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Food for Living: Success, Value and Price Tag
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
It is instructive to note that anything of value has a price attached to it. In some situations, the price one pays for an item determines the value associated with it and vice versa. Just like diamond, gold, silver and bronze, there is a price for success.
Value has remained the greatest component every successful person puts into consideration. The value you place on a person or commodity determines whether you appreciate the person or commodity. The value of something is based on what someone is willing to pay for it or exchange for it. The value of someone is not based on other people’s perceptions or determined by the labels that others put on us. Our value is based on what someone is willing to pay or exchange for us.
When you see a successful person, it is easy to celebrate the person, you might even desire to achieve a similar feat, but the question is, are you willing to pay the price?
Successful people are quick to share their success stories, but will not tell you the story behind the success. In the case scenario, they share their failures. To me, the story is more important than success. It is the story behind the success that encapsulates the process that ‘cooks’ the success. It is also imperative to know that it’s the process that builds the foundation of one’s success. The foundation is critical because it is what sustains one’s success.
Success wears many hats, and different hats come with different prices. For instance, if you want to lead, you must love people, attend events and volunteer to serve. If you want to be a coach, you must read inspiring books, enhance your communication skills which entail public speaking and writing skills, and have mentors. Moral: successful investing demands a price.
To understand the price tag for success, one needs to understand his vision. When you understand your vision, you will realise the workload ahead of you. Again, if you decide to marry a particular kind of man or woman, you will have to study the person to know their likes, work, vision and achievements, and see if you can complement the person. This is because some ladies and men have a price tag you must measure up to. For instance, if a man or lady is neat, the onus is on you to always be neat; if the person is always punctual at meetings, you must ensure you keep to time, and if the person loves honesty, hard work, and loyalty, you must have a corresponding charisma, otherwise incompatibility might set in.
Is there really a price tag for success? Any right-thinking man will acknowledge the fact that genuine success comes with a price tag. The question you need to be concerned about is, what price are you willing to pay to achieve what you desire?
Depending on how far you want to go in life, you must be willing to pay the price. If you desire to be the President of your country, the price you will pay will be quite different to the one you pay if you want to be a governor, doctor, singer, dancer, professor, pastor or even a coach. At each stage, the experience is different. You must sacrifice your time and money to get what you want.
In our contemporary society, many people have little or no patience to do the basics. This set of people fails to understand that process is very important and authentic success comes with a price tag. Just like it takes nine months to “birth” a child from conception, it also takes time to reap the fruits of your labour, and if you do what you are supposed to do.
In the journey of life, there’s no guarantee one will succeed in his craft, all that is important is that he does the needful and believe the universe will align with him. However, if you consider the price you will pay to succeed as an admission fee, you might not be able to enjoy the ride or journey to success. Moral: Don’t look at the price you’ll pay for success. Do the needful and enjoy the dividends.
Here are some of the habits I have cultivated in recent times as a price for success: I endeavor to wake up at 4:am daily, read different materials that will uplift my personal and professional life, drink a cup of water every morning, strategically network both online and in-person with potential partners, utilize social media to share my work, and more importantly, position myself strategically to resourceful people by paying it forward when I see an opportunity. All these are a few examples of how I am paying the price for success.
I remember when I started publishing inspirational articles, my publications weren’t as rich, organized, and thoughtful as it is now. This is simply because I have learned from my mistakes and learned from my mentors how to convey the right message with the right words in the right context. The same analysis is applicable to my public speaking skills. The interesting part is that I’m still learning how to write by reading the works of other accomplished writers and listening to renowned speakers.
Be advised, giants are always built behind the scene, and so, to get what you don’t have, you must do something you haven’t done before by being intentional.
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He’s a Human Capacity & mindset coach. He’s also a public speaker, youth advocate and creative writer. 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
The Nigeria Police Force has suspended the nationwide enforcement of its tinted glass permit policy following an interim court order that restrained the move.
The Force announced on December 15, 2025, that it would begin enforcing the policy starting January 2, 2026, citing its responsibility to ensure public safety and internal security.
However, in a statement issued on Thursday and signed by Force Public Relations Officer Benjamin Hundeyin, the police revealed that they were served with an interim order on December 17, 2025.
The enforcement will remain suspended pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit or the vacation of the interim order.
“The Nigeria Police Force was served with an interim order of court in Suit No. HOR/FHR/M/31/2025, issued on 17th December 2025, restraining the Force from proceeding with the enforcement of the Tinted Glass Permit policy pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit or the vacation of the order,” the statement said.
The police also confirmed that they had entered an appearance in the case, raised preliminary objections, and formally requested the vacation of the interim order.
The case has been adjourned to January 20, 2026, for further hearing.
“In line with constitutional obligations and respect for judicial authority, the Nigeria Police Force has entered appearance in the matter, raised preliminary objections, and formally applied for the vacation of the interim order. The court has adjourned the case to 20th January 2026 for further proceedings,” the statement added.
The statement noted that the suspension of enforcement is being carried out in strict adherence to the ongoing court order.
“Accordingly, and strictly in compliance with the subsisting court order, the Nigeria Police Force has placed the enforcement of the Tinted Glass Permit policy on hold nationwide, pending the decision of the court.”
Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to upholding the rule of law while fulfilling its duty to protect lives and property.
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, affirms that the Nigeria Police Force remains resolute in upholding the rule of law while discharging its primary mandate of protecting lives and property. The Force will continue to deploy lawful, intelligence-driven strategies to address security challenges and safeguard public safety across the country,” the statement added.
The Force also assured members of the public that it would communicate further developments and issue clear guidance as appropriate, following the court’s determination of the matter, in the overriding interest of public order and national security.
The Federal High Court In Abuja on Tuesday ordered the remand of the Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of their bail application.
The trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, also ordered the remand of his co-dedendants, his son, Abubakar Malami, and one of his wives Bashir Asabe.
Justice Nwite made the order after taking arguments from the defence team led by Joseph Daudu (SAN) and the prosecution counsel Ekele Iheneacho (SAN).
Malami and his co-defendants are facing a 16-count money laundering charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The EFCC alleges that the defendants conspired at various times to conceal, retain and disguise the proceeds of unlawful activities running into several billions of naira.
According to the charge, the alleged offences span several years and include the use of companies and bank accounts to launder funds, the retention of cash as collateral for loans, and the acquisition of high-value properties in Abuja, Kano and other locations.
The commission further alleges that some of the offences were committed while Malami was serving as Attorney-General of the Federation, in breach of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011, as amended, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has sent a veiled message to Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, saying support for President Bola Tinubu alone will not guarantee any election ticket.
Wike made the statement on Sunday during a public outing in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State.
His remarks were widely seen as directed at Governor Fubara, amid lingering political crisis in the State.
The former Governor of Rivers State said political loyalty must be tested during difficult times, not after power has been secured.
He mocked those he described as late supporters of President Tinubu, insisting that sudden alignment would not earn political rewards.
He said: “So the issue is not whether you are supporting Tinubu. That one, we have taken too long, long… Yes, oh. So Tinubu’s issue is not an issue again. Yes. Do you understand me? Yes. Tinubu’s issue is that nobody should be coming here to tell a day. We are for Tinubu; I am against you. Who is for Tinubu University? (laughs) That cannot give you any ticket oh! (laughs again) Direct, direct. It will not. Direction. Direction.”
Wike stressed that his political camp stood with Tinubu when the decision was unpopular. He said that support given under pressure carries more weight than alignment after victory.
He also recalled how the Rivers State House of Assembly openly backed Tinubu early, long before the election outcome was certain.
According to him, some of those now making public declarations were absent during the critical period.
“The same people now who came to declare, put them to God… But they should declare they are saying it for a candidate. Yes. Don’t you see characters? (laughs) So I send the sword far ahead of them.”
Wike further spoke on governance and continuity. He defended projects and agreements initiated during his tenure as governor. He said it is often difficult for successors to acknowledge past efforts, even though government is a continuous process.
His comments come weeks after Governor Fubara formally aligned with the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party of President Tinubu.
The move followed months of political crisis in Rivers State, which led to federal intervention and a declaration of emergency rule.
Political watchers believe Wike’s remarks constitute a direct response to Fubara’s recent positioning as a key Tinubu ally in Rivers politics. Critics argue that Fubara’s support surfaced only after the political storm had settled.
Wike, who remains a dominant force in Rivers State politics despite serving in Abuja, appears to have drawn a clear line ahead of the 2027 elections.
He suggested that political tickets would be decided by proven loyalty, not convenience.
Videos from the event in Rumuche, Emohua, spread rapidly on social media. Many users described the speech as a coded warning to the governor.
As of press time, neither the Rivers State Government nor Wike’s media team had issued an official clarification.
The comments, however, suggest that the political rift between both camps is still active, despite earlier peace moves brokered at the national level.
