is a typical case of jack of all trades, master of none.
This principle also applies to entrepreneurs. It’s always good when a service or product is mentioned, a customer or stranger recommends or mentions your name as the best plug to deliver. This is simply because either they have had business deals with you, or have seen your work, or it might even be the case of how you have utilized social media to attract visibility to the business.
On a personal note, most of the opportunities and access I have attracted to myself are as a result of my contents on social media. Most of the resource persons I have had the rare opportunity to relate with in close quarters is simply because of my work which has shown how committed, dedicated and passionate I am to my cause and business. Most times, people see through my voice and that my passion brings impact to humanity, and as such they feel comfortable to relate closely with me.
Today, I ask you; what are you doing differently that will enable people to give you an opportunity which can affect the lives of people? In thinking about this, bear in mind that one does not have to do too much, all that is required to do is the basics, no matter how little it is, but let it be known that you stood for something
I will conclude with a question. What makes you unique? If ten people are asked the unique thing about you, what do you think would be their response? While pondering on these great questions, just know that imitation is limitation, so try to be unique in your own way, manner and style, and I can assure you that the world would celebrate you in the nearest future.
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 management of Dangote Refinery has terminated the employment of all its Nigerian workers.
The statement to this effect was shared on X, Wednesday, by a political commentator, Imran Wakili.
“Dangote Refinery has officially laid off all of its Nigerian workers under the guise of “reorganization”, less than 24 hours after 90% of them joined PENGASSAN,” he wrote.
Wakili said the development comes less than 24 hours after 90 percent of them joined the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN.
According to a memo dated September 25, 2025, and signed by the Chief General Manager of Human Asset Management, Femi Adekunle, Wakili posted on X, the company said the decision was taken as part of a “total re-organisation” of the plant following reported cases of sabotage in different units of the refinery.
The notice directed affected staff to surrender all company property in their possession to their line managers and obtain exit clearance.
The finance department was also instructed to compute benefits and entitlements for payment in line with terms of employment.
The refinery’s management thanked the dismissed workers for their services while in its employment.
DAILY POST reports that Dangote refinery and PENGASSN have been embroiled in a trade dispute over unionization issue.
DailyPost
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has been asked to investigate the financial activities of the former Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd.).
Human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, through a public interest law firm, has petitioned the ICPC Chairman, stating that Rivers State received at least N283.3 billion under Ibas’ watch between March 18 and September 17, 2025, excluding Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
According to figures cited from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, the amount comprised N36.6 billion in local government allocations for January and February 2025, previously withheld, and N246.7 billion in state and local government allocations between March and June 2025.
“Despite these massive inflows, there is little to no evidence of projects or tangible development carried out by his administration,” the petition alleged.
The group claimed the only visible project was the “cosmetic renovation and painting” of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex.
The law firm further accused Ibas of failing to publish the mandatory budget performance reports for Q2 2025, in violation of transparency laws.
It also faulted comments attributed to his media aide, Hector Igbikiowubu, suggesting that the former administrator was not accountable to the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“Equally troubling are recent statements credited to him, dismissing the authority of the Rivers State House of Assembly to probe his financial conduct. He insists that because he was appointed by the President and supervised by the National Assembly, he was only answerable to them,” the petition read.
The firm urged the ICPC to probe how the ₦283.3bn was applied, determine if misappropriation occurred, and hold Ibas accountable if wrongdoing is established.
“It is in light of the foregoing that we respectfully demand that the ICPC probe the financial expenditure of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd.), ascertain how the total amount of N283.3bn was applied, and investigate whether any acts of misappropriation, diversion, or abuse of office occurred during this period,” the petition stated.
Ibas, a retired naval chief and former Chief of Naval Staff (2015–2021), was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in March 2025 as Sole Administrator of Rivers State after the declaration of a state of emergency.
His six-month appointment sparked controversy over its constitutionality and the concentration of executive powers in an unelected administrator. He handed over on September 17, 2025, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers House of Assembly were reinstated.
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Tuesday, disclosed that her 65th birthday anniversary fund-raising drive has so far yielded N20,456,188,924.93, with donations still trickling in.
Speaking at an interactive session with journalists in Abuja, Mrs. Tinubu said the donations would go toward completing the long-abandoned National Library project, a cause she described as deeply personal.
“This is not the first or second time I have raised money for a worthy cause,” she noted, recalling that at her 45th birthday, she raised N50 million for the completion of the National Sickle Cell Foundation Centre, and at 50, mobilized N200 million for the New Era Foundation and other charities.
She dismissed speculations of political undertones behind the project, insisting that her focus was on nation-building and giving back.
Citing inspirations from writers like Khalil Gibran and former U.S. President John F. Kennedy, the First Lady said: “It doesn’t take much to do good. Most of the work I’ve ever done is not something new; I just make it look big, and at the end of the day, it turns big.”
Mrs. Tinubu traced the history of the National Library project, initiated in 1981, approved in 2006 with a budget of N8.2 billion, and later reviewed to over N23 billion.
She emphasised that with collective will, Nigerians can deliver the 11-story structure within two years.
“I have played my part. The Oluremi@65 Fund will close in December. Nigerians can still donate until then. But to the glory of God, we already have over N20.4 billion and it is still growing,” she declared.
The First Lady expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and his wife Nana, former First Ladies, National Assembly leaders, state governors, captains of industry, including Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Dr. Jim Ovia, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), as well as royal fathers, among others, for their goodwill and support.
She pledged that the names of all donors would be published in national dailies as a mark of respect and accountability.
