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Food for Living: The Power of Believing in Yourself
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
Whatever the mind can believe it can achieve it – Napoleon Hill
Please permit me to begin this article with an experience I had while studying Taxation Law at New York Law School as a graduate student. I literally had a hard time understanding the concepts of taxation because it was radically and fundamentally different from the usual law I was exposed to. To make matters worse, I didn’t like numbers because I wasn’t passionate about the major. I merely enrolled into the programme to please my beloved late dad who likes the major because of the money he believed will come to the family upon graduation based on the research and information he got from his friends, who were in the profession.
Because I loved my late dad with passion, I always tried to please him. I keyed into the programme. During my first semester, I took a perquisite class Income Tax as required, and I was required to get a B to enroll into the main programme. Guess what, I couldn’t get the required score. I planned to drop from the programme for a course I have interest in, but the Dean of the Faculty advised me to take another professor which I did, and to the glory of God I made it.
As soon as I settled for the main programme, reality dawned on me. I experienced the shock of my life when I couldn’t understand the complex nature of the course. I remembered one semester while I was preparing for the final examination I was confused as to what’s expected from me. I decided to check Facebook to relieve tension and I saw a post saying, you can never know what you don’t know. I say, yes, this is me. I can’t deal with taxation. I scrolled down again, I saw another post which said, “your desire for success should always outweigh your fear for failure”. I said, yes, this is so true. I will go with this positive statement and that became my best semester ever because I was awarded a $3,000 scholarship which earned me the friendship of the Registrar of the law school.
Fast forward into the programme, while I was having a conversation with the Registrar, he encouraged me with this statement, “Henry, never you lose hope because when you lose hope you have lost everything”. Why is this story important? In life, it is always important to believe in oneself. It’s easy to cast doubts and fear in the journey of life. If you are determined to succeed in life, it’s imperative that one must eliminate fear and doubts and replace them with faith, hope, positive affirmations and confidence. What we fail to understand is that for people to believe in you, you must believe in yourself. You must believe in yourself, and the first step in believing in yourself is overcoming fear.
Fear makes us lose hope, but and once you lose hope either in yourself or life generally, it will be difficult for you to succeed. Why am I saying this? Success and failure starts from the mind. As a mindset coach, I strongly believe that given every equal opportunity everyone is a potential achiever, because we don’t have dull, but undeveloped brains.
When we talk of belief, a lot of factors come to mind. Do you know that whatever you believe is what will come to you? If you believe in yourself, people will believe in you, if you show fear, people will find it difficult to work with you.
Depending on your religion, if you believe in the power of your creator, you’ll get what you want. If you believe in a false ‘god’, you will get the temporary result. If you desire to be a Governor, President, author, pilot, lawyer, Television anchor, judge etc., you can have your dream come through if you believe in yourself and work on it. Nothing is received on a platter of gold. By the time you do the needful, luck and the universe will align with you.
You may be wondering how this works? I will share with you a practical example of how the power of believing works with the mind. There was a story of a medical doctor whose mother was sick. The doctor gave his mother a pill to take, the mother told the son he wants an injection, the son said, the pill will do the work, but his mother refused and said, she normally sees people come to his clinic and he gives them injections and they get better. The son said, he has been practicing medicine for a decade and he understands what patients need because every case is different.
After much persuasion, the mother took the pill but her health didn’t get any better. At long last, the son secretly filled the injection syringe with way, and injected his mother. In less than 24hours time, the woman began to feel better. That goes to say that everything we do in life starts from the mind. It’s because the old woman believed in the injection as opposed to the pill, that’s why her health improved.
The same principle is applicable in life, and in anything one wishes to do, provided it is positive. Believe in it and own it. Refuse to believe in the noise outside. Don’t allow anyone to rent space in your head, telling you it’s not possible.
Furthermore, the power of belief is the key that unlocks your ability to consciously create your reality. I am a big fan of belief. My belief factor fuels my energy. If I want to meet anyone or get any position, I activate my belief factor and trust me, it has not failed me. I say this because if the position is for me, or if the person is meant to be my friend, I strongly believe the water we shall drink will not flow pass us. That’s how the belief factor works.
It is instructive to note that you can only manifest what you believe is possible. If you can’t see it in your mind’s eye, how do you expect to live it? You must visualize what you believe in your mind by saying, I’m smart, I’ll succeed, I won’t fail. I’m strong. I can do it. I’m worthy of love, etc. According to Henry Ford, “whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right.”
In conclusion, the ability to achieve your highest aspirations and taste depends on two things: belief and action. While belief is the foundation which shapes our thoughts, action determines the roadmaps that will lead us to the final outcome.
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He’s a Human Capacity and Mindset coach. He is also a public speaker, youth advocate and creative writer. He’s the author of the acclaimed book Design Your Destiny – Actualizing Your Birthright to Success. He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested a former chairman of defunct Skye Bank Plc, Tunde Ayeni, over alleged money laundering, misappropriation and diversion of funds amounting to N36.54bn and $30m.
Ayeni, a businessman, was arrested in Abuja on Thursday, and is currently being held at the commission’s facility.
The arrest followed an EFCC probe into alleged misappropriation and diversion of funds said to have been obtained from Polaris Bank through multiple entities linked to him.
“Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested a former board chairman of defunct Skye Bank Plc and businessman, Tunde Ayeni, in connection with alleged money laundering, misappropriation and diversion of funds to the tune of N36,540,058,400.00 and $30m.
“Ayeni was arrested sequel to the investigation of the EFCC into alleged misappropriation and diversion of funds to the tune of N36,540,058,400.00 and $30m obtained from Polaris Bank Plc by different entities linked to him.
“The funds were loans obtained allegedly for specific investment projects but subsequently transferred to other entities’ accounts. Investigations showed that, though the loans were obtained for purposes such as finance of marine security activities, electricity distribution contract, estate development, they were diverted to the NITEL/MTEL asset acquisition through NATCOM account,” one of the sources said.
Another source said the commission is currently probing 12 companies allegedly linked to Ayeni, which it said were used to obtain the loans from Polaris Bank.
“Twelve different companies linked to Ayeni are being investigated by the EFCC. They are entities he allegedly used to obtain loans from Polaris Bank for his shady activities. The loans are depositors’ funds fraudulently obtained and frittered into diverse wasteful purposes. Ayeni will be arraigned in due course upon conclusion of investigations,” the source said.
When contacted, EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale confirmed the arrest but declined to give further details.
The Punch
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
To be fruitful is to be productive, profitable, and successful in all areas of your life. When one is fruitful, he will attract many opportunities and values. When we are fruitful, we won’t be barren because we will be producing fruits and results with our work. Even the book of life said no woman will be barren in your land. That’s being fruitful.
Fruitfulness permeates every area of our life. When you are fruitful, your life, marriage, business, academic, ethics, relationship/network will flourish. Our business must be fruitful to survive, otherwise it will be out of business. We shall discuss several areas where one can be fruitful.
Parents
The joy of every father is for the child to be greater than him. Any father that wants to be greater than his son is not a good father in my understanding. Parents, mentors, government, teachers, leaders of faith, etc. all want us to be fruitful.
Let’s take a case study of parents. They sacrifice their time, resources and health just to give us a decent life. They do it because they want us to be successful in life.
Personally, I watched my late father and mother deprive themselves of the luxury of life just to give me and my siblings a decent life. My late parents never had the opportunity of having a decent education, it won’t be out of place for one to say they are unlettered, but they knew the value of education.
My late dad will always say, he’s not concerned about building houses, or living a luxury lifestyle, to him, those are secondary needs of life. His primary concern is for his children to have a good education. My late dad will always say assuming he’s educated, he would have excelled higher in life.
My late mother is not an exemption. I vividly remember one day my late mother said to me, her colleagues are buying jewelry, shoes, clothes, making their hair, etc. to fit into trends, but she’s not concerned about that, her major concern is for her children to have a decent education and look good.
Most people don’t understand the inspiration behind why I do what I do today. My late parents were and remained my biggest supporter. Apart from going to heaven, my greatest goal is to make my late parents and children proud. The moral of this analysis is my late parents sacrificed even their life for me and siblings just because they want us to be successful and fruitful.
Mentors
Mentors are not left out of this equation; mentors can be regarded as gatekeepers because they have paid the price of success. It is the fruitfulness of mentors that attracts values and mentees to them. When a mentor accepts a mentee into his fold, he’s simply telling the mentee, “I want you to be successful, I don’t want you to fail. However, it is important to state that before a mentor can accept to mentor a mentee, the mentor would have seen some potential in the mentees.
It’s instructive to mention that there are five types of mentors namely:
- Position Mentor: People follow you because they have a right to follow you which can be because of the position you occupy.
- Permission Mentor: People follow you because you allow them. For example, in relationships when you decide to allow people to build relationships with you.
- Production Mentor: People follow you because of what you have done for the organization or association. This is result oriented.
- People Development Mentor: People follow you because of what you have done for them.
- Pinnacle Mentor: People follow you because of who you are or what you represent. The question now is where do you belong?
For the umpteenth time, I am a product of mentorship. My mentors have really shaped my life.
Teachers
Teachers are not left out. Teachers are generally regarded as professional educators who play a critical role in fostering student achievement, personal growth, and social development. They are seen as the “lifeblood” of the education system, often serving as mentors, role models, and agents of social change.
There are many components of teachers namely:
- Professional Experts: Teachers are trained specialists in pedagogy (the art/science of teaching) and subject matter, holding degrees and certifications that qualify them to guide learners.
- Facilitators and Mentors: Beyond delivering content, they act as guides who help students acquire critical thinking skills and knowledge, shifting from “information dispensers” to active facilitators.
- Lifelong Learners: Effective teachers are viewed as individuals who continuously learn and adapt their practices to new technologies, curricula, and student needs.
- Moral and Cultural Guides: Teachers are often expected to act as stewards of community values, maintaining student safety, and cultivating civic responsibility.
- “Backbone of Society”: They are considered crucial to a nation’s social and economic development by preparing the future workforce. Above all, they assist in making us fruitful human beings.
Leaders of faith
The leaders of faith are regarded as the molders of the human faith because they help to build our faith. When the scripture says in Genesis 1:8, be fruitful and multiply, the scripture is also referring to them because they are regarded as shepherds. As Christians, we expected to be fruitful because our heavenly father is fruitful. Being fruitful here entails bearing fruits with our life and this entails using our life to attract people into the kingdom of God as evidence of our heavenly father who expects us to be Christlike.
Government
Let’s talk about the government. When a government is fruitful, it will reflect on the lives of her citizens, but when the government is performing below expectations, the citizens will be on the receiving end. The principal responsibility of the government is protection of life and security for her citizens. Every other thing is secondary. The government is also responsible for creating job opportunities for the citizens. However, it should be noted the government cannot create for all her citizens, and as such they provide an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive.
Employers/Supervisors/Leaders
These sets of people are regarded as people of influence. You need them at your corner, if you intend to move higher in life. Your employers and supervisors are regarded as your leaders. You can never outsmart them; the best one can try is to be in their good books and tolerate their excesses. When an employee is fruitful and exceeding expectations at work, they tend to be rewarded by their supervisors or employers because of the value they create and the problem they solve
In conclusion, whatever you do in life, please try and be fruitful.
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
Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court has adjourned the bail hearing of former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, to the first week of June, 2026.
El-Rufai is being arraigned on multiple charges bordering on alleged financial crime and abuse of office by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
“Similarly, another charge, number KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/26, against Mallam Nasir El-Rufa’i and one Amadu Sule (LEDA) has also been filed before a Kaduna State High Court in the Kaduna Judicial Division,” the ICPC said last month.
“The charges in the State High Court case range from abuse of office, fraud, and intent to commit fraud to conferring undue advantage, among others. Both charges were filed by the ICPC on the 18th of March, 2026.”
Speaking after the court session, counsel to the former governor, Ukpon Akpan, kicked against the lingering adjournment of the bail hearing by one presiding judge as politically motivated.
The high-profile case has drawn significant public attention, with heightened security presence observed around the court premises.
The former governor had arrived at the court at about 9 am in a convoy accompanied by ICPC officials and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
During the proceedings, supporters of the former governor gathered outside the courtroom, while security agencies maintained order and restricted movement within the vicinity.
Inside the courtroom, journalists, as usual, were not allowed, as proceedings are expected to focus on arguments presented by both the defence and prosecution regarding the bail request.
At the last sitting, the defence team had maintained that their client poses no flight risk and is willing to comply with all conditions set by the court.
Meanwhile, the prosecution has urged the court to carefully consider the gravity of the charges.
The 66-year-old former governor of Kaduna has been in ICPC custody since February 19 following his release by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
El-Rufai, a former minister of the FCT, was, however, released on March 27 based on compassionate grounds following his mother’s death
