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Food for Living: Strive to Be Unique
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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
National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Davis Mark, has said the party will adhere to electoral rules during the 2027 elections but will resist any attempt to manipulate the process.
Mark spoke on Wednesday in Abuja when the governing council of the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, led by Olukayode Ariwoola, former chief justice of Nigeria, visited him at the ADC headquarters.
“We hold ourselves to the highest standards of good conduct as a political party. We will play by the rules,” Mark said.
The centre’s governing council, known as the council of the wise, was reconstituted in June to engage relevant institutions and political stakeholders towards fostering peaceful, free and credible elections.
The meeting with the ADC chairman was part of the centre’s ongoing engagement with political parties ahead of the elections.
The Presidency has expressed confidence that the growing number of governors backing President Bola Tinubu gives him a stronger political structure and an advantage over opposition candidates ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, said this on Channels Television’s Politics Today, arguing that the political landscape has changed considerably since the 2023 election.
Bwala said the support of governors is significant because they control political structures in their respective states and could translate their backing for Tinubu into grassroots mobilisation ahead of the election.
“Since then, President Bola Tinubu has got how many governors on his side? The governors are the Chief Executive Officers of their respective states. They coordinate the structures of the State. These people say, ‘We are putting our goodwill, our resources, our structure, and our support to the President,’” he said.
He argued that the President’s political position has also been strengthened by people who have benefited from his administration’s policies, including beneficiaries of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund), agricultural programmes, manufacturing incentives, CrediCorp and infrastructure projects.
Bwala said the developments constitute “facts, verifiable data” which, in his view, showed that Tinubu had made progress since assuming office in 2023.
He also dismissed suggestions that the administration’s confidence ahead of 2027 is based solely on divisions within the opposition, saying its record in office would form an important part of its campaign.
His comments came amid renewed debate over Tinubu’s popularity and the ability of the opposition to challenge his bid for a second term.
Bwala dismissed an assessment by The Economist that Nigerians may re-elect Tinubu despite disapproval of his administration, arguing that claims about the President’s popularity should be backed by representative opinion surveys.
“When you make a claim that Nigerians don’t like him, without saying, also, that there are a lot of people… one million families that the children have benefited from NELFund, you think they hate him?” he asked.
He similarly cited beneficiaries of agricultural interventions, support for manufacturers and CrediCorp, arguing that such groups should be considered when assessing public sentiment towards the administration.
On concerns over rising poverty and hunger, Bwala acknowledged that more Nigerians had fallen into poverty but attributed the hardship partly to the economic reforms undertaken by the Tinubu administration.
“More people went down to poverty, I acknowledge, I’m not doubting it. But there is a ‘but’ to it. Since when the reform started to today, we have made marked progress,” he insisted.
According to him, the reforms are necessary to address longstanding economic problems, despite the short-term discomfort experienced by Nigerians.
Bwala also defended Tinubu’s statement that Nigeria has moved from the “doldrums” towards prosperity, saying the President is not suggesting that Nigerians would suddenly begin experiencing prosperity from October 1.
He cited NELFund beneficiaries, subsidised healthcare, infrastructure projects and support for small and medium-sized businesses as examples of what he described as prosperity already reaching Nigerians.
“One million families whose children have benefited from the NELFUND programme, what they are benefiting is called prosperity,” he said.
“If you go to an environment or a place where there have been no roads or any form of infrastructure, and we have established infrastructure there, what has come to them is prosperity.”
Bwala further claimed that the opposition has lost several influential political figures who played key roles in their 2023 campaigns.
He said former Vice President Atiku Abubakar no longer has the support of governors who worked for his 2023 campaign, while Peter Obi has also lost some critical political allies.
“In terms of the other candidates who say he will not win, Atiku Abubakar lost close to 25 per cent of key people that you know around him. All the governors that worked for him that time are no longer with him,” Bwala said.
“Peter Obi lost 55 per cent of the critical people that carried his campaign; they’ve all disappeared. And some of them went to Atiku, some of them went wherever they could go to.”
He consequently expressed confidence in Tinubu’s prospects in the 2027 contest, saying the political support around the President was considerably different from what existed before the 2023 election.
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Globacom Unveils Sponsorship of 2026 Ofala Festival, Promises ‘Never Settle for Less’ Celebration
Globacom has once again demonstrated its commitment to Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage by supporting the 2026 Ofala Festival in Onitsha as the official sponsor.
The partnership, which has continued for over 15 years, highlights Globacom’s dedication to celebrating and sustaining cultural traditions that preserve identity, strengthen communities and contribute to the nation’s social and cultural development.
The 2026 edition, which marks the 25th Ofala of the reign of the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, is themed “Igba Mbo, Iga N’Iru – Strive and Advance: From Resilience to Progress.” The theme resonates strongly with the history and character of Ndi Onicha, whose story is one of resilience, enterprise, adaptability and an enduring determination to advance.
According to Globacom, its continued association with Ofala reflects the Company’s belief that cultural heritage and national development are complementary forces. “For Globacom, Ofala is more than an annual cultural celebration. It is a living expression of identity, continuity and collective aspiration. Our sustained partnership reflects our belief that preserving heritage and advancing society are not competing imperatives, but mutually reinforcing pillars of a progressive nation,” the Company stated.
The telecommunications giant added that the partnership also aligns with its “Never Settle for Less” philosophy, which encourages Nigerians to honour their foundations while continually pursuing greater possibilities. “Never Settle for Less is a philosophy of progress: to respect the foundations upon which we stand, while seeking to broaden possibilities, deepen impact and move the nation forward. We are proud to support a cultural institution that honours its roots while engaging the future,” Globacom said.
Over the years, Ofala has evolved from a sacred royal rite of renewal into a major platform for cultural affirmation, community engagement and social development. The 2026 programme features the Obi’s sacred period of seclusion and ceremonial emergence, the Medical, Health and Wellbeing Community Outreach, the international Oreze Art Exhibition, the Youth Carnival, and the grand finale of Iru Ofala and Azu Ofala.
For Globacom, supporting Ofala therefore goes beyond conventional sponsorship to represent corporate citizenship and cultural stewardship — an investment in preserving the memory, meaning and continuity of a people. The Company noted that the festival’s ability to draw strength from its ancestral foundations while embracing the future mirrors its own commitment to innovation, connectivity and digital inclusion.
As the people of Onitsha gather to celebrate another chapter in the history of the revered institution, Globacom remains proud to stand alongside them in honouring a heritage that continues to inspire generations.
